The Archers comments: week of May 5, 2018
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Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Good morning 🌈🌞
ReplyDeleteMorning Ruthy. What a lovely picture to open a new blog with.
ReplyDeleteAfter tonight’s episode it looks like there might be a thaw in Adams and Brian’s relationship, if Adam is serious about being in his side, whilst trying to sort out funds for the environmental clean up. Suggest Jennifer should have a cake stall to raise a few bob to contribute!!! Make good use of that expensive kitchen.
With regards to Fallon and Harrison.....marriage won’t last. He is simply too boring for her. AND does this man ever go to work. He is a really bad advert for a policeman.
Maybe maybe Brian should be sending out an 🆘 to Justin and get him to buy back the extra land.
DeleteGood morning Ruthy. Thank you for another blog.
ReplyDeleteDid Matt take that picture whilst sipping cocktails in a posh hotel?
Alistair's conversation with Kenton was an attempt to present Shula as a lonely dimwit who is making herself look stupid to the rest of the Ambridge community.
Alistair , Shula doesn't want you, face the reality, or go and wallow with Jill who seems to live in another land. Lemon drizzle and flap jacks wouldn't cure this marriage.
At least Brian isn't boring.
It makes me feel sad, because it seems that if the Home Farm goes under we're approaching some kind of a milestone. Coupled with the fact that Charles Collingwood may wish to retire. I would miss Brian if he were to disappear. When the Grundys lost their farm the whole team sat around talking about the storyline but that was a long time ago and they all stayed, now they have a never ending tragedy to deal with.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful photo Ruthy. I was going to ask if anyone had seen Matt there, but Stasia beat me to it!
ReplyDeleteI’m wondering what Debbie is going to say about Brian selling out of Hungary and if it will affect her? Wonder if he has been discussing it with her? And what will Jenny’s reaction be?
I had thought the financial interest in Hungary was part of Home Farm’s portfolio, so shouldn’t Brian have put this move to the rest of the partners? I’m afraid my grip on Home Farm/Borchester Land economics is slipping, there have been so many transactions and changes I can’t remember who owns what or is in charge of which, anymore!
' I’m afraid my grip on Home Farm/Borchester Land economics is slipping'
DeleteSo is Brian's!
Lovely photo Ruthy, thank you. I've been lucky enough to visit Costa Rica several times and it is one of my all-time favourite countries. As to Matt, I thought he told Lilian he was finished with his plans there, and wanted her to go to Ecuador with him where there were 'all sorts' of opportunities waiting for him.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly Archerphile. I'm thinking Debbie will have to continue working for the new owners as Tamsin Grieg is such a busy tv actress these days and is still unlikely to be able to do more than pop in and out of TA. Fallon suggests saving a little each month for their wedding fund ... One way of appeasing Harrison as it will take forever then to save the many hundreds of thousands most weddings cost these days.
ReplyDeleteI can't see Fallon turning into Bridezilla.
DeleteApparently the success of a marriage is in inverse proportion to amount of money spent on wedding. Some couples are still repaying wedding debt when they divorce. That reminds me, how did Tom and Kirsty pay for their wedding? At least Kirsty didn't waste the honeymoon.
Just to point out that Debbie doesn't work for Brian/BL or any other of the consortium that owned the Hungarian enterprise.
ReplyDeleteThe Hungary enterprise was something to do with Borchester Land I am sure, because Charlie Thomas sacked Debbie which led to an awkward meeting face to face later when Debbie returned for a visit to Ambridge. Maybe to introduce her cake making boyfriend of whom Brian did not approve (as 'manly' enough! )At that meeting Charlie seemed to be flirting with Debbie and we (on the TA blog) speculated that he might be bisexual or he was doing it to make Adam jealous. (It was at the time when he was apparently 'stalking' Adam. Debbie remained in Hungary because of her relationship with this guy (Maxwell or something?) and got another job with a company called Agrimag (presumably an acronym for Magyar Agriculture) More recently when Adam was having a strop about the way Brian was running the show Debbie told Adam that she could get him a job with her company- no problem, but would Ian want to live and work in Hungary?
Sorry it's so long but what ever Brian has done with his share of the Hungarian enterprise it doen't affect Debbie at all. She is only affected , the same as her siblings, with the value of Home Farm.
Thanks for that, Spicy, didn't know any of it.
ReplyDeleteI thought Alistair's sharp rebuke to Kenton was a good sign of a recovering self esteem, much better than drooping around in a bemused and wretched daze. Never mind whether he was right or not ( as said before, I reckoned K.'s convertible spin was an imaginative action to energise his twin) but better A. asserts himself and, better still, if it leads to him 'falling out of love', or habit more likely in truth, so he can move on in his own life. Enter Hannah ?
ReplyDeleteThere’s been a few suggestions pairing up Alistair and Hannah. What are their age difference?
ReplyDeleteRuthy, Alistair was born in 1962 which would makes him 56 yrs old. I would guess that Hannah is about 30 yrs ish. Perhaps he is about twenty years older. Alistair sounds a bit too boring for a woman who has lived in another country, but at the moment we know little about her. We haven't yet, been told who the vet will be attached to the pig enterprise.
ReplyDeleteGiven Hannah's expertise of working on industrial size units, Justin's piggery will be small fry. I know the US of A is a very large country, but I wonder if she came across the dreaded Rob on her travels in porky land.
I know absolutely zilch about pig rearing in America, or anywhere else, but have gone off their chicken. I will not mention the B word.
I like that idea, but I thought that Rob previously worked in Canada. My memory is not too good.
DeleteI think Rob came straight from Canada (and was instrumental, or at least influential, in Tom getting a job there when he needed to escape), but had previously worked in the US as well. Superficially, he had wide experience of mega-dairies, but on further inspection hadn't been able to hold down a job for long.
DeleteHG I am thinking about a holiday in Costa Rica. You have said that you have been there many times. Can you tell me the best time to visit and the best places to visit. I am thinking about February 2019.
ReplyDeleteI am having a very noisy evening as there is yet another blackbird nest nearby, and there are magpies trying to access it. The male blackbird is being very vocal. My lovely pusscat has decided to hide imdoors.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry, everyone. I have just realised that this is a TA site, and it is not a general chat one. I can only apologise for my previous off topic posts.
