Caroline’s plans for the wedding go well; Lynda’s plans for the fête go badly.

Radio Times: Robert resists the scrapheap.

Characters: Caroline, Hayley, Jill, Lynda, Robert, Shula

• Robert has high hopes that his meeting today will be a step in the direction of getting another job. Meanwhile Lynda is preparing for the fête committee meeting, as only Lynda can: she has researched some new games instead of the silliness of recent years.
• Jill finds Shula in high spirits, ready for lunch and shopping with Caroline. By contrast she found Adam in a grumpy mood; he is so busy and the pickers this year have been particularly quarrelsome.
• Hayley is first to turn up at Lynda’s for the meeting and she appals Lynda by recounting her efforts to kill the stoat but as she explains “we country people can’t be sentimental” – prize! When Jill turns up, Lynda distributes copies of her research for them to read, digest and discuss. They may be here some time.
• Lunch with Shula is probably as near as Caroline will get to a hen party. Her brother Simon has responded and will be coming, as will Uncle Adrian but there is still nothing from Carly. Brian is going to be Oliver’s witness; awkward perhaps but his fling with Caroline was a long time ago.
• Enough! Jill and Hayley make their excuses, come up with a simple (if rather silly) idea of a Vegetable Olympics – tossing the leek, putting the cabbage etc – outvote Lynda and beat a hasty retreat just as Robert returns. His meeting did not go well; the advisor thought he was too old and ought to retire but he does not feel ready and his pension plan has not done well enough lately.
• Having tried almost everything in the shop, Caroline eventually finds just the thing. Beautiful! She will have a wonderful day.