Ok Folks,
here we are now at the end of April. If you have read my article “When a
Young(ish) man’s thought turn to” on Linkedin, you will know where I’ve been
spending my money lately, ooh and of course about my links to the mafia. Speaking of
the mafia (la cosa nostra) and crime reminds me that quite a large part of my
working life was taken up with security systems working for Royal Mail and
Securicor. It probably goes without saying that this was a very exciting
business to be involved with in the 1970’s. I still can’t reveal what exactly I
worked on but it was an almost daily battle trying to keep ahead of terrorists
and organised crime. However, nowadays I begin to question why I worked so hard
to beat the bad guys when I struggle to see the difference between politicians
and the bad guys. During the
course of April I set about refurbishing some of my training rigs. Now, to me
it is really important that when training for ring circuits and lighting
circuits etc that these circuits have resistance values similar to those found
in real life. In order to achieve this I have resistors connected in my rigs. The problem is that this kit does tend to get a bashing
(physically and electrically) and the resistors either break or go way off
spec’. When repairing these boards and re-testing them I concluded that “Resistance is a fickle mistress” (Quote
Ted Barrett April 2019). When looking
at values down to 0.15 of an Ohm, readings can vary according to: surface
discolouration on copper wire, discolouration on brass socket contacts (remedy
- plug and unplug a few times to “clean” up), temperature and/or humidity
change, MFT drifting out of spec, next door’s dog passing wind or any amount of
reasons. My advice is have several instruments and take several readings. But I
can happily state that my boards are once more spot-on (for the moment anyway). The
beauty of this line of work though is that the trainees are expected to spot
problems! With regard
to my travels this month I have spent a whole week and a few days in Witney
(does that count as the Cotswolds? it sounds more romantic). Also been to Ebbw
Vale, Chard (in Somerset), Richmond, and Oxford (right on my doorstep, which is
always handy). Most enjoyable was Christchurch College, Oxford, to deliver a
PAT course. When the sun shines on an Oxford college it brings out a golden glow
in the Cotswold stone used for their construction. The view across the quad and
old tom tower was fantastic. Whilst in
Ebbw Vale I was near to Pen Y Fan. When I looked this up on Google Maps, I
noticed Pen Y Fan is near Big Y Fan (which sounded a bit scary) so I consulted
my old mate Prof Griffiths (Welsh reader at the University of Carterton) who
said this kind of delineation was perfectly normal in the valleys. Which came
as a bit of a relief as I thought it might be some kind of large cat at wild. Oh, also paid
a visit to “Electric Mountain” at Dinorwic accompanied by the above-mentioned
Mr Griffiths (at this rate I shall be eligible to apply for Welsh citizenship).
This was something that had been on my “Bucket-list” for some time and I was
not disappointed. This is the system that boosts voltage to the national grid
when everyone puts on the kettle at half-time during the cup final or some similar
event. It does this by releasing trillions of gallons of water pumped up to the
top of the mountain through massive pipes and hydro-generators. For comparison, from “Standby” a regular power station (Gas, Oil or electric etc) takes 45 minutes
to feed into the grid. Dinorwic can respond within 6 seconds. So as not to
disappoint my readers here is my gripe of the month: Frigging politicians, I am
sure we are now all completely pissed off with them. If they would only stop
taking notice of the PR people and just go down their local pub they would have
a much better idea of what “the common people” really want. My son
celebrated his birthday in April and we have a few more coming up in May (No 1
Daughter and my Cousin Deb). Something else happening around the 29th but can’t quite remember unless somebody gives me a reminder. Hopefully
off for our first visit to Spain of this year soon with my CO. Will we pack up
and retire there? Not sure, I love the country, the people, we have many
friends there and I am becoming increasingly disillusioned with the UK so Inshallah.
And this is mostly how I view life – if God is willing, it will happen. Hold
on. STOP, Scratch that. I have learnt that sometimes God needs a nudge. Unless
persuaded otherwise though, I fully support freedom for Catalunya. I don’t see
why they should be the workhouse for Spain and their taxes taken by Madrid.
Viva la revolution I say. So if I don’t
see you on the ferry down to Spain, I’ll catch up with you at Pepe’s in Santa
Susanna (and if you start talking about BS7671, be prepared to be struck round
the head with a copy). Adios por
ahora mi amigos. |
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