Fairacre's retired schoolmistress was looking ahead joyfully to an easier way of life with all sorts of future plans However, right from the start of her holiday, Miss Read receives lots of advice on how to spend it, not least of all from Mrs Pringle, her morose cleaner Then there's also the many requests for her services Miss Read has the opportunity to become a secretary, treasurer, librarian, prison visitor, baby-minder and even a regular on local radio Add a trip to Florence and offers of marriage from her good friend, John Jenkins, and it seems a retirement that's far from peaceful