



Me: You really love Tony’s visits don’t you? Look at your darling face.
Nell: Yes, Tony is family.
Me: You’re right. I think Dave gets a bit jealous though. Look at the way he grabbed Tony’s hand and jumped up.
Nell: Tony is his person. But he needs to know that love can be shared.
Me: I don’t think he’ll want to share Sally. Does he know she is coming to visit?
Nell: No. She wants to surprise him. Knitwear Wolf is driving to collect her from the station on his motorbike.
Me: Dave is going to go crazy.
Nell: Which is just what Sally wants. Poppy is cooking a special dinner.
Me: One of her roasts?
Nell: Roasts are for Sundays. You know that.
Me: Yes. Fish?
Nell: Fish is for Fridays. Bacon pasta if you must know with fresh cherry tomatoes and a light green salad from AJ the Gardening Afghan’s garden.
Me: Sounds delicious.
Nell: Yes, and it covers all bases. The vegetarians can lose the bacon and add cheese and the insects can just have salad.
Me: What about the fish eaters?
Nell: Prawns instead of bacon.
Me: Does Princess eat prawns?
Nell: Princess never goes anywhere without a mackerel.
Me: True. What about the football yesterday? England played well.
Nell: I know but Poppy and I really don’t appreciate the noise. Jumping up and down and shrieking really isn’t very dignified.
Me: I can’t help it.
Nell: Now, you need to remember that Sally is here as David’s girlfriend and nothing else.
Me: Yes.
Nell: No talk of spies, or secret service.
Me: Talking of spies.
Nell: I just told you not to.
Me: Why do ducks make terrible secret agents?
Nell: I don’t know.
Me: They quack under interrogation.
Nell: Good grief.
Me: Sorry.