Me: Poppy really cares about Dave, doesn’t she?
Nell: She was playing Cheeky Animals behind his back.
Me: But look at the last photo. She is giving him such a loving look.
Nell: Yes, I agree. The last photo shows her true feelings.
Me: How is Dave today?
Nell: He was sick three times in the night and twice again this morning.
Me: Poor darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: Yes. Kennel cough is most unpleasant.
Me: Any news on the dancing?
Nell: Poppy says Stephen Seagull is being surprisingly good for a thoroughly bad bird.
Me: He’s a nasty piece of work, that one.
Nell: The sword helps. He’s lost a few feathers but that’s to be expected.
Me: What about the others?
Nell: My friend Dorothy says the Portuguese Podenco is a revelation.
Me: Gosh.
Nell: They are dancing the Samba, which isn’t the easiest thing for a Salcombe Setter to do, although the red hair helps.
Me: Yes, I can see that it would.
Nell: Apparently Paolo is extremely encouraging and Dorothy is giving it her all.
Me: Good for her. Did you know Jim Broadbent was filming in Kingsbridge yesterday?
Nell: Are we talking about an Old English Sheepdog here?
Me: No, the actor.
Nell: Jim the Old English Sheepdog is an actor. He was in ‘Lassie’ twice.
Me: Well, my Jim is a man. He is very famous. They’re filming ‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’ which is one of my favourite books.
Nell: We’ll have to go and see it. I don’t think you can say he is your Jim, by the way. It’s inappropriate and Kev won’t like it at all.
Me: I didn’t want to confuse him with Harriet’s Jim, or your Jim.
Nell: I don’t have a Jim.
Me: No. Sorry.
