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5 of 195

14/12/2025
David catches up with Esme at Meadow Farm, pleased to hear she’s settling into Ambridge life, having watched the Christmas lights switch-on and been introduced to half the village by Akram. Esme’s getting to grips with looking after her cows too, but with finances still tight she’s keen to get David’s advice on sourcing extra silage. Later, Ben and David look forward to Shula joining the family for Christmas, before Esme phones and David has an idea to help raise money for the silage: getting Josh to sell some old farm machinery that’s lying in one of Esme’s barns. But when they look at what’s there they’re not hopeful it will raise much, though Ben takes some pictures anyway. The farmer Esme is talking to is based in South Wales and she thinks her best bet of getting a good deal on the silage is to go and see him. Ben suggests Josh could go with her and catch his girlfriend Nina, who’s playing a gig in Cardiff, at the same time. Grateful Clarrie and Eddie have brought Pat some treats after she helped with last week’s turkey plucking. They compare notes on what a hard year it’s been, but look forward to a new farming year, and the Christmas tractor run. Later though, Clarrie wonders to Eddie if Pat’s okay, as she seemed a bit off-colour. Eddie’s more interested in getting Clarrie to make him a turkey costume he can wear at the Christmas market on Wednesday, but Clarrie tells him there’s no chance.
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12:54
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12:54
12/12/2025
Josh and Lily nurse a recovering Paul, updating him that Josh’s girlfriend Nina did not turn up on Thursday. Josh admits that he finds her captivating on stage, but that he deserves more than he’s getting in the relationship. Lily reveals that she’s not going to travel with Mason in Australia but is just going to spend a short time in Perth. They no longer need to look for a new housemate. Lily will speak to Dane about the wedding planner job. Now that she’s staying around, she’s motivated to get the house clean before Shula arrives tomorrow, despite them feeling ill. Leonard arrives and suggests a refreshing walk ahead of cleaning. Toasting Lily’s birthday in The Bull with lemonade, Paul shares that he is booking a driving instructor who specialises in nervous students. Returning home to The Stables, the grateful flatmates find that Leonard and Joy have completely cleaned the house. Akram has been reflecting on the proposed move to Pakistan. Over the week he’s really noticed the impact Azra makes in the community. His family’s happiness is the most important - the children have made good friends and Azra is so at home in Ambridge. He has found it humbling. Azra admits that her earlier wishes to move had been her reaction to a bad week. Akram suggests that they take a family walk down to the Green for the Christmas lights switch on, as they all belong in this village now, him included.
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12:46
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12:46
11/12/2025
Josh and Lily attempt to eat plain rice as their first meal after their illness, now confirmed as norovirus. They do not feel up to tidying the house ahead of Shula’s inspection. Instead of looking forward to Australia, Lily admits that she’s rethinking her trip plans. She’d still like to see her university friend in Perth, but doesn’t want to travel for a year. She wonders if her plans had been motivated by feelings of rejection at Lower Loxley. She is also not sure about her co-traveller Mason as she doesn’t know him very well. Josh’s girlfriend Nina is due to visit but as the day wears on it’s evident that she’s not coming. Zainab chats to a distracted Azra and suggests a family trip to Deck the Hall at Lower Loxley. Azra confides that her difficult week has included the partners suggesting extended patient hours. Lottie calls from the surgery to say that the locum has called in ill. They are an hour behind schedule when Lawrence Harrington comes for his appointment with Dr Laing. He refuses to see his replacement, Dr Malik, and is rudely offensive to Lottie. His anger rising, Lawrence struggles to breathe and collapses. Azra performs emergency care, despite Lawrence’s protests. She reports later to Zainab that Lawrence has been taken to intensive care. Realising he was the same person who’d been racist to the Malik children, Azra was not sure he’d be grateful for her medical help today. She wonders if Akram was right - would the family be better off in Pakistan?
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13:10
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13:10
10/12/2025
Receptionist Lottie and Azra are relieved to have heating again at the doctors’ surgery. However, their prescription delivery man is ill and they need an appropriate replacement. Azra wonders if Akram could step in. Alan has an appointment to discuss his low energy levels. He notes Lawrence Harrington’s inappropriate manner towards Lottie. She confirms to Alan that she suspects his attitude is racially motivated. During his appointment, Alan and Azra discuss Felpersham mosque’s structural issues. Until it is re-roofed, the Maliks will have to travel to Birmingham for Jummah. Alan suggests a temporary move to Ambridge for Friday prayers, and that he’d ask the Village Hal committee. Touched, Azra says that Akram will be amazed by the offer. Josh and Lily are weakly attempting one of Joy’s jigsaws when Paul joins them from his sickbed. Paul has been blindsided by his appraisal with Alistair. He’s been warned that he has to pass his driving test to continue working at the vets’, as he’d agreed to get his licence on accepting the job. He confides that he’s terrified about attempting another test as he’s failed 7 times. Lily offers to teach Paul, but he reminds her that she’ll be in Australia for the next year. Josh texts to wish his girlfriend Nina luck for tonight’s big hometown gig. He’s evasive when she doesn’t reply. Paul and Lily are shocked that he is still thinking of funding her next album, when she is obviously not invested in their relationship. How could he not see it?
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13:07
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13:07
09/12/2025
Akram is working hard to try and finish the repairs today. He broaches the idea of moving to Pakistan again. Akram thinks Khalil would do great there. While Zainab is adaptable, and student loans are cheaper if she changes her mind about university. Azra points out that visiting family is not the same as uprooting. Akram wants to be a farmer, not a plumber, and he’s not getting any younger. Ed and Leonard chat in the crowded waiting room. During Ed’s appointment about his wrist, he asks what counselling is available for George’s temper, but Azra says as he’s an adult she’s got to speak to George herself.Paul has succumbed to whatever is going around the Stables. It clearly isn’t food poisoning. Josh slowly makes some toast. Lily’s stomach doesn’t agree with it. Josh and Lily discuss the job at Grey Gables. Leonard turns up masked and gloved to help the plagued household. He starts on cleaning up the kitchen. The discussion moves onto Lower Loxley and Lily’s lack of inheritance. Leonard suggests to Lily that Josh may feel similar with farm inheritance. Josh states it’s obvious that Pip is the golden girl. Josh confesses he thought it might be his own fault for starting his business. Luckily, Nina is going to pop in on Thursday to give him some TLC.Azra tells Akram he doesn’t have to go back to Pakistan to be a farmer. Akram explains that land is expensive, besides, Pakistan is their true home, would he really be accepted in farming here?
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13:10
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13:10