Hi Paddy,
Sounds like you had an awesome star party,
I would like to go to one one day soon,though there all so far away for me.
Comet Garrad is quite a sight isn't it,Its my first comet to ever observe through a telescope.
Ngc 7479 is on my next obs list,i hope to see as much detail as you ave discerned.
regards Orestis