Me: Harriet can be rebellious on the sly.
Nell: Surely not.
Me: She knows you dogs go in the back of the car.
Nell: She does.
Me: When I came out to the car I found her sitting in the front.
Nell: She prefers the view.
Me: She saw me coming and pretended she hadn’t seen me.
Nell: Wise move.
Me: And when I got nearer, she smiled.
Nell: Harriet is an exceptionally well mannered animal.
Me: It was naughty.
Nell: She moved eventually.
Me: She shouldn’t do it. Dave doesn’t.
Nell: David couldn’t get into the front if he tried.
Me: True. I don’t know how Harriet gets past the dog gate.
Nell: Nobody does.
Me: Anyway, she shouldn’t do it.
Nell: Have you finished complaining?
Me: Yes.
Nell: Can we move on to Other Business?
Me: We can.
Nell: Only I know it’s a rainy Monday and you’re disappointed England lost the match.
Me: Spain outplayed us. They deserved to win. We can be proud of reaching the final.
Nell: We most certainly can. Finished?
Me: Yes.
Nell: Now, bearing in mind that it’s only two weeks tomorrow until Alice and the grandchildren arrive.
Me: Is it really?
Nell; Yes.
Me: That’s exciting.
Nell: It is.
Me: We need to start planning.
Nell: That’s exactly what I was going to say. In fact, everyone is waiting for you downstairs.
Me: For me?
Nell: Yes. I thought you might like to chair the Family Visit Planning Committee.
Me: I’d love to. Let me get my notebook and pen.
Nell: There’s a pot of tea and a plate of biscuits waiting for you, too. Well, there is if David hasn’t eaten them all by mistake.
Me: This has really cheered me up.
Nell: That was the idea.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
