A selection of Cotswolds photos

Just a few of the many Cotswolds photos taken over the last three days, around Burford and Swinford. More to follow...

One of my Cotswold photographs

After driving around the Cotswolds for the past three days, I finally settled on the above photo to represent my idea of living in the Cotswolds. Yes, I know it looks very chocolate boxy, but for me it sums up the hundreds of little cottages tucked away down little lanes among the rolling hills west of Burford.

I have over a hundred more photos, and if I can remember how, I shall post a few more. What struck me most was the abundance of cars, vans and tourists blocking every view. I have heard of a program that will remove all unwanted obstacles from pictures - sounds like a good idea, but, people and cars show a true representation of the area these days.

Thank you Richard for your advice re taking Landscape pictures. I didn't realise until now, just how tiring it is to be out and about all day looking for the perfect shot. In the end, I became snap-happy and then spent hours on the computer sorting them out. I have been approached by middle-aged men wanting to know what I'm doing - Hmm, with a camera in my hand I felt like saying, 'I'm flying a kite'! People get quite tetchy and I need to know if I'm breaking any law or code of conduct when taking photos of a road with cottages lined neatly along it.

Even if I don't win the local competition, I now have enough photos to make several calendars, mouse-mats, and greetings cards. It's an idea!

Post Script

At no stage have I mentioned the unstinting help and emotional support given me by daughter number two throughout the cup cake marathon. She adopted a Joyce Grenfell approach to keeping the two boys reasonably behaved while we slogged in the kitchen, stopping briefly to have words with the youngest boy, who has gained an honorary degree in behavioural problems, shouting at us both that we are not his mother, to which he received a blast of short-tempered adult reprisal which frightened him silly. She is a star and my saviour of sanity. Thank you darling girl.