Me: Can we talk about yesterday and the orchard?
Nell: If we must.
Me: You sat under a tree. It was freezing cold.
Nell: Why were we there in the first place?
Me: It had finally stopped snowing, so Chris and I thought we’d pop over to the orchard with you all before dinner.
Nell: I didn’t want to pop anywhere.
Me: I know that now.
Nell: I was perfectly happy in front of the fire.
Me: So was I, but it’s always good to stretch your legs.
Nell: Is it?
Me: Yes. Especially after bacon sandwiches and before a big roast.
Nell: BBC Radio Devon specifically told everyone to keep off the roads.
Me: We just walked over to the orchard.
Nell: I came with you.
Me: You sat down under a tree.
Nell: Where else was I going to sit? It’s an orchard. There are trees everywhere.
Me: It was far too cold to sit around, Nell. You needed to keep on the move.
Nell: What I needed was to finish my book in front of the fire with a nice cup of Earl Grey.
Me: We weren’t out for very long.
Nell: Moving on, Chris tells me you’re taking him to see the little cottage in the middle of nowhere today.
Me: We are.
Nell: It’s not going to be happy with you.
Me: Why?
Nell: Sending in surveyors to criticise it all the time.
Me: I don’t have a choice.
Nell: Leaving it all alone in the cold.
Me: We’re doing our best, Nell.
Nell: It’s been alone for far too long.
Me: I know.
Nell: It needs to be a home again.
Me: Yes.
Nell: I should be going with you.
Me: It’s too cold, Nell. You’re better off inside.
Nell: Like yesterday?
Me: Sorry.
