1. The internet is out all day so I abandon my plans (such as they were) and take to the sofa with my crocheting. I (re-)watch an Noah Baumbach film Margot at the Wedding while I’m hooking: I wouldn’t say I like the film as a whole but some of the exchanges are perfectly written and executed.

2. A walk in the woods with just Lily and my thoughts.

3. Chilli Ramen soup for dinner – always a favourite but the broth is the best yet. I enjoy every drop of it.

3b. For speed, I throw the chilli in the blender rather than chopping it by hand. It smells fruity.

1. The tip of a tail betrays the cat’s attempt to sneak into a hiding place. I stick a hand into the washing basket to feel the fur of another.

2. Blue sky overhead tells me the heavy rain shower will be short lived. When I emerge from the shed, I see the bean leaves are coated in sparkling droplets.

3. The light over the armchair illuminates the bookshelves too. I tell John that as much as I like the coolness of the house (particularly the office) in summer, this really is a house built for winter: blankets, and books, and woodstoves, oh my.

4. Heavy lemon cake.

1. Our Parks & Rec rewatch continues. We’re in its prime now – mid-late season 2 and season 3 – and it’s just so good.

2. Dinner feels basic – just an old school pasta standby – but it’s surprisingly moreish.

3. I keep thinking I’ve used up my favourite colour sequences already, then I hook a new few rows and think this is my new favourite one.

1. We sit on the further bench: the view of the town is obscured by some trees but the layers upon layers of hills are enough. We notice how the field shapes and sizes will have changed and enjoy thinking about how the land was developed over the last hundred years. The air is disturbingly still.

1b. The path has practically washed away – the plastic drainage pipes are exposed and split, visibly filled with sand and gravel so the water has no choice but to pour down the surface, carving a foot deep valley. I remark how it’s exactly what happened to the landscape we were just admiring – just on a smaller, shorter scale.

2. Lily’s tail bangs against the floor when her granny comes home and pays her some attention (and gives her some treats).

3. The marinade (on the fish) contains peppercorns which are fruity and intense, as well as straight up peppery.

1. (After John got me the DVDs for my birthday in July) we’ve been rewatching Parks and Recreation with the commentaries etc. Like it did when we first watched the series, my eye catches on the blanket on Ann Perkin’s sofa every time it’s on screen – back then, it inspired me to make my own copy; now, a “oh, that looks like our blanket” flashes across my brain.

2. I finally – after twenty years of eating them – realise why the colours of Angel Cakes sometimes switch around.

3. I trim Lily’s fur. She is less cooperative than normal but it goes surprisingly well anyway: her ears and tail are trimmed into perfect shape with little effort. Afterwards, she looks younger and runs around like a happy little puppy. When she’s tuckered out, we hug her, cooing over her silky smooth fur.

1. Listening to bombastic hold music, I watch the clouds. A heavier lower layer moves much faster than the higher wispier ones – it looks like a special effect, almost menacing.

1b. I’m sat somewhere slightly unusual: the cats double-take when they see me, then come over for strokes.

2. A red lavatera (or some sort of malva at least) at the back of the restaurant catches my eye, and makes me pay closer attention to the other pots and hanging baskets dotted all around.

3. We have to take Kaufman to the vets – just for a check up, his first in over a year. He makes it clear from the outset that he doesn’t want to go in the car then when we set off, he makes the strangest noises. They’re vaguely reminiscent of a turkey, or someone talking in a peculiar language: we can’t help laughing. When we get back, he sits on the balcony and I feed him bits of fish by way of an apology.

4. The smokiness of the first cheese, the dry tartness of the next.