1. A lamb testing its boundaries then sheep, lambs and chickens milling around a field.

1b. The boy falls off his bike so slowly onto the soft grass that we, him and his friend all immediately laugh.

1c. The bumps are smooth rather than jolting. The lake though is noticeably choppy.

2. Free books! We’ve saved enough stamps at the fabulous Broadhursts bookshop to get £10 off – I get two books on prehistoric Britain for nothing at all.

3. The sun is low but bright, sending shadows along the sand. The extra contrast highlights all the different textures.

3b. Lily scampers away towards the sea and sits in a pool. She sulks in the car on the way but she does like the beach.

3c. Little crabs which are almost see-through.

3d. The dunes – in fact everything – fades into nothing around Formby Point.

4. We’ve finished the meal but as we’re clearing away the dishes, I sneak a scoop of the leftover dauphinoise potatoes – a bit from the top, that’s deliciously browned.