Archers Comments week of June 02, 2018
Life outside Ambridge
Popular posts from this blog
Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Happy Bloggers 🌈🌈🐱
ReplyDeleteLove the photo Ruthy.
ReplyDeleteThink Brian may regret spending money on sending Kate to USA cos he’s gonna need every penny he’s got with the latest development in the environmental clean up.
Is bankruptcy beckoning???
Ps. I can’t put any emojis on the end of my comments as they aren’t published if I do, they simply disappear.
Me too , when I try to put an emoji in they come out like this - 😲 🙋🏼
DeleteVery annoying!
Oh!, this time it worked OK. I am very confused now!
DeleteThanks for the lovely photo Ruthy. ☺
ReplyDeleteRuthy 🐈😻.
ReplyDeleteA bit of farming information about maze and grass. I'm growing sweet corn on the allotment, but I shan't be planting rye grass in between. This contamination business is becoming a tad tedious. This storyline is seems to on a very long piece of elastic, stretching until Christmas 😴💤.
After recoiling in horror at the photo of the cat with the bird in its mouth I had an aah moment for the last photo. Thanks Ruthy.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone read The Telegraph this morning?
ReplyDeleteIt reports on an Archers Q and A session at the Hay Festival yesterday.
They are predicting the return of.....Rob Titchener!
No timing was given but the SW responsible said Rob was only written out to give the show a break from the story but that he will always be there in Helen’s life. Perhaps this is something the new Editor is working on.
A bit of good news is that Alison Hindle, the stand in Editor, promised that no-one will be killed off to ‘celebrate’ the Archer’s 70th anniversary as poor old Nigel was for the 60th.
So, fellow bloggers, gird your loins, as it were, and prepare to hear that creepy voice again sometime in the future!
I'm not surprised about the Rob bit, after all it wouldn't really be true to life if he didn't come back at some stage, not that the Archers always sticks to reality.
DeleteMistral - In reply to your comments on the other blog, I'd like Brian to go on, as for Shula, yes I thought of Nic who was also dismissive of her ailment but I do not want Alistair to grieve for her.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI am sad they have brought Brian so low, I have always liked the interaction between him and Jenny. A number of years ago they, or rather their actors, were at the Royal Cornwall Show and did a skit on stage in the radio tent. They were really amusing, and acted it really well. Their facial expressions were priceless as well.
ReplyDeleteI would not want to see Rob return.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Ruthy.
DeleteThe very thought of that creepy, sinister voice makes me shiver. A tribute to the actor though, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteAh, missed that item at Hay, but I suppose the reappearance of the Titchener at some stage was generally expected; maybe sooner rather than later !
ReplyDeleteOf course Rob Titchyface will be back, he has to collect 'my son' Gideon. But, surely he still has a kidnapping charge to be answered.
ReplyDeleteHe is the terminator, didn't he say as he ran off on that wet and rainy night, "I will be BACK".
Love the new picture Ruthy. Huge improvement on the cat with bird!!
ReplyDeleteI'm also not thrilled at the new turn of events for Brian. He's always been an interesting character and surely this will hit him, and the rest of the family, very hard.
I love most cat pics, & rate the killer cat as highly as this cuddly one - thanks for all the opening images, Ruthy, it makes every logging in so entertaining !
ReplyDeleteA bit queasy last night's juxtaposition of Shula's illness with the devastating news about the underground spread of contamination, but surely they can't have 2 characters die of scepticaemia, er, can they ? I take it as a way of getting the retiring actor out of Ambridge, disgraced, seeking a new life abroad with/without wife, & S. to realize in her inimitable, muddled fashion that, actually, she's quite into A. after all.....but as others say, he is rapidly weaning himself off her. I shall be disgusted if it turns out otherwise, for host of reasons.
Oh my goodness Carolyn I love it. Shula poisoned by Brian's drums....it has a certain ring to it. I do hope Alistair carries on seeing Lavinia if only to pee Shula off
DeleteI still think Hannah is connected to Rob in some way USA and super farms and all that. I agree with Miriam that Rob will be back....cue creepy music.
Maybe the ground water contamination is nothing to do with Brian and everything to do with Rob and his drums ? that he pushed into the culvert to prevent the flooding or am I confused....
I am very much in agreement with Archerphile (June 2nd 9.41 am).
ReplyDeleteI am so very convinced that Rob will return, but I am thinking will it be this year? If I remember correctly, Helen was acquitted in September 2016 and then there was the attempted abduction of Jack, which was thwarted. As this is less than 2 years ago, I personally do not anticipate that Rob will appear, for at least another 6 months. I am thinking that it might well be around Christmas/New Year. I am not going to try and predict, well just not yet, as to what, IMO, what events might or could happen.
I am still having an idea of mine, that Olwen is in fact a Titchener, perhaps Ursula's younger sister or a cousin. She went to Ambridge, and was very remarkable in her different persona and as she knew Pat from a previous era, she was successful in gaining access to Bridge Farm, where she learnt all about Helen, Henry and Jack. I might be so very wrong, but I like this idea of mine.
