Cousins

Well what a blast this research has been so far, I have never seen so many cousins at once or got involved with so many different branches of one family.  The cousins, well what can I say, they are amazing, all sending information and research that they have, bringing the family tree up to date. I have not seen things move this quickly before.  You ladies and gents are awesome, thank you very much for the research, and I hope that I do justice with the book for the reunion next year.

Helen, thank you for all your support, editing and corrections you have sent me and dropped off personally, you are fantastic.  Francis & Anne, thank you for updating of your family lines, meeting you that afternoon was wonderful, you are both great ladies.  Marlene the lovely dressing gown lady.......lol.  Your contact and actually meeting you was wonderful, you have certainly kept me on my toes, thank you for the background information on Taranaki and the memories from yourself and various family members.  Noela Vallis, well what can I say, you are a whirlwind, a very funny lady who is forever finding more information and telling stories, what a great book your life would make.

Thanks also go to Brenda, Marie, Jim, Bruce and Nicole for all the research you have all sent me, if it wasnt for all of you cousins then I wouldnt be able to do this book for you all and our future generations.  You have all been amazing with information, news cuttings, photos etc.  Now I just need the memories.  Marie, sorry I have not yet contacted your sister in law, though I will, that is a promise.

It was 8.15 and i had just gotten out of bed, no hearing aids in, however I eventually heard my phone ringing, of course I missed it yeat again.  Well i knew who it was and rang back.......Noela!!  Wonderfully bright and chirppy.  "May I come and see you soon, I have more information about the Neil line!"  Well yes I said, I always look forward to Noela's visit she is so funny.  Well we decided on that afternoon, my daughters were to make some cakes and Noela said she would judge them.  my girls went shopping to more ingredients, whilst they were gone......Noela rang back.  "I'm coming to take you all to lunch be ready at 11.45."  Late as usual, a big whirlwind arrives at my door with research in tow plus a chocolate cake for afternoon tea Noela arrived.  Out to lunch we went and research we did.  Noela gave me some more information for the Neil/Ridley line, still got to look through it yet, so i might go and hide out at the library tomorrow.  She got on her phone to Kevin, and later to Jean where she got some of the information from, Kevin you sound great.  Noela had discovered that she had information about Rose Ridley and she couldn't remember who had given it to her, thats why she rang Kevin.  Apparently the research was from Jean.

What a conversation that was, we started off with an Alan Ridley or was he a Huff?  At that stage we just didnt know.  So off to search the net.  I found an Alan Gerald Ridley born in 1929, according to his death registration, the dates sounded about right for a son of Rose Ridley who was born in 1903, so next it was the Electoral Rolls.  The information that Jean had given Noela said that he married a lady called June and that they had 5 daughters, though Jean only knew about Leslie, Lynn and Tania. 

I found Allen Gerald Ridley married to a Novenna June! Was this them, it was possible the Electoral Roll said they lived on the Hauraki Plains, and we already knew that they had lived in Thames, so not to far away.  We were stumpted for a short while then, we did not know any of the children's surnames, if they had married etc, what to do.  Well been me whilst Noela was on the phone  to Jean I searched the Thames Cemetery online, put in the surname and low and behold, both their names came up.  Allen Gerald Ridley died in 1993 and Novenna June in 2007, both buried together at Totora Memorial Park Cemetery.

I couldnt believe my luck, there was also a headstone inscription availabe to read, so clicking on the link I scrolled down to read it and couldnt contain my excitement.  Not only did it have the three names of the daughters we knew about it also had another three daughters and a boys name. I showed Noela, and then we found out via Jean that she had contact details for Lesley and I think it was Lynn, woooohooooooo what a find.  Jean confirmed that the boy was the girls half brother.  Noela got off the phone and would you believe it she rang Lesley.....OMG, that was amazing, she was tallking to Rose Ridley's granddaughter, not only that, she lives fairly close to me too. 

We started off with an assumption and instinct and ended up on the phone with a descendant hows that for about an hours work between us.  Me and my computer; Noela and her cell phone, it was amazing.  So now I will eventually be getting more information to put in this book.

What a day, it was brilliant, the whirlwind has gone now, (Bye Noela) and I have much reading to do this evening and tomorrow, I look forward to Kevin and Jean contacting me in the future, apparently there is more research to come from them.  The excitement is growing again. 

On the downside, I have to change my story about William Ridley due to historical research, some places didnt actually exist, I need to find him an employer and a discription of what his home would of been like. 

Anyway watch this space and enjoy the read, comments are welcome.