Well, what a month that has been! I was busy in Witney training for a couple of weeks and then
had three days in Banbury for a company that is developing electric vehicles for
Royal Mail, UPS and Police etc. Also did a bit of AM2 prep for a client. However, like most in the UK now we are locked-down and are
self-isolating. My wife has only got one lung and I had pneumonia a few years
ago so we are both high risk. Our next door neighbours have been very good to us in
picking up food etc and our kids and partners too. It is at times like these
you know who your friends are. Now amidst this isolation I can honestly say I am not bored.
I have so many things to do I haven’t got time to be bored. Scared of what
might happen and disappointed in not been able to do things, but not bored. I
ration myself to a couple of hours in the garden, a couple of hours in my
office and a couple of hours in siesta, so no problem. I haven’t even had time
to whizz a couple of trains round my model train layout as yet. One of my favourite things in the summer is to sit out in
the garden under my pergola so I am spending a bit of time on maintaining that. When the summer gets here I hope to spend a little time under there
with the odd Barcadi/Vino and a copy of Don Quixote. Having a bit more time on my hands has meant I can get those
devices that I had lost passwords for up and running again (and safely recorded
said passwords again). Been in the training profession means that nothing you
prepare in the way of material is ever wasted and I do strongly feel that we
should not stand still. At the end of every course I review what worked well
and what didn’t and adapt as required. I now have time to create new material
and thoroughly rework existing material. This latest crisis though has convinced me more than ever
that I need to get a generator. Can you imagine if we had a crisis like this
again in the height of winter, and when everybody drives an electric vehicle.
I’m not convinced the network could support the charging load along with our
regular demand. I’m not planning on a system to take over the complete house
but I’m thinking Central Heating (Pump and controls), Freezer, perhaps lights
and a dedicated socket for the unforeseen (like charging that EV). So off the top of my head about 5kVA.
I will keep you posted on this one. In last month’s blog I mentioned the reversal of the sun’s
magnetic field at every eleven years and thought I would update you on this.
The last time this happened was around 2012-13 and surprisingly, it doesn’t
just flip. It takes a little while. So we are looking at a next reversal at
around 2024-25. If I had enough time and resources I would love to be able to
see if there was any interaction between worldwide disasters along with Incan/Mayan
calendars etc and this reversal. As a further update, there is a part of the world that has
been dubbed the “South Atlantic Anomaly” (SAA) where the local magnetic field is
beginning to fluctuate. Some believe this may be the start of our planet’s total
field reversal. But if I start perpetuating doom and gloom stories I’m no
better than the ecos am I. There is no single “person of merit” for me to commend this
month, but I will add my voice to those supporting our cherished NHS. I hope those
in power don’t have short memories after this current crisis has passed and
look to reward these personnel as they truly deserve. How about a “celebrity
NHS Tax” for those that earn obscene sums like talking heads and footballers
earning more than £1 million pounds a year to help fund this. The bloke
repairing flood lights at a football stadium has more skill in his little
finger than the ponce talking about football on the telly. If the government can’t afford to pay NHS staff more,
arrange for them to pay less tax, low rate loans and mortgages etc etc. Also, with immediate effect no NHS member of staff, patient
or visitor should have to pay to park at a hospital. Where I come from that is
known as a dirty trick, so please stop it straight away because the public is
pissed off with it. Nobody has really cheesed me off this month but those still
using the underground and travelling on buses are getting pretty close to it. Stay safe folks, looks like its going to be a while before
we get mobile again so we had just better make the best of it. Adios for now mi amigos e amigas. |