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Life in Ambridge: Comments week of August 31, 2018
Life in Ambridge: Comments week of August 31, 2018
THIS POST IS CLOSED
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments' - Episode 8 Life Outside Ambridge Beach Chairs
Cowgirl are you still having fun doing school holiday duties looking after your nieces and nephews, or are you around to tell me if Ruthy's lovely picture is of a Kerry or Aberdeen Angus or maybe a Dexter or Welsh Black?
ReplyDeleteAberdeen Angus!
DeleteThanks! 😊
DeleteThanks for the new start Ruthy.
ReplyDeleteSo Henry was allowed to stay up to 4am playing computer games and then asked not to tell Mummy! Doesn’t sound like Henry’s sleepover did much to improve his discipline!
Bet he’ll be begging to spend more nights at Uncle Tom’s and causing uproar when he is refused. Problems ahead I fear.
Not much news of Jack to date - some personality traits should be emerging there.......
DeleteLove the handsome A. Angus, Ruthy ! Tribute to Tony Archer ?
ReplyDelete✔️
DeleteMorning all......
ReplyDeleteFab pic Ruthy .....especially good as a burger with all the trimmings 🤭
What Henry needs is sending off to boarding school or borstal, I don’t mind which, to become one of the silent children of Ambridge.
Helen needs to go on a kick up the bum parenting course cos she’s rubbish at it. Maybe a case of this modern parenting craze.....basically let your your kids run riot and don’t discipline them. Aargh....🤬
Echoed...know some who consider no a dirty word, the concept of boundaries completely alien. Still, wouldn't pack H. off, but get counselling/therapy whatever. C. Cheese, below, there was mention of this, but no follow up - now is the time.
DeleteWas there any mention of Henry having some sort of therapy after he had had been psychologically traumatised and then witnessing the stabbing? I wasn't tuning in at the time as I found listening to a child being abused too upsetting. He certainly seems to be having some sort of post traumatic symptoms which are not being addressed or he's got ADHD.
ReplyDeleteTom knows nothing about caring for a 7 year old and he’s the uncle so why wouldn’t he indulge Henry? CC - I was thinking the same that child therapy should have been provided. I think the family thought that providing a loving home would be adequate.
ReplyDeleteTom lived at Bridge Farm with Henry until he and Johnny moved out, and has been around Bridge Farm lots since, so I guess he knows a little about caring for Henry.
DeleteRuthy - handsome!
ReplyDeletePtbY - tasty, tasty, v v tasty ...!
Oh Parsley the Lion, one of my favourites, along with Bayleaf the Gardener, Lady Rosemary and Dill the Dog (I’m a dog named Dill)! I’m sure parsley16 will know what I’m talking about, even if none else does.
DeleteRuthy, are we now able to have a signature photo, as a couple seemed to have appeared recently. I remember they caused problems before and you asked us not to use them, but perhaps the teething troubles have been sorted?
The profile photo was causing problem when the post got to the "load more pages" stage or when a post got over 200 comments. If I can manage to start a new blog after each 200 comments then it will not be a problem. But when there are time I can't get to starting a new post, we should accept some of the text might be blocked. Yes, we can try photos again if that is the agreement from fellow bloggers.
Deleteherbidacious!
DeleteOn the strength of the above comment I've just added my own profile picture (MV Sarnia). I'm sure you'll agree I was a very handsome vessel in my time!
DeleteThe photos was intended to give a shout out to Tony, not for Angus burgers. I myself is a vegetarian so will not be eating the burger.
ReplyDeleteSo is my son. We have been debating the news that by 2021 there should be the first (affordable?) burgers grown from cells. Would you , and Anneveggie, consider eating them as long as it didn't involve the death of the animal. Some interesting times ahead of us I think.
DeleteMy son says only if they can do it without FBS. I didn't realise how they did it before.
DeleteFBS ?
DeletePlease.
Thanks Ruthy, handsome beasts.
And continued thanks for our blog, which after a few months is steadily growing in numbers of contributors.
Welcome ex Londoner. Have you been lurking or are you a complete newcomer? Good to have you with us, whichever.
Ex Londoner, Mrs P? I cannot see anyone of that name in any of the posts on my page. I wonder if there is a glitch in my copy of the blog?
DeleteMrs P it is foetal bovine serum. I had lovely airy fairy ideas of lab grown meat until I very recently realised they were using live foetuses from slaughtered cows to harvest blood cells which have growth hormones in. To me the way they do it is horrific. I think further research is being done to find a different humane way. One of the lovely things about this site is that it makes me ponder on things I normally wouldn't ! I would like to be vegetarian the same as my son, but every time I try I am undone by the smell of bacon!
DeleteI'll just keep to soy burgers etc. for now. The blood cells process sounds ghastly. I used to miss things like bacon Janice but that does pass and now I just think of the pig that's been slaughtered to make the bacon.
DeleteI've been vegetarian for nearly 30 years. The smell of bacon still pleases me, I confess, bit I don't feel any desire to put it in my mouth. Am I lucky/weird?
DeleteI don't dislike the smell either bootgums but also don't want to put it in my mouth. Maybe we're just well-adjusted instead of lucky/weird.
DeleteDon't tell Mummy. Now I wonder where Henry learnt that.
ReplyDeleteWell spotted...
Deleteo là là ..
DeleteGood point!
DeleteA lovely photo Ruthy.
ReplyDeleteI love both Aberdeen Angus + Herefordshire beef, both so succulent and tasty -BTW I am a true meat-eater, but eat I do try and eat vegetarian lunches (to keep the cholesterol down). Even though I have high blood pressure, I am lucky as I have not been prescribed a "statin".
As for Henry, his problems are appearing, but who will be able to help him? He so need's a father figure and I, personally think, Ian is the most obvious candidate. This might well change the ideas from surrogacy, to long-term fostering or adoption.
If there's some magic about the presence of an older male, Henry has his grandad, his uncle Tom, and his cousin Johnny. As well as Ian and Adam, and Jazzer. Could there be a lack of women in Henry's life?
