Ed fears the worst as a cow aborts.

Radio Times: Edward feels demoralised. Meanwhile, Shula is concerned.

Characters: Alistair, Darrell, Ed, Jim, Mike, Shula

• It must be a slack day at the vet’s; Alistair plans to spend some time repainting the cricket pavilion changing room. Darrell is heading for the doctor’s and Shula, bent on making sure he goes, is going to take him. She reminds him that he is trying to sort himself out in order to mend the breach with his children. By the time Shula rounds him up she is running late. Just as she drops him off he gets a call from his younger daughter, Anna.
• Moaning rather about the quality of the tools he has been given, Jim is helping with the painting. He reports how low he had found Joe and doesn’t know what to do about it. Alistair suggests getting him out of the house – easier said than done. Then Alistair gets a call from Ed: a cow has aborted and he admits they lost a calf last week. No more painting for now.
• Later, in The Bull, Ed is ready for a pint; Alistair has sent specimens to the lab and expects a response in 4-5 working days. So Ed must wait. He is cheered when Jim comes in and reports that he has persuaded Joe to come with him to the orchard later in the week; his apple expertise is needed. When he left, Joe was quite excited about the prospect.
• Although Alistair is enjoying a meal a deux, Shula is worrying about Darrell who has been out all day. She feels that something isn’t right but Alistair persuades her not to interfere. He is a grown man. Leave it.