Hi Ruthy. It threw me a bit but yes, think it’s great. Lovely photo as usual.
Quite frankly, I just want to slap Kate and tell her to grow up. If she hates what’s going on so much she should shove off back to SAfrica. In fact, take ruddy Shula with her.
Great new look, lovely pics - you triumph again, Ruthy ! Thoughts on last night already on the closed blog; have no comment on the rest, except noting a) Neil knows how to be firm when needed ( Bell ringing training) b)it looks like the impasse between Usha & Shula is to be revived; perhaps the muddle that is the latter's life these days may make her reflect, with regret, on the way she reacted to the Alan/Usha Union...
Ruthy, thanks, I like the new format, although I was initially a bit flummoxed. Is that San Sebastián Spain?
Kate was downright dangerous with her hot stones, I could actually feel her pressing down on Usha as she became more and more angry about her circumstances. Perhaps Usha recommended legal advice in order to get away, before she ended up requiring medical assistance for sever burns or brain damage from the massage. As I recall it was Brian who funded her 'alternative' project, plus yurts etc, and she removed some of the furniture from the main house. So, I suppose in theory she doesn't own anything, and more money will be required to pay legal bills. Proud to be Yourshire, please don't send her to S. Africa she was the only entertaining character in last nights episode.
That's how I remember it, too, Stasia. Has she ever had a job, a training, or has she always sponged off parents or ex in SA, produced children which she then doesn't mother ?
I love this new look Ruthy, so much clearer to read and what a lovely photo at the top.
Afraid I have reached the end of my tether with Kate. She really has become a hateful character, almost a caricature of herself, in fact. I find I just want to switch off when I hear her voice and like PtbYorkshire, I wish she would clear off to SA and annoy her other family! However, I expect the SWs want to prolong the agony for Brian and his Home Farm plans so we will probably be stuck with her for a while yet.
I like this very smart new blog, Ruthy, thanks very much. I think the next development will be that Kate will start to investigate the possibility of taking the Home Farm partnership to court over the fact that her share can't be sold to another family member, and that that will uncover the complete can of worms that Brian has been holding back on, thereby stirring up even more trouble for the Aldridge family. Only time - and the next few episodes - will tell . . .
Basia, my book states that Kate started a degree in environmental studies at Felpersham university, but did she ever complete? According to my old book, she was expelled from CLC and did badly in her GCSEs, then whenever the going got tough her response to stress was to pack her bags and take off.
The way I remember is that was how Kate made a comeback by starting her degree as to the outcome, don't know. She must have been the first and only? vegetarian, a vegan now, in Ambridge and Phoebe was baptised during a spiritual ceremony on Lakey Hill.
As Brian pointed out, Kate didn't read the small print of the partnership and the details of "leaving" - Brians "Brexit"! Will she have a case, as I thought that ignorance was not a valid claim. Perhaps she will find a "no win, no fee" soliciter, as I cannot understand how she will pay legal fees. She could also become liable for the Home Farm Partnership costs if things don't work out. It's a risky path that she is starting to persue.
Love the new lay-out Ruthy, though I did think that I had logged into the wrong site, for a split second.
Yes, Kate did start that degree course, having persuaded Brian and Jenny to pay for it, so that she had the excuse to stay in England and not go back to SA for some time. She had a whale of a time socialising with the other, much younger students but I don’t think she ever actually did much studying! I think I remember that she was hauled over the coals for not completing sufficient work and either was asked to leave the course, or decided for herself to quit. Brian was not pleased about laying out the course fees for nothing!
Thanks Archerphile. On another note, I reckon that Shula is avoiding Usha because having contributed to her break up with Richard she now feels awkward getting divorced while Usha is happily married.
That was a long while ago. I just think Shula is a tad bit anxious in joining in with normal Ambridge events, due to questions + gossip about her "marriage" situation. Shula needs some friends.
Too add, Alistair is expecting her to buy him out of The Stables, the house. How will she afford it - and isn't the Vetinary Practice on the same land, so I wonder what this will mean.
Just a thought, after listening to the Omnibus.... I’ve never been to any sort of health spa but if those massage stones were so hot that they almost burnt Usha, how come Kate didn’t burn her hands too - or would she have been wearing some sort of gloves?
I am getting rather leery on recent representation of women such as Kate, Shula, Elizabeth, Lily, Alice, etc, are being portrait as week, indecisive, poor decision making women. The women who are commenting on this blog show more strength than many of these women on the current Archers. I do hope that new script writers will do better.
So Justin and Lillian are back with a bang. Poor old Pat. Here is another battle to fight. Can’t someone please tell Helen that she’s such a drip that people don’t want to learn how to make cheese when they can buy it cheaper at a supermarket. Just who has the time to make their own cheese nowadays!! Slight mention of the dreaded Lexi, 5 weeks till the next vomit making surrogate bit. I am totally sick of hearing about spiritual home too. Let’s face it.....Kate’s got a big tent in a field with a massage table in it. Full stop!!! Hope we get a lot of wind and that it blows away with Kate clinging on for dear life. Right....thank you.....rant finished
Cheese making courses do have a following rather like breadmaking courses, neither of which you need, just a good book. Cheese making kits also being available, a 5 minute wonder, as cheese making takes a long time, as you need to do and leave several times. Supermarket cheese is far inferior to the artisan cheeses. So Helen isn't wrong, just as you say a drip and no business sense. If you book you pay.
Helen needs to branch out to other cooking classes. In New Jersey I have noticed cooking classes , wine and painting classes, basic knife skills, bread making, wine tasting and so on. I just can’t see how many people in a small town will be interested in cheese making.
I am cheering for Pat. I can’t believe Lilian can’t care less. I thought there was an agreed number of low income houses to get the construction permit. That’s how it works in New Jersey.
And that's how it's supposed to be here Ruthy. But it frequently happens that some deal or other is done to undermine the original contract. And it's always about profit.
I agree with Cowgirl regarding requiring clients to pay a cancellation fee for cancelling, specially at the last minute. Isn't that common business practice? Regarding Lilian, I can believe that she couldn't care less about affordable housing. As long as she's comfortable with a well-off partner all's well with the world to her.
BLOG update. My letter to Tony Hall was treated as a complaint, standard Archer response. I am still waiting for a response from the Executive complaints department, the 20 days is up tomorrow,35 days if they consider it more complex !!! I would have thought it fairly straight forward as LanJan has already been at this stage. Will keep you posted.
Proud t b Yorkshire (24th, 8.21pm) empathise with your 'rant' ! Especially about Kate. She couldn't even help J. & P. With the sprucing up of this bedraggled enterprise - which she should have been on top of, anyway. I suppose she was consulting the solicitor recommended by Usha (who didn't even notice the poor state of the yurt, apparently - probably because she was being painfully fried at the time)
As well as being a pain in the neck, I think Kate is a tart! She deliberately rubbed Pip’s nose in it when telling of her dalliance withToby. What a nasty piece of work!
I have completely forgotten to say that I have noticed a smidgen of humour creeping back into the Archers' scripts lately, and in particular, the pets talent competition for the fete - I really enjoyed the mention of all the outlandish pets that are being trained for the great day, which should prove entertaining when it rolls around. Just so long as it doesn't end up as a shrieking competition between Lynda and Lilian who I am finding just a little trying at the moment.
I am getting really annoyed with Jennifer’s voice when speaking to her children. Those sickly sweet ‘Oh daarling’ tones sound as if she is speaking to a toddler rather than a 39 or 40 year old! She was doing it to everyone at Ruth’s party too, I preferred her when she was being cross with Brian, sounded more realistic to me.
Maybe the problem with Spiritual Home is not the contamination, but the state of the yurts. Has Kate ever bothered to read any reviews on Trip Advisor, if she did she might find comments on the condition of th interior and the level of cleanliness. Sounded like Jenifer and Pheobe were having to do a lot of domestic work. Clients can be ruthless in their feedback, even posting pictures on line.
Archerphile. I so like your post 9.23am and I understand your meaning + plus the reply from Archerphile. My late Mother did exactly the same, treating self + my two sisters as if we were still "children", telling us what to do. She forgot that we all had very intensive, managerial jobs, we were still her little girls. Jennifer + Brian (plus Pat + Tony) are doing the same, in that they have to see, how their children have progressed, and are very capable to move things forward in this modern, technological age. I am miles behind.
