 Life is a bit more hectic than usual at Skeldale House with Sigfried away at a conference, Helen still confined to her bed and Tristan undertaking a round of farewell parties before heading off to Ireland. James  friend Andrew Bruce visits for a week and accompanies him on his rounds. James treats a horse with a mysterious ailment, Calum takes delight in gently tormenting a straight-arrow farmer and everyone grows tired of Tristan s limited culinary skills (which seem limited to bangers and baked beans). James panics when he realizes he didn t get Helen an anniversary present.