Genghis,
While I have tremendous respect for your knowledge and experience I am beginning to realise why some people find you irritating.
I appreciate that lots of people use the squawk service without talking to anybody, I do it myself most of the time. My point was that he seemed happy to talk to Solent in good weather on the way to Bembridge but not to talk to them in marginal weather on the way back.
It is not a big point, just stirs my curiosity.