Category Archives: General

Well firstly apologise for not posting for a while, but I have been busy practising for my Amateur Radio Intermediate Licence, as well as deleting and re-categorising some posts here.

The Intermediate Radio Licence course won’t be stating until October, but I wanted to get ahead of the game. In preparation, I have purchased a Multi-meter and Soldering Iron. I will if all goes to plan be taking the course at Bromley DARS than for my Foundation Licence at Whitton ARG ARG. Only one bus from centre of town to Bromley instead of one bus and two trains Whitton. Talking of which, I went to the Whitton club for 1st time last friday since I got my Foundation Licence and had a great evening.

I contacted the author of the Intermediate Licence book and was sent some Mock Exams which I am working though the questions so I understand what the questions are asking. For part of it you can choose to build a simple electrical project and I have a feeling I want to try a Morse Oscillator so I can try to learn Morse Code. Well it’s back to the Studying…..

Friday while on the Isle of Wight I had a long lie in and was not up until nearly midday. When I did get up I found my dad clearing the hotels swimming pool of leaves, etc.

We then had some lunch and watched some TV for a few hours. At 5:30 we ordered our tea from Mr T’s Pizza Shed. My dad had a large doner kebab and I had the bellybuster (12oz (339g) ribeye steak chargrilled and served in a pitta bread with salad and chips) although with no salad but with garlic mayo. Yum!.

In the evening we headed over to Bembridge where the Isle of Wight Radio Society (IWRS) meet. We spent a few hours there chatting to everyone. My dad even knew some of the members and is thinking of joining and trying to get his Amateur Licence. We was shown the rooms and one had the transmitting stuff in and soon they were getting contacts from as far away as Japan. I was given a go using the club call (G3SKY) and made 3 contacts although I can only remember one that was in Germany.

I would like to say thank you to everyone at the club for making me feel very welcome and I am sure I will be along to the club again when on the Isle of Wight.

Was up before 9am (yes even on a day of flexi-leave) so we could make an early start to Portsmouth. We got to Portsmouth about 11:30 and after I said my goodbyes to my grandparents until Sunday then I was onto the Fast-Cat but had to wait nearly an hour as I missed the 11:20 sailing. From Ryde was a quick train ride to Shanklin then a Taxi to the apartments were my Dad works.

When I arrived I gave my dad some presents for his recent birthday. I was also allowed to use one of the Flats (for free) at the hotel apartments were my dad works.

A little while later a friend of his came around and invited us down the pub with a Chinese meal afterwards. About 5pm we headed for the pub and after about a couple of hours we left and got the Chinese meal. Then a quick stop at the Off-Licence I got a 5ltr keg of beer.

The evening was spent watching the Czech Republic vs. Portugal match, but of course the team I was rooting for lost (I had Czech Rep. in sweepstake at work I actually got a share of third prize as there was no 3rd/4th place play-off). After the match ended we then watched a Glastonbury video (Chemical Brothers were great).

So after a hard day at work with a late finish, I finally left work. I got a lift home by my granddad and after a coffee we headed to his house as I was getting a lift in the morning.

We got a Chinese meal for tea and after some TV headed to bed about 10pm (which is early for me).

It’s that time of year when the tissues are brought as well as the Allergies medicine.

Every year it’s the same routine. Weather Gets Hotter. Pollen Levels Increase. And The Sneezing Starts. “Atchoo”.

So all morning at work, I was sneezing and my eyes were watering. All the clients who came in asked “Is it HeyFever or a Cold?”.

At lunch I nipped out to the local chemist and they had all the major allergy brands at about ?3.00. Then I noticed the unbranded (or that should be un-known-brand) for only 99p (for one a day with 7 in box), and worked well.