Unexpected, those three power bumps during the supper hour. Not enough to trip the transfer switch, but enough for me to reset clocks in the kitchen. In other words, a nuisance.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in ham radio, technology | Comments Off on My gassing game | 258 words
With the temperature up to 20C, this afternoon, it’s time to note that the seasons are not like they used to be. Many of us are old enough to realize that, but for the younger members of the community, take note: November at 20C used to be reserved to the living space in front of the fireplace.
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When I was younger, technical secrets were sometimes hidden “in the fine print”. Much like contracts and such. Now, you have to read through virtual reams of material, on websites. No difference, really.
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Today, I received a parcel from the past. Not that it took a long time to arrive, but my collection of Morse keys has grown, again. This time, a Model D key used by the RAF up to and through WW2, which makes it older than anyone in this house. Including the dog, possibly.
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Our time on the road, last spring, gave me a whole new set of experiences to draw from. That’s why, re-watching the movie The Leisure Seeker, I had so much better an understanding of some of the situations the couple found themselves in. Not the exact situations; more of a sense about what life on the road is like. I enjoyed the movie more, this second time through.
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My thumbs will requires some recovery time, after the project building this afternoon. Lacking a proper saw, I held the hacksaw blade (firmly) while I took my aluminum bar and turned it into two shorter pieces. Then, lacking a proper drill press, I used a small power drill to pierce the four holes required for my “idea”. After supper, I bent the first bar into a rough circle, using my thumbs for pressure, and finally I fastened the bolt assembly into place, using thumbs and pliers. Did I succeed? Yes. Is it as “pretty” as the commercial version? It’s all in the eye of the beholder, right? With experience, the 2.0 version will be a little less angular. And in the end, the design doesn’t discuss cosmetics: this is a coupling loop for an antenna, and RF goes wherever it pleases. I don’t have the ability to model the project, as would any university-trained engineer. I’m just making something for the fun of it.
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Right now, the skies are clear, sort of. Why that matters is that we have a predicted transit of ISS in about thirty minutes, and I would like to try eyeballing the pass. I’ll also bring a VHF receiver to the party, in case there’s chatter. Am I overly optimistic? Probably, but time is cheap, and I just have to keep “on task” for another few minutes. Avoid distraction from my comfortable bed, etc.
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Perhaps I have evolved; now, I am an elder, in the community sense. Yes, this is a case of labelling myself, but what other term to use when I spend time trying to pass on family history to someone much younger. The critical facts, like “where your mother went to school” or “where your great-grandparents lived” or “why so few houses locally are constructed using bricks”. All facts that an elder would know; that only an elder would know, actually.
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With the change of season, a change of fare. Tonight, a fall stew. What I heard called “bouilli d’automne” for decades, even if we didn’t fill today’s pot with strange vegetables. For us, the foundation food groups. Beef and potatoes. And it was good, right to the last drop.
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My bad. Not being attentive to the calendar means that we get to “keep” our garbage for another two weeks. The bin is half (full or empty), so no impending overflow, but mixing Wednesday with Thursday does matter. I’ve wheeled the monster back in from the curb, so few of the neighbours will even notice… unlike the summer folk that put their out much earlier than scheduled, and leave them out to the point where even raccoons despair.
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