RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Christopher on Monday 17 April 06 17:02 BST (UK)
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Meet in Linenhall Library for a look round. Have a bite to eat then at 2pm there is a 45 min tour of the City Hall. If there are a large crowd of us we may be able to get a guide for our party. There is time to call in and make enquiries. After the City Hall a trip to the Ulster Museum at Stranmillis. The Museum closes later in the summer for a two year renovation.
Anne (AM)
AnneFitzy
Anthony -- Belfast
Beth and Richard Hughes (friends of Gill) - Wales
Christopher
Colette and Tina - Belfast
Eddie Kelso (provisional)
Ed (Ed Di Moan) Unable to come
GillRice - Wales
Jeanette and Danuta (grand daughter) non members
Joe (Joebhoy) Scotland
Karen (Kaz35)
Leslie (provisional)
Maggiemay - Belfast
Maureen (Beresford)
Mo (Moscan)
Peter (Blunny)
Sarah and Trystan
Saz
Steve
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I am just checking into transport.
But fingers crossed I will be there
Love Anne
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Thanks, Chris - I will keep that date in mind.
I'm not really into Chat Rooms - I tend to dip into the messages which interest me. Hope you don't mind!!
Eddie
(Originally from Cookstown, now living in Antrim)
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Thanks, Chris - I will keep that date in mind.
I'm not really into Chat Rooms - I tend to dip into the messages which interest me. Hope you don't mind!!
Eddie
(Originally from Cookstown, now living in Antrim)
Hi Eddie, Many thanks for your reply.
I hope I have the pleasure of meeting you on 29th July. I put your name on the list as a provisionsal.
I am not sure what you mean by Chat Rooms. I look in at the Chat Room occasionally. If there is no one seeking assistance in their search for ancestors on the Irish boards in the room I tend to leave. The gathering I am attempting to organise in 2007 is a Get Together of people with a common interest...Genealogy.
It will not be highly organised in as much as everyone will be organising their own travel and accommodation. There will be a Meet and Greet somewhere on the Friday...a Farewell Session on the Sunday. Hopefully on the Saturday there will be discussion groups so that people may talk about the problems they are having (their brick walls) and possibly an experienced genealogist to advise them where to search so that they can find one or two more ancestors.
All the Best, Chris
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you can add me to the list Christopher, well provisionally, will have to see if I can organise things at home to allow me to escape...
at least I can get the train up to Belfast, and look forward to meeting you all
Best wishes
Mo
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No sooner said than done Mo :D
Will you confirm nearer the date please ???
Provisional is quite OK at the moment :D
All the Best, Chris
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you will have confirmation within the week Christopher, just have to sort the home front out..
see you then
Mo
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Right thats me added to your list Christopher...
Confirm me as being a definite Belfast Tripper...
remind me what are "we" getting up to...
Best wishes
Mo
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Right thats me added to your list Christopher...
Confirm me as being a definite Belfast Tripper...
remind me what are "we" getting up to...
Best wishes
Mo
That's a good idea Mo.
There are 16 names on the list at the moment (Sarah and Trystan, Saz and Steve are coming over from England). A couple of names are still provisional. There is still plenty of time for people to post a message saying they will attend the event.
The Ulster Historical Foundation and the Linenhall Library are both open in the morning. I had thought of starting at the Library but am open to suggestions. About 12.30 to 1.00pm we will have a bite to eat then at 2pm there is a 45 min tour of the City Hall. If there is a large crowd of us we may be able to get a guide for our party. There is time to call in and make enquiries. After the City Hall a trip to the Ulster Museum at Stranmillis. The Museum closes at the end of August (I checked that by a quick phone call the other day) for a two year renovation.
Colette mentioned something about a pub. The Crown Bar, Whites Tavern and Rotterdam Bar all spring to mind as interesting bars with history attached but that applies to many of the bars in Belfast.
Ideas amd suggestions are flying around here. I was speaking to Joebhoy a couple of times during the past few days. He told me that Colette had come up with the idea of a visit to the LDS too. I am not sure if they are open on a Saturday though.
Best Wishes, Chris
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hi chris
not sure if you got my P/M but i will be in belfast on july 23 and i am staying until july 30, so if the meet is still on just let me know the time and place and count me in -- can't wait to met everyone,
see you soon
maureen (beresford)
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Hiya Folks,
Saturday 29th July is drawing near. I was in with the Ulster Historical Foundation yesterday, bought some books and joined the Guild. The Saturday morning trip there is a non starter. They now work a five day week.
Belfast Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of St Anne in Donegal Street is open on Saturday 10.00am to 4.00pm. http://www.belfastcathedral.org/a_to_z/article/id/140 so how about meeting there and then going on to the Linenhall Library where we should be able to get a coffee and have a look round? Then lunch and the City Hall tour. After that the Ulster Museum.
Joebhoy and I had a chat on the phone the other day. He suggested I should check on the number of people bringing a car and whether they would be parking somewhere near the city centre. Here is a site with maps http://www.yell.com/super/car+parks/belfast?sem=g .. look for National Car Parks
If anyone would like my phone number please send a PM
If anyone else would like to come it is not too late to have your name added to the list.
All the Best, Christopher
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Can you tell me a bit more about the day.
What time , where to meet etc
Thanks
Gill
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Thanks Gill.
Lets all meet at 10.00am at the Linenhall Library (http://www.linenhall.com/visitingInformation.asp#openingHours)
Full disabled access and facilities via the Fountain Street entrance.
About 11.30am at St Anne's Cathedral
12.30pm an hour or so for lunch
2.00pm or thereabouts Belfast City Hall
and then the Ulster Museum.
If anyone is staying to Sunday maybe we could go for a few drinks and meal in the evening.
Chris
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hi chris
count me in for whole day on saturday, i don't leave belfast until sunday lunch so the evening would be a great way of rounding off my holiday in Belfast.
it will be so nice to put face's to names .
well done
see you soon
maureen
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Hello Christopher,
Yes I will be coming as long as the leg doesn't drop off. I will be coming from Omagh if anyone wants a lift, they can PM me.
