Dear all,
I am glad you enjoyed my diary entry. My wife really did paint a kitchen cabinet yesterday. It belonged to my great grandparents (not NB's side) and dates from the 1940s. She has re-painted it from yellow to the colour blue I remember is as a child. However, the truth is that I do not keep a diary although I am considering doing so for next year.
It was super to visit the grave. Sadly, clearing of ivy from the grave (some recent) has damaged quite a bit of inscription but I could make out a few bits, including the start and finish of the two Nathaniel Brycesons under Sarah Bryceson. I am curious about three things: 1) the fact that Sarah's age ast 64 does not tally with her age from other records (unless my maths is very bad); 2) the start of a word "Disi...." under Nat Snr; and 3) the start of the word "Eli...." under Nat Jnr. There is little point clearing the grave further as it is in a natural/wild area of the cemetery (a huge place by the way of nearly 200 acres). What would NB have made of that!
The graffitti at Greenford was old. One inscription said 1612! I shall post photos soon but my laptop is dead at present so I am using another until it is fixed. NB said his inscription was on a red floor tile. These are still there but the graffiti may have worn with time. I have e-mailed the vicar and mentioned the connection and asked for local help in searching further but I doubt we will find it. Faint marks are visible on some red tiles but nothing legible. Should I offer compensation in any case?
My Mum was unable to log-on before but I helped her do that when I was with her last week. Sadly, on her birthday her Mum and my Nan died from complications following an operation so this is a sad time for us, especially my Mum. My Nan, Stella was born Bryceson, as was her younger sister, my great aunt Truda. As far as we are aware (i.e. unless we find some descendants of Nat Jnr or John Bryceson, my great great grandfather's older brothers) Truda is the last of NB's descendants to be born Bryceson. She lives in supported acccommodation as she has mental health difficulties at times and had no children.
I am very glad that my Nan got to hear about the diary's serialisation before she died. I was always anxious about her reading the raunchier parts (although she was not a prude by any means) but she was too ill to follow the diary on 9th August and died the next day. Please remember her and our family in your thoughts and prayers.
Peace to all,
Steven.
