I can always remember the pure magic of seeing balloon animals at parties as a child. It seemed like witchcraft that you could manipulate a balloon into an actual animal without it popping, and the prospect of ever actually being lucky enough to be given a balloon animal to take home was almost too much excitement. It was definitely not something I ever dreamed I'd be able to try at home myself when I grew up - it felt like the distant realm of magicians, party pros and TV presenters.