Friday 21st November:

On the way up the temperature was dropping fast and by the time we arrived it was only 5 degrees. Due to an accident (and road closure) it was a long drive up.We went straight to the holiday homes to unpack. They were really nice actually they looked new; they had central heating and a gas fire, kitchen had all appliances, twin bedroom and a double bedroom and shower. The problem was that they were set in woodlands and not lined up in a field, as pictured, but most things don't look the same as what's on the packet.

First night was a bit of a blow out so the seven of us went to check out the restaurant and have dinner, then we got a few bits from the shop which was pricey - and empty, then we just watched a few DVD's before turning in.

Saturday 22nd November:

We awoke to 2" of snow, we checked the forecast and we were in for a heavy fall of snow later in the evening so we just had a lazy day. We walked around the site which is spread out over a large area and we had a few more flurries of snow during the day, the wind was also getting up towards the early evening so we got ready to go and have dinner at the restaurant.

On the way the skies were crystal clear through the trees.  When we got to the restaurant we ordered quickly (didn't want to miss out on the skies) then Graham and Peter arrived and said it was cloudy.  NO WAY, I couldn't believe it and had to check for myself - it was clear, just patchy clouds.

  we were talked into a pub quiz (noughts and crosses).  36 questions were asked, each answer went into a numbered box then after all the answers were read out you had to make a full line of 0's to win (Graham, Peter & Naz won on 2 lines).  The prize was a bottle of white wine.

We made our way back and everybody said they would get their binoculars and go to the open area we had found earlier.  I said that I hadn't driven all the way up here not to use my 'scope so I said I would be using the Dobi and not the bin's.  Nobody else decided to use their 'scopes however.  It was  well worth it, the sky was incredibly clear.  The Milkyway was a breathtaking lane of stars through the centre of the sky.  I was so amazed that I almost forgot to  set up the 'scope.  Everyone else was saying; 'Hurry up, get the scope out, we want to have a look' - should have bought their scopes too - huh.

M42 Orion Nebula stood out Loud and Proud with the naked eye and through the 'scope the only word that was muttered by one and all was 'wow'.  We also looked at Andromeda M31 which could also be seen but as a smudge with the naked eye.  M81 the Spiral Galaxy and M82 the Cigar Galaxy, Double Cluster (NGC 884 AND 869) and also Pleiades M45 the Seven Sisters and the M51 Whirlpool Galaxy also the Veil Nebula (I must have missed this one).

One of the guys started to get too cold, so I said I'd walk back with him to get some heat packs that I had back at base.  When we returned everybody had gone bar Anthony who was looking after my scope and car.  So we packed up because it was total cloud coverage and the wind had really picked up.  No sooner had we packed the car than the skies let go of all the snow they had saved up whilst we had our 2.5 hours of observing.  Got back, parked the car and got into the warm as the temperature had dropped to -2.5, had a lovely cup of tea to warm up the old cockles.

Sunday 23rd November:

Awoke to 5 inches of snow and it was still pelting down.   We had another DVD, then breakfast and went for another walk with camera's this time.  Took images of the landscape with virgin snow, had a few snowball fights (as you do), then Peter, Graham, Bill and Naz went to the bar because it was too cold.  Myself, Anthony and Mick went for a scenic walk then we too made our way to the bar for a drink.  We watched another film, then back to the restaurant for more food by this time it was snowing again and it was -5, blowing a gale.  But when we had finished and left the bar it was raining, so Bill said he was going home.  We watched another film on TV, talked into the wee hours and went off to bed leaving Anthony to watch the darts.  On the 24th all the snow had gone, apart from the large snowball Graham had made Saturday evening, an little snowman was still on top.

The view on Sunday Morning.

Tony Cronin

Events Secretary.