(Revised for 2025)
'Twas the nite before TEN opened, and all through the shack,
Not a signal was stirring, 'cuz outside it was black.
The phased dipoles were hung, 'round the tower with care,
In hopes that strong signals, soon would be there.
The harmonics were nestled, like bugs in their beds,
while visions of pileups, danced in their heads.
With me in my LongJohns and Mom in her sarong,
We knew about sunspots and sure we'd work Chittagong.
When out on the snow, there arose such a mess,
I sprang from my bed, and forgot to get dressed.
Away to the window, I flew like a streaker,
Knocked over my amp and was 15dB weaker.
.
The coax was tore and the QRO amp,
Lay splat on the floor and the 'Test was now damped.
But what do my wondering eyes, should suddenly see here?
.but a jolly round elf packing lotsa Yagis and deer !
With that little ol' op, so adept at the keyer,
This could be our good luck, if only DX would actually beam he-re...
More QRQ than Chris or Dan and with power to spare.
Now Dasher, now Dotter, now all deer he yelled proud,
We're doing this right and we're going for E7DX loud!
On Meteor, Aurora and Backscatter too!
We'll work everyone folks, 'til the tubes they turn blue.
To the top of the hill, we ran with our amp, us,
Now dash away, dot away, DQRM LIDS and yeah, you too Krampus.
The filters are now cool, before the current that flows,
I will rid you of harmonics, splatter and 8P5A knows.
So up to the house-top, BIG signals they flew,
With yagis, a new amp and St. Nicholas too.
.
The band was right quiet and VOACAP said,
At opening bell TEN would be far from dead!
The signals would come, from this way and that.
The flux was now up and you had best be sat.
And then at 0 Zulu, I heard up near the flue,
DX being worked, like on 2BSIQ.
As I logged with N1MM (plus version of course),
St. Nick was working DX, on SSB and then Morse.
He was dressed all in fur and looking alive,
As he interleaved a convo with Kevin @ Q5.
A bundle of hardline, he tossed on his back,eh
He resembled a rate junkie, like CR6K.
His eyes how they looked, his cheeks were puffed out,
>From an SSB pileup, that he commanded with clout.
His droll little mouth, behind the headset from Yamaha,
Did not conceal, his multimode stamina!
The stump of his pipe, he held tight in his face,
As DX was calling, and this was a race !
He had a wry smile, like big bellied old men,
>From sitting too much, working honour roll on TEN.
He was fat (but fast), that right happy King elf,
I looked in the mirror, and imagined myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of the key,
He sent 5NN and worked ZF5T.
He spoke vy few words, as he worked the heavenly CW,
This rate behaviour lads, hej!, it's just like at SJ2W.
He filled all the stockings and, between contacts he said,
Once I am done, Mike, I will say my call & QRZee.
(I am beaming South now and WILL work V47T !)
Laying a wee finger, up the side of his nose,
He started another pileup and the din, it arose.
This is VE9-Santa and we are here in N-B,
Tell the longpath guys ,turn beams 180, see?
Hey folks of the radio realm please listen in kind,
I'll work you all quickly and leave no caller behind.
One last little rush was not in the way,
An Auroral bounce Q with VO2-triple-A.
He had to go soon, the pileups were quite done,
He filled a big logbook and was near ending this fun.
As the merry old dude rolled away on his Harley,
He was still 10 over @ ES9-Charlie.
>From his bike to his sled with a nod and a sway,
He worked the last contact /Mobile-(Long Path to K3PA)
Away the NB log flew, to the A-Double R-L,
I'll be back next year good people -perhaps from KL?
He yelled with QSB, and went *poof* out of sight,
".MX, 73 and to all a GN !..."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Merry Christmas from New Brunswick, Canada
de Mike VE9AA and family
*QZB* Means: You're all zero beat ; pse use ur XIT +/- !
CU (all of a sudden!) in the next one.
Mike VE9AA , "NB"
(oh, and just say NO to cut #'s in serial # contests pse guys.)
Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada
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