Friday, 4th June 1999

The show opened with Ryan driving into the Close on the wrong side of the road, being taken on the inside and immediately cut-up by Jerome in his apparently now-acquired VW Golf.

Perhaps I'll say that again:

Ryan took a rather wide line when turning into the Close which allowed Jerome, coming up behind at speed, to pass, with horn blaring, on the inside. This unexpected manoeuvre caused Ryan to brake sharply and Jerome then cut in front of him and pulled onto Mick's driveway. A neat bit of driving, *not*. Just a thought, but I wonder if Jerome's ever passed his test? Hey! Maybe it was Jerome who was responsible for some rather cruddy driving, I saw on the M25 on Tuesday night? Oh no, he's *not* real, is he? I forget!

Ryan is still refusing to talk about 'Carlisle'. Niamh attempted to wheedle some details out of him but he refused to yield and she gave up. He did, however, produce a wad of notes which he claimed he'd earned from cabbying.

The police have finished excavating the contents of the drain and filled the hole in. Jason was left to do a spot of landscaping. I hope Mick was pleased.

Jimmy made it back from the airport and was spotted by Sinbad unlocking the front door to Number Ten. "What's going on? Have you been deported or something?" enquired a puzzled Sin. Jimmy's narked that Jackie actually went without him!

Jessie, supposedly cleaning Susannah's house, happened to spot Harry's bruises. Katrina explained about him falling out of the cot and that it was Susannah's fault. Jessie wasn't convinced with that explanation and appears to be harbouring doubts as to whether Katrina can cope with looking after two babies.

Rachel and Mike returned from Bristol and Mandy's wedding, with little Ruthie in tow. Sinbad couldn't wait to see his daughter and rushed round to welcome them. He was rather taken aback when it quickly became clear that R'Ruthie didn't recognise him at all. She was, however, enjoying Mike's company and he was obviously enjoying hers.

Rachel's been feeling somewhat off-colour and later confides to Katie that she fears she may be pregnant. Katie suggests that's good news. "I don't know. I really don't know", sobs Rachel. Mike has no idea.

Mick challenged Jerome over how he could afford to buy the car. Not just the car but also the sound system which he and Leo are installing. Jerome confessed that he's been spending money which his father had left him. Mick doesn't believe him, tells him so and suggests that if the story were true, then Vonnie would have said something. Mick sets off to Vonnie's, to ask her outright. The boys look at each other with fearful expressions on their faces.

Mick returns later with the full story. Apparently, Jerome was bequeathed the sum of seven thousand pounds in his father's will. However, this money was specifically to pay for a college course and Vonnie is devastated to hear that it is being squandered. Mick is equally disappointed and pleads with Jerome to reconsider. He recounts how Jerome's father had struggled to save so that Jerome could have a decent start in life. Leo, however, is somewhat put out listening to this and feels hard done by. He points out that he wasn't given the chance to go to college or a private school and is only good for cheap labour in the chippy. Ouch!

Jacqui Dixon has agreed to rent Doctor Darren the spare flat. Only later does she find out that this also means renting it to Nathan and a lady web-site designer who goes by the name of Vic. Jacqui is a tad miffed that she's allowed herself to be taken in by this and once she gets over the shock she quizzes Darren about Vic. Darren assures our resident business-woman that all of the relationships are purely platonic and that Vic is actually married. Well, *was* married. Like Nathan, it seems that she too, has recently split from her other half.

Jacqui, whilst relieved that Vic hasn't got designs on Nathan, *also* seems rather taken with the Doctor. For his part, he also seems pretty smitten with Jacqui.

Oh, and just *why* did they get evicted from their last place? For absailing down the side of the building! What with that, Nikki Shadwick's recently-found enthusiasm for dangerous sports and Jerome's driving, it looks like the Close might be livening up. . .