Me: I made some really interesting observations in the activity field yesterday.
Nell: Here we go.
Me: Activity means different things to different people, or should I say animals.
Nell: Indeed. Everyone has their own way of staying active.
Me: Yes, and yours seems to involve an awful lot of sitting down.
Nell: I am exercising my mind. You of all people should understand that.
Me: I do. It’s just that the others love to run around sniffing here and sniffing there.
Nell: I enjoy a sniffari as much as the next dog.
Me: As long as it’s in your own time.
Nell: Exactly. We senior Labradors like to pace ourselves. Slow and steady.
Me: Yes, and the activity field is perfect for pondering, isn’t it?
Nell: It is.
Me: Did you come to any conclusions?
Nell: I did.
Me: Are you going to tell me what you were thinking about?
Nell: Pasta and Hattie Button.
Me: Interesting.
Nell: I thought so.
Me: Are the two connected?
Nell: They are.
Me: Could I ask how?
Nell: Poppy has decided that Saturday evening is pasta night and I was wondering whether Hattie Button would prefer spaghetti or penne.
Me: I know what I’d choose.
Nell: This isn’t about you.
Me: No.
Nell: I decided that much as penne is easily eaten no young animal can resist the joy of spaghetti.
Me: Speaking as an older animal I would say all ages find a spag bol pretty hard to resist.
Nell: Did I mention spaghetti bolognese? Poppy might be planning a carbonara or even a cacio e pepe.
Me: Seriously?
Nell: No, of course not. We’re having spaghetti bolognese in front of the television. England are playing in the World Cup quarter final. What else would we be doing?
Me: Yes. Sorry.
