Seiko Champion

Home to the BlackBerry, temporary home of Stephen Hawking, and now home to Catherine and I.

After working in the city off and on over the past 20 years, we now live here also. Moving is done, we’re (hopefully) through the surprises of moving into a 50 year old bungalow, including two surprise plumbing leaks. The people who bought and flipped the house did some very good work in some areas. Plumbing was unfortunately not one of them, the dishwasher piping was installed wrong and leaked through to the basement discoloring the ceiling (thankfully no structural damage, and it’s painted and we know what color), the water softener was bypassed but left turned on so burnt out plus it leaked also, and the main toilet had debris thrown into it and now has a nice green crusty line that won’t come off so probably needs replacing.

Ah, the joys of moving. It wil stil be a few months before things are to the point I can get back to regular posting, so the hiatus proceeds. I continue to answer your emails and letters, no worry!

Turns out at one point in time quite a few of my family in New Brunswick just “up and left”, heading out to various places, as part of the taming of the American Wild West

Still finding out more details about brothers Joseph A and Silvinus W Ferris, who were hunters in North Dakota, ranchers in Montana, etc. They lived in the same towns as some of the most infamous outlaws of the day, and over the years became prominent people in those states. They and their children were also senior members of many of the early Western US Masonic and Oddfellow lodges and grand lodges.

Yes, that John Hancock, the first signer of the US Declaration of Independence, whose name became synonymous with signing your signature. Turns out we’re related.



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A lot more information about some of the threads a few more generations back, plus another 290 new people entered. So the published tree is up to 3,853 people now. Thanks to all who have emailed some connections!

I am still updating our family tree during this time, although it will be a while before I have time to get back to regular blogging. Updated the “family tree” part of the site today, it’s up to 3,563 people entered and validated against some type of official source. A few thousand more researched and still to enter, and a few thousand beyond that still to validate.

Sorry about my lack of postings. We’re moving cities this summer, decided to do it backwards because we’re downsizing – we have purchased the new house and the current house is now on the market. Despite being planned that way, yes it does create a wee bit of stress

Between that, some (thankfully reasonably minor) health issues, family stuff and work, I simply have not had the time or focus to put into this blog or into my watches, for a while now. I expect that this will continue until after the move, so expect summer downtime.

I am continuing to answer comments and emails, have had a lot of people contact me with questions or needs this year, really enjoy helping when I can so keep those comments and emails coming!

Thanks all
Harry
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Well, at least “more international” since they are already here at the Seiko Boutique in Canada but you know what Seiko means.

Hmm, maybe we’ll even get some of the nicer hand-wind models here now?


Image of one of my grails from SteveG

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So what did the local Seiko Boutique bring out for us to look at and try on, at the recent GTG? Here’s a quick rogue’s gallery of the visitors, and what I would recommend from the bunch…

First were models from the (currently separate line) called Spring Drive Collection. Two on leather – SNR013 GMT with champagne dial on brown band (which I really like – RECOMMEND) and SNR015 with slate dial on blue leather. All have the 5R66 movement, recessed power reserve sub-dial, alligator strap, stainless case, sapphire crystal and display back, and 100 meter water resistance.


Image from Seiko.co.jp

These are also called the “Spring Drive Collection GMT II” models. A quite nice dress watch, less subdued than the GS line but still fairly elegant, reminds me of some quality German brands but with the Spring Drive movement and Seiko feel.

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