ReplyDeleteYou could contrast your lovely pusscat with Hilda Ogden. Or somehow link to Lilian and her tiger. Don't worry!
DeleteMy pusscat is very much better than Hilda.O.. as she is very soft and gentle. She also hates visitors, but goes and hides under the duvet on my bed, whenever they arrive. Many of my friends and family, have never met my lovely Becky (now 13 yrs old), as she just disappears.
DeleteMiriam. See my response to Costa Rica on the lawn chair post 😀
ReplyDeleteI have done. Thanks.
DeleteI thought Rob went to Minnesota?
ReplyDeleteYes, he did (or at least it was reported that he had been seen there). He was in Canada before he came to Ambridge.
DeleteCarolyn - the woodland trust website tells us there are 3 reasons why the introduction of greys in about 1870 has resulted in the dramatic decrease in numbers of the native reds. They carry a virus, the paravox virus which does not harm them but has resulted in many reds dying. They also eat most of the green acorns which reds find most easily digestible and disturb the reds so that they don’t breed so easily. Of course loss of habitat, decimation of woodland doesn’t help either. The greys are cute too but have been officially classed as vermin since the early 1980’s and it is legal to dispatch them but this has to be done humanely. There are now only about 120,000 red squirrels in the whole of the UK having been several million in Squirrel Nutkin days. It’s a very sad story.
ReplyDeleteSorry this last post was on the wrong blog!
ReplyDeleteSpicy @ 2.21, 5th May
ReplyDeleteThank you for your very full explanation of Debbie’s position in Hungary. You either have a fantastic memory or an excellent Archers Encyclopaedia! As I was reading you piece it all came back to me - I had totally forgotten all about Charlie, the boyfriend and the new job! I’d still like to hear her opinion of Brian’s latest plan and the situation at Home Farm in general. I’m sure she would have some useful suggestions but I don’t suppose Tamsin Greig will be available for quite a while and I couldn’t imagine the Beeb would want to recast the part as Tamsin's voice is so recognisable ( as was Caroline’s, of course)
I suggested earlier that Hannah was destined to fill the young-ish professional woman slot vacated, it seems, by Anisha and could also take over Anisha's young man and rented cottage - forgetting she would probably occupy Berrow Farm farmhouse, where Charmless Charlie lived during his time in Ambridge (I think). Neil clearly doesn't need to be found accommodation so I reckon his Deputy Manager is next in line for it.
ReplyDelete"Charmless Charlie"?? I think we will definitely have to agree to disagree maryellen!
DeleteI like 'Charmless Charlie!' I found him a pain in the proverbial and thought he was lucky not have been had up for sexual harassment or stalking!
DeleteI liked Charlie, too, and thought he was well acted. He would have put a spark into Adam's life which is sadly missing with Ian.
DeleteOkay, I'll alter that to Cheerless Charlie. I don't think even his most besotted admirers could claim a sense of humour for him!
DeleteArcherphile May 5, 2018 at 11:07 PM Sadly my Archers' reference books gives a ot about the history of the programme but not so much about recent happenings except for one book I bought last year. However there is too much opinion in it for my liking and not enough fact. I remembered most of the situation about Debbie as I really disliked Charlie's behaviour. (I have a thing about people breaking up marriages and long term relationships - it's just the way I am I'm afraid! My own sisters have been on the wrong end of my opinions there too!)
ReplyDeleteI do wish we could have a bit more about life in the countryside though. Occasional references this last week only to transporting pigs, one remark about 'top dressing the winter wheat' and, months ago , Pip not being able to take part in lambing shifts just doesn't really qualify, imho, as " Contemporary drama in a rural setting." Hanging on in there though, if I can, to the Autumn and to see if there is any change with the new editor. Surely it's got to be third time lucky?
That would be third time lucky after the BBC struck lucky with Vanessa Whitburn and Sean O'Connor, of course.
DeleteThough I had forgotten about Charlie’s run-in with Debbie, I certainly haven’t forgotten Charlie himself. I remember absolutely hating him at first - Justin’s hit man, trying to persuade the Brookfield Archers to move north so Justin could buy the farm; so hated in the village by everyone (except Susan). But then, like so many others he seemed to undergo a personality change and became more popular and likeable. I was very disappointed when he was shunted off to Scotland and I think he was treated shamelessly by Justin who disregarded his warnings about Rob. Much against the trend, I know, p I should have liked Charlie and Adam to get together somehow. It just might have made Adam a bit more cheerful and saved all this wretched surrogacy storyline. Ian would have been hurt of course, but just might have found his dream job as head chef in a really prestigious hotel , then go on to open his own restaurant and become famous! (All fantasy on my part, of course!)
ReplyDeleteSorry Spicy @10.2 am, we obviously hold very different opinions about Charlie! But I do so agree about lack of agricultural content in TA these days. I wrote quite a long piece to Ruthy recently about the type of things we used to hear in TA years ago. All the marking of the seasons by hearing about the different jobs on the Farm. Drenching sheep, harvest being detailed by rain etc etc. Goodness only knows how the ‘agricultural advisor’ earns his keep these days. Even though our village has become a bit of a commuter center for folk who work in nearby towns, there is still plenty of farming going on, tractors driving through, seasonal planting and harvesting going
ReplyDeleteon. We are all still very aware of the importance of farming to the area.
I was smitten with Charlie! Simple as that...
ReplyDeleteGaryGildayMay 6, 2018 at 10:21 AM As were many! :)
ReplyDeleteArcherphileMay 6, 2018 at 10:16 AM
Although I ddn't like him I too thought JE treated Charlie appallingly and I hope he retained his job when Damara Scotland was transferred to what'shername (sorry name completely gone!)
Some times I can recall scenes very well and I do remember one where Dan Archer (Snr) was talking to Joe Grundy on the importance to everyone about dipping sheep. I believe that Joe was pleading poverty and either drove the sheep down to Brookfield for dipping or Dan paying for them to be done at Grange Farm. Funny how opinions form. I believe that it why I have no sympathy or patience with Joe because he has always been a cadging, lazy and incompetent farmer who carried an unreasonable grudge against the more successful ones.
