As if the sherry trifle wasn’t enough to keep Cook entertained, the afternoon took a rather unexpected turn. Down on the croquet lawn, a most unusual spectacle was unfolding. Cook had enlisted young Pendle, the lazy gardener’s lad, in a game that could only be described as cabbages and bowls.

The croquet lawn, usually reserved for more genteel pursuits, was now the setting for a makeshift bowling alley. The cabbages, freshly harvested from the kitchen garden, were being skillfully rolled towards an improvised set of pins made from empty gin bottles. Cook, with a stern look of concentration on her face, took careful aim before launching a particularly robust cabbage down the lane. Her throw was met with an enthusiastic cheer from the gathered kitchen staff, who had abandoned their duties to become impromptu spectators.

Pendle, typically noted for his leisurely approach to gardening, seemed unusually animated. He lined up his cabbage with exaggerated precision, much to the amusement of the onlookers, and sent it careening towards the pins with surprising agility. The resulting crash of bottles elicited a wave of applause and laughter, ringing through the otherwise tranquil grounds of Crafty Dog Towers.

The game continued, each round punctuated by jovial banter and good-natured ribbing. Cook, despite her earlier irritability, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself, her earlier gruff demeanour melting away in the camaraderie of the moment. Even the kitchen cat, having evidently decided that the coast was clear, crept back to observe the proceedings from a safe distance.

As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, the makeshift bowling match drew to a close, leaving behind a trail of cabbage leaves and empty bottles. The kitchen staff, in high spirits, returned to their posts, and Cook, with a satisfied smile, headed back towards her domain. It seemed that, for once, the sherry trifle would have to wait.