TO MARK her 80th birthday Joyce Phillips of Bridestowe reached new heights — 2,000 feet to be exact — in a hot air balloon.
She had never even flown in an aeroplane, yet the young-at-heart Joyce could not wait to get in the basket and take-off.
'The highest off the ground I had been until then was up a ladder,' said the fit great-grandmother.
'I always said when I saw a balloon that I would love to go up in one, but I never thought I would.'
'It was nice and calm going up. I didn't feel it take off — we were suddenly up,' she said. 'It was lovely, beautiful, there was a wonderful view all around.
'When we came down we were told to bend our knees and there was just a little jerk when we landed.'
The Phillips family booked the tickets last year as part of Joyce's birthday celebrations — which included the last ever party in Bridestowe Village Hall before it closed.
Her son John said he did not have the courage to go up in the balloon, but Joyce had no nerves whatsoever.
'Before I knew it her legs were over the side of the basket and she was ready for the off,' he said. 'She would do it again tomorrow if she could.'
Peter Bird, of Devon and Somerset Balloons, said age was no barrier to flying in a hot air balloon and just a few weeks ago he took up a 92-year-old.
'As long as you are physically fit age is not a concern,' he said.
It's certainly a birthday present Joyce will never forget, but what will she do to mark her 90th birthday? A parachute jump perhaps?
'I wouldn't be surprised,' was her answer.