I don't know why the weather is ever mentioned in The Archers. The whole Country is experiencing the hottest ,sunniest day so far this year and Ambrdge has rain!
Well apart from the mis directed weather, did any one else feel that A: we might have a new SWriter... and B: that person might be reading this blog, or indeed be one of us.
Good point Zoetrope! I was surprised to hear the win mentioned but I don’t think they commented on the score being an amazing 6-1. I expect they made two recordings , one for a win and one for loosing - then just played the appropriate recording.
I am sure you are right in what you say .Zoetrope about interchangeable recordings. I suppose an alternative would be ' "Did you watch the football ?" "No butI don't want to know what happened because I am going to watch it on Catchup" (They could only use that once though)
Wonder if they have done the same for all the possible England matches, including triumphant scenes in The Bull, should England eventually win the Workd Cup? Presumably they couldn’t ignore such an occasion, as they did the recent Royal Wedding.
Jazzer remembering when he was in love with Fallon, even hiring a limousine. Fallon didn't listen to 'Plastic fantastic' on radio 4, a good and durable material we do not treat with care.
I don't understand why David was in a rush to make a cot/crib, and then admonishing Josh for not helping. Pip, only the other day, instructed Toby to collect clothes and a Moses basket she had found on line. Couldn't they just buy a cot? Like normal people!! A plastic free grocery type shop has recently opened in Birmingham. I thought there was a hint of sarcasm in Jazzer's remark about a "plastic wedding".
I have nothing to complain about plastic that can be re-used many times. I just do not like the "single" plastics, - use once then throw away, and non recycleable. Fallon is going a bit OTT. I use bio-degradable bin liners.
PS Where a family member lives in Shropshire, they are now being charged for a 2nd garden refuse bin. They have a large compost bin, but still need 2 others. The argument is being charged for re-cycling garden waste, when bin2 is emptied at the same time, by the same lorry on the same day, as bin1. I don't think Ambridge has these problems, as I have never heard of a garden recycle bin - I am thunking about cottages, such as.Blossom Hill, April, Woodbine, Glebe, Honeysuckle etc.
I think it's usual to have a contract with the local council for garden waste and costs are dependent on how many containers required. I take what I cannot compost to the dump, waiting until I have several sacks to fill the back of the car.
Stasia, how abnormal does one have to be to have made and then cherish a simple home made wooden crib. I was delighted to receive mine from a friend who had made it for my first. It has been used for my two, my daughters three, and I rather hope that any great grandchildren will be using it also in due course.
In between generations it is used to display indoor plants.
I would hate to see any baby close to me in the plastic abominations that most of today's, presumably normal, babies are subjected to. And don't get me started on today's so called proms.
Well ,didn't we see that coming? It is obvious that the actress playing Anisha has other work and won't be wanting to continue with the programme. What a selfish person she has been- Anisha not the actress. She makes Alastair buy expensive equipment etc. ,has loads of time off because of her mother's illness and now when he needs her she scarpers. How did she even get an interview without a reference from her partner.? I hope that she doesn't take Rex with her.
Poor Neil! He didn't see that coming either, Susan is very free with his money & obviously she has it all worked out without a word to her poor husband. If it does go all wrong with his job she will look very silly indeed. Thought Anisha was with family not gadding off with friends & applying for another job. She said the offer of a partnership doesn't come up very often...really?? That's what she has with Alistair doesn't she?? & now this one. A lot of changes all of a sudden.
Oh, Alistair, don't take all your pent up feelings of being abandoned & rejected out on Anisha, who has every right to further her career. Besides, you sounded so petulant & self pitying. So, don't agree with you on this, Lanjan. Her partnership & ideas have benefited the vet practice no end, as we are led to believe, & the 'expensive equipment has brought the whole business up to date, more efficient & competitive. She didn't expect to get this job, told him as soon as she could, not dithering on for months & months as Shula did about their marriage, making his life unpleasant & confusing. He admitted A. Had been a rock during his personal crisis, there need be no doubt she was sincere, &, no, it shouldn't be impossible to find another partner in a thriving concern. However, I think she was being unrealistic about somewhat under qualified Rex making good in Newmarket, & pretty self serving, too.
Agree Lanjan. I don't think Rex will go, he's attached to Pip. Neil was right to remind Susan not to count the chickens... I'm not surprised he's having difficulties with Hannah, she has a very forceful personality.
Oh, I do hope, if he doesn't go in the end, it's because he's unambitious, unadventurous, not because of Pip ! What a ghastly prospect... .On the other hand, he's no match for Anisha; he & Pip would make, yawn, a fairly standard Ambridge young couple.
OK, am I now allowed to say - without being accused of being racist - how much I have come to dislike and distrust Anisha? Whenever I dared speak about her on the old BBC blogs I was admonished by that blogger who provoked so many arguments. LanJan has listed some of the things Anisha has done since being in Ambridge - and I have onever forgotten the nasty ‘joke’ she played on Jazzer not long after arriving. She virtually insisted on all those alterations to the surgery in order to attract more equine business but will now leave Alistair without an equine specialist. There were all the shenanigans with Matt and she seems to Have been absent from the practice for prolonged periods. Now, when she knows Alistair is at his lowest she goes for an interview without having the decency to warn him first and wants out of the partnership - expecting Alistair to cough up the money and be grateful to be a sole partner again. And Rex, just expected to trot along behind her to Newmarket and try to find some sort of job there! As already said, I too assume the actress no longer wants to be in TA, but couldn’t the producer have found a sound-alike actress to fill the part rather than banish the character altogether? I am furious with the way this character has been used, bought in as a bright and excitingly different new addition to the village and then mucked about with until eventuallly discarded with a cooked up story! ��
I agree absolutely with all that Archerphile says about Anisha.
Nevertheless she has been a refreshing addition to the cast. It has seemed that the actresses burgeoning career has inhibited her contribution towards the character and Noe the best option is to leave the cast.
We were told some weeks ago, by an ' insider' ( cannot remember details ) that two member of cast were leaving. Clearly Anisha is one of them.
I hope Rex stays. And yes I still hope for a Pip and Rex coupling.
I also think that Anisha has acted in a very self-centred way and quite underhanded, sneaking off for an interview without alerting Alistair that she was looking elsewhere. Poor Alistair, double whammy. I also hope he doesn't descend into depression and give up on his life. Anisha was so confident that Rex would follow her too and he obliged. Susan presumes too much as far as Neil is concerned but I suppose she always has.
I agree Ruthy, but have some sympathy for the SW team, who have been put in a very difficult position I would think, with an actress whose career seems to have become very quickly elevated.
I do think that they have been fairly adroit with managing her many absences.
Let's hope Alistair ensured that Anisha was jointly liable for the loan to enhance the vets premises or at least in a private amount to her partnership equity. She will then have less or no equity to take out ie for Al to buy her out. Hoping but not confident he did.
Seem to be the lone voice in justifying Anisha ! Oh, well. It's not that I think Alistair has no reason to react as he did - he is hard pressed, struggling in every way, there's plenty of excuses, but I hope he isn't so far gone as not to reflect on the personal accusations he made, not helpful, & can focus on the practicalities of breaking up the partnership.
Ambition was the theme in last nights episode. Anisha young and ambitious, and Neil having his forced on him by his ambitious Susan. What is wrong with Anisha taking her specialism to a place where she can practise what she loves? Being a vet in Ambridge would only stifle her professional progress, small animal work with the Hilda Odgens, and dogs like Ruby and Monty is clearly not in her career trajectory. Sounds like Hannah is ambitious for Neil's job, and if he dithers whilst Susan magnanimously give away money he hasn't yet earned, he could find himself without said job.
Not a lone voice, then, Stasia ! Agree about the theme, AND with you & others about Susan spending Neil's salary prematurely. Not sure re Hannah - could just be that Neil has much to learn about the tougher aspects of management skills.
If Rex goes to Newmarket then maybe Neil will give up the managerial job he is not happy in and go back to looking after his own pigs. Hopefully self centred thoughtless Anisha will help Alastair find another equine vet, and someone to buy her share of the practice, before he crumbles under the pressures he is under.
