What's in a name?

* Don is a mate of mine. I cannot stand people who think they're worse off than everybody else.
Don is brilliant. He had a bad accident just before Christmas where he lost his voice and both legs. Does he make a song and dance about it?... Does he heck!


What's in a name? We can find out meanings of names from books, from conversation and especially looking on the Internet. I looked at the potential origins of the 'Nickisson' name in my Blog 'What's in a Word? back in March 2011.

But, what really is in a name? Is it just what the word means, is it how its pronounced or is it what the name became?




Nelson Mandela. South African born in 1918, sentenced to life imprisonment in 1962, convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state, released in 1990. Opened negotiations with the then president of South Africa to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994. Became president of South Africa 1995 - 1999. He received more than 250 honours, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, often described as "the father of the nation". He died on the 5th of December 2013

A name that will not be forgotten, remembered by the world.

Paul William Walker IV. Born in 1973 and became a well known film actor. In 2001, his breakthrough role was in the successful film 'The Fast and the Furious', an American street racing film. He was filming Fast and Furious 7' when he was tragically killed in November 2013. He was leaving an event for his Walker's charity, 'Reach Out Worldwide for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines', when he was involved in a car crash.

A name remembered by his film audience and for his charity work.

Edwin Roberts. My Uncle Ted died Thursday last week (5th Dec). He lived in Kempston, Bedfordshire, with my Auntie Win and they have three daughters, Lynne, Susan and Pauline. I remember when I was younger, with my brother and sisters, we would go on holiday to their house, his dad had a caravanette. Uncle Ted was quite a strict person, enjoyed gardening but I vividly remember his smile. I saw my Uncle Ted and Auntie Win before we left for Australia. He still had that smile, especially when we reminisced about the past.

A name remembered by family and friends.

* A couple were Christmas shopping. The shopping centre was packed - as the wife walked through one of the shops she was surprised when she looked around to find that her husband was nowhere to be seen.
She was quite upset because they had a lot to do. She became so worried that she called him on her mobile to ask him where he was. In a quiet voice he said, "Do you remember the jewellers we went into about five years ago where you fell in love with that diamond necklace that we couldn't afford, and I told you that I would get it for you one day?"

The wife choked up and started to cry and said "Yes, I do remember that shop."

He replied, "Well, I'm in the pub next door."


What's in a name?

In my last Blog, Creating New Memories I started to look at the Birmingham branch of the Nickisson Family Tree. Charles Nickisson (1805-1864) and his wife Elizabeth Oseland (nee Barratt)(c1806-1875) started the branch when they married in 1832 and they had six children.
I told the story of Charles, Elizabeth and their children, Thomas, Ann, Robert, Frederick, Emma and Charles Edwin in my previous Blog. So who are the next generation?

At the moment I only know of two of Charles and Elizabeth's children getting married and having children.

Robert Nickisson (c1837-1880) and Susannah Whateley (c1835-1890) had a daughter Caroline Nickisson (1865-1926) who lived with her parents until 1891. She moved out of the family home to Prescott Street, Birmingham, moving on to New Spring Road. She then moved Warwick Road, Birmingham after she married William Thomas Banford in 1903.
Caroline seemed to be an enterprising lady as she had her own business as a Draper, working on military ornaments and brace and buckle making (suspenders apparently!). The business was in the name of Carrie Nickisson and Carrie Banford after she married.
William Thomas Banford (1876-1958) was born in Birmingham and was ten years younger than his wife. William was also in business running a cycle repair shop, he trained as a tool setter earlier in his life. He married a Laura Williams following the death of Caroline in 1926.
Caroline and William had no children.


Charles Edwin Nickisson (1845-1871) and Mary Elizabeth Hallam (1846-1905) had four children, Polly, Alice Jane, Charles Edwin and Fanny Emily.

