Foula, Shetland- NOT amateur radio

 Foula is a very isolated inhabited island in the Shetland Islands. It has no ferry or air links. The community is very cut off.

2m activity contest UKAC

 Every month I take part in the 2m activity contest with my 10W and big-wheel omni antenna. Because of my poor voice I rarely stop on very long, but I enjoy the SSB activity. Last evening I worked just 4 stations, but one was in Wales.

Full flower - NOT amateur radio

One of our 4 amaryllis plants is now fully in flower. Another week and it will look past its best. 

Hopefully one of the others will soon be as glorious.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 4th

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 126. A=12 and K=1..

More Christmas cheer - NOT amateur radio

This was in a Cambridge department store earlier. 

Now it is December, I am happy. Earlier, I am not!

Orchids

The photo shows our orchids. The tiny black dot was our last remaining wild  blackberry that I was hoping would ripen on the windowsill. Alas!!

Singing reindeer - NOT amateur radio

The kids love this!  

The Grand Arcade in Cambridge is gearing up for the Christmas season. As we grow older, we become cynical, but to young ones it is magic. 

Whatever your religious views this is a time for love, peace and joy. 

I still do not understand why there is so much hate and greed in the world. We never seem to learn from history. Why can't we live at peace and just accept that we are all different and have basic human rights?

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at about  0720z. 

UPDATE 1900z: 57 stations have spotted me. The furthermost is F61695 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean. QRT soon.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0720z. So far 10 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 0946z:  27 stations have spotted me with the furthermost UN3G (5538km) in Kazakhstan.

UPDATE 1431z:  69 spots of me today on 6m QRP FT8 including VO1SIX (3933km). See map with bars.

UPDATE 1453z:   64 stations spotted here today on 6m FT8. See map with dots.

UPDATE 1901z:   78 stations have spotted me. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 3rd

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 111. A=6 and K=3.