Cheers Peter
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Hi
Any suggestions for good accomodation? Where are you's all staying?
Cheers
Gill
N. Wales
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Hiya Gill,
No point staying somewhere on your own. Sarah and Trystan are coming (I think it is their first time), Steve and Saz are coming too .. as far as I know they have been over before but I do not know where they stayed.
I have offered Joebhoy accommodation and I'm worried as I have a very untidy flat. It is not exactly what you would call a bachelor pad
There are four places on this site http://www.healthycitiesbelfast2003.com/belfastbandb.asp Three of the places are on Eglantine Avenue .. that runs from University Road (it starts opposite Queen's University) to the Lisburn Road. The other one is off Botanic Avenue.
Chris
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Hi Chris
I have stayed in Belfast before and my son used to live not far out of the city.
I think I stayed at the University last visit.
If in doubt a Youth Hostel is always good!!
I wouldn't worry about the flat....a few drinks on Saturday night and Joebhoy won't notice!
I'm just looking at flights, ferries etc and will try and contact the others to see where they're staying.
Speak soon and regards
Gill
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Here's another list Gill,
www.a1tourism.com/uk/belfast.html There are some expensive ones on that list. Looking at the online brochures the Ravenhill Guest House, Windermere Guest House and Bienvenue look OK The International Youth Hostel is on the Donegall Road and there is the Linenhall House Backpackers Hostel in Kent Street which is close to the Central Library
If anyone is planning to be around on Thursday or Friday let me know. Joe and I will be in Belfast so we could met for a chat and drink so that we are not complete strangers when we meet on Saturday.
All the Best, Chris
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Hi Chris
Thanks for the lists, I'll start looking this morning.
All the best
Gill
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hi
i'm coming over for the week and staying at a place called the ALL SEASONS B&B on the Lisburn Road have you tried contacting the Belfast Tourist Office they found it for me.
see you all then
bye
maureen (beresford)
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I've been looking on the Belfast websites and hopefully have found a couple of possibles. Good idea about the Belfast TB. I'll give them a call tomorrow.
Thanks
Gill
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I can feel all the excitement building , thank you Uncle Chris for all your hard work,and I am sure Joebhoy..will help you tidy up ;D(so very kind of you to let him stay...a definite rootschat friendly thingy to do)
I am at the Malone Guest House on the Malone Road,hopefully will meet up with others at PRONI/GRONI during the beginning of the week,I will then be heading up further North to follow the root trail to be coming back to pick up Saz and go to the meet.
I can not wait to meet you all
Steve
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Great to hear from you Steve.
Are you bringing a car? I am wondering whether a restaurant lunch or picnic lunch is best It is the afternoon bit Would the Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra be better than the City Hall and Museum Visit?
Chris
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I shall be with five wheels...........mobile
Think its down to transport and time Chris ,maybe people would prefere just to meet up with each other, to say hello as a day is not very long.
The Folk and Transport Museum is wonderful,but even a whole day is not long enough to enjoy it all (but only the old house bit is so intresting.)......would be easier for those in cars to pay to go in ,then park, than to try and park in central Belfast ,but it then would make it a nightmare for others who are relying on public transport.
Maybe we can ask all those coming what they would prefere
just a thought
Steve
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Hello All
I might bring a car - just deciding which way to come.
I'll let you know in case there's a spare seat ot two.
Gill
PS
Looking forward to it all
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Thanks Steve,
Sorry I missed your message there on 12th July.
I received a message from Gill this morning confirming she's bringing a car.
Here's my reply to her -
I'll make a note that you are coming by car. A friend, who is bringing her grand daughter, suggested a picnic rather than a lunch in a pub or restaurant might be a good idea. If it is a fine day two indoor events may be adequate - the Linenhall Library and St Anne's. A visit to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum where we could probably have a picnic in the grounds might appeal to people.
I am looking forward to meeting you Steve,
Chris
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I can probably get two people in with Beth and Richard if the Folk Museum trip comes off. It certainly sounds good. I'd need some help with where to park etc if we do somthing in town first as I was going to leave the car at the B&B
I did mention to Chris that a packed lunch might be difficult for some folk staying in B&B etc but then thought ...we could pick up sandwiches etc the day before. There'll be food at the Museum won't there?
I'm happy to go with the 'flow' as they say and looking forward to meeting you all
Gill
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I'm off to Yorkshire for a few days
I'll fit in with what ever everyone thinks is best. I'm sure Beth and Richard will be happy to do likewise.
See you all soon
It's a beautiful day here - hope you're all having the same
Gill
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So sorry. I can't make it on 29th. Scottish family members insist on visiting us that week. I would have enjoyed the day.
Is there another meet later in the year?
Ed di Moan
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I am in the pre-planning and preparation stage, need to know
1.....nearest carpark to the linenhall
2....can we walk to St Anne's from Linenhall
3...Where is the nearest place to get internet access near Proni
4....can we have a definite "when and where "by the 22nd July Please.
like the sound of another meet later in the year ;D
Steve
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Hiya Ed,
I'm sorry you won't be able to make it on the 29th.
Do Steve and yourself mean another Belfast meet or one in Englend? I am gathering the names of people who live in Belfast, mainly through Belfast Forum which is a site specifically about the City although it does cover details of other places in Northern Ireland.
There's a lot happening in Belfast these days. It is rapidly gaining a reputation as a great place for a conference, a place to visit for a weekend or even a day trip. One of the messages on the Forum was from a young woman who is travelling from the Isle of Man with her friends to spend a few hours in Belfast celebrating her birthday. BTW October/November might be a great time to be in Belfast .. that's when the Festival takes place. It's one of the largest Festivals in the British Isles.
