28/07/2025

There are boxes everywhere as Joy and Susan reflect on how well sales have been going at the Shop since they restocked. Then Terry, the builder, arrives to inspect a spongy corner in the Shop flat, before he gives them the bad news: there’s dry rot in the floor above. If it’s spread into the joists it’ll mean Chris and Martha having to move out. Later, he shows Susan photographs: the rot is everywhere. It will take weeks to cut out, replace the joists and treat the affected area. If they clear the building by the end of tomorrow Terry can start work on Wednesday. Susan realises with horror this means they will have to close the shop too – and once people go elsewhere they might never come back. It’s an absolute disaster!

Brian drops by at The Nest, where Alice tells him Martha’s got an appointment at the hospital on Thursday to see the paediatrician. Alice then confirms Brian’s suspicions about yesterday’s emergency family meeting without him. Brian confesses his concern over losing half the BL contract and how difficult it will be replacing that income. He’s tried reasoning with Justin, but so far Justin’s ignoring all his calls. Alice assumes that if all the Board members make the case for continued food production at Friday’s meeting that would stop Justin, but Brian reckons he might just go ahead anyway. Brian then surprises Alice, asking if she’d consider returning to farming and taking over Home Farm one day. Hesitant Alice says she’ll think about it.