Me: We’re very lucky to have these beautiful walks on our doorstep, aren’t we?

Nell: Yes. Walking down to the stream was most enjoyable.

Me: You tired a little on the way back, didn’t you?

Nell: I just need to take my time.

Me: Unlike Harriet.

Nell: She never stops running.

Me: Has she heard anything from Jim the Farm Dog?

Nell: I don’t think she has.

Me: Oh dear.

Nell: I’m afraid his life is on the farm.

Me: There’s a farm near here, too.

Nell: It’s not his farm. He can’t just move there.

Me: Knitwear Wolf seems to have settled in to village life really well. I saw him out and about with a sidecar full of groceries.

Nell: There isn’t a village shop so he suggested he might help some of the older residents with their shopping.

Me: What a kind wolf he is.

Nell: Rupert enjoys helping others.

Me: I was glad to see Walter Pigeon and his family.

Nell: They were always coming with us.

Me: How about Henry and Horst?

Nell: I’m afraid the insects are missing our old garden.

Me: I understand. So am I.

Nell: They are having to make alternative arrangements for the time being in the gardens of the Stately Home with The Cat.

Me: The Cat doesn’t like insects.

Nell: It’s willing to make exceptions.

Me: Well, that’s a relief. Hopefully we can plant some bushes and add a few plants soon.

Nell: There’s no need to rush. Let’s get rid of the boxes first.

Me: We’ve got so much stuff, Nell.

Nell: I know.

Me: And nowhere to put it.

Nell: I’m afraid decisions are going to have to be made. You can’t keep everything.

Me: I know.

Nell: It will all be fine.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: We had another lovely walk by the river, didn’t we?

Nell: We certainly did.

Me: All this endless sunshine is very good for the soul.

Nell: It is.

Me: And you and I were able to sit and chat while the others kept walking.

Nell: Yes.

Me: I don’t mind waiting with you.

Nell: I’m glad.

Me: The good thing about Waiting is when you know the others will be back.

Nell: What are you talking about?

Me: The bad thing is if you aren’t sure when.

Nell: We can see the others.

Me: Yes, I know but I often wonder what you all think when Kev and I go out.

Nell: We know you’ll come back.

Me: Do you?

Nell: We do.

Me: You see I worry that you might be worried we won’t.

Nell: Good grief.

Me: Especially now you’re in a new house in unfamiliar surroundings.

Nell: Don’t worry. The boxes are really quite familiar to us now after all these weeks.

Me: It’s not even two weeks yet, Nell.

Nell: But seriously, there really is no need to worry about us at all.

Me: I do, though.

Nell: We know exactly when you’ll be back.

Me: That’s amazing. Is it your sensitive noses?

Nell: I beg your pardon?

Me: Can you smell when we are close to home?

Nell: It has nothing to do with our noses.

Me: It can’t be your hearing as you’re going a bit deaf, if I may say so.

Nell: You may not.

Me: Maybe you have some kind of sixth sense?

Nell: Shall I put you out of your misery and tell you why?

Me: Yes. Please do.

Nell: We’re tracking you on our iBones.

Me: Oh, I see.

Nell: It makes Waiting much easier.

Me: Of course. Sorry.

Me: Where are you, Nell?

Nell: I’m over here.

Me: I can’t see you.

Nell: I’m stranded in a sea of unpacked boxes in the living room.

Me: Why?

Nell: This is completely unacceptable.

Me: Yes, but why are you in the middle of all the unpacked boxes? Most of the house is cleared now.

Nell: Somebody put my new bed in here.

Me: We moved it out of the kitchen temporarily while we were sorting it out.

Nell: Well, you shouldn’t have done.

Me: We’ll be moving your bed back in a few minutes, you silly sausage. You could have waited.

Nell: I am not a silly sausage. I needed my new soft bouncy bed. David has been trying to steal it.

Me: Dave’s upstairs on the bed cuddling Harriet. He’s not going anywhere. Come out of there.

Nell: Not until you move those boxes.

Me: We have to finish the kitchen first. Then we will. Try and be patient.

Nell: I haven’t even been offered a cup of tea, or a small scone, after my ordeal.

Me: If you came out of there we could organise one for you.

Nell: I’m staying where I am for now.

Me: Fine.

Nell: One moment. Did anyone guess what was mysterious about that photo yesterday?

Me: A few people did. Most of them realised it wasn’t Harriet’s face in the mirror but a lot of them thought it was you.

Nell: It wasn’t me.

Me: No, it was Dave. He’s usually to be found next to Harriet and somehow his little face ended up reflected in the mirror.

Nell: David doesn’t have a little face.

Me: No he has a Big Brave Beautiful face. Darling Boy.

Nell: Just hurry up and get that kitchen sorted. I’m absolutely starving.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Nell: Why have you posted a photo of Harriet looking at herself in the mirror?

