Bram Esposito

Category: life

  • Starry night

  • Spotted a woodpecker

    We spotted a woodpecker family in the park. Mom and dad woodpecker were feeding the woodpecker chicks

  • I tried to use AI to identify some tree seeds I found

    I found these seeds on two different locations in parks here in Antwerp. They have an interesting, solid wooden consistency so I took some home.

    I don’t know what plant they are from so today I wondered if an AI chatbot could help me identify the tree.

    I tried three different AI chatbots:

    1. ChatGPT wants me to go back to where I found them and take pictures of the tree, needles or leaves. No better suggestion than a “cypress-type conifer” on what tree it could be from.
    2. Claude was very confident. “These are acorns — specifically the caps (cupules) and fragments of acorns from an oak tree (Quercus species).” Very funny.
    3. Gemini did put in the most effort and came pretty close, suggesting it could be from a Dove tree which also has ribbed seed pods, like the ones I have here, but still very dissimilar.

    So I still don’t know what tree these pods are from. Looks like I’ll have to take pictures of the tree and it’s leaves, the next time I’m at the park 😉.

  • RIP Piep

    We found a dead Coal Tit chick and named it Piep.

    We found a dead Coal Tit chick in our garden last weekend. Barely 4cm tall. Art insisted on burying it and giving it a grave. Then he collected flowers and herbs and made a cross from some twigs. Meanwhile he repeated “Oh, he had such a beautiful life!”.

    Rest in Peace, Piep.

  • Happy Birthday, David!

    David Attenborough with a Lyrebird
    David Attenborough with a Lyrebird

    David Attenborough turns 100 today.

    Attenborough’s work has always been important to me. I’ve always looked forward to new episodes from his series. From the early expeditions to Borneo, to Madagascar with the Elephant bird egg, the dinosaur series, …

    It’s not only his work, but also his attitude towards his career that inspires me.

    Going on expeditions as a hunter for wildlife for zoo’s in the early twentieth century, that was the common way to appreciate nature. We’ve come a long way, that practice is no longer accepted. He reinvented himself into a television and documentary maker specifically.

    By the start of the 21st century he did not shy away from talking about climate change and the impact of humans on nature and the planet’s ecosystems. Even when that were uncomfortable messages to bring sometimes.

    Thank you, David, for sharing and for inspiring!

  • We cycled the whole day, for 142km

    A map of our route from Antwerp, Belgium to Noorbeek, the Netherlands
    A map of our route from Antwerp, Belgium to Noorbeek, the Netherlands
    A true feat at 15 year old. But now it's time for a short break.
    A true feat at 15 year old. But now it’s time for a short break.
    Picture of a back wheel of a ycicle with a mangled rear derailleur.
    Whoops. That’s broken. Nothing will fix that.
    Duration: 8:12h Distance: 142,3km Avg. speed: 17.4 km/h Ascent: 581m Descent: 369m Max Altitude: 220m

    Ella, our daughter of 15, and me went for a bike trip today. We cycled all the way to Noorbeek in the Netherlands for a family weekend.

    It was beautiful, sunny weather, with quite some headwind, as we cycled along the Albert Canal for the largest part of the trip. Lot’s of water sports bars, industry, some woods and a gorgeous stretch between Hasselt and Maastricht. We crossed the Maas river in the city centre of Maastricht, cycled right through the shopping district and then along the Maas towards Eijsden.

    Starting from Eijsden, we had to enter the hills, and since Ella did not have a lot of shifting experience on her bike, she over-tensioned the rear derailleur and it ended in three parts between the wheel spokes. We were lucky to be close to the trip end, and family came to pick up Ella and her wrecked bike. End of the adventure.

    Despite having little time for breaks and the wind making too much noise for conversations, we did have lots of fun and made the daughter-dad bond stronger.

    Let’s do that again. But not too soon.

  • book: “In Europe” by Geert Mak

    I finally finished “In Europe”, a book in 12 chapters, travelling through the 20th century in Europe.

    It covers WWI and WWII and the cold war, told from the eyes from simple civilians then and at the end of the 20th century. So many insights.

  • Spring is coming

    This week has brought us some real sunshine.

    Over the last months, different flowers tried to announce the end of winter, only to be covered by snow again. It’s been many years since we had a “real” winter like this one. But it seems like the sun is winning ground.

    I’m not complaining 😊

  • snow

  • An update on my writing ambitions

    It’s been a long time since I last posted to this blog. 

    Although I often thought about posting, I have not come around to it. And that got me thinking about what stops me from posting. 

    These are a few topics that came up:

    1. Stage freight
      I’m very aware of the fact that I’m publishing my thoughts. 20 years ago I was less hesitant to post. Times have changed, and in the era of social media it became clear that sharing things online is not without consequences. 
      I often wonder: who’s waiting for this photo, this remark, this post. Isn’t my writing pretentious, am I being well-informed. How is my language, how do I express myself. 
    2. Time
      A lot has happened in the last months. A lot that could serve as inspiration for writing actually. I’ve read a lot of good things, had good conversations. And while I’d love to share more of what keeps me busy, at most times I don’t feel the energy to keep myself focused on writing. I would write a quick draft, think ambitious thoughts and then never return to it. Or while writing, start to feel kind of bored and want to stand up and walk away from it. It’s some kind of performance anxiety or fear of the unknown. Will I finally be able to break through and publish something?
    3. Intention
      And while we’re on the topic of time: while my inner dialogue is writing page-long pieces during the day, in the evening I’m way too often doomscrolling Reddit or Mastodon. Not a single synaps is launching the suggestion to start to write. 
      After forcing myself to observe this behaviour,  I realise I’m often led by impulse instead of intention.  
      It’s motivating that just having the intention to write can already lead to these insights. 
    4. I am a project starter
      Not a project finisher. Apparently. 
      It’s with a reluctance that I admit it. But I have to be honest with myself. And knowing this, I might actually be able to focus on finishing things instead of jumping on the new interesting adventure.  

    This post has gotten quite personal. And that’s exactly why I wanted to write in 2025. To bring clarity in cloudy thoughts. Observe things and give direction.

    If I succeed once this year, I’ll consider it a success 😉.