Have you been watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver?

Australia has some superbly trained athletes who have had to make a daily commitment to train for sports which are not common in our country. Little by little, week by week, they trained to reach their Olympic dream.

Inspired by these athletes I am offering a free family history course to help you start collecting your family stories and save them for the future. The March Memories Marathon gives you an idea a day for the whole month – 31 ideas and hints to inspire and encourage you.

Taking less than 30 minutes a day, you can focus on your own family and their life stories. Family stories -everyone has them. They tell where you come from. They hold the secrets to who you are. They are how your family came to be the family it is today.

Have you wanted to save some of your family’s special stories for the future but just haven’t got around to it? Now is your chance to do something about it.

Register for the March Memories Marathon and learn from the comfort of your own computer – it’s free, it’s fun and it’s rewarding.

How does it work?

Each day during March, you will be emailed a daily tip/idea on collecting and/or writing family stories along with a brief (15/20 minute) skill session related to the tip.

By the end of March, you will have thirty one family history tips, plus a collection of personal and family stories which will have got you well on your way to saving your stories for future family generations.

Register by clicking on the link below to send me a quick email. If you have any special questions then I’ll be pleased to help where I can.

Contact Annie here and don’t forget to leave your name, email and your address.

Look for the first email to arrive on Monday 1^st March.

“LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED”

Paul McCartney summed up Valentine’s Day with the lyrics of his song “Love is All You Need”. The universal day of lovers need not be an expensive, commercial time but rather one of expressing your love for those people you love and cherish.

Why not write each other a love letter? A letter is a precious thing, a first-hand account of another person’s innermost thoughts at a given moment of time; a tangible record of direct, open communication between the writer and the reader.

A letter travels some distance from the author to the recipient, the envelope plastered with stamps, perhaps franked with the names of faraway places. Your letter is able to pass through time zones, across borders, sometimes via air or sea……..travelling from distant places you have only heard about! Words travel well, tucked safely inside their snug envelope, and often the receiver will take a few moments to sit down in a quiet place, perhaps with a cup of tea, before slitting open the envelope to read the precious contents.

Do you have a sense of excitement and anticipation when you hold the envelope in your hand? Does it contain good, much anticipated news, or maybe bad, or sad, news? Perhaps you sniff the envelope to gain a quick scent of the origin of the writer, or maybe the envelope has a lipstick-stained kiss on it or the initials S.W.A.L.K. (Sealed with a loving kiss)

Writers of love letters carefully select the words used in a handwritten letter as they seem to carry more weight that an impersonal typed letter. Reading words that have been scratched into the page or perhaps blurred when tears made the ink run really has a different kind of emotional impact on the reader. Consider also, the difference between letters handwritten with a fountain pen (perhaps in violet or sepia ink) to those printed via a computer printer.

One of the greatest writers of love letters was the late US President, Ronald Reagan, who was prolific in declaring his love for his wife, Nancy. Printed below is a letter her wrote to her while he was in office.

Aboard Air Force One
4^th March 1983

Dear First Lady,

I know tradition has it that on this day I place cards, Happy Anniversary cards, on your breakfast tray. But things are somewhat mixed up. I substituted a gift and delivered it a few weeks ago.

Still this is the day, the day that marks 31 years of such happiness as comes to few men. I told you once that it was like an adolescent’s dream of what marriage should be like. That hasn’t changed.

You know I love the ranch but these two days made it plain I only love it when you are there. Come to think of it, that’s true of every place and every time. When you aren’t there, I’m no place; just lost in space and time.

I more than love you. I’m not whole without you. You are life itself to me. When you are gone, I’m waiting for you to return so I can start living again.

Happy Anniversary and thank you for 31 wonderful years. I love you.

Your grateful husband,      Ronnie

After the late President’s death, Mrs Reagan collected all of the shopping bags (she’d stored Ronnie’s letters in these) which she had printed into a book, “I Love You, Ronnie”, with the proceeds of sale to be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association of America.

Are your letters gathered together in different sized bundles and tied together with various coloured ribbons?  Many families do not realise what a treasure trove is tucked away in assorted shoe and glove boxes. They should ensure that each letter is protected by being placed in a special (Mylar) sheet and stored in archival boxes – it is part of your family heritage.

Have you considered writing a love story for your lover, with the two of you as the leading characters? Print it off on some special paper and tie it with a red ribbon. Perhaps it could be the story of how you both met and fell in love – amazingly you will both have different recollections of this event! Imagine how delighted your grandchildren will be to discover how strong the bond of love was when you were younger, as they see you with grey hair and glasses!

Scanning your love letters and posting them into your family vault in the Treasury of Heritage is an ideal way to store your love letters, photos, memorabilia (such as heart shaped Valentine’s cards) and any other family love tokens you have discovered.  Make a start by sorting through your letters and saving them as a part of your family heritage in your personal Treasury of Heritage vault. Your family will be enthralled to read of their parents or grandparents love for each other in years to come.

