TB strikes at Grange Farm.

Radio Times: David shares some pearls of wisdom.

Characters: Bert, David, Ed, Jennifer, Nigel, Oliver, Peggy

• Oh dear, oh dear – Bert has never sounded so miserable. He doesn’t know whether he can talk about it, though he might go mad if he doesn’t. ‘Uncle’ David’s offer of coffee and a chat is accepted.
• Nigel has a new bee in his bonnet; having taken part in a Team Chase recently and had a wonderful time, he thinks the Borsetshire Hunt might have ago at it. Oliver is sufficiently interested in Nigel’s idea to agree to gathering a small committee for a meeting.
• Bert’s problem is that he has lost Freda to another man – Neville Booth. David is astounded and when he probes the evidence it is that Freda has been slimming, therefore won’t eat Bert’s food, designed to fatten her up, and – wait for it – Bert saw him squeeze her arm. David’s advice is simple and obvious: talk to her.
• Peggy and Jennifer have taken a very happy Debbie to the airport and, over lunch, discuss the new regime at Home Farm.
• Oliver arranges the committee meeting for next Thursday but his jovial mood is spoiled by Ed arriving with news that Alistair has found three reactors in the routine TB tests. The cows will have to go for slaughter. It will still be permissible to sell the milk as it is pasteurised but there will be no more unpasteurised cheese and the current stock is in doubt. It is a disaster.