and what was with that old duck who stayed home and glued her coffee cup back together?
clearly im missing something...

Dot is slowly losing it because the world is leaving her behind. Her huband Jim (LOVE JIM HE ROCKS) - who is Max's dad, Bradley's grandpa, went to visit his duaghter just before Bradley and Stacey's wedding and while he was there he had a massive stroke. So after the wedding Dot went to visit him and poor ole JIm is in a right state, cant talk or anything. So Dot has come back to the square because thers little she can do for him right now. Bust shes come back home to find the newlyweds living in her house and also STacey's insane mother living their touching Dot's stuff.
Dot's been on the edge for ages, there was a story line earlier this year when she lost it because some illegal eastern european immigrant gave Dot her baby to look after when she was deported and Dot got all obsessive over it and stuff, eventually the baby got taken away by the social and Dot flipped out.
I love Dot she reminds me loads of my ole nan from liverpool except for the smoking. Total old school religious nut.