1. John suggests lunch at the pub in the next old village along, then a walk in the woods in the one beyond that. It’s all very pleasant.

1b. The toddler wants to meet both the dogs; the other dog wants to meet Lily; and Lily wants to hide until the table.

2. Looking through old photos. I’m a little alarmed that we haven’t got any printed of the new cats – who’ve been with us for two years now – then I find another pouch of tiny kitten pictures.

2b. We have a lot of beautifully composed photos but I mostly select snapshots for the frames: the blurriness of chaos better captures their essences.

3. I forget to go to the allotment (to water the greenhouses) until just before dusk. The evening is still warm enough that I can still walk over in a vest top and sandals. The lack of traffic is a pleasant novelty.

Sat

1. We switch around our weekend: chores can wait until tomorrow.

2. The man sits high in his canoe and zips along the canal. Very inspiring!

2b. I’ve been into lines recently – the strips of decking and lines of bolts on the Liffey boardwalk, the slats on the fence at the allotment – and today it’s the reflection of the power lines in the canal. John notices they look like sound waves as the apparently still water shifts – and when Lily plods in, the wrinkles change direction and volume. We watch them until they settle again.

2c. The spray of water from Lily’s wagging tail.

3. Sweet wood smoke and high laughter float up the garden from the neighbors’ firepit.

1. A few days has made all the difference to the first green beans and the to-be pumpkins. (The yellow summer squashes and the other winter squashes need to get a move on but the pumpkins are doing brilliantly.)

1b. I start counting how many chillis are underway but I quickly give up.

1c. I lie on the bed when I come back from the plot and Lily lies next to me. I love her heavy warmness.

2. A dinner that’s rather thrown together but surprising good. John calls it a “Polish stir fry”.

3. Silliness with bad puns at bedtime. We rife on the name “Duolingo”: my first effort “Duolingoat” (an app for certain cloven animals to learn different languages) is my favourite, my “Boooo-olinghost” (a language app for spectral beings) stretches things way too far.

1. The eggy bread is just what I want for breakfast.

1b. I’d been indecisive the previous evening about what prints to buy but in the shop, there is a different selection and the owl leaps out at me: I’ll take him home.

2. A handful of holes in the cloud let us see glimpses of the city below. Later, there is a flat, almost 2D, wisp of cloud over the sea and later still, a heavy blanket, that looks substantial yet soft.

2b. We fly along the North Wales coast – cloud stops us seeing too far inland but I enjoy seeing the shape of Anglesey (I love it seeing islands as they appear in maps) and then we spot the pier and pleasure boats at Llandudno, and a wind farm off the coast: white lines in blue.

2c. It’s disconcerting how quickly we disembark: even though we have to pick up a gate-checked bag, we go from plane to pavement in about five minutes.

2d. The seats are officially reserved so I wait to be moved on for the whole of my journey – but no one claims them.

3. I didn’t think I’d have the energy to go for a dog walk but I do, and it’s lovely.

3b. The tinkle and fizz of a drink being poured into a glass.

1. The cafe around the corner has a vaguely Parisian vibe but the giant breakfasts we have there do not. The sausages are pleasantly peppery, the relish vinegary, and the pancakes fluffy and sweet.

2. We walk around all day. (Later, when I’m at home, I’ll measure it as more than 7miles.) We walk on cobbles and on grass; we see ancient cathedrals, a patchwork castle and a classic college; and, we visit expensive boutiques, mainstream shops and alternative market stalls. We also take a well earned rest on the boardwalk beside the river: the sun shines the strongest it has all day and we watch the passage of the city.

2b. At the museum, there is, amongst other things, a collection of old, ornate books showing the different binding techniques from around the world & through the ages. I also enjoy the tiny fragments of papyrus from 1800 years ago: I’m more interested in the construction of the material than the scripture written on it.

3. A dog stands in the fountain giving its owner a clear “what?” expression.

3b. We get into the restaurant before it gets busy (there is a long queue as we’re leaving). The stew tastes exactly, disconcertingly exactly, like mine.

3c. Market stalls of independent artists’ work. I buy some prints – my type of souvenirs.

3d. Chatting to John on IM as I start to fall asleep.

1. All my journey segments go smoothly. We meet up as planned. There are no delays, no problems, everything goes perfectly.

1b. A symphony of swear words makes me smile then a few more silly swear words make me giggle out loud.

1c. I overhear a mother and her young daughter speaking French in the toilets. I’ve been working on my reading/writing rather than speaking/listening so it takes me a while to process the words: I repeat them to myself and in doing so, realise what they’re saying. It’s simple stuff but it makes me feel like my recent learning is more than just an academic exercise.

2. It takes me a minute but I get my bearings and once I do, I feel safe in navigating us around the city.

2b. I see a “Lagunitas” bar – the first real life reference I’ve ever seen to them – and inwardly exclaim: “they’re keeping pub in public radio!”. This American Life has clearly got to me.

3. I wish Leeds and Bradford had parks in the centre like Stephen’s Green: it’s lovely to see so many people relaxing and enjoying the early evening sun.

3b. The round hit of complex flavour in the middle of the chicken breast.

3c. More so than the expected Brits or Americans, the city seems filled with Spanish tourists. Between their voices, the low golden sun, the wide boulevards (like in Madrid) and us having tapas for dinner, my brain keeps getting confused about where I am.

3d. The shapes hidden in the glass at the monument.

3e. Another little garden, this time at the back of the castle. My mum takes some lavender seeds from a plant for my dad. The smell from them scents the hotel room.

3f. A free shot of peppermint livens up my hot chocolate.