The Depths of Winter...

Sometimes you get lucky and you get some flying in during winter. Often down this part of the world after a good Southerly blast the following days can be very calm and clear - which of course happened a few weeks ago when Denis headed up to the Hawkes Bay to do some flying and a schools tour with Puff. Five schools in two days is good going in anyone's book and I'm not sure I could have hacked the pace if I'd been there, but I had other things on, such as my lovely partner's birthday to celebrate. Puff went down a treat with the kids and apparently it was supposed to be four schools that they were to do, but a principal jumped out onto the road in front of them and demanded that they come to his school as well. The boys and the Asthma educator who was along for the trip were only too happy to oblige. Anyways, I missed out, but there will probably be some more flying on the near horizon.

In the meanwhile, it is an opportunity to scan the goings-on in ballooning on the wide wide world of web, particularly as things are in full swing in the other (Northern) hemisphere at the moment. The Aunty Monkey website is one that I have known about for a while, but I have finally added to my bookmarks as a place to go for interesting stuff from the ballooning community - although old hands are not always kind to the newbies, and the discussions can get a little out of hand, it is a great place to wander through and pic up ideas, like this guy with what seems like one helluva cloudhopper. Great way to start on a budget (and if you're single I guess).

Further wanderings lead me to other places (as they do) and just took me up another path completely. How about a new option for ballooning in New Zealand? Something with the impact of a special shape, but with wider capabilities than these or even classic hot air balloons? How about:


A hot-air airship? Okay, not as beautiful and slender as the helium or hydrogen airship, but a helluva lot easier to set up and move around. Cameron Balloons are the main movers in the manufacture of these puppies and they would make a sensational addition to any fiesta. Now I wonder how much it would cost to bring the first one into New Zealand? If you'll excuse me, I'm just off to buy a Lotto ticket...