And to see country living at its finest, I’ve decided to head to Chipping Norton. Home to some rather well-known individuals (including David & Sam Cameron, Matthew Freud and Jeremy Clarkson) I figure I’ve got to check it out and since it’s just 10 kms away (although local transport is scarce, with just a few buses a day) off I head…

As I mosey along the main drag, I see cottages - the kind of cottages that wouldn't look out of place on chocolate box tins - and almost all of them are built from stone quarried from the area.  It’s honey-coloured (dating back to the Jurassic area) and when the sun falls on it, the hue is simply glorious!  

I’m house sitting for a charming couple who are leaving me in charge of their three cats and four chickens! I’ll be staying in a 17th century cottage with timber beams, old floors, tiny doors and lots of character. Who could pass up an opportunity like this?