DeleteArcherphile - well it was there, on the other blog, now it isn't.
ReplyDeleteObviously deleted.
It was an answer to FOSO i think, as to how to avoid scrolling when trying to find a post.
MrsP
Sarnia - very nice photo!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ruthy.
ReplyDeleteEx-Londoner, is still there on the previous blog and posts are not deleted. Have you done - load more?
ReplyDeleteJust a thought, as I can still see these posts and advice, which I will try.
Tom tries his best, but as an uncle to Henry, he should know, surely by now, how to look after him. Am I assuming too much.
Don't think you are, Miriam - one doesn't need to be a parent or child expert of some kind to know it isn't a great idea to allow 7yr olds to stay up until 4am.
DeleteTom didn't plan to let Henry stay up till 4 a.m. Children will try to get away with behaviour that they know their parents wouldn't tolerate.
DeleteI hope Russ left instead of going to the bathroom, I don't understand why he accepted the invitation in the first place. That Hannah is quite something - I don't like.
ReplyDelete✔️😡
DeleteI so don't trust Russ. As soon as he learnt that LL was in trust for Freddie - it was game over. Will his so-called "glowing" character reference for Freddie now be withdrawn?
ReplyDeleteI still think that there is more to be revealed about Russ, and his relationship with Ellis.
Wow!! Hannah is a nasty piece of work isn't she??! Elizabeth has woken up to reality of Lily & Russ with a bang. Will Freddy overhear Shula's end of conversation & report to Lily?? I think Russ went for a nosy round to see what else might be in the house! Prepare for fireworks all round!
ReplyDeleteI can see potential mind games going on, with Lizzie having to agree with Lily, along with her continuing passion/obssesion for Russ.
ReplyDeleteA type of emotional blackmail, could ensue, the downside being no character ref for Freddie. But would that make a difference, a drug dealer is just that.
Couldn't agree more with the adverse comments about Hannah. What a sharp tongue, thoroughly unpleasant, yet Tom just took it - I suppose he's still a bit besotted, as well as hankering after Natasha.All he needs now is a woman who decides to become a surrogate womb, & he can join the Roy club. I think
ReplyDeleteForget 'I think' don't know how that popped in....
ReplyDeletePoor Elizabeth, now both twins are in a mess of their own. making. Russ’s silky smooth, slithery delivery reminded me so much of Rob! What a creep!
ReplyDeleteIt is not believable that Russ will be moving to Manchester to live with Lily when term starts, or at any time, especially when he can't leave his wife. Less so now that he knows Freddie will get everything and Lily nothing. How sad for Elizabeth to have to deal with both twins' problems and LL. I would be sobbing too, which was a long time coming.
ReplyDeleteI really don’t like that Hannah she is sharp tongued and generally obnoxious - how dare she criticise our lovely Neil! Certainly hope Tom doesn’t fall for her!
ReplyDeleteAnd Russ, did anyone else think he was being curiously gauche - obsessing about having bought the ‘wrong’ wine, not being sure what to wear etc
Was it all an act put on for Lily’s sake while he summed up the situation at LL. Surely Lily can’t still believe he’s going to leave his wife. How on earth is Elizabeth going to convince her not to make the biggest mistake of her short life. Perhaps Auntie Shula could get through to her? What a terrible situation poor Elizabeth is in - the SWs have certainly got it on for her at the moment
I'm afraid "our lovely Neil" isn't beyond ctiticism - he has behaved disappointingly on various occasions - and I found it refreshing to hear him actually being criticised, regardless of the rights and wrongs on this occasion. Perhaps it takes a newcomer to "dare" to do it. I think Hannah felt badly let down from her original high opinion of him when she misinterpreted what she heard him say about the housing, although I think there is a germ of truth in it - and I can believe that his management style could become exasperating.
DeleteI agree with the other comments about Hannah. She seems very sharp tongued and full of herself. A nasty piece of work.
ReplyDeletePoor Elizabeth, she's realized what a mess Lily's got herself into. Could Russ have been any more pathetic, about what to wear, what dessert to get and then being so slimy about how wonderful Lily is. Yuck, he is such a creep.
And good morning to you, Ruthy!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth has seemed strangely calm throughout Freddie's troubles. Does her collapse (over the phone) mean that she's been hoarding up her tension and has just reached her limit?
ReplyDeleteYes, the final straw. She admitted to Shula earlier that she was clinging to the hope it was ''just a summer romance'. An effective juxtaposition that - chilling out at the spa followed by the ghastly evening. t
DeleteSince Helen is musing on cheese she may like this website. https://www.thecourtyarddairy.co.uk/blog/cheese-musings-and-tips
ReplyDeleteIt has articles about breeds of cows for cheese and how they are fed. Includes videos from farms. There's a newish cheese called "Hebden Goat".
Re discussion on the last blog about Lily meeting a Proper Northerner in Manchester. LanJan was asked to define a Proper Northerner. Prerequisites were flat cap & ferret. Lily has no need to go as far as Manchester. She merely has to amble over to Grange Farm.
ReplyDelete🚜👍
DeleteIf Russ is intending to give up his job and become an artist, how does Lily think they can afford to rent a flat in Manchester? Her student loan + his unemployment benefit, while he's still paying a mortgage on the marital home? Are they going to starve in a garret? Lily will have to sell her Gwen John so that her beloved can afford paint for his masterpiece. Then she will succumb to consumption (not the credit card splurge type).
ReplyDeleteLily is completely unworldly I’m afraid. She hadn’t got the first idea about renting flats, how long it would take to find a suitable one or how much it could cost. She is floating on a cloud a the moment and likely to come down with a heavy bump, I’m afraid, when the realities of life away from Lower Loxley start to bite.
