Me: Can we discuss the sudden craziness, please?
Nell: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Me: You suddenly jumping up on the sofa like an animal possessed and barking like a banshee.
Nell: Oh that.
Me: For no apparent reason at all.
Nell: Not to you.
Me: There were no deliveries, or cats, or pigeons.
Nell: So?
Me: Harriet was completely nonplussed.
Nell: Nonsense.
Me: And then Poppy started singing.
Nell: I’m not sure you could call it singing.
Me: No. It was more of a mad bark.
Nell: We could have done with The Great Barberino.
Me: No, you couldn’t. You two were making quite enough noise on your own.
Nell: Sometimes you just need to let your hair down.
Me: But you’re of a certain age now, Nell.
Nell: Everyone needs a mad moment regardless of age. You should try it sometime.
Me: I’m not sure about that.
Nell: Go out into the field, and have a jolly good bark.
Me: I can’t.
Nell: Not literally. A shout will do.
Me: I might scare the sheep.
Nell: Nothing bothers them. Trust me. They’re used to the llamas cartwheeling.
Me: They thought I was the farmer yesterday.
Nell: Why?
Me: I was doing my daily walk in my wellies and rain jacket because of the weather and they followed me.
Nell: They follow anyone. They’re sheep.
Me: They followed me in a keen sort of way.
Nell: Here we go.
Me: They don’t bother when I’m in shorts and t-shirt. I think I had something farmery about me.
Nell: There’s no such word.
Me: There is now.
Nell: I’m serious about the mad moment. Shout it out.
Me: Now?
Nell: No time like the present. The field’s free. Go on. What are you waiting for?
Me: Okay. Sorry.
