After a slightly draining weekend of a brilliant wedding (pictures on the way) and dashing around the country, I once again got up at an insane hour (pre-4am) but this time in search in something other than a landscape lit by the early morning light. Instead I was heading into the centre of Bristol to the pre-event/curtain raiser event for the International Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2010. Just a small selection of hot air balloons (only 10) had arrived to fly from the relatively small area of College Green, against the back-drop of Bristol Cathedral, but it was great to be able to get up close and see them all preparing their gear and inflate the immense canopies ready for lift-off. Around 100 to a possible 150(!) balloons are expected to rise into the air in the mass launches taking place later in the week and guess who’s going to be there…