alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I so agree and add all my grandparents into the chat! 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Today is Father's Day in Australia, so I've shared a couple of memories of my father in my blog post this week www.alexdefircks.com/thoughts-of-...alexdefircks.comThoughts of my father on Father’s day – animals and routine - Alex de FircksOn this Father’s Day it would be strange if I didn’t think of my father and share some memories of him. 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Have you read Upheaval yet? Did you read the bit about parties, dances and theatre shows in 1919, while the Russian Civil War was raging? What are your thoughts about this? downingfield.com/book/upheaval #booksky #familyhistory #russianhistory 061
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 29/08/2026Well I'm into the second week now! Almost forgot yesterday but remembered in time. The world is definitely feeling unpredictable right now! 000
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 27/08/2026I'm on week 2 of writing a daily journal because someone bet me I couldn't do it for a month. It made me wonder what motivated my grandmother to write her diary in the middle of the Russian Civil War, while my grandfather was fighting the Bolsheviks. downingfield.com/book/upheaval 100
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 24/08/2026It's welcome! But my olive tree doesn't like it at all... 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 20/08/2026I've begun a daily journal. Writing this morning's entry, I remembered my grandmother, Olga Woronoff, kept a diary in 1919, the last year my grandparents were in Russia. You can't read my journal but you can read her diary in the 2nd ed of Upheaval, downingfield.com/book/upheaval #ancestryhour 021
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 02/08/2026Fifty years is a long time! My grandmother lived through the Revolution and wrote about it in her memoir Upheaval downingfield.com/book/upheavaldowningfield.comUpheavalStep into the glittering world of Imperial Russia – and witness its dramatic fall – through the eyes of Countess Olga Konstantinovna Kleinmichel. ... 110
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Absolutely agree! Context is important, place and time matter. Great article! 100
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 17/07/2026When I was a child my grandmother told me stories of her childhood in Russia. When I reread Upheaval, I could hear her telling me her stories again. My grandmother's stories of life in Russia before and during the Revolution and Civil War, is available here downingfield.com/book/upheaval #booksky 0100
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 30/06/2026My challenge is to find a translator who can read difficult handwriting and an old, but not ancient, script. 130
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 30/06/2026I meant to share this on #booksky bsky.app/profile/alex... 050
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Letters are often an insight into the lives of our ancestors, a peak into their thoughts and a mine of information for family historians and this is the topic for my latest blog post. www.alexdefircks.com/family-histo...alexdefircks.comFamily history and personal letters – the sweetness of forgotten things - Alex de FircksL.M. Montgomery wrote a passage in Anne of the Island (1915) describing letters from years past, which were written by her parents and which Anne was reading, 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 18/06/2026Yes, I started my family history blog for many of the same reasons. 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 16/06/2026A year ago this happened! I'm still excited that the 2nd ed of Upheaval, my grandmother's memoir, was published by @downingfield.bsky.social and is available worldwide through their website or by request at your local bookshop #booksky 031
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 14/06/2026I'm not usually a soccer fan but I did watch the end of their first game, and I cheered, and this video is awesome! 000
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 08/06/2026Nowadays it's the little things that make me happy. Like the morning sun on one of my favourite artworks. And then noticing another artwork is reflected. How cool is that! 020
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 31/05/2026I've been a bit quiet lately. It's because I'm researching my next project, an historical fiction! I'm out of my comfort zone but enjoying the challenge. 020
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 30/05/2026That's not good! I haven't read it but can fully endorse your knowledge of Istanbul and your expertise in assisting travellers to Turkey! 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 30/05/2026Yum! They do have artistic food displays in Istanbul! 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 23/05/2026I'm a family historian and story teller. I love research and I get very excited when I find a story which I didn't know about, especially if it concerns a female ancestor. There are so few stories about females. 330
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 18/05/2026Have you ever researched your family history? How did you do it? In this week's blog post I look at the various ways I researched the 2nd ed of Upheaval www.alexdefircks.com/research-how...alexdefircks.comResearch; how I found details of my family history, genealogy and Russian history for the 2nd edition of Upheaval - Alex de FircksHave you tried to research your family history, only to find dead ends? Have you tried to build your family tree but only managed to find rabbit holes? 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 12/05/2026Would you be able to recall the moment you found out that Revolution had begun in your country? My grandmother did... You can read her account in her memoir, Upheaval, available through @downingfield.bsky.social 030