Hope you all have a lovely day today and tomorrow. Very warm here in Kent and I may get out in the garden this afternoon. Cinema this evening to see The Avengers War of Infinity (or something like that!) with No 2 son. He's paying as he didn't want to go alone! Ha ha!
Archerphile I do agree that TA has lost its richness with so little farming and seasonal content. Good writing should appeal to all the senses. At one time a last minute insert referencing the weather would have happened. I realise with budget cuts and cast availability that’s probably no longer realistic but given the harsh winter we have just been through you would think at least one of the farmers or gardeners or Eddie’s landscaping would have been affected. Not one mention of the snow. Perhaps they are in their own micro-climate. And have all the animals been silenced?
ReplyDeleteJill used to look after the pet lambs by the aga - who does that now?
Charlie? Well I hated his bullying and business speak although I did later discern that his voice had a certain allure. However I was very fond of Ian (and Adam actually)before he found out about Charlie. Now he seems more fragile and less fun and I am sad for him.
'Jill used to look after the pet lambs by the aga - who does that now?'
Deletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-43257371 : )
Perhaps the producer should get some of the actors to record a few weather-associated phrases when they are in the studio to record an episode. Something along the lines of. ‘Nasty storm last night, hope the hens weren’t put off laying’ or ‘ ‘my goodness it’s hot today, harvest should go well’ or ‘all my onion sets were washed out the ground last night with all that rain’ ...... to be inserted as and when appropriate!
ReplyDelete👏
DeleteWhat a great idea and so simple. Your talents are wasted A.
DeleteMay it include the Brookfield bee-hives? I had hoped to hear more about Kirsty + Phil, helping out and taking over from Jill.
DeleteWhat sort of weather would be most likely to set off Joe's farmer's lung? Sorry, I forgot, it only flares up at the mention of exertion or when Joe feels in need of sympathy (aka guilt-tripping another character into doing what best suits Mr Grundy Senior).
DeleteOld Woman, I suspect you are a mere whippersnapper in comparison with Mr Grundy Senior. What kind of exertion do you expect of the poor old chap? If I live to be a million and a half, or whatever he is, I hope my frailties will be taken into account. I'm sure I'll have some; I'm already a bit unenthusiastic about steps, and I can give Joe three decades.
DeleteI think Brian has told Adam the truth and nothing but the truth, but not the whole truth. Why would Justin describe the easy and obvious option of selling the Hungarian assets as 'courageous'? Why would Brian describe it as causing his family short term pain in the interests of long term gain? Worse will follow, mark my words!
ReplyDeleteI think that Justin has plans afoot, and it does not include Brian.
DeleteWill showed again whose feelings are uppermost in his mind when he spoke of the children going back to their daddy. "What am *I* going to do?" I don't mean to sound harsh but the children should be uppermost.
ReplyDeleteCan I be first? Don't call Usha first thing tomorrow, Will. It's a bank holiday.
ReplyDeleteWho has 'rights' about Jake and Mia shouldn't be under discussion until it's clear where they want to be, which we don't know. They may not know themselves. If, for example, they don't want to say for fear of hurting either Will or Andrew, Will wants them and Andrew is afraid Will won't be able to cope and so thinks they'd be better with him and Ellie, then there may be a dispute. But they're being treated as though they were too young to have an opinion, which to my mind is not evidence of Will's self-absorption but of bad scriptwriting. ASK THEM WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE! (Sorry, I raised my voice.) Clarrie would think of this even if no one else did. The spectre of 'conflict' is rising again.
ReplyDeleteWill isn't going to give up easily without fight, He wants to keep Nics'family together.
DeleteMay be court proceedings would be in the long term interests of the children as they would have the opportunity to express their views to an independent person, Andrew and Will would also be interviewed. The appointed person would then make a report to the court, with recommendations.
Well, he could ask Jake. At present Mia would have to write her answer or use sign language. Perhaps she should visit Ben for lessons.
DeleteYou are right Bootgums.
ReplyDeleteSave the Solicitors fees.
Ask Jake and Mia what they want to do and let them decide but tell them that if they change their mind at any time they will be listened to.
What on earth was Will on about regarding Solicitors anyway?
The obvious person to ask would be Usha.
Excellent idea of yours Archerphile about getting one of the characters to say alternative sentences one of which can be inserted.about the weather especially when I assume Borsetshire had the same very hot weather with no rain that we did in the south today and we heard Will saying that it had started to rain which made Jake and Mia want to go home.
It only needs to be done when there are outdoor activities involved.
Bank Holiday Monday tomorrow Will, I should leave asking Usha for advice until Tuesday if I were you....
ReplyDeleteAdam still sounds so stilted to me in his conversations, however at least a realistic scene re his Strawberry picker situation this year.
Why do J & Ian think Lexi is too delicate to pick strawberries she is not even pregnant yet and working hard at the chicken factory. This SL is getting on my nerves now!
It’s the Ambridge micro climate again that spared them of snow and now has brought rain to Heydon (?) Berrow, or perhaps poor bereaved Will is so out of touch with reality he can’t be expected to know what the weather is doing or that there’s a bank holiday tomorrow. Mind you nor do Brian and Adam but I suppose family farm business can carry on any day of the week.
ReplyDeleteOld Fogey - good to see you are commenting. It’s been awhile since we heard from you. Agree, Will, in wanting to keep the “family” together, he is forgetting what is the right thing to do for the children. He is still very much in beavement that he is not thinking clearly. Clarrie is not doing right by hm either, in being agreeable to his points of view in detremental ways. It’s not been very long since Nic died, Will should do nothing with the lawyer, until he can think clearly nd speak with someone who can give him sound advise.
ReplyDeleteGosh, Ruthy, l didn't realise l'd been missed. Thank you. I have thoughts about the Alistair/Shula and Will situations based on personal history so l may hold back for a while. I like this blog as quite a few other participants identify with characters' experiences. The script writers get it right a lot of the time.
