You've done it again Ruthy it's how I imagined it anyway. I'm sure the farmers amongst us can clarify! Jill's 🐓 Would be proud to reside in such splendour . Finally Ben & Raurai have come in from the wilderness who knew they were joined at the hip! Once again it seems we are to be surrounded by young tearaways. Thank goodness for grounded Johnny. As for the fortunes of LL I predict more doom and gloom to come yet 😮 probably before the end of the week!
That is a terrific hen coop - lucky girls ! I spy one of them in the run.... So, Spicy says the spoken about (here, & sometimes on TA) but never speaking Button girls aren't from the Hoi poloi -. I stand corrected, not sure where my assumption came from. Aside from being good at cricket, some impression formed that Molly was a tearaway, & as we know from life, & even TA, wild behaviour isn't background/class/income etc related. Good point, Ev(? I think) about Brian, so vociferous against Freddie, now to face his own problem offspring.
Fabulous chicken house. I think LL will suffer some major catastrophe before E sorts herself out. There seems to be a lack of staff at this place......sounds like Geraldine does everything. We need more Lillian in it to liven things up. The whole program seems grey and miserable at the mo. Can’t see Lynda’s play livening anything up.
The Ambridge Observer was on form yesterday - I fell for the gag in the Canterbury Tales item about Sabrina not being able to project her Voice further than her bust! I see Auntie Satya is advising Emma that she may be wrong about Hannah's character........
I would love that Chicken coup at the bottom of my garden but after my recent experience with the fox,perhaps not. Questions- What exactly was Ruari driving? When did he learn to drive whatever it was? Did he need to pass a test to drive it? Apart from holiday times,when could these bosom pals meet? Why introduce Ruari now when presumably he is back at school this week? Why have we not heard song and verse how they both did in their exams ? I have a feeling that brief mention was made of Ben's results but perhaps not.
Half term, at some schools goes on for 2 weeks. No idea what he was driving, but unlikely to be legal, as they're under 17 ? Maybe it was a motorbike. Think they've had plenty of time to bond over all the holidays down the years. Mention made several times about their friendship Positive mention of Ben's results was made.
Not just in the holidays, they have probably been texting daily in termtime. It was either a four wheel drive or a quad bike (impressions differ in this household!)
Wasn't it some off road vehicle ? Farm equipment I assumed. Will did his best to inject some responsibility into them, and I got the strong impression that Ben had his fathers cautious gene well to the fore. But then Ruari had Brian's strong ability to overcome any dissent equally to the fore.
Ruthy that is a wonderful chicken coop. And a pleasure to admire. It would look good in Linda's garden too, beside the Shepherds hut.
I'm sure you must take great pleasure in finding these wonderful pictures to illustrate our blog. Thank you so much.
I assumed it was a quad bike, which farmers' children would ride around the farm and adjacent private land from quite an early age (at their parents' discretion), but presumably needs the full driving licence on public roads.
These two Siamese boys need an operation pronto. Ruairi is clearly the dominant one and Ben is simply the follower. As Ruairi said, it is all down to his very expensive education. Is he the school bully or is that the way they are taught to view their position in the world. I wonder if his private school has taught him to be rude in Latin. Sounded like they were in some sort of covered quad bike or tractor. I would advise Ben to go back to his bedroom to play his music and games. He should stay there until Ruairi departs for Dublin and his Irish family. I thought their little escape was totally out of place in this storyline. Another thought, Elizabeth gave us enough clues to figure out that something nasty is going to happen on Halloween.
Ben and Ruairi were driving a 4x4 that belonged to Home Farm. Both Ben and Ruairi would have been driving for years on the respective farmland of their homes. I know the five daughters of two farmers in my home village (they were cousins) all passed their driving tests on their 17th birthdays, or thereabouts, because they had been driving vehicles around the orchards and cornfields since their feet could reach the pedals. Ruairi is 17 in November and Ben 17 next March. It is a pity that both are being played by actors ten years older than their characters. However the new editor (last night was his first episode apparently) has at least used two established characters and not imported some unlikely new ones. Considering how Alice and Kate behave it is not really surprising that Ruairi is an 'entitled oik' as someone has described him! He has been brought up by the same couple as them! Jennifer has been the most awful snob for many years!
I absolutely love the hen house in the picture. Last year when visiting the Kent County Show my son had to stop me from purchasing a 'package deal' of a small hen house, small run and three birds for £200. I thought that was a bargain but he said my garden wasn't big enough! But I have plans to cut down a holly tree which I planted twenty-five years ago and which now shades the whole of the bottom 10ft! So next year's visit may end differently!
Having read the cast list in RT for this week’s episodes I knew we were going to hear from B and R, so I was sort of waiting to hear their voices. When they first came on I thought they were playing some sort of video game and it took me quite a while to realise they were driving an actual vehicle and not a virtual one! I commented on the voices on the last blog, so won’t repeat here but agree with (I think ) LanJan saying all the young male characters could be played by just one or two actors now, thus saving the BBC money - apart from Johnny and Jazzer who are unique and irreplaceable.
About the chicken coop Ruthy - very pretty but very small and only suitable for a little garden and 2 or 3 hens. Would look lovely in an orchard with some traditional beehives. My dad’s henhouse was a very disreputable looking old shed cobbled up from old wood, fence panels, old doors and goodness knows what else. But it did the job and could house up to 20 nesting and roosting hens. It also had a very large run surrounded by 8ft high chicken wire. Not at all pretty to look at but provided my parents with eggs and chickens throughout the war and for many years afterwards. I hated being sent to collect the eggs though because of rats scurrying around, after the dropped chicken feed.