Polly Nickisson (1866-?) lived with her parents but sometime before the 1881 census, she had moved out and was living and working as a servant in Coventry Road, Lemster Place, Aston, Birmingham. The 1891 census shows she continued her servant role at Deveraux House, Coventry Road, Aston. I cannot find any more information about Polly so more research needed, do you know any more about Polly Nickisson? Did Polly put the kettle on?

Alice Jane Nickisson (1867-?) stayed with her parents, but sometime after 1881 she moved to Wolstanton, Stoke on Trent, working as a District Nurse. By 1891 she had moved back to Birmingham and was working in a warehouse (nuts and bolts?).
Alice Jane married James Howard Small in 1906 in Aston, Birmingham and continued living there until James Howard died, they had no children. By 1919 she had met and married Thomas Miles and had moved to London living at 31 Torrington Square, Bloomsbury. After 1922 I have lost the trail of Alice Jane, do you know any more? Alice, Alice, who the ....... is Alice?
James Howard Small (1860-1915) was born in Bridgnorth, Shropshire and lived in various places around the midlands working as a Boiler Maker. By 1906, he had moved to Aston, Birmingham where he died.
Thomas Miles (c1860-?). Little is known about Thomas other than the Parish Record of Marriage shows he worked as a messenger. Do you know anymore?

Charles Edwin Nickisson (1869-1870) was only seven months old when he died of Pneumonia.

Fanny Emily Nickisson (1871-1910) lived in Birmingham with her parents until she married John Harvey in 1892. Their address at that time was Copenhagan Street, Islington, Middlesex but by 1901 they were living back in 40 Humpage Road, Aston, Birmingham where she died.
John Harvey (c1869-?) was born in Reading, Berkshire and moved to Birmingham after he married Fanny Emily. He worked as a Boiler Rivetter. According to the Midlands Electoral Register, in 1912, he had moved to 38 Humpage Road, Aston but then the trail goes cold. Do you have any more information?
At the moment I believe Fanny Emily and John had no children.

There is a lot of research still to be done to determine certain aspects of the Birmingham 'Nickisson's' and their families, but at the moment, this branch of the Nickisson name seems to have ended.

If you want information on any of the names mentioned in my previous Blogs from the Nickisson Family Tree, just click on the name link to the left of the Blog.

* I entered a Christmas raffle and the phone rang telling me I have won either $1000 cash or tickets to see Elvis Presley.
Press 1 for the money, 2 for the show..................


What's in a name?

Family. Over the last four weeks we have had our first family visitors to stay with us, Diane (Sue's mum) and Allan came to us from Blackburn, Lancashire. We had a fantastic time (you may have seen lots of photo's on Facebook) and they stayed with us in Perth for three weeks doing the touring thing as well as relaxing by our pool. They then went to Melbourne for a few days staying with family until they finished off their holiday in Sydney. We joined them in Sydney, having a brilliant time.

Thank you for coming to see us, 21 months since Sue has seen her family, it was much needed.


* My daughter asked me for a pet spider for Christmas, so I went to our local pet shop and they were $70!!! Blow this, I thought, I can get one cheaper off the web.

What's in a name?

* An Asian fellow has moved in next door. He has travelled the world, swum with sharks, wrestled bears and climbed the highest mountain. It came as no surprise to learn his name was Bindair Dundat.


Australian post boxes. From previous photo's, does it mean they can be all shapes and sizes, is there a standard? I looked it up on Google, post box Specifications. You will definitely be bored after reading the first paragraph and many of the designs I have shown you in my previous Blogs certainly don't comply.

No more pictures of Australian post boxes now, unless you want more?

* Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarfs are not Happy.


What's in a name?

Zucchini (see the link below). The hot weather is here now that summer has arrived, 35 degrees as I write this Blog today. My veggie patch is suffering so I have now built frames around the 'allotment' to give shade to the plants. Lettuce grows really well and quickly, we also grow Onions, Beetroot, Raddish, Cabbage, Chilli's and Peppers. The herb pots have Chives, Basil, Mint and Parsley planted. Zucchini  or Courgette is a fruit that we used to grow in our allotment in Stoke and can be cooked/eaten in so many ways. I thought I would try growing them so I've just planted two, lets see how they go.

