Ladies Of Letters

Vera is right to suspect that St John the vet is her grandson Nelson's father: he heads for Australia the moment he hears the boy may be his. Irene is now housekeeping for him.

Vera has moved - with her granddaughter Sabrina - to Mandela Court, where she enjoys daily dance sessions with her African neighbour - Sara of the Astarte tribe. Her former neighbour Yasmin provides her with footware for Nelson - her new grandson in Australia. What does Yasmin do at nights to be able to afford these things?

Vera writes to Howard asking if, by any chance, the vet she suspects of being Nelson's father was called St John - another of baby Nelson's names. Howard confirms that this is true. Vera is ecstatic - a vet, a profession in the family.

Irene continues to hold the domestic fort in Melbourne - worrying that she's not getting nappies as white as they should be, and penning odes to England and Vera - both of whom - as Vera points out - she is remembering through rose tinted specs.

Irene needs to pull herself together, and maybe come back home. Vera gets quite enthusiastic about the idea. Irene could stay at Mandela Court!

Irene has news to tell: Lesley is pregnant again - and the father is Lesley's boss - Brian, with whom she's been having an affair! Also - St John the vet has turned up in Australia to claim Nelson as his own!

Vera gets the impression from Howard and Anthony that St John actually isn't as respectable or wealthy as she'd hoped, but everything's peachy in Oz: St John and Karen have had a very happy re-union, though Irene's finding Lesley's brash partner Brian very hard work. This makes her more and more determined to take Vera's advice and return to England. Vera is enthusiastic and starts busily planning Irene's life.