Me: Hasn’t Little Ollie grown?
Nell: Yes, he is such a lively, happy pup.
Me: Tony says he’s a Mummy’s boy.
Nell: You can see that he is well loved by the whole family.
Me: Yes, you can.
Nell: Anyway, Ollie is auditioning for the pantomime, so we are considering him as a Junior Ranger.
Me: He won’t have to trek across Dartmoor will he?
Nell: I beg your pardon? This is a pantomime, not a full length feature film. We aren’t going on location.
Me: Of course not. I was getting carried away.
Nell: We’re hoping to use the fields for some of the scenes and Princess’s pool will be the sea, but most of it will be in The Barn.
Me: Where are the larger animals going to sleep?
Nell: There’s plenty of room. Don’t fuss.
Me: I was thinking about the Seven Woofs.
Nell: No. You are the Talking Bowl. The Seven Woofs are already cast.
Me: Who are they then?
Nell: Henry and Horst are Wise and Witty Woof.
Me: But we can never hear anything they say.
Nell: David can. Anyway, they are going to have head mics. Where was I?
Me: The Seven Woofs.
Nell: Yes. Princess is playing Wilful Woof and Alejandro is Woolly Woof.
Me: Rather unusual names.
Nell: Malcolm has been persuaded to play Whimsical Woof and Babycakes Gillespie has been cast as Weary Woof.
Me: Because of his sad ears?
Nell: Yes, and generally low demeanour.
Me: We are missing a Woof.
Nell: That’ll be Wibbly Wobbly Woof.
Me: Wibbly Wobbly?
Nell: Yes. Manuel is perfect in the part.
Me: But he’s an octopus. Only one of the Woofs is a dog.
Nell: None of the Snows are polar bears, but that doesn’t seem to bother you.
Me: No. Sorry.