What's in a name?


Santa Claus.

I want to wish you all a very, very Happy Christmas and I wish you all that I wish myself and my family for the coming New Year.

What does the name Santa Claus mean, I don't care, I just hope I have lots of pressies off him.




* Scotch?
On the last day of school before Christmas, the children brought gifts for their teacher.
The Supermarket manager's daughter brought the teacher a basket of assorted fruit.
The florist's son brought the teacher a bouquet of flowers.
The sweet-store owner's daughter gave the teacher a pretty box of candy.
Then the liquor-store owner's son brought up a heavy box. The teacher lifted it up and noticed that it was leaking a little bit..she touched a drop of the liquid with her finger and tasted it.
"Is it wine" she guessed. "No," the boy replied. She tasted another drop and asked, "Champagne?"


"No," said the little boy...................."It's a puppy!"


Speak to you soon

Creating New Memories

Hi everyone, sorry for not keeping in touch as it was July when I produced my last Blog (Distant Memories). I have no excuses either. I've been busy decorating, gardening, football watching, but I cannot say that I didn't have time to write a new one.

There was even a new index of Parish Records on Ancestry.co.com, 'Birmingham, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials' that gave me some updates and new additions to my existing Nickisson Family Tree. So I could easily have added information to a new Blog! More of that later.

We have also had our first UK visitors staying with us since our move to Australia.

Then, how have my vegetables etc. been growing/surviving through the winter and now spring is here?

But first, remember those post boxes?

Will it create a memory for you?.....................

Memories: Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time - I think I've forgotten this before.

So new memories were added to my Nickisson Family Tree over the last few months, this creating the start of the Birmingham branch of the family.

The new Parish Records for Birmingham gave me some interesting updates on the existing family from Birmingham but also some new Nickisson's to add to the tree.
I had a note in my 'Things to do' file about a Thomas Nickisson who was born around 1831, the information coming from the 1841 Census. Who was he?
Looking for Thomas Nickisson in the new parish records, I came across a brother and two sisters to Thomas that I had not been aware of. I thought it was strange that I originally recorded that Thomas's parents had only two children, as families in those days always seem to have many children (no television etc.???)

So who started the Birmingham branch of the Nickisson Family Tree?

Charles Nickisson 1805-1864
Charles was born in Stone, Staffordshire to Charles Nickisson (1771-1852) and Elizabeth Stubbs (c1777-1850). He married Elizabeth Oseland (nee Barratt) (c1806-1875) (widow) in 1832 in St Georges Church, Birmingham. Elizabeth was previously married to John Oseland in 1825.
Charles and Elizabeth lived in Moor Street, Birmingham after they married until around 1855 when they moved to Marshall Gardens, Birmingham. His occupation was a Saddler and Harness Maker, a person who makes, repairs or sells saddles or other furnishings for horses.
Elizabeth was born in Henley in Harden, Warwickshire and she and Charles had
six children, Thomas, Ann, Robert, Frederick, Emma and Charles Edwin.

Thomas Nickisson (c 1832-?)
Little is known about Thomas. He was born around 1832 in Birmingham according to the 1841 Census.

More investigation needed. Do you know more?

Ann Nickisson (1833-?)
Again, little is known about Ann. She was born in Moor Street, Birmingham according to the Parish Record of Baptism.

More investigation needed. Can you help?

Robert Nickisson (c1837-1880)
Robert's marriage certificate shows that he was born around 1837. He lived with his parents until he married Susannah Whateley (c1835-1890) in Birmingham Register Office in 1864. They lived in Chequers Walk, Birmingham and then moved to Cox Street, Birmingham. Robert's occupation was also a Saddler and Harness Maker whilst Susannah's occupation was a Saddle Stitcher/Seamer.
I have not been able to find Robert Nickisson in the 1871 Census, although there is an entry in the Census for Susannah and Caroline Nickisson (1865-1925), their daughter. It shows Susannah as still married. Was Robert in prison? In 1867 he was sent to prison for Larceny (see more details of the crime by clicking on the link Robert Nickisson (c1837-1880)1

Need to find more details on the birth of Robert and Susannah.

