Nell: You’re up early.
Me: I’ve got a busy mind at the moment.
Nell: Do you know why?
Me: Not really.
Nell: What’s Nigel doing out on our walk in the middle of the week?
Me: He came for a brief visit.
Nell: Nigel visits at the weekend.
Me: Nigel is welcome any time. Anyway, look what the farmer’s tractor has done to the path down to the stream.
Nell: It’s probably the only way for the farmer to get to the field.
Me: That’s what Kev said.
Nell: Horses are the same. Churning up the earth with their hooves.
Me: They’re allowed. It’s a bridleway. Do you remember when the hunt went past us on the lane?
Nell: I certainly do.
Me: I held my hands over your eyes so you didn’t get scared.
Nell: The hounds bothered me more than the horses.
Me: Poppy tried to chase a horse once.
Nell: Poppy is afraid of nothing.
Me: She used to bark at cows.
Nell: She still does if they don’t deliver her milk on time. And yes, we have Cow Guardians.
Me: Jim the Farm Dog brought us some lovely farmhouse butter and cheese yesterday.
Nell: He was always a helpful animal. Poppy’s started making her own cheese.
Me: Goodness me.
Nell: She likes to keep busy. I expect Harriet was pleased to see Jim.
Me: She was. He gave her a bouquet of wild flowers.
Nell: Where were David and Harriet? I can’t see them in the photos.
Me: They went on an extra long walk with Kev.
Nell: At least everything is looking a little greener.
Me: Yes, we’ve had rain most days.
Nell: Is your busy mind a little calmer now?
Me: It is. Thank you.
Nell: I’m always here, you know.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
