This post describes a ‘Unicorn’ – something which I would buy if it existed (for a reasonable price). Z-Wave networks are aimed at Home Automation and build a mesh of a combination of battery powered (mostly sensor) devices which are very sparing on their network use, and mains powered devices, such as switches, which, in… Continue reading Solar Z-Wave repeater.
Author: john
Solar watering with z-wave
This post describes a ‘Unicorn’ – something which I would buy if it existed (for a reasonable price). I like my Irrigatia Solar Watering systems very much. I currently have two on my allotment, and they work very well. A solar panel charges batteries, and every 3 hours the batteries run a pump to take… Continue reading Solar watering with z-wave
Grandpa – The Mikado
From every kind of manObedience I expect;I’m the Emperor of Japan —” The Mikado, Act II During fighting at Armentières on 9th February 1916 my Grandfather, George Edward Lines, was wounded in the leg and sent back to England to recover. By April he was in Keynsham, staying with the Stevens family, where a local… Continue reading Grandpa – The Mikado
Trust me, I am your bank
A while ago my credit card was cloned, or hacked in some way, and their computer systems correctly identified a fraudulent transaction. That part of the system worked very well, however the next part of their process was almost a textbook example of what not to do. I was alerted by a text message, from… Continue reading Trust me, I am your bank
The Proof of Identity Problem
More and more organisations are requiring ‘Proof of real identity’ by asking their users, members or customers for a scanned image of their passport of similar official document. At first sight this may seen a reasonable thing – why should your doctor, or your bank, or Google not know who you really are? The problem… Continue reading The Proof of Identity Problem
The Story of Frederick Lines
This is a work in progress – which is not even complete on what I know of Frederick Lines, and there are many gaps, and areas I have not investigated. Some areas of doubt or uncertainty are noted inline, and at present it only covers his time in England, and only makes a start on… Continue reading The Story of Frederick Lines
Stoke Newington – where family history and literature meet.
As well as in interest in family history, I like to read. The American Boy, by Andrew Taylor is one of the books I am currently reading. This historical drama is set around 1818 in Stoke Newington. This is a work in progress. Some sections are merely skeletons The American Boy The main character of… Continue reading Stoke Newington – where family history and literature meet.
‘Good Decoys’ Sexual dimorphism and differential predation
We have two female common pheasants in our garden at the moment. I can tell they are female as they are brown and, for such large birds in this context, surprisingly inconspicuous. The male pheasant is larger and more conspicuous, and plays no part in the raising of the young. I read The Selfish Gene… Continue reading ‘Good Decoys’ Sexual dimorphism and differential predation
Robert Harden Champion – Sweet success
This is a work in progress – posted before it is complete to share some of the information I have. Robert Harden Champion, my Great-great-grandfather, was born at Berrow in January 1845, eldest son of James Harden Champion (1821-1895) and Jane Hawkings (1820-1884). He married Ellen Horseman (1845-1926) at St Barnabas, Bristol in 1868, and… Continue reading Robert Harden Champion – Sweet success
Dynastic Unions
There are several cases in my family history of siblings from one family marrying into their in-law’s families. In the days of large families, and no Internet Dating it made sense, and presumably the elders of both families approved. In some cases it might throw some light on how some of the couples met. This… Continue reading Dynastic Unions