[Sparklechick]

Just spent the week at my Gran's place. She's 92, turns 93 in December.

It's amazing listening to the stories of her youth. She and all her siblings (5 in total) were all born in the house she still lives in today. My family settled in the area back in 1862 - they came over in some of the first boats bringing the Albertlanders. My great grandfather was a photographer and so we have a pictorial history of their time here. Every year the Albertland museum in Wellsford has an exhibition of some of his photographs.

When my Gran was 14 years old she was told by her father that she had to leave home to work as a housemaid for a richer family that lived a long horse ride from home. Her older sister had to go and get married. Gran says that she didn't want to leave but she didn't have a choice. She worked for this other family all week and had to go home in the weekends. She stayed with them for 4 years before falling in love with my Grandfather and then moving away from the family to work on farms. They then moved to Australia.

I found all this family history absolutely fascinating. I think it's not until you get older that you start to have an interest in it. I was never bothered when I was younger.

Anyhow ... just thought I'd mention some of my family history ... and suggest that if you haven't already done so, that you talk to some of your older relatives ... dang, they have some interesting stories!

[Penny]

Yeah, I love talking to my grandparents about their youth, how they met etc. I try not to let my grandmother talk about all her Boyfriends and all the Men that wanted her, because my grandfather gets really annoyed (mostly becuase she makes out she was so desirable and my grandfather was lucky she choose him!). Plus its a really long story. But also of interest is this book my grandfather put together of my family history, mostly factual, but it goes back to having relatives that were thought to be witches, and relatives that saw the last fairy etc.

My great grandmothers funeral was one of the most interesting occansions, where stories were told, how for eaxample she was the first women to work the milford track, and in queenstown their telephone number was "1" being the first with the telephone there. Really interesting.

[Sparklechick]

Unfortunately my grandfather died before I was born so I never got to meet him so can only rely on Grans version of events. My Grans family didn't like my grandad, they thought he was a rogue .... heh heh heh

[Raine]

i don't get on with my gran but i'm civil and tolerate her...i've posted on here before basically how she's quite negative and has alienated many of her grandchildren.

it's a shame for her as she's 92 too and should have many memories and stories to share with us and her many great-grandchildren, yet for those that do still visit her they report it's more of a duty thing and how she is more interested in running down other family members etc. tut, tut, tut..lol.

but i'm the youngest of 9 siblings with a younger adopted brother and two younger half brothers. we all get on wonderfully and have close relationships even though many of us live far apart from each other. family is precious.

[Penny]

I'm not sure whether my Grandmothers family liked my grandfather... she comes from a part of christchurch that if your nose isn't far enough in the air you aren't good enough.

I know my grandparents didn't like my Dad or his parents very much (we didn't have that many huge family occasions!) and now they kind of go "I told you so" although my Dad always asks after them, and my grandmother has mellowed very much so in her old age my Dad came up to me at my brothers wedding and couldn't believe she was the same lady!

Wow Raine... 9 Siblings... bet the sibling rivalry was rife when you were younger... theres just 3 of us in my family!

[Raine]

strangely enough there wasn't a lot of rivalry between us as youngsters or even now though my adopted brother and i got into it a few times.

speaking of grandfathers, i understand both of mine were rogues/tyrants too but like you sparkle never knew them. i think men in those days were under more pressure bearing the sole responsibilities for their families. seems life was harder back then for the average joe and this must have taken it's toll on the men and their tolerance.

i really don't think men these days know what real pressure and stress is. not in new zealand anyway.

[Penny]

My grandparents are a bit younger than your guys by the sounds. My grandfather up north is 76 and probably wont live too much longer, but then Mum has been saying that since I was 16. My grandpop down south is turning 80 next year.

Raine my Dad was adopted and its always an interesting situation.

[NiteFenix]

I never really knew any of my grandparents. My grandfather and grandmother on my mother's side died before I was even born and my grandfather on my dad's side also died before I was born. My grandmother on my dad's side was still alive up till last year, but she was already so far gone, it wouldn't really have helped asking her to tell me about her youth. I'd say it was primarily because she had a hearing problem, but I guess I'd be lying lol.

Anyways, supposedly (and I am yet to confirm this) there is a family bible in the possesion of one of my uncles (father's side) which contains the history of my family. I have seen this bible when I was younger, but I don't know what happened to it. The reason I said 'I am yet to confirm this', is that I didn't really understand the whole concept so I never read the contents of the bible to be sure that it is indeed what my uncles & dad say it is.

[Raine]

Originally Posted by NiteFenix

I never really knew any of my grandparents. My grandfather and grandmother on my mother's side died before I was even born and my grandfather on my dad's side also died before I was born. My grandmother on my dad's side was still alive up till last year, but she was already so far gone, it wouldn't really have helped asking her to tell me about her youth. I'd say it was primarily because she had a hearing problem, but I guess I'd be lying lol.

Anyways, supposedly (and I am yet to confirm this) there is a family bible in the possesion of one of my uncles (father's side) which contains the history of my family. I have seen this bible when I was younger, but I don't know what happened to it. The reason I said 'I am yet to confirm this', is that I didn't really understand the whole concept so I never read the contents of the bible to be sure that it is indeed what my uncles & dad say it is.

my mother left a bible that dad recently found stuff in from her. i've yet to read it...the fact that it was left in a bible is enough to put me off for now...but one day no doubt.....

[Sparklechick]

My Mum has our family bible in the Albertland museum ... it was brought over on the boat with them. I declined her offer to read it.