1. I move a pile of bedding that has been stacked on the drawers for ages. We’d stopped seeing it as something to put away but its tall bulkiness had swamped the space. The room is instantly lighter and tidier with it gone.

2. I have my first proper at-home throwing session in the tiny space in the garage that I’m trying to turn into a studio. My main goal at the moment is to become consistent with my cylinders but after I’ve thrown the basic shape, I try modifying them, to test what is possible and teach my hands what to do. I make a fat bellied tureen, flare the rim of one and crimp another, and pull out a beautifully thin wide cone. I won’t keep any of them – I’ll turn their bottoms then reclaim the clay – but each one is improving my skills and giving me ideas.

3. I go down to see the chickens while I’m on the phone to my mum. She repeats their strange sounds back to me.

4. Lily stares longingly at P’s slice of pizza. Even just looking at the back of her head, I can tell by her ears what expression she has on her face.

1. The paint in the can is sparkly, already looking hammered. The particles leap away from the bristles when I dip the brush.

1b. There isn’t time to make a proper shelf divider so I mock it up with some paint cans for legs instead – it’s just the right height and doubles my shelf space. (And also fits my childhood desk drawer perfectly underneath.)

2. Meaty little prawns in rich garlic butter.

3. We go to the hit-and-miss curry place and score another hit: three of us have meals that have been slow cooked and the meat just falls apart.

1. We have some paneer to use up so I make paneer bhurji for lunch – it’s sweet and delicious.

2. Lily is in a good mood all day – a smiley face, happy to dance and play.

2b. Strange is often grumpy in the mornings but today she’s sweet: presumably the rain meant she slept well overnight rather than being out on adventures.

2c. I try to teach Kaufman to sing like I used to do with Sili. It involves me singing a line like “I know a cat called Silicon and she says meow” then the cat meows. He manages it more successfully when I hold up a bottle of his beloved milk at the appropriate time.

2d. Every night since she first did it, Tilda has joined me on the sofa in the evening. It makes me coo with delight – a new habit.

3. I finish my book a few minutes before I’m ready to go to sleep. I’m too lazy to get out of bed to find another though so I re-read my favourite chapter again.

1. I feel like I’m getting the hang of turning/trimming. One pot, which I thought was a bit wobbly and meh, is transformed by the shaping of a nice foot.

1b. The kiln is unloaded – I didn’t realise how much of my work was in there. The first thrown pot I’ve taken through to completion comes out nicely, my texture experiment worked and my two wall planters are very pleasant too.

1c. I drop the chunks into the reclaim bucket and fine particles billow and swirl in the water.

2. A warm buttered muffin and a cup of tea at tea time.

3. The faint dings of coins in my pocket. The resonating ring of the metal curtain rings. The pah-doiiiiiing of the bone hitting the guitar.

1. The pitter-patter of the rain, the gush of the beck.

2. It feels like it should be a productive day – indoor chores at least since the rain has stopped play outside – but we decide to write it off and watch disaster films instead.

3. John tries a new recipe (for jambalaya) and it’s a success.

1. The little girl is going to the football match on her own terms – yes, she is wearing a football shirt but she is coordinating it with a team-colours tutu.

2. Everyone’s making the most of the sunny afternoon. I don’t buy anything but I enjoy hanging out with my favourite person and making him laugh.

3. I underscore our journey back to Bradford on the xylophone.

4. Lily follows me to the other sofa – such a mummy’s girl. I stroke her trimmed silky fur as we chat.