Best Wishes, Chris
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hi ya chris
well i will be on my way in the morning to belfast, so if anything changes you can contact me on (028) 90682814 all seasons b& b lisburn rd
otherwise i will met you all out side Linen Hall on sat 29th about 10am, o.k.
i will check my messages about 9.30 am on sunday before i leave or you can call and leave me a message at the above address
look forward to meeting you next week
bye for now
maureen
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No no Chris
Edi Moan mentioned could there be another meet this year in Belfast ......(put my name down)
I'm sorry Chris you can not make it on the 29th.......I hope what ever family problems , sort themselves out by then.
Linnen Hall Library everyone at 10pm
looking forward to meeting you all ,Tristan and Sarah , do I have to mind my p's and q's.... ;D ...only kidding.........looking forward to meet you both
see you all there
mo..will pm you my details.
Steve
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Sorry Chris
The dyslexic it me read that wrong.
Ed -di moan can't make it ...........See you on the 29th
I am all excited now........
Steve
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I am in the pre-planning and preparation stage, need to know
1.....nearest carpark to the linenhall
2....can we walk to St Anne's from Linenhall
3...Where is the nearest place to get internet access near Proni
4....can we have a definite "when and where "by the 22nd July Please.
like the sound of another meet later in the year ;D
Steve
Hiya Steve,
There are several car parks in the Ormeau Avenue area. http://www.yell.com/super/car+parks/belfast?sem=g .. They are not too long a walk from the Linenhall Library. I suppose I'd better get my mobile phone organised. Joe can show me how to use it. I could bring that with me so that people can contact me if they get lost.
How about meeting about 10.00 in the Linenhall Library. The walk from the Library to the Cathedral is not too far .. Donegall Place, High Street, Bridge Street and Donegall Street. I'll get back to you re. Internet access near PRONI ... hopefully on Monday
Best Wishes, Chris
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Hello Everyone
Are there any final arrangements yet?
Hope this good weather keeps up. Whats it like over the water Chris?
Bye for now
Gill
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Belfast RootsChat Meet Saturday 29th July 2006
10.00am Meet in the Linenhall Library. http://maps.google.co.uk Type in the word Belfast and search the Map which can be enlarged to show the streets in the City clearly. The Library is on the Donegall Sq North side of the Wellington Place / Fountain Street / Donegall Sq North Junction. Please use the entrance in Fountain Street. Thank you
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Hello Steve & Saz - I shall be thinking of you both at your meet in Belfast.I know you have both been looking forward to it.
Wish I could be with you but an a w f u l long way to come................
Kind regards.
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To everyone at the Belfast Meet, I hope you have as good a time as we had at the Brisbane Meet. I'll keep my fingers crossed for continuing good weather for you all.
Barbara 8)
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Hiya Barbara,
Thats great to hear you had a good Brisbane meet. Thanks for your good wishes for Saturday. Gill and a couple of friends arrive in Belfast tomorrow. Joe and I had a good day today. We visited PRONI and the Central Library.
Best Wishes, Chris
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Christopher, it sounds like you're going to have a great weekend . .. Do remember to take lots of pics for us all to see, and don't forget the fluffy slippers and tiaras for anyone who earned them ;D
Who's going to be the first one to post then?? ;)
All the best
Barbara 8)
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Well the day of the Belfast Meet is here. In a few more hours we'll be putting faces to many of the names we know. Most of us know the face of Colette, Joe and er what's his name ... Joe has charged his batteries for his camera and is all ready to start taking pics. I have two cameras but don't understand how they work. I think I may have damaged my digital one.
This is not to be counted as the first post .. the Meet has not yet started .. any ideas who will post first? I think it will probably be one of the ladies. I know a couple of people who have been here for a few days are very pleased with the information they have found. I'll say no more than that but I am sure what they say in the messages they post will encourage more people to put their names down for the next meet in Belfast.
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hi all,with just fifty minutes to go to the belfast meet i know none of you will be reading this now but i just wanted to say i hope you all
have a great time and find the rellies you will be looking for too.
dublin weather a bit 'soggy' at the minute,i hope belfast is better.
looking forward to seeing all your posts and maybe a few photos too.
all the best,anne
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nice day shame about the weather write more when im sober!!!!!!!! ;D :-* ;)
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:o Saz! you went and got drunk? Now if i had of known Tina and i could have joined you ;) it was great meeting you and Steve and everyone else. Pity about the weather but awe well i still had fun.
Steve i hope you are feeling a wee bit better since you weren't feeling the best today. Must say you looked well love your hair.
Joe good luck tomorrow over the Old Park with Anthony.
And Anthony it was really great to finally meet you your a star.
Blunney i hope you got back to Omagh safe and sound, i might take you up on the offer of help as my grt grt grt grandfather was a Tyrone man ;)
Wonder how the rest of you did at the City hall? I'm afraid the high heels had taken their toll on me by the time that tour came around there was no way i could have walked round it for an hour :-X
Colette
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nice day shame about the weather write more when im sober!!!!!!!! ;D :-* ;)
What's this ??? The drink getting the better of you Saz ??? I was on coffee and Coke. Separately of course :D
I agree with Colette about your hair Steve. I hope you are feeling better too. It was great meeting two distant relatives in person. We could have had a distant relative family gathering in a bar near St Annes as the sons of my first cousin manage the place. I'll not mention the name though .. don't think advertising is allowed.
Colette was teetering a bit but that was due to her high heels. Nice ankles, Colette :D You looked a cracker in your smart outfit. Tina you looked great too.
Thanks to everyone for coming to the Belfast Meet. It was great meeting everyone. Anthony keep an eye on Joe. We lost him and had to phone from the City Hall and ask him where he was hiding. His missus will be very cross if we manage to lose him.
Gill, Beth, Maureen and Richard were heading for a meal when Joe and I left them. They were looking at the menu in a chinese restaurant. Did you have a good meal?
Blunney, it was great to meet you. I hope you made it home safely. Did you mention something about a new centre for Tyrone archives being built in Omagh or did I misunderstand what you were saying? There are a couple of local websites in towns not too far from Omagh so it might be an idea to have a Meet some time in your part of the world as many members are searching for relatives in the north west of the province.