I think it’s usual not to tell work colleagues and bosses you are going for an interview as it creates bad feeling if you don’t get the job or decide not to take it. However Anisha did not handle the news with sensitivity and just expected both Rex and Alastair to take it in their stride and be pleased for her. I don’t blame her for being ambitious and seizing an opportunity that suddenly came her way, if that’s the truth of it. However she came across as so wrapped up in her own excitement she hasn’t stopped to think about the massive impact on Rex and Alastair. Alastair may have taken it better at a different time but Anisha really should have had a proper meeting with him to discuss all the implications. She’s a partner not just a junior employee. I do hope Alastair doesn’t start gambling again or worse but I fear he will.
I agree Seasider, but then Anisha has not been portrayed as being sensitive to others feelings since she arrived in Ambridge.
I fear for Alistair, but hope that his justified anger will push him through the copious difficulties that he is presently suffering. I certainly do not want to see him leave Ambridge.
I'd like to think that Alistair will benefit in the long term from getting free of both women in his life. I know there are complex technicalities involved but perhaps the poetic licence will take over.
I’m not st all sure Neil is enjoying his job as manager of the pig unit. Once again it was really Susan who pushed him into it, relishing the thought of her Neil in a suit sitting in a posh Office. And of course, the extra salary that would be coming into the house, not that I blame her for that! Years ago she pushed him into being an animal feeds rep. and he absolutely hated it. You would have thought she would realise that Neil is happiest working hands on with his beloved pigs but her ambition blinds her to that, sadly. I truly wonder how long he will stay in this new job? Hannah would be only too happy to step into his shoes, Neil would be happier without so much responsibility - only Susan, and now Emma, Ed and possibly Chris would regret his resigning.
The Bechdel Test: two women talking about something else than a man - Alison Bechdel said on WH today that she's heard it has been mentioned in the Archers, I suppose she meant used/applied to the programme, the last time Lilian and Lynda talked it was not about men.
Hi, just caught up on last nights episode. Poor Neil! I’m surprised Anisha can just skip away from a partnership, I would assume they are jointly liable for the costs of the refurbishment and that Alistair is not obligated to buy her share back off her. I know there are cost sharing and equity sharing partnerships and I don’t know which of these the Vet practice is, but I would imagine it is down to Anisha to find someone who is acceptable to Alistair to buy her share from her. I feel sorry for Alistair and in his shoes I would probably lash out a bit too. I think Anisha has been pretty inconsiderate and high handed with both Alistair and Rex.
Welcome back KPnuts! I agree with your on the Anisha/Alistar partnership. How could she just skip out when she understood she was vital to the business and to recoup the investment. And will Rex change his mind about leaving Ambridge? Maybe, Anisha just wanted to make sure she had Rex all to herself without being reminded of Pip. Will Rex be a kept man, before he finds work?
Neil has not been working at Berrow Farm for that long. I like others, think that some slight cracks are starting to show. Can a suitable "Bank of Mum+Dad" already been saved? For me it is Susan just ponticating again, without knowing the true situation. If Alice suddenly becomes pregnant, this is theoretical only, could Susan also promise the same to Alice+Chris, for the new grand-child.
Archerphile and Mrs P. I agree with you. I too have never liked Anisha and like you was told it was because I was racist, not just by the unpleasant female blogger but JtA as well. For me it started when she 'cheated' in the drinking contest with Jazzer. Then she insisted on doing deals with Matt despite Alistair's repeated requests not to, finally bullying Alistair into admitting that he attended GA. It was said by some that she had a right to know as Alistair's habit may affect the business. Doesn't the same apply to her dumping this partnership? I would have thought that if one buys half a business it is up to you to sell that half. I think Alistair should just sell up the whole thing and return to his original idea of two years ago and work for the neighbouring Practice, collecting a salary each month! As for Rex - he has just started a new enterprise. Why should he abandon that just to fit in with her whims? What's to say she won't go off in a couple of years' time to Dubai or Saudi Arabia where horse racing/breeding is much bigger than in UK? As to the actress herself. She was a well established actress before she arrived on TA set. This character is another import by the penultimate director's penchant for 'properly trained actors' who may be 'good' in the role but will not be staying around for very long.
In addition her comment to Rex keeps echoing in my memory.
How utterly superior of her to tell Rex that he has never made ago of it in Ambridge adding, further to undermine him, that he has never found his niche, when Rex demurred ever so slightly.
Oh Spicy - am in total agreement with all you say about Anisha. I somehow doubt Rex will trail along behind her like a puppy dog - I think he will decide to stay on in Ambridge, with his pigs and his brother. I also think Josh’s words about Rex and Pip being good together will prove to be an accurate prediction for the future.
I was very unhappy with the way Davud spoke to Josh last night. Surely a father should be encouraging his son to build his business, not denigrating him and grumbling? After all, Golden Girl Pip has been given Rickyard Cottage and an asssured career on the farm, whilst Josh is admonished for using the farm to pursue his career. Any caring father would sit down with Josh to see how he could help his son, give him good advice and, if really necessary negotiate a fee for hiring space to store his vehicles and using farm equipment. All David does is complain and use Rex and T❤️O❤️B❤️Y as examples of rent paying tennants of Brookfield land. Josh is his son for heaven’s sake, can’t David help him with a bit of free storage space and encourage him to build his career? Some father! God help Ben when his turn comes to make future plans.
You have a point, Archerphile; D. was nag, nag, nag, & Josh was actually far more diplomatic than is his wont. He's only in his early 20s, isn't he, & pretty enterprising - we understand he has had some success, after a dubious start. He does have some tasks on the farm, presumably gets paid Maybe, that situation could be formalised, so that a part of his wage would be deducted to allow him space for his machinery, & he would have to guarantee he'd do assigned tasks, punctually. At least, it's a wise contrast to Brian/Kate, where past & present indulgence has led to this 40+ yr. old woman becoming a monster of selfishness, irresponsibility & entitlement.
I find Josh far too cocky for my liking and I think he needs reining a bit. However I agree Archerphile that David could approach things differently and negotiate about where Josh has his work area rather than barking at him when Pip’s needs are indulged at every turn. If he is treated like a selfish teenager he will continue to behave like one as arguably Pip still does. I hope Rex decides to stay in Ambridge. We need some young people who are not “full of themselves”. However I don’t think he deserves either Anisha or Pip but someone lovely with a character like Nic or Hayley. I think Mrs P I you are right I can see the story heading the way of Pip and Rex getting together and maybe Pip will mature when she finds out what being a mother really means.
The answer to Josh's storage problem for his farm machinery enterprise is, get rid of Toby's gin enterprise. Then Josh can rent the barn and Rex will be on hand to do the painting thus keeping Rex in Ambridge. T👖O👖B👖Y can then shuffle off back to Brighton.
2018 is certainly the year for many big Birthdays in Ambridge. There is Pheobe - 20(today), Chis - 30(tomorrow), Ruth - 50, Shula + Kenton - 60. I am wondering what celebration will take place for Shula/Kenton. I suppose it will depend on Shula, and how her situation with Alistair is progressing. Perhaps this will be the Brookfield Family BBQ event. Whatever it is, there will not be a similar outcome, after Ruth's memorable 50th.
Another idea is that Elizabeth will provide a 60th do at Lower Loxley for Shula+Kenton, regardless of Lily+Freddie + their recent behavior, but it will be very low key + and Jolene will provide an alternative for Kenton.
I've only just listened to Tuesday's episode, though I'd got the gist of it through reading this blog. I feel justified in never having been keen on Anisha. The trick on Jazzer was so irresponsible. Alistair took her announcement far too personally, of course, but he has plenty to complain about. I so hope Rex doesn't go with her to Newmarket. I suspect she wants to take him along just to make moving to a new place easier, and will then decide he's not up to scratch and won't care where he goes or what he does.
Was it a bad move to depict two 'strong' women at their most unappealing in the same episode? I prefer Susan. She takes poor old Neil for granted, and assumes that her ambitions are also his, but she has got a heart (when she's not lapsing into caricature), which Anisha seems not to.
