16 January 1997

Characters: Elizabeth, Graham Ryder, Hayley, Julia, Nelson, Roy, Shula, Susan

• Hayley is still preparing John’s party, and is telling the whole village to keep it a secret.
• Shula tells Susan that Graham Ryder is taking over in the office.
• There is still no power at Lower Loxley, and Nigel and Elizabeth are somewhat upset about the whole affair. Yesterday’s conference had to be cancelled and the fee refunded. Nelson agrees to try to keep Julia out of the way.
• Hayley drags a reluctant Roy round Borchester’s clothes shops in an ultimately successful attempt to find John the perfect surprise party outfit.
• The estate’s surveyor said that he probably wouldn’t have spotted the dry rot in the business units. Graham tells Shula that he wanted the work to which she is being moved. Graham seems to get the impression that he is not popular with the Grundys, and so leaves it to Shula to tell them about the change.
• At Julia’s insistence, Nelson puts the flamenco music on at his cafe bar, but finally rejects it when Roy observes that it gives the place the atmosphere of a pub on the Costa Brava.
• Lower Loxley needs complete rewiring, at a cost of about GBP15,000 and a month’s loss of bookings – two conferences, the Hunt Ball and three weddings. (But no funerals.)

Summarised by: Chris Harrison