DeleteWell I still thought Russ wouldn’t come to dinner and was wrong but I still think he will let Lily down at the last minute and not come to Manchester. Perhaps heartbroken she will defer her university place (does anyone know what subject she’s planning to study apart from Russ?) and either go travelling (exit another character) or she will immerse herself in the business - cue future conflict when Freddie claims his inheritance and Lily has put in all the work...
ReplyDeleteI think the latter part of your post could be more than likely Seasider.
DeleteHannah may have a point about 'nepotism' with regard to Emma and Neil but she made a point about helping herself to Johnny's beer because he was 'gallivanting'. She did share her mutton stew with Tom though and he referred to her as 'an old cow' who wouldn't have Henry again and she didn't flinch, she's very thick skinned and assumes the same of others.
ReplyDeleteIf Russ had exited via the bathroom it would mirror what Cameron did when he left Elizabeth at a service station saying he was going to the loo.
Now that's interesting ! The tried & tested way of dumping Archer/Pargetter women...
DeleteAh yes the beer IPA mentioned about three times sounded like product placement to me but then again TA BBC 🙄
DeleteNow here's a point.
ReplyDeleteThe scriptwriters fooled us recently about the Llama incident.
How about -Russ turns out to be telling the truth.
He leaves his wife and job and moves to Manchester where he manages quite easily to get a job in the area.
(At first they do need to depend upon the money from the sale of the Gwen John painting)
They find a nice little flat to rent and they soon become two of the vanished.
No I don't think that will happen either but if it does,remember you heard it here first!
I already posted that unwelcome thought a short while ago, but surely his unctuous behaviour last night, as well as still waiting for 'the right moment' to tell the wife ( does she even exist?), Tells us he's far from honest.
DeleteAnd I posited the possibility that ' the wife' may not exist.
DeleteFor a forty plus man he is very gauche indeed. I agree.
Sorry Carolyn.
DeleteI missed that.
Not only is he gauche his voice sounds to me like that of a younger man to me.
How about Horrible Hannah is helped in some way by Emma or/and Neil.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly she becomes a much nicer person and she ends up with Tom and they make a real go of Bridge Farm when Helen decides she has had enough and leaves Ambridge with Phillip who has been dumped by Kirsty .
They buy a nice little farm in Wales
Jack and Henry turn up in Ambridge when they are in their twenties and they both find Poppy Grundy to be the girl for them.
LanJan, that reminds me of the wonderful spoof storylines you used to post on the BBC blogs. I have missed them!
DeleteHello everyone! I've been following this blog, and the BBC one before it, and it's really enhanced my enjoyment of The Archers. Indeed, without it I might well have given up listening as I found the artificially engineered conflicts and frequent character transplants very disappointing. I can't actually remember when I started listening, but I do remember Jennifer being pregnant with Adam; that makes it more than 50 years. Anyway, I thought it was time to join you!
ReplyDeleteI'm not at all sure where the script writers are taking us with the Russ/Lily story. (I was one of many fooled by Susan, Clarrie and the llama). He doesn't seem as obviously malicious and manipulative as Rob was. Perhaps he is just a rather sad, weak man who's fallen out of love with his wife and his job , or does he have ulterior motives? We await the outcome with interest, which is exactly what the producers want.
I do feel, however, that this is a tired story line, younger woman falling for older, often previously/currently married. TA have taken us down this path several times before - Elizabeth and Cameron, Elizabeth and Robin, Helen and Greg, Helen and Rob, Pip and Jude, Debbie and Simon, Caroline and Brian, none of which ended well. Nevertheless, there are similar examples which have been successful - Caroline and Guy, Caroline and Oliver, Jill and Phil, Lynda and Robert. My point is, can't they think of anything new?
I think that will do for now, though there are lots of other interesting discussion topics. I would just say that, at last, William Troughton's acting has gone up a notch; I did find him convincing as a lovelorn young man!
Good to have your points of view Ex-Londoner.
DeleteAnd pleased that you have chosen to join us now.
And welcome from me, Ex-Londoner, too ! 🙋🏼 How great that our membership is expanding.
Delete✔️ 🤗
DeleteI reluctantly concur with your assessment of William Troughton's acting, Ex-Londoner. But it's taken quite a few years for the wood to season, and I don't think WT has done anything that Real Tom couldn't have done, despite the former's 'training'.
DeleteI wonder where Lily's flat will be in Manchester, Like any city, there are good and bad parts. Salford Quays, where the BBC Media Centre, The Lowry Theatre, and dare I mention, where the Corrie massive TV set is, is wonderful. Sadly, not too far away, things are slightly different.
ReplyDeleteI hope Lizzie will be able to view Lily's prospective new home, and help out in some way.
I personally think that this Lily/Russ liasion will end "in tears" for many reasons.
With Henry playing up, I do wonder whether a "Titchener" will surprisingly, turn up or get in contact, out of the blue. Who will it be:- Miles, Bruce or even Rob! (Sadly not Ursula).
ReplyDeleteJack, is a part of the Titchener Family, which cannot be disputed, so can access/visits be denied? I don't know! Henry is also Jack's half-brother and called Rob "Daddy".
I might be a year too early.
Nightmare scenario, Miriam! Plausible though. AAAAAGH!
DeleteThe time I really felt for Ursula was when she was grieving over the fact thet as Jack's grandparents she and Bruce had no right of access to him. However he may want to meet her when he's old enough to have a voice so she would have her chance then. Long time to wait, though.
DeleteMmm....my famously compassionate instincts were not aroused by her deprivation. Maybe something to do with with the poison dripping from that treacly voice.
DeleteA great role to play, & a chillingly effective performance; sad the actor died, not at such a very advanced age, when you think of all those active thespians well into their 80s.
My radio must be a different model, Carolyn, I didn't hear poison dripping from a treacly voice, just a sad, old(ish) woman with a rather humdrum voice.
DeleteI thought Ursula much more sad than bad. Married an awful man, and it never crossed her mind that she could bail out.
DeleteNew editor in post today - he says he can't tell us how excited he is. How excited are we?
