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Spring Stars...

Another reasonably successful Star Weekend in the bag...  Many of the the usual suspects plus a couple of returning faces got together at Ninebanks Youth hostel for a weekend of  talks on the universe from Dr Fred and mountains of grub laid on by me... All went really well except we didn't get particularly clear skies so only managed a bit of observing the moon and a couple of stars.

The lack of observing doesn't seem to dampen anyone spirits though. People use the time as a good opportunity to catch up with each other, swap stories and discuss and share resources.  Several people had been to see the eclipse in America last year and hadn't got together since then so we were able to share photos and experiences - one person had a really good time lapse video of the light failing as the Eclipse became total.

Even with bad weather these weekends are always fun, its a very eclectic mix of people - mixed knowledge, masses of curiosity, and a very diverse range of interests which makes for lively discussion and conversation.   Its a couple of very hectic days for me and Dr Fred as he does non stop talking on about everything universal under the sun and I do a lot of cooking - its fairly non stop but we feel very appreciated so worth it. 

As has become the standard we ate too much food and cake and did try to balance it out with healthier options ha ha - but I think the cheese and vegetable pie was the winner this weekend!!
note fruit bowl...
It was nice to visit Ninebanks as spring was springing, there were lambs pronking and chickens pecking in the field and the bird song was full on, skylarks, curlews and lapwings scattered about the skies.   It would have been great to see more blue skies or even some clear dark skies but the countryside was green and lush and still very enjoyable, muddy, wet, windy but stunningly this is England!!
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