Me: Harriet is awfully good at catching biscuits.
Nell: We’ve all put on a little weight over the last few years. No need to draw attention.
Me: I wasn’t, Nell. I just noticed her catching skills had improved when we were down on the beach.
Nell: Harriet is at her happiest by the sea.
Me: I think we all are. Talking of sea, I have some exciting news.
Nell: Tell me.
Me: Jonathan Sky called me from Berlin yesterday afternoon to let me know he had passed his ‘Little Seahorse’ examination and is now an official swimmer.
Nell: Well done, Jonathan.
Me: Yes. I’m an extremely proud Granny. He’s looking forward to swimming in the sea when he visits us this summer.
Nell: You’re excited already, aren’t you?
Me: Yes. Very. It’s been over two years. He was only 3 and Faye was a baby the last time I saw them.
Nell: I had my 8th birthday when they were here.
Me: You did and the puppies were only 2.
Nell: You know you’ve been getting their birthdays wrong, don’t you?
Me: Have I?
Nell: Yes. They were born on 19th June not July.
Me: Twins.
Nell: Of very different sizes.
Me: No, I mean their star sign is Gemini.
Nell: Don’t start. Leave the horoscopes to The Cat.
Me: Do you remember when Poppy dressed as a fortune teller?
Nell: She got her head stuck under a throw. You have too much imagination for your own good.
Me: I’ll be glad when Gladys and the llamas come home. The field seems so empty without them.
Nell: Apart from all the sheep.
Me: And the lion.
Nell: What lion?
Me: The one who keeps watching you through his binoculars.
Nell: Nonsense.
Me: In a cowboy hat.
Nell: Enough.
Me: Sorry.
