Becoming a Radio Amateur was probably by Dad's fault, ( besides my genes, our garden shed was full of old WW2 radio junk and our bookshelves contained 1930's radio books). I  first obtained my class B licence gaining the callsign GW8DNB in February 1970. After much practise (7 years, probably because I am inherently dyslexic, was tone deaf and can't spell anyway) I passed my 12 wpm morse examination in November 1977 and  ungraded to a class A call GW4GOQ. My first QSOs were on 2M AM using a semi home built Valve (Vacuum Tube,how did I survive electrolution ?)  Tx outputting 5W. With the class A licence my first HF rig was an FT101E.

The late wife was a Welsh speaker as was my grandmother, I can speek Welsh but it is a bit rusty, like my CW.

Over the years I have been active on all bands from 160M to 23cm including the satellite RS series, AO10, AO13, digisats and AO40 (2.4Ghz downlink). Now I am just waiting for the new geostationary sats to become operational.

I operate JT65, PSK, SSB and sometimes but more rarely CW, that's why I am so bad at it. Now tying out the new DMR/Fusion/Dstar and a few other digital modes.

I used to use a Hexbeam for the higher bands, (I was forced to remove the Hexbeam by my local council). A thought provided by K9BHP, I might buy a cottage in the remote Welsh mountains and operate remotely with a huge tower and beam). I am now experimenting with a back-to-back inverted L for 40M/80M (G7FEK design). It can hear the DX on 80M and I am able to work them also, also seems to work OK on 60M, 30M, 15M, 17M even 6M although I have a straight dipole for that band.  For HF I use an Icom IC7851, and a Kenwood TS990 (and a few other rigs which I won't admit to) each with USB connections to a couple of computers.

Porthcawl is a small seaside town on the coast of South Wales, near the M4 Motorway half way between the cities of Cardiff and Swansea. It has the advantage of there being not very much but sea between myself and the Americas.  However the STRONG (Mast problems) salt laden winds staight off the Atlantic can be unwelcome.

I have visited Ireland,Norway,Sweden,Finland,Czech Republic,Germany,Belgum,Holland,Swizerland,France,Spain,Portugul,Morocco,Greece,Maderia Island,Canary Islands,Caribean Islands,USA, Canada, Hawaii and China.

Now I am a retired Systems Engineer, a Widower, and live with my  dog, a Jack Russell terrier who likes to go out and squirt the lawn at 3am, might as well check 40/80 M for any DX). So if you hear barking it's not me on a full moon, just a dog that wants a QSO ?

I DO enjoy reading the QRZ pages of stations whith whom I have had QSOs, especially those with photos, shall have to try and come up to your high standard. K9BHP (who already has a good site) provided me with a link to W9EVT the most incredible site full of ham radio gear I have seen.

My WAB is SS87, QRA IO81dl

I prefer eQSL but will paper QSL via Buro.

PS

Before the internet bacame popular I used to communicate with a number of Hams in Toronto and the Lake Ontario area via one of the digisats. I mentioned to them that my wife and I would soon  be visiting Toronto. One of these friends asked for my Toronto hotel/phone number, then when we arrived in Toronto he picked us up at the hotel took us to visit his wife and home. A few days later they organised a Lunch attended by many of the Lake Ontario Ham group who came from up to 100 miles away. 
Now that was what I call hospitality and friendship.