In 1982 twenty year old Nina arrives from Leicester to work as nanny to Joe and Max, the sons of London literary editor and single mother George. Though inexperienced in child care she impresses the family with her football team support and gets to meet the neighbours, Malcolm Tanner, a pretentious, free-loading Scots writer who regularly invites himself to dinner, Ursula, widow of composer Vaughan Williams and Jamie, an apparent admirer of George, who also makes himself overly at home. On the plus side she does encounter the attractive Nunney. Written by don @ minifie-1

Nina is too busy reading to notice that the boys have vanished and is grateful to Nunney for retrieving them - though he will not let her forget it. She nonetheless asks him for a date but it is a somewhat awkward one, given her rather defensive attitude towards him - ending with him loaning her some books. She does however save the situation when Ursula catches George and the boys putting things in her skip by blaming Malcolm. Written by don @ minifie-1

Nina is reading one of the Thomas Hardy novels Nunney lent her to a poorly Joe but neither is impressed and nor is Max when George tires of her cat Lucas and he accompanies Nina in delivering him to his new home. A falling out with Nunney in a supermarket, a misunderstanding over a shopping list and another illness for Joe lead to the reappearance of a cat in the household and a rapprochement between Nina and Nunney. Written by don @ minifie-1

After an embarrassing incident at a yoga class which makes her want to emigrate Nina arranges for her friend Amanda to practice her drama school audition piece in front of Malcolm. She is terrible. Nunney is also considering leaving to go back-packing in Thailand and interviews a man called Robber to take over a carer to his elderly charge Sam but Robber is mad and obsessed with obscene graffiti so everybody is relieved when Nunney changes his plan. Written by don @ minifie-1

Not only does Nina manage to offend George's cleaner Maria-Fernanda, who consequently resigns, but, due to her habit of not wearing shoes, crashes George's car into Malcolm's, letting the boys put the blame on Malcolm, though George is not deceived. Despite Nunney's comforting reassurances Nina considers going back to Leicester though fortunately George recognizes her less obvious good qualities and persuades her to stay - much to the delight of both Nina and Nunney - before she joins the family to marvel at their brand new video recorder. Written by don @ minifie-1