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There's a Moral here somewhere

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Linen

Linen Report 15 May 2005 17:47

How stupid am I?

TinaTheCheshirePussyCat

TinaTheCheshirePussyCat Report 15 May 2005 17:55

Is this a rhetorical question, please?

Linen

Linen Report 15 May 2005 18:05

Back at the beginning of the year I sent a half dozen letters to people I found on BT directory enquiries looking for my grandmothers neice who was the informant on her death cert. Two lovely people rang to say sorry they didn't know her & the third turned out to be my second cousin, son of the informant. I was thrilled & we have corresponded & plan to meet in the not too distant future. Wonderfull!!! Friday evening the phone rings & after confirming who I am a lady says, my mother received a letter from you & she is the daughter-in- law of your grandmothers sister. I'm speaking to another second cousin but I am so gobsmacked I don't ask any of the questions I should have asked. I don't know which of the people I wrote to she is & she told me she is off on holiday till July. I did get this cousins address but she lives in Cornwall & her 92yr old mother in the midlands. The one consolation is that she lives just outside St Austell & she should be back by the time I get to take GB there for the handover. I've been kicking myself all day If youv'e been waiting for that, sorry to have kept you waiting. Vivienne

TinaTheCheshirePussyCat

TinaTheCheshirePussyCat Report 15 May 2005 18:27

That's not stupid. That's fantastic. You are allowed to forget a few questions when you are excited! Think of all the things you can ask when she gets back off her holiday though. Great stuff. Well done you.

The Bag

The Bag Report 15 May 2005 18:31

s'ok- you are a human being! There will be other chances I am sure- make some notes and hold them under your nose next time! jess

Linen

Linen Report 15 May 2005 18:46

Thanks for the encouragement Tina & Jess I still feel a fool though Vivienne

Debby

Debby Report 15 May 2005 19:15

Vivienne I did exactly the same! I wrote 3 letters and received a phone call from my dads cousins wife. I was that surprised I just let her do all the talking and asked no questions! She filled me in up to the present (though not with dates) and I never asked her the questions I wanted to ask about her husbands father and other siblings! I just didn't prepare myself for a reply - how stupid! I now daren't bother her again although she did say it was lovely having to think back to the past. Debby

Linen

Linen Report 15 May 2005 19:25

Hi Debby, I wouldn't worry about contacting her again. She must be interested or she wouldn't have contacted you in the first place. I am going to print out a tree relevant to my second cousin as far as I know & send it to her with a request to fill in the gaps that she knows about. Vivienne

Debby

Debby Report 15 May 2005 19:31

Vivienne Yes I think I will. I just can't believe I hadn't prepared a list of questions and kept it close at hand in case anyone replied to my letters. Debby