Me: We have been a bit quiet over Christmas haven’t we because we were busy.
Nell: Quiet is definitely not the word I would use.
Me: You were very patient in the main.
Nell: What do you mean in the main?
Me: I think you may have grumbled at baby Jonathan Sky and you definitely grumbled at the puppies.
Nell: As you can clearly see from the photo that baby was hammering right next to me when I was trying to rest.
Me: He is adorable. The puppies love him especially Harriet.
Nell: Harriet loves everyone and they love her. I’ve had to talk to her about showing a little more restraint.
Me: Dave is not good on restraint either.
Nell: David doesn’t know the meaning of restraint. Apart from the fact that he is the biggest Labrador puppy the vet has ever seen he goes and gets his ear sliced in two on Christmas Eve.
Me: It wasn’t his fault, Nell. He got in the way of some dogs dashing for the ball on the beach.
Nell: Blood everywhere and then you and Kev go dashing off to the vets taking Chris as well. David has to have surgery and stitches and I am left entertaining our guests.
Me: I know Nell but Christmas Eve was actually rather lovely in the end. Everyone mucked in and helped and then Dave was able to come home.
Nell: We were all glad to see him.
Me: We were.
Nell: You drank far too much champagne.
Me: I did.
Nell: And the next morning that baby was hammering again!
Me: That’s a family Christmas for you.
Nell: David did a good thing by the way.
Me: Really? What did he do?
Nell: He ate the baby’s hammer.
Me: Why didn’t you stop him?
Nell: Don’t be ridiculous.
Me: Ok. Sorry.
