Meeting a gardener

My wife's flute teacher has introduced us a gardener. It was difficult for us to care for trees in the garden and yard by ourselves, so that we needed to do that for us. He has visited us this morning and has looked around for an hour. He was told to have started working as a gardener recently after retiring early. Gardening must have been his hobby for years. He seemed to know of gardening and of trees/plants pretty well.

It takes him a few days to care for all trees and plants in our property. We have discussed how to do with them. Really numerous trees.

This is Katsura, that is, Japanese Judas tree. He was first fascinated by this tree. A perfect shape of outlook. he has exclaimed of that a few times. This tree must have been grown here spontaneously. It must be almost half a century of age for now. Without any competing trees around it and with futile soil, it must have grown in this way, as he commented. Fortunately, it is too high for him to cut the branches and the trunk. We should ask another gardener capable of that.

This chestnut tree is also pretty old. And it should be pruned later. This tree bears a lot of fruits every fall. It must be planted by my father about 35 years ago. There are 3 of Dogwoods on the back. They should also be pruned or would grow much higher.

I have posted the photos of this plum tree here many times. The gardener was again amazed how vivid it looked like. It was also planted by my father some 20 years or more ago. Recently, it has failed to bear many fruits. But the gardener told us to enjoy the beautiful flowers in spring. Yes, it blooms like cherry flowers every spring. 

Other than these, we could name the trees in the property as follows; Crape myrtle, Sasanqua, Camellia, Hydrangea, Fragrant olive, Maple, Ume, Meadowsweet, Holly, Rose, Magnolia and so forth. Some grown naturally while the others were planted by my father and ourselves. The gardener has realized us how we have been blessed with those plants/trees. So far as we live here, we should care for them as a kind of family members. 

In the end of interview with us, he wanted to see Katsura again and smiled at it. He seems to love deeply plants and his job for them.

PLC case has been turned down but still has been a great step

It has been 7 years since the group of Toshi JA1ELY et al brought the suit of the PLC;Power Line Communication or BPL against the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. As well known, PLC was to work as LAN within houses and was highly suspected to cause much disturbances to such as amateur ham radio or radio astronomy since it utilized broad band HF for communication. Toshi and the group has questioned of quite probable interference to the other communications. I was one of the plaintiffs.

The group has lost the case at the High Court recently. They have very little possibility to win at the Supreme Court, so that they have given it up now. Toshi has sent an e mail to give the final report to those involved in this sue case. It attached an article by one of the two lawyers in charge of this case. It says the judge at the High Court has explained in detail why they have dismissed the claim. One reason was that the plaintiff could not show actual interference cases. The other was that the technology of PLC had been behind the age for now. Such explanation on the reason of judicial decision was exceptional as the lawyer said. The judge has acknowledged PLC could cause interference and the governmental authority did not measure the common mode current in proper way. 

At such an administrative litigation, the courts always turn it down at once. This case was really exceptional and leaves a good example the administrative office should be open to the public as for introducing such a new technology which could cause damage or interference to people.  

Toshi, an avid DXer, has suffered from lung cancer on the way. in such health condition, he still has done a great job together with his group even if the case was turned down. It is still a great step for those struggling against environmental pollution etc.  

Spring struggle

Pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, caring for vegetables and so forth. I am kept busy.

Germinated pea plants got out of the vinyl tunnel and are supported with poles.

The zelkova tree. It has been pruned but is still growing. It was like early summer today.

The rice paddy next to our home in the northern direction has been watered. My signal might be a bit louder for the coming couple of months thanks to this pond.

A plant of broccoli has bloomed. It was not intended.

There have been a lot of honey bees working at these flowers. And I could not cut and plow the land yet. So far, it is the turn for the bees. Where are they coming from?

So far, struggle in the garden will go on.

Encounter and farewell

Around midnight today, 20m has opened to entire Europe all of sudden. Some signals were over S9 here. I have been called by Europeans in a row. Among them, there was a G with barefoot with wire antenna. It meant the band was in the best shape.

