What a fantastic welcome from a great bunch of people, thank you. Plus a special hello to all the folks from the Burnley area :-)
Well, I've finally managed it - I've been able to get the scope outside this evening. Although it's quite cloudy in patches, I saw a few bright "bits and bobs" poking through and thought I'd go for it.
Not having had time previously to align the finder I just aimed at the brightest object I could see to roughly align the scopes, then I focussed..... It was Jupiter, and not wanting to sound dramatic, I was blown away!
I didn't have long but in the twenty minutes or so I spent looking at Jupiter I was thoroughly amazed by the moons and cloud belts! I know it's probably classed as a normal run-of-the-mill thing to look at by more experienced types, but had the cloud not been the way it was, and that fact I need to be up very early for work, I'm sure I could have stood there for hours just watching.
Anyway, enough waffle from me. Thanks again for the welcome, and I wish you all dark skies :-)
Paul