1. I get up momentarily and Tilda steals my spot. I return to the bed and curl up around her. I read and she pads the towel underneath us.

2. I’m in a new pottery class this term – new tutor, new people (although I already know about half of them from “drop-in” sessions). My piece doesn’t go terribly well – first, the clay is too dry, then I work a little too fast and it threatens to collapse – but by watching other people work (and by openly eavesdropping on the tutor working with them), I learn so many new things.

3. The orange glow from the embers brightens the dark room.