Before my blog ventures into anything of a technical nature, I thought it would be fun to briefly document how my journey into the world of electronics and radio all began.
In 1972 I was 8 years of age and had a great fascination for batteries and bulbs, I purchased a PIFCO torch from the local TV rental shop, which gave me hours of fun, especially when equipped with a fresh set of batteries on a smog-laden foggy evening. It was a great thrill to shine the torch beam into the depths of "pea soup". I have indifferent childhood memories of the "Big Smoke" a period when everyone had coal fires, polluted the atmosphere and a had a coal storage bunker in the back yard or garden!
British coal miners went on strike in January and February 1972 for 47 days and the UK was declared in a state of emergency. Britain experienced regular and lengthy power cuts during the seventies, which put the nation into darkness. I remember my parents rationing the use of candles in fear that they would not be able to buy more and the PIFCO torch I used as a play thing became a necessity, providing much-needed light in the pitch black of night.
We felt blessed to have a Parkray coal fire, which served not only as a means to keep us warm but as a means to cook beans on toast during the dreaded power cuts when our electric cooking became a mere piece of furniture.
On December 7th 1972, I witnessed the launch of Apollo 17, this was NASA's final Apollo mission and the crew made a historic journey into space for a record 12 days returning to earth on December 19th.
During 1972 I also embarked on a journey myself and one that would catapult me in to a whole new world... Okay, my journey was not as exciting as the Apollo spaceflight but a mere stroll down to the local newsagents but what followed was tinkering bliss.
