Christmas 2009

Preparations are full-steam ahead in most homes, as Christmas 2009 approaches. Hopefully, these celebrations will bring an end to the financial dilemmas many have faced this past year.

Our family has had a busy year and had to face a few changes and challenges.

Peter has continued to do a lot of traveling. With the new Installation Regulations gazetted this year, he has been invited to give a number of lectures and workshops on the new laws. I have had the opportunity to travel with him from time to time and we have seen some parts of the Western Cape which we do not get to visit often enough!

Roelene successfully pasted the UNISA exams which she wrote this year. She is studying for a degree in Foundation Phase Education. In November, she was blessed with a trip to Malaysia, where she attended a Seminar for Worship Leaders. Included in the trip were a few days of sight-seeing. This was quite an experience for her. Thankfully, with today’s technology, she was in constant contact with us via sms and therefore did not feel homesick.

Simon is continuing to progress through his university studies. In July, he moved out of our house, into a building at our offices, which he is sharing with a friend. He is enjoying his new found freedom and independence, although he still has most evening and weekend meals with us, and of course, Mom still does his laundry. His move has also been beneficial in that there is someone at the business property after hours.

The genealogy research has continued slowly with few leads resulting in anything useable. To date, we have not been able to trace any descendants of the Woods brothers, Harold and Reg.

Thanks to those who have sent information and letters to me. I have enjoyed making contact with some of my cousins again, which has been a reminder of the vital role Aunts Mary and Grace played in keeping us all connected in the past. The idea of compiling a booklet about the Mckenzie siblings has not progressed as desired. Although some cousins have responded, we were hoping for more submissions and photographs. The information received so far, has been uploaded onto this Blog.

We trust that this festive season will bring much happiness and joy, as we celebrate the coming of our Christ, Jesus. Take care, travel safely ands may the year ahead bring prosperity it you all.

My Family Tree is full of Nuts

Many, many years ago when I was twenty-three,
I got married to a widow who was a pretty as could be.
This widow had a grown-up daughter who had hair of red.
My father fell in love with her,and soon the two were wed.
This made my dad my son-in-law and changed my very life.
My daughter was my mother, for she was my father's wife.
To complicate the matters worse,although it brought me joy,
I soon became the fatherof a bouncing baby boy.
My little baby then becamea brother-in-law to dad.
And so became my uncle,though it made me very sad.
For if he was my uncle,then that also made him brother
To the widow's grown up daughter who,of course, was my step-mother Father's wife then had a son,who kept them on the run.
And he became my grandson,for he was my daughter's son.
My wife is now my mother's mother and it makes me blue,
Because, although she is my wife, she's my grandma too.
If my wife is my grandmother,then I am her grandchild
And every time I think of it,it simply drives me wild.
For now I have become the strangest case you ever saw,
As the husband of my grandmother, I am my own grandpa!

Blog Name Change

Regular readers of this Blog will notice that the Title and Description have been changed. This has become necessary due to the fact the other branches of our Family Tree, besides those connected directly to Dundee, are also been included in our research.

So lets unite and welcome the extended research. We trust that you will find future POSTS as interesting as those about your immediate branch.

New Website

There are times when it feels like one has hit a brick wall, when it comes to genealogy research. And that is how I am feeling right now. There are still so many gaps in the tree and questions for which I have not yet found answers.

Sometimes I wish I could sit down with people and just record them speaking of the things they remember and which their parents told them. Recently we had a couple visit us; new friends whom we have met during this year. Mick told us his life story and how interesting it was! He spoke for almost 2 hours and still has so much to tell us. I encouraged him to start writing his memoirs otherwise when he is gone, this special story will go with him!

Time is an enemy as most people live extremely busy lives and barely have time for themselves. As a result, few have responded to my requests for information. I am sure there are volumes of information stored up in people’s memories but sharing or recording these things can not take priority.

So, my present task is that of checking through the family tree and marking off as “deceased” where appropriate. This is necessary as I do not have all the birth and death dates of past generations and so the pc program shows them as “live”.

