Me: Where are the puppies?
Nell: Upstairs by the window watching the rain.
Me: They can’t do that on their birthday. It’s miserable.
Nell: They can. I told them to.
Me: Why?
Nell: They’ve had a large breakfast, or in David’s case two, and they need to rest.
Me: Where’s Sally?
Nell: Rupert has gone to collect her from the station.
Me: I can’t believe the puppies are 5 today. It seems like yesterday that they were little.
Nell: David has never been little.
Me: Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: Sunday Songs are about to begin.
Me: Good.
Nell: The Welsh Corgi Choir are singing a selection of David and Harriet’s favourite songs ending with Happy Birthday when Sally arrives on the back of Rupert’s motorbike.
Me: How do they know when that will be?
Nell: They don’t, they’re just going to keep singing until the bike comes down the lane.
Me: But they won’t hear it.
Nell: Gladys and the llamas are listening out. At the first sound they’ll perform an interpretive dance indicating Sally’s imminent arrival.
Me: I can’t wait to see that. Won’t Harriet feel a bit left out?
Nell: No. Jim the Farm Dog will be singing ‘Unforgettable’ earlier in proceedings.
Me: So Dave will be happy for Harriet but sad for himself thinking that his true love is far away when we all know she isn’t.
Nell: Exactly. Now, please don’t give anything away.
Me: I won’t.
Nell: Just smile quietly.
Me: Are we still having Poppy’s Sunday Roast?
Nell: Of course. With all the trimmings and extra Yorkshire puddings and gravy so David can’t possibly make a mistake.
Me: I think you’ll find he can.
Nell: Then he does. It’s the puppies’ birthday today and they can do no wrong.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
