June 22, 1937: born in Cardiff, Wales, to Tom and Doris Williams.  Father is a civil servant, Mother (Doris) is homemaker.

1940: family moves to St Paul's Cray, Kent, near Doris' parents who live in Dartford.  Grandpa Sid Ellis-Brown's architect firm built the house.

1944: Wartime - hard times. Doreen is evacuated to Wales 

School years: very attached to Grandpa Ellis-Brown and Uncle Gordon and Mollie.  Family Holidays at the Gower peninsula, and helping out at the guest house in Worthing.

1955-58: Southampton University, studying French.  Meets Achmad Markam and they have a baby!

1958-63: They move to Brondesbury Villas, Kilburn, London.  Doreen works at Clarks college

1963: Doreen is single again. Teddy goes to boarding school in Winchester, Doreen gets an opportunity as a lectrice (reader) at La Sorbonne, Paris

1966-81: Doreen works at Nanterre university, Paris, teaching English Literature, Journalism and Phonetics, finishes her thesis on Corbiere and runs the English Lecteur programme.  Lives in rue Desnouettes with the famous trio of Doreen/Hazel/Joan, then gets her own place  at 9 rue du Jura, 13ème.  Ted is at Highgate school, then at Manchester University.

1981: returns to the UK, teaching French at Kirby Muxloe, Leicester

1985: moves to Nottingham - living near her brother David and family - working at Clarendon college

1994: early retirement, working part time at Institute of Linguists and the Language centre, Nottingham University. 

1995-: serious world travelling - just about everywhere! - gets serious about hiking, bird-watching and walking holidays

1997: awesome 60th birthday party in Winchester

2007: first grandchild - Thomas - born in San Francisco.  Grandma visits SF 2x/year, and travels the US

2009: second grandchild - Lucy.  Doreen thoroughly researches and explores all the kid-friendly places to visit around Nottingham and Leicester!

2017: 80th birthday holiday with Ted and grandkids in Llandudno, North Wales

2018: Ted becomes a single dad - and has a hospital visit - Grandma to the rescue!

2020: Grandma's last visit to SF - lots of hikes and beaches - then Pandemic and Travel lockdown - Doreen is stranded in Botswana! - Learned to master Zoom and WhatsApp - and a new role as an online tutor.  Doreen rises to the challenge!

April 2021: all set for the lifting of lockdown and travelling again -- then this happens!