The world is filling up - or so they say. Every daily paper brings news of more and more immigrants flooding into the country, of how the Government plans to bring thousands more in over the next few years. They also bring reports of the housing crisis, how houses aren't selling, people cannot afford to buy or rent and families are cramming together in ever smaller spaces. Families are being made homeless through repossession at an unprecedented rate and councils are struggling to get a roof over everybody's heads.



We could escape this overcrowding when we go to work if it wasn't for the fact that we're all crammed into high rise office blocks, working away on a treadmill of never ending paper shuffling and stress. Stress is always compounded by the fact that there isn't enough space and there isn't enough time. So, how do we ease this situation?

We have to consciously make an effort to get away from it all. To take that time, however short it may be, and escape the rat race with a holiday.

Ah, yes, the holiday. We shop like crazy for all the things we need, we furiously pack everything we need into the smallest case possible, we then sit in traffic for hours and hours en route to our destination and then spend half the holiday winding down and the other half winding up again for the return. Most holiday returnees are more stressed than when they left.

Much more effective, in my opinion, is the short break. Particularly if that break is an impromptu one. It can be as short as half a day but in the right circumstances, that half day can leave you more refreshed than a much lengthier trip. For the warmer months, a balloon flight is an amazing way to step out of everyday reality into an other-worldly experience.

A balloon flight needs to only take half a day yet and it does not have to take a long trip to get to your take off destination as there are spots all around the country which mean you are never far from a base. Then, once you are up in the skies you will be able to look down and see all those people running around in their everyday lives and you will realise how insignificant it all looks. Your problems are put into perspective when you see the world from the angle of a balloon flight.

The most unique aspect of a hot air balloon flight has to be that of travelling with the wind. The balloon becomes part of it and you won't even feel a breeze so as long as it's not pouring with rain, most trips will be pleasant - weather wise. As the balloon is carried along on the wind you will feel at one with the clouds - if there are any.

If you're really lucky and get a cloudless day for your balloon flight, pick either sunrise or sunset. In fact, if you have had a stressful day, a balloon flight at sunset in summer or winter can be just the pick me up that you need. You will be gently carried away from all the stresses of life, you will see the surrounding area from a bird's eye view and not a sound will be heard.

You will not have to contend with crowds or noise or time constraints - simply stand back and watch the world go by, carrying with it all the unwanted junk crowding your mind.