Once the hurly burly of Christmas is over there's the chance to settle down in front of the computer and indulge in a bit of family history surfing – this type of "surfing" eliminates the need to slip, slop, slap. Often the intention of spending "just an hour" online stretches into 2 or 3 as one link leads to another.

One site we'd really recommend you explore is the National Archives' new project "Mapping our Anzacs". http://mappingouranzacs.naa.gov.au/login.aspx

Using the search engine you can browse 375,971 records of service in the Australian Army during World War I according to the person's place of birth or enlistment. Each entry includes the full service record.

Having found a service person of interest, you can add your own note or photograph to the site's digital scrapbook. Alternatively you can build your own tribute to a group of service personnel. They may be from your town; they may be your ancestors; or they may be a combination.

So before you sit down to explore make yourself a cuppa because odds on you'll still be there some time later!