Me: What do you think the puppies are saying to each other?

Nell: They’re probably discussing bacon.

Me: Or the weather?

Nell: No. I think bacon is more likely.

Me: I keep wondering why Harriet stole that food?

Nell: It’s probably Comfort Eating, We all do it now and again.

Me: Dave does it a lot.

Nell: David is in a league of his own.

Me: Is Harriet worried about anything?

Nell: Leaving Jim the Farm Dog when we move house is certainly right up there.

Me: Oh my goodness. Of course. I hadn’t thought about that.

Nell: She didn’t want to bother you.

Me: What can we do?

Nell: Nothing. They won’t be able to see each other as often but they will find a way.

Me: I hope so.

Nell: Love always finds a way if it’s meant to be.

Me: That’s a lovely photo of Jim.

Nell: Harriet likes it.

Me: Maybe the puppies are watching the field for Jim?

Nell: Harriet might be, but I think David is just Being There.

Me: He’s very good at that.

Nell: Yes, he is.

Me: So, are you.

Nell: Sometimes that’s all that’s needed.

Me: Yes.

Nell: How are you feeling?

Me: Very achy and a bit shivery.

Nell: It will pass. Frau Hoffmann is making her nourishing chicken soup for lunch with fresh crusty rolls and farmhouse butter.

Me: Sounds good.

Nell: It’s bound to make you feel better.

Me: I really hope so. We have an awful lot to do.

Nell: One step at a time. Get well first.

Me: You’re right. I think I have a touch of the Monday Blues.

Nell: Well, brush them away. It’ll be Tuesday before you know it and you will start to feel much better.

Me: Yes, I will. Sorry.

Me: I’m glad we went to the activity field with you all yesterday. I definitely couldn’t go there today.

Nell: Neither could I. It’s pouring with rain.

Me: I meant Kev and I are very achy today after our vaccinations.

Nell: Yes. I noticed you weren’t feeling quite yourselves. Today needs to be a quiet day.

Me: Yes. We can’t have Sunday Songs outside.

Nell: Don’t worry. It’s been moved to the Big Barn and Our Penguin will be filming, so those who can’t get here can watch it on YouChewed.

Me: The wonders of technology. I noticed the Whippets Institute minibus arrived here much earlier than usual.

Nell: Yes. They collected the Welsh Corgi Choir.

Me: How kind of them. Walking here in the rain on those little legs would have been awfully wet and tiring.

Nell: Corgis are tougher than you think. Besides, they have wellington boots and sou’westers.

Me: Well, I’m glad they travelled in comfort.

Nell: They’re eating bacon sandwiches in comfort at the moment with huge mugs of tea. The kitchen is full of them.

Me: Even better. Talking of food, Harriet was a naughty girl yesterday.

Nell: Surely not.

Me: When you and I were having a sit down and a chat in the activity field I put some biscuits on one of the tree stumps.

Nell: I know.

Me: And when I turned around Harriet had jumped up and eaten the lot.

Nell: Uninvited?

Me: Yes. She stole them while we were talking.

Nell: That’s very out of character.

Me: I know.

Nell: David said she stole half his pizza yesterday evening. I thought he was exaggerating.

Me: Poor darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy. No wonder he needs a second breakfast.

Nell: Everybody needs a second breakfast. It’s Sunday.

Me: Oh yes. Sorry.

Me: It’s a beautiful morning. I’m going to miss this view so much.

Nell: Devon is a beautiful county, there will be other lovely views.

Me: Yes, there will. Especially if we manage to get the little cottage in the middle of nowhere.

Nell: I shall be glad when I can uncross my paws. Waiting to hear if we’ve got that cottage is tiring me out.

Me: It’s not doing me any favours, Nell.

Nell: Harriet is worried, by the way.

Me: There’s no point. What will be will be. The owners are just taking their time deciding.

Nell: Not about buying the cottage. About you and Kev.

Me: We’ll be alright, Nell. The waiting is stressful, but we haven’t lost hope.

Nell: No. Rumour has it that you and Kev are getting Covid today.

Me: That’s nonsense. We’re going to get our flu and Covid vaccinations this lunchtime.

