Adrian Condon

Hi Mike, None of this great star party would be possible without you having taken over the reins a number of years ago. I enjoy the whole party, from the extremely clear skies, the nights that are not so clear, the nights when there is just a few stars visible and the nights that the craic is very entertaining. This star party is amazing and travelling the 800 mile round trip speaks volume. A Big Thank you for all your efforts goes without saying. Thank you.......Mike Hope to see you in the Spring 2019. Adrian

Hi Damian It was taken at around 21:30 pm It looks a lot better in Lightroom I have taken both RAW and jpeg at the same time This image is a RAW converted to jpeg in Lightroom and exported. I must download the jpeg image from the camera and compare both jpegs All the best Adrian

Hi David, I took the following images using an Olympus EM-1 MKii camera with a 7-14mm Pro lens (equivalent to 14-28mm on a full frame camera). So this was a wide-angle shot. This was a one-off colour image, 15 second duration, ( and, for Mike.... it was taken on a tripod! ) with a iOptron mini mount. Another image will be loaded later. All the

Hi David, I got home safely and am completely shattered, the wind on the A75 and M6 was terrible. I am off to bed and tomorrow I will get back to reporting Sunday evening..... tomorrow Believe Mick got home safely as well. Cheers Adrian

HI David, Glad you got home safely. A good soak in a bath may help. I know that sore backs are areal pain. Hope Tony will make another trip to Drumroamin, trust you are fit enough to let the builder in tomorrow. As always, it is great meeting up with you. Cheers Adrian

Hi Ian, Glad you got home safely and the A75 closure was not a major problem. The weather here is back to windy, the grass has dried out amazingly, given the rain only stopped around 16:00 hours. I took some shots of the Milky Way last night, which I hope to put one on the site when I get home. I think I will treat myself to a walk to Mike's static van soon for a quick chat with Phil, Kenny and Mike. It is very quiet here now and no red lights to be seen. Hoping that the wind may blow the clouds away, so I have my tripod and camera at the ready. (So has Phil!) David, hope your back was not too painfully driving back to Perth ( Scotland ). Trust everyone had a safe and uneventful journey home. Yes, Saturday night was brilliant..... definitely worth doing the 800 mile round trip!!!!! To Julian and Dai who unfortunately could not make it this time, remember that we do it again in the Spring of 2019........ All the Best. Adrian

Hi Damian. I agree, it is winder in the corner, I think you have some protection from the hedge. I like the bottom corner...... because I can talk to the farmer who owns the field as he is a friend of one of my best friends in the Isle of Whithorn. Plus less light from the others who camp nearer the facilities block. My big Outwell tent takes the same bashing and it survives.... of course it costs a lot more. Anyway, trust you are in the best of health and we will be seeing you at Galloway soon. Cheers Adrian

Hi Nick, I did not know you were up at Glen Luce. Phil and myself were up to Glen Luce Saturday afternoon. The sky in this corner of Scotland was brilliant last night till about 03:00 am this morning. I went to bed at 02:00 am but got up again at 04:35am and the sky to the east was clear. The Orion constellation looked absolutely beautiful over the Solway Forth. Went for the constitutional dog walk with Bud. It started to rain at 10:00am, luckily most of those with tents managed to get packed by the time the rain got serious. It looks set in for the day. I agree with Ian, when I closed the legs on my carbon fibre tripod, ice came off the legs. I am going home tomorrow, so hoping the rain eases off and disappears before I need to pack up. The only damage occurred during the windy weather was my Kampa Utility /Toilet tent which I use to cover the Dob. Two poles broke and the cloth the poles go through was ripped to shreds. Their guy lines are totally unsuitable as they appeared to be made of a poor quality cotton. I have a larger Kampa Utility tent that got two poles broken in March here. The supplier sent me two replacements after trying to get Kampa involved. The quality of the larger tent is very good, and I suppose the tent was not made to stand up to the 60mph winds we had in March. Phil and myself are going to the Harbour Inn in Garliston for the Sunday roast. We have had a number of nights in which we saw stars. Less nights for the craic, but enough to make it a very enjoyable star party. Trust the SGL Star Party gets a good number of clear nights. Good Luck..... Adrian

