¶ Intro / Opening
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¶ Domestic Life and Event Planning
No. Come on, Cleo. This way you daft thing. Hey Anna. Oh hi Pip. Er, sorry, do you want me to let you in? I was just going to take Cleo for a walk before the light goes. Stella's not back yet. I know, I know, and she won't be back for a while. Oh, why not? Mm, she's stuck in traffic on the wrong side of Borchester. She messaged as I was on my way over. Apparently the Saturnab is estimating longer and longer. Oh no.
She was meant to be cooking for you tonight. Yeah. I even turned down one of Leonard's scones when I dropped Rosie off so I didn't ruin a dinner. Regretting that now. Starving. Well, I can offer you half a bar of Kendall Mint cake. Kendall Winky. Where did that come from? Jazza brought it back for me when he did that swim in the lakes last year. I just found it in my jacket pocket.
Mm, that was a fair while back. Are you sure it's all right? Pip, it's pure sugar. I'm sure it's absolutely fine. And beggars can't be choosers. True. We could always come for a walk with Cleo and me while you wait. I was thinking of going over to the Re Wilding to have a look at the Peggy artwork. Yeah, go on. I might as well. Well I know I'm no replacement for Stella, but you could try to sound less disappointed. I sorry, I mean thank you. That'd be lovely. It's fine. Come on.
Ha Rosie's keeping Ben busy up there. They're playing chess with a whole set of mums. I didn't think Ben knew how to play chess. No, I don't think he does. Rosie's teaching him. Apparently she learned how to play from Bluey. Fat go Is Josh not back from Meadow Farm? No, not yet. He must have stayed to do the afternoon milking. He's spending a lot of time over there, isn't he? Well that's me frantically busy with her other work.
She's got George starting tomorrow, though. He's very keen, she said. So that should free Josh up a bit. I'm not sure he wants to be freed up. Really? Mm. Seeing as we do get on well. We do seem to. Interesting. Hey, um, you know Ben offered to look after Rosie, so if we wanted to pop down the bull later Do we want to pop down to the bull later? I don't know if I can be bothered, really. Fair enough. I'm not that bothered either.
Oh, uh how are the event barn bookings looking? Oh pretty good for this time of year. Although I'd completely forgotten about that fiftieth birthday a week on Saturday. Oh yeah, no, rings the bell now, say. We haven't booked any bar staff. Maybe we should pitch in ourselves. Be romantic. Romantic. A week on Saturday is Valentine's Day. Oh no, so it is. Why, what were you planning? No, no, it's just
I thought I'd offer to have Rosie that night so Pip and Stella could go out. We're having Rosie tonight. Yeah, but it's Valentine's, isn't it? They might want to go out. Oh and I suppose is that the question that we might want to go out? Oh Yes, us. We don't usually, do we? We have done some years. Well, this year it looks like we'll be behind the bar. What's that look for? Well it's not too late to get someone in if we wanted to. I suppose not.
Oh no, you're right. Might as well cover the bar ourselves, save some cash. Exactly. We can always go out another night if you're that bothered. That'll never happen. Well if we make it happen. When was the last time we went out for a meal? Huh? Life's just too busy. It is busy, yes. We could go out tonight. We've just cleared up Sunday lunch. Well, not to eat, but we could take Ben up on his offer of babysitting and go for a drink at the bull.
Let's say romance is dead. Oh well if you don't want to Of course I do
¶ Artwork Reflections and Cruise Anxiety
Oh it's really lovely. I'm glad to have seen it. Yeah, me too. Stella said your dad was drafted in to help them get it all ready in time. Apparently sounded like it was a touch and go, but they got it together just before the general public arrived. Oh wow. Oh it did look great though. It's the evening light shining through all the different images. I loved them. Me too. Might see if Stella fancies going on a day off. She should get a day in Louvre for having work Sunday.
if she ever takes it. Does seem pretty relentless this job. Yeah, she's enjoying it, which is the main thing. But oh I dunno, we just don't see very much of each other at the moment. And when we do she's knackered from the commute so we just end up falling asleep in front of the telly. I mean, it's fine. I'll be fine. How are you? You feeling better? Oh, yeah. Loads, thanks. That's good.
Whatever you had it sounded nasty. Yeah. I was pretty wiped out for a while. I don't know if it was COVID or flu or what. I never take sick leave, but I just had no choice. Couldn't even get up to see my mum. Oh god that's broke. I actually don't think she realised, which is, you know, devastating. But at least she wasn't sitting waiting for me. How is she? You know. I'm sorry.
These things are calmer at the moment. She's settled where she is for now. Mm, good. And Neil and Martin are pretty understanding whenever I need time off to sort stuff for her so Anyway, can we change the subject? Sure. Do you think Stella's planning to take me on a cruise to see the Northern Lights from her birthday? The cruise? Not that she's told me. Oh gosh, that's good. Why do you ask? Oh I dunno, she's just in a bit
secretive recently and we had this daft conversation at New Year. On. Well, it started with us saying we needed more time off, which is true, so we decided that in twenty twenty six we should have a proper holiday, a big one. And I said I wanted to see the Northern Lights and then Stella suggested on these cruises and I agreed but really it was a champagne tool game. So now you're worried Stella's booked it as some kind of birthday surprise. Yeah.
