DX Notes: November - December 2016

MAY I begin this post by wishing you all a Merry Christmas, as I compose this post at 1620 UTC on Christmas Day - Sunday 25 December 2016.

For the final time in 2016 on RFTFT, a compilation of radio broadcast logs. Times listed are UTC (Universal Time Co-ordination, same as GMT), frequencies are listed as kHz (kiloHertz), unless otherwise stated in the log.

November 2016: Medium Wave

• 14 November: 1436 UTC: 1557 kHz: Mixture of signals, unable to identify, though the strongest most likely to be BBC Radio Lancashire (250 watts via Lancaster [Oxcliffe]).
• 14 November: 1516 UTC: 1566 kHz: Mixture of signals lost in the white noise and static, possibilities on this channel include BBC Somerset (1 kW via Taunton [Relays of BBC Bristol]), also Premier Christian Radio (800 watts via Guildford). Holland also broadcasts on this frequency; That broadcast was discounted.
• 14 November: 1541 UTC: 1575 kHz: Female speech started strongly, soon faded. Serious propagation. Logs show RAI Radio 1 (Italy) and SER (Spain) on this channel.

• 14 November: 1555 UTC: Log notes show the onset of dusk at this time; Birds beginning to roost.
• 14 November: 1600 UTC: 1584 kHz: Music, followed by female speech - News bulletin? Male speech too. Music: Huey Lewis & The News 'Power of Love'; The Mamas & The Papas 'Monday Monday'. Traffic & travel report identified BBC Hereford & Worcester, 300 watts to North Herefordshire, via Woofferton, Shropshire. Moderate to poor reception. Music: Culture Club.
• 14 November: 1731 UTC: 1593 kHz: This is not a UK channel, though it did sound like a broadcast trying to break through - Logs only state Romania. Discounted.
• 14 November: 1740 UTC: 1602 kHz: Music: 'Rivers of Babylon', Cliff Richard 'Power To All Our Friends', The Drifters. No speech or ID logged! Logs list BBC Radio Kent (250 watts, Rusthall), Desi Radio (70 watts, Southall), Thruxton (1 watt, Andover) as UK broadcasts, Seagull (Holland) and SER (Spain) as European broadcasts on this channel. Music continued: Thin Lizzy 'The Boys Are Back In Town'.

• 14 November: 1827 UTC: 1638 kHz: Music, which includes whistling! Logs list the Dutch pirate De Vrolijke Mijnwerker [The Merry Miner]. Fade out... Fade in! Logs state polka music...✔ I believe this to be the broadcast I am hearing. Fair to poor reception.
• 14 November: 1849 UTC: 1656 kHz: Music - Though logs state the closest broadcasts to this channel are De Vrolijke Mijnwerker (see above) or Zender Matrix (Holland) on or around 1670 kHz. Yodeling music. Polka music. Very faint reception.

December 2016: Short Wave

• 20 December: 2043 UTC: 6195 kHz: Voice of America, English to Africa via Botswana. Moderate reception. 'African Beat': English speech, music to close of broadcast. VOA ID: 'Yankee Doodle'. ✱ 2100 UTC: 6195 kHz now broadcast from Sao Tome: News headlines: Shooting of Russian Ambassador to Turkey. Evacuation of Aleppo. US President Elect Donald Trump meets staff. New electronic laws in Thailand. 'VOA1 - The Hits'. Music: Twenty One Pilots 'Heathens'. Ellie Goulding. Improved reception from Sao Tome: Good to moderate reception. English to Africa via Sao Tome.
• 20 December: 2142 UTC: 7285 kHz: China Radio International, English to Europe & Africa, via Albania. Strong to good reception. Male and female hosts of the English language programme 'Roundtable'. Topics include listener feedback online; Smog; The pace of life; Emojis and memes.

• 20 December: 2225 UTC: 9420 kHz: Music, with a Mediterranean flavour... Logs state Voice of Greece and a 2012 schedule does confirm Greece on this channel at this time. Upbeat music, male and female vocalists, speech from a male - In Greek? Music with female vocalist. Strong to good reception.

That concludes the logs for 2016.

RFTFT's Top 3 of 2016: Video Edition

Springtime with Sharapova

Roxanne Leah Townsend

This hair makes me feel so kinky - it's the curls... pic.twitter.com/PHSCnUgO4J

— Makeupby_ROXY (@roxi_townsend) April 12, 2016

Wallpaper of the Week, 1 May 2016

The above videos were included in the original Top 3 of 2016 posts, as refered to in the post dated Sunday 18 December 2016.

Three and a half hours have passed since I began to compose this post, so I shall bid you good evening and wish you all the enjoyment of your celebrations.

RFTFT's Most Popular: Top 3 of 2016

ONE week until Christmas Day; Two weeks until New Year's Day, so I am taking the opportunity to review 2016 on Reporting From The Fox Tower by bringing you the top three most viewed posts of the year, beginning with the most popular first.

