Today I lay down my quill, close a chapter, turn over a leaf or at least, close
an apple, et cetera, et cetera...
It’s been great fun, and a most entertaining challenge, coming up with regular
emails which are not just reminders to inform, but also educational, at least
for the less experienced members, also to entertain, perhaps by being amusing,
hopefully occasionally erudite, although rarely genuinely original. I can
thank some great authors from whom I’ve drawn inspiration, including Harry
Harrison, Isaac Asimov, Iain M Banks, Terry Pratchett, Arthur Conan Doyle, St
Paul (at least for his Gospel, anyway), Mills & Boon (yes, there was one!),
Terry Nation, Confucius, Douglas Adams, and lots of Anons, plus no doubt many
others. Just occasionally, though, it’s my very own.
I take my hat off to the journalists and editors of our radio publications,
particularly Practical Wireless and Rad Com, writing every month, for years, is
a most impressive achievement. I was fortunate enough to meet Tex at the PW
stand at Kempton yesterday, so took a few minutes to express my support for the
good work the folk at PW do. Whilst everything might be on the internet
somewhere, it does take a great deal of skill to select the right pieces, and
furthermore, to check them for accuracy. It has to be said that much of the
inter-web is filled with misleading, incorrect and often nonsensical articles -
if you want to learn something, make sure you check a lot of inter-web
references - urban myths can propagate a lot further than a 70cms carrier. Or,
buy your books and magazines from the RSGB, or PW, at least you know they’re
likely to be correct!
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the reminders, and I thank those of you who have
taken the time to respond to me.
And finally, don’t forget the net, tonight, V.30 145.375, FM, centre of
gravity Tunbridge Wells, 8pm. Simplex channel, although the comms mode is
half-duplex[1], as Les correctly pointed out.
My very best wishes for the new secretary, and I ask you all to please support
him, as I certainly shall.
Note [1]: Half-duplex is essentially taking turns using the same channel in
both directions, which is what we actually do. Simplex would be sending only.
Some overs might be long enough to be considered simplex, but I hesitate to
name names, as throwing stones from one greenhouse at another is not wise...
73 Mark G8PHM, Secretary Emeritus, West Kent ARS
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