Me: Is that what I’ve done?

Nell: Yes, I’m looking at the photo now.

Me: Are you sure?

Nell: Good grief. I know what I’m looking at.

Me: Let’s just say. All is not at it seems.

Nell: Look, it’s Monday morning and there are still boxes to be unpacked so forgive me if I don’t want to spend all morning looking at a photo of the back of Harriet’s head.

Me: Fair enough. We’ll just leave it as The Mysterious Photo. Someone is bound to notice and if they do they can let me know.

Nell: Moving on, yesterday was a difficult day but we got through it.

Me: Yes, we did.

Nell: And the sun is shining.

Me: It is. Can you really not see what is strange about the photo?

Nell: Stop right now.

Me: Just asking.

Nell: Well, don’t. Now, what’s your opinion of asparagus?

Me: I love delicate green asparagus tips steamed and served with melted butter but I’m not so keen on the big fat white asparagus you get in Germany, although I don’t mind it in a soup.

Nell: I asked for your opinion not a three act play.

Me: You’re a bit grumpy this morning.

Nell: I didn’t sleep well for some reason.

Me: Maybe you overdid it running after that terrier yesterday?

Nell: It’s possible.

Me: Why do you want to know about asparagus?

Nell: The Beefies threw some at Malcolm this morning. They probably thought it was seaweed.

Me: Where did they get it?

Nell: That remains a mystery, but Herr Hoffmann is thinking of preparing it for lunch.

Me: A mystery. Just like my photo.

Nell: Don’t start all that again, please.

Me: Sorry.

Nell: I know this is a difficult day.

Me: Yes, it is. Thank you for the photos. Happy memories.

Nell: Two years ago today you had to say goodbye to your little sister Alex.

Me: I still can’t accept that she’s gone.

Nell: She hasn’t gone. She’s a Guardian now and watching over you with your mother.

Me: I would like to think that’s true.

Nell: It is. Trust me.

Me: I miss her so much. She was only 58. Far too young to die.

Nell: I know. But life has to go on.

Me: It does.

Nell: And today is also a happy day, isn’t it?

Me: Yes.

Nell: Because your niece Scarlett is turning 21.

Me: I can’t believe it was so long ago. It feels like yesterday.

Nell: You and your mother were there when she was born, weren’t you?

Me: Yes. I cut the cord.

Nell: Too much information.

Me: It was an amazing moment. Unforgettable.

Nell: I’ve written a poem.

Me: How lovely.

Nell: Would you like to hear it?

Me: I would.

Nell: ‘On this very day

Twenty-one years ago

A certain young person

Who I think you might know

Came into the world

To join us all here

A beautiful girl

Whom we hold so dear.

Her name is Scarlett

And I want to say

Be happy my darling

Enjoy your birthday.

This day is yours

And you can do no wrong.

Let there be cake

And champagne and song.

Know you are loved

And always will be

By all those who matter

And your dear family.’

Me: Thank you. She’ll love it.

Nell: Now, Sunday Songs today is in Memory of Alex and in Celebration of Scarlett.

Me: Just as it should be.

Nell: We can do this. Together.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

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.

Nell: Why post the same photo three times?

Me: I want people to get the full picture of you sitting in the Semicircle of Power.

Nell: I’m smiling.

Me: You’re smiling because you’ve shut everyone out again.

Nell: That’s the way of the world.

Me: No, it isn’t.

Nell: No password. No entry.

Me: Imagine if everyone was like that. Nobody could go anywhere.

Nell: They could if they had the password.

Me: I give up.

Nell: Afternoon tea at the Stately Home was delightful, wasn’t it?

Me: Yes. The Cat seems to have settled in to its new surroundings.

Nell: The other residents say they feel like they’re on safari with lions and tigers strolling the grounds.

Me: Not to mention llamas and an alpaca,

Nell: Alejandro loves it there.

Me: When you say ‘lions’ you don’t mean Lionel King, do you?

Nell: I do not. Lionel’s giving everyone time to settle in before he visits us.

Me: Why wasn’t Knitwear Wolf invited to tea?

Nell: Rupert had a prior engagement,

Me: Who with?

Nell: I didn’t ask.

Me: You should have done, Nell. You’re going to lose him if you’re not careful. He’s a very eligible wolf.

Nell: Rupert has assured me he will always remain by my side and I believe him.

Me: Just don’t take him for granted.

Nell: Kindly stop interfering.

Me: You’ll be very sad if someone else swoops in and carries him off.

Nell: Are we talking birds here? Rupert is a grown wolf. Even a golden eagle couldn’t pick him up.

Me: I meant it figuratively and you know it.

Nell: Time for a cup of Earl Grey, I think.

Me: Stop changing the subject.

Nell: Put the kettle on, would you? I’m sure Kev would appreciate a cup.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Nell: It’s not getting any better.

