Hi everyone! Firstly, thank you SO much for all your helpful replies, it's a mind field out there, and getting this stuff first hand from people who really know they're stuff and care about it is invaluable! Secondly, apologies for the radio silence the last few weeks, it's all a bit crazy out there isn't it. Saying that it's also the perfect time to get into astronomy! Anyway I thought you might like to know I caved and bought the Bresser 8'' with a Plossl 1'24 25mm eyepiece. My husband finally got it set up the other night.
So... we have spent quite a lot of time trying to get a decent image... and we have some questions. First of all - its only possible to get an image which appears focused with your eye about 4" from the eyepiece (the focusing mechanism on the Bresser seems ok - is moving in and out ok!). Secondly when you get to a sharp image - it is only about 20% of the size of the eyepiece - so TINY. We have read about exit pupil size, but it seems a bit weird and we're not getting any notable magnification. I've told my husband he's a moron, but that's not helping!
Photo of the image we are getting attached! Any help appreciated!