“Love is a promise, Love is a souvenir,

Once given, never forgotten, Never let it disappear”

John Lennon, singer/songwriter.

For many people, the Christmas and New Year celebrations, where many of us catch up with distant family members, ignite the urge to save their family stories to leave as an enduring legacy for their grandchildren and beyond.Did this cross your mind and is this one of your goals for 2010?

How do you get started?  Where do you begin? How do I break down family barriers?  But I’ve never written more than a shopping list in my life!

1. Let’s start at the very beginning, with your immediate family – your husband, wife or partner, both sets of parents, brothers and sisters and your own children.
2. Note down (a note book will do) all the basic statistics like birth day, time and place, education, employment and where each person lives at present. Allocate a separate page for each person (however don’t be surprised if you end up keeping separate files for the main characters whose lives intertwine with yours).
3. If you intend collating all of the stories, photos and other printed memorabilia, be aware that you will need to digitize these items by scanning them before they can be up-loaded into your family computer. Scanning fragile items such as newspaper cuttings will not damage them, and, once scanned, these items can be easily accessed by other family members.
4. Draw up a timeline (a timetable of your life listing important events in the order in which they occurred) for the various members of your family and then do some background searches of world or national events they may have experienced (World War Two, JFK’s assassination etc). Make a list of questions to ask that person about their understanding of that time, e.g. where were your parents during the first moon landing?
5. Do you or your family have old audio or home movie clips? Again, it is important to have these digitized and uploaded into your computer, where other relatives may share them, resulting in a more comprehensive and multi-faceted story. Don’t forget the family photo albums – pick a few of the  best and  get them scanned -  it’s easy and well worthwhile.
6. What about family heirlooms? They often have poignant or romantic stories behind them which should also be preserved for future generations – Grandpa’s war medals from WWII, Nan’s diamond engagement ring, the old battered sea chest covered with the names of ports all around the world……….

Start gathering all of the memory aids from throughout your family and commence writing, talking or filming the stories that you (and other members of your family) associate with your own unique family.

Once you get started, and realise how many amazing stories are linked to your kith and kin, you will wonder why you didn’t commence this lifetime legacy much earlier.

With the technology we have today it is so much easier too, short stories, quick audio memories, 2-3 minute videos, digital photos – all can be uploaded to you computer and shared with  family.

So it doesn’t matter if all you have written is a shopping list – does it? It’s all about starting and collecting the stories not about writing biographies.

Food and family meals are a key ingredient in any family history – just think about the memories remembered by a taste of Dad’s famous BBQ sauce or the mouth-warming aroma of Grandma’s freshly baked apple pie. Mmmh, delicious! Why not celebrate those unforgettable dishes, and the family traditions surrounding them, by creating a personalised recipe book for your family?

Ask all family members and old friends and neighbours to contribute their favourite recipes to your family recipe book, and then share it at a family gathering such as Christmas, Gran’s birthday, an anniversary…. or, make it a special wedding, graduation or leaving home gift. Here are some tips:

• Send requests for recipes and information about the book you are collating. Ask each donor for the memories they associate with each dish, eg. how they came by the recipe and when it was served. Set a deadline to encourage donors to get back to you.
• Add some fun to your recipe book by gathering extra information, and a photo of the donor, such as the culture it reflects or how it originated. Remember to translate old measurements in old family favourite.
• For an easy, cleanable recipe book, purchase a plastic coated folder and place each recipe inside a plastic sleeve, as drips and spots can be wiped off with a damp cloth.
• Another idea is to create the book using a digital photo-book service such as Snapfish, Shutterfly or MyCanvas. Depending on the size and type, books cost around $25.
• If you plan to make a large number of books, consider a self-publisher such as HeritageCookbook.com.
• Don’t forget to add a contents page to make recipe location easier and add a page from you, describing why you collated this book.

What is your favourite family recipe? Why does it hold such significance? Is it only made at certain time of the year? I’d love to hear your thoughts about this topic.

Do you find that life seems to just rumble by in a rush of everyday events, making it difficult to recall or identify personal significant milestones?

Drawing up your own personal timeline is an invaluable resource for remembering, recording and creating a solid framework on which to set out the special events, lifetime milestones and influential people in your life.

While the internet and local libraries can provide details of world or local events to use as background for your life story, the details of your personal life are what will make your life story come alive and resonate with your family, now and in future generations.

• Can you name the people in your life who have most influenced you?
• Do you remember how certain family crises impacted on your life?
• Have you identified both the major and minor milestones in your life?
• Which early decisions were either right or wrong for you?
• Did you choose to travel the main highway or did you veer down the road less travelled?

By drawing up your own timeline, these and many other personal details of your life will become evident, adding depth, intensity and colour to the rich tapestry of your life story.

Want to know how to start your timeline?

Make a comment below or:

Contact Annie Payne via               www.historyfromtheheart.com.au

Have you, like me, found that you have unconsciously repeated some of your Dad’s habits and characteristics? He has so many roles in our day to day lives which are rarely acknowledged. Father’s Day, 6th September in Australia, is rapidly approaching and now is a great time to make some preparations for something more meaningful than the same old socks, jocks and slippers.

