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Hi @Steve Ward, just to let you know that these guys have moved to Leighton Buzzard now, their new web site and phone number is at https://condor-cases.co.uk/. Cheers, Chris

Good luck, I can vouch that he’s a decent / honest person to deal with.

There is one being sold complete for £175 by the president of Norwich Astro if of any interest? Email is mark at markthompsonastronomy.com Chris

Thank you everyone, very helpful and much appreciated. As I live just 25 miles away from @Steve Ward's suggestion, I'll be giving them a call on Monday. Have a great weekend all, Chris

Does anyone know of a supplier of foam please? I’m looking to store my 125 frac in a hard case but need to replace the existing foam. Plenty of replacement foam for sofas on the internet, but a recommendation of a trusty supplier would be good. Thanks in advance, Chris

In the Winter, Hagdrid’s Dragon, an Open Cluster, NGC2301 is beautiful to look at in a small scope. In the Summer / Autumn, M22 the Wild Duck Cluster, sweeping downwards to the Lagoon Nebula (M8) a favourite. I usually at least once per session look for Kemble’s Cascade; again great in a small scope...NGC1502 at the base. Great idea for a thread @Geoff Barnes Chris

Thanks Dave, yes after another night under the skies, am well pleased. Was two weeks ago; clouded out by midnight, but a good view of comet 21P/ Giacobini - Zinner along with the usual suspects including NGC 6543. It’s going to take a few sessions so that I’m as ‘fluent’ at setting it up as I am my Tak, but well worth the extra effort. Chris

I've purchased most of my camera equipment from Wex as they are local based here in Norwich. They have a 30 day returns process https://www.wexphotovideo.com/help/returns/ I'd however photograph the damage to the box and message them with the photo asking for their advice...that way, you are covering yourself it there is damage to the equipment from transit... Although I've never had to return anything to them, they have been very straightforward to deal with, and a retailer that I would trust. Good luck, Chris

Thank you, combining a family holiday with astronomy and hopefully some walking before the heat of August. Chris

Thanks all for your input, @Fozzie it’s Perissa that we are staying at, so hopefully the little light wave 72mm will see some action. Cheers, Chris

Scorpions! Sheesh, thanks for the warning! Chris

Booked a holiday to Santorini for May. I know it will even then be packed in the day time, but has anyone here visited before and got advice on good locations for a spot of stargazing? Will be taking walking gear and the lightweight Altair 72mm Scope, so widefield and Southern Messier objects are the plan. Thanks in advance, Chris

Mine (the one closest in the photo) is an Altair Astro 125, purchased from Tring Astronomy Centre this July. The other is an older Meade triplet, which I believe is a 127mm aperture scope. We had a lot of fun looking through both 5" scopes plus a Televue 85 and a Russian 7" Mak. The 7" on a Vixen Mount gave amazing high power views of the Cat's Eye and Turtle Nebulae, when the seeing allowed. Having a bigger scope sure makes you appreciate the "grab and go'ness" of the Tak 76 on a Porta Mount, but I loved the views...was it's 3rd outing. Chris

Nice report. I picked up the Altair one open boxed from Wex. There’s nothing like a big scope to make you appreciate a lightweight grab and go set up that you can be using within a minute or two. Haven’t tried the veil yet, so congrats fir getting that in yours. Chris

The little ones don’t stay little for long, so enjoy the times whilst you can fingers crossed for a good season this time.