Astrofest 2005

Two replies:

To the person who asked about bargains: I don't think you'll get a
cheap scope on the first day - What I have found is that you get the
best pick of the oddments, ends of lines, etc.

On the subject of London - The venue is huge as far as the lecture
space is concerned, and very cramped for the exhibition. A bigger
venue would be great. Also moving it around the country would be nice,
as long as it didn't stick somewhere out of the way. Several
organisations have their main meetings in Cambridge now, which is great
for those from the east of the country, but disastrous for those from
the West, South-West and Wales (350 miles/maybe 7h round trip).

I don't know what can be done to revive the format, though. There are
a fair number of women who attend, but it seems more and more 'anoraky'
each time I go (This will be my 9th, I think).

There is a sort of tradition about it, though:

The plan of the layout with numbered positions - The list of exhibitors
without numbers.

CUP insisting on giving you a hand written invoice for each book,
despite the queue.

The queue for food and then nowhere to eat it.

With a bigger venue, perhaps more societies/individuals could be
persuaded to come - Maybe more amateur telescopes, maybe homemade
gadgets or setups.

Each time I have attended lately, I come away thinking that I will give
it a miss the next year. If it was no better, and just a bit harder to
get there, I wouldn't bother.