Left-over daffodil bulbs

We had a few bulbs left over, so these have been planted in these pots and in the garden where we had sweet peas over the summer. Hopefully they will come out sometime in the winter or spring. At the moment they look pretty boring!

UK interest rate rise - NOT amateur radio

UK interest base rates have gone from 0.25 to 0.5%. This is the first rise in 10 years. Modest, but upwards. What will it do for the UK Pound?

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41846330 .

UPDATE 1300z: At the moment, the UK pound is down against most currencies. Perhaps they were expecting a bigger rise?

Well, I have come to the conclusion that the best advice is to do the opposite of whatever I suggest! By now, I was expecting the Euro to lose value against the UK Pound.

UPDATE 2215z: So the UK Pound - Euro exchange rate has worsened by 1.74% today. This completely the opposite of what I expected! Will it get even worse tomorrow?

BBC Click

Southgate News brought to my attention a post on the BBC "Click" technology programme about amateur radio.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05lmbhy .

Fleeing wars - NOT amateur radio

Sometimes, most times, we take for granted our freedoms and lives. This video on the BBC really brings this home. I hope after 3 years they get granted permanent residency.

We must all work towards a free, fair and inclusive society, wherever we are on Earth. There is no place for hate and unkindness.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-41835112/starting-a-new-life-in-a-foreign-country-at-13 .

630m WSPR overnight

Overnight my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR was spotted by 17 unique stations and I spotted 13 uniques with best DX again EA4GHB (1300km).  I am sure many weaker signals are buried in my noise, so I am just copying the better signals.

10m FT8 RX

Apart from OK1KT (1104km), all spots so far have been Russians. I have been on 10m FT8 RX since 0646z. Best DX is currently R9WJ (3662km).

UPDATE 1106: Twelve 10m FT8 spots so far. Some spots are quite near in Europe, so probably not F2. Ranges vary from France, Germany, Turkey, Holland, Switzerland, Denmark to Russia.

UPDATE 1215z: Now 13 spots - all Europe, Russia and Turkey. No "real" DX as yet on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1405z: 14 spots on 10m FT8 so far, but still no "real" DX.

UPDATE 1515z: Still no "real" DX on 10m FT8 today.  At 1539z EA8GF (2973km) was spotted in the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1630z: I am getting the feeling that there will be no South Americans today on 10m FT8. I'll leave things running, but I am not too hopeful.

UPDATE 1810z: Still no South Americans on 10m FT8. Soon be time to QSY to 630m WSPR - I'll maybe give it another hour?

Sunspots - Thursday November 2nd 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=2.

Don't QSY yet!

So, I was about to QSY from 10m FT8 to 630m WSPR, but I see very recent South American spots, so left 10m running. In another hour or so, I shall QSY to MF.

UPDATE 1847z: Best DX today on 10m FT8 RX was LU8XAF (13413km). As there has been now DX for over an hour, I think it is time to QSY to 630m.

630m WSPR last night

As is my usual pattern, I was on 630m WSPR last night. My own 10mW ERP signal was spotted by 6 unique stations and I spotted 12 unique stations with best DX EA4GHB (1300km).

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Like many towns, Cambridge has a fair number of shops which you can see in any UK town.

In Cambridge the M&S store is on 2 sites and they have just widened the path to 1 of these, as the photo shows.

Like most clothes retailers, M&S is struggling on the high street. All retailers are facing competition from on-line suppliers. It is anyone's guess what our high streets will be like in 20 years' time.