Friends across the world

One of the aspects of amateur radio I really like is its ability to completely transcend politics. 

Way back in the days of the USSR many stations were worked. Likewise I worked many stations in the USA and Canada. These days there are more Chinese stations active.  To this day I still exchange emails with a radio amateur in Moscow.  I also exchange emails with someone in the USA.

Most of us are just interested in some aspect of the hobby and politics just doesn't matter. Some are capitalists, some are communists. It really does not impact us. 

All we can do is continue to break down barriers and remember we are all the same really.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

 

Yesterday we met old university friends. I must be old!!

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

Last night we had a knock on the door and we assumed it was our grandson. In fact it was friends who used to live in our village years ago, We had not seen them for a very long time so it was a nice surprise.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

We have known these friends since the mid-1970s. They moved away from the village some years ago, but had returned to see old friends and hand out Christmas cards. They came for a meal last night.

Disappearing people - NOT amateur radio

You have probably experienced this. Suddenly you realise that people you chance across on social media, or other means are not there. You often have no means of finding out if they have got new interests, are seriously ill or even dead. 

Two people I have not heard from in while are Jay, W5OLF and Michael AA1TJ. Any news would be appreciated. In the past, both have been very kind to me.

Old university friends - NOT amateur radio

Today, we met up with old university friends that we have known since the late 1960s. We met up in Anglesey Abbey and they came back here for lunch. 

With old friends we pick up where we left off as if we last met just yesterday.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

We have old friends who moved from our village to the Cotswolds about 10 years ago.

They go home today and left us a lovely set of plants that they potted.

As old friends, we just pick up as if they had never left.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

About 10 years ago some old friends in our village moved to the Cotswolds. We see them a few times each year.

When we meet it is as if we have never been apart.

The photo show the husband helping me with some VLF tests many years ago.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, a couple of my wife's friends from her school teaching days popped around. The photo shows them in our lounge. My wife is on the right. They normally get together each year in the summer.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

Some old friends who moved out of our village several years ago are staying with us for a few days. The photo shows us enjoying a meal together last night.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

Since university days back in the 1960s, we have known this couple. They live about 40 miles away and we usually meet up a few times each year. We went to their house for lunch today. When we meet it seems like just yesterday when we last met. In his working life he was a project manager responsible for putting a probe on a comet. He is very modest and talking to him you'd never guess. My wife is on the left.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

We got a surprise visit from some old friends who moved from our village to the Cotswolds some years ago. They just turned up in their camper van. They stayed for a cup of tea and came back for lunch the next day. The photo was taken as they left. It was good to see them.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

This weekend we have old friends over staying with us. When I was in hospital, they regularly drove 90 miles each way to come to see me in hospital. Up until 2009 they lived in our village but moved to the Cotswolds, partly to be close to their daughter who has MS.

I have said many times that a real illness shows true friends. Sadly, a church-going couple next door never once asked how I was and never came to see my wife.  Some people just don't "do" illnesses. It is some years since I was in hospital for 3.5 months, but our Cotswold friends are as close as ever.

In a time of real crisis, some people "came up trumps".  Others just fell away.