Archerphile, your description has reminded me of my experience with chickens which I had forgotten. My mother's family, Greenwich, were all rehoused around Eltham and Orpington, and continued the life that they had grown up with pre-war. The aunt that I spent much of my time with in Kidbrooke kept chickens in a house and run similar to that you describe. I seem to remember that the end of that London garden was completely taken over with the hens and their run. I used to help her to cook up the mash and take it to the hens and I was allowed to collect the eggs. All of the above was before I was five or six years old. Some of the happy memories of my childhood.
Your mention of rats Archerfile reminded me of when I kept about 30 free range chickens. They roosted and nested in an old stone farm shed. At one time we seemed to be getting less eggs so I stayed very quietly in a dark corner of the shed. There was one chicken in a nest box, and I noticed a little face peeping out of a hole just under the roof. The moment the hen laid, started cackling, and jumped off the nest, the rat climbed down the wall went into the nest box, gathered the egg up inbetween his chin and the top of his front paws and then managed to climb up again gripping the slates to get a hold. I was very impressed by the rat's dexterity and his patience in waiting for the hen to lay, but not too pleased about losing my eggs!
Sean O'Connor got rid of the one person who could act ,namely Real Tom. I didn't think either Ruari or Ben sounded at all realistic. I agree with Archerphile that both Johnnie and Jazzer are played by actors who can actually act.
Give them a chance, Lanjan ! They've only had a few lines so far, ( & remember, as everyone points out frequently, their vocal equipment has had little exercise...)
Well Carolyn I deeded to listen again to last night's episode and this is what I have come up with. 1) I thought the actress playing Elizabeth sounded very realistic. She sounded exhausted as she would be. Her stupid brother going on about his grandchild....... Doesn't he realise that other people's grandchildren are not in the least bit interesting to anybody but them especially to someone without grandchildren of their own.? OK so I know he was trying to take her mind off Freddie's situation but really... 2) Ben is a wimp. It may well have been Ruari's idea but why did he let him take the blame ? Is he so weak that he will blindly follow what his cousin told him to do?-yes 3) I don't blame the actors for sounding the same but I blame the editor for employing them ,Carolyn 4) Not sure I like the sound of Ruari . Bit of a smooth talker methinks. Wouldn't trust him. 5) Spicycushion mentioned that it was the new editor's first night last night so I am assuming that it is the first of a 5 week stint and will do what I did about 16 months ago and see if there is any pattern regarding which characters appear -or don't. Just to remind you in case you are interested. 5 weeks of Archers programmes are recorded in 8 days = about 4 episodes each day My theory is that they do not need to record the episodes in order and for example several of the characters in one episode may appear in episodes 5 12 and 20 which means only a certain number of actors need to be in the studio at any one time if you see what I mean. I assume that possibly they record for 4days a week so a full year would be able to be recorded in about 84 days . 21 weeks of recording which actually doesn't sound a lot to me.
Archerphile I also thought they were playing a video game, directly before their scene D said to E that he bet they were doing us that! I was horrified when I gathered that what they were doing was for real! I don't recall such difficulty in the past with recognising characters :- Dan, Doris, Phil, Jill, Walter and Nelson and even now the established ones are ok Helen, Emma, Fallon etc. With more recent editions ( but not Johnny) that is not the case, it is obviously a known fact and that is why names are used constantly in a way you would not normally do in real life.
Did I mention a book I was given called"Humbridge, -an everyday Story of Scriptwriting Folk " by Anthony Parkin who used to be the agricultural editor of"The Archers"? My friend picked it up from a Charity Shop and it seems brand new . I am not surprised. I thought I may get some idea of how the scriptwriting team works. I thought that possibly the script writers had a meeting with the editor who outlined the storyline for the following 5 weeks and assigned a week or maybe two to each script writer. I assumed then that if Writer A and Writer B were doing consecutive weeks they would chat about what they were going to do while they were at the meeting and go away and write the scripts . However in this book they all seem to go their separate ways and 'phone each other to check up on things. The script writer in the book obviously knows more about faming than the editor who keeps changing her mind about what she wants to happen. I quote Ed-The listeners don't want to hear about bloody silage ,whatever that is. (SW then tries to explain why it is important) Ed-Anyway I am cutting out all that crap. You'll have to find something else for Farmer Dark to do.
That is about half way through the book. SW is livid and is going to do something about it. Can hardly wait to see what he decides upon. (The Editor is called Annabelle by the way)
I hope I haven't fallen at the second fence. I only counted six characters this evening. Did I miss somebody out? Elizabeth,Geraldine,Tom.Hannah,Helen and Johnnie. Questions -Why does nobody in a Midlands County speak with a West Midlands accent? Geraldine sounds very efficient so why is Elizabeth doing bits of her job or rather forgetting to do some of it? If Geraldine is the Manager why is she not doing it all ?
I think that Tom realises that friendship with Jazzer is of greater importance than a bit on the side with HH.
I am probably so far off on this - maybe Tom and Hannah will become a dating couple? Poor Jazzer - I remember when Hannah first came back, Jazzer made a beeline to get to her at the Bull. Johnny seems to be distracted - was it because he was looking forward to young farmers party or still trying to forget Tom and Hannah's frolic in the sack? I would be very upset to continue to get woken up from a squeaking bed next door.
More and more hints that there is going to be some sort of disaster at Lower Loxley at Halloween. Sure it will be something to do with the treetop walk. I think either Geraldine or Lizzie mention the young drama students could do some sort of performance up there......! 😵
Lady R and Archerphile - I'm pleased I'm not the only one who thought the boys were playing some kind of video game and not driving an actual vehicle. I have a really bad feeling about LL at Halloween and feel something awful is going to happen which will wake Elizabeth up to the problems her business faces. Geraldine is doing so much and was it Bert who said the tree top walk needed attention? Maybe Johnny should buy some earplugs so that he won't be disturbed!
I think Johnny's noisy ablutions and speedy exit were owing to the fact that, with his knowledge of the 'goings on' between his house mates, he feels less than comfortable with the situation in his home.
