Nell: That’s Marvin in Toronto.
Me: Alice sent me some photos. She was delighted to meet him at long last.
Nell: He’s been talking about her visit in our group chat on WoofsApp for weeks.
Me: I’ve just had some more good news.
Nell: Pray tell.
Me: Nigel and my sister Charlotte are staying over on Saturday.
Nell: Have you seen the guest bedrooms?
Me: What do you mean?
Nell: They’re full of boxes.
Me: I know. We’re moving house.
Nell: Well, they’re still going to need a bed.
Me: The bed is there, Nell. We’ve just got to move the boxes.
Nell: We?
Me: It’s probably going to have to be Kev.
Nell: Does he know?
Me: Yes. He says it’s no problem.
Nell: You’d better not let Nigel find out that Stuffed Tiger is coming with us to the little cottage in the middle of nowhere.
Me: I haven’t said he is.
Nell: You haven’t said he isn’t.
Me: He is coming with us.
Nell: I knew that.
Me: He’s part of the family.
Nell: Fine. I’m not going to argue. Does Herr Hoffmann know we have guests on Saturday?
Me: Yes. He’s cooking Swedish meatballs. Charlotte’s favourite.
Nell: How was your FaceTime with Toronto yesterday evening?
Me: Lovely. It was really heartwarming to see Alice and Chris together again.
Nell: It must have been.
Me: She’s still not well and has a nasty cough but she’s safely with her brother and can rest for a few days before she flies back to Berlin on Saturday.
Nell: Family is so important.
Me: Yes, and I also heard from my niece Abi that she’s expecting a baby next May.
Nell: How wonderful.
Me: My sister Alex would have been so happy.
Nell: She is. Trust me.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
