It has been a busy and enjoyable week for the most part, except for things that did not bring joy. The unexpected demand for Council Tax that I thought had been dealt with turned up today and brought me great joy indeed. How enjoyable however is the ability to pay such things via the web rather than walking into the office or posting a cheque, though I do that for other debts. So much easier to pay bills this way and think you have money to spare until you count the money in your pocket. I am now emptying the cider jar of loose copper coins just in case....
Coming home from the museum on Tuesday I fell into a deep sleep, I usually do, but later, before the seven nil thrashing Celtic took from Barcelona (no sniggering at the back) I noted a name of one of my grandfathers first sons. He married twice and we descend from his second attempt (which failed) and I have been tracing the first family slowly for some time. For some reason a name arose and when I had the time (Wednesday) I sat down and traced one lost sheep. I also found Granddad's 1906 marriage record where the phrase 'met through drink' is not mentioned. The son however was traceable in some ways, he had joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was enlisted on a Minesweeper HMS 'Azalea' which served in several places including the Mediterranean. He survived the war but died in London late 1936. His sister confirmed his body but as he was only 49 I begin to wonder why he died and why I cannot find his death record. His probate is noted but no mention of money appears. My aunt mentioned a son taking cyanide and so did the other she said, but memory plays tricks and she may not have been revealing the truth, she was of that nature regarding bad things. The wife appears in Dundee Lunatic Asylum and possibly there was something in the family, however time at sea, with only one recorded incident when the ship was damaged by a mine is noted, but maybe that had a leftover with him? Several more to investigate, though little Mary last born was soon to pass on at less than a year, sisters to investigate and a brother or two to research. All good fun and games when you can discover something innit?
After spending two days sitting inside seeking dead people I daundered out on a long walk - for me - and spent some time in the very hot sunshine. I even wore those tinted glasses that made made several young women mistake me for a Hollywood star or James Bond. However tiring of their attentions I continued on my way clearing the spiders webs from my mind and taking in what is probably the last real sun we will see. The rain is here in places tonight, thunder & lightning with possibly more tomorrow. Dawn arriving as it did on Tuesday (see top picture) will be a thing of the past, dark clouds will hide the round yellow thing once again. Then by Monday ice flows will be seen in the local rivers, frostbite will be my friend and a Normal October will inform us of its arrival. The joy continues.
