The South Pacific Star Party: 13 - 15 April, 2007 - who's going? - Page 10

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #**181** 17-04-2007, 07:56 AM

Ok - i need to clarify that point Rod

as it turned out, i had registered twice for the star party
so when i got there i recieved TWO tickets

as you do - i put the tickets in the plastic holder and pinned it to my hat

on saturday i checked my ticket number before the draw - and it read number 50 - my first registration number

i forgot that i had a second ticket under that one.

i was actually standing in the side doorway next to the ligtbridge when the ticket was drawn - and i was wondering the same as everyone else

who was the lucky bugger with ticket # 292

on sunday when they asked if we could leave the plastic ticket holders in the box on the desk, i of course complied willingly
that was when i realised i had a second ticket
292 , i said to myself - the number sounded familiar

and so the story goes

Kal (Andrew) · #**182** 17-04-2007, 08:34 AM

I'm speechless Geoff!!!

netwolf · #**183** 17-04-2007, 10:36 AM

I am real sorry I asked. So that was you behind the fan contemplating in the photos. So close yet so far, I too am speechless.

spacezebra (Petra) · #**184** 17-04-2007, 11:20 AM

Hi there

Good to hear that you got home safe and sound, how is Michael? We arrived about 5.20 pm ish. I have sent you an email about the boots - I need your DD details.

Cheers Petra

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl

Oh and Petra

i finally got him home - well to Blacktown anyway

gary · #**185** 17-04-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl

on sunday when they asked if we could leave the plastic ticket holders in the box on the desk, i of course complied willingly
that was when i realised i had a second ticket
292 , i said to myself - the number sounded familiar and so the story goes

G'day Geoff,

One thing is for certain. Few of us will ever forget your anecdote as
it files away neatly into the big cabinet of life's lessons.

Good to see you have taken it so well and see the events with that
familiar recognition that only comes with having been on the planet
for multiple decades of revolutions around the Sun.
Lady Luck is fickle. She giveth and she taketh away.

And us older farts know she is only really nasty when she takes away
something precious you had, rather than not deliver some extra bonus you
might have had.

Good on ya mate and we'll see you again soon.

Best Regards

Gary

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #**186** 17-04-2007, 01:12 PM

Geoff,

I also have to commend you on your philosphical attitude to, "what might have been".

Many would have "spat the dummy", under similar circumstances. Catch you at Kulnurra soon.

CS-John B

Satchmo · #**187** 17-04-2007, 01:27 PM

You could look at this another way. Holding two tickets , Geoff had twice as good odds of winning the Lightbridge than anybody else at SPSP , and those odds 'came through' for him. Either he fluffed it for forgetting about the second ticket, or kharmic forces were at play and he is saved from wrestling with his conscience for life .

Rodstar (Rod) · #**188** 17-04-2007, 01:39 PM

The plot thickens, Geoff. You poor mug.

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #**189** 17-04-2007, 05:30 PM

a couple of things i keep telling myself Mark

1) maybe it might have looked bad if a vendor had won a (especially major) prize
2) i do have a certain relationship with Bintel (which also might have looked bad)
3) yes i did have two tickets - and what would have happened had the society reimbursed me for one of them later ?

4) i have no where to store it here at home anyway

5) if i need aperture i can go borrow a certain nephews 16'' - and better than that, there is a very nice 20'' right here local that will satisfy any bout of aperture fever i might have (isn't there Rod ?) .

6) i still have to serve my apprenticeship on my 8"

DO ANY OF YOU BELIEVE ANY OF THESE EXCUSES I AM COMING UP WITH ?

geoff

xstream (John) · #**190** 17-04-2007, 06:26 PM

Life goes on Geoff, and you'll be richer for it.

(Don't forget your DD details)

What a great weekend once again catching up with old friends, meeting new ones and to those that I didn't get to meet, we'll make it next time.

SPSP is always an enjoyable experience that just seems to have this captivation that makes you want to come back year after year. Here's looking forward to next years.

33South (Chris) · #**191** 17-04-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstream

SPSP is always an enjoyable experience that just seems to have this captivation that makes you want to come back year after year. Here's looking forward to next years.

Yep, you know what scares me,

the though of being at spsp or any sp for that matter with you guys when the weather is real bad

and we have to find alternative ways to pass the time.

xstream (John) · #**192** 18-04-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33South

Yep, you know what scares me,

the though of being at spsp or any sp for that matter with you guys when the weather is real bad

and we have to find alternative ways to pass the time.

Are you insinuating we're a bad influence Chris?

RB (Andrew) · #**193** 18-04-2007, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl

i forgot that i had a second ticket under that one.

i was actually standing in the side doorway next to the ligtbridge when the ticket was drawn - and i was wondering the same as everyone else

who was the lucky bugger with ticket # 292

Oh my gosh Geoff...............

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstream

Are you insinuating we're a bad influence Chris?

MortonH · #**194** 18-04-2007, 01:50 PM

If this was America, you could probably sue...

Geoff, I know it's no consolation, but the rest of us didn't win anything either.

On a separate note, I'd like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed SPSP. It was the first time I've had my 'new' 8" Dob out under a dark sky and I was so engrossed with the views I forgot look through any of the big scopes, apart from a quick look through the 16" Lightbridge (lots of coma, by the way).

My wife and I were staying off-site at the Ryder Homestead. Since she isn't an astro buff, we went back around midnight. The sky there was so much more transparent than it had been at Wiruna that I set up the scope again and sat up till 3:30am, having wonderful sharp views of Jupiter and amazing wide-field views of the Milky Way. I also discovered for the first time the true value of a UHC filter under dark skies.

On Saturday I slept in and missed the vendor displays, then did the same on Sunday cos our alarm didn't go off! And on Saturday night we packed it in around 10pm cos of the cloud. But it didn't matter. That Friday has got me firmly hooked once again. I'm already dreaming of a bigger Dob with Argo Navis...

I wish I'd made more of an effort to meet some of you. I did catch up with Mike 'Okiscopey', plus I met a visitor from Canada who asked me for a sky tour. This was potentially embarrassing as I haven't learned my way round the southern skies yet (I'm from Scotland, where we know the clouds by their first names) but a quick look at Omega Centauri was enough to make him want to move here!

Can't wait for the next one. Unfortunately, due to limited holidays, I don't think I can make the Border Stargaze, but we'll see...

Morton

strongmanmike (Michael) · #**195** 18-04-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl

Ok - i need to clarify that point Rod

as it turned out, i had registered twice for the star party
so when i got there i recieved TWO tickets

as you do - i put the tickets in the plastic holder and pinned it to my hat

on saturday i checked my ticket number before the draw - and it read number 50 - my first registration number

i forgot that i had a second ticket under that one.

i was actually standing in the side doorway next to the ligtbridge when the ticket was drawn - and i was wondering the same as everyone else

who was the lucky bugger with ticket # 292

on sunday when they asked if we could leave the plastic ticket holders in the box on the desk, i of course complied willingly
that was when i realised i had a second ticket
292 , i said to myself - the number sounded familiar

and so the story goes

Well Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark me!

Good that you are so philisophical about it and obviously taking it in your stride.....

...................

okiscopey (Mike) · #**196** 18-04-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MortonH

... And on Saturday night we packed it in around 10pm cos of the cloud.

What clouds? I reckon it was the CARROT JUICE!

MortonH · #**197** 18-04-2007, 05:53 PM

Carrots may help you see in the dark, but they don't help keep your eyes open when you only had three hours sleep the night before!

Morton