Sunday Selections #528

 

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 I am going back to our Balloon Spectacular.  As usual, many, many photos will follow.  We had no tickets to see the launch of the balloons on this morning but my long suffering smaller portion (he loathes early mornings) and I headed down shortly before first light to a vantage point where we knew that we would see balloons if they took to the sky.  They did.

You will notice that there are a lot of small boats and paddle boarders on the water.  This is also a long standing tradition.  Each year some of the balloons swing down low and give lucky people a tow.
 

I was particularly tickled to see this man and his dog...

More and more balloons took to the sky - including more feature balloons.

Skywhale was a present my city gave to itself for its hundredth birthday.  She has divided the community.  Some of us love her and some emphatically do not.  I fall into the first category and you can find an earlier post about her HERE

This year she was joined by Skywhalepapa - who obviously shares the role of caring for their children.
 

This is Nudie.  It advertises a fruit juice company whose product is nude in that it contains nothing but juice.

 

This balloon is an advertisement for Hendrick's gin.  Balloonists are often given a glass of champagne to celebrate their flight.  These balloonists were offered gin at dawn.

We had an absolutely delightful morning (despite being briefly rained on).  For those of you who have got to the end of yet another photo heavy post - thank you.

This afternoon I am to have the first of my Covid vaccination shots (hopefully without any adverse reactions.

Stay safe, stay well and I hope your week is filled with joy.

 

 

 

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.