Frederick Nickisson (c1837-1839)
Frederick the fourth child of Charles and Elizabeth was born around 1837 according to the Parish Record of Burials. He died just two years later.

More investigation needed on Frederick's birth.

Emma Nickisson (1842-1846)
Emma was just three years old when she died.

Charles Edwin Nickisson (1845-1871)
Charles Edwin continued living with his parents until he married Mary Elizabeth Hallam (1846-1905) in 1865 in Birmingham. He followed in his father's footsteps as a Saddler and Harness maker. Charles Edwin also committed a criminal offence (larceny) in 1867 but was acquitted. Was he in collaboration with his brother Robert?
They lived in Marshall Street, Birmingham, moving to Gregoe Place, Birmingham in 1870 just before Charles Edwin died. He died in Queens Hospital, Birmingham under tragic circumstances. Cause of Death; Accidental fracture of the skull and other injuries by fall from water closet window when getting out in a state of delirious tremors!!!!
Mary Elizabeth Hallam was born in Aston, Birmingham and they had four children, Polly Nickisson (1866-?), Alice Jane Nickisson (1867-?), Charles Edwin Nickisson (1869-1870), Fanny Emily Nickisson (1871-1910).
Mary Elizabeth married a James Glover (1844-1913) following the death of Charles Edwin in 1873.

More on the next generation of Nickisson's from Birmingham in my next Blog.

You can also find more information about the Nickisson's mentioned in my

previous Blogs by clicking on their name links to the left of this page.

Memories: Remember Barbie, if she was so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

Just over a week ago we had our first visitors from the UK stopping with us for four nights. Julie and Paul are friends of ours from the school where Sue worked in Stoke on Trent before we came to Australia.

This could have been a nasty moment!!!

Stoke City v Port Vale.

Only one winner?

They are doing the Australian 'tour', visiting ourselves in Perth then going to Melbourne for one night to meet up with family. They all then fly to Tasmania for a family wedding before going to Sydney. Then it's back home to England.

Fantastic time, so good to see you both, new memories made.

Memories: I remember when I was in the waiting room of my doctor's when the doctor started yelling,! "Typhoid!! Tetanus!! Measles!!"! I went up to the nurse and asked her what the hell was going on.! She told me that the doctor liked to call the shots.!!

The vegetable patch, my 'allotment', has really struggled over the winter here in Australia, it has been the wettest winter for 40 years!!!! I planted Beetroot, Lettuce, Onions, Potatoes and Cabbage but the opportunity to look after the plants during the wet weather hindered the progress. The Cabbage really grew well but was attacked by caterpillars and ended up being thrown away but we had a good crop of Lettuce, although small in size. The Beetroot and Onions were very slow growing but now the hotter weather is here (35° as I write this and it's only spring), they really have started to grow.

The potatoes at the back of the patch grew very well but because the soil is very sandy and compact and the wet weather, I couldn't mound up the plants as they grew. This meant that they really only grew close to the surface.

Not a bad crop under those circumstances, about 6kg of potatoes. Need to remember for next winter what will grow and what will suffer!

I have now started to make frames to cover the area so that there will be some shade to the plants as they will just burn during the hot summer months, then I will need to plant out again. I also have Tomatoes, Chilli (Capsicum) and various herbs growing in pots around the garden.

Some things I need to remember, but good memories created. They will still be created over the next few months when Sue's mum, Diane and Allan come to stay with us.

Looking forward to creating those memories.

