Balloonatics!

 This is a S3 post
For full details please see my disclosure policy

On a scale of one to completely freakin’ awesome, my latest RedBalloon adventure was right at the top!

Given I am a RedBalloon Mum, I felt it highly appropriate that my next adventure should in fact involve balloons, red or otherwise. So now I’m a Hot Air Balloon Mum.

Aunty Penny and I decided that rather than get up at 3:45am and drive on pitch black country highways, we’d travel to Northam, just over 100km from Perth the day before. We declared it our Bridget Jones minibreak but, sadly, Daniel Cleaver was nowhere to be found. We checked in to a cute little B&B then went off to explore the town before heading to bed with alarms set for the ungodly hour of 4:45am.

The next morning I was the epitome of bright eyed and bushy tailed. I am NOT a morning person and that never happens, but it would seem my body made an exception knowing just how awesome the prize of a Hot Air Balloon Ride would be. We headed out to the airfield, checked in at 5:15am and listened to our briefing.

Pre-dawn filling of the envelope

A bus (playing flight related songs like Come Fly With Me, 99 Red Balloons and Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines!) took us to the launch site and the 18 other passengers, Aunty Penny and myself all helped set up “Rainbow Dancer II” … yep, 20 passengers and one pilot in total on one Balloon. If the average weight of the person was 75kg that is over 1.5 tonnes of weight… then you have the basket, and the burners, and the gas tanks, and the GPS equipment AND the little fluffy koala pilot mascot. All held up by hot air. Mind boggling! Yay for physics!

Hot Air Ballooning is the oldest form of passenger flight. In the days of the first Balloon flights in the late 1700s, they believed it was smoke that was doing all the work so they would build a fire in the basket and burn whatever they could (but hopefully not the silk and paper Balloon!) that would create the thickest, blackest smoke they could – think rotting meat, wet straw and brandy. It would have stunk! Happily, they use propane now. Again, yay for science!

Just before the sun rose, we gently lifted off the ground and began floating peacefully up in to the air. I could barely feel the movement and because you’re going at the same speed as the wind, there is no breeze on your face – it was all just perfectly still and surprisingly warm.

Our shadow shortly after takeoff

The weather was perfect. Ballooning in bad weather can be extremely dangerous and flights can be cancelled with little notice if the weather changes or the pilots don’t think it is safe. The flights on the two previous days had been cancelled so we were very lucky to have such great conditions. I would have been disappointed if ours had been called off, but I’d much rather be disappointed than dead - there are no airbags or seatbelts in a Balloon!

We watched the sunrise from 3700ft above sea level and reached a top speed of just over 60km/h. We even had on-board catering in the form of a lolly jar passed around and I was amazed to see as I was taking pictures on my phone that I had signal… so of course I Tweeted and checked in on Facebook because, well, I'm a bit of a show off!

Sunrise from 3700ft

I wasn’t prepared for how much control the pilot had – he was able to take us close enough to trees so that we could reach out and grab a leaf, then climb us high over the hills, drop us down over the Avon River and then soar us over the town, all so gently and smoothly, like a giant rainbow bubble floating through the air.

Our reflection in the Avon River

After an hour of cruising from one side of town to the other it was time to land. As we got lower and lower it looked like the pilot was going to try to land on the trailer the basket is transported on. I leaned over and whispered it to Aunty Penny and we both watched, completely gobsmacked as the pilot guided us perfectly on to the trailer for the softest landing. It was amazing not only because it required great talent, but it also meant we didn’t have to help lift the basket up on to the trailer after! And we all know I'm allergic to hard work.

It was all hands on deck, or paddock, rather, to pack up the balloon (think stuffing a gigantic sleeping bag in to a really small carry bag) before we headed off to a gorgeous champagne breakfast with pastries, cereal, fruit, bacon, eggs, beans, mushrooms and hashbrowns in a local restaurant. I couldn’t partake of the champagne but in keeping with the French theme, made up for it with extra croissants.

Balloon selfies were mandatory

I could not fault the experience at all, it was breathtaking and the view was simply stunning. The only disappointing thing about it was that there was supposed to be a wedding on board and it had been changed to another day – I would have loved to have been a guest! 

If you want to think outside the square for Mothers’ Day gifts this year and surprise your mum with a RedBalloon voucher instead of a box of choccies and some slippers, head to the website and see the amazing experiences they have. Use the code REDMUM05 to receive $30 off when you spend $129 or more.

Aunty Penny and I have ticked Hot Air Ballooning off our bucket lists. What's on your bucket list?

Disclosure: Thanks to the team at Digital Parents Collective for inviting me to be a part of the RedBalloon Experience Program. I will be sharing my awesome experiences with you over the next few months. To read all of my experiences so far, click here. As always, all opinions are my own however the experiences are complimentary.

