Hi Listers, Came across this recently. I hope you enjoy reading it! A Family Historian's Lament (Author Unknown) I've been doing my Family History for nearly 30 years, diligently tracing my illustrious forbears, from Pigeon Lake to Peterborough, Penrith to Penzance, my merry band of ancestors has led me quite a dance. There's cooks from Kent and guards from Gwent and chimney sweeps from Chester. There's even one daft fisherman lived all his life in Leicester. There's no one rich and famous, no not even well-to-do, though a second cousin twice removed once played in goal for Crewe. I've haunted Record Offices from Gillingham to Jarrow, the little grey cells of my mind would humble Hercule Poirot. I've deciphered bad handwriting that would shame a 3 year old, and brought black sheep back into the fold. My bride of just three minutes I left standing in the church, as I nipped into the graveyard to do a spot of quick research. Eventually I found an Uncle, sixty years deceased, that was far more satisfying than a silly wedding feast. After three weeks of wedded bliss, my wife became despondent, she named the Pulic Record Office as co-respondent. I didn't even notice when she packed her bags and went, I was looking for my Great Grandad's will, who died in Stoke on Trent. But now my 30 year obsession is lying in the bin, last Tuesday week I heard some news that made me pack it in. 'Twas my darling mother, who was not long for this earth, casually informed me they adopted me at birth! Regards Michael from Lancashire