And a final memory:
I remember reading in the local paper about this man who went to see his doctor, he was feeling quite ill.
The doctor checked him over and says, "Sorry, I have some bad news, you have Yellow 24, a really nasty virus. It's called Yellow 24 because it turns your blood yellow and you usually only have 24 hours to live! There's no known cure so just go home and enjoy you final precious moments on earth"
So he trudges home to his wife and breaks the news.
Distraught, she asks him to go to the bingo with her that evening as he's never been there with her before.
They arrive at the bingo and with his first card he gets four corners and wins $35. Then, with the same card, he gets a winning line and wins $320. Then he gets a full house and wins $5000.
Then the National Game comes up and he wins that too, getting $780,000.
The bingo caller gets him up on stage and says, "Son, I've been here 20 years and I've never seen anyone win four corners, a line, the full house and the national game all on the same card. You must be the luckiest person in the world!"
"Lucky?" he screamed. "Lucky? I'll have you know I've got Yellow 24".

"Bugger me!" says the bingo caller. "You've won the meat raffle as well!!!"

Speak to you soon.

Distant Memories

It is nearly 16 months since we left family and friends in England for our new life in Australia and it's 9 months since we moved into our house in Tea Tree Way, Thornlie. Memories come flooding back when you have that moment to think, relax and contemplate but those distant memories can have two different thoughts;

distant memories as in time and distant as in miles.

Worth remembering?
Two aerials met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony was rubbish but the reception was brilliant.

When I work on my Nickisson Family Tree I cannot help but think about my family we left in England, distant memories as in miles. My Family Tree is also the place where I especially search generations that I do not know other than by name, distant memories in time.

I have no memory of my grandfather, Ernest Nickisson (1885-1943) as he died a few years before I was born, but I do remember my grandmother Florence Ada Smallman (1884-1976).

They lived in Mount Pleasant, Fenton, Stoke on Trent before moving to North Street, Stoke, later on in life.

This is my grandmother and my mum with myself, my twin brother Alan and sister Carol, the year would be around 1952 (I'm the one with the curly hair - no comment!).

My grandparents had eight children and this is a photograph of five of them. My father is seated to the right of my grandmother. Of the eight children, the child sitting on my grandmothers knee is the only one alive today. My Aunt Vera is 91 this year.

This is my dad Victor Nickisson (1919-1981) and mum Lilian Byatt (1923-2002)

Distant memories in time, but never forgotten.

You can find more information about my parents and grandparents (or others mentioned in my previous Blogs) if you click on their name links to the left of this Blog.

Worth remembering?

A piece of straight, clean string goes into a bar and orders a gin and tonic. The barman serves the drink, the string downs it and walks out. Ten minutes later a dirty, twisted, ragged piece of string walks into the bar. "Here, are you that piece of string that was here ten minutes ago?" asks the barman. "No" replies the string "I'm a frayed knot"

Distant memories as in miles is to think how much I enjoyed looking after my allotment in England. Along with my daughter Joanne and the family we looked after a large plot of land growing fruit and vegetables. I wanted to do something similar in my new garden in Australia and I have now started my own allotment, although on a much smaller scale.

I have just received these new photographs from Joanne taken in the allotment she still runs in England, looks like another good crop of vegetables this year.

It also looks as though there is plenty of help from two of  my grandchildren Joe and Izac.

Here is my 'allotment' in the garden of Tea Tree Way, not on the same scale as our England one but happy with what I have.
I have planted Beetroot, Onions, Potatoes, Chilli's, Tomatoes and two types of Lettuce.

Distant memories, but only in miles.

Worth remembering?

There were two cows in a field. One said "moo", the other one said "I was going to say that"

Distant memories in miles.

Home of Stoke City - The Britannia Stadium - Home of my Stoke City (BBQ area)

Worth remembering?
The police arrested two men, one for drinking battery acid and the other for eating fire crackers. They charged one and let the other off.

Distant memories? Time or miles? 

Remember those 'Post Boxes'

Some grand, some not so grand, distant memories - to forget?

Distant memories; Did you know?

Cinderella is now 95 years old.