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Sounds like you had a good time Christopher, although how much genealogy was done and how much ankle watching was done is up for question!!
So now all we're waiting for are the pics . .. so where are they??
Barbara 8)
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The genealogy was done throughout the week Barbara. I gather a few people had some good results. Danuta, the grand daughter of my friend Jeanette, took loads of digital pictures. Jeanette moved house last week so her computer is not yet up and running again. She promised to send me pictures as soon as possible. Joe took several pictures too. He will post them this week. BTW Joe told me yesterday evening if he had come over for one day and spent all his time in PRONI he would have found very little. He went to th UHF on Friday and returned with a smile on his face. He seems to agree with Colette's comment some time ago that the UHF is a great place offering good value too.
I got the impression when I was in PRONI the other day that a lot of people have not heard of Rootschat. It's time I made regular visits there. I am also contemplating taking a part time course -
Postgraduate Part-time Diploma: Belfast: A Social and Cultural History of a Changing City 1600-2000 http://prospectus.ulster.ac.uk/course/?id=4379#1 The course includes some genealogy. A friend in Belfast told me she may consider this course too.
Will there be any Rootschatters visiting Belfast during the weeks ending Saturday 26th August or Saturday 30th September?
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Ok, I'll let you off then Christopher :) Looking forward to seeing the pics.
All the best
Barbara 8)
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hi to everyone
just got back, flight was delayed over an hour due to a thunder and lighting storm over belfast airport.
had a great week came back with 5 certificats from the G R O , certificates for grandfather, ggrandfather, ggreatuncle and his son plus i found ggreatuncle's wedding details and a list of his children. plus a photopcopy of my parents "wedding certificate" those of you there will know what i mean, spent the day at antrim looking at graves and felt as if i was at a family do, every where i looked there was graves with the family names ,not good at the PRONI. could not find any new addresses.
i think what we need is to be able to get a copy of the 1901/1911
census so we can go through it street by street and after the meeting on saturday i think i speak for more than myself
THE MEETING
great to see everyone one that came no matter how short the time at least now when we email/chat/message we will know what we look like, steve hope you feel better, and did you get your hats, hope mass was O.K and you said a pray for us all , city hall was o.k a nice and interesting way to spend the time and something i woukld not have done on my own.
yes christopher, i for one enjoyed the meal as i had lived on M & S Salads ( evening meals) all week, hope you both enjoyed your
fish and chips
hope everyone got back O.K and enjoyed the rest of thier time in Ireland maybe those of us who live here in England could meet in London one day,( any views)
Anthony --- realy nice to meet and thank you for help and offer of help next time i'm there.
Gill, Collett, steve, saz in fact everyone there really great to to meet you all.
i'll shut up now
take everyone
maureen
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;D Hiya Maureen, I see you got home safe and sound it was great to meet you and i loved hearing from your own mouth all the family scandle it was great. I didnt know you were living on salads all week you poor dear.
So by the looks of things i didnt miss much on the city hall tour? might take my son down during the week, What do you think would it be worth my while?
Colette
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hi ya colette
oh please don't "poor me" i could do with losing the weight.
yes i think he might enjoy it, how old is he, at one stage they take you into the main room and let people try on the robes and sit in the mayors chair and have thier photos taken he might like it.
take care
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Jeanette's grand daughter enjoyed the City Hall tour Colette. Your son would probably enjoy it too. The Lord Mayor's robes might be a bit too big for him though. If he is a big lad he can have his picture taken whilst wearing them. One member of our party yesterday is a Progressive Democrat councillor in Ardee, Co. Louth. He looked very smart in the Mayor's Robes. Great minds think alike Maureen :D If Steve or Saz had posted that comment about the robes I could have said "It's in the genes" however we are not related apart from being RootsChatters
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Get away with that Maureen you dont need to lose weight. now my son is 11 years old might look good in the Lord Mayors robes..
maybe take him down for a look see
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Hello Folks,
Finally got around to posting, many thanks for the kind wishes for me to get home safe, or was it just, you were glad to get rid of me. Well I got back to my car, just, kn--kered and still sore. but that what you get in trying to do a years walking in half a day.
Very glad everyone enjoyed dodging the rain, we really do get used to it.
This week I will go and visit the folk Park near Omagh, apparently they have a FH section, probably more to do with the people who flitted across the pond to Americay. Will post later on the result. This is The Ulster American Folk Park, they also have an interactive / reproduction street and ship, as things were in mid 1800's.
Well I think I'll go and get a cuppa coffee, and try to get some piccies done
see you all Peter
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Hello All
Just back in Wales.
Great to meet you all - really enjoyed the trip and yes the meal was very good.
Maureen - thunder and lightening....., glad you're back safe now .
Glad we got out before that started, we had a sunny trip back via Carlingford .
Nos dda
Gill
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I am back
It was so lovely to meet you all....................... ;D and weren't them storms wild....was beginning to wish I hadn't book to come back earlier than planned
Oh Gill , Joe ,I and the rest were worried we had lost you, so glad you and little Mo had a lovely meal.
Blunny....your a star,,,next time bring your chair,,,,,,,Teap78 needed it........if you didn't.. ;D
It must have taken you so much effort to join us....it was a pleasure to meet you.
I hope Jan and her granddaughter enjoyed themselves......Jan doesn't look old enough to have a granddaughter...hope shes up on line soon Uncle Chris.
Little Mo............oh...the scandal bits are the best bits.... ;D so glad you and Gill had a lovely meal.
I was totally worn out ,and YES got a hat ,Saz got to the shops and I sat on the really comfy chairs that were in the shopping center...eventually found the car........1911 census needs a good going through me thinks ::)
Anthony.....give my regards to your wife..and it was so lovely meet you.......hope you and Joe had a good day today.. ;D
Uncle Chris.......Sorry I sorted out an expensive cafe...but at least it was near, with disable access. I had a fabulous time..Thank you for your time and effort in sorting us all out.(my feet are still throbbing)
Teap......you stopped talking yet so I can get a word in............ ;D
so lovely to meet you both....