Springtime with Sharapova

The most viewed post on Reporting From The Fox Tower during 2016 has been 'Springtime with Sharapova', which was posted May 28th and has had 1038 (One thousand and thirty-eight) views. The post anticipated the upcoming summer of sport, which included the Euro 2016 football tournament and the tennis season. It was relating to the tennis season that Springtime with Sharapova reflected on Maria Sharapova's 2014 victory at Roland Garros. Springtime with Sharapova was followed up a week later by 'Summertime with Sharapova', which did not fare as well.

To the second most popular post:

Roxanne Leah Townsend

The Silver medal for 2016 goes to Roxanne Leah Townsend, for the post 'Roxanne Leah Townsend', which was posted September 11th and has had 178 views.

The post was a celebration of Roxanne Leah Townsend, to show Rox continued love and support.

The third most popular post:

Wallpaper of the Week, 1 May 2016

The Bronze medal for 2016 goes to the 'Wallpaper of the Week' - A long standing feature, here on RFTFT - for May 1st, which has had 123 views.

The post reflected on the music video for 'Under Your Spell', which featured Eden based actress and model Abbie Steele. The image for the post was taken from the music video.

This blog has long supported Abbie's career, and will continue to do so.

Support Abbie by visiting her website, follow her Twitter updates and click 'Like' on her Facebook page.

Those are the top three most popular posts of 2016, Reporting From The Fox Tower will post over the festive season, so please do continue visiting!

Summer 2016 and Summer 2006

CONGRATULATIONS to Andy Murray, who has become Wimbledon Champion for the second time, with a straight sets victory over the Canadian Milos Raonic.

In a match that lasted two hours and forty-eight minutes, Andy Murray won the first set 6-4, though Raonic would make Murray work for the victory - The second and third sets both went to tiebreaks: Set two 7-6 (7-3) and set three 7-6 (7-2).

Congratulations once again to Andy Murray.

From The Archives: Summer 2006

AS with previous posts here on Reporting From The Fox Tower, the archives have been visited to mark the tenth anniversary of this blog. This post takes us back to the summer of 2006 and the above image is of the Marriage of musician Zac Hanson to Kathryn Tucker, which was the headline of a post sharing some Showbiz news of the day.

I'm pleased to report that research shows Mr & Mrs Hanson celebrated their tenth anniversary this summer, with their three children.

The archives also showed an interest in tennis in the summer of 2006, which would be ideal to close this post, following the victory of Andy Murray at Wimbledon.

From summer 2006: Miss Maria Sharapova.

Until the next time, enjoy.

From The Archives - The Early Days

OVER the years on Reporting From The Fox Tower, many features have been tried,tested, and not necessarily dropped, more rested. Late 2015, this blog celebrated its tenth anniversary. As the tenth anniversary year continues, what better way to continue to mark the decade than with a look at the image archive, with a few notes about the images posted at the time. Beginning with the very first image posted on this blog:

Way back in December 2005, the Hunting With Dogs ban had not long been introduced. This image, which was actually taken from the Sky News archive at the time of the post, shows the typically stereotypical image of hunting with dogs - Huntsman on horseback in red tunic and velvet jacket. The BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards were a short time away from the time of the post, the post reflected on the cheeky idea doing the rounds on the internet at the time to nominate the man in red for services to equestrianism on the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards.
Unfortunately for those behind the plan, the BBC would not allow such high jinks to be involved in the voting process of the competition.
On to another image...

This Carlisle United Football Club crest was posted December 2005, when, under the leadership of Paul Simpson, United would be crowned the Champions of League Two the following May.

Finally, two more images to bring you for this post...

The Divine Miss Maria Sharapova.

These images of Maria Sharapova were first published on Reporting From The Fox Tower December 2005. The first image, which was captured in Rome 2005, also hinted at the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year competition at the time, asking why Miss Sharapova was not being recognised for her victories at that stage of her career.

The second image, captured at Wimbledon, accompanied a post where I wistfully wished what I wanted for Christmas that year...

Until the next time, enjoy.

Summertime with Sharapova.

IT is now officially Summer! The Met Office designates the first day of June as the first day of Meteorological Summer, a fact and a title that deserves the use of italics. The first day of June has passed, and the previous post here on Reporting From The Fox Tower, 'Springtime with Sharapova', becomes 'Summertime with Sharapova'.

To mark 'Summertime with Sharapova', above is an image taken from Esquire Latin America's May 2013 cover shoot. The shoot was one of Maria Sharapova's most popular photoshoots.

'Springtime with Sharapova' celebrated Maria Sharapova's 2014 Roland-Garros French Open Championship victory. 'Summertime with Sharapova' can bring you news of the result of the 2016 French Open Ladies Final: Spain's Garbine Muguruza beat world number one Serena Williams in straight sets to win her first Grand Slam title at the French Open.

