I've spent part of today finding out about this chap. He is on the fringes of my LOCKING family one name study as the great grandson of Jane LOCKING, whose surname had been passed down to him, via her son, his maternal grandfather Locking SKELTON.

William Locking CREASEY was born in Dunholme, Lincs in 1858 and didn't have an auspicious start in life. He was the son of farm labourers who turned to coal mining as a way of improving their lot, and poor William was sent down the mines at the age of 12, having already worked as a farm lad since he was 9.

The family disappeared from view after the 1871 census, and I thought nothing more about them until today, when, firkelling about for something genealogical to do (!) it occurred to me that they might have emigrated.

A eureka moment, obviously, as sure enough, the family appeared on the 1880 US census as coal miners in Illinois.

I had a bit of a job tracking them after that, as spellings were flexible and computer search engines are idiosyncratic, but with a bit of creative thinking, I found them again in the 1910 census; they had moved again, and this time appeared on their own farmstead in Custer, Whatcomb Co, Washington.

And that's when I hit gold. The Whatcomb Family History Society have put online all sorts of lovely genealogical material and I was able to find out that William had prospered on his farm and become something of a local dignitary, raising four fine sons and a dynasty of Creaseys to follow him.

I was sorry to hear that his eldest son William perished in France in the First World War, and that his first wife Elizabeth had succumbed during the terrible 'flu' epidemic that followed in 1918, but happy to see he re married and lived out his life to old age.

I got a bit excited when I realised he had a granddaughter named Frances L Creasey, but hopes of another "Locking" were dashed when her middle name was revealed as "Lea". Never mind, I've had a very interesting day reading about William's life and times and have gladly added lots more biographical detail to his entry in my family tree.

Bluebells as far as the eye can see, in Banstead Woods today. Glorious!

where the wild thyme grows" - it's in Banstead Woods! We had one of our lovely Bluebell Hashes this evening, in said woods, and not only were there stupendous carpets of early bluebells amongst the dappled trees, but we ran across sweet smelling thyme and wild garlic, and spotted violets and cowslips too. And those pretty purple flower spikes that might go by the name of Viper's Bugloss, if I'm not getting them mixed up with something else. Not to mention swathes of daisies, dandelions, flowering nettles, buttercups and the tree blossom. Gorgeous. Although it was the first evening run of the year when we didn't need a torch at all, unfortunately I didn't take my camera with me . We may make a return trip next weekend, just to record the scene for my annual Bluebell Photo!

I don't know about this country - but we went to the dogs last night! Wimbledon Stadium to be exact, for the greyhound racing.
It's a good night out, which we enjoy approximately on an annual basis and last night was this year's visit.
We know zilch about greyhound racing - the form, the trainers, the breeders all mean nothing to us - so our bets are based entirely on the form given on the race card, and the appeal of the dog's name.
JoJo's Star (chosen because that's my Dad's pet name for Mum) came good; Unique Pharoah in honour of Egyptian days failed me. I should have followed the actual Dan who was with us and bet on his winner; but I relied on the dog called Dan who came last. Friend of Ollie's stormed through for a fine win, but I should have known better than to back Wayward Ted - for all my Edward's many excellent qualities, speed has never counted amongst them...
The most fun of the night was provided by a dog called Frosty Park, who came out with tail wagging furiously, led the field all the way round the track, faltering only briefly JUST as they came over the line, and then took the lead again once he'd passed it. We had to laugh.
We took the safe route and bet for a place each time. This was a bad ploy really, because although you win more often, the prize is pence, whereas the occasional outright winner can win pounds. But we're not true gamblers, so we came home having lost more than we'd won, but still wearing our shirts.

It was a hot one at the London Marathon today - pleasant for the spectators, but not so good for the runners, who got thirsty and dehydrated. We were at the 13/22 mile spot as usual, watching runners go in each direction once the leaders passed us on the in trail, marshalling the crowd (preventing people on the South side of the road from crossing over to get to Shadwell station) and giving whatever help the runners needed.
We had no serious trouble - a few with cramp were directed to the First Aid booth just beyond us, and a few needed plasters for their blisters, but apart from that most just wanted water - the back markers were complaining that the water stations had run out by the time they got there and they hadn't had any water for 4 miles. Luckily they brought some extra and we were given a few to dish out.
There was the usual selection - star runners; celebrity runners; fancy dress runners; the brave ones who brought a tear to the eye, and the huge lardy ones at the back who inspired the question "Whatever made them think they should do a marathon?" At 2 pm there were still a few just passing half-way - why would you want to be en-route for over 8 hours, with the tidy up trucks passing and the route lines getting rubbed out before they reached them, and most of the crowd on their way home? Yes I know they are all raising money for charity, but people will sponsor you for shorter distances, too!
Anyway, a good time was had by most, including us!