I spent last nght reading through lowfield synopses to remind myself of when Josh started his business enterprise. While Josh was doing his A levels (BTW he's 21 in September) Pip was coming and going, firstly pursuing Toby when the Fairbrethren came to Ambridge, then mooning over Matthew, declaring she wanted to spread her wings and so got a job as a technical consultant for an agricultural firm and stayed there three days! Then Ruth had her sulks and disappeared to New Zealand. Finally Pip said she wanted to stay at Brookfield and David told Josh that he would have to look to make his way elsewhere as the farm couldn't support four full time workers. When Pip was off here there and everywhere Josh discussed with Rex his ideas about farming at Brookfield and was really keen. When Josh told David that he decided to defer University for a year and see if he could develop his business and would help out on the farm when and where needed. David told him he wouldn't be paid but he could base his enterprise at Brookfield. So it seems that for the milking, lambing and general labouring Josh does (more now that Pip is preggers) is all unpaid but he is getting premises in lieu. A fact that David (or the scriptwriters) have conveniently forgotten! It's not surprising Josh wants to put his business first in the circumstances. David continually denigrates Josh yet lavishes praise and encouragement on Pip who equally continually lets them all down!
Spicycushion, Hear, hear. Josh is always being harangued to do something on the farm. Now he has to build a cot for the blessed Pip and the future coming of the Brookfield Messiah.
Here, here, here! You would think David would be proud of his son for finding a different, but allied, career on the farm after what he was told about there being no place for him. David seems completely blinkered about his wretched daughter but seems to have taken against his son, who, lets face it, could have left home and turned into a drop-out, ne’er do well druggie with criminal tendencies, rather than a hard working lad, keen to make a business. Shame on him as a parent. By the way, we don’t seem to hear much about Ruth’s attitude to Josh recently. Perhaps she is too involved in baby business and forgotten she has two sons.
Archerphile. Ruth did drop his name into the Fete animal conversation saying he wanted to look after the animals. At least he won't be stuck in his bedroom for the day.
Perhaps they were preparing the way for Ben’s introduction to the airwaves - I wonder what he will sound like and what sort of accent he will have when he finally does speak? 🤔
Kate Kate Kate - what a lot of rubbish. She'll turned everything upside down to save a business that is not profitable. Freddie should have been arrested already along with Ellis for dealing. If Lily really cared, she would have told Elizabeth already.
Agree about Kate. She was given the land for free, presumably pays no rent, has been accommodated in the house so she can rent out her cottage which she was again given and now wants them to give up the family home for a very shaky business.
I'm glad that Lily is finally acting like a grown up and prepared to do anything to rescue her brother, she's probably worked it out that her affair with Russ is over. As far as we know Kate doesn't pay anything towards the farm and land use and she didn't set up the business with her own money, she lives rent free in a house provided by her parents. I haven't read the agreement though, it's not very sound. How did she pay the solicitor's fees and as Jennifer said, where did she find the money for Phoebe's ticket?
Go Kate! That was impressively coolly played. Why hasn't your domineering father thought to offer you another site for the yurts - as someone here suggested? Time someone stopped him in his tracks and clearly none of the rest of your family have the guts to do so.
Good luck Anisha! I think you've got Rex F taped. He followed you tamely to Glasgow leaving his business to founder, so why not Newmarket? You are right - he has no real career prospects in Ambridge. The only personal initiative he has shown was asking David for work (and getting turned down) and going for the taxi job.Everything else has been down to his brother or Josh. The mystery is what attracts you to such a nice-but-dimwit.
Hannah has obviously been created to fill the 'go ahead young career woman' void left by your departure but I will miss you. Perhaps she will take over the Blossom Hill Cottage tenancy and Rex too if he stays.
I bet Russ was going to Aberystwyth on a conference and decided to take Lily along with him, rather than his wife. I am sad to say, that my dis-like of Kate, has gone up another notch tonight. She wants to make her parents "homeless" from their family home, where she is still living rent free, and being waited on hand + foot. I wish I could give her a real piece of my mind.
Does Kate not realise making her parents homeless makes her homeless too?? Where will she live?? In a Yurt?? Don't think she has really thought this through fully I'm afraid.
Phoenix - but why would anyone be made homeless? All they have to do is sell the farmhouse and buy a smaller, cheaper property with the proceeds while retaining the cottages. Or, for a longer-term and hopefully financially doable solution, convert it back to the flats it was when Brian bought Home Farm and sell/rent all or any of them. It's taken Kate to point out what Brian and Adam hadn't twigged - that Home Farm has disposable assets other than land, i.e. bricks and mortar - as Ruth sensibly endorsed. Nothing to do with farming knowledge, just basic business acumen. Brian's melodramatic comment about being made homeless was, as she said, emotional, and nauseating too, I thought.
No, Ruth, it's not 'worth discussing', it really isn't. Why should Brian & Jennifer give up their home ? It's been convenient for Kate to dump herself there, whenever she messes up elsewhere. Still, a lively 13 minutes or so tonight....
If Kate had funded her own Bussiness then she would have every right to fight for it - though not at the expense of both her childhood and current home. Ruth seems to think that is worth considering... (yet she was thrilled enough not to lose Brookfield when it came to it) Guess Kate truly is her dads daughter! Although of the two I prefer Brian. There were 8? characters in tonight's episode!
Kate has (since I've been listening) been set up as an extremely silly person, with equally silly ideas and now she is being presented as an astute business woman. Her business was going down hill before the contamination, and she has clearly been neglecting the maintenance and cleanliness of the yurts. Hence Jenifer's and Pheobe's input. Kate is biting the hands that continue to feed her, my advice is Get A Proper Job, just like your sister. Brian needs to check the legality of the partnership. He and Jenifer should stop indulging their blackmailing daughter.
That said, why not be equally preposterous, indulge in some lateral thinking (or, if preferred, call it idle nonsense) ? Say Brian dissolves the partnership, dunno if he can, disinherits Kate, sends her packing together with the yurts, comes to a fair agreement with the rest of the family, everyone's present & future security covered...
Home Farm is an estate in reality. Surely to goodness somewhere on their acres a new site could be found for annoying Kate and her hurts so the old site can be sold off. How can Ruth be acting in Ruiari's best interests by agreeing to selling off his home?
Good morning. Hope you like the “new” look of our blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruthy. It threw me a bit but yes, think it’s great. Lovely photo as usual.
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly, I just want to slap Kate and tell her to grow up. If she hates what’s going on so much she should shove off back to SAfrica. In fact, take ruddy Shula with her.
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Delete👍👏 PTBY
DeleteGreat new look, lovely pics - you triumph again, Ruthy !
ReplyDeleteThoughts on last night already on the closed blog; have no comment on the rest, except noting a) Neil knows how to be firm when needed ( Bell ringing training) b)it looks like the impasse between Usha & Shula is to be revived; perhaps the muddle that is the latter's life these days may make her reflect, with regret, on the way she reacted to the Alan/Usha Union...
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DeleteLovely picture Ruthy.
ReplyDeleteMay we know where it is ?
It was taken last year when we visited San Sebastián.
DeleteRuthy, thanks, I like the new format, although I was initially a bit flummoxed.
DeleteIs that San Sebastián Spain?
Kate was downright dangerous with her hot stones, I could actually feel her pressing down on Usha as she became more and more angry about her circumstances. Perhaps Usha recommended legal advice in order to get away, before she ended up requiring medical assistance for sever burns or brain damage from the massage. As I recall it was Brian who funded her 'alternative' project, plus yurts etc, and she removed some of the furniture from the main house. So, I suppose in theory she doesn't own anything, and more money will be required to pay legal bills.
Proud to be Yourshire, please don't send her to S. Africa she was the only entertaining character in last nights episode.
That's how I remember it, too, Stasia. Has she ever had a job, a training, or has she always sponged off parents or ex in SA, produced children which she then doesn't mother ?
DeleteKate has a degree from the Felpersham University in Ecology/Environment?
DeleteWhich was presumably Felpersham College of Technology before being upgraded to Felpersham Polytechnic.
DeleteThanks for info, Basia. Doesn't appear to have done anything with said degree.
DeleteI love this new look Ruthy, so much clearer to read and what a lovely photo at the top.
ReplyDeleteAfraid I have reached the end of my tether with Kate. She really has become a hateful character, almost a caricature of herself, in fact. I find I just want to switch off when I hear her voice and like PtbYorkshire, I wish she would clear off to SA and annoy her other family!
However, I expect the SWs want to prolong the agony for Brian and his Home Farm plans so we will probably be stuck with her for a while yet.
I like this very smart new blog, Ruthy, thanks very much. I think the next development will be that Kate will start to investigate the possibility of taking the Home Farm partnership to court over the fact that her share can't be sold to another family member, and that that will uncover the complete can of worms that Brian has been holding back on, thereby stirring up even more trouble for the Aldridge family. Only time - and the next few episodes - will tell . . .
