Recording my family memories

Have you thought of using wordpress to do a family blog?

I haven't done it, but have helped one of my cousins (in Canada) who had her Golden Wedding anniversary last year. Her daughters made up a photo album and I sent some of the old photos that I have, going back to the 19th century. Being the oldest of my cousins still here I have the photo store.
This thread reminds me that I should create something too - at the moment fighting the thought of old age, always looking back not forward.

Some good ideas, and I think the story format is better than lists of families and their offspring.

Thanks so much everyone for your suggestions. I like the write it down, sort it later approach.

I agree with Margaret it would be useful to know where to access a simple family tree template.

I have done this for my grandchildren. I spent months researching on Ancestry taking all branches of mine and OH's family back to the early nineteenth century (it is difficult before the first census in 1841). Then I wrote separate chapters about us, our parents and our grandparents. I included what I knew of earlier ancestors in the chapters on our grandparents. I called each chapter by their names, so Ann and David, Charles and Mary etc. I added scanned photos to each chapter. I wrote it for children aged roughly eleven (because I taught Year 6 for years and because it seemed right from a comprehension point of view). I wrote a foreword for them explaining the broad themes of where we came from in historical context.
They like it and I enjoyed doing it.

I have done a lot of research on various sites but would like to pull it all together in an interesting way together with some stories about us and stories I have found out about our ancestors. Have done DH's side as well so it is a daunting task which I keep putting off. Keep it fairly simple I think, but keep all the documents/censuses separately for anyone who may be interested.

I have tried to organise different branches of the family in different files and in chronological order so far. I know who they all are, because I did all the research they are in my head, but it is difficult to make it clear and easy for someone else to follow.

Any suggestions re layout, setting out family trees etc would be gratefully received. Doesn't sound very helpful for you though, NanKate. Perhaps someone else has completed theirs.

Just thought I'd add in case anyone would be interested there are various memory books on sites like Amazon. You go through the book and it has headings such as 'school days,' that you fill in as you go. Would not suit everyone, I haven't used them but they could be useful if you have a dreadful memory and find the prompts useful.

I have started to compile a book for my grandchildren. It's part family tree, their Mummy's side, I have parts of my family tree, one branch back to the 1700's to write down, with pictures of the family and then I want to write my story, husband's story, their Mummy's childhood. I bought a lovely album with plastic sleeves, inserts and photograph friendly adhesive from Hobbycraft.
Hope you all enjoy the process as much as I have so far. And I agree write all down, make some rough notes you can write up properly when ready.

I've studied my family history since 1985 so have lots of information in lots of paper and computer files so I've dabbled with writing it up for anyone interested. It's a work in progress but I have read a few 'how to' books and what you are doing is fine - the point is to write the memories down! Having read memoirs I have to say that chronological stories can be a bit boring but what about grouping memories and discoveries together as themes? You could compare your own experiences with those that you've unearthed related to great aunt gussie or 3xggrandmother on your father's side? That way you compare the past with the more recent history (yours) so that your readers don't have to slog through three hundred years of he was born, married and died etc. etc. Just an idea...

Good luck!

That is exactly what I want to do NanKate I was also born in 1946. I am also trying to compile a family ancestry which is fascinating - found a long lost grandfather who went AWOL when my mother was 3. He apparently jumped ship in 1921 in Canada have to research that further. But found that our family came from Howarth and were weavers. We were born and brought up in Cornwall. Good stuff though. What I would really like to do is to be able to record what living in those circumstances was like what people ate and did etc.