1. As soon as the strange men with their strange chainsaws leave the garden, the cats all dash in with tales to tell.

1b. Lily sniffs the branches that have been dropped into the garden. They probably smell like squirrels.

2. I pull up the remnants of the bolted lettuces and the yellow-leafed volunteer potatoes to give extra space for the autumn/overwinter crops. It neatens up the crop to a surprising extent – the patches of soil look strangely clean in their nakedness.

2b. I won’t harvest anything today. Well, maybe just a couple of courgettes for dinner tonight and Thursday; and maybe the tomatoes that are ready to drop; and of course the fat raspberries … I end up with a bag full and we have to carry a pumpkin too.

2c. A column of rainbow rises from the valley. By the time we come down the hill a little, it’s filled out into a full, strong arc stretching from Apperley Bridge to Woodhall. But its beauty has competition: looking around as we cross the road, we see the sunset is painted in an equally amazing array of colours.

3. When I start a 100 Mario Challenge on Super Mario Maker, 99 little Mario sprites dash onto the screen in tight formation, followed a second later by Mr 100. It slays me every time – so cute!