Hi everyone, Thank you for the welcome mat. My name is Shirley and I am actually an old Trivvie who joined when this list first started. I thought I would pop in and see how everyone was doing so a special hello to any of the original members, Howard it is good to see you are still writing such interesting posts. Anyway I was born in Lewisham, London in 1937, we were bombed out in the Blitz of September 1941 and moved to Shepton Mallet, Somerset. I think a recurring theme of village life is the freedom of our childhood, being able to roam through the countryside beats video games any day. We moved around a lot from age 8 to 16 when we ended up in Horley, Surrey.I worked in London and then married and had babies. In 1966 my husband remarked on one Sunday afternoon that there was a job in the paper in America. I said "why not write and apply" One small sentence that totally changed my life. In 1967 we came to America and I now live in Maryland on the East Coast about 80 miles from Washington and not far from Camp David. I return to England every other year and became interested in my family history about 10 years ago. My main interest besides my Grandchildren is my garden and this has been curtailed lately because of a wonky knee and other parts not working like they used to!!!!!!!!!!! I look after my Mother who is 96 and was born within the sound of Bow Bells. I hope I can stay a while, and look forward to hearing life experiences!!! Shirley who still feels like a Brit.