On and off,we do a little bit of work on our family trees - Ad's is not too difficult on his father's side as he has an unusual surname, but his mum's name is a common one - and mine is Scottish on both sides, so can't use the National Census in the same way (although it can be easier to trace back in other ways).

Today, I've come home to 2 lots of emails - through genesreunited - one on my mum's side of the family, which takes both her mother & father's sides back to the early 1700s - and 2 on Adrian's dad's side - one of which encloses a photograph (taken in 1915) of Adrian's grandparents plus their 13 children!   Its really scary to see the family resemblances ..........

Margot

One of my husbands cousins sent a questionaire and included a pic of some victorian relatives they all looked like MIL even the males :D  His research was rather sad too as one little family group, mother, father, 3 children were all killed when their home in Glasgow was struck by a bomb in the war :(

It's exciting, Margot isn't it :) I've been 'doing' it for about ten years now and have found quite a few distant relatives of OH's and got his family tree back to the 1500's in one line. Fortunately most of his family came from Suffolk/Norfolk and didn't move around too much. My mother's has proved more difficult, but I'm getting there little by little. My father's family are from Scotland and I was delighted to 'discover' my second cousin via the internet. He lived in Canada and we exchanged lots of information (he was a very enthusiastic genealogist) until his death last year which devastated me and I find it difficult now to do any research on that side. When you say that you can't use the National Census - you do know that you can access the Scottish censii online and lots of BMDs etc ???

Daisy

I am trying to do the same on GR. but im Scottish as well, so its difficult trying to find relations, especially as I dont have any birth/marriage certs to help me. Went on to a Scottish site but had no luck their either.  My dad died when I was 18 so its really hard trying to piece all the bits together, and im in my 60's now. Got immediate family o.k. its the grandparents/gt grandparents etc. A dogs pedigree is easier to trace back LOL!!!!!!

I managed to find a great uncle in Australia. He was so pleased to hear from me that he paid for my hubby and I to go visit him from the UK. We stayed with him for 5 weeks near Perth. It was great because I met all that side of the family that I didn't even know existed. I made a 'book', with all the family in it, including photos, and some history of the area we were all born and lived. I gave some of my close relatives a copy each for Christmas.

If you are interested I could try to help you - PM if you want :)

Daisy

Margot I got a real scare when I found some old family photos. Sad to say that all the women on both sides are built like brick out houses, great if you have to raise 10s of children and want to live to a grand old age apparently since most of them did. But it really dosnt offer me much hope of ever being skinny