is it me or is there some barrel distortion @ the bottom

Yep, your square edge may be wonky, but your barrel distortion detection system is fully functional. Both the houses on the left and the those on the right are falling towards the centre of the image.

Hehe, it is because I am pointing the camera at the sky, so yes there is some distortion. The houses look like they are leaning back too, but I like it _

Barrel distortion corrected, large annoying tree removed.