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Private Notes
Arthur and Beryl look forward to a new and peaceful life as the last of their four children leaves home. But they don't even get to taste the first course of their first romantic dinner alone in the house: Paul loses his job, Tracy has a fight with her boyfriend, Nigel changes his mind about school, and they all end up back home again.
Arthur's despair mounts as his oldest daughter Lorraine leaves her husband and returns home. He frantically attempts marriage counseling as his house begins to overcrowd. Beryl, however, does not help things with her overly sympathetic approach.
Neighbor Trevor also suffers from "noisy lodgers", but of a different breed: his wife Vera collects stray animals of all kinds. Trevor and Arthur decide to get away from it all and take a vacation, but only end up in trouble.
The kids decide that Beryl needs a change of lifestyle and plan an exciting new career for her. Arthur decides he has the best answers and sets her up to be a receptionist in a hair salon but, as usual, his plans are soon in a tangle.
Tracy has gone off with a new boyfriend, so Arthur decides to try to find new accommodations for Paul and Nigel as well. Trevor helps him find a perfect room for the boys, but the move stirs up family trouble, and it's Arthur and Trevor who end up out in the cold.
Arthur finally gets his wish as the last of his brood leaves home for good. Loraine and her husband are off to live with his mother; Tracy has moved in with a girlfriend; Paul and Nigel grab their backpacks and take off for the open road. Arthur and Beryl return home from a second honeymoon to a "welcome home" party...with a few added surprises.
Arthur must face the fact of grandfatherhood as Louise, Paul's girlfriend, is expecting a baby. Next-door neighbor Vera is expecting a happy event also, but, Arthur wonders, is there really cause for celebration?
Arthur has been keeping very odd hours, and is seen in the company of an attractive woman on several occasions. Is it business or pleasure? Could he be having an affair? Trevor and Vera have their own theories, as do all his own family, who keep him under heavy surveillance.
Arthur becomes depressed when he learns that he may lose his job. But when his family starts to speculate on the size of his severance pay, suddenly a whole new world of possibilities opens up. Even Vera has ideas on how to spend his money.
Arthur is upset at the late-night activities of his offspring and, at Trevor's suggestion, attempts to impose a curfew. Those returning home after the curfew will be locked out. As one might expect, the whole plan backfires when Arthur tries desperately to keep one step ahead of his family.
Loraine leaves home, while her husband Raymond arrives...for good.
Arthur decides the best solution is to sell the house and move into a small apartment with Beryl. Son-in-law Raymond adds to Arthur's aggravation. The children become irritated with Arthur's attitude and all leave home to live elsewhere. The only problem? Beryl has left with them.
Finally Arthur has an ally who is equally opposed to the loose morals of his family. It's Beryl's prim and proper mother, but she arrives with problems of her own. Surprisingly, Raymond comes to Arthur's rescue.
Arthur's first grandchild is due at any moment. A last-minute wedding is in the cards, and Arthur hopes the family will come together for that event. His disappointment lessens with the arrival of a grandson.
Arthur Crabtree balks at having to pay the seasonal bill for his impoverished children and their friends. But when Arthur suggests that they should return to old fashioned values (and cheaper ones), and settle for a quiet Christmas without presents, it is the family's turn to resist. And the last straw comes for Arthur when he learns that the children are planning a rowdy party for all their friends.
Daughter Lorraine and son-in-law Raymond are sent to a marriage counselor to talk over their troubles. Arthur decides to contribute his own advice, and the counselor is more confused than ever.
Tracy brings home an actress friend, Abigail, who inspires Arthur to take up acting as well—as an amateur, of course.
The amount of traffic in and out of the Crabtree house puts enormous strain on Arthur and the only bathroom in the house.
Neighbor Vera is issued a court summons over her collection of noisy animals, and decides to defend her own case.
Son Paul and live-in girlfriend Louise think they should get married, but their decision is not made any easier by all the unsolicited advice they get from family and friends.