Tina ,Hun....hide that key
My hair..........oh my .......always asked, do I have a comb, or what hedge did you get out of, is that a wig........... :-X
Just waiting now for Joe and Anthony to say they are home.
But the genealogy bit
I would like to thank all those in Belfast who helped me.................FROM joebogs on the street, police and their escort to the courts, all the staff in Groni and Proni ,Probate staff ,graveyard ground staff ,bus staff.,roadsweepers........Thank you all .................I was one crazy lady dancing around when I found a rellie...........a good trip all round.......got very expensive when each look up after your first 4 was costing £2.50 a time , the researcher at £26 a hour was far better value...will know better for next time.....
lots of new leads...and you will all be pleased to know FOUND SARAH TWIG'S mum's death....yeppie
Steve
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Hi
We decided to take a bus tour and got drenched but it was worth it.
We really enjoyed the City Hall, enjoyed the whole thing.
Hope to meet again folks
Gill
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Hei Gill,
The bus tour sounds a great idea. You, Beth and Richard have a look at the Cathedral next time if you dont want to do the bus tour a second time. We'll include the bus tour on the itinerary next time specially for Colette ... that will let her wear her high heels in comfort. Was it not an old custom that new shoes needed to be worn for a few days so that they became comfortable for the wearer? Colette if you'd feel more comfortable in your auld furry slippers or wellies I'm sure the rest of the gang won't mind. Keep an eye on the weather .. if rain forecast ... wellies and if fair weather .. the auld furry slippers :D
Chris
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i am hame!!! yes!! it was wonderful, what an experience, i will never forget it. it was just champion to meet rootschatters, even better to meet them in Belfast. whenever there is a rootschat meeting being held, i would advice everyone and anyone who has the chance or the opportunity to go to the meet to go, the people who use these boards are lovely people and it is great to share the same hobby and to listen to others experiences is great also. i could write all day about the people who was there but i think they all know that i was delighted to meet them, maybe someone will organise one for Glasgow or Edinburgh in the near future, you never know.
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Eeee bah goom, it were reet champion to meet you too Joe. Well considering it was your first visit to Belfast that's a grand description you gave .. the city got a little mention :D What did you do in Belfast? Did you find ancestors? Did you take photographs? It's OK folks Jeanette's grand daughter took plenty of pictures. I hope to have them soon.
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i am absolutley shattered, it was a long 5 days, i was on a high from start to finish, i have not slept much and as soon as i get my head together i will post my thoughts on everything, christopher do not be in so much of a rush there, slow down man!!, i only posted a wee message to let others know i wis hame.
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:D Thats ma Boy Joe. I think its a great Idea to do a Glasgow meet i like Glasgow and my Grt Granfathers brother married and moved there in 1890s to coatbridge Larnarkshire, so count me and Tina in on that if it comes off.
I never did get to find out what info you got over here, tell Karen i was asking for her and give the wee princess and wee soilder a big hug from me and Tina.
Colette
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Hello Joe
Very glad that you're home safe and well.
Beth, Rich, and I were very glad to have met you (and everyone else of course!). We were all shattered too but it was well worth it. Talking about Glasgow and everything made me realise how much I'd liked life north of the border in the land of my maternal people.
We waved towards Caernafon and Llanberris for you on the way home.
I agree a meet would be greet in Glasgow.
I was astonished when I got home - I was moved to do some more FHistory and found a connection with Newry I didn't know about 'till yesterday.....OOOH dear I'll have to get back over again soon.
Wasn't it great to hear everyone's experiences?
You need a wee rest so I'll say bye the noo
Gill
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the whole point of my trip to Belfast was to meet the good people of rootschat, i decided to make a weekend of it and arrived in Belfast on the Thursday. thanks to Christopher i had somewhere to live for the 5 days that i was there. Christopher took time out to take me around Belfast on Thursday, my first stop was proni, i did not like the idea of looking at microfiche for hours and hours, so as you can imagine i left disappointed. Christopher then took me to the central library which was wonderful and has great resources. my next stop was the ulster historical foundation on the Friday, can i just say that it was the best money i have ever spent. if i sit at home and type in the names of family members it will cost me £6 each time, i walked out of there with 15 different names after an hour and only paid £15, at home that would have cost £90!! i could then start to put my family together, i spent the rest of the day back in central library looking at the street directories. the central library have so many directories covering most years. then it was Saturday.
as you can see 2 days just flew past. Saturday was wonderful, as everyone is aware we all met had tea and went on walkabout round Belfast. it thought the day was well planned, thank you Christopher.
it was amazing to hear the sucess stories of others and also the pitfalls! and the tips and advice from the more experienced.
i have taken lots of photos as Christopher says, i will not post them on this thread as everyone is entitled to be anonymous in rootschat.
i felt that there was a bond between members of rootschat and the Belfast meet has helped to concrete that bond, it was unforgettable.
yes gill, Collette and everyone else it would be great to meet in Glasgow, wonder how many members in Glasgow there is? maybe someone will start a thread?
sunday was spent with a special friend of mine, i regarded him as a friend before the meet but after the meet he became a special friend, his name is Anthony.
Anthony kindly took time out to drive me around Belfast(i also got a guided tour too) i had to retrace my family's footsteps, as you have read on other posts the weather was not to good.
Monday was my last day!!! boo hoo, i went straight to Belfast and met with Anthony and he took me to where my family was married christened and buried from, the holy cross church, what a feeling meeting the famous father troy, what a privilege to be allowed to photograph inside the church, unforgettable experience.
i could rabbit on here but no doubt you are fed up reading this already, so i will finish by saying, i discovered my old family and met a new family, a new family of friends, you know who you are, thank you for your friendship as it means a lot to me.
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Thanks everyone for coming to Belfast. It was great seeing everyone.
