Did you ever release a helium balloon with your name and address attached?

Posted by bornleverpuller85@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 16 comments

I've just tried to explain this to my wife but she's looking at me like I'm a dickhead. I clearly remember in the 90s sponsoring a balloon, attaching my name and address and then releasing it in the hope someone would write back. Does anyone else remember this or have I had a stroke?

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16 Comments

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who-is-vod-kanockers@reddit

Yes, I was the one who found a balloon with a name and address of a girl from Germany. This was back in the late 90s, we exchanged a few letters and small gifts, it was nice

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probablyaythrowaway@reddit

My grandma once won a Dyson from a balloon release she found in her garden.

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Luton_Enjoyer@reddit

My school did this at a summer fair in 2005. My mum wouldn't let me take part because she said it was littering.

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Figusto@reddit

Yes, I remember this sort of thing happening. I think it's far less popular now because of the risk of harm to wildlife.

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Particular-Army-7180@reddit

Charities used to do this sort of thing all the time, not expecting to ever get a response. It's not something you would do today, because "woke" or "PC" or something

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watsee@reddit

I once was at a work expo thing where we had a stall to advertise our company & part of the stall had some helium-filled balloons as decoration. My manager had been rubbing me up the wrong way for a long time & on this day in particular were completely insufferable. Eventually they pissed off early to leave me to break down the stall myself. While I was breaking down the stall, I swiped a couple of balloons & attached a piece of paper to each one I'd quickly printed out which had something on like; "CONGRATULATIONS. If you have found this note, you have won a 2 week all-expenses paid holiday to the Maldives. To claim your prize please call (manager's mobile number)" When I went out to the van, I let them go and watched them float off into the distance. I don't know if anyone ever did phone him, but I hope his phone glowed red for a few days.

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Necessary_Driver_831@reddit

Yes, did this at school fetes etc - attach a SAE and the furthest away balloon wins a prize. One year we had a balloon that somehow made it to mainland Europe and was returned

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Specific_Tap7296@reddit

Dating was very different back then!

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error23_snake@reddit

My brother did this at the end of primary school and won a flight in a 2 seater plane. Went to this tiny airstrip on a local farm, helped pull the plane out from the shed - then the pilot offered to do two extra flights for my mum and I because we'd never been on a plane before. Was awesome!

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martzgregpaul@reddit

Yeah our school did it as part of their centenary celebrations back about 30 years ago. The winner got a prize. Mine literally went two streets

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MetalRickyy@reddit

Yes, charity release at a works open day. Girlfriend at the time won the first prize of a very good quality stuffed Peugeot lion and the sender also won one too, incentive for the ticket to be returned.

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NinetysRoyalty@reddit

I remember doing it at an event with a large group, everyone was to release their balloons at the same time. Just with names and some kind of message, problem was I was too young and didn’t really get it so just let go of the balloon immediately after it was handed to me with no name or message. My dad was pissed because he paid for me to take part in the event.

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scifisam2020@reddit

Never done it, but it sounds familiar. I'm sure someone got a letter back from someone in the Outer Hebrides or something after releasing their balloon in Stroud.

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NorthantsBlokeUK@reddit

Yeah, but not to make a pen-pal or anything. It was usually a competition to see who's went the furthest. The finder would send it back with their location and it would be franked by Royal Mail proving that the sender-back-person is really from that area.

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HugeElephantEars@reddit

By the time it's within a human's reach it surely just looks like litter? Or maybe you were looking for Felix Baumgartner? Anyway, have done it with a message in a bottle once. No one cared, I probably just polluted.

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redandbluedragoneyes@reddit

nope, never done it.