After Henry

Jan 4, 1988

Sarah hears via her mother's geriatric gossip network that Clare is secretly meeting an older man and feels that she has to find out what's really going on.

Jan 11, 1988

Sarah thinks she has finally found the perfect way to stop her mother from snooping in her part of the house. Unfortunately, she hasn't reckoned with Eleanor's devious behaviour.

Jan 18, 1988

Eleanor is undecided about the terms of her will, and, of course, sees this as a wonderful opportunity to play her daughter against her granddaughter.

Jan 25, 1988

A lapse of security forces Sarah to install a burglar alarm, but Eleanor, needless to say, has other ideas as to how their property should be protected.

Feb 1, 1988

Sarah finds herself caught in the middle as both her daughter and her mother force her to listen to endless confidences about their love lives.

Feb 8, 1988

A major celebration is approaching for Eleanor, and Sarah has secret plans for making the occasion memorable. But is it actually possible to keep anything secret from her mother?

Dec 26, 1988

Sarah plans a traditional Christmas but finds that Russell isn't interested at all. And Eleanor has her own slightly outdated take on 'traditional'!

Jan 17, 1989

Clare gets into an intellectual challenge with her new boyfriend whom she believes to be terribly brainy. Eleanor decides it's a contest she can't be left out of.

Jan 24, 1989

When Sarah is invited out for lunch by a man, she has to make contingency plans to prevent her mother's 'Geriatric Mafia' finding out about it.

Jan 31, 1989

It's quiz night and Clare and Eleanor are in opposing teams, while Sarah seems to be having problems with the accuracy of her memory.

Feb 7, 1989

Sarah feels lousy, but in her family she's last on the list of casualties allowed to be treated if other people feel ill as well.

Feb 7, 1989

Eleanor wants to have a family wedding because she has heard that Vera Polling is having one and that, of course, puts the pressure on Sarah and Clare.

Mar 7, 1989

Sarah and Eleanor have fallen out and there seems little chance of a reconciliation. But Clare decides to use one of her old school games to alleviate the problem.

Mar 14, 1989

Sarah is accused of scandal-mongering after inadvertently starting a rumour about the pension counter's sister.

Mar 14, 1989

With Eleanor off to the Bridge Club dinner and dance with Vera Polling, Sarah decides to invite Dr. Sam Greenland over for a quiet dinner but things do not go according to plan.

Mar 21, 1989

With Eleanor off to the Bridge Club dinner and dance with Vera Polling, Sarah decides to invite Dr Sam Greenland over for a quiet dinner. But the best laid plans...

Mar 28, 1989

Sarah, Eleanor and Clare are enlisted by the local amateur dramatic society when it suddenly loses its leading players.

Apr 4, 1989

Eleanor is left in charge of the bookshop when Russell and Sarah go off for a special lunch. She initiates an efficiency drive, which goes badly wrong.

Apr 11, 1989

Eleanor is left in charge of the bookshop when Russell and Sarah go off for a special lunch. She initiates an efficiency drive, which goes badly wrong.

Dec 25, 1989

Sarah makes plans to escape to Portugal for two weeks with her glamorous friend, Alison. But Eleanor brings all her emotional blackmailing skills to the fore to scupper the plans.

Jan 23, 1990

Christmas at home will never be the same without Henry, so Sarah, Eleanor and Clare decide to accept all the invitations they’re offered. Anything to get out of the house...

Jan 30, 1990

Clare’s love life has been rocky in the past, but at last she has a boyfriend who seems perfect in every way. But is he too perfect for Sarah?

Feb 6, 1990

Sarah knows her mother answers the phone for her, and also suspects Eleanor reads her mail. Russell decides to catch her out…

Feb 13, 1990

For years, Eleanor has said that everyone would be happier if she moved into a home, and now, finally, she goes with Vera to investigate the delights of ‘The Sycamores’.

Feb 20, 1990

Sarah asks some friends round for dinner, but finds that Clare is giving a party on the same day.

Feb 27, 1990

Clare feels insulted when her new boyfriend pays more attention to fixing up her new car than to her.

Mar 6, 1990

Sarah figures out how she can use her fund-raising activities for the local hospital as a way of securing a nice quiet evening with a nice quiet man.

Mar 13, 1990

When a crime occurs at Russell's shop, Eleanor brings her experience of reading Agatha Christie novels to bear in solving the case.

Mar 20, 1990

Eleanor intends to show off her social skills by giving a party, but Sarah is not on the guest list. Unfortunately, she involves Vera in the preparations.

Mar 27, 1990

Sarah meets a smooth-talking gentleman who uses astrology as part of his chat-up routine but doesn't reckon with any of his predictions coming true.

Apr 3, 1990

When Eleanor's sister Lilian visits, Eleanor's version of her past life is called into question.

Apr 16, 1990

Sarah suddenly finds her uneventful life at a crossroads when she is offered a chance to change it completely. But can she take it...?

Jul 20, 1992

Eleanor's social life has lost its spark but Sarah is unable to find out why.

Jul 27, 1992

Eleanor plays Lady Bountiful when Vera's young relatives come to visit.

Aug 3, 1992

When Clare returns from Australia she refuses to talk about her experience out there. It is left to Eleanor to venture at the real reason for her silence.

Aug 10, 1992

Clare's confidence is low after her split with Edward and so Sarah suggests she take an assertiveness course to rebuild her shattered morale.

Aug 17, 1992

Clare tries to blot out the memory of her broken affair with Edward by taking up with someone totally unsuitable.

Aug 24, 1992

Having sorted out the problem of Clare seeing a married man, Sarah now finds herself in an alarmingly similar situation. Of course Eleanor jumps to the wrong conclusion.