The Princess Elizabeth Tudor with her gaolers and at least one trusty antipodean henchman arrived by boat at the Water Gate of the Tower of London on Easter Saturday, not knowing if she would ever see the outside again.

Unfortunately, the water doesn't reach the Water gate any more, as the pic reveals, so we had to disembark and show our tickets at the front gate like any normal tourist and then show HRH (in her new incarnation as 6 year old Georgia) where she should have entered, from the inside. Further reassuring HRH that she would be freed by lunchtime, we then viewed her prison so she could choose where she would like to be incarcerated. The Bloody Tower, it was, naturally - what child can resist a legal swear word?

Seriously, Georgia and Jake both love role play and a well told story, so we all indulged ourselves and had a great time in the Tower. We saw the crown jewels and chose the one we each took home, and thoroughly enjoyed a re-enactment in gorgeous costume of the story of the Princes in the Tower and their Bad Uncle Richard. We warned them to beware of all Uncle Richards and hoped they hadn't got one themselves.

We released ourselves in due course, having seen the axe and block whereon we might have perished and enjoyed a very late lunch and a return trip on the Docklands Light Railway (altogether another century, but we had to please all the party) before going home to the FOX for dinner.

The Easter Holidays are all but over - I'm back to school tomorrow and feel like I've had a good long break and am raring to go!

We had guests for the hols - Lewis and Keighly from Australia, and Ed's sister and family from up North. A mixed bag; but they got on with each other surprisingly well; in fact 6 year old Georgia, who is a bit of a floosie when it comes to a prime piece of manhood - even the happily newlywed sort - appropriated Lewis as her own for the duration.

Having been up betimes to collect the long-haul travellers from Heathrow at dawn on Good Friday, we had been able to catch up on the important news - their Oz wedding pics, Rick's Fiji wedding gossip - before the Maddisons rolled up for lunch. Then on to Godstone Farm for the afternoon, so the children could let off steam and the adults could sloth about in the sunshine with further chitchat.

Jet-lagged 30 somethings and lively under 8's all prefer an early bedtime, although house rules from years of experience of this sort of thing is no napping or going to bed for the former before 9pm. So 9.05pm bedtime it was! All the better for early breakfast and off to London the next day!

Finally I've got my new teeth - over three weeks later than originally expected, and over three months since I knocked the originals for six - but they were worth the wait!!
The dentist promised me, when he gave me the lump of plastic that was the temporary bridge, that the permanent ones would be beautiful and I'm really pleased with how they look, and considering the technician had to make them up from nothing, it's amazing what he's achieved for me. I think I like them better than my old teeth!
It just so happened that I went to the hairdresser's yesterday, too; so with my rejuvenated hair and my new smile, I feel like a whole new woman!

Spring must be here - the streets of suburbia are littered with runners training for the Marathon later this month! We will be doing our usual marshalling along the Highway, at the halfway point, stopping the locals crossing the road to get to Shadwell station, so if you are running this year, give us a wave!
I am doing a little street-pounding, however. My friend Irene completed her first Run For Life last year, achieving her target of jogging the whole way round. Not one to rest on her laurels, she wants to do a respectable time this year, so as her mentor, I can do no less! Trouble is, 5K hardly lets you get properly warmed up and into your second wind. Anyway, as my running has been of the leisurely stop/go variety recently, I thought I'd better get up on the occasional morning for a scoot round the block. You can sponsor me if you like.
I love it actually, as the gardens look so pretty just now. The forsythia and berberis are in full riot and there are lovely spring heathers, primroses and other early bloomers too. What's the name of that shrub that doesn't blossom, but is putting out bright red new growth at the moment? Not the peiris, which is still in flower...