miffys world

Flyboy Jackie

Jackie got his first balloon flight yesterday.  Darryl flew him. Very exciting.  Darcy of course was well peeved that she missed out!  It has been a great week of flying here. Freezing cold but clear blue skies. And a blog post about flying needs few words - the story being best told in pics... 

Deano - crew chief and excellent kid wrangler waiting, waiting...

Darryl with his concentrating face on.

Jackie helping the crew

There's that face again...

Inflating. Isn't it pretty?

Firing the burners for inflation

It's nice and warm when the burners fire!  Note the hand knit scarf?  I have been having a lovely time knitting.

Jackie and Kel on the crown line

All aboard...


The burners are noisy and hot - so Jack hid under his jacket!






And then another long trip in the back of the troop carrier!  Darcy made sure she ate as many of the packet of jelly snakes as she could - which is only fair when big brother gets to fly...

Around Benalla in 8 Days

Holiday time. And of course what better way to find the blog mojo than a bit of down time with the family.  We are currently in central Victoria - Benalla.  It is the Australian Hot Air Balloon Championships.  Yes - a random and quirky family holiday - but that is de rigeur when you marry a Razzle Dazzle Stuart.  Darryl used to fly, compete, and a whole bunch of ballooning  stuff in his other life. Up til now there has been little flying but the kids are older and dead keen to get up in the clouds it seems. So in sub zero temps we sunny queenslanders are here for the week crewing with Paul Gibbs. The weather is crisp and bracing and we Queenslanders are far too soft. I bought the kids gloves in town and Darc didn't even know how to put them on!  Of course - a holiday around balloons is best blogged about in pics so without further ado....

Saturday night - the town put on a Night Glow and Party. The balloons fire the burners which looks great in the night - and a little warmer too. Darc used the heat to warm up her Dagwood Dog!

Laser swords for sale - very popular with young Ninjas

Darc and Kel. Darc on the burners. New name... Burner Babe. Kinda suits supercool Darc.

Not to be outdone - Jackie had a blast too.

Monday morning. First day of competition. Do they look cold?

Darryl and Paul...

Inflating the envelope.


Dropping a marker at a target

Dirt kicking - there can be some waiting around for the crew between each target.




Landing right next to the road = no carrying baskets across paddocks.  Nice and easy!

Some searching for valuable crystals (quartz) keeps the junior crew occupied for ages...

What a good little soldier - asleep in the back of the spartan troop carrier!  Deano drives it like a rally car so goodness knows how the kids sleep - but they both do.

Thismorning - we are in the groove. No frost icing up the windscreen so it seemed promising. But Lordy - I have never had such cold feet in my life - perhaps I should have before entering my first marriage but that's a whole other story!!

Beautiful sunrise

Inflating the envelope

Maiike's balloon and crew. She's paul's better half and has an all chickie team.

Obviously I was feeling arty this morning and no crafty goodness to play with - so lots of photos...


This is Peter's balloon - Darryl crewed with them thismorning.  Kat his wife flies co-pilot having just breastfed 3 month old Sam.  Very cool chick.  This is the travelling Day Care with head Nanny Steve (also known as crew - in charge.  I asked to book in Jack and Darc in the morning!!)



For one of the tasks pilots needed to fly to this point and drop a marker as close to the target as possible. 

 
Landing by the side of the road

Boys will be boys. City boys don't get to run around in the mud enough.  Heaps of fun.