Sunspots - Sunday September 29th

 Solar flux is 195 and the SSN 148.  A=7 and K=3.

Dying of cancer - NOT amateur radio

 My wife has been to see her old work colleague and friend several times recently. 

After a long battle with stage 4 cancer she has come home to die. They gave her less than 5 years, but she has lasted 8 years. She probably only has days left. It is all so sad. She sleeps a lot of the time and is confined to bed. 

It is odd. In some ways this experience has dulled the fear of death. For her husband it must be unbelievably sad knowing that your wife is dying and there is no prospect of her getting better.

Apple day 2024 - NOT amateur radio

Our next door neighbour has a large orchard and far too many apples, so he organised an apple day so we could pick some for the winter. 

For once the weather was sunny and bright.

It was a lovely social occasion too.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My stand-alone 10m WSPR beacon by W5OLF was turned on at about 0835z.  No spots.

UPDATE 0848z: Just a couple of spots by local G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE  0855z:  Just G4KPX spotting me.

UPDATE 1556z:  33 stations have spotted me with many in the USA and Canada.

UPDATE 1603z:  The map (see WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ) shows the stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon today.

UPDATE 1629z:  36 stations have spotted me today.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8  was turned on at about 0835z.  

UPDATE 1317z:  QRT.  No spots all day on RX or TX on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1703z:  On again, but still no spots. So far, I have been disappointed with 8m FT8 this autumn.

Crab apple jelly - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago I collected the crab apples from our single tree. 

Yesterday, I turned them into crab apple jelly as the photo shows. It is delicious on some meats.

I have no idea why they are called crab apples. They are tiny compared with more usual apples. I would guess 2cm diameter or less would be more typical.

See https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/crab-apple-jelly .

8m later

 Now my 8m dipole has been re-erected, I intend to try the band again later.

Sunspots - Saturday September 28th

 Solar flux is 186 and the SSN 122. A=6 and K=0.

'Our' tree - NOT amateur radio

We keep an eye on this tree at Anglesey Abbey throughout the year. At the moment it is turning into its autumn colours. After a few weeks of strong winds, it will be bare until the spring.

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

 My 10m 500mW WSPT TX beacon was turned on at about 1630z.  EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me.

UPDATE 2035z:  In the end 2 stations in the USA spotted me (see table).