Perhaps that's more a case of misguided romanticism than any thing else, Syd?

But not everyone's angle is to concentrate on historical 'woes'

That's a wonderful account, Erin.

Did you ever see Lisa Kudrow's Who Do You Think You Are?  She traced eastern European relatives and her meeting reminds me of what you've described here.

Is it a myth that the African-Caribbeans (in particular) were renowned for passing on their history through song, Suze?  I was led to believe - so may be way out of whack here - that they did it in a way to disguise it from their slave masters.  One of my first friends as a kid was from St. Kitts and I can still recall her telling me that story as we sat on the doorstep.

Funny what you can remember from yonks ago...especially when I can't recall last week in full detail!

I always thought all sides of my family (from gt grandparents going back) were just born and bred in the London area.  I got that wrong big time.  There's a long line of Scottish, Irish and Canadian which I'd never known about.  Prior to that it gets more international.

My father was Lithuanian ,when Lithuania got it's freedom it was very important for me to visit and find the other part of my family.

All the family were there to meet me at the airport,it was the most emotional meeting I have ever had and I will never forget.

I was taken to visit with my uncle ,he came out of his house to greet me,he looked just like my deceased Dad.

We could not speak a word to each other,his daughter told me that we were going to the lay flowers at the family grave.We were walking along and my uncle just took my hand,we didn't need words.

I wouldn't be surprised Cosi. Many African tribes have a tradition of passing on oral history..(I know Alex Hailey's account in his novel 'Roots' had several inaccuracies, but that part was real) and villages usually have a designated person that relates the names and antics of all ancestors. That's how I have a rich and colourful idea about my mum's home village (one of my great x loads grannies was a proper slapper who slept her way through the fleets of Portuguese and British sailors that landed on her shores! ).

On my father's side there is also a lot of rich history. His family are descended from Iberian (Sephardi) Jews that were expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 1400's. They went to Turkey and then to the UK in the 1800's. My grandfather still spoke a very ancient form of Spanish that is called Ladino. We have traced relatives to South America and North Africa. One of my distant cousins is Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. My Uncle did most of the research and it really is fascinating, especially the link he has formed to show our lineage from a Biblical prophet who we take our name from.

I love the idea of Roots. It's another name for foundation as far as I'm concerned.

Erin, try this: 

http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-...w/episode-103/24218/

There's a recap but the video isn't available.  It might be on YT though...?

Found it on video surf.Thankyou
http://www.megavideo.com/?v=WVCMXD9P

Yeah (the bold bit above), that's what I was meaning.  I think it's great - so inventive, and what a colourful way to pass on the knowledge.

I remember you telling us about Granny Slapper   Wouldn't it have be fab to have known her!  You have a wonderful ancestry there, Suzy and I'm really glad that your Uncle has managed to document it all.  That's some bedtime story for the kids to hear

Erin..i got goosebumps reading that xx

If I discovered I had "Bad Foundations, Roots" would that make me ................?  

You make your own history, unless you want to use it as an excuse.

Do we spray glitter over good history and shy away from bad history?.......

Do we spray glitter over good history and shy away from bad history?.......

It's all veryMovement of Jah People Cosi  One of the things I love when I've been to Synagogue functions is the toast to the Queen and the UK for taking us in. My family in Turkey used to thank the Sultan in old times for refuge. A time when Muslims and Jews were more brotherly minded.

Aww, my grandad always toasted the Queen at Sunday lunch AND he wore a collar and tie to eat his lunch.  He was born and bred in Lambeth and the furthest he ever travelled was for a day trip to the south coast.  He said after his run in with the Germans he'd seen enough of France and the continent to last a lifetime.  Funny bugger.

No.  It's just that the victor always writes the notes for the history books.

The scholars then unravel it and dig out the truth.  Eventually.

I don't understand what you mean in the bit I've highlighted, Syd.

Would that make you what..????

Hahaha. And guess where this wandering minstral ended up? Well Lambeth borders to be precise. From Sub-Sahara, to the Spanish Inquisition and I'm doing the Lambeth Walk Oi. Exotic, innit? 

I don't know, .............If I found out I was the great great Grand daughter of Adolf Hitler.........how would I  feel about me?.....how would I feel people would perceive me?.......  

No idea, Syd.  I suppose it would depend on whether you'd inherited his mentally deranged evil b@stard ways.  And/or if you'd known him in the first place.

Well that's one word for it

That said, don't you be dissin' my manor.

Fancy a bowl of jellied eels and a quick jaunt down The Cut?

Oh for gawd sake.......I've gone all round the roundabouts........just to say.....It gets on my wick, when people try to endear themselves to me, by telling me they have "Roots" in common with me.......................... 

Oh for gawd sake.......I've gone all round the roundabouts........just to say.....It gets on my wick, when people try to endear themselves to me, by telling me they have "Roots" in common with me.......................... 

Who's trying to endear themselves, syd? 

Barack Obama..

Barack Obama..

I'm sorry.. I know you're serious, but I laughed here.    I just got a vision of him half pissed on a bar stool trying to chat you up

Barack Obama..

I'm sorry.. I know you're serious, but I laughed here.    I just got a vision of him half pissed on a bar stool trying to chat you up

....LOL.......

It was his distant Irish cousin that wrote to him and invited him to the village for a pint of Guinness. Should he not have gone, or mentioned it?

Pfft.  You could have it worse.  Ever heard of Sarah Palin...?

Perhaps he should have gone, and not mentioned it................I have to yawn at the Guinness sipping photo shoots................  

I'm sorry.. I know you're serious, but I laughed here.    I just got a vision of him half pissed on a bar stool trying to chat you up

No....tell me more....

There were about 200 news crews there Syd 

That's what makes me want to wipe the froth off my upper lip Suzy...............

Awww, Syd. Did John F. Kennedy bother you as well?