Week Beginning: Sunday 29th January, 2012

Neil, Tracy, Jennifer, Brian, Pat, Susan, Tony

She can twist Neil round her little finger - even better than her sister can. Tracy has seen curtains and blinds for her new room and guess who is going to fit them. Neil does at least insist that the shower has priority but Tracy's response is to 'help' him with it; it's help he could do without.
Jennifer is disappointed that Adam has declined her invitation to lunch; Brian is not.
Even though it is Sunday, Pat and Susan have spent the morning in the dairy, getting ready for this week's launch. Their chat is interrupted by a very grumpy Tony, who is expecting a hot lunch on the table about now. He is to be disappointed; he can have anything he likes but he will have to get it himself. His mood is not improved.
At Home Farm plans are being made for the week ahead. Brian gives a very firm 'no' to accompanying Jennifer to the Ambridge Organics launch. Tomorrow's open day at the Green Burial Site is a different matter: the press will be there and he did, after all, donate the land. So Brian sees the opportunity for some networking and for propagating the message about BL's corporate social responsibility. Ha!

Summarised by Brian Maskell

Mike, Jim, Brian, Jennifer, Joe, Kenton

Brian is very pleased with the publicity materials for the new dairy; they are being mailed out today. It's the day of the Open Day for the Green Burial Ground and he plans to use the opportunity to spread the word; The Echo and Radio Borsetshire are both in attendance. Joe is here too - uninvited - to advertise the bespoke, green, horse-drawn bier service that he and Bartelby can provide; he gets his marching orders from Jim.
Later in The Bull, Joe has another go at gate-crashing the event; Jim can hardly forbid him from giving out his leaflets in the pub. He is not allowed a drink on the Parish Council's tab but Brian is happy enough to buy him a double whisky - not that he expects it to influence Joe's view of the the dairy project.
The event has been a great success. All they need now is a body.

Summarised by Brian Maskell

Pip, David, Joe, Bert Horrobin, Neil, Susan

As a result of her presentation to the Hassett Hills farmers, Pip has been commissioned to implement some of her ideas; she will be paid too. Left to do his NVZ records (that's Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, in case you wondered), David puts in a call to Oliver; they will meet tomorrow to discuss something he cannot talk to Ruth about.
Neil is having a night off from his shower building and is enjoying a quiet meal with Susan - Tracy being out. Susan is remarkably tolerant of her young sister, who has had a tough time and not been so lucky in love as Susan herself. Is it deliberate that Susan chooses a moment when he is 'well fed up and agreeably drunk' to show Neil the cleaned up dolls' house? In truth it needs more than a clean-up and Neil volunteers to renovate it - in the fullness of time.
Meanwhile Joe is spending the evening with Susan's dad. Much cider has been drunk when he inspects the shower. Neil has done well, so wouldn't it be a good idea to help him out by finishing it off? Well-oiled as they are, perhaps they used a bit too much adhesive, and are those border tiles all the right way round? Near enough - for Joe but probably not for Neil.

Summarised by Brian Maskell

Neil, Mike, Darrell, David, Oliver, Tom, Brenda

OMG! Being Neil he actually stops short of the G but you get the picture, as indeed has he - a picture of devastation in the shower room. Needing a drink, he heads for The Bull, where he encounters Mike and Darrell. The latter has been doing some work for Mike and will be working at Grey Gables later in the week, thanks to a good word from Peggy; today he is at a loose end and is quick to volunteer to help Neil restore order in the shower, so as to be ready for the electrician on Friday. His neighbourly gesture brings forth another: Mike suggests that he might have some casual dairy work for daughter Rosa, after appropriate training.
David is also seeking help from a neighbour - a clear, objective view from Oliver on whether to sell the herd. Mum's the word though, because Ruth is not aware of his deliberations. Of course Oliver cannot tell him what to do but does urge him to talk to Ruth, soon. They are in this together.
Tom and Brenda have been preparing for tomorrow's launch of the Ambridge Organics brand, but Tom is pinning his hopes on local celebrity chef Shelly Brazil being there. He is driving when her text arrives, giving Brenda the opportunity for some gentle teasing (as well as threatening to bid for Harry in the Promises Auction!). The response, however is positive: she will come and will bring a Borchester Life photographer too. Yes!

Summarised by Brian Maskell

Jennifer, Brian, Pat, Lilian, Helen, Tom

Brian has bumped into Sabrina Thwaite - no doubt an enjoyable experience in itself - but he is very pleased by her reaction to the leaflets. There is nothing in The Echo, after his efforts on Monday, but Jennifer draws his attention to the internet and a new website about the "Ambridge new dairy"; it is complete rubbish; outrageous! Brian storms off - straight to Bridge Farm to take Pat to task; why he thinks Pat is behind it is a mystery but he gets short shrift from her.
Jennifer goes to the Ambridge Organics Launch Event with Lilian; she is somewhat anxious in view of her strained relationship with brother Tony. Matt sends his apologies; Brian has merely not come. Shelley Brazil is as good as her word and turns up with photographer and the speeches go down well; Jenny however is uncomfortable because there has been so little interaction with Tony; but she is persuaded to stay.
The family are pleased with the event - except Tony, who these days is not pleased about anything. Who's doing the milking tomorrow? He is.

Summarised by Brian Maskell

Credited scriptwriter: Joanna Toye

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