Drifting in a hot air balloon
The CBB -> St Clare's House

#1: Drifting in a hot air balloon Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:52 pm


Thanks again to Allly for beta-ing and for providing the shiny smily


Dear Miss Pim CBB,

As a gift from your friend Ann CBB, we have arranged a hot air balloon ride for you…


Pim folded the letter and put it away in her bag. She didn’t need to read it any more to know that it was true, here she was, in the basket, the balloon above pulling against the ropes, which were eventually lifted, and they were up, up, up and away. How shiny of Ann to have given her this gift. She must remember to thank her for it. A passing pigeon took up the message and swooped off to Newcastle.

The balloon rose higher, the ground got further away, and soon a panoramic view was spread below her. Pim looked, trying to pick out places she knew – that river must be – well it was a river. How tiny the houses looked, just like dolls houses, and how many she could see. She wondered if she could see any CBBer’s houses from here, and leant over the edge of the basket and waved, just in case.

Oooooops! For a moment the basket tilted and Pim thought she was going to fall out. Then somebody grabbed hold of her and hauled her back in, ‘just like I was a sack of potatoes!’ she thought indignantly, and back to safety.

She looked around at her fellow travellers – they all looked fairly normal, nice people, which made a change – usually Pim seemed to attract vair strange people on her travels.

The balloon drifted happily along in the sunshine. Pim was just thinking how luffly and relaxivating this was, when the basket suddenly dropped. The other passengers squealed in terror. Not so our Pim. She was so used to falling down cliffs, that she barely noticed a descent of a few hundred feet. The cries of the other passengers did cut through her musings, however and she turned to call them to order.

“Stop wibbling like that,” she commanded. “That was hardly a bump at all.”

“It was awful!” moaned one woman, who had previously appeared quite sensible. “I thought we were going to crash to the ground.”

Pim gave le sigh. Could they not get things into perspective. If they thought that was a bad fall they should meet Lesley!

“We need to throw something out to reduce the weight so the balloon will go higher again.” announced the balloon pilot. Everybody scrambled for their belongings trying to find something they could get rid of. Somebody threw up over the edge, which helped marginally, then somebody grabbed a bundle. Pim gave it a casual glance, wondering what it could be, then launched herself at it with a wail of “nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” and grabbed it just before it went over the edge.

“What do you mean no!” yelled the once-sensible-appearing woman, “don’t you realise we’re all going to die.”

Pim laughed. “I recognise doom when I see it and believe me, this is not it! Anyway, you can’t throw these out! They’re valuable hardbacks!”

“What on earth are you talking about – you’re completely mad, lady.”

Pim took objection to being called mad like that – who did this woman think she was to judge – she obviously didn’t have the high standards of what was required to be categorised as mad that some of Pim’s other acquaintances maintained.

She began to wonder if maybe the best way to get rid of ballast would be to throw the now-hysterical woman over the edge. She obviously needed to learn what it was to really fall and to realise what it really meant to be doomed!

The idea played in her brain like Charley with one of Sharlie’s loved ones. It might be quite satisfying, but it would also be vair norty. She couldn’t decide.

Suddenly she heard an eebil cackle of laughter and caught sight of a familiar figure. Wondering how she hadn’t noticed her before, she was too slow to stop Georgia from picking up the gibbering wreck and tipping her nonchalantly out of the basket.

Pim felt distinctly disgruntled. If anyone had done that she should have done it herself. She felt cheated of the chance to make that choice and to have that satisfaction.

Then she looked at the books clutched in her arms. Not one, but TWO copies of Jo Returns to the Chalet School.

Somebody was still muttering about needing to lose some more weight from the basket and Pim could see Georgia speculatively eyeing up the other occupants. She knew she had to act fast.

A quick whistle summoned a pigeon, and Pim gave him hurried instructions and passed over one of the precious books. What a fabbity way to repay Ann for sending her on the trip.

As the pigeon flew off, the balloon began to rise again and Pim settled back with a sigh, looking luffingly at her new book. Everything was bon.


 


#2:  Author: KatieLocation: A Yorkshire lass in London PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:00 pm


Yay for hardbacks, and well done Georgia!

Thanks Liz - what's next? Very Happy

 


#3:  Author: AnnLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:01 pm


Mr. Green

*looks luffingly at her new book*

Thank you Pim (and Liz, of course! Wink ) I shall have to send more people on hot air balloon trips!

 


#4:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:02 pm


Hehehehehe!

Excellent Liz. Laughing

 


#5:  Author: JackieJLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:06 pm


Wonderful Liz - how many more forms of transport are you going to write though - Gliders, skateboards?

Jackie

 


#6:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:06 pm


Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing

Thank you Liz, vair shiny!!! Lucky Pimmikins Very Happy

 


#7:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 5:54 am


Lucky Pim & Ann Very Happy

For the more exotic hardbacks, perhaps Pim should try travel by elephant or llama, if palanquin and stagecoach prove ineffective. Who knows? With her talents, someone may be induced to hand over the original manuscript of India.

 


#8:  Author: SophoifeLocation: down under Down Under PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 6:59 am


Ver' nice Liz! Lucky Pim and Ann!

 


#9:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:27 am


Well done Liz! There are always boat, plane, helicopter, bicycle, tuk-tuk, rickshaw, pantecnicon...

 


#10:  Author: pimLocation: Helmel Hampster PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:27 am


Not to mention my death bike! Wink

Thank you Liz - vair shiny! Laughing

 


#11:  Author: AliceLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:43 am


Wonderful trip Liz.

 


#12:  Author: francesnLocation: away with the faeries PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:04 pm


adding to the forms of transport the more standard quad bike, submarine, waterski and windsurfer.

thanks Liz!

 


#13:  Author: nikkieLocation: Cumbria PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:31 pm


unicycle or stilts?
*wishing I was that lucky*

 


#14:  Author: AnnLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:29 pm


An army of pigeons carrying her on a platform.

 


#15:  Author: RosieLocation: Huntingdonshire/Bangor PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:20 am


Donkey.

 


#16:  Author: Miss DiLocation: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 6:41 am


rollerskates, skis, skateboard, surfboard...

 




The CBB -> St Clare's House


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