iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 20/10/2026

Heard a weird noise in the sky this evening. Merlin told me what it was, migrating in the dark

A screenshot from the Merlin app showing Common Crane as the bird being heard

John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 11/10/2026

A local Facebook group uses this AI pic to advertise an exchange. I like how one lady swaps a chainsaw for a lasagne, and a couple seem to be swapping their baby for a basket of vegetables

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 09/10/2026

I enjoyed this book, it’s clever and interesting, but I wish it was half as long

The cover of What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 08/10/2026

I think I’ve been to more military parades in the last 2 weeks than in my entire life previously

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 08/10/2026

This local (Belgian) bus firm seems to be hosting a group of American motorcycling veterans, but the flag is a mirror image, whoops

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 07/10/2026

From Monday night: the moon and Saturn

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 05/10/2026

I came across these translations in France. I didn’t get a photo of a pepper dish translated as “let us pepper”

Translation reads: sirloin inhabitant of bearn

Crudeness, pork-butchery
Believed ham plate

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 04/10/2026

Almost my entire harvest of apples this year; many rotted in the tree, one tree had no apples at all. Live almost had more pumpkins this year than apples

A cardboard box with about a dozen apples in it

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 22/09/2026

Total distance walked: about 130km. I only had to wear a raincoat once. Good for my step average I think

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 22/09/2026

Sixth and final day of GR441 La Chaîne des Puys. The longest day in km but luckily no big climbs. A few last puys and a last distant view of the Puy de Dôme. Weird experience at hotel when no staff present at all in the morning: luckily the front door was unlocked.

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 21/09/2026

Day 5 of GR441 la chaîne des puys. A bit too much road today, but also walking in a lava flow and some lovely villages

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 20/09/2026

Day 4 of GR441 la chaîne des puys and the path finally turns north, back towards the start at Volvic. Still a long way to go! Beautiful views of the chain of volcanoes today and a stunning 12th century basilica at Orcival

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 19/09/2026

Day 3 of GR441 la chaîne des puys. A beautiful view of the Puy de Dôme, no real peaks today but beautiful forest and distant views

The Puy de Dôme in the morning sun, from about 5km away. Spot the balloons!

A lake with some volcanic rocks coming out of it and trees all around

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 18/09/2026

Oh les français! A wine called Les Fesses = the bum, with a label to match

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 18/09/2026

Day 2 of GR441 la chaîne des puys. Reaching the summit of the chaîne with the Puy de Dôme at 1450ish metres. Surprised to find a massive roman temple up there. Incredible views over all the puys both to north and south, and the first rain

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 17/09/2026

Day 1 of GR441 la Chaîne des Puys, walking in and amongst the youngest extinct (or maybe dormant?) volcanoes in Europe

A sign for the crater of the Nugère volcano

A distant view of the Puy de Dôme (and some other volcanos)

A distant view of the Puy de Louchadiere showing a distinct volcano shape including crater and lava flow (to the left)

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 13/09/2026

I saw about a dozen storks on lampposts this evening: I’ve seen them in France but not here in Belgium , although they have been sighted before. I guess they’re migrating for winter (not my picture)

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 12/09/2026

My vegetable garden is 90% pumpkin🎃🌱

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 05/09/2026

Tidying up the garden and realised I have the basis of a micro-brewery

A pile of garden waste with loads of hop flowers

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 05/09/2026

Massive puffball mushrooms in my garden again.

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 04/09/2026

I like the new branding for cans of Chimay beer

A red can of Chimay beer with BROWN written on it, like my name

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 04/09/2026

You’re not far off the correct prononciation

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 29/08/2026

Stormy location for tonight’s gig. We’re playing in the tent, that’s the Bertinchamp Brewery behind, for those that like Belgian beer

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 29/08/2026

This AI generated accordion seems to have had a terrible accident. And the player hasn’t even noticed

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 21/08/2026

I first read this over 40 years ago and found it quite dull. I didn’t remember the plot, but many people seem to recognise the title, so I tried it again recently. The dialogue is very dated, and at least in the first part it has a strange mixture of dread and ironic humour

The Kraken Wakes book by John Wyndham, published by Penguin.

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 20/08/2026

From an old (1933) book on accordion playing I have been given. Is it still a safe assertion that the accordion is *the most popular* of musical instruments?

FOREWORD
It is a safe assertion to say that the Piano Accordion is the most popular of all musical in. struments and deservedly so. Go where you will, the variety theatre, radio, club or musical or - ganization, and one or more devotees of the Piano Accordion is sure to be found. Nor is this popularity difficult to understand in view of the many advantages which the Piano Accordion enjoys. Its ease and simplicity of playing, rich, beautiful appearance, sweet singing tone, appeal to all classes, young and old alike.

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 20/08/2026

Cheese offered at a workshop in the US 1) I never knew Babybel came in different colours= flavours 2) None of this needs to be refrigerated 3) A US colleague told me that she prefers room-temperature cheese as it’s softer I’m happy to be returning to a proper cheese country soon

A tray of pieces of cheese all wrapped in plastic. There are long rectangular pieces, some broader pieces, and many Babybels in red, blue, black and yellow coverings

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 15/08/2026

Fancy location for tonight’s gig

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 12/08/2026

Eclipse not yet visible on my trusty viewer

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John Brown @johnbrown1325.eurosky.social · 08/08/2026

I watched the first 3 Alien films over the last 3 nights. Alien: Classic. A horror movie that redefined what spaceships could look like Aliens: a very effective shoot-em-up that extended the ideas and feel of the first film Alien3: a complete mess of a film with some good ideas (and *that* image)