Giddyup, Glow!

I've always thought a horse ride would be rather romantic. You know, when the horse isn't shitting and your bum isn't starting to go numb. I had visions of Princess Buttercup and Wesley galloping through the hillside and pictured Map Guy and I doing just that. If you ignore the fact that neither of us wore fancy clothes, managed to go any faster than a quick trot, the fact that I look nothing like the delicious Robin Wright and replace the ROUS's with kangaroos, it was EXACTLY like The Princess Bride. Swoon.

Recently I took Map Guy on a special surprise date trail ride experience and gourmet picnic that was worlds away from our usual Sunday shenanigans (of hanging around in PJs til noon) yet barely ten minutes from our house.

Despite always wanting to go horse riding, until now my only experience consisted of being led around a park oval by a spotty teen about twenty two years ago at a fete. With that in mind our trail leader, Jenni, gave me the reigns to the gorgeous Chrissie who was perfect for a first time rider like me. Chrissie had absolutely no sense of personal space and just wanted to follow the horse in front as closely as possible, her nostrils practically up Estelle's backside. Don't worry, Estelle is a horse.

Map Guy, with even less experience on horseback than me having never even been on one at a fete (really? and you call yourself a country boy?), got the slightly stubborn and perpetually hungry Bertha and pulled up the rear spot in our trail ride trio. Bertha liked to stop for snacks quite a bit and really, I can't blame her. I like to stop for snacks too, particularly on days when I carry a grown man on my back. By half way through, Map Guy was a pro at keeping Bertha on track and with the group.

We rode through the equestrian centre property out the back of Wanneroo, down the road and in to the state forest and the Gnangara Pines. Which shouldn't be confused with Gangnam Pines - the easy way to remember is that in Gnangara the horse riding is not imaginary and has far less call for shouting out "Oopa!".

As our confidence grew, Jenni asked if we'd like to try a trot and tentatively we agreed. A quick note to any women thinking of taking up this experience - wear a sports bra. TRUST ME. Three short trots later and the girls definitely couldn't handle any more.

It was so relaxing and I completely understood what Jenni meant when she said that this is her therapy. Out there with the bush and the 'roos, the world is just so quiet and peaceful.

After an hour and a half of riding we headed back to the stables for the second part of our romantic day date - the gourmet picnic! I was expecting a few nibblies on a rug but instead we were greeted by a cute table all set up and platters of quiche, cold meats, cheeses, dips, fruit, crackers, strawberries and chocolate. And to top it all off, champagne - possibly there to make sure we were too sozzled to notice each others' helmet hair. It was bliss and I can't wait to go again!

If you're after the ideal Christmas gift for someone who is hard to buy for check out RedBalloon and get $30 off when you spend $129 or more by entering RBXMAS12 at the checkout.

Do you like horseriding? Do you pretend you're Buttercup (with a sports bra) when you go?

Disclosure: Thanks to the team at Digital Parents Collective for inviting me to be a part of the RedBalloon Experience Program. I will be sharing my awesome experiences with you over the next few months. To read all of my experiences so far, click here. As always, all opinions are my own however the experiences are complimentary.

Caution: Awesome when wet

When you make a claim like that, you better have some serious proof... in the form of semi-embarrassing photos of another hugely awesome #RedBalloonMums experience of a lifetime!

This weekend Map Guy, Real Jive Turkey, his Jooolie and I took to the water of the Swan River to quite literally make waves.

We got off to a rather shitty start to the day with all four of us running late and then my debit card getting rejected when I was upgrading our deal. The never-late-Glow kept the boat waiting and the control freak that resides inside me was not happy. And by not happy I mean I started to cry. In front of everyone. Map Guy and the Jive are used to it, but Jooolie just thought I was a little strange - to be honest, she wasn't really that far off.

It was impossible to stay unhappy though because the sun was shining and we were handed ponchos! Well, wet suit type robes that made Map Guy look decidedly like Cornholio and me look like a rather excited condom with arms. Who doesn't want to look like that in public and take photos to prove it?

Then the action started. The music was cranked and we zoomed out of there full throttle. It was bloody fast - at full speed the jet was pumping out a whopping 25 TONNES of water PER MINUTE. The 360 degree turns were intense and I didn't know whether to scream my now sopping wet lungs out or roar with laughter. I did both and managed to sound like a strangled cat.

For 25 minutes we did fishtails (avoiding the mermaid tails, obviously), brake stops and spins. I didn't get sea sick at all, though I figure if I had spewed the amount of water washing over us would have had me clean as a whistle by the time the boat docked and no one would have been any the wiser.

I clutched on to a slightly dodgy waterproof camera for the whole ride and just kept firing away randomly, hoping that at least one of the photos would work out. I love the top photo here, even though you can't tell it's us, it captures perfectly how awesome (and wet) the whole ride was.