DeleteI did think that Olwen was very comfortable lying in bed, reading, spending so much time in the bathroom, and with Jack + Henry, whilst not liking Helen.
I do realise that my own thoughts about the possibility about Rob returning, will be very different from so many others.
DeleteThis is why I Have to say:- Thank-You Ruthy, for this your wonderful site, where I can freely and happily give my thoughts and ideas. It is a lovely and calm place.
I am a bit confused about this underground spread of contamination - which only now seems to have been shown as a leakage and appearing to be affecting the water. I seem to think that the contaminated waste was dumped, in the "70"s which is now 40 years ago. I am wondering why this leakage is just happening now? I am also beginning to consider whether the Clean Up Operation has made a mistake and has some-how caused this problem. Any other thoughts or ideas?
ReplyDeleteI agree it's all rather unrealistic isn't it Miriam. I also agree with Ruth that this storyline is becoming a bit of a bore.
DeleteI don't know what the purpose of this storyline is and agree that it's unrealistic. I'm also getting bored with the tactic of having a drama then making out all is well followed by further disaster and drama.
DeleteCheshire Cheese I agree👍
DeleteI too agree it has gone beyond drama to be plain boring
DeleteMistral and Anneveggie
ReplyDeleteon the previous TA blog
I would like to see Brian go on forever. He's a really good actor. But I'm not sure how he will wriggle out of this one.
As for Shula...Alistair deserves someone much nicer.
Oh, yes, your last sentence !
DeleteGillian Reynolds, the radio critic is today’s guest on Desert Island Discs at 11.15, repeated on Friday at 09.30. I wonder if she will mention her long addiction to The Archers and comment about the programme? Could be interesting!
ReplyDeleteNo. She didn't !
DeleteNo, she didn’t, but she redeemed herself in my eyes by choosing the Coronation Scott as one of her pieces of music - the theme tune to the Paul Temple radio series which I loved with a passion, and still do when it is repeated on a Radio 4extra.
DeleteI am looking forward to hearing more about Lynda, Robert + Monty, and how he is settling in. This is a cross reference to Ev + Gypsy on the parallel page.
ReplyDeleteLynda also has the problem that Ambridge Hall is an ongoing B+B, so could Monty cause problems with her guests. This brings me onto another thought and that is about Grange Farm. The Grundys' set up a B+B to help their income and pay their rent. Due to Wills very sad
situation, this is now no more, but there no longer appears a problem with the rent. What has changed?
Although Ed has a much more permanent job with Adam plus Emma's many jobs, they are saving very hard so that they can buy their very own Justin built "rabbit hut" and good on them. I wonder how the building site is progressing, as I don't seem to recall any mention of it and whether there is an impact on Bridge Farm.
DeleteI wonder who's paying for Ruth's party and whether a budget has been agreed.
ReplyDeleteJeremy Howe, I am unsure as when he will he actually start his new BBC R4 appointment as The Archers editor, is being given two very intriguing stories to both progress and try to sort out satisfactually. These are the custody situation for Jake+Mia, and the current enviromental toxic waste disaster which involves Home Farm. I just think that many personal lives + livlehoods will be affected and changed.
ReplyDeleteMillennium wood, where will the gnomes go? Homeless gnomes.
ReplyDeleteI reckon Brian has set his sights on selling the area Kate uses for Spiritual Home!
ReplyDeleteShe will be so annoyed when she gets back from the States to find her enterprise scuppered that she will flounce off to South Africa, hopefully for good. I certainly shouldn’t miss her and Nelly and Sipho might be pleased to see their Mum again.
Good thinking Archerphile, in any case with the extent of the contamination the word 'spiritual' is redundant now and prosecution has also been mentioned.
DeleteWhoops, wretched autocorrect slipped Nelly in for Nolly when I wasn’t looking!
ReplyDeleteArcherphile. Much better idea than mine. Clever.
DeletePoor Mia, trying to be Mum to Poppy.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, poor little Mia - she needs the attention now.
DeleteGood idea about Spiritual Home land. Like Stasia I thought of the Millenium Wood, also the green burial site, Not sure if it's the same place? As this land was gifted to the community, I'm not sure if they could sell it. Possibly the land with the cottages on, which would affect Alice, could go.
ReplyDeleteEmma is being so supportive of Will & his family, giving time & thought & attention - don't know how she manages really, with all her responsibilities. My current heroine ! I hope she can get Mia to open up
ReplyDeleteIt's rather well done, the way those children are responding to loss. Poppy - utterly confused, needing comfort & closeness; Jake going through aggression, now anxiety as he sees what's happening to his sister, & wanting Will to put it all right; Mia, trying to 'be mother', & not a problem to anyone, but desolate inside. Heard of grief counseling for children recently, re a friend's grand daughter, & it sounds effective - perhaps good for Mia & Poppy, at different age group levels, though Jake very likely would not be interested ?
