It occurred to me looking back over some of this morning's comments that I ought to offer an explanation about one of mine...

I said earlier that Rhossili Bay is a great favourite with hang-gliding enthusiasts and water-babies alike... but if you don't actually know Rhossili Bay, you wouldn't know why.

A picture speaks a thousand words... so I'm going to shut up now!

There we are... 'nuff said!

I'm often asked questions about image editing software:

• What do you recommend?
• What should I buy?
• Why is Photoshop so expensive?
• What are the alternatives?

Since the glorious weather I was raving about less than an hour ago has deteriorated into a dull greyness and the first spits of rain are now landing on my window, it looks as though I have some time on my hands so I thought I'd address the topic here.

Adobe Photoshop, in all its various versions.

Photoshop is a truly superb image editing package; no software gets to be the industry standard software set without being good. By virtue of the fact that everyone else is playing "catch-up," Adobe have been able to price Photoshop beyond the reach of most individuals.

Other than the cost of the package, there's little or nothing to criticise where Photoshop is concerned.

Adobe Photoshop Elements

To all intents and purposes, Elements is a cut-down version of Photoshop.

For the average user there is little you cannot do with Elements and in my eyes this is a serious contender for an image editing package at a cost of around £70.00 (discounts are available if you shop around).

Paint Shop Pro Photo X2

Paint Shop Pro seems to have been around forever. From humble beginnings this software is now part of the Corel group and is quite simply excellent. I've heard Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 referred to as a Photoshop CS lookalike; I'd argue with that in as much as PSP is more akin to Photoshop Elements and is priced accordingly. However PSP has been around in its own right for many a year and has a loyal following. Expect to pay less than £80.00 for this software.

GIMP: the GNU Image Manipulation Program

Breaking away from commercial software, GIMP is an extremely versatile graphics manipulation package and having used it myself I can vouch for how good it is.

GIMP has one real benefit though... it comes FREE!

If you visit the GIMP web you'll find tutorials, demos, FAQs and of course the downloads.

There are versions of GIMP available for Linux, Mac and Windows users; just make sure you download the appropriate version for your operating system.

There are, of course, dozens and dozens of other image and photo editing packages available to buy; I'm not about to tell you what you should or shouldn't buy, but the packages listed above are offered as a starting point for consideration.

What do I use? Photoshop is the image editing package I use most... no, not the latest version.

I also have:

• Nikon's Capture NX, written specifically as a photo-editor for Nikon's digital SLRs
• GIMP
• Paint Shop Pro 9
• Fireworks

For more information about the above go to:

• Adobe Photoshop and Elements
• Paint Shop Pro
• GIMP

I hope this is useful to anyone seeking image/photo editing software.

The sun is shining and although there's a fair breeze here this morning, it is truly glorious outside.

For the first time this year I enjoyed my morning coffee on the patio communing with the birds and talking to my fish... I know, I know... sad git!

I'm all fired up to get out with my camera though and see what I can find to interest my eye.

I'm sorely tempted to take a jaunt out but doubt somehow I'll find the beach as deserted as I did this day...

A glorious place to walk, hand in hand along the sand...

The time is moving on so I think maybe I'd better get this week's Little Something for the Weekend posted.

It's still a bit dark to see what the weather's doing outside as yet, but I can't hear any wind or rain against the window pane. Fingers crossed for a dry day today.

It'll soon be April and time for home wine makers everywhere to be gathering dandelion heads...

...and after a few glasses of "piss-the-bed" wine, who's the say things won't look a little strange?