Alan's back and life is on the up: he's got the third best slot on Radio Norwich, a girlfriend and a Lexus. While at the garage, Alan meets one of his old teachers, who is persuaded to let him give a talk at the school about how he has "bounced back".

Alan is asked to present a sales conference for Dante's fireplaces of Reading, while Michael stays at the unfinished house after someone steals his front door.

Alan makes a new friend at the BP garage called Dan. They both drink Directors bitter, use Lynx deodorant and both drive Lexi (the plural of Lexus). Dan asks Alan to present a prize at the Norfolk Bravery Awards, where Sonja is hopeful of the opportunity to try out some of her practical jokes.

Alan plans a Bond-athon for the bank holiday weekend with Michael, but they are jeopardised when he discovers that Michael has befreinded a man called Tex, who likes American things. Meanwhile, Lynn makes a visit to her mother's grave on the first anniversary of her death.

Alan has a visit Inland Revenue and is worried about the submission of a receipt for a Christmas gift from Bill Oddie. Meanwhile, he tries to convince Sonja that he is indeed friends with Bono.

Alan's house is finally ready and Sonja is angling to cohabit. Meanwhile, Alan's book Bouncing Back has been unsuccessful, and is to be pulped and Lynne is to be baptised. All is going well, but Alan can't stop the flashbacks of the painful days when he ate 4 medium sized Toblerones and drove to Dundee in bare feet.