ReplyDeleteBasia, my book states that Kate started a degree in environmental studies at Felpersham university, but did she ever complete? According to my old book, she was expelled from CLC and did badly in her GCSEs, then whenever the going got tough her response to stress was to pack her bags and take off.
ReplyDeleteThe way I remember is that was how Kate made a comeback by starting her degree as to the outcome, don't know. She must have been the first and only? vegetarian, a vegan now, in Ambridge and Phoebe was baptised during a spiritual ceremony on Lakey Hill.
DeleteAs Brian pointed out, Kate didn't read the small print of the partnership and the details of "leaving" - Brians "Brexit"!
ReplyDeleteWill she have a case, as I thought that ignorance was not a valid claim. Perhaps she will find a "no win, no fee" soliciter, as I cannot understand how she will pay legal fees. She could also become liable for the Home Farm Partnership costs if things don't work out. It's a risky path that she is starting to persue.
Love the new lay-out Ruthy, though I did think that I had logged into the wrong site, for a split second.
Yes, Kate did start that degree course, having persuaded Brian and Jenny to pay for it, so that she had the excuse to stay in England and not go back to SA for some time. She had a whale of a time socialising with the other, much younger students but I don’t think she ever actually did much studying! I think I remember that she was hauled over the coals for not completing sufficient work and either was asked to leave the course, or decided for herself to quit. Brian was not pleased about laying out the course fees for nothing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Archerphile. On another note, I reckon that Shula is avoiding Usha because having contributed to her break up with Richard she now feels awkward getting divorced while Usha is happily married.
ReplyDeleteThat was a long while ago. I just think Shula is a tad bit anxious in joining in with normal Ambridge events, due to questions + gossip about her "marriage" situation. Shula needs some friends.
DeleteToo add, Alistair is expecting her to buy him out of The Stables, the house. How will she afford it - and isn't the Vetinary Practice on the same land, so I wonder what this will mean.
DeleteAgree with all said regarding Kate.
ReplyDeleteThe Therapist from Hell !
I too felt the physical ramifications of Kate's angry outburst on Ushas body.
Whatever she chooses to do about the loss of Spiritual Home, I doubt she will best Brian.
Yes I too prefer this clearer and brighter format.
Thank you Ruthy !
Just a thought, after listening to the Omnibus.... I’ve never been to any sort of health spa but if those massage stones were so hot that they almost burnt Usha, how come Kate didn’t burn her hands too - or would she have been wearing some sort of gloves?
ReplyDeletePerhaps it was Kate’s anger that was red hot and burning Usha.
DeleteI am getting rather leery on recent representation of women such as Kate, Shula, Elizabeth, Lily, Alice, etc, are being portrait as week, indecisive, poor decision making women. The women who are commenting on this blog show more strength than many of these women on the current Archers. I do hope that new script writers will do better.
ReplyDeleteRuthy: FOSO would have had a few words to say on this subject too!!😕
DeleteP.S. I hope you meant weary!!😀
DeleteI miss FOSO
DeleteWish he hadn't move on
Me too, MrsP. He was a valued contributor.
DeleteBack to Ruthy. Some of the women have gone a bit weak. I'm particularly perturbed by Pat, who was one of my favourite characters.
So Justin and Lillian are back with a bang. Poor old Pat. Here is another battle to fight.
ReplyDeleteCan’t someone please tell Helen that she’s such a drip that people don’t want to learn how to make cheese when they can buy it cheaper at a supermarket. Just who has the time to make their own cheese nowadays!!
Slight mention of the dreaded Lexi, 5 weeks till the next vomit making surrogate bit.
I am totally sick of hearing about spiritual home too. Let’s face it.....Kate’s got a big tent in a field with a massage table in it. Full stop!!!
Hope we get a lot of wind and that it blows away with Kate clinging on for dear life.
Right....thank you.....rant finished
At the Yursts are still intact, and have not been damaged as the bouncy castle was. How will she pay her share, to Kenton - free massages?
DeleteCheese making courses do have a following rather like breadmaking courses, neither of which you need, just a good book.
DeleteCheese making kits also being available, a 5 minute wonder, as cheese making takes a long time, as you need to do and leave several times.
Supermarket cheese is far inferior to the artisan cheeses. So Helen isn't wrong, just as you say a drip and no business sense. If you book you pay.
Should read... At least the Yursts.....
DeleteHelen needs to branch out to other cooking classes. In New Jersey I have noticed cooking classes , wine and painting classes, basic knife skills, bread making, wine tasting and so on. I just can’t see how many people in a small town will be interested in cheese making.
ReplyDeleteI am cheering for Pat. I can’t believe Lilian can’t care less. I thought there was an agreed number of low income houses to get the construction permit. That’s how it works in New Jersey.
And that's how it's supposed to be here Ruthy.
DeleteBut it frequently happens that some deal or other is done to undermine the original contract.
And it's always about profit.
I agree with Cowgirl regarding requiring clients to pay a cancellation fee for cancelling, specially at the last minute. Isn't that common business practice?
ReplyDeleteRegarding Lilian, I can believe that she couldn't care less about affordable housing. As long as she's comfortable with a well-off partner all's well with the world to her.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBLOG update.
ReplyDeleteMy letter to Tony Hall was treated as a complaint, standard Archer response.
I am still waiting for a response from the Executive complaints department, the 20 days is up tomorrow,35 days if they consider it more complex !!!
I would have thought it fairly straight forward as LanJan has already been at this stage. Will keep you posted.
Proud t b Yorkshire (24th, 8.21pm) empathise with your 'rant' ! Especially about Kate. She couldn't even help J. & P. With the sprucing up of this bedraggled enterprise - which she should have been on top of, anyway. I suppose she was consulting the solicitor recommended by Usha (who didn't even notice the poor state of the yurt, apparently - probably because she was being painfully fried at the time)
ReplyDeleteAs well as being a pain in the neck, I think Kate is a tart! She deliberately rubbed Pip’s nose in it when telling of her dalliance withToby. What a nasty piece of work!
ReplyDeleteYes I agree too!
DeleteI have completely forgotten to say that I have noticed a smidgen of humour creeping back into the Archers' scripts lately, and in particular, the pets talent competition for the fete - I really enjoyed the mention of all the outlandish pets that are being trained for the great day, which should prove entertaining when it rolls around. Just so long as it doesn't end up as a shrieking competition between Lynda and Lilian who I am finding just a little trying at the moment.
ReplyDeleteYes, me too
DeleteI am getting really annoyed with Jennifer’s voice when speaking to her children. Those sickly sweet ‘Oh daarling’ tones sound as if she is speaking to a toddler rather than a 39 or 40 year old! She was doing it to everyone at Ruth’s party too, I preferred her when she was being cross with Brian, sounded more realistic to me.
ReplyDeleteIt's a forty year habit now I suppose.
DeleteUnlikely to stop, but agree absolutely.
Maybe the problem with Spiritual Home is not the contamination, but the state of the yurts.
ReplyDeleteHas Kate ever bothered to read any reviews on Trip Advisor, if she did she might find comments on the condition of th interior and the level of cleanliness. Sounded like Jenifer and Pheobe were having to do a lot of domestic work.
Clients can be ruthless in their feedback, even posting pictures on line.
Archerphile. I so like your post 9.23am and I understand your meaning + plus the reply from Archerphile. My late Mother did exactly the same, treating self + my two sisters as if we were still "children", telling us what to do. She forgot that we all had very intensive, managerial jobs, we were still her little girls.
ReplyDeleteJennifer + Brian (plus Pat + Tony) are doing the same, in that they have to see, how their children have progressed, and are very capable to move things forward in this modern, technological age.
I am miles behind.
Meant the reply to Archerphie from Mrs.P. at 11.08am.
DeleteI don't know why the weather is ever mentioned in The Archers.
ReplyDeleteThe whole Country is experiencing the hottest ,sunniest day so far this year and Ambrdge has rain!
My thoughts exactly, Lanjan. Surely they could have had an interchangeable bit about it being hot and dry that they could use instead.
DeleteWell apart from the mis directed weather, did any one else feel that
DeleteA: we might have a new SWriter... and
B: that person might be reading this blog, or indeed be one of us.
They must have had an interchangeable bit yesterday about the football.
DeleteA few years ago Tony made an observation about the Ambridge microclimate. It was funny, but you can push a joke too far!
