Me: You don’t mind trains and stations, do you?

Nell: No, I find them quite interesting.

Me: The noise doesn’t bother you at all.

Nell: To be fair, our local station isn’t exactly London Paddington.

Me: True. You were very pleased to see Shel.

Nell: We all were.

Me: I noticed you cuddling up to him later.

Nell: It’s important to make visitors feel welcome.

Me: Shel’s like family.

Nell: Even more important then.

Me: He’s very sad about Poppy. He says the house is awfully quiet without her.

Nell: He doesn’t have her issuing orders in his head.

Me: What’s she saying?

Nell: It’s Saturday so David needs to make sure Shel has a proper English breakfast. Bacon, eggs, mushroom and tomatoes.

Me: Are you sure Poppy said that?

Nell: Absolutely. She knows we’ve been having a lot of German breakfasts recently.

Me: Only that sounds like something you, or Dave, would say.

Nell: Moving on, you will be pleased to hear David has listened to Poppy’s advice and is busy grilling bacon as we speak.

Me: I can smell it.

Nell: Herr Hoffmann has been given a well earned morning off.

Me: Will Dave manage alone?

Nell: Malcolm and Manuel are there too.

Me: Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

Nell: You’re best leaving it to the experts.

Me: But Dave isn’t an expert, Nell. He’s only partially trained.

Nell: He has Poppy’s recipe book, winning ways and a willingness to learn. What more could you possibly want?

Me: I just hope the bacon doesn’t get eaten by mistake.

Nell: Bacon is meant to be eaten. Anyway, Poppy’s instructions allow for Chef’s Treats so there’s nothing to be worried about.

Me: Chef’s Treats?

Nell: Extra bacon. Do keep up.

Me: I see. Sorry.

Me: It’s a Canadian sort of day today.

Nell: What are you talking about?

Me: Shannon shared a lovely photo of Marvin in the park near their apartment in Toronto.

Nell: He’s looking well. Dear boy.

Me: Bless him. Seeing Marvin so happy and safe is my pocketful of happiness. He had such a hard start in life.

Nell: Thank goodness Chris and Shannon rescued him.

Me: Yes.

Nell: So, is that why today is Canadian?

Me: Also Shel is arriving later. He’s Canadian too.

Nell: I know he is. Did you see people have been donating to the fundraiser for the animation again?

Me: Of course and we’ve actually managed to reach the halfway mark which is wonderful.

Nell: I was right to ask you to post the link again, wasn’t I?

Me: You were.

Nell: There are always going to be people who haven’t seen it, or got around to donating yet.

Me: A lot of them said they were donating to honour Poppy which made me cry.

Nell: In a good way I hope?

Me: Absolutely. I can’t wait to see her on screen.

Nell: Now, I’ve had a word with David and Gladys about yesterday.

Me: Good.

Nell: I’ve told Gladys that she is not to wear my pearls again.

Me: Quite right too.

Nell: So she’s opted for a small bow in her hair.

Me: Which is quite restrained for Gladys.

Nell: And David has accepted that my handbag is not a vehicle for carrying around small fluffy dogs.

Me: We’ll see.

Nell: I know we all want to look our best for Shel.

Me: We do.

Nell: So, where’s your hat?

Me: I don’t need one. It isn’t cold enough.

Nell: Not the all encasing hat. A smart one. Chop chop.

Me: Right. Sorry.

Me: I wish Harriet wouldn’t wait for Poppy at the window. It breaks my heart.

Nell: She says she can’t help it. She knows she isn’t coming back but she can’t stop hoping.

Me: Kev and I do the same thing. I’m constantly expecting to hear her little feet scampering up the stairs.

Nell: I know.

Me: You seem to be coping the best.

Nell: That’s because I’ve got her constantly barking orders at me from above.

Me: How is she?

Nell: Demanding we cook a decent roast on Sunday and insisting David makes her Yorkshire puddings.

Me: Does he know?

Nell: Yes, he’s practising now.

Me: Shel will be delighted.

Nell: Shel our Canadian friend from Vancouver?

Me: Yes.

Nell: The film director organising the animation of Conversations with Nell?

