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Ian B[_3_] · 24-09-2010, 09:37 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

wrote:
Anyone bothered getting a telescope out? Apparently it's well worth
the effort. It's ... very bright and shiny!

When I was a wee kiddie I was an astronomy nut. One of my teachers' husbands
was a keen amateur astronomer with a good telescope, and one evening I went
to their house with my mum and looked through his scope at Jupiter, and I
can still remember the thrill of seeing the Galilean moons for real- not
just a picture in a book- for the first time. Totally awesome.

I daresay nowadays that would have to be approved by the government in case
they were "grooming" me for something and everyone would be scared about
getting sued if I fell off the footstool I stood on to look through the
telescope or something. Back then, Mrs Emerson just asked me if I'd like to
do it, and I asked my mum to take me up there, and my mum and Mrs Emerson
had a cup of tea in the warm while us men pottered in the garden. Simpler
and more sensible times, and a very happy memory.

Ian