Anyone from Hemel/Watford/Herts area attending Astrofest 2008?

[cygnusx1]

This looks like it could be a great show, so i've decided to pop on down to Kensington on either the 8th or 9th Feb.

I am planning to take a train from Hemel - Kensington High Street, just a short walk from the tube station.

If anyone from around this area is planning on going in by car, perhaps we could all travel together, share petrol/parking costs/etc and enjoy each other companies on the way!

Well what say ye?

[AlexG]

Tubing in for Saturday final session from Cockfosters. Noshing nearby for lunch I think. Look forward to seeing all.

AG

[cygnusx1]

Anybody else going down, me and LaVey are joining up, gimme a buzz if your'e coming down from around here.

[TheMightyKong]

Hey Alex, I'll be tubing it from Oakwood, on Friday though, working Saturday.

Rishi

[AlexG]

Hi Rishi

I am going on Saturday for the lectures, chinese/indian meal, pub with SGLers.

But I was thinking of going in on Friday too on a bargain/PST hunt. Will advise on Thursday if that's all right?

AG

[TheMightyKong]

Hi Alex,

Ok cool. I'm going to set off early: 8ish i think.

[AlexG]

Hi Rishi

I am afraid I am not going to go on Friday now, just Saturday. I just bought a secondhand PST and: a) I do not want to be offered a brand new one for less than I have just paid, no delivery and with added accessories as a sweetener. be tempted to buy discount eyepieces which appear cheap but will bankrupt you because you buy more than one.

Sorry about that, hope you enjoy it and please post what bargains are on offer, so we can curse ourselves when we turn up on Saturday and find them all sold out. This is part of Astro Fest and must be experienced by all attendees.

AG

[TheMightyKong]

Well just got back about an hour ago - I'm knackered. It was very busy, and tommorow is supposed to be even busier i'd say go early so you can wonder round before the crush. I got there about 9:40am and by 11ish it was rammed. Most things I noticed had about 10% off non show prices. It was a fantastic day, felt like a kid in a candy shop to be surrounded by all those toys. Also, particularly enjoyed Alberto Conti and Allan Chapman's lectures. Alex I'm sure you'll have a blast.

[AlexG]

Hey Rishi

Sounds good. Did you come across any SGLers? I think I will take your advice to get there earlier than I was planning.

Where are you based by the way, are you near Oakwood or just use it as a convenient tube? I am in Barnet nearby, we should meet up if you are local.

AG

[TheMightyKong]

Hey Alex, so how was it? I didn't meet any sglers as i didn't know what most people look like. Think most came on saturday anyway. Oakwood is local but I work in Northampton now and so spend most of my time there and come down when i can. Are you a member of any of the local societies? there's one meeting in ashmole school in southgate. I'm a member of WOLAS, which meets in harrow and uxbridge, but they have a (relatively) dark sky site outside london.

Rishi

[AlexG]

Hi

Yes, it was good. I didn't know anyone either and missed them meeting up.

So in the lunchbreak I got an old envelope, borrowed a marker pen and wrote "SGL" in big letters, then walked up and down at the front of the audience before the first talk, saying members of SGL make yourselves known.

Luckily some of them waved at me after about 30 seconds or I'd have had to go down the aisles with people asking if i sold icecream too.

Anyway we had four lectures, two were pretty specialised, Patrick Moore was fine but the question and answer session went way off track, and I thought David Levy was the best of the bunch - how he spotted 20 odd comets.

Then we trekked over to Chinatown, only to find it was packed because of Chinese new year today; we got promises of a table in 30 mins or so but couldn't get served so finally had to abandon it as people had to get their trains to wherever.

There's a note from Daz in another thread listing all the people there - we were 11 strong.

Yes I recently found out about WOLAS, last two months i have been working that evening but I might go down there, seems quite lively. Must have a look at the programme for the Southgate society. Quite honestly I am more drawn to observing than talking about it so the dark site sounds more interesting.

Alex

[TheMightyKong]

Ha! that was a good idea! Should've tried the sandwich board myself... Yes WOLAS's big attraction is the observing site, though it's privately owned so you can only go there on set dates, usually one or two friday and saturday nights a month. It does seem quite a big society aswell, and as with most astro socs, the people are friendly and welcoming. I haven't been able to make many meetings since working in northants but i try whenever i can. Possibly see you there?