DeleteOld Fogey: what are your opinions of the dramas beings played out lately - Shula and Alistair separation, Adam and Ian's surrogacy, Nic's death and Will's despondency? These are just the most recent. I am a relatively new listener, 2 years, is this the new trend from the script writers to give us there types of story lines and moving away from farm and farming?
DeleteYes, I think it has been Ruthy, and increasingly so over the past 4 or 5 years. It became very much more ‘dramatic’ when the editor before last took over, a certain Mr Sean O’Connor, who had previously worked on TV soaps. He got rid of some of the old actors (most notably the original Tom Archer) in favour of ‘drama school trained actors’, fell out with some actors who left, (notably ‘Matt’ who only returned last year and ‘Kathy’ who has only been heard once since) and he really upped the drama content with the introduction of the domestic abuse story which went on for two years and really brought The Archers to national fame. However there was a distinct decline in the old, cosy stories and much agricultural content. Many people approved if this and thought it improved the programme, it certainly attracted many hundreds of new listeners though I’m not sure if they still listen now that the Rob/Helen situation has been resolved. It will be very interesting to see what changes the new Editor brings when he starts this Autumn. Apparently he has been in overal charge of Radio 4 drama for some years, so he should have a good idea of what works and what doesnt.
DeleteI feel that the balance of TA has tilted too much in favour of drama and lost some of the more nuanced aspects of day to day country life to provide some balance. I am waiting to see what the new editor will bring to the programme but am not hopeful.
DeleteLily is so badly written and acted - I find it absolutely toe-curling! It's as if the scriptwriters had only ever encountered teenage girls in the old Enid Blyton "Malory Towers" books... I keep expecting her to reference midnight feasts and get in a tizzy about a gymkhana that, for some bizarre reason, will keep her school open!
ReplyDeleteGaryGilday. I love Lily, she is so jolly hockey sticks, and saviour of Freddie and the upper sixth. But she a good girl, and a swot and would never, never entertain letting the side down. I wouldn't say no, if invited, to one of her cocktail parties.
DeleteI share Gary Gilday's opinion of the dreadful Lily. As to her holding a cocktail party I feel this quote from Lawrence Durrell says it for me.
Delete"The cocktail party - as the name itself indicates - was originally invented by dogs. They are simply bottom-sniffings raised to the rank of formal ceremonies."
A "cocktail party" remimds be of The Great Gatsby or Abigails Party. What will Lily produce food wise? A prawn cocktail, bruschetta (aka Susan), Black Forest Gateau, pineapple + cheese sticks or even, that dreaded soggy quiche. What do others think as to a cocktail party food?
DeleteI agree with Stasia about Lily, plus I really like her fresh, young voice. I think she should stand for the Parish Council. She and Emma would make a formidable team. It would just be a question of which got to be Chair first. I have a feeling Neil won't be Chair much longer.
Delete"fresh, young voice" ? I really do like it when we all hear "different" things maryellen! To my ears Lily sounds like a stilted, robotic 57yr old putting on a comedy posh voice in a Victoria Wood sketch about older people trying to pass as young people on the radio...
DeleteI've never heard a stilted robotic 57year old putting on a posh voice in a Victoria Wood sketch about older people trying to pass as young people on the radio, so can't comment.
DeleteI am very confused why Pat wants to find Olwen again. Olwen was grateful for Pats help when she was poorly. Olwen decided to return to her "normal" life, which she is well used to living. I do not understand why Pat at trying to find her again as Olwen made her own decision as to what she preferred to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Miriam. Even more, I don't know why Tom sounded sympathetic.
ReplyDeleteMaybe because Tom, for all his short comings, has a touch of humanity about him, in contrast to his sister ? Also, he sees Olwen & her fate is very important to Pat .
ReplyDeleteYes, I think more sympathetic is one of the ways in which Tom has improved in recent years and I like him better for it.
DeleteIt's good that there's a thaw in the Brian/Adam relationship. It's quite obvious that Rockabye baby is the last thing concerning Adam these days, so time to get Lexi out picking strawberries again - so much healthier & more ethical than the chicken factory, & carrying on with this surrogacy fiasco, stuffed up with Jennifer's pies....the whole enterprise is becoming grotesque.
ReplyDeleteI loathe cocktail parties. I always find trying to hear people over the buzz of other voices very trying and small talk is not my thing! Lily though would be a good hostess but don’t invite Alice!
ReplyDeleteI've only ever been invited to one cocktail party, and it didn't really work as no one was in charge of making the cocktails so everyone just helped themselves to a glass of wine or whatever they preferred. So I think it's dead sophisticated to be able to loathe cocktail parties. Pass your unwanted invitations my way so that I can make up my mind.😃🍸
DeleteI’m very frustrated and annoyed ... for some reason I cannot fathom, the BBC iPlayer does not seem to be working so I cannot listen to tonight’s episode. All I can get is the prog being broadcast now which is ‘Word of Mouth’. Has anyone else had problems this evening - I hate to be a day behind and unable to comment on what’s been going on in Ambridge!
ReplyDeleteToo late for you now Archerphile (I have just listened ok on Iplayer ok,) but one night when progs were not available I googled TA website and used listen again there and that was working! Weird I know.
ReplyDeleteWell Pip is back so presumably T❤️O❤️B❤️Y can't be far behind ,Maryellen.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Lily-pleased I am not alone.
,GG and P les C.
Precocious little know all with a Soundalike voice.
I don't like cocktail parties either Ev -in fact I don't like parties but they are preferable to weddings which I really can't abide.
I think I am just a miserable old biddy.
MrsP. Please don't suggest we meet fo tea at Fallon's cafe, I would be throwing my cakes at the sound system. What appalling music, and then all the smooching with Police officer of the year. Yuck.
DeleteI think he has every right to be worried about his Performance Review, he hasn't solved a single crime, and Matt's hit and run is still A open case. Even though we know who dun it.
Funny you should say that Lanjan, as I don’t like weddings either. They go on far too long right into the evening and inevitably you sit on a table with a clutch of aunties initially good conversation but tedious after several hours! I hope Fallon and Harrison will overcome the boredom!
ReplyDeleteHooray! Have caught up with last night at last. (Found I had to uninstall iPlayer from my iPod, then reinstall it, works fine now).
