Me: What was wrong with Harriet last night?
Nell: I don’t know.
Me: Getting me up at 3:30am and then Kev at 6am with her barking.
Nell: She’s outside now listening to Sunday Songs with Poppy.
Me: Good.
Nell: She knows you’re not happy.
Me: I’m just a bit tired.
Nell: Malcolm is feeling a little out of sorts today too, so Harriet is going to help Poppy prepare the vegetables for today’s roast beef.
Me: Will Dave be helping?
Nell: David is not to be trusted. Remember the Yorkshire pudding incident?
Me: They are very moreish.
Nell: A whole tray cannot be a mistake.
Me: I suppose not. Anyway, how did the dinner with Babycakes Gillespie go?
Nell: It didn’t start well. Alejandro was tired when they got to Plymouth and refused to wait outside.
Me: Fair enough.
Nell: So Malcolm had to ask Babycakes if his alpaca could join them.
Me: And could he?
Nell: Yes, but he snored his way through dinner which didn’t help the ambience.
Me: Was the food good?
Nell: It was all rather rich and served on gold plates. Malcolm prefers a leaner cuisine.
Me: What about Gladys’s contemporary dance?
Nell: Fortunately Alejandro woke up so he played his maracas.
Me: That’s a relief.
Nell: Yes. Babycakes was a little taken aback when she jumped on the table.
Me: Understandably.
Nell: We’re used to it by now, of course, but it is a little disconcerting the first time it happens.
Me: Do you think they’ll be invited back?
Nell: Let’s see how the dinner here goes first.
Me: Here?
Nell: Yes. Malcolm felt obliged to return the invitation.
Me: He’s not coming to Sunday roast today, is he?
Nell: Certainly not. Sunday roast is family time. You know that.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
