Category: Family

Family related posts; generally only of interest to fellow members of the Brown Clan and relations by Marriage into this mad house.

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Gardening

Chickens in the Garden

This weekend we spent a lot of time in the garden tidying up the east border which we have hardly touched since we moved into the property.  A few weeks a go we did the majority of it but still had a couple of troublesome areas to sort.

It was cold but pleasant; we did invite Timmy the Greyhound out to help but even with his coat on he did not want to stay out and soon searched out his bed.  With Timmy safely in the house it did mean we could let the chickens out of their run and give them the free run of the garden.

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Concert at the Local Church

Lincoln Male Voice Choir

Last weekend was very busy with visits from all my brothers, meals out and we also went out to our local church where we heard a recital from the Lincoln Male Voice Choir.

They were very good and in the poor light of the church I took a quick panorama.  Its amazing how good modern phones are at this kind of thing.  The basic sub £200 compact camera is now quite outclassed and when you add to this the social media aspects of being able to edit and share direct from the phone, you can see why compact camera sales are falling.

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Family Get Together

This weekend we had lots of family visits, my brother Peter from down south came to stay for the weekend, and we met up with my other brothers as well.  I managed to see all my brothers within 24 hours, thats the first time in about twenty five years.

Lets hope its not that long before we get together again.

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Hobbies – Too many and too expensive

Occasionally I look at things and think to myself that would be fun or that would make a good hobby.

The problem with most hobbies is they cost money and take time, and really you need to limit yourself to just one.

Many of my friends play golf or squash and this looks like a fine hobby, keeping you fit as well as looking interesting.  But I think to myself that I would not have time for them.

Currently I dabble in IT, try to play the piano and banjo; photography is a major hobby, love reading walking (especially with Timmy the Greyhound) and run several blogs.  Its a struggle to fit it all in.  Recently I have been looking at doing more kayaking and sailing but again its the time.

The time for me is a bigger issue then the money, its just a shame I could not just give up on work and concentrate on all my hobbies, but then I would not have the money for my hobbies.

First World Problems!

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The AA – the other emergency service

Here in the U.K. We have five main emergency services. Police and Fire Brigade are the main two. Always under pressure and under funded we have the NHS ambulance service, then there is the RNLI a charity that looks after those of us who like to sail and swim off shore, and finally our mountain rescue teams again a charity.

We also have a number of companies that offer roadside assistance when you break down, the AA (Automobile Association) and RAC (Royal Automobile Club) and green flag are the most well known. 

We are members of The AA. I often complain about the yearly fee but the odd time we have needed them it’s been truly worth it. 

Tonight was just such an occasion. The Honda motorcycle has only let us down twice and tonight was the second time when the throttles cable broke, not bad for a seventeen year old motorcycle. 

Caroline was riding the Honda home when it happened. She coasted to the side of the road and pushed the bike a mile to the nearest layby to get it safe. Traffic generally gave her room except for one Sainsbury Petrol Tanker that just missed her by inches. 

The AA where excellence and soon rescued her and got my wife and the Honda home safe. 
Thank You AA you truly are the other emergency services. 

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Give Blood

A bit of a treat for us today.  Lunch time I headed out to my favourite coffee shop to relax, read and of course drink lovely Hasbean coffee.

I left work early today to give Timmy an extra early teatime walk as we were headed up to the hospital as it was time to give blood, my sixty second donation.

When we got home we ordered a Chinese from the village next door which was promptly delivered by them in there nice new electric Nissan Leaf, nice car and with a 107 mile real world range perfect for local commuting and delivery duties.

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Apple Watch

I am now an Apple Watch owner, in the end I went for the Gold coloured aluminum model.  Its proving to be a fun device, definitely not a must have but a nice to have.

If your mildly into fitness and have other Apple devices its a useful device, but for more keen fitness fanatics then a more dedicated device such as a fit bit may be better.

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Family Update

IMG_0506

The garden has done well this year, an excellent crop of potatoes, onions and garlic.  Once again the peas and beans were disappointing I think the pigeons get to them before we do!

Its looking like an expensive week a head, we have the car and Caroline’s motorcycle booked in to be looked at.  The car is now thirteen years old and we have now passed one hundred thousand miles, the Honda motorcycle is now seventeen years old and last week overheated with clouds of steam being given out.

The car we think just needs the ABS looking at and the throttle, the motorcycle I think is just a broken fan so hopefully they will both be sorted soon.

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Apple Watch – Will I, Won’t I

I am having a really good look at AppleWatch OS3 and the new devices.

It’s one of those devices that I want but do not need.  Like the iPad I waited until an app appeared that would make the device useful for Photography, with the watch I’ll be spending the next week looking into the apps to see if its a device I can truly get something out of.  So fitness, walking and possibly sailing, kayaking and swimming.  I can also think of a few uses for work.

If I decide to get one then which model.  I should get the sport model as its the cheapest but I do really like the black stainless steal but I’ll find it hard to justify the cost, so might just go with the black sport model.