The Chiddicks Observer Edition 39
Welcome to the first edition of The Chiddicks Observer for 2026! We’re starting the New Year with a wonderful mix of familiar friends and exciting new voices. Some old Substackers are returning, and some brilliant new storytellers are joining our community, bringing stories that make us laugh, pause, and marvel at the unexpected turns of family history. From Gunnar Miller’s moments of serendipity in his research, to Lori Olson White’s Margin Notes series giving us a peek behind the curtain, to Jen Baldwin’s gentle reminder to step back and let inspiration find us, there’s a little something here to spark curiosity, warmth, and reflection. And this is only the beginning, this year promises more discoveries, more heartfelt stories, and more moments that remind us why exploring our past is so meaningful.
Our first story is from a prolific researcher and storyteller Gunnar Miller who is also a welcome new edition to The Chiddicks Observer. In this post Gunnar explains one of those moments that can only happen to a family history researcher, was it Fate, coincidence or were his ancestors helping him find what he was looking for? You decide……….
What a truly amazing year Lori Olson White has had! I’m a massive fan of everything she does, but my absolute favourite new venture in 2025 has been the Margin Notes series. The stories themselves are, of course, brilliant in their own right, but getting a glimpse behind the curtain and seeing how you’ve put them together is such a unique and wonderful idea. Here’s to another amazing year in 2026.
Pause. Take a deep breath. Step back for a moment…… In this post from Jen Baldwin , we are reminded to take stock and give ourselves a break from constantly staring at screens. It’s in these pauses, those quiet, unhurried moments, that some of the best and most inspirational ideas begin to take shape.
In the stillness, our minds have the space to wander, reflect, and connect the dots in ways that the rush of daily life rarely allows. Sometimes, stepping away is not stepping back, it’s moving forward in the most creative and meaningful way.
Let me introduce you to another new Substacker to you Author Aloft whose posts offer some truly intriguing insights. One point that particularly caught my attention in this latest offering was about writing too carefully. Do you ever find yourself guilty of this? Perhaps we sometimes overthink our words, letting caution take the place of genuine expression.
Maybe it’s time to loosen the reins a little, writing more from the heart than the head, letting authenticity guide us rather than perfection. What do you think? Could our best stories, our most meaningful reflections, come when we give ourselves permission to write freely and honestly?
I have another end-of-year review to share with you, this time from MelRootsNWrites and I make no apologies for including a few of these this week. Sometimes, incredible writers and stories manage to slip under the radar, and I’ve only just discovered them, but not anymore!
It’s a wonderful reminder that no matter how much we think we’ve seen or read, there are always hidden gems waiting to be found. This week, I’m excited to shine a light on some of these overlooked treasures and share the stories that have now captured my attention.
The best description ever - Family historian, truth digger, and keeper of forgotten stories. Why not join Jennifer Jones for her review of 2025.
Can you believe it? Emma - Journeys into Genealogy amazing podcast has been running for five years and has now reached an incredible 125 episodes! It’s a true testament to Emma’s dedication and the enduring popularity of her show.
Why not join Emma as she takes a look back at 2025, reviewing her most memorable guests of the year, and shares her all-time top 10 episodes? It’s a fantastic opportunity to catch up on highlights you might have missed and celebrate the journey of a show that continues to inspire and entertain.
Wow, Ollie - ifOnlyi... Your story is most definitely a roller coaster ride! But like all good storytellers Ollie leave us hanging on a cliffhanger! I might already have a sense of the heartbreak that’s just around the corner, but the suspense is almost too much to bear. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!
Another fantastic post from Carole McCulloch that demonstrates how AI doesn’t need to replace your family history research, but can enhance and complement it. By using AI thoughtfully, you can uncover new connections, organize your findings more efficiently, and even gain fresh insights into your family stories.
Carole’s post is a wonderful reminder that technology and tradition can work hand in hand, helping us explore our past in ways we might never have imagined.
Nate Douglas is one of those rare literary voices whose words come straight from the heart, shaped by the pain and perseverance of his journey in search of the truth. He approaches his research with care and determination, never leaving a stone unturned. In his latest post, he shares the deeply personal impact of a phrase chosen with chilling precision — “No parents listed.” Those words strike like a dagger through the heart.
Some stories stay with us, not by explaining grief, but by letting it breathe. In this one, it’s the quiet, tender gestures, the meals left at the door, the gentle knock, the patient listening, that speak most deeply. There’s no rush to fix or explain; the story simply asks to be seen, and in doing so, it trusts us.
The first year alone is full of “firsts”: Christmases, birthdays, anniversaries without the ones we love. Loneliness can be heavy, yet Paul Crenshaw grandmother’s kindness shines through, a quiet light in the dark, reminding us all that even in sorrow, hope can endure.
As this edition draws to a close, we are reminded that family history is about more than names on a page, it’s the stories, the small gestures, and the relationships that truly matter. From Ollie’s cliffhangers to Carole McCulloch’s thoughtful use of AI, from Nate Douglas’s deeply personal honesty to Paul Crenshaw’s grandmother’s quiet acts of kindness, each story has touched us in its own way. These posts show us that even in sorrow, even in the ordinary, there is hope, inspiration, and a shared human experience waiting to be discovered. And as we look forward to next week, we can anticipate more voices, more hidden gems, and more moments that invite us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the extraordinary threads of our family histories.
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Thanks for your kind words, @Paul, and for bringing together so many great stories to catchup with! Here’s to a fantastic 2026 💫
Great kick off to the New Year Paul for the Edition. Thanks for once again introducing me to new writers again! Also many thanks for mentioning Tracking Down The Family