Thursday 7 May 2009

Flights of fancy....

Usually I wake to the gentle twittering of birds each morning and the occasional rasping cry of the seagulls that dominate our city and are beginning to emigrate from the heart of the city and take up residence in the more rural areas of our neighbourhood..
However.. this particular morning the twitter and chatter of birds was replaced by a familiar roar.. a sound that always has me running to the nearest window or garden.. whichever is closer..
Pulling back the curtains I was met by this extraordinary sight...Not the usual shape we are so familiar with in these parts... as balloons are very much part of the summer landscape here in Bath.. with regular ascents in the early mornings and evenings..A chorus of dogs barking accompanies these graceful craft as they float over our houses.. something to do with the high pitch noise of the burners... our cat doesn't seem too bothered by them.I remain fascinated by these huge galleons of the sky and love to wave and say hello if they are close enough. Sometimes they become perilously close to the buildings below and on one or two occasions have collided with rooftops in town... which is terribly exciting to watch but must be terrifying if you are a passenger!I often wonder what it would be like to fly like the 'Nimble' girl over our fine city and wave back to the people on the ground for a change..
I would love to hear from you if you have flown in a hot air balloon and what it felt like.. and did you have the customary glass of champagne on your maiden voyage?

29 comments:

ArtShades said...

I did just that! I had always wanted to fly in a balloon and my parents bought me the chance as a 21st birthday present (many years ago). I flew over Bath and it was wonderful. A fellow passenger had a video camera and sent us all a copy. It's silent up there and we too could hear the dogs barking. A real 'picture on the world' - fabulous!

I loved every minute from the nerve-wracking watching of the burners inflating the balloon as we waited on dew-sodden grass, to the relief as we bumped to the ground safely. We all laughed self-conciously and needed our champagne on landing!

Hen said...

I've always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon. Must get a bit more heavy handed with the hinting! They're always an exciting sight to see.
Hen x

Josie-Mary said...

I would love to do this, I've dropped lots of hints for big birthdays but got no where!!! Maybe my big 4 0 !!!:)

Sal said...

Wow what a sight!

I have always wanted to but I would never have the nerve as, sadly, I hate heights!

My nephew works for Blue Square!
It would not have surprised me at all if it was him guiding that balloon towards Bristol to see his brother!It's the sort of thing he'd get up to! ;-)

Vintage to Victorian said...

Hi Michele

I always wanted to go up in a balloon after reading a book about flying over the Serengeti when I was a teenager. However, when it came to it and the offer was almost there as my 40th birthday coincided with living in Bath, I pointed out that there was no way I could go up in one as I no longer had a head for heights. What a waste!!!!!

I used to love seeing them drifting over our side of Bath on the odd occasion, although they tended to go more in your direction!

Sue x

Simone said...

I love to look at hot air balloons but am not sure I would ever want to go up in one! We once had one go over our garden and the chickens freaked out! They seemed to hear it long before it came into sight.

A time to dance said...

...she flies like a bird in the sky....you are showing your age Michelle...I once went as a nimble girl to a fancy dress in primary school...

hens teeth said...

I'm sorry Michele but all this talk of hot air balloons just makes me think of Wallace and Gromit's latest masterpiece....'A matter of Loaf and Death' with Pielle Bakewell and Fluffles!

Ragged Roses said...

Ah yes the Nimble girl, flying gracefully through the sky ... alas, probably due to the fact that I've never eaten Nimble, more of a 100% wholemeal kind of girl, I've never been up in a balloon. Having watched them waft past your bedroom window I wouldn;'t mind having a go as long as they could guarantee a soft landing and at least one glass of bubbly.
Mx

Anonymous said...

We floated over the California wine country, just beautiful...until the unscheduled crash landing amongst the grape vines. No injuries and they were more concerned with the vines than the passengers. Put me off balloons for life.:)Wouldn't mind watching them from a window in Bath.

Debs said...

I had a fantastic ballon flight over Bristol many years ago and was able to wave to my Grandad in his garden! As we landed in a field the basket tipped onto it's side and we were dragged through the grass, we were all very safe but the most shocking thing was the decibel level of my Mums' screams! Love your blog and looking forward to the fair.
Debsx

Debs said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SmitoniusAndSonata said...

I'd love to try sometime ....my aunt waited till her 70th birthday , so perhaps I'll get round to it sometime too . Apparently it's amazing !

April said...

That is one of my biggest aims, I would love to ride in a hot air balloon. Here in Northampton we had (until the council abolished it!) an annual Balloon fetival and I used to love watching the ballooons - they always seem so peaceful!!

Oh - only 2 weeks until we come to Bath on our holidays!!! I can't wait!!

April xx

Alexandria ♥ said...

Ah, cowboys, the music is enough! delightful.
H,
I am a tiny bit afraid of heights.
Got my hair cut by hubby today, refreshing and one of the best cuts ever. Who knew?

Conversation Pieces said...

Ooh, what a cool thing to wake up to. Have to say think I'd be terrified of being in a hot air – but think it would ace all the same. I definitely like the idea of champagne at the end though ;)

Conversation Pieces said...

Oops, missed out the word 'balloon'... of course I'd be terrified of being suspended in 'hot air'!

Ragged Roses said...

Merci bien mon amie
Mx
(we speak the same lingo..)

Sam said...

Flying in a balloon fills me with terror!

Its funny to see pix of Bath on you blog as I work here every day! I noticed that you have a beautiful view from your garden on your last post xx
Sam xx

Laura said...

Enjoyed visiting your blog today. Come see me-

Laura

whitespraypaint.blogspot.com

Pretty Practicals said...

Hi Michele, Cecily took a hot air balloon ride over the river Nile on a visit to Egypt. I have been repeating the following ever sinse... I am not jealous, I am not jealous.
Chat soon, Liz

Anonymous said...

Hi Michele,
How wonderful they all look,
Love Kristina XxX

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I love your blog and I hope you dont mind but I've added it to my blogroll.
Take Care
Love Melanie xxxxx

Joshy and belle said...

we used to live in wsm, and went to the bristol ballon festival most summers, i used to love it, i really fancy taking a trip in a ballon,
felicity xx

Ali @ Betty and Violet said...

You have such lovely views from your garden. I too, love to watch the hot air balloons but confess I cannot muster the courage to actually go in one myself!
I'm happier on the ground taking photos and waving...

Teena Vallerine said...

entirely too flimsy for my liking! although I like the idea of the champagne! I'll see you off with a glass and finish the bottle whilst you're crashing into your neighbours' rooftops! t.x

Teena Vallerine said...

I just read cocoa and blankets comment and can type now I've stopped laughing! she is such a card! x

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Anonymous said...

I flew in a hot air balloon over the valley of the kings in Egypt. It was lovely, not scary at all. you dont really feel as though you're flying, as it's so gentle. The only problem was it was extremely hot from the flames. Definitely worth a go though, especially if you get as spectacular views as i did.