thanks bonnie for the in-depth explanation it will be a great help to anyone wanting to learn a technique for blowing up a balloon from the middle
as for (Cupping the hand works on the same principal as using Dillinger's straw only it's it lot harder to misplace your hand) your dead right iv been around a wile & iv never misplaced my hand well at least not in a way i can talk about hear :lol:  :oops:
& i do expect to lose a pipe or two
but as it happens I'm getting a lot of mileage out of using a straw/pipe
i tell the kids (big & little) that I'm not really aloud to blow the middle of the balloon up first but i have a middle of the balloon blower upper and then ask them not to report me if i use it
i get different reactions & answers to this and it opens up lots of opportunity for more comedy/fun (and little white ones) of course you can do the same without a pipe but I'm really liking the pipe now
                                        TTFN
                                               DENNIS

Stuart your way works well although i found it took a bit longer threading the balloon the nozzle
a long thin nozzle could be cool joining the pipe and the pump together creating a specialty pump ( you heard it hear first lol) thanks for your input
                            DENNIS

I tend to just blow the balloon up to the required size, then move the bubble manually with my hand to the centre.

It works... lol