Lily finds that throwing a party is not so easy. Toby finds that opening a distillery is not so easy. Adam finds marriage not so easy.

Radio Times: Toby searches for a helping hand, and Ian won’t be fooled.

Characters: Adam, Bert, Ian, Lily, Pip, Toby

• Toby’s gin-distilling enterprise is threatened when he hears that Environmental Health are bringing forward an inspection of his premises at Hollowtree. Since the building leaks, is rotten, dirty and not vermin-proof, he needs to carry out an urgent clean and repair. Pip makes it clear that she is far too busy preparing for lambing. She scorns Toby’s idea of asking machine-mad Josh for help. Perhaps Bert will step in.
• As Ian and Adam get ready for work, a certain tension in the air is noticeable as they each try to be considerate and polite to the other. When Ian arrives at work he finds Lily hovering by the kitchen. She wants to see Yas, who works there, and is disappointed to discover that she is not working this shift.
• Toby pays a call on Bert, sure that he will sort out the distillery. Bert’s mind is on a poetry competition, a Cribbage game, Carol’s garden and some repairs at the church, however, and Toby is turned down again. Bert just hasn’t got time.
• Lily spins a remarkably unconvincing story about ‘a very shy friend’ who wants the left-over canapes from Grey Gables. Ian suggests asking the chef at Lower Loxley – Lily’s friend would not like her friend’s mum to find out. Underwoods? asks Ian. They reduce prices at the end of the day. Does Lily think he was born yesterday? She needs to get herself to college today and be careful on Thursday when she holds her party. Lily beats a shamefaced retreat.
• Toby has run out of options and refuses to ask Rex, as Pip suggests, but finally realises he has no option
• Bert finds Adam taking a break from spraying. Bert is looking for poetic inspiration. Honeysuckle Cottage, which Adam is looking at, seems a good starter. Whenever he had words with Freda, Bert would look down on the cottage and think of her there. He always made sure that they talked their problems over. If people don’t, they soon find their marriage is over. Food for thought indeed.