I know a little about a lot of different things and am always happy to learn a little more. I'm the Quiz Queen, and have somehow managed to store all kinds of strange information in my head.
I have an ambition to go "Church-Crawling" in search of ever more ancestor memorials.
My Big Thing, obviously, is Genealogy.
I started doing my family tree in about 1978 and have been fairly consistent in that since that time.
The last eight years has seen a massive shift backwards on my mothers maternal grandmother's side that joins me to the Plantagenet Royal house, and further back in history to Charlemagne and beyond.
I now help others rediscover their English roots.
I love museums, cathedrals and churches and all kinds of historical architecture etc. I believe passionately in the importance of libraries and archives being available to all.
My work has already been cited in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as a new biographical source on the life of Sir Martin Folkes, my Great, great, great, great, great, great Grand-Uncle. Recently I have also been credited as a new source on the lives of Francis Peter Plowden and Archbishop William Wake. This is actually a fairly awesome achievement for a non-academic
Music
I'm a huge Weird Al Yankovic fan. (waves to Al) He absolutely rules.
(Could you tell?)
I used to be a massively obsessive music fan, but I gave it up because too often it adversely affected my mood, particularly invoking painful memories and contributed to depression, so until I discovered Weird Al, my world had fallen silent for about 5 years. I have now learned that good music doesn't have to be so serious and "Important" and its nice to know there are people out there who do what they do for the fun and the love of it, rather than be some sort of contemporary prophet, or arbiter of "cool" or whatever.
Humour is a powerful healing force... and when it's wrapped in top quality music of every genre executed by the best in the business, what more do you need?
I am currently raving about the music of my friend Pamela Richardson.. Please, those of you who enjoy grown-up, intelligent and tuneful music, check her out. I don't think you will be disappointed. She is also a VERY nice lady, please visit her MySpace page
I have got to a point where I can enjoy music again thanks to Weird Al and to people like this lovely guy, another dear friend, John Rose....
Mad props to DJ John Rose of UIC Radio.org for getting me back into being interested in listening to a lot of wonderful music again through his "Hidden Treasures" show which airs on a Monday (afternoon for him, evening for me) Check it out... Get educated about all that rich vein of music that is out there but doesn't get all the mainstream airplay and mix in a generous helping of breathtaking classics
This is the best Weird Al parody song, from the best Weird Al album.
THIS IS JUST ABOUT PERFECT. Thank you Al!
Since getting broadband, I have been getting more and more into watching amazing Flash animations like these on the web. In keeping with my theme, and with the gracious permission of their creator, Ryan Krzak, I am proud to have these two gems. Sit back and enjoy!!
Favourite Films
It used to be "Withnail and I" and I do still find it funny, but I also appreciate its tragic implications, so I no longer rejoice in it, despite its masterpiece status.
So now? Well you can't go far wrong with Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, can you?
and I love the Harry Potter films
and any Jane Austen adaptation going.
I'm also a big fan of Studio Ghibli output (Hayao Miyazaki)
Television
Anything with Bill Bailey in... (Check him out, those who haven't heard of him. He is truly a class act.)
Here you can view Bill's live show "Part Troll"
.. I love costume dramas, although I feel the standard is certainly slipping with revisionist dramatizations. I love anything about history, obviously.
I seem to watch far too much of "Friends" because it's the only thing my daughter and I can find as a compromise between our wildly differing tastes
Books
Ahh.. I'm not a big fiction fan. I like History and silly things like old phone directories, Burke's Peerage etc. I have a great 1864 edition of Chambers "Book of Days" that I always enjoy looking at. Likewise, I have a complete run of "The Strand Magazine" containing all the original publication of the Sherlock Holmes stories
If I do want to read a story, Jane Austen is my "default setting" I do love children's literature though, and I was there at midnight to get my Harry Potter books. I love all the old classic children's stories like "Anne of Green Gables" and "Little House in the Big Woods" etc
Heroes
Do you know what? Take a look at my Friends on here... Theyre pretty much all people I both like and admire tremendously. As well as musicians there are artists and photographers and people who are just incredible inspirational people; courageous, hardworking, unselfish, generous and kind. For whatever reason, I am so privileged to be able to say they are friends of mine
OK lets look at some more nice pictures now...LOL!
Ludo No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please post this as your status Posted at 8:48 PM Sep 5 view more
I live in Southern England with my daughter. I am currently single (divorced in 1999).
I am involved in genealogical research, and have a great interest in all aspects of History and trying to understand and connect with the lives of our predecessors.