I wonder if Johnny would be better off going back to live at Bridge Farm. Thus leaving T&H to get on with their ‘activities’, be on the spot for early milking when the dairy cows arrive and benefitting from Pat’s home cooking - or perhaps that’s not such a good idea, all those bean stews!
Nothing wrong with a tasty bean stew with dumplings, Archerphile, I'm about to make one myself, and mine are usually come out well, although I'm not sure that Pat's recipe sounds all that appetising. However, I think you're absolutely right - Johnny should go back to Bridge Farm asap, where he can just fall out of bed for milking in the morning, followed by a proper farm breakfast cooked by Pat.
Apologies for denigrating bean stew Suz - no objections personally but I seem to remember that, before he left Bridge Farm, Johnny complained that all they’d had for days was bean stew and he was fed up with it (no pun intended😉)
As for asking Pat, Maryellen; well, no, that’s a good point, but I suspect she might be delighted to have him back under her wing. Though I have lost track of the bedroom arrangements at Bridge Farm - they might have to get the Ambridge Fairy to conjure up another one!
Didn't Olwen have quite a bit to say about Pat's stews? Perhaps they have a bit more taste since she's been following her friend's advice.
Mind you, if it's got dumplings then I'm happy to come and get my portion. Is suet back in favour with the health police yet? I know lard is so suet can't be too far behind : )
I'm a veggie, OWAS, so don't use suet, but I find I can make a very acceptable dumpling by just rubbing in some Stork margarine - makes them a bit richer, but still nice. I used to get special vegetarian suet, but found it rather bitter, so don't bother now. You'll have to pop round for a taste when I eventually manage to make my stew. No time today - have been delivering an underweight hedgehoglet (brought in late last night by my big lurcher, Harry - a regular occurance at this time of the year) to a rescue centre, and it seems to have taken up most of the day!
Geraldine sounds so reliable & efficient, it contrasted painfully with Elizabeth last night, who does little, & can't even remember what she has or hasn't done any more. G.was patient & polite, but one could hear in her voice a certain reluctance to contact Oliver, to add to her long list, which she itemized. Agree with others, trouble is on the way at LL. Hannah was abrasive & sharp tongued as she often is, & clearly takes it for granted now, that it's 'sex on demand' with Tom. He's such a wuss. Agree, Mrs P & Basia, intentions perfectly obvious where Neil is concerned.
What job did Elizabeth actually do for a job before she married Nigel? Does anybody know please? I thought that Geraldine was starting to get a bit annoyed with Elizabeth and started to list the things she ,Geraldine had done and had still to do. Then I think she thought about it and realised what Elizabeth is going through and was very kind and helpful. I don't know who the actress is but I am impressed.
Elizabeth was a journalist on the Borchester Echo for a while. She had been planning to do some sort of environmental studies course in Birmingham, I think, but got a rather poor A-level in Geography (she needed a good one for the course) and a good one in English. Jack Woolley was the owner of the Echo and gave her a chance. I can't remember how long she did that.
Archerphile - I agree Pat would probably be pleased to have Johnny back under her wing, I think she was quite taken aback (as was Tom) when Johnny announced he wanted to join Tom. I imagine It would be easier for Johnny to take the prospective girlfriend he rushed home and got smartened up for, back to Tom's than Bridge Farm, I imagine, especially if involved 'goings on'!
I can't answer your question LJ. The only ' job' I can remember Lizzie doing was helping Nigel with Mr Snowy, the ice cream van. But because I cannot remember does not mean that Elizabeth did not have any job at all. Others will.
I don't recall the details but I think they mentionned some months ago that it was long gone. Something about the market dropping and the house not selling for as much as they hoped, I think.
Or maybe it got spent keeping Jill in stock with ballistic flapjack ingredients.
Ruth's legacy, as the only child of a successful businessman, was unbelievably meagre. Heather must have gone on far more cruises than she owned up to.
The Episode of Unsatisfactory Conversations. David seemed quite cross that no solution had been found to the problem of poor milk yields, yet everyone had ideas, all had flaws - what did he expect ? I would have thought that he was used to varying profits in his business, so much depending on weather conditions. Brookfield won't be alone, so he might just have to accept the loss, & work to damage limitation. The contrast between his attitude, & Ruth's, to Josh & Pip was quite painful. How come they are going to continue allowing space for Lynda's egotistical project when it it interferes with their work ? They clearly don't value their son's farm machinery business one jot. As for Jazzer & Tom ! Ok. nice that they are mates again, but their lack of self awareness is staggering, & neither have the slightest clue about Hannah. What's all that about respect for someone who shows none for anyone, unless it suits her interests to pretend it occasionally ? Lust is blind.
I am sick of David and Ruth not supporting josh. Good grief, he’s trying so hard to get that business going. I’d like to see what they’d be like if he’d turned into a layabout that didn’t get out of bed till lunch time. Aargh!!! Makes my blood boil.
And don’t get me started on little miss perfect Pip and the out of wedlock kid.
I’ve gone off most of them in this storyline at the mo. Thank goodness for jazzer. Bring back some Clarrie and Susan banter.
It is a bit strange because with the amount of land they have they could easily have let Josh have sole and free use of a field for him to use for his own purposes, and an encouraging father would have been helping him build or acquire a shed so he could work under cover; but I suppose it is all part of the storyline. In return they would have him around to help in times when an extra pair of hands was needed.
Well done, Hannah (OKH)! Your gentle prompting of Tom at the end of yesterday's episode to keep friendships in repair, has got him and Jazzer. back together. It's not the first time the pair have fallen out - there was that insensitive joke Jazzer made when Helen was in prison which got him fired - but it didn't last so long this time, thanks to you.
