Alf is well and truly missing Else's housework and cooking so he rings her to ask when she will be home but receives no definite answer. Else has asked Min from next door to cook meals for Alf.

Alf finds himself in the middle when neighbour Bert arrives, closely followed by his wife Min after they've had a row over her food. The two men repair to the pub to drown their sorrows and to hit upon the ideal solution as to how to keep a woman in her place. This is of course asking for trouble when they inevitably return home and face Min's wrath.

Alf, the Reeds, and the Rawlins get involved in the undeniable political discourse. Alf regards long term Labour minister Anthony Wedgewood Benn a fraud because he has a title – which he'll later renounce – and resides in a wealthy Conservative neighbourhood. Mike, however, turns the tables on his father-in-law by pointing out that Alf is a Conservative voter living in a far from wealthy Labour stronghold.

Min's mother has died and everybody has returned from the funeral though Min is adamant that her mother will be reincarnated as a blackbird. Having ensured that he has not already learnt of its outcome, Alf settles down to watch the Ali-Foreman fight but there are, of course, complications.

Alf has been asked to look after the Christmas club subscriptions at the local pub in Else's absence. However, maths isn't his strong point and he has trouble balancing the books. This in turn leads to the regulars suspecting that, instead of intending to pay them out, he is keeping the cash to join his wife in Oz.

Else has sent a letter to Min and not to Alf, suggesting that Rita and Mike bring Michael Junior to Australia, as she has no intention of returning to England. Alf doesn't believe Min when she tells him but, on finding the letter, must face up to the truth.