An old logbook

 Before I started using a digitalized log, I had kept notebook logs in analogue since I started radio in 1963. Ordinary A4 sized notebooks with horizontal rule lines. Until I transfered from them to PC log in around 2010, when I realized my memory had got too rusty to remember even QSOs with old friends, I had kept almost 100 of the notebook log. 

One reason why I made so many log notebooks is that I have written down some key words in the conversation in the remarks. Some QSOs have taken a page or so to record them. That memo was quite imcomplete and sometimes difficult to recall of what I talked about with the partner. Still some are quite informative and make me recall vividly of the QSOs.

From the bookshelf, I took one of them dated from March to May in 1981. It is numbered Nr4. There were several I kept in '60s in addition to 90 plus after 1980. It made me chuckle at myself how long I have spent with ham radio those days. One note book for a couple of months. I was a senior resident by that time and was accoustomed with normal routine at work. That may be why. But how about the home chores? I have spent almost all my free time for ham radio.

A lot of old and fond call signs were there. W4BW, WA6IVN, W7KRU, VK2DO, 9V1UY, WB6BFR, K6TS and many more, whom I chatted with for a long time and each remarks space of over half a page or more was spent for a QSO. Most of the operators were older than me and have started ham radio in 1930s or even earlier. Real ham radio pioneers were still active those days. I was only in my early '30s of age. 

I was using only TS830 and a vertical on the roof those days. I could work with all over the world including the East Coast and Africa etc. It is amazing I often worked with Africans, mostly, southern part like ZS, ZE, 8Q, FB8 etc with that small set up. I still remember seeing Frank ZE1FN, ex G2DGJ. He was on the air, mainly, 20m when sun was sinking the horizon, that is, our mid night. Steve, WA0UIR, was active from Seattle, almost finishing his graduate school and starting his research career. There will be 3 decades of hiatus before we again meet often. He is now KW7Q retired in Colorado. In early spring, 20m was vigorously open to Europe. There are records of a lot of QSOs with Eu in a row on 20m. I stayed up early in the morning. Thar good conditions might have driven me crazy. Lireterally, crazy and hectic days. 

Again, I could not help asking myself if it was worth spending time and energy for this hobby that way. I could have done more with academic career or caring for family etc. Knowing that I got crazy for this hobby like in my teenage days, how much my parents have worried about me and my family! At least, I haven't ruined my life with it. But still that addiction in this hobby questions to me if it was good or not.

It was a good training for communication in English. I was reading professional papers in English. But, without ham radio, my ability in it won't stay as well as at present. I should admit knowledge in the colloquial English in ham radio was not so  practical in ordinary life.

Last but not least, friendships with those old friends and their memories have been indispensable for me. Living lives together, even apart each other, with someone away throuout our lives is an experience difficult to have for anyone. Throughout our lives in fact. Yes the relationship could be superficial in a sense. But through that life long relationship, we could know each other so well. This should be the best thing ham radio has brought to me.

So what to do with these 100 notebooks, worn and a bit dirty? I may preserve them until end of my life. My family may discard them then. Together with all my pleasure and dream since young days.