07/11/2025

Unsettled Esme answers a call from Susan, who apologises for the disturbance at yesterday’s funeral. Esme accepts the apology, but cuts Susan off when Ruth and David arrive. Seeing the state she’s in Ruth pulls Esme into a hug. Esme blames herself for letting her dad down, despite David and Ruth’s reassurances. Esme then announces she’s decided to take the farm on, as her dad would have wanted. She doesn’t mean permanently, but she’ll keep it a going concern before selling the herd and business on to the next tenant. David and Ruth pledge their support, while Esme offers to use what money she has to make it work. Between themselves David and Ruth aren’t sure how realistic this is, agreeing they’ll keep an eye on Esme.

Susan tells Neil that Brian, Lilian and Mick, plus some of the volunteers, have complained about George working in the shop. The shop committee have summoned Susan to an emergency meeting, though Susan is defiant about keeping George on. Neil thinks she might have to back down or risk losing everything she’s fought for to keep the shop going. Later, Neil finds Susan taking out her frustrations on some bread dough. She’s been told she can’t let George volunteer in the shop. And now Susan’s dreading having to tell him, after making such a huge effort to repair their relationship. While Neil is more pragmatic Susan determines to give the committee her own ultimatum: unless they reconsider for George’s sake, she’s handing in her notice. Is Neil with her on this?