ReplyDeleteUnhappy to hear Pip return, knew it would have to happen sometime but was hoping for a longer break from that voice! Though, to be fair, she did seem to be speaking a bit more normally without all those tics, perhaps a couple of months appearing in a stage play has helped. But the person I really want to hear is
T❤️O❤️B❤️Y!
I wonder if Harrison will be censured for his lack-lustre performance or will be promoted to Sargent? That would help finance the wedding!
Once again, we only hear Debbie spoken about - I should like to have heard the conversation between her, Brian and Adam because Debbie seems to hold a great deal of influence with Brian and her opinion would have been interesting.
I am confused. I thought Jill told someone that Pip is seven months pregnant and tonight Pip said end of July is due time. Doesn’t add up to me.
ReplyDeleteAgree that I don’t want to be at Lily’s cocktail party or Fallon’s wedding unless I can be a mystery guest that slips away when I have had enough without offending anyone. That’s what is great about the blog - you can dip in when you are able and people are friendly and accept that.
I hope Brian and Adam don’t leave it too long to tell the rest of the family what is going on but I fear it is obvious that is what will happen and there will be a “dramatic “ ugly scene with Jenny and Justin after he has bought most of Home Farm.
I have always hated parties, even as a child.
ReplyDeleteYet when in my teens, ' the party ' at the weekend was all we waited for.
Nevertheless I would always be carrying a book and would sit on the edge of a crowd and read.
Such a pretentious little madam !
But I have continued to dislike parties and have never found any wedding to be comfortable, including my own.
Heard Felicity Finch on W H this morning. Back in reporter mode.
A far better reporter than her role as Rooooth !
I think the T❤️O❤️B❤️Y team may now be large enough to challenge Stasia, Cow Girl + three more to a game of five a side football!
ReplyDeletedon't forget, I have 4 legs !
Deletemaryellen. Very funny, I shall ask GaryGilday to puncture the ball with his bow and arrow. Although I suspect he is also a fan of
DeleteT💘O💝B🏹Y.
CowGirl. I shall have my 8 paws.
Ah! stasia - you are correct! But it HAS taken me about 12 months to warm to him... And I would never use my new found powers to cheat....
DeleteAs Toby as been mentioned I would like to add that, I saw in a BBC TV progtamme, a snippet which focused on a smsll, artisan gin distillery. I could not believe the amount of gleaming copper equipmemt that was needed and that the gin was distilled 4 times. This has triggered a thought, in that now Rex is doing pig farming at Hollowtree where Tobes is also creating "Scruff"gin, I am wondering if there could there be a cross-contammination issue?
ReplyDeleteIs there a market for bacon flavoured gin, do you think?
DeleteAgree 100% with your comments Mrs P. Will have to catch up with WH now. Some of the cast certainly have very different occupations when not in their actor mode.
ReplyDeleteI love Helen, aka Louisa P in Coronation Street. She is very different and is so very comical. I also loved Daisy Badger in the BBC Home Fire series. It just shows the diversity of these many TA actor/actresses in many differing programs. This is why Oliver played by John Rowe is so frequently absent, as I hear him so often in so many various R4 plays and he also does a lot of stage work. The TA cast is so wondetful and diverse. I wish that Tamsin Greg will reappear as Debbie soon, to help Brian and Adam sort the problems at Home Farm.
DeleteOliver is played by Michael Coltrane, currently in Rumpole.
DeleteI confused these two wonderful actors. Both Michael Cochrane (Oliver) and John Rowe (Jim) do so many works, both stage and radio works apart from TA. I love that they are still heard in TA.
DeleteThank-you so much for the correction. I need to learn that I have to check things.
DeleteI can understand Olwen's wish for independence but she lives off handouts, a bed here, a meal there.
ReplyDeletePat is hardly a capitalist in a high-powered job. The Snells are the ones with money, what was Robert's business? They must have let that toy dog out of their sight for quite a while to chew through two books and a cushion.
Did feel sorry for Pat tonight - she means so well, but gets it all so wrong. Olwen couldn't have been less pleased to see her, & was as ungracious as she could be, as indeed she had to be to get across her point : yes, they've led very different lives since their radical days, no, Olwen doesn't want to be saved or micro managed. She really did try, in her own way, to make a go of it at Bridge Farm, but it was obviously not going to work out, thinking of Helen's hostile reaction alone.
ReplyDeleteWe have been watching Tamsin Grieg in “Episodes” . It is very risqué and not for the easily offended but overlooking all the smut if you can it is very funny. Tamsin shows herself to be a very versatile actress. Yes it would be good to have her in TA again even if only for a short time!
ReplyDeleteI loved Tamsin Grieg in 'Love Soup'. She was so funny, and has perfect timing. But it hardly ever seems to be mentioned in her autobiographical details - such a shame. Did anyone else see it?
DeleteIs tonight's ep. the end of Olwen in TA I wonder. I don't find her endearing and she was very ungracious to Pat, although Pat is very slow to take the hint. Hard to understand how living in a car could be bearable if there is an alternative available. Possibly Olwen has too much pride to accept any more help from Pat even though she may need it.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't surprised that Olwen doesn't want to be 'rescued'. She's possibly being romanticised somewhat as a 'free spirit' who would rather live rough(-ish) than follow a conventional lifestyle. Pat is coming across as a well-meaning but dense do-gooder who seeks to impose her (surprisingly conventional) idea of the good life on others, which to me is disappointing.
ReplyDeleteYes, Olwen really did tell Pat what to do with her ‘do-gooding’, didn’t she! She obviously didn’t want to be treated as a charity case and resented Pat trying to force her into a more conventional way of living. I don’t blame her! Sometimes volunteer helpers like Pat want to tidy up everyone’s lives and can appear to be a bit bossy and overbearing. Pat missed the signals Olwen tried to give, that she wanted to be left alone, and now Pat will go though a phase of feeling guilty she didn’t do more to help her old friend.
ReplyDeleteSo, David is back too and proving to be a good listener to Shula. I still find it very difficult to understand her reasons for her treatment of Alistair but actions but it seems she doesn’t seem to know
Correction: I still find it difficult to understand Shula’s reasons for her actions, but it seems she doesn’t either!