This year why not give Dad the ‘Star’ treatment and make a movie about his unique life? It’s easier than you think!

• If you have your own video camera, this will be easy, otherwise consider borrowing or hiring one for the day.
• Prepare a script, inviting the whole family to add their input.
• Gather some photos of some of the highlights of Dad’s life.
• Will you needs costumes for some family members to play other roles?
• What about props like Dad’s sporting cups, his Scout hat, his umpire’s whistle?
• Have at least one rehearsal beforehand to ensure that everyone understands their role and lines. Get everyone to tell Dad a story from his life.

Why not select a couple of Dad’s favourite songs and make a music video with the entire family?
On Father’s Day, after serving him his favourite food for lunch, settle everyone down to watch Dad’s life unfold on the screen. The result will become a cherished family memory with a great video to watch time after time.

Or try making a CD of ‘Dad’ songs including such hits as ‘Leader of the Band’ by Dan Fogelberg, ‘Dance with My Father’ by Luther Vandross, ‘Father and Son’ by Cat Stevens to name a few personal favourites.

Here are some more songs to get you going:

• ‘My Father’s House’, Bruce Springsteen
• ‘Daddy’, Beyonce
• ‘Oh, My Papa’, Eddie Fisher
• ‘In My Father’s Eyes’, Amy Grant
• ‘Father and Daughter’, Paul Simon
• ‘Papa, Can You Hear Me?’, Barbra Streisand
• ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’, Karla Bonoff
• ‘Don’t Cry Daddy’, Elvis
• ‘A Song for Dad’, Keith Urban
• ‘There Goes My Life’, Kenny Chesney
• ‘A Boy Named Sue’, Johnny Cash
• ‘My Father’s Eyes’, Eric Clapton
• ‘Arms Open Wide’, Creed
• ‘In the Living Years’, Mike and the Mechanics
• ‘Daddy’s Home’, Cliff Richard
• ‘Ships’, Barry Manilow

Go on, spoil Dad this year with a unique gift just for him!

A friend ‘tweeted’ me this morning, telling me that her frangipani tree, in Florida, was flowering and that reminded her of me, living here in Western Australia.

This comment set off a chain reaction in my memory, as slivers from my early childhood in Brisbane popped into my head:

• the perfumed frangipani tree outside my bedroom window at Clayfield
• blossoms in a dish on the dining table for Sunday lunch at Nan’s
• threading the flowers onto a piece of string to wear as a necklace……..my memories of those carefree childhood days were easily revived by the fragrant frangipani tree

What fragrances/aromas can you use to ignite your memory?

• freshly baked bread or apple pie?
• the perfume Mum wore when she went out in the evening?
• the smell of Dettol that Mum used to dab on your cut knee?
• the smell of burning autumn leaves, reminding you of grandpa’s garden?

Your nose is a useful, reliable aid to reviving early childhood memories – just inhale the aroma/perfume, close your eyes and let your mind wander back to when you first noticed ‘the’ smell. Then let the other associations flood back into your mind – where you were, who else was there, what you were doing……… those old childhood memories will tumble out, ready to be written down in your journal or personal history. Get your nose twitching today!

Do you want to make a start on writing your personal or family history but have difficulty in remembering events or people from your past?

Here are 10 practical tips to get you started:

1. Draw up a timeline – a note book is good, with a new page for each year. Fill in the events/people you remember under each year’s heading.
2. Carry a notebook with you to jot down the thoughts that percolate up into your consciousness, once you start your project. Write them down and add them to the timeline book.
3. Dig out old photographs and ask yourself the who, where, when, what type questions as you look at the picture. Write your conclusions down, in pencil, on the back of the photo.
4. Select a family object (the family teapot, Gran’s lace fan) and hold it in your hands, trying to recall the first time you saw it; who was holding it, what were they saying about it, where did it come from; how many other people have owned it? Write your answers down.
5. When trying to recall a certain era, why not play some music from those days? Put on the music, close your eyes and let the music release the memories of where you were, who you were with and all other associated memories.
6. How about using your sense of smell to uncover old memories? Open a bottle of Vanilla essence and remember Nan’s baking days; or perhaps the smell of Dettol reminds you of when you broke your leg and went to hospital.
7. Think about the first time you tasted something, maybe eating an ice cream. Was it in a cone or a dish? Did mum make it, what flavour was it? Did you buy it at a shop? How much did it cost?
8. Do you remember the texture and feel of some things from your past – Dad’s scratchy face in the morning, the swish of Mum’s taffeta evening dress, the snuggly warmth of your eiderdown?
9. Think about some of the personal things you associate with certain people: Dad’s gold watch, Nana’s apron, Mum’s black handbag and then remember special times associated with each object.
10. Family memorabilia – cards, letters, post cards from holidays past, passports, luggage labels, school reports or books – all of these have a story to tell to add interest, texture and depth to the fascinating story of your life.