Hester has joined the roster of amateur cooks who takes turns as chef for "Lucy's Kitchen" in Barnes, her specialty being classic French cuisine. But on her first night, no one shows up at the restaurant except William, who saves the day by pretending they are on a romantic rendezvous.
William is tiring of Hester's efforts at self-improvement. Meanwhile, Hester is furious at being rejected for a job as assistant in a boutique because she is too old, and disguises herself as a brainless twenty-soemthing to apply again.
William has been looking forward to relaxing on a fishing trip, and is dismayed when Hester and Nancy insist on accompanying him.
Complications ensue when one of William's clients becomes attracted to Hester.
Now that Emma is out on her own, William and Hester ponder selling the house and moving somewhere smaller.
Emma announces that she is pregnant.
While celebrating their wedding anniversary at a posh restaurant, Hester and William spot Sonia's husband with another woman.
Hester's fencing instructor takes a fancy to her.
Hester's helping out with the church bazaar inevitably draws William into the chaos. The high point is a rendition of ""Three Little Maids From School"" by Sonia, Hester, and William.
Hester attempts to write a novel.
William has second thoughts after he agrees to let Hester fill in for his secretary.
The Fields try to cope with the pressure of daughter Emma's long-delayed wedding day.
It always pays to call in an expert when you decide to redecorate. But unfortunately the one Hester finds falls down on the job, literally.
Hester attempts to cater a large party, and is reduced to persuading William to stand in as a butler which becomes complicated when some of William's clients turn up as guests.
Hester attempts to deliver "meals-on-wheels" while babysitting her newborn grandson.
According to Hester, slimming is easy. You just give up food and drink. After a starvation diet, William is ready to give up Hester.
Hester is up for election to a local Committee, and meets her rival, an attractive blonde head-on at a wine tasting party.
Sonia reads Hester's fortune, and predicts both travel and a secret admirer.
William's snoring begins to give Hester disturned nights but when she has to look after a neighbour's dog, her days aren't too good either.
Upset that a Victorian mansion is to be torn down and replaced by ""a block of flats,"" Hester starts a campaign to persuade local councillor Mr. Gardner to convert the premises into a seniors' residence. When he doubts the need for such a facility, Hester invites him home, having persuaded Nancy, her sister Winnie, and Guy to pretend senility. The appalled Gardner not only approves the home but telephones to notify William and Hester that he has arranged for their dotty dependents to move in immediately....
The Fields hope to get their Chinese vase onto a locally filmed episode of The Antiques Road Show. Returning home, they surprise a burglar at work enabling Hester to use her newly acquired martial arts skills.
William has financial problems, so Hester takes him to Bologne, France, for a carefree day and Duty Free goods. It's far from plain sailing.
William comes home from work reeking of perfume. He says he can explain it; Hester stands by to listen with understanding and a rolling pin.
William insists on mending a leaky kitchen tap himself, necessitating an expensive visit from the plumber. Meanwhile, Hester gets a call from Peter's parents, the Richardsons, who are coming from Dorset to London for the day and invite themselves to dinner and to stay overnight. Driven mad by overbearing Margaret and epically boring Henry, and dismayed when their guests decide to stay another night, the Fields invent a dinner engagement at a Bournemouth hotel, but actually bundle themselves and Nancy next door to Sonia's for the night. Then Margaret and Henry turn up to chat with Sonia, and the Fields flee to Nancy's granny flat only to be mistaken for burglars. They excuse their return by claiming that Nancy has come down with flu; but next morning Margaret cheerfully announces that Henry has caught it from Nancy and will have to remain in bed for several days.
Hester joins in a sponsored cycle race to Brighton for the R.S.P.C.A. She finishes up in worse shape than most of the animals she is trying to help.
After a sojourn in Italy, the Fields return home to celebrate Hester's 45th birthday. Despite William's back going out, and some complications arising from misunderstandings, they settle on dinner out to celebrate whereupon Hester is summoned to deal with an emergency at Lucy's Kitchen. This turns out to be a ruse as the restaurant is packed with their friends for a surprise party, and Guy and Nancy announce that they were re-married that morning, leaving Hester in floods of happy tears.