I have to confess right here and now my feelings about balloon launches are quite strong. I can go one or maybe two months without being reminded of them but then along comes another charity website with news of yet another latex launch to 'celebrate' or mark some totally worthwhile cause. Now I have nothing against balloons as such. Indeed you could well find one or two examples knocking around the house at this very moment and, even though the smell of them is rather unpleasant, they are left unpopped and usually come to a deflated but honourable end. Like alot of people I used to give very little thought to balloon launches and, dare I say it, thought they looked rather wonderful. Not any more.