New characters arrive at the Crabtree household: Raymond's traffic warden friend, Elsie; Nigel's girlfriend's Polish aunt Eva; and Raymond's charming ladies' man brother, George.
Aunt Eva does not seem to be keeping up the housework she has agreed to do in exchange for the Crabtrees' hospitality, while Raymond's and his brother's behavior alarms everyone in the household.
Suspicions and misunderstandings abound when Arthur gets an attractive new secretary, Miss Celia Davenport, at the office, but her stay is only temporary.
The Crabtrees see the name of their great uncle Herbert in a newspaper announcement seeking beneficiaries for some money, and they begin a mad search to find him in hopes of some benefit for themselves.
Beryl is away, and Arthur becomes ill, and is nursed by Vera. Meanwhile, Vera's husband Trevor goes away on business and is nearly compromised by an over-enthusiastic female colleague.
The Crabtrees think they have achieved star status when they are chosen for the subject of a video project on family life made by local students... until they see what those candid cameras have captured.
Arthur decides that buying another small house will provide peace and quiet for Beryl and him. Then he decides that letting the children live there and pay rent is an even better idea. Then the real estate agent makes the real decision for everyone.
Arthur and Beryl each arrange a surprise for the other to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, while the children plan another surprise, all adding up to conflict and confusion.
Eldest daughter Lorraine is having a trial separation from husband Raymond, who is trying to find alternative accommodation assisted by Fellow traffic-warden Elsie. Youngest son Nigel, home for the weekend, borrows Arthur's car, but it runs out of gas and, before the garage can pick it up, it is stolen. Meanwhile, neighbor Trevor is missing his wife Vera, who is away with her sister in Wales, and seeks a drink in the greenhouse with Arthur.
Arthur returns home from work to find that Beryl has decided to cook Trevor a wonderful steak meal, and give him the only remaining piece of Arthur's favorite apple pie. Raymond calls round to find Edward Hackett, the local estate agent, is dating Lorraine. Even though they are temporarily separated, Raymond warns Hackett to keep away. When this goes unheeded, the consequences have repercussions which affect Beryl, Arthur and Trevor.
Arthur and Beryl are concerned about Trevor's loneliness in Vera's absence. They give a dinner-party for him and invite a widow to make up the foursome. When she cannot come, Trevor asks if he may bring a friend who works in the local florist shop, but his companion turns out to be something of an embarrassment.
Beryl is desperately missing her noisy brood, who have all left home. So Arthur decides to cheer her up by inviting them all to a surprise dinner. On the night, when all the children have assembled, Beryl phones to say she is spending the evening with a friend. Arthur goes to get her, and returns to find an empty house and all the food gone.
Arthur and Beryl try to keep the peace as daughter Lorraine and son-in-Iaw Raymond find new friends, romance and jealousies. Raymond is trying his luck with fellow traffic-warden Elsie, and Lorraine has met an accountant, Anthony Black. But the real problems arise when all four meet in the Crabtree house.
Arthur and Beryl's plans to go away for a well-earned break are thwarted by unexpected family crises. An ailing Nigel returns suddenly to the nest; Lorraine and Raymond are again experiencing marital problems; then daughter Tracy and son Paul turn up for a romantic assignation, each thinking the house will be empty.
Beryl decides she wants to go out to work, and persuades Arthur to let her apply for a job in his office. But complications set in when Beryl's rival turns out to be the boss's mistress.
Arthur and Beryl find themselves involved in their neighbors' marriage problems and Lorraine's new advances.
Arthur challenges Beryl's handsome new squash instructor and learns a painful lesson.
Arthur's managing director's visit gets mixed up in Trevor's surprise birthday party, with almost disastrous results.
Arthur's expectations of a quiet Sunday are shattered by the local marathon.
Arthur's and Trevor's fishing trip is ruined by a clairvoyant's prediction of an accident involving water.
Arthur is confused by his children's latest romantic attachments.
Arthur tries to keep the peace between Lorraine and Raymond as new-found friends, romance and jealousies arise.