ReplyDeleteOh joy - good on you Olwen!
ReplyDeleteI think Shula knows very well why she can't live with Alistair, but it can't be explained without a) coming across as rubbishing the man & b) showing herself up as someone lacking in courage & self awareness. She's not a person who's ever been clear about what she wants, nor what she ought to do. Could it be that the death of her first husband changed her personality ? I don't know what she was like as a very young woman. For instance, was she always religious or was that intensified by bereavement ?
ReplyDeleteI always felt that it was a bit tactless of Shula to adopt the name Hebden-Lloyd when she married Alistair. I think it was probably for Daniel's sake, but it can't have been very flattering for Alistair, and Daniel would probably have coped perfectly well with being a Hebden while his mother became a Lloyd. Happens to lots of children nowadays.
DeleteBefore they married Shula asked Alistair if he did mind that she and Daniel would keep the Hebden part of their name in Mark's memory, he replied that he couldn't careless if they called themselves 'Groucho' as long as they were together. So Shula attached importance to names, as some people do and Alistair didn't.
DeleteSeems strange to me that Pat is so focussed on 'helping' Olwen who she hasn't seen for years and only briefly met now and Olwen is clearly coping with her choice of accommodation & circumstances but when Helen was going through all the trauma with Rob and not coping at all, but Pat seemed blissfully ignorant of things & seemed to miss glaringly obvious signals that there was a serious problem.
ReplyDeleteOther people's problems are much easier to see than the ones under your own nose.
DeleteRe Pat and Helen - the scriptwriters were making the important point that the coercive control victim's family and friends typically fail to notice anything is amiss or if they do question the victim, she denies it. That is what happened to Pat when eventually she questioned Helen. Pat certainly wasn't blissful about it. but given Helen's denial (and reputation for being difficult) she backed off.
ReplyDeleteSadly, the Jane Austen blog with all its links to The Archers has closed after 60 posts, I assume in the fullness of time. If I get time, I will try to find another BBC unused blog that we can exploit in this way.
ReplyDeleteMy Zen teacher would say to me, why do you want to help someone?
ReplyDeleteYes, Ruthy: are you doing it for the other person or yourself? Would you like it if someone did that to you? I've been thinking along these lines recently with regard to something else.
DeletePat is a serial ' rescuer '. She wasn't allowed to rescue her daughter because Helen denied that anything was wrong.
DeleteWhen she was in a position to ' rescue ' her daughter she put her foot in it properly, and was then shut out of being able to support her daughter at all when H was in prison.
She is sure that Olwyn needs rescuing, despite Olwyn clearly not wanting Pats intervention.
Somebody in that family needs to give Pat some insight into her behaviour.
Except that the Bridge Farm lot are not too hot on insight, are they ?
Anneveggie - I would agree Olwen is gone from TA. Her final words were "goodbye" to Pat. Olwen didn't ask for help and whether it's pride or not, she wants to come and go as she pleases, sleeping in her car or otherwise.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't Fallon want her engagement to be made public?
I don't think Fallon has quite got the courage of her convictions yet!
DeleteI am very worried about Fallon + Harrison. They seem to be a perfect couple. They both have recentley bought their first home together and they have sorted out their wills and their joint finances. I am very worried for them both as they are a couple, and they are now home-owners and residents in Ambridge. I just feel that every-one in Ambridge has to be miserable and whenever a couple gets engaged then their relationship is automatically doomed. I really hope that this relationship does not follow the same path.
ReplyDeleteI find it very hard to see problems, in one's immediate family which I cannot talk about and there are so many facts which are kept very secret, hidden and just not spoken about. I think Pat is feeling guilty as she did not realise about Helen's situation. Now she is trying to help Olwen to improve Olwens outlook and life, and to try and assuage her lack of help towards Helen.
ReplyDeleteYou know who Freddie and Johnny also has an idea, if Harrison doesn't get to the bottom of it he shouldn't become a sergeant.
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to wonder if there is a new love triangle starting to happen. I envisgae that the 3 persons who will become embroiled in this will be Hannah, Tom and Jazzer. I think that this could be a wondetful and intriguing situation, if it comes to fruition.
ReplyDeleteI wish Freddie would just stop lying to everyone and go to see Nolly.
ReplyDeleteRobert had had his (eaten) copy of 'Silmarillion' since he was a student. It was published in 1978. How old is he?
ReplyDeleteGood question bootgums!
DeleteThe Characters page says Robert Snell was born in 1943 = 75. Maybe he was an OU student.
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps Doctor Who delivered him an advance copy.
DeleteFrom Pat to Olwen
ReplyDeleteDear Olwen,
I'm sorry, I handled things very badly when I spoke to you yesterday. You have been a good friend to me in the past and I want to be a good friend to you now.
I respect your desire for independence, but I compare my comfortable life with yours and I worry about you. Fortunately, the weather's better now but it must have been really tough for you over the winter.
Is there anything that you'd allow us to do to support you? Or perhaps you'd be happy to come to us for a meal from time to time. You said in your note how you'd really appreciated the opportunity to be part of a family for a while. I loved having you with us, and the boys thought you were wonderful - they don't stop talking about the games you played with them. I'm really sorry Helen was less than welcoming. To tell the truth, she has always been a bit over-sensitive and she's had a pretty rough couple of years which has left her rather prone to jump to conclusions and to speak her mind without really thinking through the impact on others. You'd probably say much the same of me.
I won't push you, but please humour an old friend and keep in touch so we know you're OK. And our door will always be open for you.
Your friend
Pat
But would she ever have the gumption to write such a letter? And how would she deliver it? I doubt Olwen will be re-visiting The Elms any time soon - I'm sure that contacting Pat to tell her Olwen was back was stretching the bounds of client confidentiality.
Lovely letter OWiaS but somehow I don’t think it would sway Olwen’s resolve to be indépendant. I can’t help thinking that Pat’s desire to help is more for her own benefit (makes her ferl good) than for Olwens. Perhaps that’s just me, being sceptical though!
