Sunday Selections #527

 

 

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.

 

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.

 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 

 

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

  

I usually run with a theme. This week (and next) I am going to be posting pictures from our Balloon Spectacular which overlaps the Enlighten festival.  I am a confirmed balloon 'tragic' (Australian slang for someone with an obsession).  The Balloon Spectacular was the last big event which went ahead before Covid restrictions hit us last year.  It went ahead this year too - with some restrictions.

Most years as well as the lucky people who are taking to the air there are crowds of excited spectators to watch the balloons inflate and take off.  This year numbers were restricted and places had to be reserved.  I succeeded in getting tickets but the only day I succeeded the weather forecast was not good.  With that in mind we headed out early (way too early for the smaller portion) a few days before our ticketed event to a vantage point by the lake where we could see the balloons fly even if we couldn't watch them inflate.  We got lucky.  On both days.

So I am going to present images from both days.  Starting (out of chronological order) with the day we watched the balloons inflate.  Co-incidentally it was the youngest of my brothers birthday.  He is also a balloon tragic and I was very happy to be able to get tickets for him and his wife as well as for us.  We no longer exchange presents (except for significant events) but this was a gift I was very glad to be able to give him (and him to receive).

Settle back with a beverage of choice.  LOTS of photos follow.

Many of the balloons are BIG.

The building in the background is our National Library.

The excitement (and not just mine) was palpable.

Each year there is at least one feature balloon.  This year it was Allycorn, brought to us from the US.  Given that our borders are largely closed and that a fourteen day quarantine is compulsory for all international arrivals I am very appreciative of the time and effort involved.

 Next week?  Balloons in the air.  Lots and lots of them.

For those of you who celebrate I hope your Easter is happy, healthy and blessed.