Peter Barnes changes the subject when his wife talks about a new porch, the builder wastes little time in turning the job into an expensive project, and the bank manager demands collateral when he asks for a small loan.
A worried Sheila tells Peter that he should go for a full medical check-up, an annoying patient points him in the direction of the reception window, and the doctor complains when he finds the wrong man in front of him.
The car won't start, which is doubly frustrating as Peter not only has places to go, but also give Sheila a driving lesson. Typically, it turns out to be rather expensive a repair.
Peter tries to book a last-minute holiday after asking for time off in June, a bus conductor advises him against an unfinished hotel in Majorca, and Sheila insists on packing enough shoes to give her the pleasure of choice.
The Barnes' marital bliss is thrown awry when he's forced to bring his very drunk boss home from an office party. Peter's desperate to bring their relationship back from the brink of divorce.
Peter begins to tear his hair out when men from the gas board arrive to install his new central heating.
For their seventh wedding anniversary, Peter and Sheila intend to stay in the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon.
Sheila's suddenly desperate to move home. All this is news to Peter, who's forced to engage with local estate agents.
Peter's hospitalised after a small accident in the garden damages his ankle. His doctor's nice enough, but the matron?
The Barnes' are forced to deal with Sheila's argumentative family when her aunt dies.
Double trouble's on the horizon when Peter's workmates won't let him leave the pub without another few rounds down him first.
Commiserating with a stranger in the pub leads to all manner of domestic disharmony for poor Peter Barnes when both his wife and girlfriend arrive!
Peter's caught up in the officiousness of trade unionism when a repair man at his firm spots him, a white collared worker, turning a conveyor belt on and off.
A leaky washing machine is only the start of the Barnes's problems. Peter's attempt to acquire the necessary replacement part is easier said than done, especially with British Rail involved.
Peter's lined up for best man duties, but first he needs a suit. Then there's the small matter of getting to the church on time.
When her brother and sister-in-law head for a fortnight's holiday in Benidorm, Sheila's Dad comes to stay with the Barnes'
Peter's asked to deliver the company chairman his car - a flash Mercedes. Giving it a quick drive around, he encounters a group of anti-car, anti-pollution protesters and is swiftly arrested alongside them.
After managing to secure a ticket to a major international football match at Wembley, Peter manages to lose - and reacquire - his ticket numerous times. Will he make it to see the big game?
Having discovered that the train he and Sheila catch into London has been cancelled, Peter heads to the offices of British Rail to demand changes.
With Sheila away visiting her ill mother, Terry challenges Peter to prove he's still got what it takes and can chat up a lady in the pub. When he fails, Terry organises the pair a double-date at a Chinese restaurant.
Having bumped into an old army friend in the park, Peter and Sheila are invited to stay with him - 'Snogger' Sutcliffe - and his wife for the weekend at their country retreat.
Having failed to ingratiate himself with the new neighbours, Peter manages to sprain his ankle falling from a ladder. Sat in bed with little more to do than look out of the window, he soon becomes convinced that the short-tempered new…