ReplyDeleteon a scale of 1-10 -- perhaps minus 4, Maryellen.
ReplyDelete👎
DeleteBlimey, LanJan - that's generous! Minus 10 for me. The impressionI get is aman coasting into retirement......
DeleteOh for goodness sake! Give the poor bloke a chance! Sounds as though you have both written him off before he starts.
DeleteI, for one, am prepared to give him a good six months before passing judgement, you never know he might do wonders for the programme, though he’ll never be able to satisfy everyone I suppose.
Archerphile,I can't speak for Maryellen and like me she may well be prepared to give the new editor a chance but her question asked how excited we were.
DeleteI am not feeling at all excited .
No need for rapped knuckles, Archerphile. As LanJan says, the question was how excited are we, not what we think the prospects are of the new editor pulling the programme back into shape. I'm not enthusiastic about this appointment and I wonder about the reasons behind it, as I did with the last editor. That doesn't mean I'm not prepared to give the new bloke a chance.
DeleteApologies for misunderstanding, or perhaps for reading too fast. Other Archers sites seem to be ready to criticise before he even starts and I was getting fed up with the negativity. But yes, I am a little bit excited about a new editor - as I have often been in the past - but it remains to see if this one will fulfil my optimism!
DeleteJust googled new editor and found an article from the Daily Telegraph Feb 2018 headed:-
ReplyDelete"Archers appoints Radio 4 veteran (Jeremy Howe) as new editor after a string of tv soap disasters"
Interesting reading if he with all his proper drama experience and love of the programme itself cannot pull it up by its bootstraps I will be most disappointed. This is the stability that Tim Bentnick (David) and no doubt the rest of the cast have been requesting for some time now!
Fingers crossed - no doubt with scripts being written in advance it may take a while for us to be able to pass our judgement. It was sad to read that his wife was murdered in the early 1990's when his daughters were only 6 & 4 yrs old....
(Sorry unlike some I am not clever enough to be able to supply the article via a link)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/07/archers-appoints-radio-4-veteran-new-editor-string-tv-soap-disasters/
DeleteThis may be the article you mentioned Lady R.
Yes I think that is the one BB
DeleteWonder how much room for manoeuvre a new editor actually has ? (once current run of recorded scripts has run out) So many, often contradictory expectations around such a long running drama.
ReplyDeleteHe can certainly tighten up research, & accuracy about current topics & Archer history, but character transplants ? One listener's perception of inconsistent characterization is another's understanding of further character development in different situations, at different ages.
He has to be aware of present day preoccupations in general, village life in particular. TA doesn't live in a 50s time warp.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSeptember is a busy month for birthdays in Archerland. So that you can start on the cards here are the ones I know:
ReplyDelete5th Peter Johnson (son of Chris) 53, 13th Josh Archer 21, 14th Rosie Mabbott (Clarrie’s sister) 67, 18th David Archer 59 and Joe Grundy 98, 23rd Anna Tregorran 59, 28th Ed Grundy 39, 29th Alice Carter 30, 30th Kate Madikane 41 and Poppy Grundy 5.
Oh Muckspreader, such knowledge is valuable. I bet Moonpig.com would offer you a job! 😂. (Written totally in jest, I hasten to add)
DeleteAre you feeling all right, Muckspreader ?!
DeleteSorry for the typo - Joe will be 97.
DeleteEd's never 39?! It doesn't seem that long ago he was a teen behaving badly. Joe said on tonight's epi that his 97th was upcoming.
DeleteAnd Ed will be 34.
DeleteI don't anticipate change any time soon. Someone in the past indicated that episodes were recorded at least six weeks in advance. I wonder, over what time period are episodes written before recording? Months? Let's hope this editor wil have read the old blogs
ReplyDeletePoor little Henry, preloaded with lots of Titchnerisms. Violence, lying, keeping secrets, and now controlling his environment and others around him. Rob was very effective in his indoctrination of Henry, let's hope someone recognises these worrying traits, and instigates support before something awful happens.
I seem to be the only one, who wishes the new editor well. Some seem to have already written him off, as a has been. I think, at this moment in time, he is right for TA, and the previously writen scripts, can be tweaked.
ReplyDeleteMiriam ,I repeat what I said before when Maryellen asked how excited we were about the new editor.
DeleteTwo of us at least are not very excited at the prospect of a former TV Soap Opera editor but that does not mean that we do not wish him well.
I would be delighted if scripts improved .
I remember once saying what an excellent episode it was when Peggy was having a heart to heart with Helen and another one or maybe two which featured Emma.
However really good ,well acted,well scripted episodes have been thin on the ground recently.
I think that there is more to Henry's behaviour, than a "Rob" influence. Children do not forget traumatic events, but do adapt and just get on with their normal lives, such as Poppy with her new school shoes.
ReplyDeleteHelen had Henry via an unknown sperm donor, so could Henry's problems come from his unkown, biological father?
I just thought I would give a different aspect to Henry, rightly or probably, very wrongly.✖
ReplyDeleteI read that Jeremy Howe was appointed in February so surely he must have had some say in the storylines.
Lady R,what has Tim Bentinct been saying?
What were the TV Soap disasters?
Is he aghast like some of us that there is room for improvement?
He had better be quiet if that is so.
Look what happened to "Grace" when she put her two pennorth in.
He probably has been on a 6 month "gardening leave", from his previous R4 position.
DeleteI am expecting good things from him, as he seems to have the necessary background, which TA needs. I might be eating my words, in Jan 2019. I will not judge, or criticise, before then. Give him a chance.
DeleteThe line that sums up the last 2 years (and from whom but Joe!).
DeleteJim: I want Alistair to recover his joke de vivre.
Joe: Ther's not much of that in Borsetshire.
Bet the scriptwriters are having a giggle.
LanJan the tv soap disasters were referring to previous editors who tried to turn the archers into a soap, and after having proved they could they vanished away to work on tv soaps like easttenders and coronation street. I am very hopeful about Jeremy Howe as for the last 12 years he has worked in radio.
