Melbourne here I come

NQLD_Newby · #1 15-08-2007, 09:54 AM

Well folks,

School Holidays are apon us in 5 weeks up here in Queensland. My Lovely Lady, two Kids and myself will be spending the entire time soaking up some Melbourne hospitality. Melissa and I have been before, but my kids have never been to Melbourne, should be an eye opener for them

. Anyway just thought I would share this news, and give you all some warning that if you want to buy anything at Bintel, you best do it before I arrive as I might buy the whole shop

. That is if the chief loan officer can be convinced that I need 14 telescopes of varying sizes and designs, not to mention a rather large selection of ep's and filters. Hmmmm, I wonder if she will let me send our luggage back by road so I can bring it all home on the plane with us?

Well, there's no harm in wishful thinking is there?

erick (Eric) · #2 15-08-2007, 10:07 AM

Well, you'll be welcome Rex, especially if you spend lots of money here!

However, take the opportunity to check the southern perspective one evening. It'll look quite different to you, further south than Nth Qld!

NQLD_Newby · #3 15-08-2007, 10:19 AM

Yes Erick, I'm actually looking forward to seeing the crux, not dissapear below the horizon. A different perspective from what you already know is always a good thing. Not sure how I'm going to handle the cold though. It's been a while since I was down there and last time was summer.

Haven't had a real holiday in years so am really looking forward to it. Can't wait to see the kids faces when they see how big some of the buildings are in the CBD.

erick (Eric) · #4 15-08-2007, 10:27 AM

Cold?? It only took five minutes to melt the ice off the windscreen this morning - cold? Never!

erick (Eric) · #5 15-08-2007, 10:33 AM

Yes, you can visit the viewing floors of a couple of the tallest buildings (more money!) How about standing on a glass floor 88 stories up!

http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...?s_cid=rss_age

ps. Mount Dandenong has nothing on Castle Hill. There sure is no Saint painted down here!

NQLD_Newby · #6 15-08-2007, 10:36 AM

Well I guess one thing is good. We had an unusually cold (well for us it is) winter this year, got down to minimums of around 7 deg C quite a few nights. Man I can tell you that was cold enough, I have no idea how you guys get up, go to work and function when your nose feels like its going to fall off at any minute. I take my hat of to you

dwyman · #7 15-08-2007, 10:43 AM

Sounds like about half the year here in the State of Wisconsin, USA. First frost can come in mid September and last one in April or May with several months of snow and below freezing temps in between.

NQLD_Newby · #8 15-08-2007, 11:01 AM

Wow Eric, that looks like great fun. I can't imagine what that would be like. I had better get that excercise programme going. One doesn't want to break that glass. This holiday is going to be an experience all right. The kids are 13 and 11 years old, so they will remember it for years to come, this only makes it more worthwhile.

Now where is the nearest observitory and when do they have public nights

. You understand of coarse this is just for imformation.

Dwyman I repeat my earlier statement, I take my hat off to you

NQLD_Newby · #9 15-08-2007, 11:04 AM

Oh yeah, I forgot the saint. Its become a bit of an icon really, I guess when you see it every day you don't even notice its there any more. One of the floors of human nature i suppose.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #10 15-08-2007, 11:11 AM

Rex,

If you manage to catch up to Eric while you are down here, hopefully he can drag you up here for a night of observing.

Thru iced up scopes

NQLD_Newby · #11 15-08-2007, 11:30 AM

That would be amazing Ken, thanks for the invite. It sure would be great to meet you guys face to face. Hmmmm not sure how well it would go down with the family though........ but then again we are there for two whole weeks

. Anyway its a thought that might incidentally get thrown into a general conversation to see what reaction I get

.

erick (Eric) · #12 15-08-2007, 11:41 AM

Just let us know when your trip is closer and if you have the possibility of an evening off.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #13 15-08-2007, 11:41 AM

I'm sure the family would like to see Sovereign Hill

You just happen to slip away at night

or just bring all of them!

NQLD_Newby · #14 15-08-2007, 12:29 PM

Thanks again Guys,

This forum is fantastic. As I said i would love to catch up with you guys, so I will do the casual conversation hint as mentioned earlier and let you know how things go.

I'll pull out the bring them all card, and if all else fails I'll go to fill the hire car up with fuel. It's not my fault if I got lost and ended up at your place Ken is it.

. After all I don't know Melbourne very well.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #15 15-08-2007, 01:29 PM

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #16 15-08-2007, 08:36 PM

hey Mr NQLD_Newby welcome to mexico...Take the kids to science works on your visit...Kids love it>

http://scienceworks.museum.vic.gov.au/

They have the Lightning room for Vandergraph displays HV and Planetarium for various astro displays:

http://scienceworks.museum.vic.gov.a....asp?ID=561321

http://scienceworks.museum.vic.gov.a...tarium.asp?s=1

Just one thing if you go on public holidays get there bang on opening and book tickets for the above events, they sell out quickly.

taminga16 (Greg) · #17 15-08-2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NQLD_Newby

Thanks again Guys,

This forum is fantastic. As I said i would love to catch up with you guys, so I will do the casual conversation hint as mentioned earlier and let you know how things go.

I'll pull out the bring them all card, and if all else fails I'll go to fill the hire car up with fuel. It's not my fault if I got lost and ended up at your place Ken is it.

. After all I don't know Melbourne very well.

Ken, I think that you should tell Rex just how far you are from Melbourne.
Regards Greg.

erick (Eric) · #18 15-08-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taminga16

Ken, I think that you should tell Rex just how far you are from Melbourne.
Regards Greg.

As long as he has a full tank, I think he'll just make it

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #19 15-08-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taminga16

Ken, I think that you should tell Rex just how far you are from Melbourne.
Regards Greg.

Ummmm, well, . . . I'm only 20 minutes from Ballarat.

And Ballarat is only about 1.5 hours from Melbourne I think.

Yeah, OK! It's a trip you may need to pack a change of clothes and rations

NQLD_Newby · #20 16-08-2007, 09:33 AM

Hey guys what can I say?

When I get lost I really get lost

Thanks for the heads up Greg, but I would never just take off like that anyway. Any time I get would be at the total discretion of the chief travel agent (My lovely lady). Although I must add at this point, she is always very fair and decent about these things. So the distance is not a problem, as she would know all the details before it happenned. I mean we are planning to go down to Werribee for a few days. I know its not quite the same direction but hey, who knows, we might make a wrong turn.

As stated before, I would love to catch up with anyone from in here, as it really is a wonderful community where the opportunities to learn are endless. We will see what transpires between now and then, and if things work out so that I can catch up, then great, but if not, there will be plenty of other opportunities. Between astrofest, and other high profile star parties around, its only a matter of time.

Thanks for the links and advice wasyoungonce. Sounds like a great day out.

I will keep all informed as time progresses.