Nocturne

Can't find a trace of this wonderful disco back in the early 70's in Bolton.
Located underneath the 'Palais' (now Icon) at the top of Bridge Street I remember standing across the road with Stephen Hignett deciding whether to go in or not cos we were not sure if this was a dive. In fact it was a great place with UV lights and a lovely small dance floor. A real nice atmosphere! We went there later for a Rock Night, trouble was the bouncers and DJ didn't really appreciate rock and SAG came along! We had to dress smartly to get in and most wore a tie over their usual rock gear. I must admit that I wore my velvet jacket and a tie!
A great night, 'Black Cat Bone' played live and SAG got thrown out for 'dancing'.
Whatever happened to the Nocturne?
Also the 'Va Va' which was located under Elizabeth House, all locked up now and never used again!

Happy Christmas!

First time ever that we have a had a white Christmas like this one!

Outside six inches of lying snow, treacherous roads and my poor Blue Tits are freezing to death in their little frozen home. So what have I asked Santa for this year? Well, a good combination of Digital and Analogue. I have really gone back to my childhood days and asked for the Saturn V Airfix model along with an 'electric train' from Hornby. I have also asked for a Mobile Phone because the one I use now is well out of date (even though it works perfectly) got to be cool you know!
Ohhh...and an all singing and dancing digital photo frame!

You must admit that I live with one foot in the analogue world and the other in the digital world and I love it!!

Got it wrong again!

What is large, yellow, very shy and hates snow?

A Bolton Council Gritter of course!

Yesterday it snowed all day long, roads awful. Never mind, the Gritters will save the day and tomorrow the main roads will be clear in time for the rush hour. Guess what? Not a Gritter to be seen on this side of town at least. I have been on the road all day and never once did I see one these rare creatures in Bolton.

This is what they said about last year:

"Last year bosses came under fire when the town was hit by heavy snow in early December, causing morning rush hour chaos.
Council chiefs said that because the snow fell in the early hours of the morning, there was insufficient traffic to break up grit which had been spread earlier in the night. "

Well this time it fell during the day so what is the excuse this time?

Went to ASDA at Radcliffe tonight (Bury Council) guess what?

I passed two Gritters happily adding salt and grit to already cleared roads in Bury!

Get into the digital world Bolton and don't tell me the snow was not expected!

White Christmas

See how the snowflakes are falling.

Falling so gentle and white.

Coming from God in his beauty.

All through the day and the night.

One of my favourite songs when I was 5 years old!

I can't believe the weather at the moment...SNOW AT CHRISTMAS!

All day day today (and yesterday) it snowed heavily and its still snowing. Its been wonderful for the first time ever to see Christmas films on the TV with snow falling outside as well.

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas!

Susie the Sheep

Here is Susie the Sheep, AKA Melissa in the Christmas Nativity!

She can read words now, so tonight she rang up our home phone on Mums mobile searching the contact list for 'home'. I am so amazed how technology does not present any barriers to kids. Melissa is a true Digital Native, I even have to ask her how to start up a DVD and which button to press on the remote control! I somehow feel scared and even embarassed that a five year old is so confident with technology when I struggle to understand it myself.

I guess the answer is that kids don't need to understand it, they just embrace it!!

Well, tomorrow is the last day at school before Christmas and its SNOWING!!

I'm an RSGB Member!

I'm now an official member of the RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain) again!

I first joined the RSGB in January 1969 as an associate member with my number A6412. I sent out loads of QSL cards with my number on as a Short Wave Listener. I waited patiently each month for the new copy of Radio Communication Magazine to arrive, I even got my photo in it one month.

It later changed it's name to RadCom, a brilliant magazine most of which I still have in a big box in the loft. I became a full corporate member in 1977 (I'm not sure why because I got my Amateur Radio Licence in 1971 ... maybe its because I had to be 21?)

I still have my original membership certificates!

Later in the 80's I gave up my membership because it became expensive and RadCom was going downhill.

Never went back again until now, I really miss the RSGB and RadCom, I have lost touch and need to find out what is happening. I listen every night on my Yaesu FT-817 and am getting more and more curious. The bands have become much more active with the new licensing and I have listened to loads of interesting QSOs.

Got my first copy of RadCom and am very impressed! I even got my brand new RSGB pin badge ... oh...memories!

Just one complaint...my original certificate was hand drawn on parchment paper, my new one was printed on cheap card printed on a computer. Not personal at all!

Come on RSGB, at least print it on parchment paper and sign it!!