Me: Harriet never stops running when she’s out on a walk, does she?

Nell: She doesn’t.

Me: Just when I think she might join us for a quiet chat she runs away again.

Nell; She likes to keep on the move. She doesn’t have time for chats.

Me: She does at home.

Nell: That’s the Inside Harriet. The Outside Harriet is quite different.

Me: I get exhausted just watching her.

Nell: Harriet has many sides. She’s a complex animal.

Me: It’s hard to imagine her ever keeping still long enough to do any spying.

Nell: Inside Harriet has endless patience.

Me: But not outside. It must be so hard for her not to run off like she usually does.

Nell: I think Sally tries to keep Harriet’s Outside Spying to a minimum. There have been a few hiccups in the past.

Me: What happened?

Nell: Let’s just say Harriet did a little more toing and froing than was necessary. She got her Harriets mixed up.

Me: What do you mean?

Nell: She was only supposed to ‘case the joint’ once.

Me: What joint?

Nell: Burgh Island, if you must know. Harriet was supposed to check it for rooks.

Me: And?

Nell: And she ran twice around the island before she even started on the hotel and then was in and out of rooms so fast she couldn’t possibly have had the time to check them thoroughly.

Me: Oh dear.

Nell: Sally had to remind her to leave Outside Harriet at the door.

Me: I don’t think I have an Outside Sara so I wouldn’t have to leave it at the door. Maybe I could be a spy?

Nell: You know and I know that’s never going to happen. Inside or Outside Sara is not a spy.

Me: You’re right. Sorry.

Me: Look at my Big Brave Beautiful Boy with his favourite toy. He’s even wearing it as a bracelet. Bless him.

Nell: David’s only wearing it because he thinks you’re going to throw it away.

Me: I wouldn’t do that.

Nell: Yes, you would. Everything’s going in bin bags, or boxes. Nothing is safe.

Me: We’re moving house, Nell. It’s the right time to declutter and we have to pack.

Nell: Some of our most treasured items have been heartlessly discarded.

Me: If you’re talking about smelly toys you buried in the garden then yes, some of them have to go.

Nell: And the torn blanket?

Me: It’s really old and tatty, Nell.

Nell: How would you feel if someone said ‘she’s a bit old and tatty, let’s take her to the dump’?

Me: I’d be ever so hurt and upset.

Nell: My point exactly.

Me: I’m not a blanket, Nell. I might be old but I don’t think I’m tatty.

Nell: Those clothes have seen better days.

Me: I’m packing up the house. You have to wear old clothes to do that.

Nell: Please have the courtesy to check with us before discarding treasured items.

Me: I don’t have the time to do that.

Nell: One of the llamas found a pair of its favourite slippers in the rubbish.

Me: Give me strength.

Nell: And Walter Pigeon saw you throwing a flamingo away when he was flying past. Imagine if Malcolm heard about that.

Me: It was a plastic nodding flamingo, Nell, that had lost its head.

Nell: I don’t blame it. Moving on, did you, or did you not, discard my old green handbag?

Me: I found you a new red one, Nell.

Nell: Do I look like a red handbag carrying sort of animal?

Me: No. Sorry.

Nell: Nigel made a real contribution this weekend, didn’t he?

Me: Contribution?

Nell: Yes. He realised how hard we are all working to pack the house up ready for moving and he stepped right up to the mark.

Me: Remind me what you are all doing to help us move again?

Nell: My role is obvious.

Me: Is it?

Nell: Chief Coordinator is an enormously stressful job.

Me: Tell me about it.

Nell: I am.

Me: And Dave and Harriet? What are they doing?

Nell: David is responsible for Cuddles and Keeping Up Morale.

Me: Of course.

Nell; And Harriet is A Gentle Guider.

Me: That sounds like a lead.

Nell: She Watches and Waits and Steps In to Show the Way when needed.

Me: Is that why she’s always sitting at the window?

Nell: Yes, and you will have noticed Nigel joined her this morning.

Me: I thought they were watching the Welsh Corgi Choir arriving for Sunday Songs?

