Carmella’s stalking nightmare continued as she received yet more gifts from an anonymous sender. Her personal bodyguard, Frank, was employed to keep an eye on her twenty four-seven, but despite this, things got more involved when Connor slipped on the veranda steps at No.30 following an act of sabotage. Later in the week, things appeared to come to a head when Carmella’s accountant, Barry, was arrested during a function at Lassiter’s Hotel after evidence of his involvement in the gift-sending was discovered on his person. Carmella and Connor could breathe a sigh of relief now that it was all over. Or could they? Although all the ingredients are here for a gripping stalking storyline of the sort Neighbours has covered umpteen times in the past, the main gripe with this particular one lies in the fact that Carmella is only a guest character, with few or no links to any other characters, and as such we find it difficult to sympathise with her

The Hoylands lives got ever more complex as Summer’s cheeky attitude did her no favours. Her lakeside tryst with Caleb ended in tears as he, again, tried to kiss her, but Summer refused. And later in the week, despite reservations from Max, she went to Lisa’s party and was pressured into smoking a cigarette. Boyd, meanwhile, was also enduring pressure of a different kind, from Krystal, who suggested he should inject some growth hormones to better improve his chances of winning the body building contest. Boyd was reluctant at first, but seemed to be influenced by her. With all these worries with his kids as a backdrop, it’s no surprise that Max was tempted by an offer of a few weeks’ work back on the oil rigs in the Timor Gap, in a bid to tide over the family’s finances.

The on-off affair between Paul and Izzy continued, but she did not bank on Karl’s return from Grandpa Tom’s farm so soon, and was very nearly caught in bed with the devious Mr Robinson. In a comical scene, Karl and Izzy actually got down to some bedroom action whilst Paul was still hiding under the bed! Just as the thought she’d got away with it, Izzy panicked when Karl discovered her trying to hide Paul’s mislaid wrist watch in the bedroom. Suspicious of his partner’s fidelity, he suggested it belonged to another man, a suggestion which Izzy cruelly made Karl feel guilty for entertaining. Covering her tracks, she made out the watch was a gift for Karl she’d won at auction., and he believed her. Even going so far as to brag about the watch and the stability of his relationship with Izzy in front of Paul. The latter, meanwhile, was too busy with the rebuilding of Lassiter’s and his teaching at the school to be concerned with such immorality.

And finally, relations between Harold and Lou continued to be strained as Jelly Belly became increasingly jealous of Lou’s friendship with Gino, especially when they went away for a weekend break together. Harold was further antagonised when Lou made reference to some business ideas for the General Store that he’d been discussing whilst away with Gino.

Notes: No episode on Monday this week due to the Bank Holiday