There's a bit of a battle going one. It's been raging for a few years and its one where I never know where I am. I'm talking about the 'finding a place for all your radio stuff' / 'what are all those wires?' / 'what are you buying now? or what do you need that for?' kind of battle which is the lower order one which goes on in countless houses in countless countries where ham radio lives side by side with a partner that isn't into it. The big one in our house is no you aren't putting anything on the side of the house. This includes any kind of beam. Even if its really small.
Every now and again I can get a cheapy bit from ebay or something like that under the radar but big purchases require a long run up and stakeholder management plan that a business wanting to put a rubbish tip next to a school would be proud of.
Recently I have been attempting to suggest a full size rig that I think would look lovely in the shack (which I share with a table and chairs which we occasionally use for eating). Thingshaven't been going according to the best laid plan and so far I have had a stiff ignoring off the XYL. Even to thepoint where last night she actually said 'I'm ignoring you'. This to me is a postive sign as its one step up from 'Not a chance'.
Early signs are looking good but there is a long way to go. 2011 is shaping up to be a big one and I'm sure will need lots of domestic jobs done without any sort of moaning or complaining to keep in the good books. As for timescales I think that Sporadic E season should be aimed for.
You have my sympathy. Antennas in the garden or on the side of the house are a no-go area anyway due to the neighbours, but I don't have any problems with buying equipment. Partly that's down to having separate bank accounts so we can each do what we like with our own money. It's also down to Olga being just as bonkers about flowers as I am about radio. The garden is her patch, the shack is mine, and what goes in and out of either is our own business.
ReplyDeleteJust as one plant looks just like another to me, so one radio looks exactly like another to Olga. In fact you wouldn't believe the number of times during the 8 months between ordering my K3 and receiving it she would come into the shack, see the K2 and say "I see your new radio has arrived then!"