Will is fortunate to have the support and the family will be grieving for a while. Counseling could be very helpful and that is always the last resort. I served as an end-of-life doula for a couple of years, and most families are in denial about the whole death process, and consider talking about it taboo still. It's also my experience with my family on how they coped or not.
DeleteI realistically believe that counseling should be considered far sooner in the grieving process. It is very helpful to talk to a person, who is understanding, empathetic, with no emotional ties and gives very useful careful advice. It is far better than taking tranquillisers and sleeping pills. It does though depend on the individual and how that person adjusts to their loss and accepts it.
DeleteIt’s now nearly a year since my husband died. I never have considered counselling as I feel that someone who doesn’t know me, never knew him cannot identify with my loss. I have found more comfort within the family, friends environment and with others who have been through this trauma and can share their experiences. I don’t think Will would benefit much either. The best thing he can do is to stay close to his family who for all their faults are very loving and caring and also to absorb himself in his work and in the children. Even if the worst happens and Jake and Mia go to live with their father, they will retain affection for him and will see him. He will always have Poppy and George will be nearby. When the person closest to you dies you owe it to them to go on with your life and make them proud!
DeleteSounds like a good plan archerphile.
ReplyDeleteI am having the very same idea as are very many others, in that Spiritual Home, will be now be more!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking thst Brian will have a loophole. If I remember correcly the toxic waste at Low Mead was only found by the youngsters who were swimming in The Am in January, and they found some dead fish. I am wondering if the EA have actually been negligent, as I do not understand why it has taken 6 months to ascertain the deep water problems as this must have already started very many months ago.
ReplyDeleteI think I have to explain that the EA has been doing the clean up programme since January. I am beginning to think that there might well be a form of fault or blame which could be perhaps directed towards their operational procedures. I am hoping that this might be constructive towards Home Farm. I also think Brian has to keep his solicitor very aware of this new developement.
DeleteInstead, He and the participants in the Home Farm partnership, they are now discussing the selling of more land, which avtually might not be not necessary at this moment in timet
Lily is likely to blurt out her affair with Russ to Elizabeth which to her seems less shameful than being in a same sex relationship. I hope Christine finds something useful in the box of papers.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, Basia, why you think that Lily might be ' ashamed ' of being in a same sex relationship.
DeleteLily has a second cousin in a same sex relationship which is open and accepted within both her family and the wider Ambridge community.
She is also eighteen.
Young people today, in my experience, are easily accepting of not only same sex relationships but also of trans sexual issues, and are aware of these differences amongst their peers.
They also do not see any of these issues shameful, I am extremely pleased to observe.
Freddie was certainly amused by his mother's suggestion, but it seemed to me with a large dose of irony.
I am like Basia. I also think Lily will slip up, and Elizabeth will become very curious and intrigued with ecactly Lily"s "relationship" is. I do though admire Freddie for keeping quiet, but I realise that this is what Lily has been doing to help him over a long period of time.
ReplyDeletePoor Elizabeth is going to have two very nasty revelations, when she finally learns, what The Twins have been doing, un-beknowst to her. Will this tie in with the lovely, late Nigels Birthday?
How things have changed.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in the sixth form one either did Arts or Science.
Biology,German and English Literature (it used to be just English which I assume included English Language but maybe it didn't) do seem to be an odd combination.
I don't think we have heard if either of the twins has applied to University,what they plan to study there should they get any offers and what grades they need to get to be accepted.
If Freddie passes any exams then it will be too ridiculous for words but then he did miraculously manage to get a C grade in maths after failing badly the previous time
so anything could happen.
The one science on its own ie Biology is a bit useless at Uni as Lily won't be able to do a Biology degree without another science. My daughter is doing Biology at Bristol uni and had to do A level Chemistry to get in as well as English Literature. You can now do English Language A level. English A level in the past was just English Literature.
ReplyDeleteLily could do English Literature at uni with those A levels or English Lit with German. She would gave been better to take another arts A level like French or History to widen her Uni options!
Have not gave...
DeleteI think both Freddie and Lily's secrets will be revealed to Lizzy this week. Just wonder how she will take it. Shula did say they have a meeting with mediation lawyer, so the separation/divorce is going forward. So the question now is, is there anything wrong with Aunt Chris?
ReplyDeleteI don't think Freddie did Lily any favours by implying that Lily was in a relationship with Meredith.
ReplyDeleteI presume that there is a Meredith in which case Elizabeth will probably have met her.
Does Meredith know how she is being "used"?
I wonder what Elizabeth's reaction will be when she spots Meredith walking past Underwood's hand in hand with Sam or Luke or Julian .?
Lanjan and Sleepylawyer 9.20 and 10.55 respectively. 4th June
ReplyDeleteIn fact there are five A level 'English' courses. As you say there are: English language, two English Literatures (two very different syllabi;)English Language and Literature and finally Creative Writing. I gave up teaching English Language A level. It was very much like the course I did with the local Council to teach English as a second language. All about studying language patterns and delivery with all sorts of specific technical names and counting the number of 'uhms' and 'erhhs' in a recording so as to name the type of speech! Not my cup of tea! Give me Shakespeare, any sort of poetry and most prose, preferably pre-mid-twentieth century.
