Tag Archives: family history

Day 7.2: Newport – She Who Never Grew Up!

Disclaimer: If you click through to Amazon and choose thereof to make a purchase of any recommended books, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to yourself (surely that’s an incentive?). End up at a pub and start up at a pub. This policy is a favourite of mine and has always workedContinue reading “Day 7.2: Newport – She Who Never Grew Up!”

Eating Pies: Book Reviews

*Disclosure:  I only review books that I have selected for my own enjoyment, and the views expressed are, therefore, even if a little batty, completely genuine. You need to be aware, though, that this review has an affiliate link, meaning that if you click through to Amazon, via the book’s image, and choose to makeContinue reading “Eating Pies: Book Reviews”

Nellie – A Darlaston Wench: Book Review

*Disclosure:  I only review books that I have selected for my own enjoyment, and the views expressed are, therefore, even if a little batty, completely genuine. You need to be aware, though, that this review has an affiliate link, meaning that if you click through to Amazon, via the book’s image, and choose to makeContinue reading “Nellie – A Darlaston Wench: Book Review”

Day 4.2: Booted out of Whittington by Ancestor Dick!

Richard Whittington, courtesy of Wikipedia.org (Creative Commons) Start, stutter, stall ….. STOP! And herein lies the problem. I left you on the B5009, claiming that my Dacia Sandero was taking its Cool occupants from Queen’s Head to Chirk. I left you on a wave of excitement, as you thought I was about to take youContinue reading “Day 4.2: Booted out of Whittington by Ancestor Dick!”

Day 3: Game for a Day in Shrewsbury?

Far from over. Friendly Poo image courtesy of Pixabay.com Famous last words that have returned to haunt me. I, Jay Cool, am sitting here on the luxury loo in my ensuite at The Red Lion’s Lodge, faced with a stark (runny) reminder of yesterday’s indulgences at Ellesmere’s Asian Spice restaurant. Coriander, cumin and turmeric, smellsContinue reading “Day 3: Game for a Day in Shrewsbury?”

Selfie With George Clarke

  The Cool House at Signal Lane (1975-1985)   I think that Nanna Joan Cool’s most looked-forward-to day was a Sunday, because on Sunday morning, she got up bright and early, spent a long time selecting which hat to wear, and walked down to St Cuthbert’s parish church[1] in Donington to show off her finery.Continue reading “Selfie With George Clarke”

Curly Toes

1939-1945 – the war years at Single Lane, Cosford, Albrighton The patriotic reader might be forgiven for wondering why my grandparents were happily ensconced at their home Single Lane, Albrighton. What entitled such an insignificant couple to remain in the Shropshire countryside, growing and selling their own produce, during the second world war, during aContinue reading “Curly Toes”

Stone Toes

  Joe Cool (1760-1833), Jay Cool’s Great-Great-Great Grandfather, from  Myddle, Shropshire     I don’t recall having too many conversations with my Grandad, Arnold Cool, as I spent most of my time during family visits to Single Lane, taking a wide berth around his armchair, for fear of my leg being grabbed and my footContinue reading “Stone Toes”

Feckless Fools: Part Four

Sir Humphrey Kynaston (1468-1534), Jay Cool’s 12th Gread Grandad & 15th Great Uncle, of Myddle Castle and Nescliffe Cave, Shropshire On awakening, bright and early, or more likely befuzzled and early, with a splitting headache, Lots-of-Greats Granduncledad Humphrey [1]needed a quick fix. What better than a ride into Shrewsbury for a little therapeutic impulse shopping atContinue reading “Feckless Fools: Part Four”

Prologue – In the almost-very beginning …

In the almost-very beginning, some seeds were sown in a cave in the Myddle of a county called Shropshire. The consequences of such a tiny and inconsequential act were not at first very obvious. But I am sorry to have to say that, in time, the cave walls suffered from the effects of natural erosion. And the thingContinue reading “Prologue – In the almost-very beginning …”