That was the year that was Part 1

Hi Folks,

It has been some time since I last posted a blog on the Sands Amateur Radio Contest and Special Event Group mainly because I lost the password.  Thanks to Mark and Ian this has now been sorted and I hope to be able to post more regular blogs.

This is a two-part blog covering the year 2017.  I hope you find something of interest and visit us again soon.

Yorkshire Pudding Day

Our first event of took place over the weekend of 4th - 5th February with a special event station Celebrating the Great Yorkshire Pudding.

Steve

These pictures were taken from an earlier event 

Celebrating Yorkshire Pudding Day

Picture was taken from Trip Advisor

Our Hostess
at The Bridge Inn Tatham  

Steve & Frank

Below are some video clips and recipes

James Martin's Yorkshire puddings and onion gravy

Serves: 4

Ingredients

For the onion gravy:
25g unsalted butter2tbsp olive oil1kg onions, peeled and finely sliced2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped50ml dry sherry250ml white wine2tbsp plain flour1.2 litres fresh veal or beef stock1tsp soft brown sugar4 slices of baguette110g emmental cheese, grated

For the Yorkshire puddings:
225g plain flour8 medium free range eggs1pt whole milk55g dripping

Method

For the onion gravy:

1. Pre-heat the grill to high.

2. Heat a large sauté pan and add the butter and oil. When hot add the onions and thyme and fry for 20-25 minutes over a low heat, until soft and golden brown.

3. Add the garlic and cook for another couple of minutes, then add the sherry and white wine and cook until the liquid has reduced by half.

4. Stir in the flour and cook for a further minute, then pour in the stock.

5. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 10-15 minutes, and season with the sugar, salt and pepper.

6. Place the bread on a baking sheet and lightly toast, then add the grated cheese and return to the grill until golden brown.

For the Yorkshire puddings:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 220°C, gas mark 7.

2. Place the flour in a large glass bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the eggs and whisk and gradually add the milk.

3. Let the batter rest for 24 hours.

4. Place a little of the dripping in a Yorkshire pudding tray and place in the oven until the fat is hot.

5. Remove from the oven and pour in the batter. Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Turn down the heat to 190°C, gas mark 5 and cook for a further 10 minutes.

Lancashire's revenge takes place each year with the World Championship Black Pudding Throwing Contest which takes place every year on Bridge Street in Ramsbottom.  The aim of the game is to knock as many Yorkshire Puddings off the gantry as possible by throwing black puddings at them.

Black Pudding throwing contest

The best Black Puddings are made in the nearby town of Bury

Hairy Bikers

Hairy Bikers

ARRL Dx and WPX Competition March 2017

This was not a good event for us or most of the country due to a series of Arora that took out HF Communications but we gave it a good go.

Archive picture of our antenna array

Hancocks Radio Hut

Antenna team 

Mark, Hughie, Frank, Steve, Brian

Operators:

Brian G0RDH, Mark M0DGK, Hughie G4UME, Frank G8BME, Steve G1TLQ, Andrew G1LWU, Stephany G1LAT.

Brian and Mark tried to set the ball rolling with the graveyard shift but after a couple of hours decided to close down due to lack of activity.  The rest of the team literally took up the slack for the rest of the event and saved the day.

We faired a little better with the WPX contest at the end of the month.

Tour De-Yorkshire

Mills on the Air 6th -7th May