Responding to to this on the Chair blog ,Spiceycushion.
DeleteMrs P 4th June 10:55 - It was Lily's reaction, she sounded alarmed when Freddie told her that Elizabeth thought she and Meredith were more than friends and she said: "Why didn't you put her straight?!" Elizabeth had no qualms and yes, I'd have expected Lily not to mind that her mother thought she was in a same sex relationship but she clearly did.
ReplyDeleteI obviously missed that alarm in Lily's voice then Basia.
DeleteHow we all hear differently Eh !
Has Lily ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend? I don't recall her ever having feelings for anyone.
ReplyDeleteIn the past it was acceptable for girls to have crushes on other girls, it was seen as a phase, and all would be put right once they meet the right man. Elizabeth might perceive the so called friendship with Meridith as safe option for Lily to express her sexuality. She will get a shock when she discovers that her little girl is being groomed by an older teacher. Lily is not as mature as she thinks and her reaction to the suggestion that her mother thinks she is revising, because she is in a lesbian relationship, is not surprising.
Ich bin lesbisch.
The Archers only touched on this during Helen's trial, when her barrister was going through a breakup with her female partner. It was all very depressing, nothing positive about being with another woman
Lily has always been portrayed as a bright girl, which she clearly is.
ReplyDeleteHowever she is emotionally naive and has always seemed to me to be emotionally cold. Not even superficially warm or even affectionate.
I am not sure that Lily is clearly bright ,Mrs P..
ReplyDeleteShe is full of her own importance and thinks she is always right.
We have had this older man thing with Debbie and Pip in the past and I imagine that Greg was older than Helen.
Perhaps we ought to have one of the older women of Ambridge doing a spot of cradle snatching.
Any ideas?
Like the idea, Lanjan. The first who sprang to my mind were Shula and Tom for some reason.
DeleteLanjan is was very common when I was at school, to do A-levels based purely on science or arts. I did physics, biology, chemistry and maths. I loved learning german (Grade 1 O'level) but I had to drop it, as I could not do an A level . It was impossible to do 3 sciences alongside a language A level, as the science and art curicculi overlapped too much.
ReplyDeleteI had to do physics instead, my least favourite subject.
DeleteI very much enjoyed last night's episode which I only just listened to. The snippets of German, Elizabeth's assumption that Lily might be a lesbian, as well as the choice of Lily's A level subjects.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that most of you consider German, English and Biology an odd combination. These were my subjects of the German equivalent (Abitur) and the combination was considered perfectly normal at the time; in fact we had to choose one subject each from the Arts, from the Natural Sciences and from Social Sciences (altogether four subjects, the fourth being an oral one). My fourth subject was Educational Science. I think this was supposed to show that one was broadly educated and could go on to study anything at university.
I agree that Elizabeth will be in for quite a shock when she finds out what the twins have been up to. I am not too worried for Lily though. It will be an experience on her way to adulthood, nothing more and nothing less, but not a relationship that is going to last. I hope that Freddie gets off lightly; I would not like him to be involved in any more drug dealing and hope we will not hear any more of dreadful Elliott.
I am having a very strong feeling that Freddie will do really well in his exams, and will go to Africa for his gap year. He will return as a very different person (and actor).
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Lily will fail and have to repeat a year at college.
I was driving in the car recently, with R2 + Jeremy Vine, who was talking about Xanax and the use by teenagers
I missed it, as I had to navigate a major junction/roundabout to get onto a motorway. My attention was elsewhere.
I would have thought and liked, that Debbie would fly home (not that from Hungary) and help with the Home Farm debacle. She I think, would see the situation and solution, very differently when back at home, at Home Farm. Tamsin Greig must be no longer available to TA.
ReplyDeleteIs it now the time that we hear a new "Debbie"?
My post is missing, from writing and posting some words, but I don't know why. I hope that these can be assumed.
DeleteI have just listened to the latest Archers episode.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I think that Will has an even chance of obtaining custody of the children. Will met Nic in 2007, who at that time was living in a small flat with Jake + Mia, after an acrominous split up from Andrew. Will met her, 11 years ago and so he has been a major part of Jake + Mia"s young lives. He must have been much more of a Dad to them and with their upbringing than Andrew has been. I feel that the children are going to be the "pawns" who will be easily manipulated, in this awful custody battle.
I have to disagree with you Miriam.
DeleteAndrew has always been there for the children.The arrangements were always for alternate Christmases and we know that the children went to see him for weekends.
Jake has voted with his feet and at 14 the court would go with his wishes,( unless of course there is something we haven't been told ).
Mia is very mixed up and is certainly not getting the care that she needs from Will.
Will is doing what he tried to do with George, buy the children off, his interest is in keeping Nics family together, not in what is in the childrens best interest as Emma keeps trying to tell him. At the end of the day blood is thicker than water.
