Swallows and house martins - NOT amateur radio

Whilst away in Newscastle and Durham I saw 1 swallow and 5 house martins. One swallow was seen down here before we went away.  

It was great to see 5 house martins on the wing simultaneously over the River Wear in Durham. Swifts usually appear later.  I shall keep my ears and eyes open as one often hears swifts screaming first.

These are all migrant birds back from Africa.

See House Martin Bird Facts | Delichon Urbica

Italy on 8m in 2025

 Italy has again been permitted to use 8m amateur radio in 2025 . Why oh why can’t OFCOM do the same? Idiots!!

Going home - NOT amateur radio

We’re on our way home after a few days in Newcastle/Durham. It was a good trip. Everyone in Newcastle was SO friendly. I can imagine it is a great place to be at university.

UPDATE 1822z:  Been home for a few hours.

Sunspots - Saturday April 26th

 Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 169. A=5 and K=2.

Durham Cathedral outside - NOT amateur radio

 This impressive Norman cathedral was built almost 1000 years ago before they had heavy lifting gear and CAD.

MLS prices

 I’m sorry but I don’t get it. Why do people waste so much on amateur radio gear? 

MLS is proudly advertising amateur gear at reduced prices, but still far more than I am prepared to pay! 

Each to their own  but I  have had as much fun with homemade gear costing a few pounds as anyone spending thousands.

Hotel breakfast -NOT amateur radio

This was my breakfast today with toast.

Weathered wall - NOT amateur radio

 This weathered sandstone wall was near Durham Cathedral yesterday.

Rally this Sunday

 Sunday April 27th - Cambridge Repeater Group Rally, Foxton near Cambridge ,  CB22 6RN. See www.cambridgerepeaters.net .

Durham Cathedral yesterday - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we visited Durham Cathedral and an old school friend of my wife.

Apparently this was where Scottish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 prisoners were kept hundreds of years ago. To keep warm they burned wooden things, but spared the clock as it has a small thistle.