If you find good things without looking for them, serendipity — unexpected good luck — has brought them to you.
I'll admit I was surprised when I checked the origin of the word. It's got nothing to do with or origins in Latin or Greek. Serendipity was created by Horace Walople in the mid 1700s from an ancient Persian fairy tale. The meaning of the word, good luck in finding valuable things unintentionally, refers to the fairy tale characters who were always making discoveries through chance.
Serendipity is always close by when we research and investigate the past and perhaps never more so when examining family and national history. An event that was long forgotten or went to the grave generations before can suddenly make itself known and down that particular rabbit hole we must go. A letter, reference, photograph or a vague throwaway comment has the habit of just presenting itself and usually in a most unusual way. Then there is the discovery of an unusual story or event that is entirely unconnected but nevertheless interesting.
This website does contain examples of the unusual and the interesting along with more factual accounts of the times in an attempt to make it a little of 'History...but without the boring bits' but there is a need for something new. A space where the more curious and perhaps more opinionated items can be posted.
This 'Serendepity' section is where such accidental and odd discoveries will be posted - the unusual, the unique and the downright interesting (to some perhaps). An oddments box of historical discoveries that gets added to from time to time.
With around seventy unique visitors to this website a day (that's around 25,000 visitors a year), your comments or observations are welcome. Also if you have an item of interest you may like to share, an article, web site, link or suggestion, then do get in contact. (Click on the little envelope at the extreme top right of the page to email me )
I'll admit I was surprised when I checked the origin of the word. It's got nothing to do with or origins in Latin or Greek. Serendipity was created by Horace Walople in the mid 1700s from an ancient Persian fairy tale. The meaning of the word, good luck in finding valuable things unintentionally, refers to the fairy tale characters who were always making discoveries through chance.
Serendipity is always close by when we research and investigate the past and perhaps never more so when examining family and national history. An event that was long forgotten or went to the grave generations before can suddenly make itself known and down that particular rabbit hole we must go. A letter, reference, photograph or a vague throwaway comment has the habit of just presenting itself and usually in a most unusual way. Then there is the discovery of an unusual story or event that is entirely unconnected but nevertheless interesting.
This website does contain examples of the unusual and the interesting along with more factual accounts of the times in an attempt to make it a little of 'History...but without the boring bits' but there is a need for something new. A space where the more curious and perhaps more opinionated items can be posted.
This 'Serendepity' section is where such accidental and odd discoveries will be posted - the unusual, the unique and the downright interesting (to some perhaps). An oddments box of historical discoveries that gets added to from time to time.
With around seventy unique visitors to this website a day (that's around 25,000 visitors a year), your comments or observations are welcome. Also if you have an item of interest you may like to share, an article, web site, link or suggestion, then do get in contact. (Click on the little envelope at the extreme top right of the page to email me )