DeleteGood point Zoetrope! I was surprised to hear the win mentioned but I don’t think they commented on the score being an amazing 6-1. I expect they made two recordings , one for a win and one for loosing - then just played the appropriate recording.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you are right in what you say .Zoetrope about interchangeable recordings.
DeleteI suppose an alternative would be '
"Did you watch the football ?"
"No butI don't want to know what happened because I am going to watch it on Catchup"
(They could only use that once though)
Wonder if they have done the same for all the possible England matches, including triumphant scenes in The Bull, should England eventually win the Workd Cup?
DeletePresumably they couldn’t ignore such an occasion, as they did the recent Royal Wedding.
Jazzer remembering when he was in love with Fallon, even hiring a limousine. Fallon didn't listen to 'Plastic fantastic' on radio 4, a good and durable material we do not treat with care.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why David was in a rush to make a cot/crib, and then admonishing Josh for not helping. Pip, only the other day, instructed Toby to collect clothes and a Moses basket she had found on line. Couldn't they just buy a cot? Like normal people!!
ReplyDeleteA plastic free grocery type shop has recently opened in Birmingham. I thought there was a hint of sarcasm in Jazzer's remark about a "plastic wedding".
I have nothing to complain about plastic that can be re-used many times. I just do not like the "single" plastics, - use once then throw away, and non recycleable.
DeleteFallon is going a bit OTT. I use bio-degradable bin liners.
PS Where a family member lives in Shropshire, they are now being charged for a 2nd garden refuse bin. They have a large compost bin, but still need 2 others. The argument is being charged for re-cycling garden waste, when bin2 is emptied at the same time, by the same lorry on the same day, as bin1.
DeleteI don't think Ambridge has these problems, as I have never heard of a garden recycle bin - I am thunking about cottages, such as.Blossom Hill, April, Woodbine, Glebe, Honeysuckle etc.
I think it's usual to have a contract with the local council for garden waste and costs are dependent on how many containers required.
DeleteI take what I cannot compost to the dump, waiting until I have several sacks to fill the back of the car.
Plastic free wedding, yes Jazzer was sarcastic and making a point that women he likes marry someone else.
DeleteStasia, how abnormal does one have to be to have made and then cherish a simple home made wooden crib.
ReplyDeleteI was delighted to receive mine from a friend who had made it for my first.
It has been used for my two, my daughters three, and I rather hope that any great grandchildren will be using it also in due course.
In between generations it is used to display indoor plants.
I would hate to see any baby close to me in the plastic abominations that most of today's, presumably normal, babies are subjected to.
And don't get me started on today's so called proms.
' prams ' of course !
ReplyDeleteIt will be the Proms soon, could one take a pram to a promenade concert?
DeleteWell ,didn't we see that coming?
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that the actress playing Anisha has other work and won't be wanting to continue with the programme.
What a selfish person she has been- Anisha not the actress.
She makes Alastair buy expensive equipment etc.
,has loads of time off because of her mother's illness and now when he needs her she scarpers.
How did she even get an interview without a reference from her partner.?
I hope that she doesn't take Rex with her.
Poor Neil! He didn't see that coming either, Susan is very free with his money & obviously she has it all worked out without a word to her poor husband. If it does go all wrong with his job she will look very silly indeed. Thought Anisha was with family not gadding off with friends & applying for another job. She said the offer of a partnership doesn't come up very often...really?? That's what she has with Alistair doesn't she?? & now this one. A lot of changes all of a sudden.
ReplyDeleteOh, Alistair, don't take all your pent up feelings of being abandoned & rejected out on Anisha, who has every right to further her career. Besides, you sounded so petulant & self pitying.
ReplyDeleteSo, don't agree with you on this, Lanjan. Her partnership & ideas have benefited the vet practice no end, as we are led to believe, & the 'expensive equipment has brought the whole business up to date, more efficient & competitive. She didn't expect to get this job, told him as soon as she could, not dithering on for months & months as Shula did about their marriage, making his life unpleasant & confusing. He admitted A. Had been a rock during his personal crisis, there need be no doubt she was sincere, &, no, it shouldn't be impossible to find another partner in a thriving concern.
However, I think she was being unrealistic about somewhat under qualified Rex making good in Newmarket, & pretty self serving, too.
Agree Lanjan. I don't think Rex will go, he's attached to Pip.
ReplyDeleteNeil was right to remind Susan not to count the chickens...
I'm not surprised he's having difficulties with Hannah, she has a very forceful personality.
Oh, I do hope, if he doesn't go in the end, it's because he's unambitious, unadventurous, not because of Pip ! What a ghastly prospect...
ReplyDelete.On the other hand, he's no match for Anisha; he & Pip would make, yawn, a fairly standard Ambridge young couple.
I'm worried about Alistair's mental health. I hope he doesn't sink into depression, or worse.
ReplyDeleteOK, am I now allowed to say - without being accused of being racist - how much I have come to dislike and distrust Anisha? Whenever I dared speak about her on the old BBC blogs I was admonished by that blogger who provoked so many arguments.
ReplyDeleteLanJan has listed some of the things Anisha has done since being in Ambridge - and I have onever forgotten the nasty ‘joke’ she played on Jazzer not long after arriving.
She virtually insisted on all those alterations to the surgery in order to attract more equine business but will now leave Alistair without an equine specialist. There were all the shenanigans with Matt and she seems to Have been absent from the practice for prolonged periods.
Now, when she knows Alistair is at his lowest she goes for an interview without having the decency to warn him first and wants out of the partnership - expecting Alistair to cough up the money and be grateful to be a sole partner again.
And Rex, just expected to trot along behind her to Newmarket and try to find some sort of job there!
As already said, I too assume the actress no longer wants to be in TA, but couldn’t the producer have found a sound-alike actress to fill the part rather than banish the character altogether?
I am furious with the way this character has been used, bought in as a bright and excitingly different new addition to the village and then mucked about with until eventuallly discarded with a cooked up story! ��
I agree absolutely with all that Archerphile says about Anisha.
DeleteNevertheless she has been a refreshing addition to the cast.
It has seemed that the actresses burgeoning career has inhibited her contribution towards the character and Noe the best option is to leave the cast.
We were told some weeks ago, by an ' insider' ( cannot remember details ) that two member of cast were leaving.
Clearly Anisha is one of them.
I hope Rex stays. And yes I still hope for a Pip and Rex coupling.
I also think that Anisha has acted in a very self-centred way and quite underhanded, sneaking off for an interview without alerting Alistair that she was looking elsewhere. Poor Alistair, double whammy. I also hope he doesn't descend into depression and give up on his life. Anisha was so confident that Rex would follow her too and he obliged.
ReplyDeleteSusan presumes too much as far as Neil is concerned but I suppose she always has.
Add Anisha to my list of women that is being portrait very negatively.
ReplyDeleteI agree Ruthy, but have some sympathy for the SW team, who have been put in a very difficult position I would think, with an actress whose career seems to have become very quickly elevated.
DeleteI do think that they have been fairly adroit with managing her many absences.
Let's hope Alistair ensured that Anisha was jointly liable for the loan to enhance the vets premises or at least in a private amount to her partnership equity. She will then have less or no equity to take out ie for Al to buy her out. Hoping but not confident he did.
ReplyDeleteAnisha is a flippertigibbet!
Predictive text should be pro rata....
ReplyDeleteSeem to be the lone voice in justifying Anisha ! Oh, well. It's not that I think Alistair has no reason to react as he did - he is hard pressed, struggling in every way, there's plenty of excuses, but I hope he isn't so far gone as not to reflect on the personal accusations he made, not helpful, & can focus on the practicalities of breaking up the partnership.
ReplyDelete✔️
DeleteAmbition was the theme in last nights episode. Anisha young and ambitious, and Neil having his forced on him by his ambitious Susan.
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with Anisha taking her specialism to a place where she can practise what she loves? Being a vet in Ambridge would only stifle her professional progress, small animal work with the Hilda Odgens, and dogs like Ruby and Monty is clearly not in her career trajectory.
Sounds like Hannah is ambitious for Neil's job, and if he dithers whilst Susan magnanimously give away money he hasn't yet earned, he could find himself without said job.
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DeleteNot a lone voice, then, Stasia ! Agree about the theme, AND with you & others about Susan spending Neil's salary prematurely. Not sure re Hannah - could just be that Neil has much to learn about the tougher aspects of management skills.
