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Nov 10, 20246 min read
Ernest Fiset: A French-Canadian Saskatchewan Farmer in WWI (Part I)
My great-grandfather, Ernest Fiset, died when I was sixteen years old, too young to ask him many questions. But over the past few years,...
Oct 9, 20244 min read
Abraham Fiset: New Beginnings in New France
Embark on a journey to 17th century Quebec when 20-year-old Abraham Fiset, an engagé (indentured servant) arrives in New France to start a n
Sep 14, 20243 min read
Abraham Fiset: From Dieppe to New France
François-Abraham Fiset was nineteen years old when he sailed from his Normandy homeland to the fledgling colony of New France in 1653.
Aug 26, 20245 min read
From Shetland Sailor to Vancouver Island Coal Miner
Gilbert Inkster left Shetland to sail in the merchant service, then jumped ship on Vancouver Island in 1888. Read more about his journey
Jun 9, 20244 min read
Remembering D-Day, 80 years later
While visiting my parents this week we watched several news documentaries about the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the landing of the...
May 3, 20242 min read
Pickling food and preserving traditions
Pickled beets, tomato jam, zucchini pickle, and pickled onions... preserving the traditions of my grandmothers.
Mar 25, 20244 min read
Special services in the little kirk
The first time I visited my great-grandfather’s birthplace of North Roe, I walked into the little Methodist church, still standing after...
Mar 19, 20243 min read
This is not a pipe
I suppose it could be considered strange to have a vintage tobacco pipe resting on my shelf. It’s a relic, an heirloom that I got from my...
Mar 14, 20243 min read
A walk to Roermill
Remembering a journey with my friend, Magnus, to Roermill, North Roe, where my Shetland ancestors worked and walked.
Mar 8, 20242 min read
In honour of my female ancestors
On International Women’s Day, I’d like to honour a few of the women in my family tree, the mother, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and...
Jan 25, 20244 min read
Peerie Peter's Bible
It’s Robbie Burns day, so to commemorate I thought I'd share the following story. My great-grandfather, Peter Inkster (1879-1958) of...
Nov 6, 20231 min read
Before Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
I was looking through my grannie's recipes (Kathleen Hattie Inkster, 1914-1984) and found this blank invoice form from the 1940s for Dr....
Oct 24, 20231 min read
Writing the Past Anthology 2023
For the past few years I've participated in a family history writing group through the Surrey Family Search Centre. Once a month we get...
Sep 21, 20233 min read
Revisiting the Haa of Skelberry
See that house peaking over the hill in the first photo? My great-grandfather, Peter Inkster was born there, at the Haa of Skelberry, in...
Sep 19, 20231 min read
Another day of research
The sun spilled out over the voe as we drove along the banks this morning. It was so radiant that we had to stop and take a photo… this...
Sep 14, 20232 min read
A day at Fethaland
Today we travelled back to a time when the men had to fish to the landlord during the summer months. Three miles north of North Roe,...
Nov 11, 20224 min read
"Daring chances must be taken"
Remembrance Day always holds a special place in my heart as I ponder the sacrifices that so many men and women made as they said goodbye...
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