By the way Gill that's a lovely pic on your profile. Has every one who came to Belfast decided to put their pic on their profile? Colette, Gill, Joe and some grumpy guy with a beard who points out spelling errors :D I wonder if Beresford, Saz, Steve, Tina, Anthony and Blunny will follow suit? It gives us a much better chance to spot each other when we visit PRONI :D
Joe, I'm not sure what you mean by everyone is entitled to be anonymous on rootschat. If you look at the Manchester Meet which took place at the beginning of March ... Saturday 11th .. they posted lots of pictures.
I may be wrong but think people expect to see pictures from Meets. This anonymous business takes me to the fair. A great many people dont even put their country as their location. Surely you can remain anonymous if you say you are located in England, Scotland, Wales, US, OZ or wherever. Who is going to find you? It's not as though you need to give your exact address. I could understand if someone was the sole resident on a little island.
Joe and I rounded off the day on Saturday by having a meal in a chippie in Ballynahinch. The staff there were very friendly .. the meal was very good. Debbie and Racheal are the names of the ones we met. If anyone has rellies in Ballynahinch and is coming to the town to look for ancestors let me know as I live in the town and will be pleased to help you. If you promise to be as good a guest as Joe you can stay with me.
Joe I see there are open top bus tours of Glasgow. You can buy an all day ticket too. I find public transport is a great way to get around places. Use your cars to get to places then use the public transport in the town. Why dont you start the thread for the Glasgow meet Joe. If you are lucky someone might offer to assist you. It's a good idea to look at the threads of the meets that have been held in the past .. that gives you a rough idea how to organise them. You need to give links of places that might be on the itinerary as you go along and mentioning the car parks in the city is not a bad idea. A list of some of the B & Bs can be useful to people. Is Glasgow like Belfast .. does it have a north, south, east and west. Do people describe the City that way?
Chris
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Hi Uncle Chris
Thanks for your thoughts about anonymity, but I personally prefer not to have a current photo of myself on the site! The job I do can lead to all sorts of problems if people can access ANY personal information about me - I prefer not to go into details before you ask about my job!! Just accept that for some it is easier if anonymity can be maintained!! As for spelling mistakes - none of us are perfect and, if we were all in the habit of picking up mistakes we could be on-line all day every day - if we had the time! Live and let live and accept that no-one is perfect but we all do our best on here to support each other - including NOT putting each other down when we fall short of your obvious high standards!
Thank you for instigating the Belfast Meet at the week-end. I had a wonderful time meeting people I had had contact with on the boards and who had been (and feel sure will continue to be) a great help in my search for rellies to add to my tree.
saz
PS. feel free to spell check for me, I have probably missed a few - but I dont think anyone cares really!
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Hi Saz,
It's OK there's no need for your photo on your profile. What about your photo in the group enjoying themselves when having lunch on Saturday? I noticed Dunata snapping away with her gran's (Jeanette... the extremely young lookig Gran) camera. I think she got at least one picture of most of the party. Some people may appear more than once.
I'm sorry I have no time to check your spelling. Too busy on another site looking for links to post about Belfast and its history. I'm doing my best to take in a lot of the information as I am hoping to attend a two year Postgraduate Part-time Diploma: Belfast: A Social and Cultural History of a Changing City 1600-2000 I think that should be extremely interesting and may prove useful to me. The Belfast Family History genealogy module people will have teachers from the Ulster Historical Foundation. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will be accepted. I have posted an email to Dr Allan Blackstock, the Course Director, telling him that although I am not a graduate I am extremely interested in the content of the course.
Chris
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Hello Chris and Gang
I put my pic on last night for not real reason - non of my ancestors wanted to be there (wouldn't upload) so I'm there for a while instead! It makes me laugh anyway.. don't be taken to the fair ( a Family History Fair?) unless you know who you're going with!!
I had a thought on photo's etc, I wondered if any family links have been made through family resemblances?
Chris - good for you going for the course I'd like to have a go myself if I wasn't so far away. I might look into it anyway.
Doesn't matter whether you're a graduate or not, I'm sure your experiences etc will count for more. Can you post the link again please?
You were asking about Glasgow and Joe'll tell you alot more than I can as it's a long time since I left that neck of the woods.
I lived roughly ( well not living roughly if you know what I mean) south of Glasgow in what was thought of as a rather 'posh' village, Eaglesham - Iwas suprised people thought that as I'd been brought up with village life and it was a pretty village to me. However living on the south side gave one some status and people tended to talk with strange accents there - it was important to develop for example a 'Newton Mearns' accent. This all amused us greatly. Further North - Bearsden was another outpost of snobbery and staus!!!
Anyway yes it does have quarters and some you'd fear to tread!!! Blackhill in North East used to have a terrible reputation, but I've no idea what it's like these days. It's an area with a tremendous history but I don't know if bus tours go that way. Possibly as HMP Barlinnie is near there. I think alot of new housing and improvement's have taken place there now.
I would be interested in a Glasgow meet sometime although my Scottish folk were from Dumfrieshire, Kirkcudbrighshire and parts of Lanarkshire, it'd be good to spend time in Glasgow again.
Joe - I noticed that you have the surname Bryson in your list. When I lived in Eaglesham one of my friends was a Pete Bryson who had moved from over the other sde of Glasgow.
Anyway must go.
Spelling not chequed...
Gilll
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Hi Chris
As I have already said - please do not post ANY photos of me thank you. I feel it would be unfair to post any photos of members without their permission and I DO NOT give mine!
I understood any photos taken were for personal use only and not to be put online!
saz
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Would those people who attended the Belfast Meet and do not want their picture shown please post a message on the board as Saz has done. I'm sorry I have not the time to spare sending personal messages to people requesting permission to post pictures. Could someone please tell me if people who took pictures at the Manchester Meet had a similar problem?
Chris
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yes gill, Collette and everyone else it would be great to meet in Glasgow, wonder how many members in Glasgow there is? maybe someone will start a thread?
