I've used a directional antenna, switchable when needed, when borrowing a friend's much larger and fancier base station. That was oh so *not* QRP! My own equipment doesn't include anything quite that sophisticated as yet, unfortunately. For working DX, especially QRP DX, it's likely to be a case of moving around/swiveling the antenna/both while chasing a signal. I've done that one plenty with just a receiver. I haven't worked England as yet - my farthest is currently Maryland, and that was on that borrowed base station - but one of these days... Of course, we'll need something a bit better than this godawful solar minimum we're dealing with, for that. Bleh!

A technician's license is worth both the having and the using, especially if you're a CW op. I am, but I'm told I'm a rarity, especially among younger folks. I do intend to get my general, but I want to get some serious QRP CW mileage - Wattage? - out of this tech license first. And holy cow, your father is one lucky man! Satellites, yet... :)

Cheers re: bleeping football. I'd quote the next line of that song about Ohio State, but it might burn some random reader's ears off...!