1. I dither with Mario Maker levels that don’t go anywhere then I hit upon an concept that makes me jump about with glee every time another idea occurs to me.

2. The mist over the fields make it look like it’s very early in the morning rather than the golden hour.

3. We buy a ridiculously amount of pizza. (In fairness, there were nine of us and someone else showed up later.) It’s very nice. Lily even takes advantage of the chaos to steal a slice of the tuna one.

3b. D & E hand out gifts from their recent trip to Korea. My cat socks get put into action within the hour.

3c. (Pre-pizza) Lily’s obsessed with the treat bag so doesn’t fully appreciate the hugs that are being bestowed on her.

3d. After being embarrassingly bad at it a fortnight ago, and only winning my first single point last weekend, I win a whole round of the game. I really didn’t mind being bad at it, but I think it’s more fun for all of us now we’re at a similar level.

1. With no time for more elaborate plans, we walk over to the allotment and Mum leaves with a selection of fruit and veg.

2. We’d spotted a French cafe while waiting at the bus stop yesterday, and though we’re in a bit of a hurry, we call in for some lunch before Mum’s train. The croque monsieurs are deliciously rich. Later, the macarons are deliciously sweet.

3. The (organic, local) beef even smells great raw.

1. Mum comes to visit and we go to Art’s for lunch. The acidity of the chopped gherkins take her by surprise but we both enjoy the bread: soft and flavourful with a perfect crust.

1b. Though she used to be a regular visitor, it’s been a while since she was in Leeds city centre. I take her around all the sights that have changed in the meantime from Trinity to the Tiled Hall in the library/art gallery. Seeing it through comparatively new eyes, I see Leeds has really transformed itself over the last few years.

2. We get the bus home, sitting on the top deck so I can show off the sights and the prettiness: my old house was up in those trees, that’s the 12th century abbey (or at least its ruins), there’s the miles of green valley leading off to the moors in the distance and there’s the cows who sometimes surprise us with their moos.

3. My mum doesn’t want to get itchy stroking Strange, but Strange won’t accept her lack of attention: she places herself between us so we both have to tickle her. Later, I play a video on my phone and Strange taps at the screen, trying to catch the squirrel.

1. Tilda, politely, sweetly, asks for her food bowl to be refilled, please, if you have a sec, if it isn’t too much trouble. I pull a 10kg sack of cat food from a box and tell her it’s all for her.

2. Sheets on the line, rippling in the sunshine.

3. Wiping away the water marks from the shower door.

1. The blocks make pleasing noises as we drop them.

2. I carry home a handful of yellow tomatoes and a large orange pumpkin.

3. A pair of cats, one of either side of him, curl into balls as he tickles their bellies.

1. Lily lies on her back and we both stroke her belly and legs.

2. Pointing out where I worked and where I ate lunch

2b. The support band make me feel old but I enjoy them all the same. The lead singer takes off his shoes at one point and dances around in his socks. The bass player and drummer do a couple of bits at the end of songs, and when they start a cover of a song, the lead singer of the Polyphonic Spree runs onto stage to sing with them (the support band lead singer looks beside himself with glee).

2c. When the whole band – all 15 of them – fill the stage.

2d. I’m worried John is bored or annoyed but he’s loving it – he says it’s so powerful that he has tears in his eyes. They put such energy and enthusiasm into the shows that it’s impossible not to dance.

2e. The lead singer puts such effort into individually looking at everyone in the first few rows, having a moment with everyone – of engaging the audience so thoroughly – that I’m still not entirely convinced they’re not a cult.

3. Gelato and robots

3b. Lily’s been playing O in the same way she plays her pop-pops – by asking to go outside every 30 minutes. And like her pop-pops, he indulges her.