Me: Yes, it is, Nell.

Nell: There are still boxes everywhere,

Me; I know, but now a lot of them are empty, folded-up boxes.

Nell: And where did all the cushions come from? Poor David could barely get onto the sofa.

Me: We used to have two sofas but there wasn’t enough room so we’ve had to let one go.

Nell: What’s that got to do with the mountain of cushions?

Me: They were spread around before and now they’re piled up.

Nell: Well, unpile them, please. Where is an animal supposed to sleep in this chaos?

Me: It might seem chaotic but we are much further on than we were.

Nell: Harriet has taken to sleeping in the doorway on one of my non-slippy mats.

Me: I know she has.

Nell: Morning Thoughts was heated today. Voices were raised.

Me: Oh dear.

Nell: Only the Hoffmanns were happy.

Me: The kitchen really is very nice.

Nell: Yes. Herr Hoffmann is particularly pleased with the oven.

Me: I thought I could smell bread this morning.

Nell: He thought it was time for freshly baked bread rolls for breakfast with lots of butter and some newly laid eggs from the farm across the way.

Me: Sounds perfect to me.

Nell: David ate Manuel’s boiled egg by mistake.

Me: I didn’t think octopuses ate eggs.

Nell: They don’t, but they still like to be asked.

Me: Of course.

Nell: Now, I hear you and Charlotte are off to Plymouth today. Drive carefully, please.

Me: Yes. Keep an eye on everything for me.

Nell: I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise anything.

Me: Why not?

Nell; It’s difficult to keep an eye on anything through all this chaos and a mountain of cushions.

Me: Yes. Sorry.

Me: It was a good idea to go to the activity field again, wasn’t it?

Nell: It was very windy.

Me: I saw your ears flapping away. Harriet and Dave had a wonderful time.

Nell: They did.

Me: Kev and I thought you’d all enjoy being back in familiar surroundings after all the upheaval.

Nell: Yes.

Me: And they both really needed to stretch their legs.

Nell: They certainly did that. They hardly stopped running the whole time we were there.

Me: Harriet did her usual ‘legs in the air twirling around like you just don’t care’ thing.

Nell: What are you talking about?

Me: That thing you all do when you’re happy.

Nell: I do nothing of the sort.

Me: You most certainly do, Nell.

Nell: Well, maybe occasionally.

Me: It was quite difficult driving past the lane to our old house, wasn’t it?

Nell: It was.

Me: Such a magical place. Happy memories.

Nell: Moving on, we need to say thank you to all the kind people who bought us cups of Earl Grey.

Me: Yes, thank you so much. We really appreciate it.

Nell: We do.

Me: I feel truly honoured to have such a lovely community supporting me.

Nell: Talking of communities, The Cat has invited us to afternoon tea at the Stately Home.

Me: How kind.

Nell: A selection of finger sandwiches, crusts off, Poppy’s scones with jam and cream, and a lemon drizzle cake.

Me: It sounds perfect.

Nell: Beauregard, Mrs King and Roary will be joining us and Princess and Sir Roger Blubbery want to show us their new pool.

Me: What about Gladys and the llamas? And Malcolm and Susan? And Manuel?

Nell: Good grief. Everyone will be there. It’s supposed to be a surprise to lift your mood.

Me: Oh. Sorry.

Nell: Harriet is stuck in the hallway again.

Me: Oh no. Is it the cardboard boxes?

Nell: Yes. She can’t get past them. The flap has opened on one of them and it’s blocking her path.

Me: She only has to push it out of the way. Dave does it all the time. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.

Nell: David is a barger. He moves forcefully through life. Harriet is less pushy.

Me: The boxes will be gone soon.

Nell: No, they won’t. Have you seen the kitchen?

Me: I have.

Nell: Only one bed was available so David and Harriet had to share.

Me: They love sharing.

Nell: Not right up next to the fridge.

Me: It is what it is at the moment, Nell.

Nell: Now, it’s the first of April so you know what you need to do.

Me: Share the link to the website where people can support us with a cup of Earl Grey?

Nell: Exactly.

Me: It’s https://buymeacoffee.com/saramartin and thank you so much in advance. We really appreciate it.

Nell: Yes, we do. Especially during times like these.

Me: We will get there eventually, Nell. It’s going to take a little time to sort things out but we will manage.

Nell: You will.

Me: Unfortunately there’s only so much Kev and I can do each day before we collapse.

Nell: You’re not as young as you used to be. Taking your time is fine,

Me: Yes. I’m afraid it’s the only way at the moment.

Nell: I don’t mean to be unsympathetic but I feel I must point out that while we have been enjoying our little chat Harriet is still stuck in the hallway.

Me: Oh, goodness me. I completely forgot.

Nell: I think she might need rescuing.

Me: Yes, of course. Sorry.