1. When the frozen cylinder of ice finally slips down the tube into the dish.

2. It’s just starting to snow as we set off on our walk but it’s a lovely swirling dry snow. It looks almost grainy on the dark ground.

2b. The sheets of ice above mud in the field crack under foot.

3. To look out into the darkness at the still falling snow and see the warmth of the tiles and the kitchen reflected back at me instead.

1. Subtle attention to detail makes the cheap notebook all the more pleasurable.

2. Something inspired and delightful to finish an evening when nothing has gone to plan.

3. The dog runs around like a crazy puppy. She brings me shoe after shoe. I’ve only been gone a few hours!

1. When the cats say “me-ow” with two clear syllables and the dog says “woof” with a well-enunciated “wuh” and a clipped “fuh”.

1a. Dancing with the dog to the ‘D.

2. Excited chatter from the both of us and our new projects as we dog walk – but only one of us swoops around and makes helicopter noises as we pass the field.

3. Surprisingly enjoyable bean and veggie enchiladas.

1. The bright colours and jolly patterns of our funderwear as it dries on the airer.

2. A trump threatens to be embarrassingly loud and squeaky while John is on a conference call. The beautiful thing is the relief when it, ahem, passes quietly. ;)

3. Little distracts me from my worries more than a good (real life) logic puzzle. (I wasn’t worrying about trumps then. Well, not exclusively.)

1. I’ve been “George’s Marvellous Medicine”ing a mackerel and pepper pasta dish – each “did I add this much or that little?” bodge taking it slightly further away from the desirable dish and being a bit less satisfactory. The one I whip up at lunchtime though is back on track again.

2. “I thought you wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t bring her in,” he says with a laugh. I’m already on the floor getting spaniel love. Her ears are slightly woolly like a Welsh Springer and her face so delicate compared to our big beast.

3. Stripes on my top, swirls on my scarf and fuzzy checks on my wool bag: a pleasing pattern combination.