Jazzer uses the word "numpty" to describe stupid people. Well he can share that label with is "bestie"friend Tom. Two adult men heading for forty years of age acting like adolescents. They have little awareness of how they are being manipulated, and I do hope Neil realises the real potential in Hannah.
I don't understand Josh's role in the farm business. Ruth and David expect him to undertake farm chores, more so since Pip's pregnancy, yet he is trying to run his own business. Does he get paid? Why don't they let him lease the barn housing the gin still? Pip is still stalling her words. Irritating.
I wonder where Josh was dashing off to last night during that turgid family meeting? It sounded to me as if he had suddenly come up with a good idea for solving the farm’s problem about what to do with the herd, winter feed etc. I do hope he has the perfect solution, just to prove he is as valuable to the farm as Saint Pip and so that David will pay him some respect for once.
And while on the subject of Josh - how can Ruth and David even consider that using the barn and farmyard for the village play is more important than Josh’s business? Fancy telling him, in no uncertain terms, to shift all his stuff just so Lynda can pretend she is a great theatrical impresario and commandeer (and perhaps endanger) the area with her massive cast and flaming torches. I am amazed at their priorities. Family comes first, I should have thought. Bah humbug! 🤨
Your 2nd para, pretty much what I wrote last night. Can see they might have said 'yes' to Lynda initially, just to shut her up (which is mostly the default reaction of everyone when she makes demands) but it beats me why they don't stop her now they know the space is needed. Ah, but it's just Josh's stuff & he doesn't t count... I didn't think Josh had another brilliant idea, but was chasing some skirt at the Young Farmers', like Johnnie; OR something to do with Jill & the new hens OR setting up a surprise spookiness thrill at LL for tonight.
Sorry for echoing your thoughts Carolyn, am having real problems using this blog at the moment - can’t get logged on, then seem to have posts missing, I am almost giving up! So didn’t read thoroughly enough though yesterday’s comments. However, I am glad we are of the same opinion and it’s not just my bias towards Josh and away from the parental tactics at Brookfield.
On the one hand, I don't think David and Ruth should now tell Lynda she can't have the barn. They offered it in the belief that it would be available because Josh would keep his stuff where he'd promised to and not let it get out of hand.
On the other, when Josh had his light-bulb moment and rushed off, I assumed, like Archerphile, that he'd had an idea that would help the farm.
LanJan- I believe Elizabeth as employed as Manager of the LoLo Conference Centre. Then Nigel's and hers relationship developed into a romance; all of which was vehemently opposed by Julia.
The actress who plays Geraldine is Bharti Patel who is probably better known as Rhumha Hanif, the midwife, now married to Dr Heston Carter in "Doctors." Lovely lady who has a beautiful speaking voice.
All summer I have seen farmers on Countryfile (and heard on Farming Today) bemoaning the fact that because of the lack of rain they were feeding stored winter feed in the summer because there was no grass. Seems to be a distinct lack of planning at Brookfield!
Ruth was left about £250k (from some sort of insurance policy I believe) as well as her parents' house which was, OWIAS says, sold for less than expected (said David at one point.) Ruth said at the time of the cattle disease spread, that the bulk of the money had been invested in long term investments as well as being deposited in a pension pot, which would now be untouchable.
If Johnnie moves I think he'll have to say why, seeing he was so keen to have independence with Tom. Could be awkward!
Bharti Patel has been on TA before, taking a part during the Helen/Rob story. I can’t quite remember exactly who she played but I remember people commenting at the time how beautifully she spoke and how kind she was to Helen Oh, I remember now - she spoke to Helen on the phone from the women’s abuse centre, or perhaps the hospital offering help after Helen had been admitted.
Thanks Spicycushion I started to write in agreement with you,Archerphile in regard to the way Ruth and David are treating Josh. Was it not St Pip who hadn't noticed that they hadn't enough feed or whatever ? Of course she has other things on her mind now so is excused if she forgets something. I didn't think Josh appeared to be that interested in what they had been discussing . He made his point. They turned him down. Nobody else came up with any viable suggestions so Josh thought it was a waste of his time being at the meeting. I also thought like you ,Carolyn that Josh's disappearance was maybe to do with Jill's Then I thought I would listen again and see if I had missed something. Well I hadn't. I am confused though about the use of the barn for Lynda's Christmas Show.
maryellen, the numpty (I have taken to that word) Fairbrothers are only leasing the barn because Pip can twist her parents round her little finger. At least Josh is industrious and can mend and renovate old farm machinery, as well as cover for endless tasks around the farm. Pip only comes up with ideas that cost lots of money, such as the new milking parlour. Ruth and David should be encouraging Josh in his business venture by providing him with a committed space to work on his farm machinery. But instead they are providing two incomers with valuable work accommodation that would benefit their son.
Pip gets a free ticket every time with David and Ruth. I commented when they were purchasing the new milking parlor and how they would recoup the money. Now it seems we have the answer - they can't. When will Pip get a nanny to look after Rosie so she can resume her full time farm duties - so that Josh can pursuit his farm equipment business - which he has keen interests to see it grows.
I also don't get why they are letting Lynda use the barn for the show, especially if it inconveniences them. I don't think any sound business person would allow it.
Geraldine - how old is she? If not for her, LL would be in pieces right now.
Another thing I catch last night - David and Peggy thought E was being brighter? And David thought the Halloween show was a good distraction for E? Are they fools and can't see what is really going on with E? They all need to step up and see what what they can do to help.
Yes Ruthy , I would say that David is not very bright. I suspect that he thinks Elizabeth is feeling better.because he has thoughtfully been round to tell her about how her great niece has managed to sleep for 4hours on the trot without her poor mummy having to get up at night to see to her. What a thoughtful brother he is. In fact I think that they have all been a waste of space. The family that is. Geraldine and Bert are doing their best for her.
