Me: I admire you, Nell.
Nell: Why?
Me: You know exactly who you are.
Nell: I do.
Me: You know exactly what you can do.
Nell: Yes.
Me: And exactly what you can’t.
Nell: Or won’t.
Me: You know your days of leaping into the sea after a ball are over.
Nell: I leave that kind of thing to Harriet nowadays.
Me: You have accepted the changes that come with old age.
Nell: There’s no point in doing otherwise.
Me: Some people struggle.
Nell: I’m not saying it’s easy but one must learn to fight the battles one can win.
Me: True.
Nell: A paddle is as good as a swim as long as you enjoy it.
Me: Yes.
Nell: One can also find great joy in simple contemplation.
Me: Yes. I do some of my best thinking down by the sea.
Nell: Here we go.
Me: With the wind in my hair and the salty smell of the sea in the air I can let my imagination run riot.
Nell: Please don’t.
Me: Seagulls whisper secrets and lions lurk around corners.
Nell: Firstly, seagulls never whisper. It’s not in their nature.
Me: You know what I mean.
Nell: And secondly, if that wretched lion is back you need to tell me now.
Me: I don’t think he is but he might be.
Nell: If we start dwelling on ‘might’ we’ll never get anywhere. I’m all about the here and now.
Me: Yes, it’s what I admire about you.
Nell: And right now I need a cup of Earl Grey and one of Poppy’s shortbread biscuits. Would you care to join me?
Me: I’d love to. Thank you.
Nell: Good.
Me: I struggle with getting older sometimes, Nell.
Nell: I know you do. Just try to accept.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
