1. I didn’t intend to shop, just go to order some new (sun)glasses, but the end of the Christmas sales – 70% discounts in some places, 50% in others that weren’t as expensive to start with – is too much to resist. The glasses are a bargain too – with my voucher and the sale price, I get them for a quarter of the ticket price.

2. I act out of character and ask for something a little unexpected – I ask the staff at the marvellous Pizza Pieces if I could buy one of their prototype-for-staff t-shirts for John. They seem a little confused but sell me one at cost – I try to offer more “for their trouble” but they won’t hear of it. John is delighted with his exclusive fashion item.

3. Two of my joints click in unison, a dull stereo sound.

1. I’ve ruined one of my favourite video games for myself – I set up a map that I thought would produce the ultimate level experience but actually, it turned out quite boring, and not only couldn’t I be bothered to finish that one, the sensation carried over into the next map too. This is a beautiful thing because it made me want to do other things instead, more interesting and productive things. I’ll come back to the game at some point — I always do, I’ve been playing it for 18 years and counting, off and on — but for now, I’ll spend my time in better ways.

1b. The third sample piece of felt is the best – a combination of refining the technique and using less coarse (more easily feltable) fibre. It’s not quite as interesting as I thought it would be but it inspires further ideas – and I can embellish the sample to explore those ideas further.

2. A serious but positive conversation over a cup of tea. Later, a silly chat over Hangouts.

3. A tub of leftover curry from the freezer makes a very quick and very tasty meal.

1. The engulfing fogginess gives way to bright sunshine.

2. E-dog looks up at me with a happy face.

2b. Orion slowly appears as I walk down the road as the sky gets darker, my eyes adjust further and I duck out from underneath the streetlights.

3. The sauce is a little sloppy but delightfully rich.

1. The spicy pickled peppers offset everything else.

2. Kaufman mirrors me, twisting his head at an increasingly steep angle until our eyes are vertical rather than horizontal.

3. We’re listening to Queen and the song declares “you’re my best friend”. “You’re my best friend,” says John, you make me very happy.” “You make me burgers,” I reply. We conclude that burgers make me happy so we’re even.

4. I’ve been making crochet blankets for more than a decade but seeing I’ve managed a straight edge still makes me happy.

1. I wipe the ash from the inside of the glass and suddenly it’s like someone turned up the contrast and brightness on the fire.

2. Tangy crisps and creamy brie.

3. Hunting around in my stash, I find the perfect fabric for the padding of Tilda’s window sill cushion – a blue and white check with wadding already attached. Three seams later, it would do its job but it’s for Tilda, so I *have* to make a little crochet blanket too. I go for wide colour blocks in blue and green.

3b. Tilda helps me look for the fabric and stress tests it for kneading while I’m cutting it to size.

1. John tells me there is a silky cat on the bed and after I finish in the bathroom, I stick my face in the silky cat’s belly.

2. I make a few lucet cords with a few different scraps of thread/yarn. The last one is thin cotton, making a very tidy strand and as I’m improving with my technique/tension, it is evenly taut all the way along.

3. A slow cooked curry, the chicken falling apart on the fork.