Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[L-plate chicken mum]

Lovely it certainly is. @Perris can confirm it is beech. I believe beech often hold on to their dead leaves like that until the new one force them off.

Both European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and Beech (Fagus sylvatica) retain leaves over winter in the uk & I would expect the same to be true in similar conditions elsewhere. Not sure about other Beech/Hornbeam species. They will only retain leaves if pruned - in effect keeping them in a juvenile state, bigger plants don’t do this but you can get quite a decent sized hedge out of them

 

[Shadrach]

I do, but not to text or keep up, I am usually listening to an audio book. Plus it is my step counter.

I'm still doing put one foot forward and count, put the other foot forward and count.
Eldest and youngest both have watches that do all that and send it to their phones I think.
I'm not technophobic. It's just smart phones have a way to go yet before I'll find them an asset rather than an irritation.
I see a lot of mobile phone use because I live in and travel through the city daily. I find it a bit concerning and in some cases rather sad. Some evenings I get off the bus on the edge of the city and walk into the centre, often along the side of the docks which these days is populated by pubs/bars and takeaway food. I can't count the times I've glanced through one these bar windows and seen a couple sitting opposite each other using their mobile phones. What's all that about?

 

[RoyalChick]

Both European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and Beech (Fagus sylvatica) retain leaves over winter in the uk & I would expect the same to be true in similar conditions elsewhere. Not sure about other Beech/Hornbeam species. They will only retain leaves if pruned - in effect keeping them in a juvenile state, bigger plants don’t do this but you can get quite a decent sized hedge out of them

I have full sized American Beech, Copper Beech, and tricolor Beech in New Jersey and they all hang on to leaves. Not all over like @Perris’s hedge but certainly in the lower third of the tree.
I hadn’t heard that was to do with pruning/juvenile status.
Interesting.

 

[Sally PB]

I see a lot of mobile phone use because I live in and travel through the city daily. I find it a bit concerning and in some cases rather sad. Some evenings I get off the bus on the edge of the city and walk into the centre, often along the side of the docks which these days is populated by pubs/bars and takeaway food. I can't count the times I've glanced through one these bar windows and seen a couple sitting opposite each other using their mobile phones. What's all that about?

If I were of dating age, out on a date, and he thought his phone was more important than me (barring critical exchanges, like someone gave birth), it would probably be the last date. I can feel less lonely alone than being ignored by someone who purports to want my company.

But if I were of dating age, perhaps I would think that's normal?

 

[Shadrach]

I t wasn't as bad as forcast. A bit windy but I caught a dry patch and everyone got out for an hour or so.
Everybody ate well this afternoon.
Pleased to see Carbon eating more and she went off to roost with a bulging crop.

Last of the strong wind gusts.

Out and about, after a fashion.

Fret making sure Dig and Mow are on their way to roost. Dig is last in and this is normal to me.

Try again tomorrow.

 

[notabitail]

If I were of dating age, out on a date, and he thought his phone was more important than me (barring critical exchanges, like someone gave birth), it would probably be the last date. I can feel less lonely alone than being ignored by someone who purports to want my company.

But if I were of dating age, perhaps I would think that's normal?

Using your phone to excess is normal now. Everything is on there. Who cares about text messages and phone calls when you can whip it out and scroll the front page of the internet, or chat with a stranger, or play a video game on it? It's literally a "ignore everyone else instantly" device.

 

[notabitail]

I got given mine just before I left Spain. In order to do the things I needed to do a smart phone was the only realistic proposition. Now I carry it when I go out for similar reasons to you. I hadn't had any sort of phone for the ten years in Catalonia. I can't say I missed them.

However, I think the majority of smart phones can do something that can save money and help limit aimless internet wandering. It's called USB tethering. Once set up and connected by a USB cable the phone can act as a modem for a full sized computer with keyboard and screen.
I had a broadband wired internet connection installed when I moved in. The deal was okay, twenty pounds a month for adeqaute speed on a contract that lasted eighteen months. I didn't notice the first bill payment but on the second I saw it had gone up to fifty two pounds a month!
It gets worse.
During my recent sickness relatives suggested I subscribed to Netfix and Prime and I could watch movies on the computer to help keep me entertained. About ten pounds each.View attachment 3716930
Then there's the phone; that's another ten pounds for 7GB of data a month with free text and calls (there are of course limitations).
That lot adds up to eighty pounds a month to talk to people, which I'm not overly keen on, and watch shite films. I've watched some serious crap over the last few weeks and I've done it because it was there and an easy option.

My data usage before Netfix and Prime arrived on the computer was around 6GB. I haven't got any friendlier so I guess my usage is pretty steady. My phone will cover 6GB and more. I can get a further 5GB of data for five pounds.
That knocks sixty five pounds a month off my bills and will probably improve my mental and physical health in the process.
Netfix and Prime have gone. Wired internet connection is going at the end of the month. I've tested tethering out on all three of my computers and it works well.

Course, if you don't hear from me for a bit don't assume I've dropped dead; it's possible I've overlooked something on the technical front.

Good on you for ditching the movie subscription services!

If you really want to stay offline more maybe dial up and a rotary phone is the next option.

 

[notabitail]

Not always.


^^ And more….
My phone is used for:

texting , whatsapp and signal
phone calls
taking pictures
alarm clock, timer/stopwatch
calculator
writing quick notes
mail
Google maps and translate
Internet
Games/puzzles
Payments
Checking the charging of the car
Measuring
Reading newspapers
Linkedin
Checking the weather forecast
Listening to Spotify in the car
Netflix Youtube & TV (streaming)
ordering/ discounts for the supermarket
Etc.

And use it to create images (dall-e) like this chicken coop.
View attachment 3716968

Mine is used for texting, scrolling through a website I like, the camera, maps, and the occasional BYC post. I use the laptop for most of everything else, considering phones are a pain sometimes.

 

[notabitail]

Do you carry your mobile phone with you around the house?
Events still happen at the speed they always have. Knowing about them more quickly doesn't make the slightest diffenrence to the event. Just adds more stress to life.

Both my phones are charging when not in use. I've had people text me at 3AM, then start worrying if they bothered me. Nope, the phone is all the way on the other side of the house. And I don't care enough to get up and check most of the time (considering I'm probably dreaming about the next thing I want to blow cash on).

 

[notabitail]

It's raining here. 50mph wind gusts forecast for this afternoon. Chickens won't be interested in going out in this. It's a cae of get to the allotments, get them fed and watered, cleaned out as quickly as possible and run for shelter.

50?! That sounds miserable. No drone flying in that wind.