1. Unusually for her, Tilda wants – and enjoys – a pick-up hug.

1b. Strange launches herself at John’s lap, submitting herself to all sorts of tickles and strokes. The very tip of her tongue is visible behind her lips but it protrudes comically when she wrestles with her own tail.

2. The way the pasta continues to swell as you eat the soup.

3. I love how things become invisible to Lily if we put them on our heads.

1. Breakfast in bed. Just cereal and tea but still, a nice treat.

2. The chickens are newly fluffy and clean after their autumnal moult. They pick at what remains of the greenery around the garden while the cats look on.

2b. Tilda and Strange realises they’re overmatched by the chickens so chase each other around the patio instead. Kaufman looks on bemused by his silly sisters.

3. We play Cards Against Humanity, making each other laugh with completely inappropriate remarks. To be fair, this is far from unusual – in fact the “worst/best” joke of the evening happened over dinner, well before the ‘offensive’ cards were unwrapped.

1. Kaufman comes to visit just as I’m waking up. He feels huge as he clomps about the bed. He purrs loudly.

2. It is frighteningly windy – I’m literally blown down the road on the way home from the shop. On that first walk, my hair is blown into a right state – all frizzy and knotted – but on the later dog walk, it is wind-whipped into clusters of curls.

3. I make some mustardy roast parsnips to accompany a lamb roast. They’re delicious.

1. The blanket grows in size. I lay it out on the floor to examine/enjoy the neatness of the join.

2. The colourful paella in the wide, turquoise rimmed pan.

3. Lily lies on her back, her ears dangling off the sofa, her mouth hanging open and the happiest sparkle in her eyes.

1. Our reward for doing chores is lunch at the Italian deli in Saltaire. I have a mixed platter including razor thin salami slices, delicious melts-on-the-tongue parma ham and roasted vegetables – the latter gives me ideas for my allotment produce next year.

1b. On the way back to the car, I drop into one of the charity shops and find a sweet tunic – my favourite brand in my usual size.

2. The woods are warmed by the vivid pink sunset. The clouds look like mountains beyond the (real) hills.

3. Getting the timing juuuuuuust right to take advantage of as many offers as possible.

4. Lily taps John to get my attention.

1. The teal towers of the sewage works and the flooded fields between the road and the train line, choppy with little waves.

2. It’s such an outdoorsy place that some of the shops are dog friendly – Lily seems a little confused but we’re tickled by her visit experience of being inside shops.

2b. The sulky dog hangs back as we skirt the castle walls – but still her eyes sparkle.

2c. FINALLY, she must think as we unhook her leash. It’s only a small park, it’s pretty muddy and it’s going dark fast but FREEDOM! She runs around, a happy doggy.

3. The sweet biscuits and salty ham.