And there we are, the four of us, completely drenched, smelling like dolphin, and grinning from ear to dripping wet ear.

The Jive hasn't stopped saying he's going to go back and do it again - though next time he won't wear shoes and socks. Squelchy Volleys just aren't in this season.

If you're stuck for a Christmas gift this year, throw out the idea of 'stuff' that you just have to find somewhere to store and go for a RedBalloon voucher that will create awesome memories and not take up room on the shelf - other than a framed photo of you looking like a condom of course! 

Don't forget you can get $30 off your RedBalloon purchase of $129 or more by entering RBXMAS12 at the checkout!

Disclosure: Thanks to the team at Digital Parents Collective for inviting me to be a part of the RedBalloon Experience Program. I will be sharing my awesome experiences with you over the next few months. To read all of my experiences so far, click here. As always, all opinions are my own however the experiences are complimentary.

You can call me Captain Glow

Earlier this month I was up super early on my sleep in day yet again for another RedBalloon experience. I have an uncanny knack for scheduling them poorly it would seem.

Map Guy, Tricky and I rocked up at Jandakot Airport after a forty minute car trip filled with “I see p’anes? I see p’anes now, Ma?”, ready for me to get airborne. Turns out I wasn’t the only one looking forward to it.

And then I saw it. Oh gawd, what the fuck have I done?

It was an impossibly small Cessna aircraft and I was mean to not only fly in it but take over the controls of for my first flying lesson. Suddenly I wasn’t so excited any more. Instead I was wondering how it is even possible for something like that to fly and also, how the hell was my ass going to fit in it? I believe shitting bricks is the appropriate expression.

My pilot, Greg, was awesome though and allayed my fears. He’s had blokes weighing almost twice as much as me and is not too fussed by being sandwiched next to his students. I do believe he was a sardine in a former life.

We went through the pre-flight checks and I learnt all about Romeo Whiskey Quebec, including how to manually check how full the tanks are, how to see if the fuel is clean and how to trip over the wheel chock. At that point I wished I was with Romeo, drinking Whiskey in Quebec and not about to get in a flying tin can.

We put on our required flight wear – headsets and sunglasses. But not aviators, Greg and I agreed aviators just make you look like a wanker. Then we both channeled contortionists and folded ourselves in to the cockpit at which point I said a silent prayer of thanks to whomever it was that invented deodorant.

Squished in

I asked if I had to turn off my phone or if I could put it to flight mode so that I could take photos. He laughed. No fancy pants electronics to interfere with in this thing, it's all manual, baby! So, just because I could, I put a photo of me in the cockpit on Instagram while we were taxiing to the runway.

You can call me Captain Glow

The wind started to get really blustery as we waited for our turn on the runway and he asked if I usually got motion sickness. Ummmm yeah, about that... I’m the girl who used to throw up every single time a plane would land. Without fail. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I managed to create my own almost foolproof strategy of focusing intently on the fasten seatbelt sign and deep breathing. But even then I’d still feel like death. I’ve even been seasick on a cruise ship. A cruise ship with 12 decks that no one else could feel moving.

He handed me some ‘Sic Sacs’ and I stuffed them in bra. What? There's no seat pocket in front ya know!  Remind me again why I decided to do this? That's right, to prove I could.

Things got serious after that because I was in charge of the throttle for takeoff. Yes, I know, I freaked out too. It was hard to hear Greg over the over the roar of the engine, and I was petrified I was going to do something wrong so I pushed it in really slowly.

At this point he asked me to do it faster since we were going to run out of runway if we kept going at 20km/h. I pushed it in and we lifted up in to the air. I can only assume I did it right because no alarms went off and we didn't crash.

It felt bloody amazing. I was flying!

Heading for the coast

We got up to 15,000 feet and the controls were handed over to me. Despite Greg being right next to me with his own set of controls to grab if I did something wrong, it was at this point I kinda wished I’d worn brown trousers. Light aircraft controls are really touchy. It was sorta like Mario Kart except when you fall from the sky a little dude on a cloud doesn’t pick you back up. I suck at Mario Kart.

The nose dipped a bit before I got used to keeping us level while turning and I felt like my stomach was going to fall out. I flew up the coast and back around for half an hour, though it seemed like five minutes. I didn't see any of the view after we got up high and I was in charge - Godzilla could have been rampaging on the ground and I wouldn't have noticed since I was concentrating so hard on keeping the Cessna steady.

We were only five minutes from landing and I’d almost lined us up to the runway when I was pretty sure I was just about to yack. I had to relinquish the controls to concentrate on my breathing and the fasten seat belt sign. Except there is no freaking fasten seatbelt sign in such a teeny tiny aircraft! GAH!