Nell: Well, that’s a relief. I wondered how you could know the exact day you would catch it.

Me: Who told you?

Nell: Mothew. He heard you and Kev discussing it.

Me: He should stop being so nosey and if he is going to be nosey, he should listen more carefully.

Nell: I’ll tell him.

Me: You’d best tell Harriet, too. I don’t want her to worry.

Nell: I will.

Me: I was thinking about the animation.

Nell: And?

Me: And how wonderful it is that we will all be immortalised in it. This house, those views, will always be there.

Nell: The house and views are going to be there whether we are or not.

Me: You’re right, but it’s still lovely to think that we will always be enjoying them. Even if only on film.

Nell: Yes, it is. Enough chit chat. I can smell bacon.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: Dave’s looking at himself in the mirror again.

Nell: How many times do I have to tell you it isn’t David? It’s the Other David.

Me: You don’t really believe that.

Nell: Just leave them alone. I don’t take photos of you when you do your Morning Staring at the Other Sara.

Me: I’m staring at myself. Actually, I’m trying not to. Looking into mirrors is depressing, nowadays.

Nell: Well, you do an awful lot of it.

Me: Everyone does.

Nell: I don’t. I try and avoid the Other Nell as much as possible.

Me: I’m on your side there.

Nell: David is different. He loves the Other David.

Me: Dave loves everyone. He made a new friend on the beach.

Nell: Did he?

Me: Yes. An elderly Labrador called Frank.

Nell: Frank’s not a new friend. I’ve known him for years.

Me: You never mentioned him before.

Nell: I don’t have to tell you everything.

Me: How do you know Frank?

Nell: He was my accountant.

Me: You had an accountant?

Nell: Yes.

Me: Why?

Nell: Someone has to do the books.

Me: You don’t have any books.

Nell: That’s what you think.

Me: And if you did, you’d need a bookkeeper.

Nell: Frank does it all. I should say ‘did’. He’s retired now.

Me: You’re making this up.

Nell: I am not. I leave that to you.

Me: Next time we’re on the beach and we see Frank I’m going to ask him.

Nell: He won’t tell you anything. Frank is the soul of discretion. He never discusses his clients.

Me: You have an answer for everything,

Nell: And you ask far too many questions.

Me: Dave’s stopped looking at himself.

Nell: That’s because the Other David has things to do. As do you.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: I found this beautiful photo of you and Harriet taken a few years ago at the beach in the sunset, and I thought it would be good to post it again.

Nell: I know today would have been your little sister Alex’s 60th birthday.

Me: She’s always in my thoughts but today especially. She left us far too early, Nell. I miss her so much.

Nell: Let’s go down to the beach later. I know I can’t walk very far, but you and I can sit and watch the others together.

Me: That would be lovely. The sea is my happy place.

Nell: I think this might be a boiled egg sort of day, with soldiers on the side. Crusts off.

Me: I think you’re right.

Nell: Your bodyguard David will be available for cuddles.

Me: How kind.

Nell: And you and I could play a game of Scrabble later, if you like?

Me: You always win.

Nell: I might not today.

Me: You will. You’re so competitive.

Nell: Rupert could read to us by the fire.

Me: I’d like that. Knitwear Wolf has such a deep and reassuring voice.

Nell: He does. We could even have a cream tea. I’m sure Herr Hoffmann would make some of Poppy’s scones. He has the recipe.

Me: I appreciate you looking out for me.

Nell: You do the same for me.

Me: We’re a team.

Nell: We are. Talking of teams, the llamas are thinking of taking up lacrosse.

Me: Really?

Nell: Have you ever played?

Me: No, but my sister Charlotte did.

Nell: Maybe she can give them a few tips?

Me: She’s 62 now, Nell.

Nell: Just because you can’t do something anymore doesn’t mean you can’t teach someone else.

Me: That’s true. Sorry.

Nell: No sorries. Not today.

Me: Why are you looking so worried?

Nell: I heard you telling Kev you might put a hot water bottle in my bed.

