I passed my VHF exams in May 1989. After hard work on Morse ( several hours
a day ) and making my family sick of it (!), I got the full HF Licence
in October , the same year. . I work VHF and HF Stations, from all over
the world ( but preferably British Stations ). Luckily, I know personally
some of the operators, and it is a great pleasure to meet them every time
we jump over the Channel ( or when they come down to Provence) . I also
often have te opportunity to use my "mother language" : German.