Looks like I'll be having a new role. I've felt a bit helpless at times at not being able to do very much to actively help the Ukrainian situation. However, following a shout out on Twitter (X) for English speakers to mentor Ukrainians I signed up for this, as something I can do, and gladly.

I've just had a short verification interview via Zoom, to ensure that I was a) a real person, b) could speak decent English  , and c) check I had a sufficient connection, and am now in the process of waiting for a week or two to be matched up with Ukrainians who wish to perfect, and become confident in their use of, English.

I don't know if the Twitter post will show for people -
https://x.com/maria_drutska/status/1762 … 75396?s=20 but this is the Mentor application form mentioned in the post.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIp … form?pli=1

I'm not a teacher but just having someone to chat to and stretch their vocabulary and grammar still makes me useful. As a plus, it can be a bit of a two-way street and I can hear Ukrainian spoken. Might check up on the pronunciation of a few swear words...

It sounds as if the more the merrier, so if anyone has a bit of spare time...

Although, of course, if your non-dominant hand is out of action, as in a cast for a few weeks as happened with me back in 2012, you do actually realise just how much you do use it.

Alas.

Alan did sound like quite the character - just the kind of person I would have enjoyed interacting with.

I have been to a number of funerals now where emphasis seemed to be placed on humour and celebrating the life, rather than mourning the death. I planned my own funeral many years ago - it just needs someone to direct things as I'll obviously be unavailable, and I suspect that will be something the few who are likely to attend will find 'interesting'.

When this kind of thing happens, it makes us realise how ephemeral life really is, and that it probably is a good idea to live each day to the full, along with your loved ones. I lost a very dear friend last year. He died in June, but I only found out about it in November as I wasn't involved in the online old work network. His sister had hoped that I would have been told by someone as she didn't have my details. But I had spoken with John just a few weeks earlier on his birthday, and we had joked about things as we always did. In one way I was sad that I hadn't had the opportunity to say farewell at his funeral, but sometimes things are just meant to be the way they are.

Our loved ones always live on, in our hearts and our memories. If we have been able to scrapbook things that remind us of them, then that too helps them to live on for those further down the line.

I hope all goes well and Alan receives the most memorable of send-offs.

Hi again, Lon. Not got back to royalty personally as yet, but as I've always had a love of history since I was about 10 years old, and the late 15th century (War of the Roses) and the 16th century have always been  my preferred eras. It would be great if I could find ancestors who were involved in some of the events I have read about (and hopefully on the Yorkist side re the WOR ) but I suspect this is a new interest that can carry on indefinitely.

Another beautiful page, and I agree, CraftArtist really is a very great piece of software, allowing someone like me and you to come up with our own unique pieces of work. I do a lot more hands-on crafting nowadays, but do return to CA every so often to produce something that I can send online.

And also like you, I too am really pleased that Alfred has taken the time and effort to bring us this forum. Really appreciated, Alfred.

You're welcome, Lon.

Another beautiful page.

That's a lovely page, Lon, and a lovely story. I've done a couple of public speaking events, work-related, and they were really scary so doing a piano recital is a great achievement.

I know what you mean about making memorials of events. I started on family tree research in summer last year. After a break for festive crafting and all that, I'm about to scramble back up into the branches again.

I've used CraftArtist to make up a photobook of old family photos found online in the Ancestry trees for my mother and her cousin.

I also use it for producing versions of my family tree to pass on to other family members. I'd rather not post an example as the pages have details of living family members so don't wish to invade their privacy.

However, I did get really excited when it looked as if an ancestor might have been a friend of King Richard III, and I made the following page for my own enjoyment. Alas, deeper investigation revealed at least a couple of disconnects, certainly at the supposed 'gateway ancestor' Mary Metcalf. My cousin in Australia has obviously just taken it for granted that other people have got it right, but now I'm in the process of checking every person I come across on 'hints' and many just do not gel.

Still, it's keeping me out of mischief.

Sounds about right!