Well I'm up for Glasgow - love the place - I'msure this is on another thread though a few months ago - lots of us voted for Glasgow :D
Gadget
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The issue surrounding the photos didn't come up at the Manchester meet.
Maybe you could ask one of the brilliant photo restourers to doctor the group photo so Saz doesn't appear.
Saz you could even choose your own head -
Angelina Jollie, Brad Pitt, Jude Law, Marilyn Monro perhaps ;)
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Can I have a new head too?
Gill
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Gill, only if I can too and a new body :) ;)
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I know the feeling well!!
Gill
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Hi All,
Greetings from the west, I can understand the point of not wanting a piccie if it could compramise job or personal security. A while back I would have been the same, now I don't mind.
If any body's got a spare left leg I would be grateful. Be great if you could change them like a wheel.
Glasgow seems OK if I am free.
Peter
PS spelcheque not werking
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You have a lovely head Gill. Why do you want a new one ???
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corrrr you stolen the Blarney stone or what!!!!!!
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Morning Chris, Blunny
Blunny - you just let Chris keep kissing the Blarney, 'tis an essential part of having Irish ancestry....... and the girls appreciate it!
To keep a little to genealogical topics; the ancestor I found who stated on the cenus she was Newry born was in fact from Bekan in County Mayo... but my elusive Co. Down Thompsons cannot be found therefore another trip over is indeed essential.
Researching in Ulster
Samuel Alexander Thompson b. near Warrenpoint c. 1840 and William and Ann Donley both born c 1800 in Down or Tyrone
Hywl
Gill
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hi all
i have only just been reading all the messages that have been posted the last few day's because i had to have an op on my knee on friday and have been off my feet and don't have a lap top.but i'm up and about again now and my knee feels fine.
first let me say i had a great time at the meet and took one or two photo's
BUT as i said before when i get them developed ( it will be a while yet)if anyone wants a group shot they can PM me with their address and i will send it to them, i would never dream of putting a picture of anyone on the web sit for all to see without their say so( isn't against the data protection law or somethink) i know you cannot list living relatives with out their o.k.,
as for spelling-- well-- no one can be as bad as me-- at school we had spelling lessons, on monday the teacher would give us a list of ten words to learn for friday. every night i would sit and write these words out till i was blue in the face , i would be in fear of friday coming, then as always it was here that hateful friday afternoon, we would always have the test first lesson after lunch, it was the longest half an hour of the week, then the teacher would give us the answers when this was over she would ask " who's got 10" and so on down until she got to 5 all the other girls would put thier hand up with the amount they got right at the number 5 she would look at me and say "well maureen how many did you get right" and i would say "1", "2", or "3" what ever it was, how i hated those lesson on friday---- the other girls would laugh and make fun of me--- but i got older and through the jobs i have had in my life my spelling has gotten better, not great but better, BUT I STILL HATE SPELLING ANYTHING I'M NOT SURE ABOUT, and i'm 56 now.
so anyone don't feel bad if you have the odd letter in the wrong place, even the greatest writers in the world spell the odd word wrong.
cee u later
mo
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ps forgot to say
PLEASE DON'T PRINT MY PHOTO ON THE SITE EITHER
THANKS
MAUREEN
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oh little Mo
You take care of that Knee girl.
I would love a group shot so will Pm you, as I do not have one of all of us. Do have a lovely shot of St Anne's with a good back shot of us in the foreground.(still can not imagine my rellies marrying in such a beautiful place)
Have spent this week going through my finds, telling others if I managed to find for them ....... ;D..........or not... :'(
Still not unpacked my suitecase ::)
Wasn't it lovely to meet up and put faces to them words,and the excitement trawling through the records and making a find.
Any one thinking of going to a meet...you go...because it is lovely to meet like mined, crackpots....searching for the dead...to hear the highs , the lows and the best ways forward...and the best bit .....to make new friends.
as for spelling....I always have the right letters in the words but not in the right place ....looks right to me though.........maybe an odd d p g 6 9 in the wrong place...or upside down ....hated spellings in school to........and Cfax does my head in now.......
I m not that keen on my photo being on the www.......could leave my hair in though...hee hee
And Belfast is the best place to vistit in the world....I had so much fun....people were so friendly and helpful....there was so much to see and so much to do....you would need a month to do it all.
So thank you Belfast.......
And thank you ROOTSCHAT''ERS ...a lovely bunch of "crackpots" whom I hope you don't mind me calling you "Friends"
Steve
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Hi Maureen
Sorry to hear about your knee but glad you are on the mend! How did you manage around Belfast with a knee problem - we were exhausted with all the walking - shows how unfit I am!
I had those Friday spelling tests too. We had 15 to learn and anyone with less than 10 right had to queue up for a slap on the hand with a ruler - guess who always made that queue - the palm of your hand hardens to it after a while!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great to hear from you - and it was wonderful meeting you in Belfast!
saz ;D
sp: myne knot spel check ether ::)
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Hiya All,
It appears that very few pictures of Rootschatters will be appearing on this thread. Under the circumstances may we please have a few pictures of Belfast International Airport, buildings in Belfast (many of which are Victorian), buses, cars, cats, City Hall (exterior and interior), dogs, facades, the ferry on which you travelled to Ireland, fire engines, the George Best Belfast City Airport, guest houses, helicopters, PRONI exterior, statutes, streets, taxi cabs, tree lined avenues (these are just a few suggestions.. if you have other pictures you think may be suitable please post them).... If submitting pictures of vehicles please delete the registration number (the owners would not like their car's pictures to appear). In the case of taxi cabs please don't show the telephone number on the roof ... apparently rootschat don't allow advertising.
If those of you who stayed in guest houses have no objection please PM (it might be advertising if posted on the main thread) details of the quality of breakfast etc, and whether or not you would stay there a second time. Reports of guest houses are for another site where I'm receiving the occasional enquiry asking if I could recommend the place. If you prefer that I pass your report on to the enquirers via the PM system rather than post on the site please let me know.