DeleteThanks Janice.
DeleteI misunderstood Burnham Beeche's link
Janice - both Vanessa Whitburn and Sean O'Connor worked in BBC radio before they became TA editors - in fact, Sean worked on TA itself - so this new editor is no different to then in that respect.
DeleteCharming, but never mind all that trash, I wonder when is Pip going to do her sky jump or whatever?
ReplyDeleteRuss tonight sounded chillingly like Rob to me. My imagination perhaps? And now we have this manipulative cuckoo in the nest usurping Freddy. No wonder Lily sounded shocked and apprehensive coming off the phone.
ReplyDeleteFurther thoughts: the reference Russ gave will very quickly be dismissed as not valid. This will contribute to Freddy's downfall. The family will fall apart.
DeleteI have my own Archers lookalike story going on. I have two female tenants living together and they've just announced they are having a baby. I presume by sperm donor as they are gay- or at least I've always thought so as there's only one bed.
ReplyDeleteI thought one had to give two months notice before handing in one's resignation in educational establishments if one did not wish to return after the Summer holidays and one month at other times like Christmas or Easter.
ReplyDeleteAnd he not just a lecturer, he's deputy principal. (Should know better.)
DeleteI wonder if devastated wife will turn up at Lower Loxley.
So Lily is taking a lot of liberty and Mom is letting her. Why isn’t Russ paying at least 50% to furnish the flat? I agree Russ should not stay in Freddie’s room. You would think in a Grand House as LL there would be a spare room. So where will this plan finally fall apart? I still can’t believe Russ and Lily living together.
ReplyDeleteRuss wiil slip up!
DeleteHe can have the room Pip used to have,
Delete.
SWs keeping us guessing again. And bemused. Beginning to think Mrs P.'s speculation, originally, that there is no wife, could be true. No wife, no children, just a man on the make, with a cunning plan....accelerated by sniffing around the set up at LL on Friday. For all we know, he could have given in his notice months ago ( dangerous place for him, that college, drug dealing, police investigations - plenty who might drop him in it, including Freddie. ) So, a little respite at LL, compliance from Elizabeth because of that reference & he plays the situation. If it doesn't work, then he can do a Lord Lucan.
ReplyDeleteMy imagination must be over-active tonight because it's just occurred to me that Russ and his wife could be in this together. It might even be her idea. But as we haven't a vestige of proof I think I'll forget it and give Vanity Fair a whirl. I'm not a great fan of today's tv costume drama which tends to be more costume than drama, imo, but as with new TA editors , one can but hope!
ReplyDeleteHmm! a] Does Russ have a wife who is a little bit emotionally unstable so he has had to move out to give her space? b] Does Russ have a wife who is very emotionally stable and found him out and kicked him out before he could say anything about leaving with Lily? or is he just a dodgy character as others have suggested?? Lily was so keen for him to leave his wife so why is she suddenly so shocked that he has told her & left?? lots of possibilities
ReplyDeleteElizabeth could go to the college authorities and make a complaint as this relationship is not acceptable. In senior management he would have to give two terms notice. Have not heard tonight’s episode but surely E can’t live under the same roof as him!
DeleteElizabeth isn't likely to complain just yet, because her son's future is wrapped up with the usefulness of Russ's character reference. Russ has leverage over her, for the moment.
DeleteAh,yes had forgotten about that! What a mess!
DeleteDid Russ say he has yeast intolerance and has to make his own bread?
ReplyDeleteLizzy - Lock away the silver and other valubles. I am surprised she didn’t have a another panic call to Shula.
I missed that bit. Lily insisted on putting a coffee-maker on shopping list for Manchester flat since Russ needs fresh coffee each morning. Lily presumably drinks instant as Elizabeth asked whether she would use such an appliance. If I'd been E I would have suggested R buy his own or bring the one from his house. E wanted Lily to buy one of those basic household kits for students. (I bought all my stuff from Woolies when I started college.) Is Lily financing herself through a student loan or is she using her trust fund? Student finance is seldom mentioned, except by Phoebe last summer. Josh saved himself and his parents a lot of money by not going to university. Halls of residence fees are dear now I believe.
DeleteLily's shock when Russ (we are led to believe) did actually tell his wife reminded me of a Barbara Pym novel ('Crampton Hodnet'), in which a student ran off with her (married) tutor. They reached Folkestone, or similar, and got cold feet. She realised that what she really liked was having a crush on her handsome tutor and fantasising about being with him. He bottled out of leaving his marriage, which, if not wonderful, was OK: his wife took him for granted, but it wasn't much worse than that.
ReplyDeleteIs there any reason why Russ and Lara didn't have children? I'm not saying they're compulsory, just wondering if it was by choice or because they couldn't.
If we take Russ at face value, he now seems to be keener than Lily.
I wondered if there were children. They would have been another obstacle to leaving is wife. Perhaps he is genuinely besotted with Lily. Still should know better, a man of his age and in his position. (I'm guessing Jill's lines in a future episode.) There will surely be gossip amongst students/former students and college staff will find out. Has he no friends with whom he can stay? Can he not afford a B&B? Remembering how Ian was demolished as Helen's character witness, will Russ fare any better if his relationship with Lily is made public?
DeleteBootgums: I was puzzled by Lily's attitude on coming off the phone, but I believe it was made clear later. She was less than enthusiastic because Russ told her he'd been chucked out and had nowhere to go. She, therefore, was apprehensive because she had to face her mother about it and knew there would be a row. Btw, I agree with others who've pointed out he could have Pip's old room which was conveniently forgotten by the SWs to created drama.
DeleteI am finding Lily and her behaviour more and more unbelievable as the days go by. Her little girl voice and blind assumption that Mum will agree to everything Lily wants just doesn’t seem right for a girl of her age and education - I should have credited her with more common sense.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Elizabeth going along with everything (so far) and not putting her foot down, telling Lily in no uncertain terms that this idea of living in a flat with a live-in lover is not on during her first year at University when she will have so much else
new to contend with; not telling Russ to go find a hotel room if he has left his wife and not expect to just move into Lower Loxley without even asking first.
