Decorated postboxes - NOT amateur radio

There seems to be a fashion at the moment to decorate postboxes. This one was near our co-op shop at the weekend.

Perseid meteor shower - reminder

 A reminder that this meteor shower is at its peak and may result in enhanced VHF conditions.

10m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 My 2.5W 10m FT8 has been on since just before breakfast. 17 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1256z:  88 stations have spotted my QRP with the furthermost OD5KU (3468km). 

UPDATE 1258z: 99 stations spotted here with the furthermost South Africa.

UPDATE 1420z:  104 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today (see map) and 122 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 1811z:  130 spots of me today. 205 spots by me in the last day on 10m FT8.

Sunspots - Monday August 12th

Solar flux is 282 and the SSN 194. A=28 and K=6.

Ukraine war - NOT amateur radio

From the BBC website:

"Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 30km inside Russia, in what has become the deepest and most significant incursion since Moscow began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022." 

Although I don't like commenting on political matters, it would seem correct that Russia has to accept this sort of action. Wars, in the end, do not resolve conflicts. Both sides need to agree to a compromise in which both sides feel winners.

I just wish a ceasefire could be agreed here and in Gaza leading to a peaceful resolution of both conflicts. 

How do they stand the heat? - NOT amateur radio

The museum next door has a blacksmith that comes from time to time. It was one of the hottest days of the year, so in the forge it must have been incredibly hot.

Alcohol free beer - NOT amateur radio

Years ago alcohol free beer tasted dreadful. These days I cannot tell the difference between 0.0 beers and those with alcohol. The processing has come on a great deal.

With limits in many countries on driving with alcohol in the blood, less beer is being consumed. These days there is a real alternative.

I quite like the Guinness 0.0 and Heineken 0.0.

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W has been on since before breakfast. So far 7 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 16 on 10m FT8. All were in Europe.

UPDATE 1122z: 59 stations have spotted me. On RX, 146 stations spotted with the furthermost 2 in South Africa.

UPDATE 1857z:  Spotted by 170 stations (see map). On RX 444 stations were spotted with the furthermost RI1ANE in Antarctica (14845km).

Churches visited blog - NOT amateur radio

My East Anglian churches blog has been updated with all three Suffolk churches recently visited.

See https://eachurches.blogspot.com/ .

888 rule - NOT amateur radio

Some time ago I was taught a rule for cutting lavender. 8 inches, 8th month on the 8th. I was overdue, so did it yesterday.

We only planted them to help keep Muntjac deer out of our back garden. Apparently they don't like the smell.  Last year they nibbled quite a few plants.

See  https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/lavender .