Me: I’m not sure I should be in the photos.
Nell: Of course you should. People like to see you enjoying the beach.
Me: Really?
Nell: Yes. And you have a new warm hat.
Me: That’s true. It’s not all encasing though.
Nell: No, but it does the job.
Me: Dave didn’t mean to eat my all encasing hat. It was a mistake.
Nell: I don’t think you can eat a hat by mistake.
Me: To be fair he didn’t actually eat it. He just chewed a big hole in the front.
Nell: David is perfectly well fed. He has no need to do things like that.
Me: He was thinking, Nell. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. When he’s thinking he likes to chew.
Nell: He has a perfectly nice Neon Green Chew. That kind of behaviour is completely out of order. David will be 6 next year. He’s not a puppy.
Me: He is to me.
Nell: I give up.
Me: I expect he’s sad that Miss Maple is leaving today.
Nell: We are all sad. Miss Maple will be missed.
Me: Do we know where she’s going?
Nell: No, she’s keeping her biscuits close to her bowl.
Me: Don’t you mean her cards close to her chest?
Nell: Why bring cards into this?
Me: Never mind.
Nell: Talking of cards The Cat has asked me to join it for a game of Bridge this afternoon.
Me: I used to play when I lived in Africa.
Nell: That was a long time ago.
Me: I could probably remember how to play if only someone gave me the chance.
Nell: I usually partner with Dorothy.
Me: I see. Never mind. I’ll just read my book. Alone.
Nell: Alright, you can play. Can I watch Saturday Kitchen now?
Me: Yes. Sorry.