Nell: That too.

Me: So, let me get this straight. Sitting on the yellow chair in front of an almost empty wardrobe is actually helping?

Nell: It is.

Me: And sleeping on the bed while things get packed around you is helping, too?

Nell: Exactly.

Me: Well, the Stuffed Tiger has been working ever so hard then.

Nell; That tiger has done nothing but sit on the wardrobe spying on us all.

Me: Maybe it was just trying to be helpful?

Nell: Nonsense. It’s a Consumer not a Contributor.

Me: You know it’s coming with us when we move, don’t you?

Nell: I don’t know where you think it’s going to go. I can’t see any space for it on my plans.

Me: You have plans?

Nell: You can’t move without a plan. Do keep up.

Me: You’re right. Sorry.

Me: It was quite a long walk down to the sea, wasn’t it?

Nell: It was.

Me: And you weren’t completely sure if you wanted to walk all that way.

Nell: I wasn’t.

Me: But you did. We took our time but we got there.

Nell: It was a long way.

Me: I know. We enjoyed watching Nigel and Harriet swimming though, didn’t we?

Nell: You certainly did.

Me: I love the way those two swim together. It’s adorable.

Nell: Nigel is still a strong swimmer for his age.

Me: He’s only 9, Nell.

Nell: I forget he’s only a year older than the puppies.

Me: It’s hard to believe they’ll be 8 in June.

Nell: David certainly doesn’t act his age.

Me: You will be 13 next Friday.

Nell: I know.

Me: Do you want a big party?

Nell: We’re moving house. We have no time, or space, for parties.

Me: We can make the time, if you’d like one.

Nell: I’ve already told Herr Hoffmann that a simple afternoon tea is fine with me.

Me: Okay.

Nell: A selection of finger sandwiches, crusts off. Poppy’s scones with homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream and a simple Victoria sponge birthday cake will do.

Me: Iced?

Nell: Certainly not. A dusting of icing sugar is more than enough.

Me: Candles?

Nell: Of course.

Me: And to drink?

Nell: Earl Grey tea in china cups with lemon, not milk.

Me: What about champagne?

Nell: I expect I could manage a glass.

Me: Good. You don’t turn 13 every day when all’s said and done.

Nell: All is never said or done.

Me: It’s just a saying.

Nell: My point exactly. People will never stop saying.

Me: We all have to at some point.

Nell: I don’t. Trust me.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: What are the puppies doing?

Nell: Waiting for Nigel.

Me: But he won’t be here until the afternoon.

Nell: They don’t mind.

Me: They can’t sit by the window all day.

Nell: I think you’ll find they can. It’s what we dogs do.

Me: Sit by a window?

Nell: Yes, and wait. Waiting is one of our skills. We’re always waiting.

Me: I suppose you are.

Nell: For food. For walks. For Tony. For deliveries. For Kev. For you.

Me: For Nigel.

Nell: Exactly.

Me: They’re going to miss that window when we move.

Nell: We’re all going to miss that window. Especially you.

Me: I know it sounds silly but I’m going to miss that window more than anything.

Nell: It’s not silly at all.

Me: That view has been with me during some really difficult times.

Nell: I know it has. But time doesn’t stand still and neither do we.

Me: We certainly don’t.

Nell: Good times are ahead, beginning with a food delivery.

Me: That’s what the puppies are really waiting for.

Nell: Yes, that’s one of the things.

Me: It will be good to see dear Nigel again. Darling boy.

Nell: David is your darling boy.

Me: Dave is my Big Brave Beautiful Boy.

Nell: Now we’ve decided on a takeaway this evening as the Hoffmanns need a day off.

Me: Good idea.

Nell: We’re having Sunday roast on Saturday. Nigel has to leave early on Sunday and doesn’t want to miss out.

Me: What about Sunday?

Nell: Leftovers.

Me: But Monday is leftovers day.

Nell: Do try and be a little adaptable in these busy times. Just go with the flow.

Me: That’s rich coming from Mrs Inflexibility.

Nell: I think you will find that particular cap belongs to you.

