All Asian Contest 2014

Again, I had forgotten it was this contest held this week end. In the beginning, 21MHz didn't sound in good shape. It has got better in 2 or 3 hours. Sometime ago, an hour before noon, on this band, I could hear the East Coasts as well as Europeans. It meant the condition was improving a lot. Having watched this band for a while, I have got the following observation and impressions.

There still seemed to be decreased number of the participants. Under this fairly good condition, there could have been much more signals all around at least in the beginning. There were much room to get on among the contesters. Big guns have scarcely had callers in a row. They have repeated calling CQ TEST and have got a call in several times of CQ. They must have been frustrated with this paucity of contesters. This is not a phenomenon particular to this contest. Most of us should realize it as a general finding in contersts.

The main bracket of the participants seemed to be older. In my rough observation, it might be around 70 years of age. Those who used to be active 2 or 3 decades ago must be still active and comprise the majority in the participants. I could hear a few university club stations in Japan, which used to be the main clubs in contests. I could not help smiling bitterly knowing some of them were operated by old timers different from the student age group. But, seemingly, there were a few operated by the students judging from their ages. I used to be active in this contest over 20 years ago. It was fun for me to know how old or young my friends or well known hams were. I still had that kind of fun this time even though just listening to them. James, 9V1YC, is now 48 years old. Whew, I still have an image of James as around 30 years of age. Seventies are fairly active and skillful in operation. But who knows how contests would become in several years when the majority reaches their eighties?

In the bottom of solar cycles, this period is always the worst for world wide contests. I was sad when the JARL had determined to move this contest from the end of August to this time in a year. It was just not to overlap the timing of Tokyo Ham Fair held in that period with this contest. In the end of August, the terrific band condition used to usher in the arrival of fall. There were big guns from the east coast on 21MHz like sardines in a can. But it has already gone. My interests in contesting has been calmed down as well. I only hope they would enjoy the band conditions and the unique rule which will tell the other's age.

  

The rainy season

It is the rainy season. It will last until the end of July. No gardening nor farming at present. Spending the free time with ham radio, reading and practising cello.

 

There are less activity on the radio except for contesting and pile ups. I won't complain of that any longer but there are still very few ordinary QSOs. 

 

Reading objectives are about the collective self defence and a book about Bach written by Gardiner. Our government is trying to lead us toward a country which could make war against our constitution. It is against constitutionalism. 

 

Cello...a lovely instrument. The more I practise it, the more it requires me time and energy. It is a battle against the time. In a couple of days, I will go and join a piano trio and, on the day after, an ensemble of Bach pieces. 

 

 

 

The entrance. I have managed cutting lawn while the rain stopped.

 

 

Radish and squid cooked with soy sause and sake

Radish is the harvest in our yard farm. Fresh and kind of sweet. It absorbs delicate taste from seasoned squid. Squid might look grotesque but tastes good with soy sauce and sake.

The time for full retirement

I have finally decided to fully retire this month. I told that to the president of the hospital, my part time place, 2 days ago.

 

I have been thinking of that for months. Working as a doctor is still attractive to me. I knew it had been my Beruf so far as I was conscious of. Feeling that I am required by someone is a good thing in life.  There is nothing better than being a pediatrician in that respect. Sick children are always getting better very soon from their nature. A pediatrician could help them a bit to recover and could see them to be vivid and active again. Weepy children would smile at me in an hour or two or at the next visit to me.

 

In the training, though it is questionable if I have done all my best in it, I have spent a lot of energy and time. Once I was on charge of a seriously sick child, I could hardly sleep for a day or two. I had to work for 2 or even 3 days consecutively when I was on the night duty. It was not easy task for me. But, as the other pediatricians did, I believed that the experience would make capability as well as self confidence in my profession. I was sad to quit that career. I felt as if all my efforts had gone away at the full retirement. I should rather thank all the children whom I have been on charge. They have made me as I am.

 

It is the time, however, for me to step out for another part of my life now. I would take of the cloth of being a pediatrician. I would be what I am without any title or any secondary attributes to myself. It may enable me to go out to the other world of life. Work is not the only thing in my life. I should knock the door and step out to the further possibility of life. I won't forget all the problems in the medical services I have met in my career. I would study what has caused them and how to resolve them by myself. There might be a chance to work as a volunteer somewhere.

