Harrow Road, 16th June 2015

More than a year since the last upload, this may have remained becalmed on my phone along with numerous others were it not for Sabrina and Leonardo. It's always charmed me when random people find amusement in this small corner of whimsy, and there's no denying it encourages more posting. So this purple rolled along at the right time, as I was shopping after work. It was a bright busy evening so it's surprising the shot is a dirty grey and slightly blurred. Alas.

It's not far off ten years since the first balloon in thistles on Hampstead Heath. I'll have that unlikely anniversary in mind for the next few days. 

St Andrew's School, West Moorings, Trinidad & Tobago, 14th August 2011

From very close to work to very far afield: another gift from the Caribbean - thanks again Luna! Here's how:

"I attended a Family Day hosted by an NGO called Macaroni Kid Trinidad. It is a website and e-newsletter for parents across Trinidad and Tobago which promotes the idea of “Family First” by highlighting opportunities for families to reconnect via activities, events and local attractions. Instead of lamenting our social ills and blaming “the demise of the family”, they aim to do something positive to change the world we're leaving to our children. It was an amazing fun filled day, with tons of stuff for kids and adults alike. There were wet and dry bouncy castles, face painting, arts and crafts, games, food, live bands, and nature exhibits with live animals. My favourite part of the day was when they let loose onto the field 110 bouncy balls! The kids really enjoyed that. As with most kid related events, by the time evening fell and it was time to go home, the inevitable doomed balloon was spotted. At the back of one of the school buildings, next to the car park and sullied by dirty water a forlorn purple balloon sat. This balloon wasn't making it home with a kid."

Indeed not, but you found it and so so did I. It can't have crossed the mind of whoever inflated it for decoration that day that it would end its tumescent life in a gutter, on a camera and then blogged thousands of miles away. Random happiness amidst the chaos around us both.

Brighton station, 28th February 2009

The last of an unexpectedly busy month, and my second in Brighton. The concrete ledge above it marks the end of the line, the southernmost point of the tracks. It looks a fairly sheltered spot so it may well have lasted a while, but I had to run for the train on my return journey, so didn't have time to see if it was still there. Annoyingly that dash was rendered meaningless as the train I dashed to broke down at Haywards Heath.

Stockwell Road, from 59 bus, 9th January 2009

"But the 59 doesn't go down Stockwell Road!" I hear you cry. It did this day, diverted due to the closure of Brixton Road, the reason for which remains unknown. The journey was tortuous but cheery due to an impending night of Lash with an old friend, and spotting this group lifted the mood yet further.

They were treed right opposite Brixton Academy, which has recently had its name changed to "The O2 Academy Brixton". What would Hicks say?

Northcote Road, 14th December 2008

The glut continues... a multicoloured cluster snagged in lights on a very grey day. I think this cluster actually adds to the decorations, a fetching statement at the apex of the lines of light.

Harrow Road, from 36 bus, 19th November 2008

This multicoloured cluster was first spotted two days earlier, but the bus had whisked me past before I could reach for my phone. They weren't going to get away though - they're on my daily commute, and I've been able to watch these balloons for the last few days, and will hopefully see them until they hang flaccid and dulled by dirt in the weeks to come.

Knowing they're there does detract slightly from the spontaneous thrill usually associated with a sighting, but on the plus side it does mean I can compose the shot with a bit more intent than usual. So I'm glad I quite like this as a photo as well - the motley globes look pleasingly incongruous against the boxy regularity of the flats.

Grand Union Canal, from Great Western Road, 23rd September 2008

This sorry purple pair represents the first balloon shot I've taken in London for a while, although there had been several sightings in that time. My fumbled attempts to capture those had failed as either I was swept away by my bus, or the balloons were swept away by the wind. There was no risk of that for these two, becalmed in the idle, turbid canal on a grey day.

Pisa Airport, 8th July 2008

The UK does not have a monopoly on doomed balloons, of course. This purple one rolled and bounced along in a brisk warm breeze, a breeze that was a very welcome welcome to Italy.

Off Acre Lane, 7th October 2007

Oh my god, the mother lode! Evidently party survivors, I hadn't noticed them but a friend pointed them out after the front garden one below reminded her of the collection. Protected from street and residents (there are no front gardens at these flats) these could last a while. Even if not, these many-coloured escapes made my day, and it would have been a great day anyway.

Glenelg Road, 7th October 2007

In my own front garden. I initially though it was burst, and thus dead rather than doomed, but a quick squeeze revealed that it was in fact still entire, if almost totally deflated.

Glenelg Road, 14th July 2007

Our next door neighbours had covered their garden in balloons, likely for a child's party, and these must have been escapes. The day was punctuated at irregular intervals by their sudden and explosive pops.

Clapham Common, 28th April 2007

It had been a hectic and chaotic day, but a few drinks in the afternoon sun overlooking the Common helped to relax us. We were wandering across the Common to the bus stop to head off in search of food when I spotted this one, a relic of the teeming crowds that had filled the Common until the Sun dipped below the fringing buildings.

From the London Eye, 24th June 2006

This is the only shot I have so far of a wild balloon in flight. As is likely obvious, it's also the only shot taken with my proper camera, rather than the one on my mobile phone. From the Eye's enormous field of view I could follow this one for ages, and watched it from nearly ground level on its journey upwards and eastwards in the hot wind.

Parliament Hill, 3rd July 2005

This was the one that started it. How could a balloon possibly end up in a dense patch of thistles and remain unburst? How long had it been there? How long would it last? I'll never know, but I couldn't not take a picture of it in its (presumably) final hour. I'd been taking photos of Giancarlo Neri's The Writer sculpture, so was in a photo-y mood.

I take dozens of photos each month of things I see and this would have just been another addition to that formless mass were it not for the next one.