Me: We had a lovely walk by the river, didn’t we?
Nell: I don’t think Harriet understands the concept of walking.
Me: What do you mean?
Nell: It’s either running or swimming with her.
Me: Or twirling around on her back.
Nell: Yes, that too.
Me: She just loves to be outside.
Nell: You can never have a conversation with her when she’s out.
Me: She’s no time for chatting, Nell.
Nell: Talking of chatting, my friend Dorothy told me something very interesting.
Me: Has Knitwear Wolf got a new lady love?
Nell: What are you talking about?
Me: He was otherwise engaged a few days ago and couldn’t come to tea with The Cat.
Nell: Rupert is not engaged.
Me: Just saying.
Nell: Do you want to know what Dorothy said, or not?
Me: I do.
Nell: The Beefies are branching out.
Me: What does that mean?
Nell: They’re extending their delivery service.
Me: Throwing mackerel at people isn’t a delivery service.
Nell: They’re moving into seaweed.
Me: Throwing seaweed at people isn’t a delivery service either.
Nell: Dorothy says seaweed is up and coming.
Me: It’s always been big in Wales.
Nell: According to Dorothy, the market for seaweed amongst the Grockles is really high.
Me: You shouldn’t call the tourists ‘Grockles’, Nell.
Nell: They don’t know.
Me: Nevertheless.
Nell: Now you can order a side of seaweed with your fish.
Me: No, thank you.
Nell: It’s not for me, either.
Me: They can’t just scoop any old seaweed off the beach. It needs to be washed and cooked.
Nell: They won’t wash or cook anything.
Me: It’ll be all sandy.
Nell: It’s being marketed as ‘A Taste of the Sea’.
Me: Whatever will they do next?
Nell: Never mind next, let’s concentrate on now.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