Yes, Ruthy, it is odd, isn't it. The Archer clan are notably obtuse when it comes to seeing what is going on in people. There are countless examples. Right now, they fret impotently when E. presents in istakea let distress, but she only has to smile once & talk about a topic other than Freddie for less than 2 minutes & they take it she's 'getting better'. In fact, the situation is worse, since she gave up all hope of an appeal.
How. About employing Emma? She must have a spare hour or two when she isn't cleaning,working at the chicken factory ,working at the tea shop and being a Parish Councillor.
I reckon Ruth and David know their eldest son better than we do. It's part of Josh's inherent entrepreneurial instinct (which I admire) that if you give him an inch, he'll take a mile, and there have been countless occasions on which he's put his business, or wanted to put it, before family and farm, Jill's hens being a recent example. I like the lad for all that (partly because he's Brookfield's best actor). I expect he will outgrow Brookfield before long, end of story.
I agree with all the comments about Ruth and David's favouritism towards their saintly daughter. David's gushing over the baby makes me feel nauseous - sorry if that sounds harsh. Josh should be encouraged in his go-getter attitude and desire to make money but of course he also has to consider the other family members and how his business affects them.
I agree with Maryellen about Josh on both points. I am prepared to give David the benefit of knowing his son will push boundaries unless reigned in from time to time, whilst at the same time ' allowing ' but not extending his paternal generosity in farm space.
Was tonight's episode so boring? I wasn't really interested in Brian reprimanding Ruari because you know there will be a next time and will probably be a lot worse. Nor Helen reprimanding Henry, who is 6 going on 3. What happened to the Halloween event going on at LL? Was that suppose to be today, or happening Saturday?
I think it goes over several days Thursday to Saturday but the hired in “entertainment” could only do Saturday so Bert and co have to dress up and scare people! No doubt we will have a dip into it all in the remaining few days.
I am looking for images for future posts. Does anyone know the name of the particular milking parlor that Pip had the family invest in? I remember hearing it when they were researching it but don't remember now. I know there is someone who knows this answer :)
I think they decided on a mobile flip-over milking bale which would actually be kept in one of the barns. (Rather than out in the field) As they won’t have that many to milk they can do one lot, then flip the milkers over to the other side where the second lot of cows would be waiting, ad infinitum. Saves time apparently.
So what did we learn last night ? One M. Gibson is still a stinker, &, what's worse, has no style when hosting post shoot jollies;. Insight into the Brian/Ruairi relationship - at least the latter calls the former Father, not Pater, some concession to (21; Lee is good at talking to the young, Helen tried, but given Henry's confusion, hard for him to distinguish between a teacher & a daddy ( though he does have Tony & Tom at home, which should give him a clue)
How ironic! Brian telling Ruairi off - the birds must have been terrified with you crashing through Spitfire, disturbing them. How does he think the birds would feel the next day with the beaters crashing and hollering through the woods, then the guns blasting them out of the sky? Double standards or what?
I’m glad Brian didn’t really enjoy his days shooting!
Good point Archerphile, I'm glad you picked up on that, at least we've been spared the sound of the guns which some of us found disturbing in the past.
I have found every episode to be boring this week. I am not looking forward to the burgeoning romance between Helen and the Karate Kid who obviously is wasted in the job he is doing and would be the perfect counsellor.
I don't think I will want to listen when the rehearsals get going. I have never liked the Christmas Shows. I am definitely not buying a ticket.
I think we should have an episode where Freddie meets Ruarie and Ben and Jake and George turn up as well . That leaves another two characters so perhaps Uncle Tom and Rex could join them . We could then play the game called "Who's speaking now?"
Ruthy, I also found last night boring. Ruairi is 16 but sounds 26, and Brian did a classic double bind. As a punishment for his and Ben's escapade, He told Will to donate Ruairi's wage to a charity, Then after lunch handed him a wad of money. Given that the Aldridges are up to their necks in debt how can they afford to pay for a private boarding education for Ruairi? Such schools are at least £30,000+ per year. A salary most people, even in Ambridge would love to earn. I can only say to Helen, you are a farmer, you have sown the seed and now Henry is producing the product. Daddy abondoned him and Lee doesn't like him. We reap what we sow. I wish speaking Henry would be banished to his bedroom to resurface when the same age as Ruairi and Ben.
And as every farmer/allotment holder/Gardener knows, you also 'reap' a lot of stuff you didn't deliberately sow! I'm pleased the new editor seems to be grasping the nettle of how to handle the long-term effects on Henry and the family in general. There have been occasional references from Helen - and to unknown quantity that is Jack,
As every allotment holder etc knows it is important to get rid of what we do not want. Helen should have avoided planting Titchner in her life, instead she let him grow on her and like club root has contaminated her son. As Helen said casually (as though such behaviour it is ok)Henry pushes other children at school. It is Jack we should be worrying about. No doubt Lee will apply some wonderful miracle grow, and all will be healthier in the garden at Bridge Farm.
Archer didn't know Titchener was a coercive controller when she moved in with him, any more than her grandmother did when she welcomed him into her home and family. Many a gardener has been taken with a plant only to find out its bad habits when it has become too established to remove easily. Not to mention the undesirables you didn't deliberately introduce!
I don't think the sensei will be able to repair the damage just by being a nice guy himself. If indeed he is - he could be another coercive controller!
Lets hope not Maryellen, it is time she found a nice guy. Some of the biggest names in the childcare scene have been fooled by peodophiles. like coercive controllers they are very adept at hiding their true selves, any one of us could have fallen.
Actually, I can't see why pushing Keira was such a big deal. Most 6-7 yr. olds do that, in the playground, when excited about anything. Not as if he pulled her hair, punched or kicked. Not saying the reprimand + chat about working as a team wasn't called for, it was, but in itself not an indicator of a particularly disturbed child. The tears, & what he said to Helen, ' Lee doesn't like me', on the other hand, probably was.