I know she has Freddie’s court appearance to consider but she is letting Lily and lover boy walk all over her without putting up a fight.
Come on Elizabeth, stop trying to handle this impossible situation on your own and seek help from David or Shula or someone else to persude Lily that what she is about to do could be a huge mistake!
Phoebe tried to advise Lily a few weeks ago. I was hoping Phoebe would tell Lily that Russ had "previous form". Elizabeth is probably afraid of alienating her daughter. Look what happened with Pip & Jude and Pip & Toby, Helen & Rob. E's emotional strength has been sapped.
Delete√√ to your last sentence, H
DeleteElizabeth has already sought help from Shula (she was in tears) and is presumably acting on her advice.
DeleteThe SWs are creating a whirlwind of a drama,and don't feel obliged to make people behave as they normally would.
DeleteAbsolutely. (By the way good to hear from you again FOSO!) The trouble with this approach is that it usually leaves a plethera of loose ends with nowhere to go! 😕
DeleteSadly (or not), we have to suspend our disbelief and regard the characters as 'real' - as with most drama. It's easier to do that in some cases than others.
DeleteAs Oliver showed at E.'s hearing, glowing references don't necessarily help, & it is surely time for E. to forego that, rather than tolerate the Russ takeover. She seems frozen right now, unable to think, & that's understandable.
ReplyDeleteBootgums (10.38 2/9), thought I'd read all Barbara Pym, but have no recollection of the one you reference, which really does sound like Lily last night. The reality, if it really is, of R. leaving his wife has woken her up - with a jolt, it's dawning on her that she has been in love with illicit romance, danger, peer status even, rather than the man !
Apologies if this has already been mentioned but I think there is a probability that once Lily gets to Manchester and meets young people of the same age as she is she will realise that she has made a big mistake.She will be excluded from parties because nobody wants an older ,former Deputy Principal there.so It won't take long for her to realise that she is losing out.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing that could happen of course is that she and Russ depart for Manchester and we don't hear any more about it.
They join "The Vanished"
You make two good points LJ
DeleteI think Elizabeth was right in letting Russ stay at LL in the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteShe has enough on her plate with the Freddie situation so doesn't want more trouble by alienating Lily.
Every time I hear Russ speak I hear the oleaginous voice of Rob Titchner. Two Rs and two horrible people.
ReplyDeleteWe were informed that the wife is training to be a psychotherapist, maybe she has gained enough skills to see that the man she married uses his Peter Pan personality to control others. She could be placing boundaries on their relationship in order to get him to change his behaviour. Or she has realised that she needs to change her behaviour within the marriage so that she isn't being used. If she does exist, it might be possible that she is an ex student who has realised that Russ is a con merchant. Lily is simply anther victim of little boy lost with a wife who doesn't understand him.
Lily is becoming very tiresome in her adoration of this forty something loser.
Does this mean the BBC has failed to attract the actor back for a continuation of the Rob/Helen story, so is giving us Russ to hate instead? If so, he's very much a poor man's (or woman's) Rob.
DeleteHere, here, Stasia, that is just what I was trying to say in my late-last-night post - Lily is becoming very tiresome and I am becoming very irritated by her tone of voice when speaking to her mother.
DeleteAs others have said, Elizabeth is tired and wrung out with all the problems she is facing at the moment, which is why I think she should seek help from someone else in the family. I know she spoke to Shula (not sure what advice Shula gave) but perhaps she needs someone to sit down with Lily and point out the pitfalls she is facing and back up Elizabeth. E cannot handle all these problems on her own, she needs good advice and practical help - if necessary, someone to confront Russ and try to suss out his true status and intentions before it is too late.
David and Kenton could both cope with sussing out Russ. What a cheek to move in without ensuring it’s alright with Elizabeth. He reminds me of the bindweed which creeps in from under my fence to wrap around the roses!
DeleteAgree with Archerphile, and Evs suggestion, David/ Kenton.
DeleteBut might also suggest Jill !
She would make mincemeat of this poor sap !
Go girl Jill
Don't think this R. is like Titchener. He operated with relative subtlety, playing the long game, drip, drip quite convincing as the responsible, caring adult to outsiders. This guy has been a smoothie but last 2 episodes show him to be a mess, for whatever reason s, married or unmarried; 22 yrs. Older than his lover, holding a very responsible position, dumping himself, with his yeast issue etc. on a woman he hardly knows for an indefinite period of time, without even asking ? Something weird indeed there.
ReplyDeleteA very strange situation indeed. Elizabeth has been very uninvolved with Lily's preparations for university (very different from when my daughters went to university or, in the dim mists of time, my parents' involvement with me!) She's been too wrapped up in Freddie's problems and over-reliant on Lily being well organised and sensible. However, I don't understand the finances. A check on accommodation web sites shows that a reasonable one-bedroom flat in Manchester will easily cost £1,000 per month. One month in advance and one month's rent as deposit means that they need to find £2,000 this week .... who's paying?
DeleteWho indeed, ex-Londoner? This seems like yet another example of the Archers trend to gloss over financial details that has been commented on many times before. I know this is fictional drama (🤭) and we are supposed to just go along with the general story, but sometimes the lack of details, like costs, who is paying etc make some stories less believable. I quote the old canard of ‘how does Bridge Farm support so many people’ !
DeletePrediction-It won't last.
ReplyDeleteSuspect the cash will not be forthcoming and the whole thing will fall through. If Elizabeth is conned into providing the money I will gasp in disbelief again!
DeleteI still think he could bottle out just as they are about to leave for Manchester as he decides to make another go of it with his wife or because he realises he has to work his notice or maybe just disappears...I agree with LanJan it won’t last, and Lily may feel cool and superior going out with an older man in her little local college but in a big city she will quickly tire of the novelty when no one is interested in them.