ReplyDelete✔️
DeleteIf Rex goes to Newmarket then maybe Neil will give up the managerial job he is not happy in and go back to looking after his own pigs.
ReplyDeleteHopefully self centred thoughtless Anisha will help Alastair find another equine vet, and someone to buy her share of the practice, before he crumbles under the pressures he is under.
I think it’s usual not to tell work colleagues and bosses you are going for an interview as it creates bad feeling if you don’t get the job or decide not to take it. However Anisha did not handle the news with sensitivity and just expected both Rex and Alastair to take it in their stride and be pleased for her. I don’t blame her for being ambitious and seizing an opportunity that suddenly came her way, if that’s the truth of it. However she came across as so wrapped up in her own excitement she hasn’t stopped to think about the massive impact on Rex and Alastair. Alastair may have taken it better at a different time but Anisha really should have had a proper meeting with him to discuss all the implications. She’s a partner not just a junior employee.
ReplyDeleteI do hope Alastair doesn’t start gambling again or worse but I fear he will.
I agree Seasider, but then Anisha has not been portrayed as being sensitive to others feelings since she arrived in Ambridge.
DeleteI fear for Alistair, but hope that his justified anger will push him through the copious difficulties that he is presently suffering.
I certainly do not want to see him leave Ambridge.
I'd like to think that Alistair will benefit in the long term from getting free of both women in his life.
ReplyDeleteI know there are complex technicalities involved but perhaps the poetic licence will take over.
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DeleteI’m not st all sure Neil is enjoying his job as manager of the pig unit. Once again it was really Susan who pushed him into it, relishing the thought of her Neil in a suit sitting in a posh Office. And of course, the extra salary that would be coming into the house, not that I blame her for that!
ReplyDeleteYears ago she pushed him into being an animal feeds rep. and he absolutely hated it. You would have thought she would realise that Neil is happiest working hands on with his beloved pigs but her ambition blinds her to that, sadly.
I truly wonder how long he will stay in this new job? Hannah would be only too happy to step into his shoes, Neil would be happier without so much responsibility - only Susan, and now Emma, Ed and possibly Chris would regret his resigning.
The Bechdel Test: two women talking about something else than a man - Alison Bechdel said on WH today that she's heard it has been mentioned in the Archers, I suppose she meant used/applied to the programme, the last time Lilian and Lynda talked it was not about men.
ReplyDeleteWell thank you Basia, I was racking my brains to understand her statement, since I had not heard the reference.
DeleteHi, just caught up on last nights episode. Poor Neil!
ReplyDeleteI’m surprised Anisha can just skip away from a partnership, I would assume they are jointly liable for the costs of the refurbishment and that Alistair is not obligated to buy her share back off her. I know there are cost sharing and equity sharing partnerships and I don’t know which of these the Vet practice is, but I would imagine it is down to Anisha to find someone who is acceptable to Alistair to buy her share from her.
I feel sorry for Alistair and in his shoes I would probably lash out a bit too. I think Anisha has been pretty inconsiderate and high handed with both Alistair and Rex.
Such a good post, and I personally agree in its entirity.
DeleteWelcome to this friendly blog.
Hey KP! Good to see your name again, agree with your comments 100%.👏
DeleteWelcome back KPnuts! I agree with your on the Anisha/Alistar partnership. How could she just skip out when she understood she was vital to the business and to recoup the investment. And will Rex change his mind about leaving Ambridge? Maybe, Anisha just wanted to make sure she had Rex all to herself without being reminded of Pip. Will Rex be a kept man, before he finds work?
ReplyDeleteNeil has not been working at Berrow Farm for that long. I like others, think that some slight cracks are starting to show.
ReplyDeleteCan a suitable "Bank of Mum+Dad" already been saved? For me it is Susan just ponticating again, without knowing the true situation.
If Alice suddenly becomes pregnant, this is theoretical only, could Susan also promise the same to Alice+Chris, for the new grand-child.
typo...
DeleteThis should read pontificating....but I am sure that the gist guessed.
Archerphile and Mrs P. I agree with you. I too have never liked Anisha and like you was told it was because I was racist, not just by the unpleasant female blogger but JtA as well. For me it started when she 'cheated' in the drinking contest with Jazzer. Then she insisted on doing deals with Matt despite Alistair's repeated requests not to, finally bullying Alistair into admitting that he attended GA. It was said by some that she had a right to know as Alistair's habit may affect the business. Doesn't the same apply to her dumping this partnership? I would have thought that if one buys half a business it is up to you to sell that half. I think Alistair should just sell up the whole thing and return to his original idea of two years ago and work for the neighbouring Practice, collecting a salary each month!
ReplyDeleteAs for Rex - he has just started a new enterprise. Why should he abandon that just to fit in with her whims? What's to say she won't go off in a couple of years' time to Dubai or Saudi Arabia where horse racing/breeding is much bigger than in UK?
As to the actress herself. She was a well established actress before she arrived on TA set. This character is another import by the penultimate director's penchant for 'properly trained actors' who may be 'good' in the role but will not be staying around for very long.
In addition her comment to Rex keeps echoing in my memory.
DeleteHow utterly superior of her to tell Rex that he has never made ago of it in Ambridge adding, further to undermine him, that he has never found his niche, when Rex demurred ever so slightly.
Oh Spicy - am in total agreement with all you say about Anisha.
ReplyDeleteI somehow doubt Rex will trail along behind her like a puppy dog - I think he will decide to stay on in Ambridge, with his pigs and his brother. I also think Josh’s words about Rex and Pip being good together will prove to be an accurate prediction for the future.
I was very unhappy with the way Davud spoke to Josh last night. Surely a father should be encouraging his son to build his business, not denigrating him and grumbling? After all, Golden Girl Pip has been given Rickyard Cottage and an asssured career on the farm, whilst Josh is admonished for using the farm to pursue his career. Any caring father would sit down with Josh to see how he could help his son, give him good advice and, if really necessary negotiate a fee for hiring space to store his vehicles and using farm equipment. All David does is complain and use Rex and T❤️O❤️B❤️Y as examples of rent paying tennants of Brookfield land. Josh is his son for heaven’s sake, can’t David help him with a bit of free storage space and encourage him to build his career? Some father! God help Ben when his turn comes to make future plans.
ReplyDeleteYou have a point, Archerphile; D. was nag, nag, nag, & Josh was actually far more diplomatic than is his wont. He's only in his early 20s, isn't he, & pretty enterprising - we understand he has had some success, after a dubious start. He does have some tasks on the farm, presumably gets paid
ReplyDeleteMaybe, that situation could be formalised, so that a part of his wage would be deducted to allow him space for his machinery, & he would have to guarantee he'd do assigned tasks, punctually.
At least, it's a wise contrast to Brian/Kate, where past & present indulgence has led to this 40+ yr. old woman becoming a monster of selfishness, irresponsibility & entitlement.
I find Josh far too cocky for my liking and I think he needs reining a bit. However I agree Archerphile that David could approach things differently and negotiate about where Josh has his work area rather than barking at him when Pip’s needs are indulged at every turn. If he is treated like a selfish teenager he will continue to behave like one as arguably Pip still does.
ReplyDeleteI hope Rex decides to stay in Ambridge. We need some young people who are not “full of themselves”. However I don’t think he deserves either Anisha or Pip but someone lovely with a character like Nic or Hayley. I think Mrs P I you are right I can see the story heading the way of Pip and Rex getting together and maybe Pip will mature when she finds out what being a mother really means.
The answer to Josh's storage problem for his farm machinery enterprise is, get rid of Toby's gin enterprise. Then Josh can rent the barn and Rex will be on hand to do the painting thus keeping Rex in Ambridge.
ReplyDeleteT👖O👖B👖Y can then shuffle off back to Brighton.
Somehow, I don’t think Maryellen would like that idea very much!
Delete!! :) :)
ReplyDelete2018 is certainly the year for many big Birthdays in Ambridge.
ReplyDeleteThere is Pheobe - 20(today), Chis - 30(tomorrow), Ruth - 50, Shula + Kenton - 60.
I am wondering what celebration will take place for Shula/Kenton. I suppose it will depend on Shula, and how her situation with Alistair is progressing.
Perhaps this will be the Brookfield Family BBQ event. Whatever it is, there will not be a similar outcome, after Ruth's memorable 50th.