After fulfilling life with the now dead prince, she happily sits upon her rocking chair watching the world go by from her front porch, with her cat named Bob for companionship.

One sunny afternoon out of nowhere, appeared the fairy godmother. Cinderella said, "Fairy Godmother, what are you doing here after all these years?"

The fairy godmother replied, "Cinderella, you have lived an exemplary life since I last saw you. Is there anything for which your heart still yearns?"

Cinderella was taken aback, overjoyed, and after some thoughtful consideration, she uttered her first wish: "The prince was wonderful, but not much of an investor. I'm living hand to mouth on my disability payments, and I wish I were wealthy beyond comprehension."

Instantly her rocking chair turned into solid gold. Cinderella said, "Ooh, thank you, Fairy Godmother"

The fairy godmother replied, "It is the least I can do. What do you want for your second wish?"

Cinderella looked down at her frail body, and said "I wish I were young and full of the beauty and youth I once had." At once, her wish became reality, and her beautiful young visage returned. Cinderella felt stirrings inside of her that had been dormant for years.

And then the fairy godmother spoke once more: "You have one more wish; what shall it be?"

Cinderella looks over to the frightened cat in the corner and says: "I wish for you to transform Bob, my old cat, into a kind, handsome young man." Magically, Bob suddenly underwent so fundamental a change in his biological make-up, that when he stood before her, he was a man so beautiful, the likes of him neither she, nor the world, had ever seen. The fairy godmother said, "Congratulations, Cinderella, enjoy your new life." And with a blazing shock of bright blue electricity, the fairy godmother was gone.

For a few eerie moments, Bob and Cinderella looked into each others eyes. Cinderella sat, breathless, gazing at the most beautiful, stunningly perfect man she had ever seen.

Then Bob walked over to Cinderella and held her close in his young muscular arms.

He leaned in close, blowing her golden hair with his warm breath,

as he whispered .........

"Bet you're sorry you had me neutered" .........

Speak to you soon

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Following a conversation with Sue, my wife, she thought it would be a good idea (for some reason I can't remember) that my next Blog should be titled as above!!!!!

mmmmm. Not to be beaten, here goes.

The Good

You are such a good friend that if we were on a sinking ship together and there was only one life jacket... I'd miss you lots and think of you often.

The Good:  Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served".

Anzac Day, 25 April every year, marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. These soldiers were known as Anzacs. Originally it was to honour the members of the army corps who fought at Gallipoli during the war.
The day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand, a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name.

This reminded me of those in my Nickisson Family Tree who also served their country during World War 1.

Leonard Nickisson (1894-1966)
Enlisted in August 1914 and joined the North Staffs Regiment. He was discharged a month later "considered unfit for service".
Not for want of trying.
He enlisted again in 1915 and joined the Royal Fusiliers. A year later joined the Machine Gun Corps and was posted to France.
He returned to England in January of 1919 and was discharged in July of the same year. His service in the army was nearly four years of which 2 years and 155 days was served in France during the war.

Henry Frederick Nickisson (1899-1972)
Declaring his age as 18 years and 2 months, he enlisted and joined the 6th (2nd Reserves) Battalion Cheshire Regiment on the 6th February, 1915.
The same day, he was sent home - Discharged in consequence of "Wrong declaration of age on enlistment" actual age 16.
His actual "Statement of Service", served one day.
Not for want of trying.

William John Wise (1871-1960)
Served in the New Zealand Army Reserve in 1917 at the age of 46 (more research needed).

The Good:  Remember 'Post Boxes'?

The Good:  Since we moved into our house I have been hoping to get one area of my garden, my 'allotment', ready to grow vegetables in. Now that the cooler Autumn weather is here it is an ideal time to plant out the garden. Over the next few weeks I will be buying flowering plants for the borders around the front garden and the pool area. I'm looking at dwarf fruit bushes for the rear garden and then I need to get those vegetables.

This is my 'allotment' to be.

The next step is to put some nourishment into the soil as it is really sandy at the moment.

