One suggestion I'd make Suzy is to check out the freeware version of
Astroplanner. Gives you an instant idea of when an object is visible, how bright, type (galaxy, neb, planetary, etc) and all sorts of other goodies (like programming in your own visible horizon). Freeware comes with Messier and NGC catalogues. Glen Cozen's "All Sky Messier Catalogue" includes quite a few of the bright southern planetary nebs that Messier didn't/couldn't see - you can load up custom catalogues.
Once you've found something, you can make notes on what you saw too....