DXpedition

 In the summer is a DXpedition to this Pacific island.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 26th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 155. A=16 and K=3.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

We have had amaryllis plants in flower all the time from November and we still have some still to flower!  

My wife made this collage.

Church abuse - NOT amateur radio

It is saddening that the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in the UK seem to be untrustworthy when it comes to sexual abuse. 

I know personally of one Anglican priest who was moved on to another parish rather than being sacked after having carried out sexual abuse. He carried out abuse against minors (not me!) and was moved to another parish.

It is my view that this sort of thing is widespread and the churches are more concerned about themselves and less concerned about the victims. A similar situation seems to be the case in the Roman Catholic church in the UK.

You would hope that all churches could be trusted without question.

In my view any safeguarding investigations absolutely must be independent.

Windmill in the sunshine - NOT amateur radio

This is the windmill next door to us yesterday. 

The sun came out after lunch. 

We can see it from the breakfast table and from the lounge.

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 at 5W was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 0945z:  Spotted by 21 stations with the furtherest South America and Reunion Is..

UPDATE 1430z:  377 stations have spotted my 5W 10m FT8 today. 

UPDATE 1435z:  Turned the power down to 500mW to see what happens on 10m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1518z:  Even at 500mW FT8, 28 stations have spotted me with about half of these in the USA with one in the west of Canada.

UPDATE 1727z:   60 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m QRP  FT8 today.

Mindfulness - NOT amateur radio

This is one of those "new age" phrases that many find annoying.

What it is really trying to get you to do is live and enjoy the "now".  We are often crowded out by thoughts and worries in our heads and forget to enjoy the simple pleasures all around us right now. 

Often the most mundane thing is pleasurable, but we are too busy worrying to just enjoy it.

See https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/tips-and-support/mindfulness/.

Tuesday plans

 Today I think I shall go on 10m QRP FT8. Probably my QRP will span the world. Probably I shall use the IC-705 at 5W. 

Village sign -NOT amateur radio

This was our village sign yesterday. 

It is located on a place called Pound Hill as it was once the location of the village pound where animals found wandering were locked up and released when the owner paid a fine!

It is also the tiny village green.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 25th

 Solar flux is 203 and the SSN 182. A=14 and K=2.