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 28/04/2026So true! At least part of my dash is looking for the details of the dashes in my family 😉 020
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 04/04/2026Very true! My grandmother believed her father's family was originally Swedish, and while she was kind of correct, my research uncovered their Latvian roots, at a time the Swedish King ruled over much of the Baltic States. 110
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 02/04/2026Passing down family history is just as important as researching it. I'm fortunate that I can read my grandmother's memoir to my grandsons. They can learn history through the eyes of their 2x great grandmother. You have the same opportunity downingfield.com/book/upheaval 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 28/03/2026A story about the Russian Revolution, written by my grandmother who lived through it. Available through @downingfield.bsky.social or by request at your local bookshop. 021
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 23/03/2026I can relate to both the sorting and the ethical dilemma. Have you thought about writing the story as an historical fiction? 000
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 23/03/2026I believe the majority of us have at least one ancestor we aren't proud of. Mine is my maternal 2 x great grandfather, Count Pyotr Kleinmichel. This week I revisited a blog post about him which I wrote 5 years ago www.alexdefircks.com/the-controve...alexdefircks.comThe Controversial Count who restored a palace, built a railway and had a poem written for him - Alex de FircksCount Pyotr Kleinmichel is one ancestor I'm not proud of. He's my maternal 2 x great grandfather and, if you have read the 2nd edition of Upheaval, you will 020
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 17/03/2026This week's blog post looks at a time my grandparents were under attack by shelling during the Russian Civil War. I can see connections between their wartime experiences and the world situation today. You can read my blog posts on my website www.alexdefircks.com 020
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 14/03/2026Oh, that's difficult. Good on you for tackling it all! 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 14/03/2026Unfortunately both my parents have passed so I no longer have anyone to ask. So frustrating! 100
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 14/03/2026That looks so familiar! Do you also have some with no identification? Not even a date? 100
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 13/03/2026I remember being cross with my parents when I discovered they hadn't sorted any of the photos or documents I eventually inherited. Now I have more empathy and understanding. It's a huge job! Pictured is just 1 shoebox, the remaining photos would fill at least 5 more... #familyphotos #familyhistory 130
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 08/03/2026Today is International Womens Day and I'm thankful my grandmother, Olga Woronoff, was a wonderful example of a strong woman. #IWD #Internationalwomensday 000
Reposted by @alexdefircks.bsky.socialDowningfield Press @downingfield.bsky.social · 28/02/2026Discover how Alex de Fircks brought her grandmother’s memoir back into print, complete with meticulous footnotes and previously unpublished diaries and correspondence with royalty. NOW AVAILABLE: downingfield.com/book/upheaval/ 031
Reposted by @alexdefircks.bsky.socialDowningfield Press @downingfield.bsky.social · 26/02/2026Discover how Alex de Fircks brought her grandmother’s memoir back into print, complete with meticulous footnotes and previously unpublished diaries and correspondence with royalty. NOW AVAILABLE: downingfield.com/book/upheaval/ 011
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 25/02/2026One of the fun things of being a family historian has to be sorting through documents! 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 23/02/2026I definitely enjoy reading author's notes. 000
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 22/02/2026It has to be every family historian's dream to discover documents which give more information on their ancestors. I've been fortunate to have done just that. #familyhistory #ancestors #memoir #Documents @downingfield.bsky.social 041
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 15/02/2026Oh that's sad. My mother had Alzheimers. It must be a difficult time for you. 010
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 15/02/2026I feel for you. My father died in 2012 and I'm still sorting through documents and photos etc that I brought home. I'm pretty sure that at the time I threw out things which, from a family history point of view, would be valuable. Good luck! 110
Reposted by @alexdefircks.bsky.socialDowningfield Press @downingfield.bsky.social · 12/02/2026Find out more at Downingfield.com/upheavaldowningfield.com 011
alexdefircks.bsky.social @alexdefircks.bsky.social · 12/02/2026As a family historian I get very excited about new discoveries and when I found my grandmother's 1919 diary I was delighted. After it was translated, it has been included in the 2nd edition of Upheaval published by @downingfield.bsky.social 010
