Susan Earl

Jane's career as a radio traffic reporter is put in jeopardy when she receives some unexpected criticism. She doesn't take it well and in her addled state she creates a pink sock puppet called Jake the Snake, who always tells the truth.

Tom finally has an interview for a job. He also discovers he has cousins in both Derbyshire and California, and makes a plan to visit and learn more about the Derbyshire branch of the family tree. Meanwhile, Pete has to perform a delicate procedure on an alpaca at the zoo. Tom, Bea, Keith, Luba and Monk drive up to the Derbyshire farm owned by their cousins from the North. Tom is interested to find out if the grass is really greener in the country, and equally determined to get to the bottom of a dark family secret. Culture clashes notwithstanding, Tom gets his answers and some family truths are finally revealed. The family-tree plot thickens as he also hears from his American cousin, Al, on the trip. Pete's life-affirming mission at the zoo proves to be a no less sticky venture.