The current care of the children is very unsatisfactory, Will is too unaware of the childrens needs, which cannot simply be passed off as his fragile state, Wills needs have always been paramount in this respect.
At the time of their marriage it would have been normal practise , unless good reasons not to, for the children to live with their mother. The acrimonious split, would have have had nothing to do with the arrangements for the children, unless it directly effected them, and we have never been told this.
Wills chance I'm afraid is very slim
Lanjan June 5 2018, @ 3.15 PM: I seem to remember that Lilian had a relationship with a younger man till Brenda stole him.
ReplyDeleteCowgirl, 6/6 8.31, I think it is exactly as you say, having just caught up with the last 2 episodes. Will has zilch insight, entirely, &aggressively focused on winning a battle which is only happening in his own mind. Andrew from the little we've heard from/about him is entirely reasonable & puts the children first. ( incidently, so disliked the way he said to Emma, 'You can go now' at the end of their chat - when he didn't listen to her at all - who does he think he is ? ) I don't see this behaviour as an aspect of grief any more, it's his character - insecure & combative.
ReplyDeleteThis Will tale is showing Emma in a very good light - for me, she's the best bit of the story.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly, but the sad thing is when Will doesn't win, I bet he blames Emma.
DeleteAgree absolutely with last three posts.
DeleteWill is a sad unreconstructed terminally unhappy man.
His father is a great deal more understanding than Will would seem to ever be.
And.... Emma understands him and probably silently feels, with every encounter with Will, that she has had a lucky escape.
When will someone in that family have the courage to speak up to Will himself.
:) yes!!
DeleteMaryellen,I agree with what you say about Emma..
DeleteWas it said this evening that Roy had to go to Will's house during the night because Will had been called out or did I mis hear?
It's really bothering me that Will will get away with saying "you can go now" to Emma. There is no excuse for him to treat her that way. She probably made the right decision to not be married to him. She's probably too nice a person to say good riddance.
ReplyDeleteYou noticed, I noticed, I expect everyone here frowned at it, but I don't think Will had any idea of how offensive he was being ! I doubt if Emma did either, she doesn't expect any better from him, & is focused, as all the Grundy's are these days, on helping as much as they can in this sad, sad state of affairs, treading on eggshells around Will, as well.
ReplyDeleteMrs P.'s last paragraph says it, though - someone needs to cut the gentle talk & be straight with him. Eddie is the most likely ? He did it a while back, albeit gently, over Susan's cover list, & Carrie's exhaustion
Will is not a lateral thinker, he lacks imagination and is concrete in all his decisions. He doesn't know how to perceive life outside the little box he has created, and even though he is grieving, because his brain is confined, he isn't able to understand how his children are experiencing the loss of their mother.
ReplyDeleteHe lacks the analytical ability to explore, or listen to the views of others. Emma is banging her head against a brick wall. Mia says she doesn't want to play football, then that is that. He didn't like Nic working, he didn't want women on the cricket team, etc.
✔️
DeleteWill isn't so much unreconstructed as unconstructed. His character is remade every five minutes to illustrate The Kind of Things That Can Happen in Circumstances Like These.
DeleteI think we also,have to make allowances for the poor acting where Will is concerned.
DeleteShula can't really do anything but put her foot in it, can she. 'I shall miss...' but a whispery little 'no' when A. asks her the obvious. It's still all about her, I hope she has a sleepless night because I suspect she actually does have some doubts, but is far too muddled & dim emotionally to assess herself, her broken marriage or A.
ReplyDeleteShula makes me sick.
DeleteShe offers to cook for Alastair ,share her good bottle of wine with him and when the poor fellow thinks things are looking up she drops him like a hot potato.
I wonder if the One Night Stand Love Interest's husband has picked up on any of the gossip?
Do we know that Lavinia is married ?
DeleteI didn't assume Lavvy was married.
DeleteIn that case,Bootgums I think she should set her cap at Phillip .
ReplyDeleteSince the ridiculous siruation between Shula and Alastair cannot continue I wonder if Shula will decide to go off to do her good works in Africa or South America.
Brian and Shula have featured a lot recently so the actors must have been adding a bit to their pension pot and maybe are thinking of giving up their day jobs soon.
Brian will no doubt have a convenient fatal heart attack.
I have just heard Brian make the most rediculous remark ever, "you're a business woman Kate". I nearly fell off the sofa, perhaps if she did a nine to five job she would be spouting less gobbledygook and mindfulness nonsense.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Stasia - so funny! 😄 😄 😄
DeleteI snorted at that too!
DeleteContinued. I don't imagine Ambridge is the sort of village that attracts individuals looking for mindfulness. Kate would be better sorting out moving to places like Glastonbury or MrsP's 'alternative Stroud'.
ReplyDeleteMindfulness is fine, & I bet people who practice it are calmer & more together in themselves than before they took it up, but Kate ? She doesn't practice anything but self aggrandisement & self interest as far as I can see.
