PERTH balloon twister Malcolm Leighton isn't all hot air - he can make just about anything out of balloons.
On Saturday his artistic inflatable creations will be one of the highlights of the RAC Channel Seven Christmas Pageant.
This year's pageant will feature, for the first time, a float of twisted balloons, starring an enterprising group of South Pole penguins who have escaped to the North Pole to join Santa for Christmas.
Mr Leighton who runs Twisted Balloons with his wife Judi, is excited about his largest ever balloon creation.
"I don't believe anyone has done a balloon float like this before,'' he said. "It's the biggest balloon creation I've ever made.''
Mr Leighton said he had to import 5000 balloons from the United States to make the monster float because Australian suppliers didn't have enough in stock.
Because the inflated balloons have a limited life, a team of six will help create the penguin party all through Friday night and Saturday, to be ready for the pageant on Saturday night.
The float will feature 10 children dressed as penguins to join the balloon penguins' party and eight people as reindeers leading the float.
"I did some research and found that most penguins live below the equator. So the idea of the float is that some penguins were sick and tired of the South Pole, where its raining and miserable, and decided to visit Santa in the North Pole,'' said Mr Leighton.
Mr Leighton said he had always loved the balloon twisters as a child, but only started when he was older.
He taught himself the art of balloon twisting by reading books from the library, searching the internet and practising for hours until he was good enough to perform the job he now loves and finds extremely rewarding.
The balloon twisting couple plan to expand their three-year-old business to a full-time endeavour. At the moment it's only a weekend gig on top of full-time work during the week.
"Next year I hope to make a monster truck for a motor show in April,'' Mr Leighton said.
But for now, all the focus is on completing the float and enjoying one of the best Christmas celebrations in Perth.
All of Perth is invited to celebrate the pageant's Christmas theme of joy and thanksgiving, transporting all kids, big and small, into a world of fun and fantasy, to be seen by more than 250,000 people.
The pageant will begin at 8.30pm from St Georges Terrace, west of Barrack Street and will feature 18 bands, 40 floats and wheel sets, multi-cultural groups, clowns, camels, dogs, fairies, dancing groups and a cast of 2500.
Haha I don't get how Perth would fit in that list. It's boring and too hot and the most isolated state in the world and on Oz tours bands forget us lol. _________________
i hate when ppl say perth is really bad and isolated and stuff, i love this city!!! (obviously i live in perth) _________________
DON'T EAT THE DAISIES
well yes it is, but that's mainly why i love it...
its a city which is good because i could never live in the country, but it's a small isolated city meaning its not like one of those big busy cities... you know? _________________
DON'T EAT THE DAISIES
Teacakes... if that is your real name, leave Perth alone. We have the amazing bell tower
woooooooooo bells and and and the armadillo convention center...
... isnt she pretty
and well umm we have some pretty neat stuff.
If youre nice ill take you sometime
Teacakes... if that is your real name, leave Perth alone. We have the amazing bell tower
woooooooooo bells and and and the armadillo convention center...
... isnt she pretty
and well umm we have some pretty neat stuff.
If youre nice ill take you sometime
Yes, teacakse is her real name. She was named after her grandmother, coffeecakes.
She's from Perth, by the way. _________________ Blame it on a simple twist of fate. ~ Bob Dylan
Teacakes... if that is your real name, leave Perth alone. We have the amazing bell tower
woooooooooo bells and and and the armadillo convention center...
... isnt she pretty
and well umm we have some pretty neat stuff.
If youre nice ill take you sometime
the great thing about a message board is they have posts to read. she wasnt making fun of perth :ROLLS EYES: _________________
So... you are her boyfriend. Has she told you about us yet? About how she is my favorite Aussie and how I throw koalas at silly boys who trick me? _________________ Blame it on a simple twist of fate. ~ Bob Dylan