17/07/2022

Clarrie visits Natasha to see how she’s getting on, but instead of it being a relaxing visit, Clarrie unintentionally winds Natasha up about how exhausting it is having little ones. Natasha anxiously exclaims there’s no way she can cope on her own with two babies. Clarrie gives her a gift of hand- knitted cardies – blue for the boy and pink for the girl.

Oliver tries to apologise to Brad for hiring the telehandler – he hadn’t realised the impact it would have on Brad’s work. Tracy appears and is icy with Oliver for pulling the plug on Brad’s haymaking. Oliver’s contrite, saying he knew Brad was saving up for a summer school. Tracy must be proud. Later Tracy asks Brad what he meant? After some coaxing Brad tells her about his free scholarship for a Maths summer school. But he can’t go because he can’t afford the expenses. When he mentions he’s thinking of working at the chicken factory, alarmed Tracy explains he wouldn’t be able to deal with the banter there. Despondent Brad says he’d better get used to it, hadn’t he?

Later Oliver tells Clarrie about his bruising encounter with Tracy; he’s reinforced Tracy’s conviction that he’s a penny-pinching fat-cat who doesn’t care about people and she’s not the only one who thinks that. Clarrie’s reassuring; where would they be without Oliver’s generosity? She’s glad the village will be welcomed to the launch of the ‘Future Grey Gables’. When Oliver reveals his plans, she’s sure there’ll be opportunities for everyone.