DeleteHear, hear Carolyn
DeleteAs Alistair said to Shula last night they did have evenings like this during their 19 years together and many of them but she seems to want every single day to be marvellous, nothing has changed, she just doesn't love him anymore, oh please go then.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth has obviously been concentrating on Lily's sexuality, it'll be interesting to see how she broaches the subject.
Heavily planted clues about Chris's dementia. It's so sad, she's such a nice, outgoing character, interested (not in a gossipy way) in others lives
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the early stages, because, aside from a little confusion & memory lapses, she's functioning pretty well. Get the impression that she's not to happy living with Peggy & Hilda Ogden, that's why she's out & about more.
The wrong end of the stick SL with Elizabeth is ludicrous, not even funny. She's making herself look silly,checking in with Jennifer. Why doesn't she ask Lily ? If same sex relationships are so acceptable to Elizabeth, she wouldn't hesitate, would she. No, she's bothered whilst pretending to be cool.
Oh dear, above, 'too happy' + 'others' lives'.
DeleteOh dear, above, 'too happy' + 'others' lives'.
DeleteCan't agree, carolyn. I do find Elizabeth's misapprehension funny, and I'm enjoying Freddie's wind-ups. He's only 18, after all.
DeleteI am hoping that Christine is not found to another dementia prospect. I am hoping that her confusion is being caused by something different, which could be resolved.
ReplyDeleteIF it is dementia, I am wondering whether Peggy will want to go "through it" again + cope, after her experience with Jack (which was brilliantly portrayed).
If this is the case then perhaps the newly married Fallon + Harrison will move her into Woodbine Cottage, which she knows well.
Miriam, Woodbine belongs to Fallon and Harrison now and where would they go?
DeleteLooking after someone with dementia is a very demanding task. I shouldn't think that a young working couple like Fallon and Harrison would be able to do it.
DeleteAnd neither would Christine want it.
DeleteBasia I was thinking that she will live with them as a unit.
DeleteI was laughing my head off together with Freddie. Both scenes were so clumsy and heavy handed, Peggy and then Elizabeth achieved nothing.
ReplyDeleteChris reassured me tonight, not the slightest bit muddled, quite cross, &, best of all, remembering that she'd forgotten she'd bought the boiler when still letting Woodbine. Was quite convinced about dementia, but that has to be a good sign ? So, back to being uncomfortable at Peggy's, cat disrupting her sleep - this could lead to another SL; settling down with Jim, after all ? Glad she can't read this, make her even more cross...
ReplyDeleteElizabeth & Lily, both of them so silly, faintly comic, I suppose, but do feel rather sorry for the twin's mother - both of them deceiving her massively, & it's only a matter of time before she finds out about both of them. On balance, I'd say Freddie's situation is more serious. For one thing, it's probably the drugs that are fooling him into thinking the exams are going well - since when has this ever been the case with him ? Of course, what he's taking could be performance enhancing, but I doubt it. There was to be some background of knowledge & sheer graft & we never hear anything about actual studying, only avoidance.
'Has' not 'was', last sentence above
DeleteWhat a nasty piece of work Freddie is.
ReplyDeleteLily would have been better to come clean with Elizabeth since she had been there before.
The other thing I thought was ridiculous was the fact that Lily and Sleeze Ball went out together in a public place.
I assumed that he was married but do we know he is?
Surely he wouldn't be that stupid ,would he?
It was Freddie who said he was married and Lily didn’t deny it. She won’t be the first young lady to be taken in by sweet talk!
ReplyDeleteHalf-way down through France and making an overnight stop near Tours - delighted to find our bed & breakfast place has free unlimited Wi-fi so have been able to catch up with tonight’s Archers.
ReplyDeleteLoved Christine putting Peggy straight about not being in the throes of early dementia, she certainly seemed to be on the ball tonight and annoyed with Peggy for having discussed her health with Harrison. Good on you Chris.
And the scenes with Elizabeth, Lily and Freddie would have seemed quite comic if it were not such a serious situation that Lily has got herself into. Her barefaced lies to Auntie Chris about the art exhibition were dreadful and Elizabeth’s little homily about ‘friendships’ was so off the mark. I hope this situation is resolved soon as I am finding the deception being jointly carried out by the twins very uncomfortable. The sooner Ellizabeth learns the truth, the better.
Loved that Chris said Jim had thought they were father and daughter! Surely that would have rung alarm bells for Lily!
DeleteArcherfile, good to hear from you in France and hope the rest of the journey goes well! It is great to keep up with TA when away. I remember the days of listening to the omnibus on return from holiday and once getting Katy to contact her friend on Facebook to see how Chris Carter was after being kicked by the horse!
DeleteA word in favour of Freddie. He's not nasty, maybe not even immature, given that he's only 18. If he needles his sister into admitting her situation, even to herself, would that be a bad thing? It's obvious that they care for each other, and Lily, the supposedly bright one (OK – I don't really doubt that she is the bright one), is behaving foolishly.
