Aunty Joan

Phil discusses his ongoing house sale difficulties with Dugdale, who is glad that he’s recovered after last week’s disappearance and says he might be interested in buying the house. Phil imparts this good news to Edith, along with the bad news that a surveyor has found dry rot. Edith’s sister Joan joins them and it is clear that she and Phil get along no better than she and Edith. One of her more annoying traits is that she keeps promising everyone bequests in her will.

Roger visits Bob at his temporary digs, a caravan by the river, and tells Bob about Phil’s dry rot. Bob persuades him that this is the sort of thing surveyors make up, and they should inspect it themselves. But as they explore the attic, Phil arrives with Dugdale in tow.