Has anyone else noted, that this weeks editor, is Huw Kinnear-Jones, who I thought left that post a year ago? Perhaps it is a link to the new editor taking over, and about time. As to TA - I just don't trust Josh, He is schemeing as is Hannah. What a "minx" she is.
Editor ? - This has been mentioned on fb this week. It looks like sloppy editing of the RT article/information. The web page gave the new editor "whatshisname" (Sorry can't remember!) as editor this week and next. However the cast lists, usually printed after the Friday night's episode, have been removed from the web page so there is now no information about the production team or who will appear in the week's episodes.
There is a lady who posts on TA fb page (very knowledgeable about TA history and who has reference books!) who knows someone on the production team and she confirmed that Monday's episode was the first done solely under the auspices of the new editor.
I agree with Carolyn regarding pushing etc having spent last week at Group Camp with Beavers (6-8), Cubs 8-10/11), Scouts (11=14) and Explorers (14-18) I can confirm that pushing/ jostling and generally elbowing is common in the two younger Sections. The older ones do not touch each other, presumably as taught in schools etc. Perhaps Henry has just got to learn. BTW None of the Beavers spoke as babyish as Henry!
You're quite right, Lanjan. I was shocked. A solecism well sent up in the excellent R4 sitcom 'Cabin Pressure', and one of which Lynda would never be guilty.
That is no excuse ,Janice. Our resident proof reader Bootgums would have been onto that like a shot had she been employed by the BBC. They have people in the BBC who supposedly know how to pronounce names of places (like Winwick is pronounced Winnick ) so they should have someone in the Archers team who knows a bit about grammar . Surely the actress playing Lynda should have known?
People do use 'myself' in a mock pompous way - it's all part of the playing with spoken language that keeps it so much more alive than ancient grammatical rules which nowadays only apply (if at all) to written language, and mainly the academic kind...
I suspect the scriptwriter knows that Lynda can be pretentious, and knows that 'myself' when 'me' is called for is pretentious/hypercorrective, but pitched it wrongly: this wouldn't be Lynda's kind of pretension, as it's a rather uneducated kind. Lynda's pretensions are more elevated, like putting on the Canterbury Tales instead of a panto, and her deliciously enunciated foreign phrases, which I love.
Must say I have also noticed how often ‘myself’ is used when it should have been ‘me’. It seems to be becoming as prevalent as ‘can I get’ instead of ‘can I have’ ( or even better ‘MAY I have’). These verbal changes are particularly noticeable when watching the TV quiz ‘Countdown’ and are much more common amongst the younger contestants than the older ones. They make me cringe!
How about David having an evening off ? Ridiculous giving in to Lynda - who does she think she is ? Lucky he agreed to hand over the barn for the duration ( ill advisedly), but surely up to her to sort out the heating, & anything else she needs. As for Jim, of course it won't be performed in Middle English, given the audience, given any audience, really. He can't be unaware of that
When the RSC toured its 2-part musical adaptation of The Canterbury Tales about 10 years ago, Chaucer began the Prologue in Middle Emglish and morphed into Modern English by about the tenth line - at which point the audience visibly relaxed! The tour ended in Canterbury, where else?
Stasia Why shoud we worry about Jack? Is it just because his father may try to abduct him? He certainly wouldn't know or remember anything about Rob. A bit puzzled in case I missed something that's all? :))
I thought josh had tried really hard to help the feed problems. Sounded like he’d paid for the stuff himself. Then princess Pip gets uppity...... I really think Ruth anc David need a good kick up the bum re their parenting skills. Josh’s idea got worked into the farm “feeding ideology” quite well. Well done lad! 👍 Don’t think I’ll be able to stand Lynda’s Christmas carry on. I usually can’t bear them.
For once, David & Ruth didn't rubbish Josh's enterprise, in fact, were quite appreciative & struck a compromise. Pip was ungracious, unpleasant & unfair.
Yes. PtbY - I said the other night that Josh had raced off from the meeting because he had an idea to help - some folk here thought he was only concerned with his own business - but no, as I said, he was really was helping with the farms feed problem! Admittedly his solution was a bit unconventional and Pip was very quick to dismiss his efforts but thank goodness Ruth could see the possibilities of incorporating the stale biscuits into the rations and decided to use Josh’s idea. Put that in your pipe and smoke it precious Pip! 😆
I thought Pip's point was a valid one - Josh should have consulted his family before spending their money. Okay, so it made a mini cliff hanger for us, but she's right that he's not one of Nature's team players.
I do think Elizabeth is going to get in trouble with the cherry picker (not sure what it was actually called but that is what I think it is) and will spell more trouble for LL. Dave and Ruth still believe Elizabeth is still in a better place? Wow, they continue to be disillusioned.
Yes I thought the cherry picker thing was well highlighted for an imminent disaster. Course when it happens it’ll be David’s fault for not going to check the thing with Elizabeth.
..,..D.'s culpability also well highlighted, so stand by for another outburst of 'righteous' fury from Elizabeth that was on display after Nigel's fatal fall.
The possibilities for some sort of disaster tonight are increasing by the day. Slippery boards on the treetop walk, Bert taking a tumble, Cherry Picker out of control, amateur actors In danger, fireworks starting an inferno!! I can hardly wait! Just hope Lizzie hasn’t forgotten to renew LL’s public liability insurance as well .......
Suppose it could’ve been a big windup by the scriptwriters, they did it once before with a party at lower Loxley which turned out to go well, with no problems, but somehow I think this is going to be a bit of a disaster and very bad news for Lizzie. ☹️
The same thought occurred to me when I read the strapline for tonight's episode. Maybe the disaster will simply be Mrs T forgetting to put a note out with the milk bottles, so no milk delivered for breakfast.
