Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

Last week I had a struggle to get words together and this week I have been visiting the hospital. Whatever the issue was seems to have largely passed but the other amateur in the house wasn’t so lucky managing to have some chemical imbalances and a positive COVID-19 swab. Let’s hope that the run-up to Christmas is a lot less traumatic as the clock runs down.

What I am seeing from the weather watchers is that both space and terrestrial weather are going to be unsettled over the coming week. The Sun seems to be entering a very active phase and the weather patterns on Earth are going to help increase the band noise level. So we can hope to snatch the openings when they happen and the electrical noise is relatively subdued.

One of the important tools that we all have to use is that of discussion.

Some might call it debate and others may call it argument. The great thing is that when people converse on a topic and pull and tease at the subject, it gives those in the group the chance to input ideas and have others share their ideas too. In the world of science, this has been part of the practice of developing theories and building ideas or concepts into a firm basis for constructive use. This is not to say that the conclusion is 100% accurate because, in the light of further knowledge, the understanding may change.

If you go back to the early days of the study of the thing we call electricity, you will see that different explanations were given as to why phenomena happened.

As more knowledge was discovered, new explanations were created and we gave up the aether theory as the fundamental particles came to light. We talk of electrons and other atomic particles and as the study goes on we have the Higgs Boson and possibly a range of particles left or brought by Schrodinger's Cat.

Now I am not suggesting that we take on a rapid DIY course on sub-atomic physics but what I am trying to demonstrate is that by using the information that we have and by sharing our thoughts on a subject, the field becomes much more open and the solutions much broader than we first might have imagined.

When we apply courtesy to our fellows, the discussions can remain considered as well as spirited but the outcome is something that can be owned by all in the group.

Perhaps this is the way that families that feel stressed over hosting Christmas guests should also approach the Festive Season. Truly live up to the spirit of goodwill and friendship and let the awkward memories just go. It is a practice that can work in many situations.

I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP