Sunday Selections #574

 

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.  I am continuing to post about the Balloon Spectacular this week.  After the success of my first visit with my brother, with weather conditions looking promising, I decided to go back the next day - to a different vantage point.  Himself indicated he would like to come which surprised and worried me.  He loathes early starts and the launching of the balloons is by no means a given.

 

So I woke him up early, and we headed down to the lake...

 

It was still fairly dark when we arrived.  Dark and still.

 
 And then the sun came up - in a truly dramatic fashion, and balloons started to appear...

 

 

Kayakers, canoeists and paddle boarders flock to the lake, for the view, and because some balloons will give lucky people a tow.  Mind you, the previous day I heard a balloonist say that when he misjudges the landing on the lake he spends the rest of the flight dripping wet.

I really like the Air Force's feature balloon - though that mask always makes me think of Darth Vader.

 

It really was a delightful morning, and the spectacular sunrise perfectly suited the occasion.  When asked later himself (grudgingly) admitted it was worth getting up early for, and that he liked the vantage points I had chosen.

 

We finished the morning watching some of the balloons land, close to the arboretum and our Governor General's residence.  

 

 

There will be more colour and whimsy in the next few posts too, but (probably) no more balloons.   I will try and be a bit more restrained with the photos too.  Have a wonderful week.

 

PS:  For Australian readers the Dignity Drive is on again (finishing at the end of the month).  Woolworth's Supermarkets (and I believe Bunnings) have drop boxes where you can donate period products (tampons, pads, cups and period pants) and continence products for distribution to those in need.  No-one should be forced to choose between food, paying rent and their dignity.  And sadly I suspect dignity is often the loser in that choice.  The goods and services tax has finally been removed, but they are still a significant and ongoing expense.

Sunday Selections #573

 

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 am have pulled up my big girl panties and am back again.  I missed you all, and thank you for your messages.  In my absence bad things happened in Australia and in the world and my head and heart ached, and continues to do so.  To the extent that I felt self indulgent and guilty for my absence.  Just the same, I kept in mind this poem.

Things which can be equally true.

You are resilient and need a break

You gave your all and need to back out

You are independent and still need others

You were sure and things have changed

You are kind and have boundaries

Others have it worse and your pain is valid

You did your best and know you know more.

Back to Sunday Selections.  I usually run with a theme. March is festival month in my city.  Despite numerous trips back to bed I managed to see at least some of the festivities.  Enlighten brightened the city and the Balloon Spectacular was on again.  And I went to it twice.

This post is from my first visit.  My youngest brother (also a balloon tragic) and I headed off before dawn and found a spot in the middle of where the balloons were being inflated and launched.

Spread out on the ground waiting to be inflated you can see just how big some of the balloons are - and this is by  no means one of the biggest.

I was impressed at how adept with the technology this youngster was...

Each year there is at least one 'feature' balloon.  This year it was Tico the sloth, brought to us from the US of A.  You will see more of Tico in later photos.

The brave soul in the balloon above has dispensed with the basket and flies attached to a harness.

Some twenty-five balloons took to the air.  As each of them lifted from the ground the assembled crowd cheered and waved - and the lucky balloonists waved back.

Himself is emphatically NOT a morning person and stayed home in bed.  When I got home he was still there.  He surfaced some hours later.  I told him that I was going back the next day to see the balloons from a different vantage point and he said he would come too.  Which surprised me.  There are of course many photos from that expedition too.

The balloons lifted my spirits and I do hope that you have found things to lift yours.