Promise - NOT amateur radio

We are coming to the end of winter and there is a hint of spring: days are getting longer, snowdrops are out and the daffodils are not far behind. 

100mW 10m FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear has been on since before breakfast.The IC-705 power out is set to 1% (100mW).

UPDATE 0920z:   So far, spotted by 17 stations! QRP? Easy!!

Stations spotting my 100mW 10m FT8 at 1320z

UPDATE 1326z:  78 stations have spotted my 100mW 10m FT8 including many in the USA. I can't say running just 100mW is really such a handicap. 5W sounds like real QRO!! Furthermost is W5LOR (7629km).

UPDATE 1545z:  131 stations spotting me in 5 continents on 100mW 10m FT8. With an external attenuator, I think I can go to 10mW 10m FT8.  Actually with my 15dB attenuator I could go even lower! 

UPDATE  1604z: Just added 15dB pad to output. Output is now 3.2mW. No spots, so this might be too low, especially if clobbered by a stronger station! Lots of stations still being spotted on 10m FT8 RX even with the 15dB attenuator.

UPDATE 2045z:  QRT. No spots at 3.2mW. Tomorrow I shall try 10mW.

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.