ReplyDeleteMet and had a chat with Vanessa Whitburn today at the Royal Cornwall Show, but put it on the other blog as it was more of a closed blog comment than an Archers comment . Resisted the temptation to say what I thought of poor Nigel Pargetter being killed off.
ReplyDeleteI cannot agree with you Bootgums.
ReplyDeleteFreddie IS nasty.
He is not a young child.
I thought that twins supported each other.
Lily in fairness ,rightly or wrongly ,didn't tell Elizabeth about his drug dealing.
He is just trying to cause trouble but I think it may backfire.
What happens if Elizabeth meets Meridith (if she exists) or her mother in Underwood's ?
What happens if the two mothers get talking and Elizabeth mentions the relationship between their two daughters?
The whole story line is ridiculous.
Why didn't Elizabeth just come out and ask if Lily has a girlfriend? She would ask if she thought she had a boyfriend. If she is so accepting, why the double standard?
ReplyDeleteI have not had any close relationship with anyone with dementia. Can some tell me what are the early signs? Are those the signs Chris is showing?
Christine's 'How dare you suggest I'm gaga?' to Peggy was extremely (and uncharacteristically) tactless. Quite believable, unfortunately, as attitudes towards mental health problems still have a long way to go.
ReplyDeleteRuthy
ReplyDeleteI have a very dear friend whose husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's just over a year ago so I have seen the disease progress, rather too quickly. Husband of friend started looking frail, aged considerably in the next six months (he's 71) and became unsteady on his feet. This stopped their long walks which was a favourite pastime. If my friend needs to go out she can leave him but he cannot go out alone as he can't lock and unlock the door, just can't make the key work! Let alone the alarm! My son (who works as a recruitment manager in the Care industry) told me that dementia is not just forgetting things. We all do that from time to time. The sufferers forget 'how to do things' which explains friend's husband being unable to lock doors. So if the SWs are inferring that Christine is in the first stages of dementia they are being very heavy-handed and not entirely accurate. If she had forgotten how to make a cup of tea that would be more realistic.
That conforms to the way it developed in my mother, Spicy, though more slowly perhaps than in your friend's husband. The short term memory loss worsened steadily, & the dwelling on the distant past, frailty, yes, as time went on, couldn't take a bath unaided, & I remember when she forgot how to make a cup of (instant) coffee, so Dad took over.
ReplyDeleteGiven her brisk manner & engagement with people, Christine's forgetfulness doesn't, in itself, strike me as more than most have as they grow older; why I remember in my early 40s, bounding upstairs for some reason, wondering what it was for a few moments, before remembering ! Still happens, of course, less often if anything, because life is less frenetic than in those days. Names go, though, do others find that ? Just at the moment when you need them
...but they pop back in, usually when the moment has passed.
'Gaga' is not acceptable, I agree, Bootgums, but Chris is of a generation who would routinely use it, & she's pretty cross with Peggy's & Harrison's assumptions, so she, well, 'forgets' that could be hurtful, given how Peggy's husband deteriorated.
That often happens to me Carolyn. I have a complete blank when trying to recall names but they come back eventually. As my mother had Alzheimer's I sometimes have a moment of panic. As long as they do come back you are still ok.
DeleteI just do not think that Christine is showing any signs of dementia. I had a grandmother, who sadly suffered and just didn't know me. She thought I was someone totally different. I cannot see any signs of Alzheimers in Christine,- as far as my experience has been. She is forgetful, but who isn't..?
ReplyDeleteThank you Spicycushion, carolyn and Miriam in answering my question on dementia.
ReplyDeleteI also remember another situation. This was not in my immediate family but in another close one. One of my nieces was staying with her parental grandparents. She received a phone call from her paternal grandad, who was in his car but had no idea where he was and didn't know how to get home.! It was sorted and resolved.
DeleteI'm glad that the principled Kirsty brought up the subject of the hunt with Philip.
ReplyDeleteI found myself thinking that this evening's episode was like EastEnders. The trouble is, I've never seen EastEnders, only heard send-ups of it on the radio. So I'll have to say that parts of the episode sounded like a send-up of EastEnders. I mean, of course, Philip's encounter with Tom, and Kate's terrors of the earth threat. Drama is conflict, conflict drama: that is all.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Philip is building up to a proposal. She's too good for you, Philip. Try Shula. Your sons might be about the same age.
Hear hear Bootgums.
DeleteI hope Kirsty turns him down when he proposes as he surely will.
However,I think she'll accept initially but then she will see the light .
She'll end up with Tom
I remember that Kirsty was very friendly, at one time with Patrick.
ReplyDeleteI wonder wbere he is?
He's hide-ing.
Delete!! :)
DeleteHaha. That’s s good one.
