Thunder?

Our weather forecast is a mix of sunshine and showers. We may get some thunder so I think that radio will "take a miss" today.

See  https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=ses;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;y=50.6166;x=0.7725;z=7;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

My son and jazz

 My son is a professional jazz pianist playing all the major London venues (Ronny Scott's, 606 club etc.) and across the country and abroad.

70cm activity contest yesterday

 Last night was the May leg of the UKAC activity contest.With my poor voice, 10W and 144MHz big-wheel omni antenna it’s hard work, so I don’t stay on long. Just 2 stations worked.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 13th

 Solar flux is 111 and the SSN 58. A=4 and K=1.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

 The 200mW beacon was turned on at about 1900z. 

UPDATE 1948z:  Many spots of me by EA8BFK (2880km). At the peak I had about 28dB in hand!

Fiddling as Rome burns?

In the UK there is a debate about whether the Prime Minister should be replaced. To me this seems like "fiddling as Rome burns".

Within 12 months we could have rationing of some foodstuffs and fuel, and live in a world that is radically different. 

With Ukraine, Iran, Gaza, Taiwan, Sudan etc, not forgetting climate change and a widening gap between rich and poor, the world has a great deal to think about and act upon.

Government Bonds

Government debt is financed by investors putting money in government bonds.  These are usually considered a safe haven with a certain yield over a given period. 

The trouble is currently interest rates are much higher than a few years ago, so governments have to pay a large amount of their budget on servicing this debt as is the case in the USA and UK.

 The danger is foreign investors think twice about buying this debt in the future. 

At the moment the US $ is the world's reserve currency. For how much longer?

8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

Once again, I am monitoring 8m FT8.

UPDATE  1206z:  No spots. This will probably be my last day concentrating on 8m FT8. I am disappointed in 8m activity.

UPDATE 1822z: Just EA3ERE (1153km) spotted. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 12th

 Solar flux is 116 and the SSN 79. A=5 and K=1.

8m FT8 RX (Monday)

Although I no longer hold a UK TX permit for 8m, I still monitor 8m FT8  from time to time. 

I am monitoring today.

UPDATE 1308z:   Just G8VER (64km) spotted.