Me: Yes. He’s been in Cannes all week and is coming here for a long weekend.

Nell: Why didn’t you tell me?

Me: I thought I did.

Nell: I’ll need my pearls.

Me: Will you really?

Nell: I have to look my best. The animation is all about me.

Me: It’s about all of us.

Nell: I’m in the title.

Me: True.

Nell: Have you shared the link to the GoFundMe page recently?

Me: No.

Nell; We have over 25,000 followers. There are literally thousands of them who haven’t donated yet.

Me: Okay. Here it is: https://gofund.me/42cc1159

Nell: Let’s hope we can raise a little more. We’re nearly halfway there.

Me: It would be wonderful.

Nell: We’re going to make this happen. You have to believe.

Me: Yes, you’re right. It’s even more important now because it means our little Poppy will be immortalised on screen.

Nell: Exactly. Did David just walk past carrying my handbag?

Me: Yes.

Nell: With Gladys inside it wearing my pearls?

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: Dave’s got the right idea, if you ask me.

Nell: I didn’t actually, but why?

Me: Sometimes you just have to give in and today is one of those days.

Nell: Give into what?

Me: The weather. It’s raining nonstop out there.

Nell: I know. Gladys and the llamas had to glide inside.

Me: Poor little things.

Nell: Less of the little. The kitchen is now full of wet llamas so I’ve told them to come in here to dry off.

Me: Good idea. It’s A Fireside Sort Of Day.

Nell: David has taken the best seat in the house.

Me: Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. He looks so comfortable and large.

Nell: Herr Hoffmann says we’re all having German pea soup for lunch with sausages. An odd combination if truth be told.

Me: Perfect. I love a bowl of Erbsensuppe.

Nell: I beg your pardon?

Me: Pea soup. You get it everywhere at German markets and food stalls. It’s made with the big yellow peas and they add sausages, or chunks of ham.

Nell: I see.

Me: It’s just right for a wet and miserable day.

Nell: I’m not sure about the heavy dark bread he pulled out of the oven.

Me: It looks heavier than it tastes.

Nell: Maybe I could have my sausage in a nice white roll?

Me: No, you couldn’t. You need your five a day.

Nell: I suppose I could eat 5 sausages if pushed.

Me: I meant five vegetables and you know it.

Nell: Rupert has suggested an afternoon of board games. What do you think?

Me: That’s a lovely idea.

Nell: I thought so too. You sound a little brighter today.

Me: I am. People have been so kind and supportive.

Nell: You’re greatly loved. Never forget that.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: Today is Alex’s birthday.

Nell: I know.

Me: She would have been 59.

Nell: No age at all.

Me: I hope she knows how much she was loved.

Nell: She does. Trust me.

Me: She was my little sister. I should have taken better care of her.

Nell: There was nothing you could have done.

Me: I miss her so much.

Nell: It will get easier with time.

Me: Watching you dogs enjoying your walk is a great comfort.

Nell: We love it.

Me: Kev and I are going to do all we can to stay in this area.

Nell: We’ll be fine wherever we are. Don’t worry.

Me: I’m afraid I’m having one of those days.

Nell: It’s understandable. An awful lot has happened in the past few months.

Me: The thought of moving house fills me with dread but I’ve done it before and I can do it again.

Nell: Exactly.

Me: And in the meantime I’ll try and find my pockets of happiness wherever I can.

Nell: Good for you.

Me: Today’s is seeing Harriet rolling happily on her back on top of the tennis ball.

Nell: The Beefies had mackerel pate on their bread rolls this morning, by the way.

Me: I’m not sure I fancy mackerel for breakfast. I might manage a kipper.

Nell: Herr Hoffmann is spoiling them.

Me: They probably brought him the mackerel.

Nell: They did. He says they are ‘Clever little seagirls’.

Me: Just imagine if they actually change their ways.

Nell: There’s no sign of that. They threw a mackerel at Malcolm.

Me: Does Herr Hoffmann know?

Nell: Yes. He just laughed and caught the rest of the fish in his big bear paws.

Me: Bears are good at catching fish.

Nell: That’s not the point.

