The time of my life!

You are about to see penguins fly!

You are about to see penguins fly!

There must be something about August!  Apart from it being the height of an English Summer and my wedding anniversary month, I seem to have some of my very best memories from then. You have no idea how ridiculously excited I was to be going to the Bristol Balloon Festival!  And I wasn’t even flying (maybe someday?)

I won’t share with you the whole saga right now.  Sufficient to say that it was a very long walk home (even by Restlessjo standards), and that the people of Bristol are some of the nicest folk I’ve ever met.  Are you ready for this?

It all starts with the moment that life is breathed into these beauties

It all starts with the moment that life is breathed into these beauties

Look Mum! I'm surrounded by balloons!

Look Mum! I’m surrounded by balloons!

Even a square one!

Even a square one!

And it’s large sidekick- the Wilkinson Cup
Almost up!
And standing proud!

I had arrived at the showground early, and been royally entertained with flying model aircraft and the beautiful gardens at Ashton Court- all in radiant sunshine.  But there was no doubt of the spectacle that everyone wanted to see, and excitement began to build as the teams drove out onto the field.  The baskets were tipped inelegantly on their sides and the balloons draped around them.

As the first one juddered and stammered to life, a thrill went through the crowd.  And then it was proudly erect!  Pink, white and perfect, it waited patiently while all the other balloons performed their own ballet.

Faster and faster they rose!

Faster and faster they rose!

As the baskets were righted and the excited passengers climbed in, it was the job of one man to hang on to a rope for dear life to stop the balloon plunging away.  In moments they were airborne, one after another, amid the gasps of spectators.  Necks craned and we waved as the passengers waved back.

Against a mackerel sky

Against a mackerel sky

Who could help but smile?

Who could help but smile?

And wave!

And wave!

Although the skies were clear and bright there was still some doubt as to how many balloons would be able to take off.  The occasional gust of wind across the airfield gave no real sense of how breezy it might be in the skies overhead.  But one by one they pulled away, and the excitement never faded.

A certain twosome were eagerly waiting

A certain twosome were eagerly waiting

And then there was Swatch

And then there was Swatch

Anyone know these guys?

Anyone know these guys?

Airborne at last!

Airborne at last!

I made it too!
Didn’t we do well?
Look Mum- no hands!
Don't forget the polar bears!

Don’t forget the polar bears!

In minutes they were clear of the trees and gone, in the direction of the city and Clifton Suspension Bridge.  Part of me wished I was waiting by the bridge, but there is no guarantee in which direction they will head, air currents being vital to this.  On the field, the numbers of balloons dwindled, but I remained rapt.

Two red letter days?

Two red letter days?

But look whose turn it is next!

But look whose turn it is next!

Totally adorable!

Totally adorable!

'Balloons' was one of the last to take to the sky

‘Balloons’ was one of the last to take to the sky

And then it was over, for a little while.  Wilkinson Cup began to be deflated and the balloonists were off being collected from their respective landings.  That would be fun to see too!  Then began the wait for evening and Nightglow.

The cup takes a curtain call

The cup takes a curtain call

Without ever seeing Paula’s Guest Challenge this week, I knew that the subject was Time, and that with Debbie in the driving seat there wouldn’t be much of it to spare.  Mine is rather a large ‘snippet of time’ but a very special one, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it with me.  Please click on the links to see Debbie’s wonderful post, and Paula’s interpretation of it.  I hope I can play my part in making Thursday special.

And I musn’t forget a mention of a very special friend, whom I was lucky enough to meet in Bristol.  Viveka, this one’s for you!

157 comments

  4. What a fantastic sight and I looked at all the small, small people in the background of your photos of the big, big balloons, that gave such a marvellous feeling of how huge those balloons were. Happy anniversary to you both, that is a great way to celebrate it.