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know is who threw that brick last night?
Are we to presume it was Freddie’s druggie ‘friend’ from college or is there someone else with a grudge in the village. It seems a nasty turn of events to me and I suspect the storyline is going to reflect the recent news about drug gangs from London and other big cities targeting rural areas.
Much as I would like to think Ambridge would be immune to this type of activity it would probably be unrealistic to do so. So I suppose, to remain topical, the SWs have to include this line of story but I do hope it’s not going to become another ‘Public Service Campaign’.
Archerphile, I likewise think the brick thrower is Freddie's nemesis. The boy's in deep s--t, he's probably high most of time, certainly lying, & it's all coming to a head. I guess his behaviour follows a typical pattern, no bad idea to highlight this serious issue - no community is immune. A perfect letter, OW ! It would move most people, & even Olwen might feel less on the defensive, though, like Archerphile, do doubt whether it would tempt her to return to Bridge Farm, which turned into a nightmare for her, but maybe friendly relations, the odd chat & coffee ? Pat could help in a distant sort of way. Another thing, if I remember correctly, they had a mutual friend at Greenham Common, but weren't that well known to each other. It is the past that links them, sure, but we really know nothing of what has brought Olwen to her present situation.
ReplyDeleteMiriam May 9 1018 @ 5:51 PM. I felt the same as you about Fallon and Harrison. TA seems to be all about doom and gloom and melodrama these days so I can't believe that it's possible for anyone to be happy any more in this programme.
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteArcherphile it's not just you being sceptical. Several of us feel that Pat is indulging her self esteem by doing her best to ' help ' Olwyn. It makes her feel better. It also underwrites her belief that she has a comfortable life and of course ' everyone else '
ReplyDeleteneeds her kind of comfortable life too.
Agree re Pat Archerphile. My (unwanted) thought re the thrown brick was an irritated Jazzer - jealous of Hannah about to start sharing no1 The Green with Johnny & Tom. Hope I am wrong !
ReplyDeleteJazzer wouldn't do something like that.
DeleteFar more likely to be one of Freddie's 'friends'. It will have to be reported, if only to ensure the insurance pays out. But will Freddie have the sense to own up to his involvement with drugs or will he attempt to brazen it out?
I am very pleased that Jazzer now seems a more prominent character and this is at long last. I admire Ryan Kelly, who is blind, learning his lines by heart and this is why I probably love Jazzer. I always think he acts so freely and openly. I am thinking that there will be an up-coming storyline when Hannah moves in with Tom and Josh. This will involve both Tom and Jazzer showing Hannah about their love of pigs, to then try and "woo" her. I just am hopeful for a fun loving interlude, which relates to their pig "lives" and their experiences and work lives, which will obviously be very different.
ReplyDeleteTo add that the three different pig units are very different. Hannah will be working at Berrow, a multi indoor unit, Tom has his organic pig unit, and Jazzer is helping Rex at Hollowtree - the new in-between setup.
DeleteI expect Will will want to occupy No. 1 The Green himself when Tom's lease expires, which will leave three people homeless . Why can"t Hannah live at Berrow Farm, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteI am missing Lillian, who I thought would be suportimg "Jenny Dahling" in this terrible situation. I hope that she will re-appear soon and that she can help Jenny as she is Justin's partner and she might have overhead some 'phone conversations, which might be very rekevant.
ReplyDeleteYes, where is Lilian! Am missing my gin. And tonic with her in the evening!
ReplyDeleteGood point about Will needing No.1 again, Maryellen. I had forgotten that, of course, he does own a house in the village. I don’t think he would have any scruples about evicting Tom and Johnny as they could just go back to living at Bridge Farm. Even if it gets a bit crowded, John does still have a bedroom there as that was the one Olwen temporarily stayed in. I should think Will’s best option would be to return to work full time, retain his tied Cottage accommodation and find some help looking after Poppy and the other children. Surely he should be able to afford some paid help to supplement what Clarrie and the rest of the family can manage.
ReplyDeleteI would love Jazzer to be given a nice story line where he gets the girl and stays with her. Not very likely to happen but I would welcome it.
ReplyDeleteFreddie is being a silly, immature boy. Sadly this may end badly and almost did with Johnny being hit by the brick.
I haven't missed Lilian at all.
Can Martyn Gibson really throw Will out at a moment's notice? I don't know much about tied accommodation, so perhaps he can, but Will should see a solicitor if he's not sure what his rights are.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, he could keep a solicitor busy, employee, tied house & stepfather rights...
ReplyDeleteArcherphile ,there must be some sort of tenancy agreement regarding No1 The Green so I doubt that Will can evict Tom just like that.
ReplyDeleteIn truth ,Johnny is a sub tennant isn't he so may be he just pays Tom something for his share of the rent.
To be honest I don't know why Will doesn't just go back to work full time
and do as you say, Archerphile.
Agree with all you say Anniveggie 11.23pm last night).
I expect Hannah to be the love interest for Jazzer.
Not sure she is good enough for him though.
The jury is still out about her (well in LanJan Towers it is)
I have just read an article in the Stratford Herald, all about Daisy Badger, her recent ‘triumphant appearance’ at the RSC and how she came to be chosen to play Pip in the Archers (I found this via the official Archers page on Facebook). Apparently she was not long out of drama school when a friend recommended her for the part. She has been such a success at the RSC that she is going to appear in a musical there later in the year - so I suppose we can expect her to go ‘missing’ again for a while. It makes interesting reading, all about her childhood and subsequent career, but sadly it doesn’t make me like her portrayal of Pip any better!
ReplyDeleteYes, I liked Pip Mark 1 better. Not detracting from Daisy though who is probably a very good actor but she just isn’t Pip!
ReplyDeleteTo me, Pip as a woman in her mid-twenties seems completely consistent with Pip as her younger self. What are the differences that are so glaring, because they have passed this listener by ?!
DeleteI agree with you maryellen, that the characters of the younger and older Pip are consistent - it's the acting that doesn't convince me. Pip No. 1 as a stroppy teenager was sometimes so unbearably rude that it was difficult to listen to, but she sounded real. Obnoxiously real! Pip No. 2 with her odd clipped way of speaking sounds as if she is just reciting her lines with intonation and accentuation all over the place - though I also think she has got a little better recently.
