Natasha faces a tricky negotiation and Tracy jumps on board.
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13:12
29/04/2025
On his boat Rex encourages Rochelle to do her physio exercises so she can return to work, but it’s very painful. Rex then leaves for a meeting. While he’s gone Saskia turns up and tells Rochelle their protest group is ready for action. Specifically Saskia means Rochelle and Casey Meats, putting the pressure on her to return to work asap. At the Shop Zainab tells Joy how much Azra adored the new wedding photos. They chat about Jack and Henry joining Helen at Beechwood tomorrow, and how crowded it will be. Zainab mentions a possible job for Rochelle as front-of-house at a new vegan restaurant in Felpersham – it’d be much more her thing than the abattoir. Initially Joy doesn’t want to interfere, but changes her mind later and contacts Zainab to get the restaurant’s number.Joy then goes to see Rochelle on the boat and is supportive about her elbow and the cricket, before giving Rochelle the number of Zainab’s contact, explaining about the position coming up. When Rex returns he agrees it sounds perfect. Joy offers to bring over a vegan moussaka she’s cooking, plus a meaty version for Rex, for taking care of Rochelle – though Rex and Rochelle quickly assure her they’re just mates. Then Rochelle disappears inside to take a call from Saskia, who insists Vince needs to be present for their protest at the abattoir – and it has to be this week. But Rochelle makes it clear she’s not ready yet, so it’s not going to happen.
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13:12
28/04/2025
At Beechwood Natasha throws away a vase gifted by Helen that Seren has broken, worried how Helen will react when she moves in today – she’s bound to notice. Now they’ll all be squeezing in together Natasha frets to Joy about Tom stressing, until Helen finds somewhere else to rent. When Helen arrives later she finds most of the cupboards already full and the twins’ mess everywhere. Joy gives a hand carrying all grateful Helen’s stuff in, then has to explain to Natasha about things being awkward between her and Rochelle.Lynda phones Joy and fulminates about the shockingly poor last-minute cricket tea organised for the previous home match by Freddie. Later, at the Tearoom, Pat tells Chelsea about the slideshow of Peggy’s wartime photos they’re putting together as a surprise for Tony and Lilian. Chelsea mentions Elizabeth’s exhibition at Lower Loxley that she and Brad helped with, featuring a mysterious RAF officer, Reginald. Lynda informs Chelsea that Robert managed to identify his role in the RAF. Lynda then badgers Pat about getting Natasha to provide the cricket teas this season, starting with next Sunday’s match against Lawrence’s Roserran-in-the-Vale, before Pat bemoans the manner in which she and Tony were fired from the team.When Natasha gets back from helping Helen move in she’s delighted to hear from Pat about Lynda’s tea request, so long as they’re not expecting it for free. Bullish Natasha reckons it’ll help rebuild the Tearoom’s reputation, then reassures Pat that everything will be fine with Helen and the boys at Beechwood too.
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13:10
27/04/2025
Freddie frets as the cricket team struggle in their match against Adderton, while Rochelle fends off calls from Saskia about accessing the lairage at the abattoir. Later, while batting, Rochelle’s struck painfully on the elbow by a shot from Rex. After he’s out guilt-stricken Rex takes Rochelle to hospital, where to their relief they discover she hasn’t broken her arm. Rochelle then makes fun of Rex being overly concerned, before accepting his offer to stay over with him rather than face Joy making a fuss and everything degenerating into a row.On her wedding anniversary Azra is packed off to a spa day at Grey Gables by Zainab and Khalil. It’s a ploy to get her out of the way while Akram is photographed in his wedding outfit, as part of their plan to replace the pictures lost in the sewage spill. The outfit needs letting out so Akram heads to Birmingham with Zainab and Khalil, where they have lunch while a friend does the tailoring. The photoshopping process is explained to Akram, who loves the photos they’ll be using of Azra in her wedding outfit taken recently by Chelsea. They’ll be stopping at the Botanical Gardens on their way home for colourful background shots, plus adding in guests from pictures emailed by Adil. But Akram thinks adding Azra’s parents, who weren’t there originally, is a step too far. Later, both Azra and Akram are delighted by the newly created digital “wedding album”, spotting Khalil and Zainab peeping out of one picture just as if they were really there!
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13:05
25/04/2025
Joy and Leonard enjoy their walk up Lakey Hill inspecting the footpaths and reminiscing about street parties gone by. Suddenly Joy spots one of David’s very graphic notices about the dangers of neospora. She’s shocked. Leonard starts to dismantle the sign just as David approaches. Leonard explains to annoyed David that he feels the notices are inappropriate, but David counters that the reality of the image is exactly what farmers can face if people don’t heed the signs. They start to argue, and Joy intervenes. She agrees with David on this as it happens. It’s an important message. She persuades the men to apologise to one another, and David agrees to put the sign somewhere more unobtrusive.Rex needs an explanation from Rochelle as to why she cancelled on him. She assures him she likes him and isn’t playing games. He’s not the problem. Before she can expand on this Rex moves in to kiss her. He can’t get her out of his head, and wonders if this could be a thing. Later Rex admits his heart rules his head in romance – when he’s in he’s all in. Rochelle rows back on their earlier moment, saying she just wants some fun. She can’t commit to more; she might have to leave Ambridge soon. Rex isn’t up for a casual arrangement, and he doesn’t want to start something that doesn’t mean anything. He finds her tricky to read – perhaps it’s good they’re being honest with each other now. They agree to park things as just friends.