Issue No. 35 - 1st February 2010

Although activity has been relatively slow within the Bureau I was somewhat surprised to find that card numbers arriving have been similar, even slightly higher, than those of January 2008 and 2009, and not too far down on those received in January 2007. Reasons for this good news are of course the hard work by Nick G3RWF trying to make contact with RSARS members from Sierra Leone as 9L1NH and of course Sam G4OHX as 5R8HX and ZS5/G4OHX working hard at doing the same. Nick 5X1NH, with the N2DAN Key is also busy working DX from Uganda picking up the odd RSARS member out of his constant pile-up. Nick even managed to pick me out on both 14m and 17m on 30th January so can't be bad :)

Cards from Nick 9L1NH were received during first week of the year and were immediately despatched to quite a number of members whose envelopes for December had been held back for that purpose; no it wasn't Royal Mail being slow. Cards from Sam are being completed as this is being typed and of course quite a number have already been received for him. The card for 9L1NH will be on display next month with others received from Nick since I joined the Society, for I think we have said 'Hello' to each other at least once during each of his overseas trips. Those that we expect to receive from Sam for 5R8HX and ZS5/G4OHX are attached and on display this month. Which actual card you receive will of course be up to Sam but they are all worth the same on your next claims list.

Cards for Sam have been designed here in Chilwell but credit for the excellent images must go to Grace, Sam's ever-suffering XYL (hi!). As you can see from the images (by clicking the Gallery link below) not a local refuse tip or thorn bush in sight (memories of Island Sal, Cape Verde) only the beauty of the birds and wildlife in Madagascar Island and St. Lucia (SA) this time and a pleasure to see.

As mentioned elsewhere on our website a few more special affiliated stations to chase this year so I still hope to be kept in work for a while yet?

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