Ed reluctantly repaints the pole barn roof; Elizabeth can’t get Siobhán’s visit off her mind.

Radio Times: Eddie does some DIY.

Characters: Clarrie, David, Ed, Elizabeth, Nigel, Pip, Ruth, Usha

• At the crack of dawn, the first Herefords from Brookfield are being loaded for slaughter. Pip is eager to continue helping Ruth and David but she must get ready for school tomorrow.
• Eddie doesn’t much approve of Joe and Bert’s efforts to tidy up the pole barn. Clarrie can agree only with the wrong choice of colour – sky blue – for the roof … ! Ed is unwillingly loading bags of compost for delivery. Clarrie wants to know why he and Jazzer were arguing last night … just leave it, Mum, all right? They’ll have to change the colour of the roof, or Lynda Snell will be on at them worse than she is already …
• Nigel is in his element, sampling English wine from local vineyards. Elizabeth is more pragmatic in terms of coping with the pros and cons, but can see the potential. (Who is Vernon?) Apparently Julia quite likes the sound of ‘Chateau Lower Loxley’ but thinks ‘Chateau Pargetter’ has a better ring to it!! Nigel concurs …
• Usha is trying to persuade Ruth to take up the Salsa Club again – she needs the exercise. She’s bored with the same old business receptions. And there’s another one tonight at Lower Loxley.
• Ed is repainting the barn roof – black – under Eddie’s supervision. Clarrie thinks it looks MUCH better but Grandad might not agree, says Ed. Time for Ed to get home, curfew and all that, says Clarrie. A disgruntled Eddie will have to finish off and clear up …
• Usha hadn’t expected to see Nigel and Elizabeth on their return from wine sampling. A friend of one of the partners has a vineyard she says – well darn me, they’ve been to that very place this afternoon! Usha’s had enough of the current reception and is going home for a long soak. Siobhán’s imminent plans provoke Elizabeth to raise the subject again with Nigel, who is incredulous that she can even be thinking about it. Elizabeth can’t bear to think of Siobhán and Ruairidh being ten miles away when they could be staying at Lower Loxley …