The stress of seeking total perfection in every aspect of Martin's day-to-day life, and organizing others around him with military precision has finally taken its toll on his nerves. Something has got to be done to make him relax, and soon!

Martin is incensed when Howard and Hilda are denied their right to use a public footpath by a local farmer. Martin decides to champion their cause and wonders whether he should sort out the whole country's footpath situation in general.

Martin is abroad at a conference representing his company, Mole Valley Valves. A practical jokester arranges for Martin to awaken to the presence of a strange woman in his bedroom. What if word of this should get back to Ann?

Christmas is a bit different this year in the Close. Paul has a few extra house guests and Ann volunteers to look after the overflow.

At Paul's party, Ann meets at psychiatrist and believes he may be just the person to help Martin over his hyper-activity. Little known to her, Martin believes that the one needing professional help is Ann.

The results of Ann's Open University interim test are not very impressive. She is understandably worried and decides that in future it might help to bounce her ideas off someone. Her choice of a study partner causes quite a stir.

Martin ""co-ordinates"" the neighborhood watch with predictable results.

Hilda and Howard, Martin and Ann rent a country cottage for the weekend. Paul and Sarah come along, and Martin takes the chance to demonstrate his practical knowledge—but he finds his style somewhat cramped.

Martin finds himself in a difficult position. Paul is going to move out of the area if he can't find suitable premises for his new venture. Martin knows of one which would be beneficial to the elderly owner, but should he tell Paul?

Martin's dislike for Paul intensifies when Paul manages to get Martin relieved of all his duties on the Resident's Committee. Ann mistakenly believes she may now have some quality time upcoming with Martin.

Paul has had an unexpected run of bad luck, raising Martin's expectations of actually beating his neighbor for once when they compete at a local Roundheads and Cavaliers contest.

Martin suddenly finds out that the Personnel Department's plans to extend their office will threaten his own office space. He decides to say nothing, but events take a strange course.

Martin has invited his old friend Mrs. Beardsmore and her friends from the old people's home to tea. Events slide decidedly downhill. Can Martin's improvisations around bingo rescue the day?

It's time for members of the Close to go on a holiday outing, and some wish to repeat an earlier trip to the Bavarian Alps. But Paul has something altogether different in mind. Will Ann and the rest like it?

Ann and Martin are planning a dinner party for Paul and his girlfriend. Ann anticipates the event going smoothly, but why is Martin buying up all sorts of obscure apertifs for his dinner guests?

Martin and certain others in the Close are nearly scandalized by Paul's outlandish behavior. Burning perfectly good house signs? Entertaining scantily clad women in his back garden? What is all this?