Also, I need to enclose the area with a net canopy to shelter the plants from the sun and to reduce the possibility of insects etc. damaging, eating the crop. Then it will be planting time. 

Good advice: Hard work never killed anyone, but why take the chance?

The Bad

I asked God for a bike, but I know that's bad, God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

The Bad:  Did you know?

Robert Nickisson (c1837-1880)
In 1867, he was acquitted of 'simple larceny' in Birmingham, only to be sent to prison for 5 calendar months in 1876 for larceny after a previous conviction of felony.

Charles Nickisson (1771-1852)
At the age of 72, he was committed for trial for stealing one pair of boots. He was acquitted on a technicality, 'not a true bill'

George (Latimer) Nickisson (1834-1859)
In December 1856 he was arrested and went for trial in January 1857. For his first offence; Stealing one saw, one hammer, one square and other articles, he pleaded guilty of larceny after a previous conviction. For his second offence; Stealing one timepiece, two brass saucepans and one pair of slippers, he pleaded guilty of housebreaking and larceny after previous conviction. His third offence was; Stealing twenty four joiners planes. Pleaded guilty of larceny after previous conviction.
He was sentenced to four years penal servitude and sent to Convict Prison, Medway, Gillingham, Kent. Sadly, after serving two years in prison, he died, cause of death being Tubercular disease of the lungs.

The Bad:   Post Boxes.

The Bad:  Gardening gone wrong!!!!

I originally planted tomatoes in containers and really got a good crop of the small cherry variety.

Once these had finished I purchased some new plants of a larger fruit variety but these tomatoes just bolted and ended up being tall, but with no fruit being produced.

So I have now cut them down and replanted them in the allotment, lets see how they go?


This is bad: Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.

 The Ugly

Ugly? When I was born the doctor took one look at me and slapped my parents.

The Ugly:    Post Boxes.

The Ugly:  Gardening gone really wrong!!!!

This is one of the worst Tomatoes that I replanted into the allotment. Will it really grow?

The Ugly:  The Nickisson Family Tree:

I wouldn't like to name them....................

But I guess you may have your own ideas!!!!!!

A lady is walking down the street to work and passes a parrot in a pet shop. The parrot says to her, "Hey lady, you are so ugly." The lady is furious and she storms past the shop to her work.

On the way home she saw the same parrot in the window and the parrot said to her, "Hey lady, you are really ugly." She was now very angry.

The next day she saw the same parrot and the parrot again said to her "Hey lady, you are really ugly". The lady was so angry she went into the shop and said that she would sue the owner and kill the damn bird.

The shop manager promised that the parrot wouldn't say it again.

When the lady walked past the shop after work the parrot said to her "Hey lady."

She paused and said "Yes?"

And the bird said, "You know."

Speak to you soon.

What???

Over the last few weeks since my last Blog, Expectations, I have found more information about my Nickisson Family Tree, especially since updating my subscription to Ancestry.com.

So what is included in the Blog today?

Remember in my previous Blogs, I have talked about the first Nickissons from my Family Tree to live in Australia. I have found some answers to some of the questions raised and also, who lived at Torrington Square, Bloomsbury, London, the site of a 'bloody dual'? Update later in the Blog.

I have also mentioned previously about my plans for my Australian garden, so what is happening now?

But firstly, I have received a complaint about my last Blog!!!!!!!!!!!!

What, you say!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I have had a complaint about my Blog

Apologies.

Apologies.

But firstly, no apology for this;

*George Howard, the man famous for writing the Hokey Polky died last week. They had a horrible time at the funeral parlour, first they put his left leg in.............

So why am I apologising?

I had a complaint about not including 'Post Boxes' in the last Blog.

Sorry, I did forget.

Remember the story about the post boxes (Christmas already!!!!!!!)? Well let me make up for not including them in my last Blog. Here's some examples below.

*What will Postman Pat be called when he retires?............. Pat

*What do you call a fly with no wings?.............. A walk

So, What updates are there for the first Australian immigrants in my Nickisson Family Tree?

