Friday 7 August:

Slightly different start to the day today… I set out about an hour later than usual (say 6.20am), walked to M-shed/Wapping Wharf and essentially did my usual harbour walk anti-clockwise (as it were)(pausing at the Marina as usual, of course)… before making my way through to Ashton Court (via the metal railway bridge). This weekend SHOULD have been Balloon Fiesta weekend – but, due to the pandemic, it’s been cancelled… EXCEPT that the organisers have said they intended to arrange for the odd ‘fly-past’ on perhaps two or three days (this week and next week). Looking at the weather forecast (no rain, light wind, good visibility), I decided that today might be one of the days they chose to fly (balloons flew last Monday, but the wind was in the ‘wrong’ direction and they weren’t really visible in Southville/Bedminster). Well, I was partly right… by the time I arrived (about 7.10am), there were three balloons about to take off (and signs that others had already departed – the breeze was blowing towards North Bristol, so probably weren’t very visible as they disappeared behind the trees. Anyway, I had a very pleasant time watching a couple of the balloons – as they undertook very short up-and-down (untethered) flights to give friends a brief experience of balloon flight. It was all rather lovely. Home before 9am.

Did some further ‘work’ on the Blurb book and read more of my Chris Stewart book.

Vanessa left me a message to say she’d chosen one of my images for her book and very pleased (which obviously made ME very pleased… and somewhat relieved!).

Pete messaged me to say that his Coronavirus test had come out negative – which is very good news.

Ruth popped in briefly on her way home from the Southville Centre – and it was lovely to chat with her, albeit briefly.

Watched the final episode of the “Young Mantalbano” series… so now somewhat grieving!

Beautiful sunset tonight.

Image: Balloon Fiesta (sort of).