14/08/2025

Tracy and Susan are discussing how long the shop might be at St Stephen’s when Alan joins them with news that the noises are positive – so long as the parochial church council agree. Tracy assumes that’ll be a doddle, but when Alan mentions a fee for hiring the space Susan’s horrified. Susan seeks Neil’s support but he can see the church’s point of view: they need to raise funds. He suggests the PCC might agree payment of a minimal fee for a specific purpose, like restoring the font. As Susan and Alan continue to thrash it out later Alan’s sympathetic but anticipates opposition to the shop idea from some parishioners. Susan suggests the compromise of covering font restoration costs and Alan agrees that could work.

Over at Berrow Farm Jazzer’s shocked when he and Tracy are invited on a double date tomorrow night, with Martyn and Marlene. Neil thinks it’s funny, but Jazzer is determined they’re not going.

Kirsty confides in Tracy that she’s been lonely since Roy left, but now worries Kate might not want to move in after all. Tracy reckons Kate still will, then hopes her friend Marlene doesn’t get hurt by Martyn, mentioning Marlene’s idea of a double date. It transpires that Tracy has accepted the invitation despite Jazzer wriggling out of it. Tracy tells Jazzer they’ll be going to a fancy steakhouse and Martyn’s paying, so what’s not to like? When Jazzer demurs Tracy insists it’s for Marlene’s sake – but the last thing Jazzer wants is to be indebted to his boss.