Another idea is that Elizabeth will provide a 60th do at Lower Loxley for Shula+Kenton, regardless of Lily+Freddie + their recent behavior, but it will be very low key + and Jolene will provide an alternative for Kenton.
DeleteI've only just listened to Tuesday's episode, though I'd got the gist of it through reading this blog. I feel justified in never having been keen on Anisha. The trick on Jazzer was so irresponsible. Alistair took her announcement far too personally, of course, but he has plenty to complain about. I so hope Rex doesn't go with her to Newmarket. I suspect she wants to take him along just to make moving to a new place easier, and will then decide he's not up to scratch and won't care where he goes or what he does.
ReplyDeleteWas it a bad move to depict two 'strong' women at their most unappealing in the same episode? I prefer Susan. She takes poor old Neil for granted, and assumes that her ambitions are also his, but she has got a heart (when she's not lapsing into caricature), which Anisha seems not to.
All of which has been said above, of course.
Nice to read that someone else has the same thoughts, bootgums.
DeleteI spent last nght reading through lowfield synopses to remind myself of when Josh started his business enterprise. While Josh was doing his A levels (BTW he's 21 in September) Pip was coming and going, firstly pursuing Toby when the Fairbrethren came to Ambridge, then mooning over Matthew, declaring she wanted to spread her wings and so got a job as a technical consultant for an agricultural firm and stayed there three days! Then Ruth had her sulks and disappeared to New Zealand. Finally Pip said she wanted to stay at Brookfield and David told Josh that he would have to look to make his way elsewhere as the farm couldn't support four full time workers. When Pip was off here there and everywhere Josh discussed with Rex his ideas about farming at Brookfield and was really keen.
ReplyDeleteWhen Josh told David that he decided to defer University for a year and see if he could develop his business and would help out on the farm when and where needed. David told him he wouldn't be paid but he could base his enterprise at Brookfield.
So it seems that for the milking, lambing and general labouring Josh does (more now that Pip is preggers) is all unpaid but he is getting premises in lieu. A fact that David (or the scriptwriters) have conveniently forgotten! It's not surprising Josh wants to put his business first in the circumstances.
David continually denigrates Josh yet lavishes praise and encouragement on Pip who equally continually lets them all down!
Spicycushion, Hear, hear. Josh is always being harangued to do something on the farm. Now he has to build a cot for the blessed Pip and the future coming of the Brookfield Messiah.
DeleteHere, here, here! You would think David would be proud of his son for finding a different, but allied, career on the farm after what he was told about there being no place for him. David seems completely blinkered about his wretched daughter but seems to have taken against his son, who, lets face it, could have left home and turned into a drop-out, ne’er do well druggie with criminal tendencies, rather than a hard working lad, keen to make a business.
DeleteShame on him as a parent. By the way, we don’t seem to hear much about Ruth’s attitude to Josh recently. Perhaps she is too involved in baby business and forgotten she has two sons.
Archerphile. Ruth did drop his name into the Fete animal conversation saying he wanted to look after the animals. At least he won't be stuck in his bedroom for the day.
DeletePerhaps they were preparing the way for Ben’s introduction to the airwaves - I wonder what he will sound like and what sort of accent he will have when he finally does speak? 🤔
DeleteKate Kate Kate - what a lot of rubbish. She'll turned everything upside down to save a business that is not profitable.
ReplyDeleteFreddie should have been arrested already along with Ellis for dealing. If Lily really cared, she would have told Elizabeth already.
Agree about Kate. She was given the land for free, presumably pays no rent, has been accommodated in the house so she can rent out her cottage which she was again given and now wants them to give up the family home for a very shaky business.
DeleteI'm glad that Lily is finally acting like a grown up and prepared to do anything to rescue her brother, she's probably worked it out that her affair with Russ is over.
ReplyDeleteAs far as we know Kate doesn't pay anything towards the farm and land use and she didn't set up the business with her own money, she lives rent free in a house provided by her parents. I haven't read the agreement though, it's not very sound. How did she pay the solicitor's fees and as Jennifer said, where did she find the money for Phoebe's ticket?
Daddy’s credit card. 💳💰
DeleteGo Kate! That was impressively coolly played. Why hasn't your domineering father thought to offer you another site for the yurts - as someone here suggested? Time someone stopped him in his tracks and clearly none of the rest of your family have the guts to do so.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Anisha! I think you've got Rex F taped. He followed you tamely to Glasgow leaving his business to founder, so why not Newmarket? You are right - he has no real career prospects in Ambridge. The only personal initiative he has shown was asking David for work (and getting turned down) and going for the taxi job.Everything else has been down to his brother or Josh. The mystery is what attracts you to such a nice-but-dimwit.
Hannah has obviously been created to fill the 'go ahead young career woman' void left by your departure but I will miss you. Perhaps she will take over the Blossom Hill Cottage tenancy and Rex too if he stays.
I bet Russ was going to Aberystwyth on a conference and decided to take Lily along with him, rather than his wife.
ReplyDeleteI am sad to say, that my dis-like of Kate, has gone up another notch tonight. She wants to make her parents "homeless" from their family home, where she is still living rent free, and being waited on hand + foot. I wish I could give her a real piece of my mind.
Does Kate not realise making her parents homeless makes her homeless too?? Where will she live?? In a Yurt?? Don't think she has really thought this through fully I'm afraid.
DeletePhoenix - but why would anyone be made homeless? All they have to do is sell the farmhouse and buy a smaller, cheaper property with the proceeds while retaining the cottages. Or, for a longer-term and hopefully financially doable solution, convert it back to the flats it was when Brian bought Home Farm and sell/rent all or any of them. It's taken Kate to point out what Brian and Adam hadn't twigged - that Home Farm has disposable assets other than land, i.e. bricks and mortar - as Ruth sensibly endorsed. Nothing to do with farming knowledge, just basic business acumen. Brian's melodramatic comment about being made homeless was, as she said, emotional, and nauseating too, I thought.
DeleteNo, Ruth, it's not 'worth discussing', it really isn't. Why should Brian & Jennifer give up their home ? It's been convenient for Kate to dump herself there, whenever she messes up elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteStill, a lively 13 minutes or so tonight....
If Kate had funded her own Bussiness then she would have every right to fight for it - though not at the expense of both her childhood and current home. Ruth seems to think that is worth considering... (yet she was thrilled enough not to lose Brookfield when it came to it) Guess Kate truly is her dads daughter! Although of the two I prefer Brian.
ReplyDeleteThere were 8? characters in tonight's episode!
It's all a load of nonsense which ever way you may look at it.
DeleteHas anyone else noticed that ' Henry ' appears to have become ' Peter' in Home Front ?
Yes there were 8 for maximum impact. Why not get a mortgage on the house? But this is drama and as MrsP pointed out not worth getting het up about.
DeleteKate has (since I've been listening) been set up as an extremely silly person, with equally silly ideas and now she is being presented as an astute business woman. Her business was going down hill before the contamination, and she has clearly been neglecting the maintenance and cleanliness of the yurts. Hence Jenifer's and Pheobe's input.
DeleteKate is biting the hands that continue to feed her, my advice is Get A Proper Job, just like your sister.
Brian needs to check the legality of the partnership.
He and Jenifer should stop indulging their blackmailing daughter.
Ps. I agree with MrsP.
DeleteSo do I - it's now beyond rational discussion.
DeleteThat said, why not be equally preposterous, indulge in some lateral thinking (or, if preferred, call it idle nonsense) ? Say Brian dissolves the partnership, dunno if he can, disinherits Kate, sends her packing together with the yurts, comes to a fair agreement with the rest of the family, everyone's present & future security covered...
ReplyDeleteHere here Carolyn!
ReplyDeleteHome Farm is an estate in reality. Surely to goodness somewhere on their acres a new site could be found for annoying Kate and her hurts so the old site can be sold off. How can Ruth be acting in Ruiari's best interests by agreeing to selling off his home?
Yurts even!
ReplyDeleteAlthough knowing Kate hurts will do just as well.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful Freudian slip, S L !
DeleteThat predictive text is uncanny on occasion Carolyn!
DeleteKate doesn't need any help with hurts.
ReplyDeleteShe hurts herself with every move she makes, and has done so for thirty of her forty or so years.
So true Mrs P
DeleteGood morning Archer Fans. I opened a new post. Back to lighthouse.
ReplyDelete