I'm making an effort to pick up the mic and have SSB contacts and I've had my first one of the year on 60m.

Listening on 5320kHz I heard a weakish CQ call from M0JMV and replied a few times, but no joy… then I was called by G4MQL, with a 59 signal report (both ways).

It still feels a little alien speaking rather than typing or sending dots and dashes but it somehow transports me back to when I first got interested in radio back in the 1980s and got my callsign. Why have I largely ignored 'phone modes in the last 20 years?

I will have more SSB contacts. I have even put my morse keys and bugs away for a while and am waiting for delivery of a new HF radio, FT-891, bought with the express intention to use it purely for SSB.

Onwards and upwards.