ReplyDeleteI still want to know what subject she plans to study - did we ever hear which A level subjects Lily chose or any indication of her interests in life?
And as for the room issue I suppose property can magically shrink as well as expand just like Alice in Wonderland.
DeleteSeasider,yes I have been wondering what subjects she studied.
DeleteI have always assumed it was English and possibly History and Geography.
Manchester being one of the older traditional Universities I think would not have have some of these weird Courses like Honours Courses in Spinning and hand loom weaving with Japanese and ballroom dancing .
I don't think she was studying Science subjects or mathematics
Had she been really good at maths she would surely have offered to help Freddie when he retook his "O" level maths.
Would being really good at maths make her a good teacher of the subject? A necessary but not sufficient condition, perhaps, especially if she just couldn't see what was so difficult about it.
DeleteLJ, if it weren't for handloom weaving and spinning, Manchester would still be a village! Although I agree that a Combined Honours degree with ballroom dancing is not a good mix; the yarn will get tangled-up and dancers risk strangulation.
DeleteTalking about exam results. We heard someone say that Ben had done well in his GCSEs, but no details of which subjects he’d taken, what grades he got or what he is going to do next.
ReplyDeleteIs he going on to 6th form for A Levels; which ones; what are his career ambitions?
Poor Ben. Nobody seems to give a toss about him, least of all his parents unless they want him to help on the farm!
Yes, is it better to be ignored or criticised like Josh - perhaps Ben is keeping his head down in case David starts asking for rent.
DeleteLet's hope he's not doing any languages or performing arts - unless it's mime.
Delete😂😂
DeleteDavid & Ruth took Ben out for lunch to celebrate his exam success. I assume they ordered for him.
DeleteOWIAS one of Ben's courses was film studies; he obviously inclines towards visual communication. I expect he gained top marks for his Buster Keaton critique.
just listened to the repeat - ghastly sleazeball, sussed out the joint & he was there like a rat up a drainpipe.
ReplyDelete🤑
DeleteWhere is Lewis (chap not island)? Is he still living at Lower Loxley? I thought he was Elizabeth's shoulder-to-cry-on?
ReplyDeleteMaryelle, I think the SW have forgotten he exists.
DeleteI wonder how Lily would react if Freddie had shipped an older woman into her bedroom?
ReplyDeleteFreddie maybe a criminal pushing drugs, but he was spot on about Lily's involvement with an old man, who has now invaded his personal domain.
Who is going to tell him that a slippery old geezer is now the man of the household. Will R usurp Elizabeth and take over the stately home when she falls to pieces.
Replacement daddy for Lily?
I do hope the new Editor will stop S/Ls that descend into absurdity.
✔️✔️✔️
DeleteAs Ev (I believe) says, Russ needs to give at least a term's notice so if he hasn't done that then he won't be going to Manchester. (If research has been done correctly)
ReplyDeleteMuch speculation (on fb at least) about whether he is after money, a comfortable life and the Gwen John painting. The LoLo Trust passes to Freddie, presumably when he achieves a certain age. I am sure Nigel was much older than 21 when he took it over.
Out of interest I googled Gwen John paintings and they are not terrifically valuable. Also imho they are totally boring and repetitious! 'Woman with folded hands,' 'Woman seated by window' etc. All the women are drab and look the same! Anyway I found the prices of about twenty of them and only two were over £10k. The others were averaging £7k. Hardly a good enough sum to give up for salary, career, reputation etc.
I suspect the wife kicked him out and he is now letting her cool down before moving back with her.
I'm surprised, thinking that in the present climate, Gwen's work might be more popular/pricey than her brother's, given his racey lifestyle, & neglect of her sensitive, melancholy works(yes, I do like the little I've seen !) During her lifetime.
DeleteMaybe, with all that's kicking off, it's understandable, but we've heard neither E. nor Lily wonder at how he's going to leave his job, 'just like that', what money he has to set up in Manchester - odd ?
Whilst E. was sobbing on the phone to Shula, Russ went to the bathroom - opportunity to report back to his 'accomplice' on what he's found out about the LL set up ? Accomplice could be wife, anyone, how-about-Hannah....
Perhaps he made off with the Gwen John and other heir looms which his wife is selling off whilst he innocently lurks in LL. E is too busy ferrying brownies to the Stables to notice anything’s missing.😉
DeleteI like your ideas Carolyn and Seasider
DeleteI just think unfortunately that he just won't go to Manchester.and that will be that.
Perhaps he has heard the reputation that it always rains there!
How did they decide upon the flat?
Has either of them seen it?
I think the end will come on a Friday evening and be but a whimper
I so apologise, if I am posting something, someone has already said. Sadly I have not been able to read all the wonderful posts from today.
ReplyDeleteLizzie, in my opinion, is being very sensible with the Russ/Lily relationship. She doesn't want to antagonise Lily with her going to Manchester to take up her degree course, whatever it is. She also doesn't want to antagonise Russ, as he is giving a wonderful character reference, for Freddie. Sadly, Lizzie does not know about Freddie's previous going-ons.
It will all be revealed, but when, and how much emotional "blackmail" will be involved.
I so wish Lizzie could confide in some-one, who can help her, but who:-Dr.Locke, Oliver...or even Justin/Lilian. I can't think of anyone else.
I agree that keeping calm at least in front of Lily is probably better than confronting her which is more likely to strengthen her resolve and push her away from her mother. E is still hoping it will fall through and she can be there for Lily if she needs a shoulder to cry on.
DeleteInteresting debate tonight Freddy v Harrison regards drugs. Question: does anyone know if a police officer actually has any discretion in these circumstances? i.e.Was he at liberty to ignore Freddy's activity, or not?
ReplyDeleteHarrison was there with another officer who backed him up.
DeleteOh I am fuming now, paying for the rest of his life, serves him right, he promised Noluthando when she could have died, I want Kate in court, wishful thinking. Well done Fallon for turning Lily out and turning her back on the Bull. This is serious. I note that Lily held back about the lover boy, hmm.