Me: You’re right. Sorry.

Me: You really enjoyed your walk to the beach yesterday, didn’t you?

Nell: I did.

Me: The sun was shining and the sky was blue and the sea had an almost turquoise hue.

Nell: The island was certainly looking beautiful. It’s starring in another television series, you know.

Me: Yes, an Agatha Christie adaptation. Kev and I are watching it.

Nell: Agatha certainly loved the island.

Me: Her writing studio is still there. You can stay in it.

Nell: I know. Lionel invited me.

Me: Lionel King can’t afford to stay there. He’s still cooking bacon for the Beefies.

Nell: He is working undercover for Sally. I don’t know why you don’t believe me.

Me: I don’t trust him.

Nell: Anyway, he has access to the Agatha Christie Beach House.

Me: He probably stole the keys.

Nell: You’re being silly now.

Me: And what would Knitwear Wolf say?

Nell: I am my own Labrador. I do what I wish.

Me: Like making very bad decisions?

Nell: Do stop. I’m not going to the Beach House with Lionel. It was just nice to be asked.

Me: Does Lionel know we’re moving house?

Nell: Of course he does. Everyone knows.

Me: He’s not coming to The House on the Corner. I want it to be lion-free.

Nell: What about Roary and Mrs King?

Me: That’s different. Although you have a point. Where are they going to live? We can’t have a tree house because we have no trees.

Nell: There are some lovely trees down the lane near the stately home where The Cat will be living.

Me: The Cat is moving to the stately home?

Nell: Yes. It’s found a beautiful apartment.

Me: I’m so glad.

Nell: The Cat was never going to let us move without it.

Me: No. Sorry.

Me: Are the puppies alright? They’ve been staring out of the window for ages.

Nell: They can’t believe the garden next door has gone. None of us can,

Me: Kev and I are very sad, too, but it was the farmer’s decision. It’s his garden.

Nell: All the bushes and plants have gone. The birds loved them.

Me: Yes, they did.

Nell: We could always hear birdsong. Now there’s nothing.

Me: It’s very sad.

Nell: And the bees would spend hours gathering nectar from the flowers.

Me: I know.

Nell: I think this is a sign that’s it’s time for us to move on.

Me: Kev and I said the same thing when we saw what had happened.

Nell: Everything is changing.

Me: It certainly is.

Nell: I don’t know exactly how we do it, but I’ve told any birds who have lost their homes than they can come with us.

Me: We only have a tiny little garden and no trees.

Nell: There are lots of trees all around the village with plenty of room for everyone.

Me: The village doesn’t belong to us, Nell.

Nell: Yes, it does. From the end of this month we will be villagers.

Me: True. You didn’t include the Beefies in that offer, did you?

Nell: Of course not. They do as they please, anyway. You can’t tie a Beefy down.

Me: I wouldn’t want to.

Nell: Walter Pigeon and family are definitely making the move.

Me: Good. Dave would miss playing Cowardy Custard. Why is it called that, I wonder?

Nell: Probably because custard gets the wobbles when it’s cold.

Me: That makes sense.

Nell: Moving on, we need to be more careful with the removals. Someone packed Gladys in the winter clothes box. The llamas were distraught.

Me: Oh dear. Sorry.

Nell: David is sitting in your new chair.

Me: I know he is, Nell. It’s fine.

Nell: He knows it isn’t his chair.

Me: Actually it sort of is. I chose it so there would be room for you all to sit next to me.

Nell: All of us? The llamas aren’t going to fit in there.

Me: No. You three labs. One at a time. I like having you next to me.

Nell: David is taking up too much space.

Me: He’ll move when I sit down.

Nell: Harriet sits in it the wrong way around.

Me: I know. She ends up facing the back of the chair. She’ll soon learn.

Nell: Yes.

Me: Kev says you enjoy sitting in it when I’ve gone up to bed.

Nell: I do. Kev puts one of Rupert’s soft blankets over it for me so I am warm and cosy.

Me: So all in all, the new chair is a big success. Wouldn’t you agree?