I looked around and spotted a Tiger Moth stunt plane just in front of us, getting ready to land too. I swear it hadn't been there a second earlier.

My shoulder angel told me to focus on it's bright yellow wings... my shoulder devil started screaming "What the fuck, why are we so close to another plane? WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!". At about that time the angel executed a perfect roundhouse kick and quickly shut that devil up. But needless to say, little planes fly really bloody close to each other.

We followed it down and had the smoothest touch down less than a minute after it landed and I had not been violently ill or responsible for crashing a plane. Winning.

My "hurry up and take the damn photo, I still might hurl" face

Despite almost revisiting my breakfast, I absolutely loved the flight. I love that I can tick it off my bucket list and say I've helped a plane take off, flown out over Fremantle and didn't yack at any point. If I do it again I'll be munching on ginger and anti-nausea tablets and staying up there for longer, maybe even in the Tiger Moth. Then I'd get to wear those goggle thingys, the big jacket and a scarf. Have to have the scarf.

You can fly this baby too. UPSIDE DOWN! Tiger Moth Scenic Flight

It’s just over two months til Christmas and a joy flight would make an ideal Christmas gift (just ask my dad, I got him this exact experience for his 60th!). You can get receive $30 off any RedBalloon experience over $129 by entering the promo code REDMUM05 at the checkout.



Would you fly a sardine can with wings?

Disclosure: Thanks to the team at Digital Parents Collective for inviting me to be a part of the RedBalloon Experience program. I will be sharing my awesome experiences with you over the next 6 months. Stay tuned! As always, all opinions are my own however the experiences are complimentary.

Glycolic Glow - my first #RedBalloonMums experience

Recently an insanely awesome email landed in my inbox asking if I’d like to be an official RedBalloon Experience Blogger as part of their RedBalloon Mums campaign. Ummmm lemme think about that for a minute… HELLS YES! Look, I even get a button! Hooray for buttons!

Over the next six months I’ll be sampling a range of cool experiences and sharing them with you and I can't wait. I’ve chosen one that involves wine (of course), one that involves pampering, and two that involve things I’ve always wanted to do but have been too chicken. Any guesses?

First up this weekend was my pamper morning. Now I am by no means a morning person, particularly not on my designated sleep in day, but I was at the day spa ten minutes before they opened I was so eager. My beauty therapist Amanda asked if I wanted to grab something from the café next door, but a stack of magazines had my name on it. Hey, I don’t get out much, OK?

I filled out my client form (that shameful part where you admit to sleeping in your makeup some nights and not using an eye cream) and it felt like aaaages before I was called through. It was in fact about four minutes. Can you tell I was champing at the bit? It’s been over four years since my last facial. I used to be a bit of a pamper-junkie in my beauty therapy days – one of the perks of the job was that I could get them for free. So going from monthly to nothing when I left the industry was a big shock to the system. Maybe that's where my glow went?

On making my way in to the treatment room it was all I could do not to let out a squeal of delight. Simple and gorgeous. Unlike me in my snazzy get up. I looked more like I was about to enter a poultry factory.

But for the next hour or so I didn’t care what I looked like as I lay there, being covered in exquisite lotions and potions, having an amazing glycolic peel (so gentle – no beetroot look with a glycolic peel) and having the knots in my shoulders pummeled out. I’m pretty sure I started drooling, but hey, at least I didn’t start snoring.

I've never really understood why I love it so much. Perhaps because there is something just so unbelievably decadent about someone taking that much time and care to wash your face? Or maybe because the products are definitely not found on my budget bathroom shelves?

When it was all over I was practically catatonic. I considered protesting the request to get up off the bed, but figured being escorted out by security wearing nothing but a towel and a hair net would quite possibly not be the best. Instead I professed my undying love to Amanda and spent the rest of the day walking around in a blissful haze with the most beautiful, glowing skin.

Map Guy noticed the difference. I’m not sure if that was due to the new found glow, the fact that I kept telling him to touch my face to see how smooth it was or because his birthday is coming up and he wants me to check out the site for 30th birthday gift ideas. Not sure. Either way, it was awesome and definitely worth missing my sleep in for. I think the facial-junkie in me has been reawakened.

Thanks to RedBalloon I’m able to offer a bit of a special. When you spend $129 or more on any RedBalloon experience you’ll receive $30 off if you enter the promo code REDMUM05 at the checkout.

Are you a facial-junkie? What's your favourite treatment? Any guesses what my two secret experiences are?
 

Disclosure: Thanks to the team at Digital Parents Collective for inviting me to be a part of the RedBalloon Experience Program. I will be sharing my awesome experiences with you over the next 6 months so make sure you stay tuned! I was not paid to write this and as always, all opinions are my own, however the experiences are complimentary.