While transporting a tank back to the barracks, the boys defy orders by stopping off at a service station for a bit of breakfast. Charlie is so worried that Sergeant Thomson will be angry, that the boys decide to add to his anxiety by hiding the tank from him. This sparks off a chain of events that sees Gary having to call in all sorts of favours in order to stay one step ahead of Thomson; something that becomes increasingly difficult when Julie gets involved.

It's been fifteen years since Gary's mum passed away and his dad Martin thinks that it's finally time to scatter her ashes. Gary, Martin, Julie and Gary's aunt Margaret all set out to his mum's favourite beauty spot, but find that it's changed a lot since they used to go there. Gary needs to come up with a back-up plan but he's distracted by a series of mysterious phone calls that not only annoy his aunt and Julie, but also manages to offend his dad on the worst day possible.