Nell: I would. Your old chair is in the front garden, by the way.

Me: An awful lot of things are in the front garden at the moment, Nell. It’s part of moving.

Nell: They can’t stay there.

Me: They won’t. We’re ordering a skip as soon as we have a definite completion date.

Nell: It’s all taking a very long time.

Me: It is, but we’re nearly there.

Nell: Kev is exhausted.

Me: I know. It’s a lot to manage on your own and we aren’t as young as we were the last time we moved.

Nell: You know we will do what we can to help, don’t you? You only have to ask.

Me: We do and it is much appreciated.

Nell: Asking for help is a strength not a weakness.

Me: You’re right. Sorry.

Nell: Are you going to your aqua class today?

Me: I am.

Nell: Well, wrap up. There’s still a chill in the air.

Me: Can we talk about the semicircle in the activity field, please?

Nell: I think we might have some sunshine later.

Me: One minute Harriet was happily running towards it and the next she was running away.

Nell: I might actually spend a little time in the garden.

Me: You do realise that semicircle is for everyone, not just you?

Nell: A little warmth from the sun will help my aching bones. Packing is so tiring.

Me: I know you sent her away, Nell. You won’t let anyone in without a password and nobody knows what it is.

Nell: I shall be glad when the house isn’t full of boxes.

Me: Stop pretending you can’t hear me.

Nell: Rupert is going to take the llamas on a trial walk to the House on the Corner later.

Me: That’s a good idea.

Nell: I thought so.

Me: Will they be pulling a cart?

Nell: Not the first time.

Me: Probably for the best.

Nell: Rupert will be on his motorbike and Gladys will travel in the sidecar.

Me: Why is Gladys going?

Nell: She’s the only one who can keep them under control if they start to get skittish.

Me: I suppose they are used to Gliding with Gladys.

Nell: Exactly. David offered and Harriet was an option, but in the end Gladys seemed the best fit.

Me: Yes. They’re going to be awfully tired when they get home.

Nell: Rupert has organised some soft blankets and Herr Hoffmann is providing afternoon tea with some freshly baked scones according to Poppy’s recipe.

Me: Do llamas eat scones?

Nell: Everyone eats scones, especially Poppy’s.

Me: Yes, of course. Sorry.

Nell: You won’t believe this.

Me: I might.

Nell: Nigel and the Puppies were watching out for Beefies this morning when something extraordinary happened.

Me: Why were they watching out for Beefies?

Nell: Rumour has it they want to gatecrash Sunday Songs.

Me: How?

Nell: An impromptu performance of ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’ and some mackerel throwing I expect.

Me: But it’s Sunday.

Nell: That’s not the point. Don’t you want to know what was extraordinary?

Me: Yes.

Nell: The Welsh Corgi Choir arrived this morning dressed as daffodils in a cart pulled by the llamas.

Me: Do we know why?

Nell: Yesterday was St. David’s Day. The national day of Wales.

Me: I know. I’m half Welsh.

Nell: Daffodils are a national symbol of Wales.

Me: So are leeks.

Nell: They’re not going to come dressed as leeks.

Me: No.

Nell: Anyway, we’re celebrating Wales today.

Me: Why not yesterday?

Nell: Because it’s Sunday Songs, not Saturday Songs.

Me: True.

Nell: None of that was particularly extraordinary, however.

Me: It wasn’t?

Nell: No. The extraordinary part was the llamas were well behaved.

Me: That is extraordinary.

Nell: No spitting, no fainting, no cartwheels.

Me: I bet the Welsh Corgi Choir were relieved about that. It would have been literal cartwheeling, if you see what I mean.

Nell: It would, but it wasn’t, and now that the llamas have proved themselves they can play a much bigger role in Moving Day.

Me: I’m not sure about that.

Nell: They may even be trusted with actual furniture.

Me: I don’t know if I agree. Where are the puppies? It’s only Nigel at the window and he’s looking at the carpet.

Nell: They’re helping unload the Welsh Corgi Choir. Being dressed as a daffodil is dreadfully restricting.

Me: Of course. Sorry.