Me: Look at your frothy feet and secret smile.
Nell: I beg your pardon?
Me: As for Harriet, she’s a real merdog. Strange to think she’s actually Oxfordshire born and bred.
Nell: We come from a long line of pedigree Labradors.
Me: Well, Harriet’s a proper Devon girl now.
Nell: She and David were only 4 months when we moved here.
Me: You’re right. They were tiny.
Nell: David was never tiny.
Me: He’s turning into a Dalmatian at the moment.
Nell: What do you mean?
Me: White paint on his ears. White paint on his tail.
Nell: I told him to keep away from the kitchen walls.
Me: It’s very difficult when you’re so large. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: Harriet has managed to get some on her too.
Me: Yes, and Kev’s covered in it.
Nell: Kev is doing the decorating. He’s allowed.
Me: It was lovely my sister Charlotte came for tea, wasn’t it? I’m so glad she and Scarlett are joining us for Christmas.
Nell: So am I. It’s going to be a difficult one.
Me: Our first without Alex and our last in this house.
Nell: Not to mention our first here without Poppy.
Me: How will we cope?
Nell: She has dictated an extremely long list to me.
Me: A list?
Nell: A Countdown to Christmas. What to do when.
Me: Sounds like Poppy. Will you remember it all?
Nell: Don’t worry. She’ll remind me.
Me: Everything is changing, Nell.
Nell: It’s the way of the world. It keeps on turning.
Me: And there’s no getting off.
Nell: Anyway, I must love you and leave you as I need to talk to Herr Hoffmann about Christmas trifle.
Me: Is that on Poppy’s list?
Nell: Yes, and she wants it sorted now.
Me: Sorry.
