Me: Good morning from beautiful wild and windy Hope Cove.
Nell: How’s the Writers Retreat going?
Me: Really well. Spending time with other writers is exactly what I needed. They’re a lovely group of people.
Nell: Those two don’t look like writers.
Me: Ruby and Charlie?
Nell: On first names already I see.
Me: They were so well behaved during afternoon tea that I took their photos.
Nell: I love a cream tea.
Me: I know.
Nell: But it seems my cream tea days are over.
Me: I’m sure Dave could have another go at making Poppy’s scones.
Nell: David’s far too sad to make scones.
Me: You all look a bit down in the dumps, if I may say so.
Nell: Can you blame us? Condemned to sharing a bed under the kitchen table. Tealess and alone.
Me: You’re not alone.
Nell: It’s fine. Don’t worry about us. Enjoy your time with your new friends and their dogs.
Me: Ruby and Charlie were just visiting dogs. One of the writers has actually brought her dog with her but it wasn’t there for tea.
Nell: I beg your pardon? If any dog is joining the writers retreat it should be me. ‘Conversations with Nell’. Remember?
Me: I’ve talked about you an awful lot, if that helps.
Nell: Unbelievable.
Me: And guess what was waiting for me in my room?
Nell: Another dog?
Me: No. A parcel and a letter from Erica and Meg.
Nell: Do I know them?
Me: No, but they know you from our conversations.
Nell: What was in the parcel?
Me: Miss Penny Lane.
Nell: Who?
Me: It’s a long story, Nell, and probably best discussed another time.
Nell: Tell me now.
Me: She’s a chicken and she needs a home.
Nell: I knew it.
Me: Sorry.
