18 July 1997

Jill’s worried at the state of Lizzie and Nigel’s marriage, especially about Nigel’s pending bungee jump! She’s also busy penning up the hens before transferring them from the yard into the orchard.
Jennifer is still unhappy at Brian’s involvement in the estate purchase and is especially nervous at the reaction when the news gets out. This is exacerbated by an article in yesterday’s Echo commenting on rumours that a local farmer is a member of the consortium. Brian, not seeing the irony, dismisses it as idle gossip.
It’s idle gossip that she’s questioned on at Brookfield and she doesn’t thank Brian for putting her in such a potentially embarrassing position with her family.
Eddie’s found Clive a car – but he no longer wants it as he’s planning on staying around to care for his currently invalided mother. Clarrie tells him that the village knows about his probation officer in London, but Clive says that he’ll be allowed to stay around given the compassionate reasons. Prime the fireworks …..

Summarised by: Chris Harrison