I had to google what a cherry picker looked like and now know that they are called a Mechanical Boom Lift. They look just like the sort of apparatus a fire officer would use to rescue someone from a fire. I have seem them used to change lights in public street lights. So a person stands in a square platform and the arm is extended to what ever height is needed to pick. Let's hope the manager actor is totally au faith with the mechanics and Elizabeth has done an assessment and risk analysis of his skills. There again Bert did warn her about the state of the tree top walk!!😱👻💀.
Well I think that is a contender for one of the worst episodes in one of the worst weeks of episodes since I have been listening. Surely Geraldine would have checked exactly what was being done by these so called actors.
Ruari I think is supposed to be a pupil at a genuine Public School -the one Brian and possibly the one that Charles Collingwood attended. (I may be wrong on this) Some advert for Public School education. I didn't know which one of the two was talking until I think Ruari mentioned Ben's name. ....and then to make matters worse Lexi is due back next week.
I agree completely with you on being the most boring week, then it ends with Emma being a total bitch. The show would have been a great success if the little kids weren't there - too bad.
What exactly is Emma threatening in saying 'you haven't heard the last of this'? Elizabeth and/or Geraldine should definitely have viewed the proposed skit before it was performed. I was somewhat relieved that those two young twits 'only' hit a badger and not a child or adult. Sad for the badger of course but it could have been so much worse. What a couple of numpties they are.
Me too LanJan, not knowing which one of the two new tearaways was speaking. Obviously Ruairi is the leader and Ben the follower in their exploits. I think Brian went to Sherborne by the way, so presumably that’s where Ruairi goes to school, too. Don’t suppose they are too keen on how one of their fictional students is being portrayed - if they realise.
As for the ‘disaster’ at LL, not at all what I was expecting, but nobody hurt apparently. However adverse press coverage could do Elizabeth a lot of damage.
Good point of episode; hearing Abby loves being with Kirsty and they came to the event together Bad point; the mention of Lexi’s return next week. But I predict she is only returning to dump Roy, then go back to her family in Bulgaria, resulting in (a) an end to the surrogacy story and (b) leaving the way open for Rot and Kirsty to get together - which Abby would love. You read it here first!!
Ah, wouldn't that be nice ? I wondered before, but K. was too churned up then, & now it's rather complicated, K. being with Philip, as far as we know, & R. will take time to get over Lexi (surely, one way or another, that relationship. Won't survive)
Is Kirsty still living with Roy (co-residing rather than cohabiting)?
Brian and Charles Collingwood both went to Sherborne. I don't think Ruairi's school has ever been named, possibly for fear of libel claims if he continues to be as obnoxious and generally prattish as he's proved so far.
It wouldn’t make sense to me if Lexi comes to Ambridge just to dump Roy. My prediction is that she will stay for awhile, then she will miss her girls, and not able to find work, those will be her excuses to go back.
Found last night varied & eventful rather than boring. Perhaps Jenny will put her foot down & rule that Ruairi spend his school holidays in Ireland with granny & auntie, given she's already gone above & beyond her duty in nurturing her faithless husband's off spring ! R. had moments when he sounded like Freddie, & Ben's voice was too mature - he sounded older than Josh.
Never heard Roy so angry before, & not surprising, as he's in the business &knows how ill managed the evening was, plus Abby will probably have nightmares along with Keira & other children. Emma does explode from time to time, but I don't think she was being a bitch, especially when she met with Elizabeth's incomprehension. Good acting & scripting for E., In denial just as she's been over F.'s sentencing. She wasn't with it all evening, going through the motions of polite interest in proceedings, leaving all the work to the overstretched Geraldine. Cue : a takeover for Lily ( who can do an OU degree later if she wants, which I doubt), Russ is history, Geraldine will leave because she's had enough of LL, & Lily will somehow get Roy back as manager. E. will take a back seat, but, together with Freddie, will enjoy the burgeoning profits from the return of the licence & the excellent skills of Lily & Roy....
Not quite the disaster that we were led to believe was going to happen, which leads way to what I believe will be the next. At the rehearsal David made a point again about Linda and her flaming torches and his hopes she would extinguish them before the fuel store...… a pointer in my view if ever there as one.
Spare a thought for Keira who has had a terrible week - first shoved by jealous Henry, and then exposed by thoughtless adults to nightmare-inducing sights. (Should be worth a consolation ice cream or two!)
Perhaps Lily will return with Russ who will make a valuable contribution to restoring Lower Loxley's fortunes. There has never been any suggestion that he wasn't good at his actual job which must have involved quite a lot of admin.
All a lot of overreacting acting. Surely, on these sort of occasions the purpose of Halloween is to be scared witless. Quite a lot of children play computer games that are realistically more violent and psychologically damaging than spending a night in a wood. They know the evening will be full of goulies, ghosties, long legged beasties, and dangling stuffed bodies. Blood and guts everywhere and an evening of screaming. An event to remember. Mind, I would have been frightened if scary Emma had jumped out, face extended with marshmallows and screaming threats of "you wait and see".
Spicycusion. I do hope Henry wasn't there to witness the cherry picker spectacular.
I don't like the idea of Halloween and as Stasia says, if you're not prepared to get scared, don't go. Elizabeth asked why was Roy acting as if he still worked at LL, because if he had been, 'the disaster' wouldn't have happened. Rory is privileged and callous with it, just like Fred was.
If I had seen something advertised as a family event then I would have expected it to be suitable for little children, and I am not convinced that horror on the level of a realistic hanging body with blood shooting out of its eyes does anybody's mind good.
Of all the reactions to last nights programme, I agree wholeheartedly with Janice and Basia. Personally I would not go anywhere near any Halloween event.
