Nell: Can I have a word, please?
Me: What have I done now?
Nell: I thought you went to the hairdressers.
Me: I did. Look at my hair.
Nell: Who are those animals then?
Me: Hope and Leo. They run the salon with Sophie. I met them just before the pandemic, don’t you remember? Lovely boys.
Nell: Oh yes. I thought they were Dartmouth Dachshunds for a moment.
Me: No. I wasn’t in Dartmouth, just Kingsbridge.
Nell: You can find Dartmouth Dachshunds anywhere in my experience. They are very sociable creatures.
Me: That’s true.
Nell: Nowadays they are having to zoom, of course, due to social distancing but where there’s a virtual party you are likely to find a Dartmouth Dachshund.
Me: Well, Hope and Leo were very welcoming, and it was so lovely to finally have my hair cut and my colour back. I feel like me again.
Nell: Yes. Kev and I are rather glad to have you back, too.
Me: It was getting me down, Nell. Unfortunately bad hair can affect your self confidence.
Nell: Yes. I’m thankful for my glossy coat. Talking of hair, Poppy says she’s booked in for a cut on Friday.
Me: Yes. I still don’t think she should take her sword with her, though. Could you talk to her?
Nell: I can try but you know what she’s like.
Me: It gives the wrong impression.
Nell: Poppy rarely travels without her sword. You know that.
Me: At least she’s not a Doberman.
Nell: What’s that supposed to mean?
Me: A Doberman arriving at the groomers with a sword would be much more worrying than a small Maltese cross.
Nell: You have nothing to worry about. John will be waiting outside and Dobermans don’t do clipping anyway. Do keep up.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