Me: Yes. I wanted your bed to be all warm and snuggly. I know this horrid rainy weather can make you feel a bit achy.

Nell: I don’t want it anywhere near me.

Me: Why?

Nell: Hot water bottles are dangerous.

Me: Only if you don’t screw the lid on properly and overfill with boiling water.

Nell: You can only use them for a few years. They have expiry dates. People don’t realise and children get burned.

Me: Where did you hear that?

Nell: On the radio. A doctor was talking about the rising number of burns.

Me: Oh my goodness. How dreadful. I didn’t know.

Nell: Check the expiry date.

Me: I don’t know where to look.

Nell: It’s just inside the neck.

Me: 2022.

Nell: There you are. You can’t use it anymore.

Me: But why don’t they tell you this? Shouldn’t there be a warning?

Nell: Yes.

Me: My mother had hot water bottles older than me. She always put one in my bed in the colder months.

Nell: You were lucky.

Me: Thank you for letting me know.

Nell: Everyone needs to know, if they don’t already.

Me: I agree.

Nell: I’ll have one of Rupert’s soft blankets and a cup of Earl Grey, if it’s not too much trouble.

Me: It isn’t.

Nell: And a couple of slices of hot buttered toast with some homemade marmalade.

Me: Fine.

Nell: You can leave the crusts on, if it’s freshly baked bread.

Me: It always is.

Nell: Thank you for looking after me.

Me: Getting older isn’t easy.

Nell: It’s much easier when you’re surrounded by love. Let’s count our blessings.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: Do you think Dave and Nigel are worried about me?

Nell: What do you mean?

Me: Nigel climbed on the bed while I was writing and stood guard and then Dave almost climbed on top of me.

Nell: David can be a little overprotective of those he loves.

Me: I could hardly breathe.

Nell: David has no concept of his size.

Me: Nigel was definitely on alert. Do you think they’re picking up on my worry about getting the little cottage in the middle of nowhere?

Nell: No. I think it’s about the Stuffed Tiger.

Me: The Stuffed Tiger?

Nell: You’re doing that repeating thing again.

Me: What about the Stuffed Tiger? It’s just sitting on top of the wardrobe.

Nell: Exactly.

Me: Minding its own business.

Nell: Ha! That’s what it wants you to think.

Me: It’s stuffed.

Nell: The question is, what with?

Me: Stuffing.

Nell: And?

Me: Nothing else.

Nell: You can think that, if you like, but we know otherwise.

Me: Nonsense.

Nell: The biscuits have gone, you know.

Me: Yes. We cleared them away. We can’t have biscuits on top of the wardrobe.

Nell: But you can have tigers.

Me: It’s a little unusual, but it enjoys the view. It can see out of the terrace window and it doesn’t feel quite so alone.

Nell: What about the candles?

Me: They aren’t real. They give a lovely light in the evening.

Nell: Why does the Stuffed Tiger need a lovely light?

Me: It’s all alone up there, Nell.

Nell: Is it? Mothew isn’t too sure.

Me: Don’t start all that again.

Nell: Anyway, until we know more, David is your regular bodyguard and Nigel is a visiting one.

Me: You can’t have a visiting bodyguard.

Nell: This photo says you can.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Nell: Thank you for sharing that video of me on your Conversations with Nell page.

Me: You mean the one of you chilling in the activity field at Dog and Dash?

Nell: Yes.

Me: My pleasure.

Nell: I hope people don’t think I’m lazy.

Me: Nobody would think that.

Nell: I’m merely sensible. I know my limitations.

Me: Exactly.

Nell: Anyway, while I was relaxing, I was able to observe the other dogs, and I noticed that Harriet and Nigel have become firm friends

Me: They love to run together. You could call them Running Buddies.

Nell: I could, but I won’t. I’m from Oxfordshire, not North America.

Me: They say buddy in Devon.

Nell: Talking of North America, we should say Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends and family.

Me: Yes. Happy Thanksgiving dear Canadians.

Nell: We’ll be joining them in spirit with our turkey leftovers today.

Me: Is Herr Hoffmann doing anything exciting with our leftovers?

Nell: He’s making turkey sandwiches for lunch and bubble and squeak for dinner.