Hi Folks, Saturday Night Report.... Well, it has been a cracking day here in sunny Scotland. The skies started to go blue around 09:00am.... we had a cold wind for a good part of the day but it absolutely no wind at present and long may it stay away. Phil and myself went to Port William, it was really wind there, we could see the Isle of Man, so we did the honourable thing, we waved to Hadyn and Christina, but they didn't wave back. So we phoned Hadyn and he was driving to the campsite at Ballaugh, site of a great Isle of Man (IoM) Star Party 3 weeks ago. Christina took the call and we complained that they hadn't returned our wave. Hadyn was getting practice in for the long drive to SGL Lucsall next week. After that we went birdwatching at Wigtown Bay Hide, saw some redshanks and a flock of geese. Tonight, the skies are clear, it is getting colder so everyone is out and well wrapped up. Yes Stu, Paul and family arrived safe and sound yesterday and currently chasing the stars. As per usual great views of the Milky Way and constellations plus all the usual culprits. Mars is showing nicely and Saturn is dropping below the Horizon in the southwest. Orion will be up around 03:30 am on Sunday morning, that will be time for a wee dram and some soup! Then at 06:15 am the Japanese Grand Prix starts, so it will be a busy night here in beautiful Galloway. Trust the folks going to The SGL Star Party enjoy great clear skies, Hadyn no doubt will give the SGL gang a rundown on the IoM event I better get back out to enjoy the marvellous views. Cheers till tomorrow. Adrian

Hi folks, The pictures taken at 08:40 am this morning. The White Bull is very old and struggled to keep up with the cows. There is a story about bulls, but it cannot be repeated here....... All the best Adrian

Hi Folks Thursday Morning Report.... Well I was up at 05:45am this morning.....it was cloudy but high cloud, the crescent Moon was high in the southeast. Nothing else was visible. Decided on going back to bed until 08:00am, what else can one do? The cattle have moved from the field that goes down to bay, the big White Bull will not be back in the Spring....the cows are going up to Ian's farm near Newton Stewart for the winter. I took some photos of the event which I will attempt to load up later. It is a grey day here and a tad windy as well. To those travelling take care, we would hate your whiskey bottles to get smashed. Cheers Adrian

Hi Folks, Wednesday Night 23:15 pm.... report The clouds over the campsite have parted for a while, we can see the plough, Capella, Cassiopeia, Pegasus, Vega, Hercules, Draco and parts of the Milky Way. This is a totally unexpected delight.... But the clouds are moving from the west, so I don't think the clear patch will be around for long. The forecast is for clouds tonight. I must have a whiskey and go out again to see if things have changed. Cheers Adrian

Hi Ian, No, the cod fillet was perfect, but I had to cook it in open as Mike thought it might stink the caravan out! Nice to see the whiskey you are bringing, ( it goes like a race horse I believe! ) could be the last when Brexit goes ahead and the imports of Ireland's best are stopped at the border...... Have a safe trip and looking forward on meeting up again Cheers Adrian PS it appears David's whiskey is sitting on his worktops.....

Hi David, I didn't know you were in the storage business using a car warehouse... Secondly, and most important I cannot spot a bottle of Whiskey in the carnage..... Trust you have packed one, just check again, Thanks..... See you tomorrow ..... have safe trip.... we are in no hurry to meet you. Safe trip Adrian

Hi Damian. Sorry about the lack of a report this morning, I had a shave and a shower, then breakfast and Lesley texted me to walk the dog Bud. We left here at 08:40 am and arrived back at 10:30ish I needed to change and drive to pick a friend up near St. Ninian's cave for a day out. There was no wind this morning first thing and at 11:00am it was drizzling when driving to Whithorn. Had more showers as we headed to the Haugh of Ur for lunch. The weather now depends on which way you are looking, to the North it looks threatening with dark rain clouds (Phil only sees blue) To the Southeast there have been patches of blue, if these conditions stay we will see Mars....The wind is increasing in strength but nothing like what we have already had. Thinking maybe a good night for a spot of whiskey tasting. Last night we had some viewing for 2 hours but not brilliant All the best Adrian