I've never thought Nicola had that much of an opinion of Karen, though they seemed friendly enough at the beginning of RMF and she's willing to go and drop off books for infant Dodds.

I think Lawrie's probably higher up Ann's list than Nicola because she isn't so prickly about being fussed over.

I have no idea how brothers work when there are that many sisters in the way - Giles is six years Peter's senior, which still leaves a bit of a window for Peter being old enough to tag along and not need nappies changing or the like whilst Giles is still at the Swallows and Amazons adventuring sort of stage, but he does, as you say, seem to react in RAH with clowning and unwillingness to be conscripted rather than relief at having another masculine ally about the place.