Me: Thank goodness for the activity field. Dave and Poppy can run around there freely.
Nell: Yes, and I can take my time.
Me: Harriet never takes her time.
Nell: Not when she’s out but she can be a thoughtful little thing at home.
Me: You know Harriet is actually a bit bigger than you, don’t you?
Nell: She’ll always be a little thing to me. Harriet has a shy way about her.
Me: True. Your size doesn’t have to define you. Just look at David and Poppy in the field. David is a small pony and Poppy is a bundle of fluff.
Nell: I’m not sure she would appreciate that description.
Me: She wouldn’t because Poppy is a lion in personality while my darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy is a pussycat.
Nell: I beg your pardon? There is nothing remotely cat like about David.
Me: You know what I mean.
Nell: You need to be careful what you say. Doubts have been cast about David’s parentage.
Me: Are you talking about the vet saying she’d never seen such a big Labrador before and was he a purebred?
Nell: No, although Kev was most put out about it and reminded her David is Kennel Club registered.
Me: Yes, he told me.
Nell: There have been suggestions that David might be American.
Me: American? He’s from Oxfordshire.
Nell: I know that and you know that but apparently lots of Labradors are extremely big in America.
Me: Everything is bigger over there.
Nell: If David is American he might not be able to be Mayor of Kingsbridge.
Me: He isn’t Mayor of Kingsbridge.
Nell: He thinks he is and weren’t we just discussing how it isn’t how others see us but how we see ourselves that matters?
Me: Yes. You’re right. Sorry.
