Hi Rob,
and ask away. Information is free and there are plenty on here with loads to share. They can advise you how to spend your money in the best possible way.
Before you buy, if you can, see if you can get along to a Astro Club night and look through some scopes and get local advice. Otherwise there might be a local who can speak up and offer some experience for you. Don't be in too much of a hurry and take small steps, otherwise it get expensive and frustrating real fast.
You will probably hear a lot of advice to start with an 8" or better, a 10" Dobsonian. Easy to use, big aperture so plenty to see and can be gotten for a reasonable price. The other advice is to start with Binoculars, 10 x 50 or thereabouts. You'll be surprised at what can be seen in a dark sky with them. The last one is to get Stellarium onto your PC and start learning your way round the sky.
And have fun !!