Me: No. Sorry.

Me: Look at my darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. He’s completely irresistible.

Nell: I’m afraid he’s finding fresh rolls every morning irresistible too.

Me: We all are.

Nell: Do you know Herr Hoffmann is even feeding the Beefies?

Me: Seriously?

Nell: I’m surprised you haven’t heard them calling for him.

Me: I thought it was just their general hullabaloo.

Nell: No, it’s all ‘Come out Bear Hoffmann!’

Me: Who?

Nell: That’s what they call him.

Me: I rather like Bear Hoffmann.

Nell: Well, yes we all do.

Me: No, I mean the name. It suits him.

Nell: Anyway, they line up and call him and he gives them the leftover rolls.

Me: I’m surprised there are any left with Dave around.

Nell: He says they’re the broken ones.

Me: I suppose he’s right. The Beefies are a bit broken if you think about it. Maybe showing them a little kindness is the way to go.

Nell: I’m talking about broken rolls, not Beefies.

Me: They told us he was with Sir Roger Blubbery and it wasn’t a lie.

Nell: True.

Me: So sharing a few rolls with them seems fair enough to me.

Nell: Perhaps.

Me: You never know the Beefies might just turn over a new leaf.

Nell: They’re going to struggle with that. It’s autumn. All the leaves are dying.

Me: You know what I mean.

Nell: He has a name for them too, by the way.

Me: Who?

Nell: The Beefies. He calls them his ‘little seagirls.’

Me: But most of them are boys.

Nell: I know. He must have misheard it.

Me: I might start calling them that myself.

Nell: I wouldn’t if I were you.

Me: Stephen Seagirl isn’t going to like it, is he? See what I did there?

Nell: Just stop.

Me: Sorry.

Me: I was thinking about getting older on our walk.

Nell: Here we go.

Me: And how I could learn from you.

Nell: How?

Me: It never bothers you when Dave and Harriet rush ahead.

Nell: They’re excited to be out and about.

Me: You just take your time and amble along enjoying what’s around you.

Nell: I do.

Me: And sometimes when you realise you’re never going to catch up with them you simply take a shortcut through the long grass.

Nell: Yes.

Me: Because you know the path will eventually lead them around and back to you.

Nell: It will.

Me: Acceptance is the key. Knowing what you can and can’t do and realising that’s fine.

Nell: What we definitely can’t do is be late for Sunday Songs?

Me: Is something special happening?

Nell: Beauregard and the Welsh Corgi Choir are performing their number one hit and the llamas are dancing.

Me: Did you say number one?

Nell: Didn’t you see Top of the Pups?

Me: No, I missed it.

Nell: It’s very catchy. I found myself dancing along.

Me: What’s it called?

Nell: ‘Tiger Feet’.

Me: My sister Charlotte loved that song and so did Kev. It’s really old.

Nell: Excuse me? Haven’t we just been discussing getting older?

Me: Yes.

Nell: And how Acceptance is the key and everything comes around?

Me: Yes.

Nell: Well, it’s time to accept that ‘Tiger Feet’ is back. Let’s kick up our heels and join the others.

Me: Absolutely.

Nell: The Welsh Corgi Choir are meant to be tigers, by the way. They look like portly cats but whatever makes them happy.

Me: Yes.

Nell: Shall we take a shortcut through the field? We’ll get there ahead of time and can wait for everyone to join us.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: You’re a classic beauty, Nell.

Nell: Thank you.

Me: Somehow your greying chops make you even more beautiful.

Nell: Greying chops?

Me: The grey around your mouth.

Nell: Well, say that then. Have you noticed David has a slightly grey chin?

Me: No. Not my darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.

Nell: According to your theory it should make him even more beautiful.

Me: But he’s just a puppy.

Nell: David is six years old.

Me: I keep forgetting.

Nell: Harriet has had a greying chin for quite a while.

Me: She’s always been the more mature one.

Nell: Which has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Me: It might do.

Nell: Mrs King says Roary is growing out of the tree house.

Me: Oh dear. I suppose it must be a bit cramped with two lions and a tiger.

Nell: Don’t forget the opossum.

