iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

The moon is here. William the conqueror at Falaise

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

At Arques la Bataille and the sun is trying to make an appearance

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

On the square having lunch in Maastricht NL, watching a cheese stall. 🧀😁

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

St Jan's Kirk in Maastricht and the view from the top.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The brewery at Val Dieu Abbey. Loved the beams. Great chunks of timber straight from the tree. Not, neat and tidy.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Finished where I started. The abbey of Val Dieu in Aubel.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Lunch break. The brewery is just round the corner

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Today I'm starting the home trip at the ABMC Cemetery at Henri-Chapelle

A gold American eagle on top of a pillar

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Really enjoyed my day in Maastricht. Had a downpour at lunchtime and then it brightened up. The beer was better than I was expecting, the market was on, so I bought cheese, I visited more churches than you could shake a stick at. Found the ramparts and the station is so, not, Chatham 😁😁

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Only been in Maastricht ten minutes and I already prefer it to Köln. It's grey but warm enough. First thing to get used to : the bikes 😍

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Today it's grey, but for the moment still dry. Off to Maastricht.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Walked across the Rhein this afternoon. Hard going, came back on the bridge. 😁

The R Rhein at Köln. From the Hohenzollern Bridge

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Made it. Far too warm for trousers 😁

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Never been on one of these. Off to Köln for the day.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The state of this. The reconstructed castle at Vianden. They say it's the most visited site in the Duchy. Easy to believe

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The ruins of the castle at Esche sur Sûre

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

They give you a Simon beer afterwards and this 0 is actually nice. More lime and ginger but does have a hint of malt as well. I'm going to be buying this later at the supermarché

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Up in the château there are small museums about beer, tanning and the liberation of 44.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Have driven down to Wiltz in Luxembourg. I'm not fussed on pils but discovered the Simon range last year. They don't have a shop but kindly sold me some glasses.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

There was a photo exhibition in the Museum of Wallon Life. A reminder of how many women worked at the mines. It was them that would push the trolleys filled with coal. La Houilère, became a local symbol.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Not far from my hotel is FN Herstal. It's a big place. But you can't just pop in and buy a crate of rifles. Outide on the wall was is an interesting plaque. In 1966 the female workers demanded equal pay for equal work. Men trembled. Especially in an arms factory 😉😉

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Usually this is a great place for walking in the forests. Much of which have gone.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I think they do intravenous as well as bottles. Belgium Peak Beers

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

So yesterday on arrival in Herstal I began where I intend finishing 😍

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The new plaque to the 49th CEF (Loyal Edmonton) unveiled in Zonnebeke this afternoon. It commemorates their part in the Canadian assault on Passendale in 1917. 30 members of the regimental family attended, many with relatives who fought here.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Whilst wandering about the military camp tents yesterday (Crécy 2026) I came across a German who made suits of armour and weapons. I asked about who bought them, I'd have thought it was a pretty niche hobby. Until this chap from Rouen wandered in looking to buy one.

A row of medieval helmets with swords in front

The artisan on the left and a customer trying a helm

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I think there's going to be a battle

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

First thought was : that is one bog standard, ordinary looking bridge. At least Pegasus Bridge looks, interesting 😁

Cabin and lifting arm of the Pegasus Bridge in Normandie.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

18th June. Yes I know, "l'appel du général de Gaulle" but Belgian beer takes precedence 😊

Une bouteille de Waterloo bière (triple) et son goblet

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

My Canadian visitors wanted some poppies to photograph. These did the trick. Cambrai side of Vis en Artois.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

À few more shots of the final piece. It was finished on the 12th which was good because that was the birthday 🎂😊 More to the point he liked it. We'd visited the tomb in Canterbury cathedral in December as well as Edward III in Westminster. He was born at Windsor so we went there as well.

Figurine of the Black Prince on a rearing horse. Sword in the air being attacked by a foot soldier with an axe.

Rear view of a figurine of the Black Prince on a rearing horse. Sword in the air being attacked by foot soldiers.

Figurine of the Black Prince on a rearing horse. Sword in the air being attacked by a foot soldier.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

I purchased a wooden plinth and sanded out the area where the resin base needed to be glued on. Waxed the rest and signed it. The heraldry took me weeks to paint. It's not perfect by any means but from a viewing distance looks just fine. The figures are fitted in place with metal epoxy.

À plinth of wood. Sanded on top to receive the resin base. It is waxed and signed : 12 mai 2026 and an S over a D for my signature.

Wooden plinth with the resin base glued into place and the two soldiers fitted onto it.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

The basics proved pretty straightforward. I wasn't sure what colours to use for the French soldiers as there weren't uniforms as such. I went for 'colourful and what's in front of me on the stand. The heraldry had to be hand painted so I started on the shield and then added sword strikes.

The shield and torso of the Black Prince. The lions and fleurs de Lys are finished on the shield.

Soldier with a halberd. His hands are covered with the blood of previous victims

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

À short thread on how I've spent the last four months 😁 Last year I gave my neighbour Victor a bust of a Norman knight at Hastings. This year I went for Edward, the Black Prince, at Crécy in 1346. A metal kit that was going to prove a challenge 😁

Box and pieces of the Andrea Miniatures kit of the Black Prince at Crécy.

Parts of the kit with their white undercoat sprayed on.

Model horse with its caparison divided into red and blue, ready for the coat of arms

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Hitler's 1940 security 'ballroom' at Brûly-de-Pesche (BE). The Belgian 'Wolf's Lair' used during the invasion of France. A chamber just big enough for him and a couple of staff. Only problem I see : it locks from the inside 😁😁 [Small site but worth the visit should you be in the Ardennes.]

The Hitler bunker at Brûly-de-Pesche in the Belgian Ardennes.

Interior security doors of the Hitler bunker at Brûly-de-Pesche in the Belgian Ardennes.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

That slight breeze is very welcome. After the walk up from the trenches my shirt is soaking 😳 Two more hours and the Canadian ceremony will start at the memorial. This is sunglasses weather 😎

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

The short ceremony at Highland Cemetery, Roclincourt in honour of those who fell 109 years ago.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

It's on the Aisne 1918 battlefield at Cormicy. The patron had kindly let us visit late on a Saturday afternoon. Nice people, good wine. Money was spent 😊

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Out for the day on the Chemin des Dames and the Aisne 1918. With 5 Brits. Haven't been down this way in years. And the last time it was pouring with rain.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Hmm! Looks like the NEIPA first this evening.

Boîtes de bière Castelain. La NEIPA à gauche et l'IPA à droite. Un verre ch'ti au centre.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Now I was looking, I spotted a few more clumps coming up

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Did you get to visit Saint Jacques ? Amazing, doesn't do it justice.

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SimonG 🇨🇦🥈 @simongodly.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

I didn't come back from Bénifontaine empty handed. The shop was open. 😁 I really liked the rubber bar mat and the smoky Winter Ale is a limited brew. The woody taste is not too pronounced but I've had to take my time drinking it. Very smooth, but for sipping, not quaffing 😁

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