Oh would it be that bad if she had? Sounds amazing. I th I'd love to see the northern lights but I don't think a cruise is for me. I think it sounds great. Sailing through Norway, crossing the Arctic Circle. I I think it'll be alright in the daytime, it's the nights and the idea of sleeping in a cabin below deck and I'm actually quite claustrophobic.
Having this recurring nightmare where I'm stuck on a boat and uh in the dream it's actually Rex's narrow boat but you know cruise liners are a lot bigger than narrow boats. Yes. Thank you. Like bigger than this field. Yes, but th this field is land, it's not sea. I honestly don't think I could do it. You better hope Stella hasn't booked it then. When's your birthday? The seventeenth.
Well not long to find out. Yeah, but that would be awful. If she gives me an envelope to open and my face falls and there is another option. You could just ask her. Yeah. You're right. Uh yeah. Yeah, that's what I'll do. Speak of the devil Oh she's back, Stella I don't say anything, will you? No, of course not. No, to be fair to Justin, he pulled it out of the bag in the end.
Even if it was a bit of a scramble. Has he got the artwork properly secured now then? Oh yeah. Next day, all concreted in. Oh great. The artist used a fallen oak tree from the rewilding for the stained glass settings. Looks fantastic. So everyone keeps saying. I'm hoping to get over there this week to have a look. You should.
¶ Valentine's Bookings and Work Exhaustion
Venison terrine followed by beef wellington. Yeah, I know, sounds good, doesn't it? Our Valentine's menu. Fallon decided to go classic and well, it's worked. We're completely booked up. Completely? Too right. What Friday and Saturday?
I know you're my brother, but you can't just wander in here less than two weeks before Valentine's, see the menu on the bar and think, ooh, that's a good idea. But why are you advertising it then? If you take that board down if there's no availability. If you look closely, it says fully booked at the top.
But surely you could squeeze us in a little table for two. They're all little tables for two. It's Valentine's. Like you said, I'm your brother, and I do give you a good deal on Brookfield beef. Yes, but what do you want me to do? Cancel a table who were organized enough to book a head? No, I'm sorry, Dave. I would if I could, but I can't. That's ten eighty, when you ready? I thought it would be fine.
like temporary traffic lights all the way down. Why are you here now? I know, I know. I just wanted to have everything prepared and ready, not be rushing around like a headless chicken. Could you put the oven on, please? Sure. I just need to chop an onion, get the chicken on, and I'll prep the veg. And you you go and sit down. It won't be long. W hang on, hang on. What? Just stop a minute. You've barely taken your coat off. I'm fine. The oven will take time to get warm. There's no room.
It's still early. We've got all night. Where's he staying at mum and dad's? I'll pour us a drink and we can sit down, have a chat, and then I'll help you with the food. Oh all right then. Maybe we could just sit down for ten minutes. Exactly.
Where's Ruth? Uh she's over there talking to Linda. Why? Oh yeah, I must be going softer my old age. But if you still want a table for Valentine's, I can probably squeeze you in. Oh really? You'll have to sit at the bar. Oh, sure we can live with that. Okay, done. Eight o'clock? Saturday the fourteenth. Oh, thanks, Kenton. Don't be late. No, no, we won't. I'll just text Ben. See if he and Josh might cover the events bar and bar for us.
It's not like they'll be doing anything for Valentine's. Hi, Clinton. Oh hi Ruth. Um bye Ruth. Bye. Don't tell me. You've been recruited for a speed watch shift. I told you it was dangerous to go over there. No, actually I haven't. Well, not yet. I kicked the can down the road, told her we're in the run up to carving but to ask me next month. And she will. I know she will. Did you see Kenton's doing a Valentine's thing here? You see
Well, I really think we should hire in some bar staff for that party so we can offer to babysit for Stella and Pip. They could come here.'Cause I don't think they're getting to see that much of each other. What with Stella's job? Yeah, that's a nice idea. Um Probably booked up. You see, it says so on the blackboard. Oh. And anyway, we're probably best doing the bar ourselves. Like you said.
¶ The Unresolved Birthday Surprise
What I'm trying to say is th it's not that I I don't want to see the Northern Lights, I do, I really do, and I think that one day we will. It's the cruise thing. Yeah, I I I don't think I could hack it. Oh no. You have, haven't you? You've booked it. Oh I knew you had. Stella, say something. Have you booked it or haven't you? Stella? Stella. Oh Stella What? Oh Oh sorry, sorry. I was just resting my eyes. Only for a minute. What did I miss? Nothing. No nothing.
Better go and put the chicken on. Actually l why didn't we leave it? No, no, absolutely not. Stella, you're shattered. You were out for the count then. You didn't hear a word I said just now. I'm sorry. No, it's fine, you're tired. Why don't you go to bed? No. Please. We can do this another time. Maybe on your day off on Tuesday, we'd have lunch instead. Are you sure, Pip? I feel awful falling asleep like that. Stop it.
Go on, you go take yourself in. I'll bring you some cheese on toast. Oh no that would be heaven. Thanks, Pierce. Well night honey. I was just gonna put the telly on pit, but I don't have to no no go for it. She was already asleep. No. Yeah, fast asleep. So I'm none the wiser. Well maybe you got it wrong. Maybe she isn't planning a surprise at all. She's got so much going on with work, she hasn't got much time for anything else. No, there's definitely something.
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