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    1. Thanks a lot, Pauline 🙂 I actually went to Bristol on my own and was staying for part of the time with a friend from long ago. We did our celebrating yesterday, on the day itself (and today on the Moors 🙂 )

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  6. What an amazing array of balloons, and perfect weather for it too! So glad you had the time of your life Jo, and with a lovely friend too. August is a great month 🙂

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    1. The weather was fabulous, Sherri! I did think that I could have met up with you if you’d been able to make it to Bath on the Monday, but that was the one day it rained. I wasn’t sure what my plans were. Viveka was going to Bath for cream tea at the Pump House and I was invited along but I had so much else to see in Bristol. You’ll be surprised to know that I walked my legs off! 🙂 🙂

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      1. Ahh…that’s so sweet of you Jo, I wish we could have worked it out, but we’ll have to next time!!! Is this your first time in Bristol? To think it’s only an hour from us and we rarely go! My eldest son has a lot of friends there and I keep trying to pursuade him to move there, he’ll be so much closer than Brighton. And I am not in the least surprised about that, not at all 😉 🙂 Have a lovely weekend Jo. I’ve got middle son home for daughter’s birthday on Sunday, so will be signing off blogging until Monday in a short while. Look forward to catching up with you as usual then! xx

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      2. I was last there 20+ years ago when our son was small, Sherri, so the changes are immense (and I was more focused on entertaining James than sightseeing. He was in love with my friend’s Siamese cat at that time 🙂 ) Have a lovely weekend!

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      3. I went there too when my eldest son was three! I have a lovely photo of him eating a sausage roll (his favourite then) in the cafe on the SS Great Britain! I have yet to see the new docks, immense changes as you say. So glad you got to go and have such beautiful weather! Thanks Jo 😉 xx

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  7. Wow, Jo! What a spectacle and a wondrous event!! I would be thrilled by the balloons too! I rode in a hot air balloon in Turkey in 2010, and it was one of the highlights of my life. I will never forget it. I love so many of your pictures, especially the smiling one, the cup taking the curtain call, “faster and faster they rose,” the two penguins and that fabulous “Balloons.” Wonderful all around! And happy anniversary. What a way to spend it! You feel about August like I feel about October! Hugs to you and Mick. xxx

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    1. Thanks so much, Cathy! I’ve wanted to go to this event for years and I was thrilled to eventually make it. Mick stayed at home (though he was invited) so we did our celebrating yesterday and today. Another Moors walk, whenever I have the time to post it! 🙂

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      1. I’m glad you got to go so we could share in your adventure. Sorry that Mick missed it, but at least you celebrated your anniversary in style upon your return! 🙂

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    1. I’ve wanted to go for years, Andrew, and it more than lived up to my expectations. My Bristol friend, Joan, is always saying she moved down there for the weather. I’m inclined to believe her 🙂

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      1. Wonderful! As a matter of interest, how long was that walk…..I know you are a fit lady, with much walking under your belt, so I reckon it must be miles…..

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    2. I couldn’t tell you in miles, Sue, but it took 2 hours, with quite a lot of it uphill. Some was in the dark and I had no idea where I was going so I had to keep asking kindly Bristol folk. It was at the end of a day that started at 5am for the airport and I was tired. Nuff said 🙂

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  10. Fabulous – have yet to make this festival but must do one day. Another must is to go up in a balloon again – it is the most amazing experience Jo, so if you do ever have the opportunity grab it!

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    1. I wished I had, Becky! It was very expensive and I didn’t know if I could push the boat out that far, I have been up in a tethered balloon over the city of Krakow, but that’s not quite the same as flying free. 🙂

      I’m back in the Algarve at the end of this month. When do you start your winter visit?

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  12. Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Time (response to guest challenge) | Lost in Translation

    1. The penguins were my favourites, Meg, but the whole thing just had so much atmosphere. Nightglow was amazing too but my little camera wasn’t up to it. I took a video on my phone so I just need to work out what to do with it! 🙂 Thanks, darlin’.

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  17. Pingback: Guest Photo Challenge: Time | Lost in Translation

  18. Wonderful balloons Jo but I can’t believe there were people brave enough to fly in the balloons?! Looks like they had a great day for it though with the clear blue skies! I was just thinking of you when I saw this as my daughter has sent me the photos of the Alice In Wonderland prints from the markets in Portobello Road (don’t know if you’ll remember but I didn’t have any photos of it when I published the article). Anyway I may do a quick postscript next week with the Alice prints included. Apparently they are quite rare these days! Hope you’ve had a good week and have a lovely weekend! 🙂

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  19. I think it answers well the challenge, and I love different interpretations that bloggers come up with. A lovely post. Good to know you had fun.

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