iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Ah, that's a pity. I thought you'd been quite busy on the conference front, already.

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I joined in the tour of Bideford, this morning, and we had a lovely time. Unfortunately, I forgot to take any photos, although I noticed that others did. They're now exploring Clovelly. I'm a day attendee, so will return, tomorrow. I take it you won't be joining us, Jane?

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I've recently found children sent to live in Canada on both sides of my family tree. In each family's case, the father had died. 😢

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Congratulations, Janet! Devon has reasons to be very grateful for your many contributions. Hurrah! 😊

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I thought the same, for the Devon event that's coming up.

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

It's a home that keeps on giving!

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Not sure he was always joking! 😬🤣

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I cannot wait to see my parents' WWII service records. They would never have met, if not for the war and when we children annoyed him, he would enjoy blaming Hitler for our existence! 🤣

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

So much research! Charles Fisher the blacksmith may find a home in my family tree, if I find him in a collateral line for my Amy Fisher, 4xGG, (bap in Leckhampstead Berks, I believe, and d in Welford, Berks). I hope you'll write your own family's cottage story, even if not for publication, Clare.

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It is. Beautifully clear, too. 😊

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I read this the other day and found it quite powerful. 😊

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Congratulations! They certainly don't make it easy. My poor brain struggles with the unindexed things.

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Reposted by Debbie Hearn

Action for Happiness @actionhappiness.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Life is better when we find something to look forward to. Join us for Optimistic October and discover ways to stay hopeful, even in uncertain times 🌈 actionforhappiness.org/optimistic-o... #OptimisticOctober

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University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Today is the International Day for Universal Access to Information. There are many reasons why we preserve archives and rare books, but the most important reason is to give *everyone* the opportunity to access the information within them, now and in the future. #AccessToInfoDay #Archives

Collage of 32 images from archives and rare books held in Special Collections

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Thanks! The weather is perfect today. 😊

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

😁 It's our first proper visit to Canterbury. So many incredible historic buildings, here! It feels liberating to have bought an EV, at last. Our car is via a deposit plus monthly payment over four years with option to then buy. Seems best way forward when tech can change so quickly.

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Having a couple of days in Canterbury, to try out our first electric car. Almost three hundred miles travelled today; refuelled twice as our home charger hasn't been installed yet.

My husband and I, after dark this evening, outside Canterbury Cathedral

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Hope you're soon back on gardening form, Jane.😊

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

What a moment for the whole family! Congratulations to you all, especially the new mother and father. 💐😊

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Seemingly most of the villages and hamlets around Newbury, but not Newbury itself - a map of W Berks would be covered in dots! As for myself, I was born in Reading (Battle Hospital), grew up in Kintbury, school in Newbury, m in Thatcham. Still have many relatives in Berks, including 2 grandchildren.

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Oh, that's quite a crowd. My maternal side has West Berks people, from a range of villages. Which part or parts of the county were yours in?

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I planted one in my garden to remind me of the flourishing clump in the garden of my childhood home, but it died, about the same time as our huge cottage renovation project. 🤣

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Yes! Hurrah!!! Would love to see even more, though, greedy as I am. 😁

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

My initial thought was, how fantastic to have been protected from military service, but then I remembered the Blitz. My pat grandmother apparently once told my mother that it was very frightening, so I imagine your folks might have had similar experiences.

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Also, in case you're interested, I bought this in Oxfam the other day. It has lots on the history of sanitary ware and several references to Doulton products.

A secondhand copy of book Bogs, Baths & Basins, the story of Domestic Sanitation, by David J Eveleigh (Sutton Publishing).

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Hearn. The family had moved from Walkern, Herts, when my John Horace was a child in the 1870's. Maybe my grandad (who died in 1945) brought in the clay that your chaps moulded and potted.😊

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

As far as I can tell, thus far. Would like to visit their archive and find out more.

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

My grandfather worked for Royal Doulton in Lambeth for at least fifty years. I think he moved large amounts of clay around. The censuses record him as a general labourer. The family has a colourful certificate, marking his fifty years of loyal work. Other family members worked elsewhere, though.

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Happy nutting, everyone. 😊 (Although the squirrels have long since taken all of ours.)

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Although I doubt that any mention of 'Jack of Dover' in the Canterbury Tales refers to a dish containing potatoes. I guess the recipe may have evolved to include them at a later date.

Action for Happiness @actionhappiness.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Reposted by Debbie Hearn

Happy World Mindfulness Day 2026! 🥳 This is your reminder to slow down, pause, breathe and be here, right now. A few minutes a day can calm your mind and give you fresh perspective. Mindfulness also helps with mood, focus and sleep. Wishing you a mindful day ahead 🧘‍♀️🧠🩷

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Have already been busy adding images of register entries to my tree on Ancestry. As a "Berkshire born, Berkshire bred" girl living far from home, it's a boon!

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Just thought of you as I leafed through the marriage register for Avington, Berks 1839-41 on Ancestry, just now, Clare: Mrs Poffley, the famously female parish clerk, seems to have relatives witnessing marriages quite a bit, so maybe her signature could be in one or more register/s, too.

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

And so the first Berkshire parish register entry is added directly to my Ancestry tree: Daniel Wickens, bap 23 Feb 1812. This is me, right now: 😊

static.klipy.com

Little Girl Dancing Happy Dance in Sunglasses

Alt: Little Girl Dancing Happy Dance in Sunglasses

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I can't tell you how satisfying this is, after three years of wrestling with offline databases, to be able to find at least the earlier of my Berkshire ancestors, on Ancestry. Three cheers!!!

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Turi King @turiking.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I'm going to be doing a live event, The DNA of History, at Kidderminster Town Hall , Sept 10th. Come along & listen to me chat about how DNA is changing our understanding of the past. You'll also be able to buy copies of my book, The Secrets of Our DNA. Tickets 👇 tickets.xfp.events/events/xfp/2...

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

R and I saw them perform in Amsterdam, when we went there for our tenth wedding anniversary trip. Great fun, especially their high kicks. 😄

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

...and wearer of fine hats on many an occasion. 🎓👒

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Royal Berkshire Archives @berksarchives.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

When an archivist is found murdered at the launch of the RBA's new exhibition ‘Agatha Christie: A Tribute to her Life and Work', it's up to you to follow the clues, question the suspects and piece together the evidence, to uncover the truth. Book your space today at bit.ly/3T859KY

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

That's wonderful. She must have done a great job and perhaps they were less lonely than they'd have been, in a smaller family. Just looking at your Barber pdf and Ward plum picking piece, now, as I have Wards in my tree (Shephall, Herts).

Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

She hosted evacuees - wonderful! My 3 x G aunt Elizabeth Hearn married a Barber, too: John, in Clothall, Herts, 1761. Lots more to explore as her father Isaac's employer was Thomas Rant of Clothalbury, in the same parish, who also owned property in Chesterton, Cambs.

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Worth sharing for anyone returning to work after the hols:

University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Reposted by Debbie Hearn

On World Letter Writing Day, we're sharing our love for letters, one of the most popular formats in archives 💌 Did you know we hold letters from writers, poets, students, folklorists, nuns, journalists, historians, politicians, diplomats, environmentalists - & more! #WorldLetterWritingDay #Archive

Four envelopes from the Syon Abbey archive addressed to the Lady Abbess of Syon Abbey

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Debbie Hearn @debbiehearnuk.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Have a great moth, everyone. 😊