Me: Thank goodness the power has finally come back on.
Nell: Speak up, please. I can hardly hear you above this wretched wind.
Me: Storm Eunice is rather noisy.
Nell: Storm Eunice is extremely annoying. I can’t hear myself think with all that howling going on.
Me: It’s what gales do.
Nell: You do realise our grocery delivery has been cancelled?
Me: We’ll manage, Nell. Poppy always has the freezer well stocked.
Nell: Poppy is furious. She says a storm is not going to stop her.
Me: Well, she’s wrong. We all need to stay at home today. There’s no point in anyone putting themselves in danger.
Nell: There’s no chance of David doing that. He’s just sleeping by the fire.
Me: I know. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. Nothing bothers him.
Nell: Lack of food might.
Me: We’re fine, Nell. We’ve got plenty of biscuits and there’s lots of water.
Nell: Biscuits and water? I hope they’re shortbread biscuits and please use the water to make a pot of Earl Grey tea.
Me: Harriet seems worried.
Nell: She doesn’t like storms. I think I might ask Rupert to read to us all in front of the fire later. That always helps.
Me: Yes, Knitwear Wolf has a comfortable growly sort of voice. Rather like Kev.
Nell: Dear James Beddall suggested ‘David Copperfield’.
Me: Yes. It’s an excellent idea. You can’t beat a bit of Dickens on a blustery day.
Nell: We certainly won’t be feeling the cold. All the outside animals have come inside until the storm is over so there’s bound to be some Storm Surviving Snuggling.
Me: Snuggling sounds fine to me, Nell. As long as I can snuggle with you.
Nell: I shall make an exception today but don’t get used to it.
Me: No. Sorry.