I'll send a message to the guy who wore the Lord Mayor's robes. Maybe he'll be kind enough to let me have a picture to post on the thread.
I hope we don't have the same situation .. no photos .. in Dublin next year as photos of people having a good time help to add a lot to the story. As they say one picture is worth a thousand words.
Chris
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Oh Uncle Chris you are such a wit!! ::)
Did anyone ever tell you SARCASM was the lowest form of WIT though - guess not till now! ;D
I am off to sunny Spain/Ibiza for a few weeks - I will try to get on to rootschat at the hotel, but if not see you all when I get back :-*
saz x
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Oh Uncle Chris you are such a wit!! ::)
Did anyone ever tell you SARCASM was the lowest form of WIT though - guess not till now! ;D
I am off to sunny Spain/Ibiza for a few weeks - I will try to get on to rootschat at the hotel, but if not see you all when I get back :-*
saz x
You are somewhat late with that old chestnut.
They tell me all the time. What does Sarcasm mean ???
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Now Chris we're all sure that you know what sarcasm is
Some define it thus -
The word comes from the late Latin word, sarcasmus, which, in turn, comes from the Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein - to bite the lips in rage,- from sarx, sark-, flesh - the root word literally means 'to cut a piece of flesh' (from the targeted person).Because it is vocally oriented, sarcasm can be difficult to grasp in written form and is easily misinterpreted. To prevent this some people end sarcastic comments on the Internet with an emoticon....
but I think it's really a disbanded rock group from New York ???
Hope this helps
Gill
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Sounds more like Shylock than Christopher ::) ::)
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I've never been to New York Gill :'(
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now, now, chris.
there was no need for those ( ref concise oxford dictionary) bitter and wounding remarks.
what happened to RESPECT of other peoples views chris as to wether ( not sure spelt right) we have our pics shown all over the WORLD ( don't forget this is a web site, anyone can log on) , isn't everyone allowed free choice, no one was told at the met that the pic's were going on site, if we had we might not have allowed so many to be taken. or maybe when you were arranging it if yopu had said about pic's going on the web we could have had our say first.
as for me i was on holiday and they were my hoilday pic's, taken for ME not the web site.
so come on chris, lighten up, you have been such a great help to people, don't spoil it with your sarcasm.
all the best
mo
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Mo, I saw pics from other meets and did not anticipate this would happen. It's all beyond me as you are all posting messages about grandparents etcetra so there is a lot of personal information that anyone who likes can read anyway. Who is to know what is used elsewhere. I certainly have no clue.
I'm busy elsewhere and will be doing a two year part time post graduate diploma course on "Belfast: A Social and Cultural History of a Changing City 1600 - 2000" The second year includes a genealogy module. I'm also considering a second course on Investigating your Family Tree" Under these circumstances I will have to be slightly more selective with the help I give as I'll probably have to do some studying during the week as well as attending the courses. I'll see how things go.
Chris
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Chris
Just to say I hope you very much enjoy your course. Do you start in September?
I do hope this thing about photo's doesn't spoil a really smashing 'group'.
How often do you attend university?
If I could get over I'd give it a go too. I'd be very interested in hearing about it all when you begin.
Gill :)
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Hi Chris
I have been lurking for a while but have read all the messages in the "Belfast Meet Saturday 29th July " thread.
When you find the time, please keep up the good work that you are doing because as well as being wonderful for those who met up in Belfast, it is so very good to read about, for those of us who have yet to make such a trip reality.
Kindest regards
Yvonne
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Well I dont mind my Photo being posted on the site it would be nice for others to see us having fun you dont even have to say who is who. just black out a couple of gobs. sorted ;D
Colette
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Well I dont mind my Photo being posted on the site it would be nice for others to see us having fun you dont even have to say who is who. just black out a couple of gobs. sorted ;D
Colette
Eeek It's a message from herself. The voice of reason :D Young Colette does her best to keep me in order from a distance folks. She sends me messages threatening dire things if I do not behave myself. I imagine next time she meets me she may hit me with a stick of Blackpool Rock :D Thanks for your message, Colette.
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Hiya Vonny, thanks for your message. There is a series of monthly meets planned in Belfast for the next twelve months as well as the Dublin meet. This looks as though it will take place in June 2007. The monthly meets are thanks to an idea of Joebhoy who enjoyed the Belfast meet on 29th. Anyone in Belfast at the end of a month does not have to think too hard re the date .. the meets take place on the last Saturday. Unless a venue has been posted we'll meet at the Internet Cafe in the Mall beside the Europa Hotel in Great Victoria Street and go from there for a chat over a drink and possibly a bite to eat. There is a board for the Belfast meets so would members please keep an eye on it for updates.
There are several websites in the north of Ireland .. some in Belfast. Slowly but surely people living in Belfast and the north of Ireland are appearing on these sites... they are being invited to join in whenever Meets take place as we all have a common interest .. genealogy. I should also be able to meet more potential members by attending courses. I'll be making the occasional visit to PRONI .. when Joe and I were there on the 27th of July
I met a person who thought I worked there .. I gave her a RootsChat card because she was so kind .. imagine anyone thinking I work :D Possibly the sweatshirt with the logo made me look like an official of some type. Since no photos of the Belfast meet have been posted here's one of me looking official in the sweatshirt with the logo. Someone (no names as it's a living person) on the Photographic Restoration board commented that the picture
I use with messages is a much better picture. Never mind .. not all photos can be good ones.
Chris
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Hi Chris
Thanks so much for the information regarding the monthly Belfast meets, I will check the board out and hopefully make one of them in the not too distant future.
Good luck with your course!
Very best wishes
Vonny
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Your Course sounds really interesting Chris,
Best of Luck with it.
Romilly.
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Thanks for your good wishes Vonny and Romilly.
I'm looking forward to the courses .. I'll probably go for both of them.
It does not matter what age a person is there is always something new to learn till the day we die.
Chris