I have updates from my last Blog for Alfred Parkes Nickisson and his family. I have also found the answer to; Who is Carl (or Charles) Casper Franklin? (Blog Doesn't time fly).

Alfred Parkes Nickisson (1840-?):
Although I have not found any answers to what happened to Alfred and his family after 1882, I have now found out who is wife really is.

Hannah Francis Hancox (c1840-?):
With the many combination of names from the marriage and children's birth documents, it was difficult to determine who she really was.
I have now found the answer. Harriett Francis Hancox was born in 1854 in Dudley, Staffordshire. In 1861 she was living in Whetley, Lickey in Bromsgrove, moving to Wildmoor, Catshill, Bromsgrove sometime before 1871.

So what happened to the family after 1882 in Australia, I still don't know..... yet?

Does anyone out there know any more?

*What's the difference between a buffalo and a bison?......... You can't wash your hands in a buffalo.

Carl Casper Franklin (c1847-?):

Carl, or Charles, as some documents suggest, married Elizabeth Nickisson (1847-1891) in Birmingham (1871) and then they emigrated to Australia in 1873. Was he born in England or Australia? Carl or Charles?

Finally, the answer. Charles Casper Franklin was born in 1849 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He travelled to England sometime in the 1860s (still need to find that information) before returning to Australia with his wife and first child. He died in 1927 in Granville, New South Wales, Australia.

*What game do you play with a wombat?................... Wom.

31 Torrington Square, Bloomsbury, London, was the home of Alice Jane Nickisson (1867-?). Alice was born in Birmingham and she married James Howard Small (1860-1915) in 1906, After her husband died Alice married Thomas Miles (c1865?) in 1919 and the marriage certificate showed the residence at time of marriage was, Torrington Square.

I was curious about the name, Torrington Square, so I 'Googled' it and it's a tourist attraction in London because of the story of a Bloody Dual between two brothers. The area of land that existed here before the Square was built upon it was named, The Field of Forty Footsteps after a legendary dual that took place here.

Two brothers fought and killed each other over the love of a girl, who watched passively from the bank of a pond nearby. Their lengthy exertions back and forth over soft ground was visible for many years to come, probably due to a dry spell! Legend has it that each step they took during battle killed the grass, and it never grew back.

The only building here at the time was Montague House (now part of the British Museum). This area was then known as Long Fields and then Southampton Square.

Torrington Square was originally laid out as part of the Bedford Estate developed in 1821-25, named after the father-in-law of the 6th Duke of Bedford. The buildings in the Square are now mainly part of the University of London. The building pictured to the right is still the same one that Alice Jane Nickisson lived in.

If you know more about Alice Jane Nickisson (when did she die?) or Thomas Miles, her second marriage (when was he born, when did he die?), let me know.

The continuing story of Alfred Parkes Nickisson, Charles Casper Franklin and their families, can be seen in the Nickisson Family Tree Links to the left of this Blog.

*What do you call a deer with no eyes and no legs? ............... Still no ideer.

Another Post Box

*What's brown and sits on a piano bench?    Beethoven's Last Movement

What is happening with the plans for my Australian vegetable patch?

Not a lot really.

I have moved some bricks, pavers etc. from around the garden and everything is ready to start. We are now into Autumn and the temperatures have dropped to around 28Deg's, ideal time for planting. I need to get the area ready so hopefully, more news in my next Blog.

*What did the English policeman say when he came home and found his wife in bed with three men? 'Ello'   'Ello'   'Ello'

Another Post Box

And finally:
On a beautiful summer's day, two English tourists were driving through Wales. At the town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogoch they stopped for lunch, and one of the tourists asked the very very blonde waitress,

"before we order, I wonder if you could settle an argument for us....
Can you pronounce where we are now, very, very, very slowly?"

The girl leaned over and said slowly,

"Burr.......... Gurr.......... King"

Speak to you soon.