Sat, Dec 22, 1979
The thought of cooking for Christmas frightens Ria though she is cheered to meet Leonard again, though they have a row. Back home this preys on her mind and she burns the pizza and freaks out at the thought of her wasted opportunities - though the boys try to listen. On Christmas Eve Leonard rings and they meet in the park to wish each other a happy Christmas. Christmas Day begins well with offers of help from the family but Ria feels wistful when she hears the musical Christmas card that Leonard has sent anonymously.
Wed, Sep 14, 1983
Six months have elapsed and Ria meets Leonard in the park. They hug, he says he loves her and wants to carry on with her. Meanwhile Ben is having lunch with a widowed friend Amanda. She seems to harbour similar thoughts towards Ben as Leonard does for Ria. Back home Ria cooks up another disastrous dessert but the family rally to support her and Ben says he is taking her to Paris for lunch.
Wed, Sep 28, 1983
The boys have the opportunity to buy a window cleaning business but Ria is still depressed and goes to church for guidance. When she comes out she finds Leonard has put his diary in her car. She phones him but a woman answers. Russell learns that he is a father. Ria now feels very old, appreciating that she is a grandmother, but Ben is unusually understanding towards her.
Wed, Sep 7, 1983
Leonard is back from New York and Ria has received a letter from him but before she can read it Ruby comes in so she hides the letter in a magazine. Adam goes off with the magazine and swaps it for one of his friend Guy's. The magazine gets left in the park and Ria raises eyebrows in her efforts to find it. Eventually Adam gets the letter back for her. Ben reads it but it is quite innocuous and Ben assumes it was written by an old school friend.
Tue, Sep 30, 1980
Adam gets the sack. Ria accidentally plays a taped conversation between Russell and Jeannie which confirms Jeannie's pregnancy. Ria becomes preoccupied with her sons' troubles and makes mistakes whilst out shopping. Leonard crashes his car and re-hires Thomas - he smiles to himself as he takes a photo of Ria out of his desk. Ria tries to get the boys to confide in her but with little success. She then tells her troubles to Ben but he's taken sleeping pills and is sound asleep.
Tue, Sep 23, 1980
As Leonard celebrates getting his licence back Ria struggles to emulate a television cook's recipe. The boys come in and Russell announces that his girl-friend Jeanie is pregnant so they are getting married. Ben takes the news well and a meeting is organized with Jeanie and her parents though only she turns up,gives Ben a note for Russell and leaves. The family assume she is not pregnant after all. In fact she wants the baby but not marriage.
Tue, Oct 14, 1980
Whilst the boys build a fall-out shelter - which annoys Ben when he falls in the hole - Ria meets up with an old friend,Kathleen,an American on her third marriage and she is no more faithful to this husband than the others. She is amazed that Ria and Leonard have not had sex and asks Ria to pretend to her husband Tony that they have been together whilst she is with her lover. Tony turns up and catches Ria on the hop - she is hesitant and when Kathleen returns she rows with her,unaware that Adam is listening. He finds out about Leonard but is happy to keep his mother's secret and when Leonard rings he answers and hands Ria the phone.
Tue, Oct 7, 1980
It's Ria's birthday and Ben takes her to London,dropping her off and arranging to meet her later. Leonard follows all the way to London and books a room next to Ria's in the hotel,which flusters her. She agrees to an afternoon of sight-seeing with him but will go no further. He looks wistfully on as she eventually greets Ben.
Tue, Oct 21, 1980
Ben is off to a conference in the South of France and Leonard is off to New York. They both want Ria to see them off at six in the morning. Fortunately an airport strike comes to her aid. Ben sets out by car and Ria goes to Leonard's flat after his flight is postponed. After several interruptions she finally stays the night. Next day the boys tell her she looks good and happy but she wells up as she sees Leonard's plane fly overhead.