Me: You love lying in the sunshine, don’t you?
Nell: Yes, the warmth of the sun is relaxing.
Me: Interestingly, you’ve almost turned into a curly coated retriever since we moved down to Devon.
Nell: I am not a curly coated retriever. I’m a pedigree Labrador
Me: I know but your hair is thick and curly.
Nell: Why this sudden interest in my hair?
Me: I was trying to photograph Dave and you kept being in the picture.
Nell: I was just sleeping.
Me: I know.
Nell: Why were you photographing David?
Me: Sally asked me to send her some photos to prove he was okay after his horrible ordeal at the vet’s.
Nell: Horrible ordeal? He had his ears cleaned.
Me: The vet found a tick in his ear, Nell.
Nell: Only a small one.
Me: Never mind the size of it. Ticks are nasty little things. Dave is on antibiotics for five days.
Nell: I know.
Me: Kev said he was a very brave boy.
Nell: I have my ears cleaned all the time.
Me: I know. I clean them. And now I’m going to have to clean Dave’s too, and check all three of you for ticks in your ears. Why are you smiling?
Nell: We’re not the only ones with ears.
Me: I think Herr and Frau Hoffmann can probably check each other’s ears.
Nell: I’m not talking about bears.
Me: I’m not checking Lionel King’s ears.
Nell: Or lions, or any kind of cat. Big, or small.
Me: I think I’ll let The Cat check its own ears.
Nell: The animals I’m thinking of are quite hard to pin down.
Me: What?
Nell: Have you ever lassoed a llama?
Me: No.
Nell: You’re going to have to learn how to now.
Me: Not happening. Sorry.
