Phoebe is not hitting it off with her mother; a fly appears in the Northumberland ointment.

Radio Times: Phoebe takes charge, and there is a lot to think about at Brookfield.

Characters: David, Fran, Kate, Phoebe, Pip, Ruth

• David, Ruth and Pip visit a farm in Franchester, as part of Pip’s plan to look at robotic milking parlours. It transpires that David had met the owners, Fran and Malcolm at a Borsetshire NFU event. Fran sets out to show David that the robotic system of milking has definite advantages.
• Kate and Phoebe have lunch at Botticelli’s, though Phoebe mentions that she must be back at college for a French class at one o’clock. Kate will have none of it and is full of her “intention of the day”, to enable Phoebe to live in the moment and for both of them to grow closer. The prospect of a light-hearted and enjoyable lunch seems to recede by the second.
• The farm visit seems to be going well, with Fran giving an enthusiastic account of the milking system. Ruth reckons that the setup is impressive and even David has to agree, especially when Fran mentions that with the robotic parlour, milk yields are up by 12% with mastitis down by 50%. Though David fears that he might miss regular contact with the herd, Fran is convinced that the animals don’t miss it.
• Conversation at Botticelli’s turns to Jennifer’s party. Kate pours out to Phoebe that Jennifer was unhappy that Adam and Ian weren’t there, but then Adam always was her favourite. Debbie was “wonderful” too and Alice. It’s just that Kate was never fully understood by her mother. Kate also had an opinion on Roy’s behaviour, believing him to be weak and a source of negative energy. No wonder that Phoebe felt let down. Kate reckons that another glass of wine, in addition to the previous carafe, should help the meal along.
• Sometime later and Kate is profoundly worse for drink, believing that “Granny thinks that I’m a failure”. Phoebe, who has remained sober and much to her mother’s total annoyance, confiscates her car keys and arranges for a cab to take her home. The car can be collected later. Kate really is beside herself, but Phoebe insists, not wishing to worry about her mother’s safety all afternoon.
• Ruth and David have a lot to mull over on the way back to Brookfield. David is not particularly happy at the prospect of seeing Justin Elliot’s architect hovering around the farm. When they do return, David receives a phone message quoting a figure of £140k for improved slurry storage in Northumberland. He feels that the vendors have been less than open about their nitrate problems and that the cost should be taken off the price. He will get the solicitor to put it to them. Ruth agrees, but hopes that it won’t prove to be a deal breaker.