1. Our day is filled with visits to the homes of the children who will start nursery in January. It's a pleasure to see so many homes and meet so many people. Many children are eager to chat and show us their toys. One girl invites me to have a turn on the computer game she's playing, while a boy dresses up as Bumblebee and 'transforms' into a car before our very eyes.

2. The school hall is filled with the sound of singing as adults and children alike sit down together to our much-anticipated Christmas dinner.

3. A parent helper at school, who will become a colleague in January, surprises me with a Christmas present.

4. A friend anticipates that my sat-nav may not recognise her address when I visit her tomorrow, so she sends me detailed directions to her house. Just in case.