Mysterious Yellow Balls Spotted On Thames

By london_will Last edited 228 months ago
Mysterious Yellow Balls Spotted On Thames

Working in an office block overlooking the Thames and the City beyond - as this Londonist contributor is occasionally lucky enough to do - one occasionally sees some odd things. But this, spotted today at about 3pm, really takes the digestive biscuit.

mystery_balls.jpg

The launches were observed from both sides and have no writing or identification marks on them.

The black-and-white ship "leading" the flotilla might be a police barge. But it was certainly involved.

Here's a closeup.

balls_closeup.jpg

Normally, the only balls one would see on the Thames compose of drunken Sloanes on one of those horrible party-boats. This is obviously different. It reminded me more of Claes Oldenurg's 1967 proposal for a monumental ballcock in the Thames.

Oh look, an uninvolved but colour-coded barge. How pretty.

balls_and_barge.jpg

(Thanks to Richard K for the photos.)

So, guys, any ideas? Business promotion? Protest? Obscure ritual event? Scientific study? Dastardly Al-Qaeda plot of some sort? You decide.

Last Updated 14 March 2005