DeletePip's intonation has never bothered me. To me she sounds as real as most TA characters. I have never heard anyone in real life who sounded like the senior Grundys, Neil with his grunts and pauses, Susan or Lynda, for example, but they all pass for real in Ambridge . The only character whose voice has worried me was Nic who became so little girlie that I thought it was an international signal from the scriptwriters that she had psychological problems.
DeleteI agree with you Ev about first Pip.
ReplyDeleteHowever you are a must nicer person than I am.
I don't think her acting is very good.
Nobody speaks the way she does when she is"Pip"
Surely a good actress could do better than she does.
How long can Freddy go on pretending he doesn't know who is behind the brick through the window?? If he continues to ignore phone calls & try to ignore Ellis face to face things will only escalate & sadly others may be injured [and more seriously than Johnny] through his stupidity.
ReplyDeleteFreddie is well acted, though, isn't he? I find him utterly convincing as a reckless, feckless youth who's out of his depth & a danger to himself & others. Step up, Lily ! Mum is not reading the runes (maybe she is as much in denial as Freddie is)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if Lily might be distracted by her leather jacket wearing "friend"
DeleteI have to say that I have never met anybody quite like Freddie.
ReplyDeleteHe is a likeable but not very bright young man.
Why doesn't Elizabeth realise that and suggest that he goes and helps his second cousin by picking strawberries rather than encouraging him to take exams which he will never pass?
On the other hand he did eventually pass maths didn't he so no doubt he will get some sort off grade in whatever subjects he is studying at A level.
Freddy is very definitely Nigels son. I think he will eventualy become the new Nigel at Lower Loxley. If he can just scrape through his A-levels, which enables him to then go to Africa and work with Nolly in their already decided and planned voluntary work. He then can return a year later - as a much more mature person. When this happens, perhaps the trustees will then pass Lower Loxley into his care, as per his late fathers Will?
ReplyDeleteHe's got a few problems to get through first ! Like coming clean, for a start, facing whatever the law hands out. He & Noluthando may have talked about volunteering, she may even mean it, but he was mainly trying to please her. He may be like Nigel in being quite dumb, but he shows no interest in Lower Loxley, whereas Lily does & would be far more likely to keep that business on track, if still interested post the next stage of her education.
DeleteWill has a lot of thinking to do about childcare if decides to return to work full time. He is surely, financially able to manage as he has an extra income from letting out No1 The Green. He needs to read the tenancy agreement with BL to make sure that it does terminate if he reduces his working hours. He is currently living rent free as part of his job, so should be financially secure. But if he has to give up the BL tenancy then if he returns to his own home that is an income lost.
ReplyDeleteI predict that Justin will buy back the land he sold to Brian, but at a much reduced rate. More house building??
Will can surely sort his work and childcare problems out, without involving Clarrie, Emma, Bev and other family members. I have said this before and I am saying it again and it is my very own simplistic and individual thought. Why doesn't Will employ Lexi as a house-keeper/child-minder? This situation will certainly suit them both with the current places, that they both find them in.
DeleteStasia - Brian told Will that despite Annabelle trying to intervene on his behalf with Monster Martin, Will will definitely lose the tied Cottage if he continues to work part-time. This is because the Cottage will be needed for a full-time game keeper. I think he only has a week to make up his mind what he is going to do.
ReplyDeleteWill certainly has a problem, & he's not of the brightest, any more than Freddie, but agree that he'd be better returning to full time ( for himself emotionally, as a matter of fact, as well as the obvious practical reasons) & finding ways around child care, as many have to do. Clarrie & CO will do what they can, but working full time again he should be able to pay for outside cover.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for that ! So Will has been listening to some of us. Don't understand why he continues to lie to his family about the Gibson ultimatum; it can't be to save Clarrie worrying - he doesn't strike me as a man who thinks like that. As it is, he may well be relying on her to fill the gaps with Poppy until he hires other child minding cover, & it's wrong not to tell her the real reason for returning full time.
ReplyDeleteI think Miriam has the perfect solution - Lexi of course. Then she can fit in a bit of strawberry picking during the day too.
ReplyDeleteWell done Miriam.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea re Lexi but don't tell the scriptwriters because I want her to leave Ambridge.
Will’s only been able to work part time for this long of a period because he didn’t have to pay rent. I think for most of us housing is a large portion on]f our expenses. He needs to start thinking about getting care for his children instead of being so occupied with keeping the family together. Andrew seems to be a reasonably buy. Why hasn’t Will started discussion about sharing child care?
ReplyDeleteIt seems disingenuous that Brian now wants to salvage his marriage when he had written her off the last couple of months. On the other hand, can Jennifer refuse?
I will start a new post for our Sunday comments!
ReplyDeleteWill is receiving a monthly rent from No 1. The Green. I think that he owns this propeerty outright as he bought it with his Aunty's inheritance. His families home is Greenwood which is a tied cottage and such he is very lucky that there is no rent nor mortgage. All he has to pay for are the ever increasing fuel bills, insurances (a thought - is the building insurance paid for by whoever is the owner, Brian or BL, as it is a tied cottage) and food + and all other costs relating to the youngsters such as clothes, trainers, modern entertainment and so on. I just think that Will must have some available monies which he can use to pay for someone to help him.
ReplyDeleteWill seems convinced that if given the choice, Nic's children will choose to live with him. Jake sounds like a sensible boy and politely said he wanted to be spending more time with his father . Will was informed by Bev that he (Jake) didn't want to keep visiting the grave so different domestic arrangements will have to discussed with the children.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want Lexie looking after me, she doesn't exude any warmth and her soviet tone of voice sounds very harsh. Also, have we forgotten that she abandoned her two daughters to the care of their grandmother and rationalised her separation by saying she could Skype them to chat. I think Jake is about the same age as her daughters. I don't think she is the solution the children might become confused about her role and think wrongly that she is a replacement Nic.
Sorry Miriam.
Thanks Miriam!
ReplyDeleteClosing this post. Please look for a wild male turkey!