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after waiting a year for it to happen, it finanlly did on tuesday 22nd april. i went up in a hotair balloon.
a very good friend of mine had tried to organise it for before i had my op last year, but the op came round and since then, the weather just hasnt been good enough, but we got a call on monday evening to say all was looking good for tuesday.
we had to be at shillingford for 5pm, so we arrived nice and early. the guys arrived and tested the wind speed, then set about setting up the ballon which took about half an hour.
there was 6 of us and the pilot, we'd had a drill on how to get in, how to prepare for landing and how to get out.
so here it was, it was time to get in, the weather was perfect, it was sunny and warm, we all climbed in, the pilot did a test lift, and then we were off. we shot off upwards like a rocket, wow factor number one, and slowly started to glide across the country side, it was absoulutly wonderful, so lovely and quiet, aprt from when the pilot kept putting the burners on, and it was really warm too, didnt realise just how close ur head is to that heat, but it was fantastic, i dont think i stopped smiling the whole time.
we went over Dorchester Abbey, Clifton Hampdon, and headed towards Abingdon, flying over the town, the park i used to walk through, the church where we got married, and the flight ended in the far corner field of Dalton Barracks, (RAF Abingdon). wow factor number two
after all of us climbing out of the basket, we all helped to get the balloon flat and packed away, then it was a drive back to Shillingford and a glass of champagne, wow factor number three.
it was one of the best things ive done and would do again, given the chance.
