Clear sky in the Cotswolds

We travelled to the Cotswolds on New Year's Eve to stay with friends and see the new year in. After a wonderful evening we woke on the first day of 2014 to torrential rain which persisted all day. There was nothing for it but to hole up, finish off the champagne, eat chocolate and watch bad tv! Today's beautiful deep blue sky was a complete and very welcome contrast. Pictured here are two of the lovely trees in our friends' enviable garden.

Journal note: Elizabeth Jane Howard, the novelist, died today, aged 90