 

Anyway, farewell to the uniform and the stethoscope!

 

 

 

The magnolia tree with fully blown leaves. 

 

Maybe, I still miss doing with lovely children, though.

It is a small world.

It is getting humid and warm even in the morning here. It is a bit difficult for me to sleep again once waking up early in the morning. It was 4 AM when I woke up this morning. Having a cup of coffee with hand, I came into the shack. Twenty meters was exceptionally good for the western Europe. Among old friends like Kjell SMOCCE, Harry DK2GZ or Knut DK5AD, Georg DK7LX has given me a call.

I have heard of his trip to Ark. in the US from Ron K5XK. Actually, I was talking to Ron on 15meters CW while Georg was staying at his home. Ron told me an interesting story. When Ron peeped Georg talking to his wife, Sabine, in Germany through the Skype in the shack, as Ron said, she was  crying at Georg there. Though she wanted to come with Georg, her new work had prevented her from doing so. She was so sad not to be able to be with him. What a hot couple! She had been relieved to have Georg come home 3 days ago as Georg told me.

Georg was happy and honored to be an FOC member. He was celebrating becoming a member with Sabine at a restaurant last month:Georg has sent me this photo together with another photo of Rudi DK7PE shown later after the QSO. Georg has the membership paper with his hand.

 

 

Georg's page of QRZ.com tells he has been pretty active in DXpedition. Maybe, his work at an airline company has made it possible. He is only 42 years old and could be a great advocate for CW to the young hams. His DX activity has reminded me of Rudi DK7PE, another avid DXpeditioner with whom I used to work around 1990s. I asked him, expecting a negative answer, if he had known Rudi. Surprisingly, he knew Rudi very well. Rudi has been a colleague at the company. Georg told me excitedly that he had just talked him a couple of days ago.  

 

I told Georg how I had known Rudi. He has been a proficient CW operator and was not only a DX crazy. He often enjoyed chatting on this mode. Once, Rudi told me a funny story. When he visited Rev. Moran 9N1MM in Nepal, he had to repair the gear by himself staying up until late at night. The day after, very early in the morning, he was forced to get up and was told to attend the morning service. That was why he had been reluctant to stay at ham friends' home since then. I have enjoyed his operation so excellent that very few could compete with him. Whenever I heard of his DXpedition those days, I assured myself that I could get him at that rare one before he actually came on. His technique in operation was that much superb.

 

Georg told me he would see Rudi in a couple of days and looked forward to seeing what reaction Rudi would show when talking this story to him. Here is the shot of recent Rudi operating from 9X land. He is now 55 years of age. But he still looks very young. After the QSO with Georg, I remembered I had found his name and call in the visitors' note book at K6DC in Santa Barbara immediately before me when I visited Merle there in '80s. It is still a small world.

 

 

 

Georg told me he has been interested in our country and would visit here in the near future. I would talk with him over glasses of beer then. Of course, together with Sabine that time.

Hamburg steak and radish salad

Hamburg steak. Nothing special. Seasoned with soy sauce and sake.

 

 

 

Fresh salad. Featuring radish harvested from the yard farm. The 1st harvest. Tomatoes may follow soon.

 

White collar exemption

Our government is introducing white collar exmeption law now. They say it is to realize creative work with employee's free will. It would enact, they say, it is valid only when an employee would apply for it. And the work of the employee should be limited to creative independent kinds of work. They say it would enable the emploees to be paid according to what they accomplish in their work.

I suspect it won't work as they say. Even at present, the workers are inclined to do overwork without appropriate payment. There are a lot of connived cases against the Labor Standards Law. This system will give a free hand for the employers to do with worker administration. The threshold would be lowered as much as the employers want to. This rule is originally intended to increase the labor productivity as much as possible. It will be for more profits to the emplyers.

How do they judge the productivity in medical services? It must be based on how much a division or a worker earns from the work. No other judgement standard, I am afraid. I am sure it will deteriorate the quality of medical services in addition to casting further overwork on the medical staff.

Isn't it the time for us now to be free from such a belief in high productivity in any field of work?