18/09/2018

Carol insists on treating Jill to lunch at Grey Gables, where Peggy and Brian offer to join them for pudding. Peggy artfully brings the conversation round to the Flower and Produce Show, but Carol is very secretive about her chutney. Brian and Peggy insist that they are no threat – that’s Jenny’s department – and soon Carol is telling them all about her secret recipe. At one point she notices Brian making notes on his phone. He claims to have been checking the cricket scores, and apologises.

Outside the shop Philip finds Jazzer having a cigarette. He’s surprised – isn’t Jazzer supposed to be running with Alistair? Jazzer insists that he isn’t finding it difficult, just boring. Alistair joins them, and Jazzer leaves for a run, claiming Philip was holding him up. Alistair admits to Philip that, despite his faults, Jazzer has been brilliantly supportive. Later, Philip advises Jazzer that giving up smoking will help his training. When Philip’s son was born he quit using willpower alone. When Philip tries to confiscate his cigarette Jazzer insists that, if he decides to, he’ll quit on his own terms.

Philip commiserates with Alistair about his divorce. The confrontational nature of the system is very frustrating. At least he and Shula will be able to move on with their lives once it’s over.