Here's a boring story about my family and the power of the internet....
My late mother's name was Violet Diamond.
Violet, her sister and three brothers were dumped in an Orphanage in Glasgow, Scotland after the war......
She met my dad, Jack Alexander and got married...
They emigrated to SOuth Africa in 1969 and then moved to Oranjemund....
My mother never anted anything to do with her mother or family ever... except for her one sister, Phyllis, who also married and emigrated to Australia in the 70's
Jack and Vi had three boys,... Mike, Paul and Stephen, all living in Oranjemund...
My mom never spoke to us about her side of the family, except for her one sister in Australia
Her sister in Australia, Phyllis had 4 kids, 3 boys and a daughter called Heather....
We were not ever really close to our Australian Cousins..... well not until my mom passed on fromcancer and then my Aunt Phyllis passed on from Cancer..... and the internet and facebook happened....
I contacted my cousin, saw on her facebook list that there were more people with the surname Diamond.. emailed one of them called Pauline Diamond, then another Diamond called Teresa contacts me..... Turns out she is another cousin I never knew..... suddenly it turns out, that my brothers and I seem to have an entire "new" unknown family out there....
Here's the strange part..... Teresa, without knowing that she had an Aunty Violet, named her daughter Violet.....
I always thought it ironic that my mothers maiden name as Diamond and she lived and died on a diamond mine,..
But the exciting thing is that I have an entire new family to know...
I feel luck today...... family is important... and my mother may have had her reasons for not letting us know......... but......
:emot19_2:
Thats a warm story Mike and we are happy for you to have "found' some more family. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, truly wonderful!
Amazing story
Amazing the power of the internet ..
Mmm some echoes of my Moms words .. she would have nothing to do with certain members of her family ,, especially a mean stepfather ... She only really got to make contact with family , more so My Dads after he passed away in 77 , then al went quiet ,, then in her last few years of life she suddenly started to make contact with some of her family as well .. pretty much told us that she and my Dad had come to SA to make a new life for themselves and their Kids .. so left the past behind ..
Now Mike the surname Diamond , unusual name ,, and yes my one neighbour also has the same surname ... a Roger Diamond ?? interesting ...
Just had the most amazing email from my new found cousin Teresa..... turns out that I have four new cousins I never knew about...... Also learned about my granny I never was allowed to know about, reads like a mills & boon novel....
I sent an email to Roger ... he does not sem to think there could be a connection , but yes an unusual surname ... I told him to follow up .. and yes i have a lump in my throat thinking of you now finding family you never knew about ... methinks out parents went through hard times during and after the war ,, got back on their feet ,, found their loves in life and yes in many ways started new lives ... i go back to the one pic of my mom and dad in Glasgow that i posted .. walking along together with Peter my eldest brother in arms and my Dad gazing loviingly at my Mom .. the tip of africa was their new life and a better chance for them and their young ones ...
Mike here the pic again in case you missed it ... Mom and Dad in Glasgow ...
Very nice story Mike,
Now you must go to:
www.genebase.com
Just the place to record all your new found family and those you have known all the time.
Strange...now suddenly I'm aware of the name Diamond. There was a Diamond in the Birth column of the Cape Times to-day.
mmmh! I was kinda hoping, My Uncle might have been ol' Neil Diamond, would love him to come and sing at Xmas time....
"Sweet Caroline...Good times.....lalalalalla!"
"Love on the rocks...lalalalal!"
are-you-there
There's Jim Diamond too. He sang 'I should have known better' ... looks like the family is growing by the day ...
Sigh! 80's music ..... my one vice in life....."But, I thought you'd understand......Lalalalla!"
Nice story Mike.
I've met so many people myself. I'm mailing with Amanda Morrow at the moment Sister of my late budy from the 70s Andy Morrow.
Michael I read your post about your Mum' Violet Diamond.
Sandy said that Diamond was an unusual name
We have friends down in Victoria Melbourne "Tom & Ann Mcallister" they were
the second family we met after emigrating here nearly 30 years this October
They will be in their mid sixties Ann's maiden name is Diamond they lived in
Fife Scotland with their family three girls and a boy.
Ann's email address (will not give it here) but its made up of Diamond.........................Frank