Me: Is Oliver still living with them?

Nell: Of course. Lionel wants to take Roary on holiday during half term.

Me: I hope Mrs King refused to allow that.

Nell: He’s Roary’s father.

Me: He’s a villain and no good will come of it.

Nell: Fortunately, it’s not your decision to make.

Me: Beauregard won’t like it.

Nell: Beauregard does not have a say in this.

Me: He’s Roary’s stepfather.

Nell: Nevertheless.

Me: And he’s a fierce tiger.

Nell: Being fierce doesn’t mean you’re right.

Me: Poppy was fierce.

Nell: She still is.

Me: Poppy wouldn’t have allowed Lionel to take Roary on holiday.

Nell: This is between Mrs King and Lionel. Keep out of it.

Me: Can I smell bacon?

Nell: Of course you can smell bacon. It’s Saturday. We can’t start the weekend without a bacon sandwich.

Me: Right.

Nell: Standards must be maintained you know. Poppy would expect it.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: My pocketful of happiness was seeing Harriet having fun on the beach.

Nell: Thank goodness she washed all that sand off in the sea.

Me: There’s nothing wrong with a bit of sand.

Nell: Not all over you.

Me: Maybe not, although sand can get everywhere.

Nell: Especially when you roll in it.

Me: I think autumn might have finally arrived. Summer hung on for as long as it could but it’s time to say farewell until we meet again next year.

Nell: Here we go.

Me: The leaves are turning golden brown and the grass has a luscious depth to it.

Nell: Luscious depth? Good grief. If you mean it’s wet under paw then I agree.

Me: Didn’t you notice the greenness of the green?

Nell: Don’t start.

Me: I was marvelling at it. We really are so lucky to live where we do.

Nell: Did Alice enjoy her birthday?

Me: Very much. She said she was thoroughly spoilt which is just as it should be.

Nell: Good. I thought David’s scones were a little better than last time.

Me: Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. He’s trying so hard.

Nell: They were definitely lighter.

Me: I think he ate a few by mistake.

Nell: I meant lighter in taste not numbers.

Me: Poppy would have been proud.

Nell: She’s certainly given him lots of notes. I’ve had to get a new notebook.

Me: Is she talking to Dave too?

Nell: No, it all goes through me.

Me: I wish I could talk to her.

Nell: You can. She’s always listening.

Me: But I can’t hear her.

Nell: Don’t worry. I can.

Me: When the time comes, will I be able to hear you?

Nell: Of course. You and me. Always. You’ll need several notebooks though.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Nell: It’s Alice’s birthday today.

Me: I can’t believe my little girl is 39. How did that happen?

Nell: You say that every year.

Me: I do, don’t I?

Nell: I hope she’s having better weather than we are here.

Me: Do you think everyone discusses the weather, or just we Brits?

Nell: Our weather is changeable. It makes it more interesting.

Me: True.

Nell: Anyway, in honour of Alice, Herr Hoffmann has made us a special cake for tea.

Me: I had a Poppy moment then. Afternoon tea was her speciality.

Nell: I know but David is going to do his best. There will be sandwiches, crusts off, and another attempt at scones.

Me: Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.

Nell: I’ve written a poem for Alice, by the way. Would you like to hear it?

Me: Very much.

Nell: ‘Darling Alice,

What can I say?

Except Happy Birthday

On your special day.

So many people

Are thinking of you

And wishing you sunshine

And happiness too.

Your mother sends hugs

And is sad she’s not there,

Although she has a piece of Berlin

In the shape of a bear,

Who has stepped in to help us

When we needed it most,

With freshly baked rolls

And hot buttered toast.

Fayely and Jonathan

Want you to know

That you’re the best mummy

There ever was, so

Let’s raise our tea cups

And cake in the air

With love for Alice

And thanks to that bear.’

Me: Perfect. I think you might have a soft spot for Herr Hoffmann.

Nell: I must admit I’m finding him a great comfort during this sad time.

Me: We all are. And the cake helps.

Nell: Everything is better with cake. Now let’s celebrate that wonderful daughter of yours. No more tears.

Me: Yes. Sorry.