Friday, July 08, 2011

Rest and recreation

As I have written in my other blog, I am currently in a period of recuperation from my brain surgery prior to beginning treatment to try to stop the cancer. I'm feeling better every day, if still rather weak and living as if in a dream - in part no doubt due to my difficulty in sleeping.

Since I can't go anywhere much - we sold the car to a neighbour yesterday - I need things to keep me amused here, so inevitably I am once again becoming more interested in my radios. But I do have a different outlook on the hobby now. The computer gives me a headache in more than small doses so digital modes are out for the time being, as is the APRS gateway. The simple approach to ham radio now seems far more appealing. Perhaps I'll even spend some time trying to improve my CW.

I managed to set up my Kenwood TM-D710 as a digipeater and it can be heard and gated by Mark MM1MPB's station at Annan, Scotland. So my weather station G4ILO-5 and my Kenwood handheld TH-D72 G4ILO-7 still appear on the map and I can do limited messaging via the keypad on the handheld.

This burst of activity is only a sign of recovering from the operation (and of coming to terms with the fact of my mortality) not of beating the cancer. The treatment will not begin for a couple of weeks or so and I have been reliably informed that it may make me feel so tired that I won't feel much like blogging or radio. So my main intention during these next couple of weeks is to try to enjoy them as much as possible.

9 comments:

VE9KK said...

Good morning Julian, great to see your post. Yes ham radio is a vast hobby and when one area is unavailable other exciting facets are there to pickup the slack. We are thinking of you and Olga.

Roger G3XBM said...

Glad you are enjoying the radio again Julian. Apart from WSPR I've not been a great fan of digital modes. Hope the effects of the treatment are OK and you'll feel able to enjoy most of your interests with only a short break.

73s
Roger G3XBM

Anonymous said...

Nice to read you again Julian. If you ever want to borrow my FT101zd to play radio just let me know. I am relatively local ...Barnard Castle

joe said...

Julian,
Please keep the blogs comming I have not been active for a couple of months due to health issues but not anymore Thanks Joe

G8OSN said...

Good to see you blogging again Julian. Take it easy and look after yourself. All the best and 73, Brian G8OSN.

pa0o said...

I just red Julian that is real hard
I hope you can still enjoy radio in this situation wishing you and Olga all strength you need.

absorbentgnome said...

Good luck fighting the cancer and recovering from the operation. 73 Dan mw0uzo

Andy GD1MIP said...

look after number one mate. Andy GD1MIP

ed said...

Saddened by your situation but thankful for your excellent spirits. You said you sold the car I assume it the only one you had. How can a person get by without a vehicle these days. Do you live in town where you can walk to the store? I have back trouble and my wife won't let me drive and when she gets down, I'm stuck. Just the joys of getting old I guess.
Wish you the best.

WA4YHL USA