http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/history/hillsborough

She has been painting a disney fairy, which i got her in August, this is completed as well now. Also she has cut up the argos Catalogue.. and we have a lovely large letter B stuck to our wall, all with small pictures of items starting in B attached to it.. Amazing how many versions of the word “Barbie” are on it!

We have been re-visiting the written word, and times tables, and Asha is flowing with enthusiasm for both at the moment. Its wonderful to see!

We have started our Halloween onslaught now as well, and Asha has written another poem, which i feel deserves its own post.. so will add that shortly.

We got up fairly late for Asha (7.45) and had a selection of presents in bed.. including Old Bear, a Diablo,  an air ambulance helicopter, and a toy caravan!

We then had a cooked breakfast, and after feeding the birds, with the new bird feeder, went to meet granny and grandad to get the train up snowdon.

The weather today was glorious, and the scenery was magnificant, wales at its best. After our trip up, we went and opened presents from granny and grandad by the river, and daddy had to go waterproof dipping (yep a coat fell in the river) . After a while the midgies came out, so we took refuge at Lake Padarn, and fed the ducks, and swans, followed by a trip to Petes eats, and birthday cake.

A great time was had by Asha.. who is now asleep, very happy.

BBC Penmon lighthouse on Anglesey

The Penmon Lighthouse on Anglesey seems a fair challenge, but what about Roman Rock in Simonstown, where great grandad used to work?

Roman Rock lighthouse is the only lighthouse in South Africa to stand on a rock. On account of high tides and gale-force winds, work could only be carried out 7 days a month and consequently it took 4 years to build – from 1857 to 1861.

Roman Rock lighthouse in 1910 with the lighthouse keeper and his assistant. The lighthouse keepers in 1910 were Charles H and Jeremias  B.

Great Grandad at work

pdf article on Roman Rock Light House

Granny was still in oxford. Hatter had come to my parents via a friend of my brother. He was a beautifully natured – though some what doppy and deaf (only when it suited him best) We will never know how old he was, we were his third family.

He was a large soft thing, with one of those faces, which just showed love, compassion and everything a true doggy shows. I dont really like dogs, but once you got past hatter’s bark and jumpy ness he was always a soft dog.

He will be missed, I will try and get Steve to upload some pics later of him.

Vicki xx

When Asha was born Steve told the other members of our fantastic news.

Tonight I found the link and saved his post as a JPG.

I hope you like it!

The aim of Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery is to contribute towards the understanding of the history and culture of Gwynedd and its people by collecting, caring for and by providing access to its collections so that everyone can share its rich heritage.”

This is Gwynedd’s only general museum. Learning about the ways of life led by previous generations helps us to place our own experiences in the context of an unfolding story. This understanding enriches our lives. Which part of the collection will be of interest to you ? Every visitor will leave with a particular memory of a favourite object. What will yours be?

ref : http://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/ Feb 2008

Gwynedd council link

To enable them to save £60,000. This will mean the closure of North Wales
oldest museum, the loss of several jobs and untold damage to the local
heritage, tourist industry and economy as well as cultural life in the
county.

Daily post Feb o5 2008

There is now a web site set up, to set a pettition about this, if you feel you want to sign it please do so!

http://www.savegwyneddmuseum.org.uk

link

Thanks…

Here are some of my observations and notes from that time.

It starts with a book on Shipping History by Robert F. Stockton

1833 a paddle steamer was built for Charles Wye Williams’ Irish Inland Navigation Company
Laird’s first vessel was a 60ft prefabricated iron lighter
The Wye-iron lighter http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/CammelLairdShipbuildersat.html Jacksons.. early impact in birkehead

In 1839 Laird built its first screw propelled steamer, a 63ft tug for use on North American waterways callled: Lady Lansdowne
Politics
William laird
Moved down from /scotland 1824 first took interest in Birkehead at the Birkehead Ironworks
John Laird
(14/7/1805- 29/10/ 1874)
While there were many names involved in Birkenhead’s early history,
the Laird’s stand out as being the most significant contributors only narrowly followed by the Jacksons. Partners in so many committees and public enterprises, John Laird (Conservative) and William Jackson (Liberal) became bitter political rivals who regularly opposed each other in many elections over the years.
In the first parliamentary election for the town in 1863, Laird opposed Thomas Brassey and won to become Birkenhead’s first MP. Two years later he defeated one of Jackson’s sons to retain the seat, as he did on two further occasions.

John Laird
Lived 63, Hamilton Sq
1st Mayor of Birkehead
John Laird took a leading role in may aspects of the town,
churches, Borough Hospital – Paid for the erection of the Borough Hospital (conway st?)almost entirely himself
First Cheshire Rifle Volunteers,
George Francis Train ,Street tramway.
Birkenhead becoming the first place in Europe to adopt a street tramway.
Improved ferry services Laird St School of Art.

Macgregor laird (1808 -9/1/1861)
scottish merchant of british trade on river niger)
I admit these notes seem a bit potted, about but they do all link in and make some kind of sense.. In time, may be my jumble will become more structured.

I have vague memories of my grandads birth certificate mentioning the woolpack yard in kendall.

I am sure he was a sadler. So i guess he probably worked at the yard. Or was it my fathers marrige certificate? I have little idea.

Anyway, I know this place is significant in our family tree but how, or why. I still need to discover.