This is something I get pretty nerdy about! :-)
I hope to write a book when I can. I had some poems published a long while ago, and have recently started looking at those again, and I don't think they're too bad. I'm not writing any new poetry at the moment, but I am looking at expanding the writing thing, hopefully into freelance work and providing content for websites, doing typing and proof-reading and other ways of using my communication skills for profit, with a bit of luck.
I am looking about for inspiration to get me out of the "Mom" rut a little, now that my daughter is growing up.
I have met a lot of really amazing people in the past year and hopefully made some real long term friends. A lot of the friends of youth are dead or elsewhere, and it's great to get to know new people, so
Getting the WBUL treatment from Weird Al. I had come all the way from England just to see him, the first time I was ever in an aeroplane even..and I wasn't disappointed. Worth every penny and I'll be back as soon as humanly possible.
Weird Al. You are the best
Weird Al - Internet Leaks
Who I'd like to meet: Nice pleasant people! Weird Al fans, Bright intelligent people, creative people, Genealogists, Historians, anyone at all really!:-)
LC Pavilion, Columbus Ohio. Sun 20 July 2008
Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania.Wed 23 July 2008
On the 20th and 23rd July I realised my ultimate dream of meeting Weird Al Yankovic, something I had to fly to the States especially to accomplish.
I also met all of his band and that was just as much of a thrill as I had a chance to really get to know them and hang out. What a bunch of nice people. Thanks to Al himself for making me feel so special at the Columbus gig and to Jim, Steve, Jon and also Rubén for being so very nice to me. You all rock my sox off. Thanks guys.
My friend, the AWESOME Jim Kimo West. In my opinion, the most versatile and talented guitarist in the world
My dear friend Stephen Jay; bassist and multi-instrumentalist, polymath, Renaissance Man, musical genius and all round good guy
I'd love to hear from anyone seeking advice on tracing their family tree, especially English connections. I may be able to do a look-up for you.
Please, no offence, but I'm not really looking for a relationship; also, if you contact me, and your profile is pretty much empty and tells me nothing about you, please do not expect a response. ... Sorry. Oh, and call me a pedant, or whatever, but I hate "txt spk", bad spelling and grammar or SHOUTING!! so don't do it
I need to find a job. HELP!. I need to get money to get me back to the USA asap
Nah didn't get married. Oh well...how are you doing and what have you been up to? I see you made it to Alfest. I wish I could have been there but Disney keeps a short leash on us.
The power of positive thinking is mighty powerful. You should come over and spend some time with your auntie. There are great jobs available for those who are as intelligent as you.
Hi Lou! I just looked at all of you pics from CA. Looks like you had a wonderful time. I'm so glad you got to go. What did you think of CA? It's been a long time since I've been there, but I always felt that California had it's own feel. Very different from any where else in the world.
Aw, thank you so much, Louise! You made me laugh more than once, and I can't tell you how much I needed every one of those laughs! I was so happy to meet you. Thank you for coming out for my party! ((hugs))
It was so nice to actually get to say hello to you in person tonight at Kev's show! I'm sorry you guys didn't stick around longer and we didn't get to chat at all. But I hope you have fun at ALFest tomorrow and the rest of your stay in Cali!
So glad you liked the music! I hope you're having a great time. Make sure to get to the beach while you're here! Down in OC, Laguna is nice or the South Bay beaches in LA-Hermosa, Manhattan
Hi Louise, Just wanted to add my two cents about haircuts. I call them trims, because that's all that I let them do. It keeps your hair healthy. As for the songs that I sent your way; I'm curious as to why you can only listen to five of them in the U.K. Can you enlighten me on that, miss smarty pants?
Yes, Skipper Dan is great. At this point I can't figure out new original I like the most... maybe I should wait for the last two to come out before I pass judgement!
But Skipper Dan is just awesome. I hope some more of the real Al fans find the video page and talk some sense into those "haters." I guess I should thank you for retweeting my tweet on Twitter recently! It's only natural to return a thanks!
(I've never typed so many variations of a birds noise before... wow! haha)
Hi Louise, Thanks so much for your comment on my photo. You must be beside yourself with excitement about your upcoming trip. Have a great weekend. I send you much love and light. xox Char
hi ludo you ok done anything today? ive been band practise its so awsome we are doing so well and the band im in we've only been together for like a month thats all and we are rocking oh yh lol anyways check out our profile if u want to we havent got tracks up but our page is looking much better just thought i would leave a comment see how u are take care ludo from john at not quite concussed
