Nell: I see you went down to the river.
Me: The sun was shining and walking there is so peaceful and relaxing.
Nell: Not with Harriet.
Me: No. She was running everywhere as usual. Bless her.
Nell: It’s looking lovely and green again.
Me: Yes. Nature is truly amazing.
Nell: It is.
Me: Just a few weeks ago the ground was parched and dry and look at it now.
Nell: The leaves will be falling soon.
Me: Is that why autumn is called Fall?
Nell: It is. Did you make sure Dave kept away from the horse chestnuts?
Me: We did. Horse chestnuts are poisonous to dogs.
Nell: They’re actually poisonous to everyone.
Me: Harriet is the colour of a horse chestnut.
Nell: No, she isn’t.
Me: She’s definitely a conker brown. Why do we call horse chestnuts conkers?
Nell: It means hard nut in Old English.
Me: I thought it was from the sound it makes when you play conkers and hit one with the other.
Nell: It might be from the French word ‘cogner’ which means ‘to hit’.
Me: I didn’t know you spoke French.
Nell: Of course I speak French. I lived in Paris for years.
Me: Did you really?
Nell: Yes, as an artist’s muse.
Me: I don’t know what to say about that.
Nell: Then don’t say anything at all.
Me: Do you have any plans for today?
Nell: Just the usual Monday chores.
Me: You have Monday chores?
Nell: Beds won’t change themselves.
Me: You’ve never changed a bed in your life.
Nell: I’ll have you know I worked my way through university as a chambermaid.
Me: I thought you trained to be a nurse.
Nell: I’ve done many things.
Me: Including fabricating the truth.
Nell: Did you mumble something? Enunciate, please.
Me: Sorry.
