York Bridge, 30th May 2012

It was one of the few sunny days in a very wet spring, so I was walking home in an attempt to feel summeryer. As I entered Regent's Park I saw this in the middle of the road, and nipped out to check if it was still inflated. My gentle toe prod knocked it into the gutter, which at least allowed me to snap it from the safety of the pavement, and get the sunlit Regency buildings in the background. There's been a few gutter balloons recently, which is heartening. A few more days like this would be very welcome too...

Gaisford Street, 19th May 2012

It was  a day of sport, curled up on the sofa after an inexplicable bout of illness. The sport, at least, provided welcome relief. I popped out to pick up a very fine curry, and saw this sat limp in the gutter. It hadn't moved by the time I returned with my bounty.

High Holborn, 1st May 2012

On a sunny wander unusually eastward I came across this on a busy afternoon street. It rolled and bounced past the ambulance until a small boy kicked it once before popping it in front of me.

Harrow Road, from 18 bus, 26th April 2012

So I'm a bit overdue on uploads... this was now so long ago I scarcely remember it, but fortunately the street sign gives a subtle clue... It looks like a Domino's Pizza balloon, although where the nearest one to here is I don't know...

Kentish Town Road, 23rd April 2012

The cold wet April continues, good for drought-stricken gardens but the opposite for the city's spirits. It hasn't put off the spring ballooners though - this was rolling riskily down the main road at rush hour, but it weaved between cars until I got a clear shot. The black car at right here then rolled right over it, and still it emerged unscathed. Good luck to it.

Belsize Road, 14th April 2012

An altogether different shot in another part of town, later the same day. We were just settling down at a fine new local when I noticed this rolling around outside, and bowled out to capture it. Late and night and shaky of hand it was never going to be the clearest shot, but this is at least a reasonable representation of how it looked and felt at the time. Masterly cocktails saw the evening off perfectly. 

Gaisford Street, 14th April 2012

A fairly bleak shot in a fairly bleak April, but spring's brought balloons if not warm sunshine (scant consolation though that may be). This McDonald's balloon was menaced by a small child just before this shot, either for popping or grabbing, and so intent was he that I didn't reach for my camera initially. His mother wheeled him away though, and it survived while I pursued it. 

Outside the Maths Building, Queen Mary UL, 10th April 2012

And another, from the same friend a mere two days later! In her words, "Literally 3 seconds after this was taken some loons leapt on it." She is a zoology student, but I doubt she meant Gavia immer. Stranger things have happened mind you (and not infrequently to her).

West Ham Park, 8th April 2012

Well this continues a recent glut (a glut that compelled me to actually upload them after a long gap), and better still is a gift from a dear friend, found on her run that morning. As a bonus, I saw her later to help pin it on the map, which was handy as I don't know that part of town at all (surprisingly).

From Trafalgar Square, 6th April 2012

If there's one place in London that will be busy regardless of the day, it's Trafalgar Square. It was its usual self; heaving with artists, tourists, pigeons and other locals. We scattered the third for the walk's latest trick and during the process saw this green scoot by Nelson's Column, adding a random dot to a classic tourist shot.

Off Parkway, 6th April 2012

This was spotted after a relatively lengthy drought for the season (both balloon and weather-wise), at the start of a long Good Friday walk around London. The city was deserted by its usual teeming standards, with closed pubs diverting our route and vacant tables testimony to those escaping for the long break. Those who stayed took advantage where they could.

Pink balloon aside, this is oddly similar to my profile picture on various social media (none of which I knew existed at this blog's inception - dear god, how long it's been...).

From Regent's Canal Path, 26th March 2012

It was the first workday of British Summer Time, and to toast the new light evenings I walked home from work along the canals, and was rewarded with this green, behind bars and sunlit on a surprisingly warm evening. Bliss...

Off Gaisford Street, 17th March 2012

So in Amsterdam orange is just the national colour. In London, it's pretty much always due to Giraffe. Most of these have been seen flying from their various stores, but there's not one nearby so this is probably just a blow-in...

Kentish Town Road, 8th January 2012

Well, you go all the way to Amsterdam, and then see an orange balloon on your doorstep a week later...

Herengracht, from Thorbeckeplein, Amsterdam, 1st January 2012

I was in Amsterdam again seeing dear friends for new year, these were spotted in a new year's day daze, wandering dumbstruck through the streets amidst the detritus of the night before. A few years ago I arrived unknowing on Queen's Day and was agog at the carnage. On new year's eve it was the fireworks that astonished and shocked. All on the streets seemed to have them: bangers everywhere, and irregularly but frequently the chatter of loud explosions was shattered by a deep and resonant boom that shook windows, set off car alarms and scattered nearby revellers. By new year's day, the streets were strewn with their red wrappings and the charred fat tubes of the more substantial.

The colour of these matches the boat's covering, which is a charming coincidence and rare, as Amsterdam for me has been a city of orange balloons.

Strand on the Green, 20th November 2011

When the seasons change, I hope for a balloon that will reflect it. When it snows I crave the snowbound, in summer I desire them atop sharp deep shadows and when it's spring I want, I dunno, crocuses or daffodils or something. Anyway, in autumn, this is pretty much the ideal shot. I leapt.

I was on a Sunday morning stroll westwards along the river, my first Sunday stroll for a while, and they've served me well before. This time, oddly like the last, London was submerged beneath fog, so dense that for much of our amble the opposite riverbank was invisible. But the sun came out for this and for lunch, and illuminated balloon, leaves and a tasty pie. We stayed in the pub all afternoon while the fog descended again, and left to haloed streetlights, giggling and car crashes.

La Rochelle harbour, from Quai Louis Durand, France, 12th October 2011

Always nice to see them away from London. These two were floating in a channel of the harbour, to which it's connected by the large doors behind. The light was just fading so this was a stroke of luck, as they all are. Although these were seen over a month ago, there's been nothing since. I've missed chances though. London is getting darker every day, which doesn't make it easier to spot them. I hope for a change of fortunes soon...

Pancras Road, from 214 bus, 8th October 2011

Not the prettiest shot, but it's been a while since I've got one in flight, so it made me smile. It was taken more than a month earlier than the upload date too - for shame! Well what can I say, it's been busy...