While I was working a SM3 station, his call reminded me of a guy, Peter, SM3KHN. I have met him on 40m CW in 1983, when he was aboard on a ship as a sailor. He was running 3w or so as SM3KHN/MM. On the way from Singapore to Japan, we have been able to contact regularly. We met at Akihabara, a downtown famous for many electrical item/radio shops those days at least. He was a young fellow. Maybe, in mid 20s of age. I could hardly recall what we had talked etc. We might have had coffee together there.

I have never heard him ever since and have been curious to know how he was getting along. He must be in his mid 50s for now. I only hope he has lived a meaningful life and has been blessed with fine family. If anyone should know of him, please let me know that.

Besides him, I have ever met many hams from overseas as well as Japan here or in Tokyo. Maybe more than 20. Some have gone silent key like Ray WA6IVM and his wife etc. Of course, I am keeping in touch with such as Tommy exWJ6O  W6IJ, Larry exNF6S W4UAT, Mike ZL1BVB, Oh HL4SF, Dick K4XU, Al W1FJ, John 9V1VV, Lee HL2DC and so forth. There are several hams whom I could not get in touch with. Such as Dan N9PI, Ralph W4NIX, Steve AA6IO, Dick K3DI and his wife, Denny WG6P and his wife, Joe AJ2Y and so forth. Sometimes, I could not help remembering of those and wonder how they have been doing.

Wherever we may have encounter to somebody, we always have farewell to the other. That is, we never meet without a parting. But I would keep such encounter as treasure in life.    

A young friend of mine

A young friend of mine has came here to do adjusting the direction of my beam. He is Tomo JP1DJV. A gale has turned it by 135 degrees from the normal direction the other day. I might be able to read the direction from the indicator of the rotator. But I was worrying that it could be turned more by another storm, so that the coaxial cable would be worn out close to the feeding point. By my request to him, he has arranged a few hours in his day off and has come here. Thanks to his quick work, it was returned to the direction as the indicator pointed at. He also checked the bolt/nuts or the other parts of the tower. Finding some corroded bolts or the other parts, he kindly proposed me to exchange them. I have been using this tower for almost 30 years. I thankfully asked him to do so.

Now this old beam will go on working for some time. Tomo used to set a half sloper for 80m for me almost 20 years ago. It is still working fine.  

He is a pretty young guy in his forties. We first knew each other in mid '80s when we were in a DX net on UHF. It was really a fun to chat and exchange information of DX with the gang in real time. Most of them won't be heard on the air. A few were gone SK. Tomo has been pretty active on the radio. Unfortunately, his main activity is on SSB. He has been enthusiastic for antenna production. You may reach his web site where you could see photos of a number of home brew antennas he constructed in the past. He is using 7 element mono Yagi for 20m at present.

He told me it had been difficult for him to find anyone for ragchewing nowadays. Even on SSB. He wonders if he should change the operation style with a smaller antenna now. It seems he spends very busy day at his works. I could not be more thankful to him for his help this time. Tomo just after having finished antenna work at my home. A nice young fellow.  

Azalea, strawberry and apple tree

Azalea along the entrance has started to bloom. The plum tree ahead looks fresh with new leaves. It is the time for me to struggle with weeds now.

Strawberry has flowers. It is as if spontaneously grown. In fact, not much care has given. It still bears many fruits in May every year.

We have planted a couple of apple tress last fall. They stayed being dormant. But, several days ago, they have born new leaves. They are still alive.  

It is a joy for me to work in the garden, even though I sometimes suffer from lumbago after sitting in squat position for some time. Stretch and breathe deeply. It is the time every lives are getting vivid and fresh.

A reason why Elecraft has made success in ham radio market

Last night, I was called by Wayne N6KR on 40m CW. He was not loud. Running only 3w into a Hustler mobile whip. It was when he was testing the new equipment KX3 that we had our last QSO. He is a co founder of Elecraft. He always enjoy operating CW with his product or hand made equipment.

I have never tried any Elecraft equipments yet. Generally, their products, especially K3, sound great on CW. The keying shape is always perfect. It is thanks to the engineers like Wayne who have developed them while testing them by themselves. They must have made feed back to their design of products after testing the prototypes by themselves on the air. There must be a big difference if any active ham is involved in design and development of equipment products or not. Elecraft has made a big success in the market. This must be a reason for their success in business.

As I told above, I haven't used any Elecraft gears yet. But I am still concerned about how they will progress with their business in the ham radio market.