ReplyDeleteSt. Helen strikes again - so perfect in her own mind.
ReplyDeleteI thought Harrison was thinking how his fellow officers would think of him if he ignored Freddie dealing drugs on his stag night. It was still unbelievable that Harrison was the arresting officer when there were so many others around that night, all over drinking.
ReplyDeleteOh I did enjoy this evening's episode .
ReplyDeleteHats off to Fallon.
Lily is a jumped up little prig and Kenton is an idiot.
What would have happened had Harrison not arrested Freddie but another Officer had seen what he was doing?
Wouldn't he have wondered why Harrison was not doing his job?
I doubt the fact that he is his father in law's nephew would count as a reason for not making an arrest.
Also well done to Helen.
I would have been furious as well with stupid Tom.
We are talking about a seven year old child who was given a treat of a sleepover .
That should have been enough .
All Tom needed to do was to find out what time Henry normally went to bed and allow him an extra 1/4 hour if he behaved himself.
I think they are both to blame and Helen went over the top, she couldn't wait to get Henry off her hands and not being a parent Tom doesn't know how to deal with young children.
DeleteUncle's and Aunt's are just as capable of looking after, caring for, and disciplining children, no matter if they are not a parent themselves.
DeleteThe youngsters I look after are great with me, but I am "Aunty Dracula". 😈👺
Helen was right, but it was played out a bit OTT. Tom was stupid to allow Henry to stay up half the night playing computer games.
DeleteFreddie was dealing drugs, (not for the first time), Harrison arrested him for it (as a member of the police force).
ReplyDeleteThis cannot be disputed.
Freddie has to take the consequences of his actions, and, and Harrison just did his duty.
Would the Ambridge residents be so anti- Harrison, if he had stopped a burgulary in the shop, a fight in The Bull, or "booked" speeding motorists?
But if he had found "The Missing Bunting", he would be the local hero.
👏🏻😀
DeleteI wonder how the wider Archer family would have felt had Ellis been dealing the drugs and Lily had been the one to have been given them, or had them slipped into her drink.
ReplyDeleteRather differently to the way they are feeling about Freddie I imagine.
This evening's episode was a caricature. Fallon falls out with Lily, Helen falls out with Tom, Kenton falls out with Jolene. Not drama. Just silly.
ReplyDeleteIn a strange way the episode pleased me because I think Harrison was right in what he did ,Fallon was right in supporting her new husband and I think Tom was wrong in letting a child of that age stay up most of the night playing computer game.No seven year old could have lasted that long without falling asleep.
DeleteObviously the lack of sleep hadn't bothered him or Helen would have noticed.
Now that was silly.
Quite right, LanJan.
DeleteMuch flouncing off & the slamming of a door - at least people saying what they mean, & knowing what they want to say. Makes a change. Fallon had the right of it, of course, but she is now making quite a career of defending her husband - I applaud her ! Poor Jolene caught up in all that, Kenton being absurdly unreasonable. Still, slightly more excuse for him, than for ridiculous madam Lily who knows far more.
ReplyDeleteThe rows centred around nephews tonight. Helen was in the right, even if somewhat hysterical, & it is normal to establish bed time routines with someone who is looking after your 7 yr. old, surely. il
I think Helen should have set some guidelines to Tom regarding what Henry is and is not allowed to do. Tom seems at a bit at a loss and not everyone is good at telling youngsters what to do and knowing how to handle them. Having said that, obviously he shouldn't have let Henry stay up so late.
ReplyDeleteFallon was right in sticking up for her husband. Surely if Harrison had not arrested Freddie then his fellow officers, who were there, could have reported him. I don't think a police officer is expected to show family bias regarding the law. Very awkward situation but Harrison had to do the right thing.
Hello again folks, it's been a busy summer (plus I've been playing too many computer games - don't tell Helen).
ReplyDeleteGlad to see LanJan and others picked up on last resignation dates. Does Lily really belive the deputy principal can stroll into college the day before term starts and announce that he's leaving with immediate effect?
Mind you, when his wife chooses to report his unprofessional behaviour to the governing body he may suddenly find that last resignation dates are no longer an issue ....
Good to hear from you again 😀
DeleteYes, welcome back OWiaS - look forward to more of your entertaining posts.
DeleteYes indeed it is Seasider.
DeleteHello again ,Old Woman.
Surprised how many Archers think Freddie should have been cautioned. It must hurt to have a close family member involved in something like this but I find it difficult to believe they expect him not to have been arrested. As Fallon says Harrison hasn’t done anything wrong yet he is getting more criticism than Freddie. I don’t think folk had much sympathy when Jazzer was involved in drugs and I don’t think he was dealing.
ReplyDeleteTom should have told Helen he couldn’t get Henry to sleep and perhaps she was angry because of the deception or maybe because she knows Henry is out of control and she is worried.
I reckon you are right, Mrs P, about the scriptwriters forgetting Lewis exists. Otherwise he could have written a reference for Freddie, and Elizabeth would not feel obliged to be nice to Russ on that account, plus she would have the advantage of his 'on the spot' support.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why E didn’t ask the Vicar, Alan, for a reference. I know Freddie is not exactly a regular churchgoer but I should have thought he would have known him as much as Neil or Oliver does?
ReplyDeleteI can’t remember but did Lewis ever marry Julia, Maryellen? If so, he would be a relative, of course.
Doesn't Lewis live at LL?
DeleteIf so I don't think he could have written a Reference for Freddie ,could he?
Oh yes, Archerphile, so he did, six months before her death. That makes him Freddie's live in step-grandfather. I bracket him with Robert Snell - not a big presence compared with others, but a nice calm one, and goodness me, Ambridge could do with more of those. What a lot of yelling, slamming doors and issuing of ultimatums last night! Helen has a history of raising her voice around her family but I was surprised by Fallon, though agreeing fully with the point she was making.
ReplyDelete