DeleteWhat an unsung hero T❤️O❤️B❤️Y is! First he spends cold sleepless nights helping out with the Brookfield lambing, then he does both Rex and Neil a good turn by prompting Rex to go for the job as manager of Neil's pigs and helps Rex with the pig fencing in preparation for their move to Hollowtree - and now he is putting in hot, back-breaking hours helping Adam out with the strawberry picking. That's in addition to his single-handed day job and evening job at The Bull. How could Ambridge manage without him?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was at secondary school there was something called the Progress Prize, awarded to the person in each year who'd improved most on their position the previous year. If Ambridge were my secondary school, Toby's position as the proud bearer of the Progress Prize would be beyond doubt. Can this be the same person as the louche young man who arrived in the area relying completely on his sensible brother, scanning the local talent and plumping for the one who might have a farm thrown in?
DeleteBootgums - I'm afraid the so called sensible brother would get the Non-Progress Prize and the young man you describe as relying on him never existed! 😀
DeleteAh, love is blind!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAs is prejudice !!😀
Deletemaryellen, you once accused me of unpleasantness, and I really didn't understand why. So I'll assume this, as mine presumably was, is an attempt at humour that didn't come off.
DeleteDidn't the big smiley face work? I'll have to go for (Joke!) instead.
DeleteThe Oxford University *study* year has now ended. I wonder if Pheobe will appear back in Ambridge? and will she partake in the strawberry picking?
ReplyDeleteI would imagine that she has very memories of her time there last year.
I don't think Kirsty is too good for Philip at all, but she was decidedly ambivalent towards his attempts to move the relationship into serious territory. Of course, she was distracted by Tom's pouty behaviour, which may, oh dear, give weight to some predictions here that she & Tom could end up together. Do hope they don't. Found the antler locking most entertaining - round one to Philip. How daft of the man who left the girl at the altar to warn his successor 'to treat her right'.
ReplyDeleteKate was good value tonight as well, so supremely herself : mummy rushing out to get her porridge, daddy pouring her tea, nice touches of sarcasm there, Brian, if I noticed by your daughter. The best bit was her outrage, 'Nobody takes Spiritual Homes seriously!'. Well, no, who could ? Do go back to SA, Kate, but thanks for the laughs.
'If NOT noticed by your daughter'.
DeleteCarolyn,Kirsty still has feelings for Tom,I am sure.
DeleteI find Phillip too smarmy and rather oleaginous.
(I have used that word before on the Archers blog .)
I want to wash my hands after shaking the hand of someone who is oleaginous and I feel that about Phillip .
Don't know why.
I did chuckle Carolyn at your advice to Kate to return to SA!
DeleteUnfortunately, I fear you could be right (Kirsty having feelings for Tom).Nice word, oleaginous, but we differ about Philip. Maybe we just aren't used to new men appearing on TA who are pleasant, open, sensible, kind, with no hidden agenda ! He certainly wasn't oleaginous with pompous Tom, though, was he ?
ReplyDeleteNo, he was not oleaginous, but he certainly did have an agenda.
ReplyDeleteTo deliberately wind Tom up !
I don't much like Tom, but I didn't much like Philip this evening either.
I want to stick up for Philip! He is getting a lot of stick on here and other Archers forums. I love his warm Welsh accent and friendly manner ( but not with Tom who was acting like a jealous teenager). I shall give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being and hope he turns out to be the good man I think he is. Not all new characters have to be weird or underhand or suspicious in some way or the other. He could turn out to be a perfect match for Kirsty or some other unattached female in the area. As for Tom, what a cheek telling Phil to treat Kirsty right after he, Tom, left her standing at the altar! No wonder Kirsty has no time for him at the moment, his attitude is juvenile and will only annoy Kirsty all the more.
ReplyDeleteSorry Archerphile I didn't see this until after I posted mine below. I agree with you. Is Philip Welsh? I thought he was Midlands!I like him. I hope Kirsty and him get together.
DeleteI'm glad to feel reassured that it's very likely that Christine doesn't have dementia. I really don't want to hear that storyline played out so hope I'm correct.
ReplyDeleteI also think Elizabeth would have just asked Lily straight out about her 'friendship' with Meredith. Still think it's so underhand to ignore his wife who is presumably sat at home whilst he's out gallivanting with Lily. What a silly and selfish girl Lily is.
Shula was cruel, yet again, to poor Alistair. He needs to get away from her and she deserves to be lonely.
Re the land sale by Brian. All is not lost for Kate. Under English law a hand shake is not a valid contract for sale of land. The Law of Property Act 1989 stipulates that any contract for sale of land must be in writing. This has been so since 1925 under a previous Act. Kate could ask me or maybe a local solicitor in Borchester!
ReplyDeleteGood episode tonight. I like The way Philip stood up for himself. I think Tom has a bit of a cheek frankly. Why do people not like Philip apart from his views on fox hunting?
Brian is so condescending “ she’ll come around”. Not that I like Kate much and if she can’t make a success of spiritual home, then she needs to find another occupation. Why isn’t she helping with the strawberries? I still don’t know much about Philip. Why did he confront Tom? Who told him what Tom said to Kirsty? It wouldn’t make sense that she would have told Philip. Interesting LanJan you are still sticking with Kirsty and Tom.
ReplyDeleteI will open a new blog. Look for a lighthouse.
ReplyDelete