What made you feel good today

[Hinfrance]

Up to our eyes in guests at the moment. I'll try to sort out some dropbox or wikisend links later on in the week.

[jinky]

After more than 2 years and some 15/16 flying attempts I finally had my balloon ride today - purchased as a birthday present by my daughters in July 2010. By this stage I had a Go Ballooning manager personally dealing with my flight booking. Officially there was no flight on the system for today but she promised to call me and offer short notice flights as they came up to get me up and today was the opportunity. Really great experience - so quiet and strange up there and you really set the dogs barking. If interested you can see some photos on this link. Could only take a compact for fear of damage to dslr but with such a soft landing I`d have been fine. UK isn`t the country to deliver balloon flights really but a great experience if you get the chance. Would love to float over a safari in Africa or some great landmark in a country where flights are all but guaranteed.

http://photographybypauldishman.blogspot.co.uk/

[Reinardina]

Gosh, I remember you telling us, ages ago, that your flight had been cancelled again. But, if I remember correctly, you did manage to drink the champagne, so not everything was lost.

Great that you were finally successful and that it was a good experience. I'll have a look at your photos now.

[Hinfrance]

How brilliant was that Paul? Glad you finally got your flight.

You need to buy Pentax if you are worried that your Nikons are too fragile

[Reinardina]

Had a look and am dead jealous now!

[Oldboy]

At last! 

Great photos on your site of the flight. 

[ABERS]

An experience you'll never forget. Great pics

[spinner]

Lovely shots Paul, I can live vicariously through them cuz, you wouldn't catch me dead in a balloon. Terrible fear of heights. 

[jinky]

Thanks all. Yes it was geat to do. Would love to do it again abroad somewhere spectacular.

[ABERS]

Thanks to a very kind grandson I've got two tickets for the Paralympics final athletics session on 8th Sept. Lots of track and field finals. 

[Oldboy]

After more than 2 years and some 15/16 flying attempts I finally had my balloon ride today - purchased as a birthday present by my daughters in July 2010. By this stage I had a Go Ballooning manager personally dealing with my flight booking. Officially there was no flight on the system for today but she promised to call me and offer short notice flights as they came up to get me up and today was the opportunity. Really great experience - so quiet and strange up there and you really set the dogs barking. If interested you can see some photos on this link. Could only take a compact for fear of damage to dslr but with such a soft landing I`d have been fine. UK isn`t the country to deliver balloon flights really but a great experience if you get the chance. Would love to float over a safari in Africa or some great landmark in a country where flights are all but guaranteed.

http://photographybypauldishman.blogspot.co.uk/

it's a good job you didn't see this before your flight! 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2192556/British-woman-28-hurt-hot-air-balloon-bursts-flames-Slovenia-killing-four.html   

[DigiDiva]

My A* in GCSE photography...yay!!!!!!

[Hinfrance]

Congratulations

[jinky]

After more than 2 years and some 15/16 flying attempts I finally had my balloon ride today - purchased as a birthday present by my daughters in July 2010. By this stage I had a Go Ballooning manager personally dealing with my flight booking. Officially there was no flight on the system for today but she promised to call me and offer short notice flights as they came up to get me up and today was the opportunity. Really great experience - so quiet and strange up there and you really set the dogs barking. If interested you can see some photos on this link. Could only take a compact for fear of damage to dslr but with such a soft landing I`d have been fine. UK isn`t the country to deliver balloon flights really but a great experience if you get the chance. Would love to float over a safari in Africa or some great landmark in a country where flights are all but guaranteed.

http://photographybypauldishman.blogspot.co.uk/

it's a good job you didn't see this before your flight! 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2192556/British-woman-28-hurt-hot-air-balloon-bursts-flames-Slovenia-killing-four.html   

I`ve seen loads of stories about electricity cables, poor health and safety practices etc thansk to "friends" wanting to keep me informed ober thelast two years as they laughed at my Go Ballooning rants  . Funniest thing is they have seen my blog pics and asked me this morning if they can use some of them on their facebook page. I `ve told them I`m quite precious about image rights  but willing to trade for  a free flight. Might let them use one or two on fcaebook page only if they give a credit but they use flyer images on there all the time that people give so not likely to be an earner - especially as most of my images feature the Adveture and Virgin balloons going up alongside us.

[ABERS]

Yesterday. Watching the Paralympics and the amazing feats of people that have overcome difficulties in life.

I've never subscribed to the "it's not the winning but the taking part" attitude, if you're taking part then try to win, second place is the first of the losers was always my view. However that's changed forever after watching a paralympic athlete named Omar Hassan from Djibouti taking part in a heat of the 1500 metres. A man so severely disabled that he finished in 11+ minutes, some two laps behind the winner in a four lap race, but for me the man was so full of grit and determination that he finished the race, struggling over the last two laps alone on the track.

He brought the 80,000 spectators in the stadium to their feet and tears to our eyes watching at home.

I've got a few heroes that I've always looked up to and admired and now Omar Hassan is right up there with them.