I've stated my reasons for being interested in genealogy in my book. Since the advent of the computer and the vast amount of information available on the internet, I am beginning to think the work resembles train number spotting. I am not decrying this pastime as I did collect the numbers of steam locomotives on Weybridge station in Surrey, as a child. There are so many people related that the job more resembles collecting car numbers. Twice, I had the opportunity of adding 1000 names from another family tree to my own meagre 400 names. I have decided to improve on the detail rather than increase the numbers.

What detail does one include?

Photos are interesting. Plain facts about birth, marriage and death are simple and basic, but not very interesting. They do give a starting point for further search. A personal opinion of people is to be avoided in case it disagrees with another person's opinion, who has had a different perspective. I am interested in fitting them into the local history of their town. My wife is disdainful of local history. She is not interested in when the Odeon cinema was built, and when it was converted into a bingo hall.