'Springtime with Sharapova' closed with a video of Maria's photoshoot following the Roland-Garros victory; 'Summertime with Sharapova' closes with a video of Maria's Esquire photoshoot.

Until the next time, enjoy.

🌟

Springtime with Sharapova.

WE have reached the final days of May and the Spring Bank Holiday is upon us. Although sport continues indoors and out all year round, the Summer sports are now taking precedence. The 'Euro 2016' football finals will be taking place in France over the summer, but prior to that, the 2016 Roland-Garros tournament is currently underway.

This post is a throwback to 2014, when Maria Sharapova won the Women's singles tournament. The above image is from the photo-call following the tournament, with Miss Sharapova showing off the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy in the vicinity of Le Tour Eiffel. I shall sign off with video footage from the photo-call. Enjoy.

★

Love Miss Sharapova.

MISS MARIA SHARAPOVA is the subject of this post on RFTFT, as Sunday 19 April 2015 is Maria's twenty-eighth Birthday. I present four pictures from the last year celebrating Maria and her achievements. Enjoy.

The first image, above, is Maria celebrating winning in Paris with the trophy, August 2014.

Above : Maria on court, September 2014.

Above : Mexico, Acapulco, February 2015.

Above : Mexico, Acapulco Beach, February 2015.

Happy Birthday Maria!

Wallpaper of the Beach, 15 November 2014

FOLLOWING LAST week's post, Taylor by the Sea, this post follows up the comparison to the previous Wallpaper of the Beach, which featured Miss Maria Sharapova. The above image was originally posted by Miss Taylor Swift on social media over the course of Easter 2014, the image she described as 'Looking for Easter eggs'. Miss Swift would go on to feature in a photoshoot for Rolling Stone magazine, at the beach, which may lead to a future Wallpaper of the Beach.

Moving away from beaches and the sea for now, I would also like to share an image of Taylor taken earlier in 2014, when she was pictured looking very stylish - Does the colour of her bag match her trousers? - when she was pictured out and about with her first cat, Meredith, in a bag that the press named her 'pussy purse'. I shall leave you with that image to enjoy, until next time.

Wallpaper of the Beach: 2 November 2014

FIRST of all, may I thank you, the visitors to Reporting From The Fox Tower, for now making over thirty thousand visits to this blog, now in the ninth year of existence. The title of this post is a play on words of the regular feature Wallpaper of the Week, but for this edition it is on the beach, with Maria Sharapova at the forefront of the image. I don't think I need say much more. Thank you all once again for continuing to visit this humble blog.

Enjoy.

Maria's Easter Birthday 2014

THE MAGNIFICENT Maria Sharapova, pictured above, celebrates her birthday this coming weekend, the weekend is also Easter 2014, hence the title of this post. To mark Maria's birthday on Saturday, 19 April, this blog presents the above image, from the May 2013 edition of Esquire Latin America, which featured a stunning photoshoot with Maria. Miss Sharapova celebrates her twenty seventh birthday on Saturday.

Happy Birthday Maria!

It's Shara Time!

THIS week, Wallpaper of the Week brings you another image from the Facebook account of the amazing Maria Sharapova. The image is a still from a video Miss Sharapova posted on Facebook and on her Social Channel, as she prepared for training on a Saturday morning in October 2013. Maria's official Facebook channel can be found here.

Enjoy.

A Beautiful Sunset.

TAKING you back to September 1st, 2013, to a beautiful sunset in the Caribbean. The lady in the photograph is the magnificent Miss Maria Sharapova, and it is from her official Facebook account that I have shared this photograph as Wallpaper of the Week. Enjoy.

Wallpaper of the Week: Advantage Miss Sharapova

Love this image of Miss Maria Sharapova cuddling up to a Koala in Australia at the beginning of 2013, so I've decided to bestow the honour of Wallpaper of the Week upon this image.

Happy Birthday, Maria!

THE CURRENT EDITION of The Westmorland Gazette, published Thursday, April 15, 2010, lists this coming Monday, April 18, as the twenty - third birthday of former Wimbledon tennis champion, Maria Sharapova, pictured left. Here's hoping Maria has an enjoyable day and best of luck for the 2010 tennis season!

Follow Maria online at her official website: http://www.mariasharapova.com and keep up to date with The Westmorland Gazette online at http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk

As mentioned above, hopefully Miss Sharapova will appear during the tennis season as part of the 2010 summer of sport, which will be covered here on Reporting From The Fox Tower. I intend to share with you my thoughts and reactions to the close of the domestic football season, the build-up and the results of the South Africa football World Cup and other events taking place during 2010, not just the summer. Better get revising the sporting calendar!

Apologies for the absence of Wallpaper of the Week recently, but it will return very soon. Until then, take care and be good!