Me: What’s wrong with Dave’s leg?
Nell: Nothing at all. Why are you asking?
Me: It’s stretched right out and he’s looking concerned.
Nell: Is he?
Me: I think he might have done something to himself. Not that you look bothered.
Nell: I’m not bothered because David is just doing his Limbering Up exercises.
Me: Are you sure?
Nell: Yes, and he looks concerned because of that awful weather yesterday. He thinks it might come back again.
Me: It was dreadful, wasn’t it? Thunder and lightning and torrential rain.
Nell: Most inconvenient. Gladys and the llamas had to move to The Barn and there’s no space there to Glide properly.
Me: The larger animals have to go somewhere. It’s their home.
Nell: Gladys needs to keep fitness levels high.
Me: It’s lucky we live up high. Tony said down in Kingsbridge it was flooded in places and some shops had to shut.
Nell: It was even worse in Salcombe. My friend Dorothy was caught up in it all.
Me: Oh no.
Nell: She had to swim to safety.
Me: Gosh. How worrying.
Nell: Water doesn’t bother Dorothy. She’s a Salcombe Setter. They live to sail.
Me: Our house seems full of insects, by the way.
Nell: Henry and Horst ordered a mass evacuation. They knew you wouldn’t mind.
Me: Are they all leaving soon?
Nell: Yes, as soon as they’ve registered.
Me: Registered? For what?
Nell: All animals and insects have to register.
Me: Why?
Nell: How else can they vote?
Me: Are we having another General Election?
Nell: Don’t be silly.
Me: Or a Local Election?
Nell: No. It’s got nothing to do with elections.
Me: Why are they voting then?
Nell: Because Strictly Come Prancing will be starting soon. Every vote counts.
Me: Of course it does. Sorry.