The family tree can be viewed online at http://www.myheritage.com/ftb/EN. Due to the fact that this is a free site, only 250 members of the tree can be viewed. Unfortunately, I do not have funds available to upgrade to the full website, which costs about $75.00 per annum.

Take care
Stella

Last Will and Testament

We have heard to many stories of things going wrong, when a family member dies without having a valid Last Will and Testament. We are currently involved in drawing up such a document for someone who has been diagnosed with an incurable disease. This person does not have much when it comes to material or financial wealth and had presumed that everything would automatically go to his daughter, who lives overseas. As a result, other family members or friends could just walk in and help themselves!

May I suggest and encourage each one to be sure that your affairs are in order. Do not presume that everything will go smoothly regarding your estate, once you are gone. By checking and updating your Last Will and Testament, you will prevent your remaining loved ones from more heart sore, in the midst of their loss.

Basic templates can be downloaded from the Internet (do a Google search) and adapted to suit your requirements. Some stationary shops also sell these documents, which can be completed by hand. One requires two witnesses to sign the document. These witnesses cannot include anyone who is going to benefit from the Will. An Executor must be named in your Will and it is wise to give him/her legal charge of your affairs, should you no longer be of sound mind to handle your affairs personally. Keep one copy amongst your personal belongings and the original in a safe place, such as at the bank, with your lawyer or a family member who can be trusted. It is wise to have the copy authenticated by a Commissioner of Oaths.

I trust this information will be of use to someone who reads this Blog.

Oh, and by the way, should you have any old photos, diaries, newspaper clippings etc., which no one else wants, please feel free to leave them to our family research project, c/o myself. What may seem like "junk" to your descendants, could produce some vital information to our research.

Thank-you and God bless....

The Tree is Budding

We welcome the newest buds to our Family Tree

SARAH VICTORIA HOWELLS - born 17 APRIL 2009 at Los Angeles Hosptial, USA
Daughter to OLIVER and SANDRA HOWELLS

BRADLEY COLIN MCKENZIE - born 29 June 2009 at Port Shepstone.
Daughter to ROBERT and CHARLINE MCKENZIE

Mckenzie Siblings Document

The idea of a document / booklet about the lives of the McKenzie siblings (the children of John and May) has been welcomed by various folk. The document is intended to will provide information about Audrey, Ralph, Mary, Grace, Edith, John, Arthur, Victor, Lily, Barbara, Janet and Duncan.

We are hoping to complete the first draft of the document by the end of this year (2009) and make finalise it the within the following 2 years.

To make this a success, we need to appeal to our cousins for information about your parents. please assist us. If you have received a letter from me, please reply asap. If not, please contact me via email, so that I can send a copy of the letter to you. Thanks to those who have already sent information to me.

Thank you and we look forward to hearing form you.

40th Wedding Anniversary

Congratulations to Ivan and Ingrid Godfrey on their Ruby Wedding Anniversary.
A picnic lunch was held at Kirstenbosch Gardens, to celebrate the special day.

Ivan and Ingrid met at a Sunday School convention in 1967 and married on 8 February 1969.
The wedding took place in Dundee, South Africa and was a joyous affair. Ivan’s parents and brother traveled from Cape Town, for the occasion.

Ingrid’s father, Duncan Mckenzie, gave her away. The bridesmaid were Ingrid’s sister Margaret Mckenzie and a friend Grettal Dedekind, with Stella Mckenzie as flower girl. Ivan’s brother Neville and a friend, Lionel were the best man and groomsman, respectively. Debbie and Barbie Godfrey (unrelated) were the confetti girls.

The bride’s dress was hand–made by her mother, Laurette and consisted of much bead work. The bridesmaids’ and flower girl dresses were made by a cousin, Joan Mckenzie.

The young couple spent a few years living in various towns in the Western Transvaal and Free State, relieving Methodist Ministers on sabbatical. They then settled in Cape Town, where they opened the Psalm 99 Bible Shop.

Ivan and Ingrid have been blessed with a son, three daughters and two grandchildren.