Fresh Fields

Hester has joined the roster of amateur cooks who takes turns as chef for "Lucys Kitchen" in Barnes, her specialty being classic French cuisine. But on her first night, no one shows up at the restaurant except William, who saves the day by pretending they are on a romantic rendezvous.

William has been looking forward to relaxing on a fishing trip, and is dismayed when Hester and Nancy insist on accompanying him.

Now that Emma is out on her own, William and Hester ponder selling the house and moving somewhere smaller.

While celebrating their wedding anniversary at a posh restaurant, Hester and William spot Sonias husband with another woman.

Hesters helping out with the church bazaar inevitably draws William into the chaos. The high point is a rendition of ""Three Little Maids From School"" by Sonia, Hester, and William.

William has second thoughts after he agrees to let Hester fill in for his secretary.

It always pays to call in an expert when you decide to redecorate. But unfortunately the one Hester finds falls down on the job—literally.

Hester attempts to deliver "meals-on-wheels" while babysitting her newborn grandson.

Hester is up for election to a local Committee, and meets her rival, an attractive blonde head-on at a wine tasting party.

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Upset that a Victorian mansion is to be torn down and replaced by ""a block of flats,"" Hester starts a campaign to persuade local councillor Mr. Gardner to convert the premises into a seniors residence. When he doubts the need for such a facility, Hester invites him home, having persuaded Nancy, her sister Winnie, and Guy to pretend senility. The appalled Gardner not only approves the home but telephones to notify William and Hester that he has arranged for their dotty dependents to move in immediately....

William has financial problems, so Hester takes him to Bologne, France, for a carefree day and Duty Free goods. Its far from plain sailing.

William insists on mending a leaky kitchen tap himself, necessitating an expensive visit from the plumber. Meanwhile, Hester gets a call from Peters parents, the Richardsons, who are coming from Dorset to London for the day and invite themselves to dinner and to stay overnight. Driven mad by overbearing Margaret and epically boring Henry, and dismayed when their guests decide to stay another night, the Fields invent a dinner engagement at a Bournemouth hotel, but actually bundle themselves and Nancy next door to Sonias for the night. Then Margaret and Henry turn up to chat with Sonia, and the Fields flee to Nancys granny flat only to be mistaken for burglars. They excuse their return by claiming that Nancy has come down with flu; but next morning Margaret cheerfully announces that Henry has caught it from Nancy and will have to remain in bed for several days.

After a sojourn in Italy, the Fields return home to celebrate Hesters 45th birthday. Despite Williams back going out, and some complications arising from misunderstandings, they settle on dinner out to celebrate whereupon Hester is summoned to deal with an emergency at Lucys Kitchen. This turns out to be a ruse as the restaurant is packed with their friends for a surprise party, and Guy and Nancy announce that they were re-married that morning, leaving Hester in floods of happy tears.