Me: Harriet is such a merdog. She just rushes in and joins the surfers.
Nell: She certainly loves the sea.
Me: You used to.
Nell: Nowadays I prefer the river. One can drink and swim and there are no waves.
Me: True.
Nell: Now, have you seen Dave’s top hat?
Me: I can’t say I have.
Nell: He was wearing it yesterday so it must be somewhere.
Me: I hope the Beefies haven’t stolen it.
Nell: It won’t fit them if they have. Nasty creatures.
Me: Arctic Bob seems to have settled in. I saw him sharing a couple of mackerel with Princess earlier.
Nell: Yes. I’m afraid her head has been turned by that walrus. It’ll all end in tears.
Me: You never know. Maybe Arctic Bob is ready to settle down and put his seafaring days behind him?
Nell: Nonsense. This is real life, you know, not one of your stories.
Me: Is there any news on The Cat’s jewellery box?
Nell: It’s definitely on Lionel King’s ship. Bob tracked it down. We are expecting him to sail into Dartmouth today.
Me: Dartmouth? Why?
Nell: There’s an excellent Barks and Spencer in Dartmouth and we know Lionel can’t resist their sandwiches.
Me: So what’s the plan?
Nell: Knitwear Wolf and Beauregard are going to take over the ship while Lionel is out shopping and sail it back here.
Me: He’s going to be furious.
Nell: By the time he realises the ship has gone it will be too late.
Me: So Strictly will be sparkly again this weekend?
Nell: Yes.
Me: I hope they’ll have enough time to steal the ship. Buying a sandwich doesn’t take very long.
Nell: It’s never just a sandwich at Barks. A basket soon becomes a trolley. You know that.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