Me: I don’t think they know what bubble and squeak is in North America.

Nell: It’s just leftover vegetables from a roast dinner chopped and fried and served with gravy and the leftover meat.

Me: Kev’s family have bubble and squeak with a fried egg and baked beans.

Nell: Each to their own.

Me: Did I tell you Alice loved my poem? It made her cry.

Nell: It was a lovely poem.

Me: It came from the heart.

Nell: Lovely things usually do.

Me: She says thank you to everyone for their birthday messages.

Nell: People are kind if you give them the chance. Now, I know you’re missing Alice and Chris at the moment, but we have a great deal to be thankful for.

Me: We do. Sorry.

Nell: Have you seen The Growl on Sunday?

Me: Not yet. Why?

Nell: Look at the front page.

Me: It’s Harriet in a pink fluffy crown.

Nell: Yes. The crown’s a little vulgar but that’s The Growl for you.

Me: Why is she wearing it?

Nell: Harriet’s been chosen by the public as Our Devon Darling.

Me: That’s wonderful news.

Nell: It certainly is.

Me: Stephen Seagull must be spitting feathers.

Nell: That’s not something I need to see.

Me: It means angry. He’s definitely not going to be pleased about this. The cats must have come up trumps.

Nell: What are you talking about?

Me: The cats. They must have voted for her. I knew they wouldn’t choose a seagull.

Nell: Anyway, enough about cats and seagulls, today is all about Harriet.

Me: Yes.

Nell: The actual crowning will take place at Sunday Songs.

Me: Hasn’t she already been crowned?

Nell: No, that’s just photoshopping. Do keep up. The real crowning is happening here.

Me: Do we have a crown?

Nell: The Cat has a choice of tiaras and a velvet cloak in its Dressing Up Box.

Me: Will it be prepared to share?

Nell: Of course. The Cat is magnanimous in defeat. Besides, it loves a party.

Me: Are we having a celebratory Sunday roast?

Nell: Timothy is on an artists retreat, so Herr Hoffmann is cooking a Turkey Crown with all the trimmings.

Me: Will there be pigs in blankets?

Nell: I’ve no idea what the pigs are wearing. I didn’t even know they were invited.

Me: I meant sausages wrapped in bacon.

Nell: Why didn’t you say so? We’re having all the trimmings including cranberry sauce.

Me: It’s Canadian Thanksgiving tomorrow so you could say we’re celebrating early.

Nell: We’re celebrating Harriet.

Me: Of course. Sorry.

Me: I love these photos of Alice.

Nell: I know. It’s why I chose them.

Me: Thank you. I can’t believe Alice’s 40 today. How did that happen?

Nell: You say that about every birthday.

Me: I do, don’t I?

Nell: But this time it’s true. She certainly doesn’t look 40.

Me: I know you normally write the poems, Nell, but on this occasion, as it’s a big birthday, I wrote her a poem myself.

Nell: That’s absolutely fine.

Me: Would you like to hear it?

Nell: I think we should.

Me: ‘They say life begins at 40,

I suppose this could be true. 

What I know is 40 years ago

My life was changed by you.

The moment I saw your little face

And held you in my arms

I swore to keep you safe

And far away from harm.

My love for you, my darling,

Is more than words can say.

I’m so proud that you’re my daughter

And of the woman you are today.’

Nell: You did well.

Me: Thank you. It was from the heart.

Nell: I can tell.

Me: I hope she likes it.

Nell: She will. Trust me. Now, the results of Our Devon Darling are out tomorrow.

Me: Is it still tight between Stephen Seagull and Harriet?

Nell: Yes. I’m afraid the Cat Vote can’t be relied upon.

Me: Are they voting for Stephen?

Nell: According to the polls they could be voting for anyone. They’re refusing to say.

Me: Cats don’t like to commit.

Nell: Most of them refused to engage in any kind of conversation. Some even pushed the reporter’s hat off his head.

Me: How rude.

Nell: That’s cats for you.

Me: I wish I could give Alice a big hug.

Nell: You have with your poem.

Me: Yes. Sorry.