My first brush with shortwave radio was back in 1957 when I served in the forces here in the UK. My ‘chosen’ trade while serving was that of being a radar mechanic, during my basic training I was introduced to shortwave radio as a passing subject. A course running at the same time was for those whose ‘chosen’ trade was that of being a radio operator and learning the magic of ‘morse code’. Of course during our down time we recruits talked to one another and it was during those conversations that my fellow servicemen introduced me to the ‘magic’ of l istening to people from all over the world talking to each other. Fascinatng!!!