A day in the garden and at the allotment.

1. Potted-on plants always look so neat in their new homes, especially when I find matching pots.

1b. Amongst other things, I prune back the blackcurrants, the sage, and some lavender, then I take some cuttings from the rosemary. By the time I go inside, my hands and arms are scratched up but smell lovely.

2. My allotment will never be a great producer – not like the one next door with its established raised beds full of crops – but it’s a nice, quiet space.

2b. The grass lifts much easier than the couch grass in the other beds and its fun banging the soil loose from the roots.

2c. After a bit of puppyish playing, Lily’s mouth hangs open and her eyes sparkle: “yes, we’re going to the park now,” I tell her.

3. While the cat’s out with his old bandmates, the mouse spoils herself with tuna bagel melts for dinner.

3b. Lily waking up and sniffing John to check he’s real.