18/09/2014

Joe gazes down at the River Am. In all his years, he's never seen it looking so brown, with silt run-off from the land. David agrees as they wish each other a happy birthday. Long suffering David proffers a tenner for Joe's drink fund (a yearly tradition).

Ruth and Jill agree with Joe that it's the fault of the Estate. Justin, Rob and Charlie's farming practices are ruining the local soil.

Defeated Lynda despairs of being ready for Sunday's naming ceremony. And there's more bad news. When Lynda rushed out, she left the front door open, allowing water into the hall. She's crestfallen to have let Leonie - worse, Mungo - down. Tony, Eddie and Ed come to help clear up. They fill rubble bags with silt they scoop off the lawn.

Johnny got on well with the course supervisor at Borchester College. Now all he has to do is persuade his mum.

At the Bull, Joe insists on despondent Ed taking some cash for a drink, to treat himself for once.

Joe walks out with Tony. Tony knows that Ed's worried about his future. It's good to see Joe and Ed so close. Joe says poignantly that grandsons can be easier to get along with than sons. You can right a lot of wrongs with a grandson.