Nor me Mrs P. Simply does not appeal. I am absolutely fed up with the overkill this year with seemingly every TV programme’s cast dressing up in weird costumes and horror make-up. And every high street store full of costumes and masks. Even my local supermaret’s entrance was chock full of pumpkins!
Badgers quite often get hit around the lanes here, and are not reported. They are lovely animals to watch, but I know farmers, whose cattle have been affected by T.B., who are glad to see a dead badger. There have been government sanctioned culls done in this area, carried out quietly to avoid risk of controversy. In fact years ago when there was the first cull I think my own daughter sprung shut traps when she found them. I am torn, liking badgers but knowing farmers who have been badly affected by bovine T.B. Badgers have very strong skulls and occasionally can regain consciousness and recover after being hit by a car.
Stasia re your point about the gruesome games children play. It is not only games but books and TV. The most popular series of books n schools recently has been ""Goosebumps" which has just been produced for children's TV. They are quite gruesome and gory. Interestingly to me is the change of children's attitudes and behaviour. When I first started to take Cub scouts to camp, they would always play a "Wide Game" (hide and seek, or similar) in the dark on the first night of camp. (They are so hyped up they will not sleep until gone 1 am.) Twenty years ago they would roam the camp site in pairs or small groups with no worries at all. Now the children are nervous, and even scared, often predicting unworldly creatures in the dark. Even insisting that they had seen a werewolf last weekend! They were definitely staying together in a much bigger groups, or choosing to stay with a leader throughout the game. So I think that the Grundy and other children would be happy enough in the safe environment of their respective homes; but taking them to the depths of woods in the dark woud be a completely different story. Janice - I was told a few years ago that the local Council has a duty to remove badger road kill but I'm not sure if that still applies. Certainly when I drive round our country lanes to pupils, the occasional dead badger has been removed within a couple of days but foxes remain. But removed by whom I have no idea! I'm not sure whether if Elizabeth had witnessed any of the performance but it is quite unbelievable that if it was that unsuitable for children she would have been so blase (imagine the accent please!) about it. She used to work well with Hayley when producing 'educational' literature for guests' visits, which included school parties. She would be well aware of what was suitable and what wasn't. Although a bit of a damp squib episode, (in that no-one died, except the poor badger) I thought it was quite clever to have two parallel dramas, leaving the listener to wonder where the disaster would happen. It says a lot about the listeners (and the devaluation of the drama) that people (especially on fb and mustardland) felt cheated that no serious physical damage occurred to a character!
I am one who thinks Roy should return to Lower Loxley. He knows Elizabeth well, perhaps too well, but he is such a suitable candidate to work alongside Geraldine and sort LL out. I would hate Lily + Russ, to swan in and take-over whilst Freddie is still elsewhere.
a) Because it was Geraldine's fault for booking those players on hearsay, so it would be the decent thing to do, and b) Because Elizabeth has become impossible to work with, and she needs to get out.
Yes, I agree Maryellen. She may well have had enough recently, having to do just about everything at LL whilst Lizzie is so preoccupied - and with precious few thanks I expect. Perhaps she and Roy could do a job swap: Roy to LL and Geraldine to GG 😉
Agree with b) wholeheartedly, but not with a) because she is hard pressed, & it is down to E., as owner, to check anything that is arranged in haste, & to make the informed final decision.
Geraldine resigning is unlikely, since she has just joined the ranks of the speaking. On the other hand, perhaps she has become a speaking character in order to become part of the wider Ambridge community, but in another capacity.
If Geraldine resigns, Oliver may offer to lend Roy to help Lily out. To be honest, I'm having difficulty maintaining interest in the Lower Loxley storyline, or Home Farm, both businesses seem to have lost momentum.
Dead badgers have to be reported to MAFF I believe, although, I'm not sure about the motives behind it. Probably want to know where the badgers are so that they can cull them! :(
Spiceycushion ,somebody who blogged on the Archers website and may still be with us told me how to do accents. You just keep your finger on the e and run it up and accents appeaser. So blase becomes blasé . You could have had èêēëęė. All very clever.
Have just listened to the mummy episode again. Before the ‘illusion’ face painting The included werewolf’s and various scares took place. Agree that the pouring of blood from eyes is ultra gruesome and scary for little ones but as Basis said if not prepared to be scared don’t go. I find the whole Halloween thing and what I see of it in shops (which has included severed hands )very uncomfortable. Some masks on sale scare me! I wouldn’t take part myself. My daughter had a party at school and on Wednesday night drove home dressed as a witch with a green face decorated with a spider 🕷 web! Thank goodness she wasn’t stopped along the way!
Good morning. I have never seen a chicken coop so I may be very wrong. Would Jill’s chicken be happy here?
ReplyDeleteThey would Ruthy, but not with the small size of their run, they are used to roaming free in the Orchard, which I expect they will continue to do
DeleteYou've done it again Ruthy it's how I imagined it anyway. I'm sure the farmers amongst us can clarify! Jill's 🐓 Would be proud to reside in such splendour .
ReplyDeleteFinally Ben & Raurai have come in from the wilderness who knew they were joined at the hip! Once again it seems we are to be surrounded by young tearaways. Thank goodness for grounded Johnny. As for the fortunes of LL I predict more doom and gloom to come yet 😮 probably before the end of the week!
That is a terrific hen coop - lucky girls ! I spy one of them in the run....
ReplyDeleteSo, Spicy says the spoken about (here, & sometimes on TA) but never speaking Button girls aren't from the Hoi poloi -. I stand corrected, not sure where my assumption came from. Aside from being good at cricket, some impression formed that Molly was a tearaway, & as we know from life, & even TA, wild behaviour isn't background/class/income etc related.
Good point, Ev(? I think) about Brian, so vociferous against Freddie, now to face his own problem offspring.
Fabulous chicken house.
ReplyDeleteI think LL will suffer some major catastrophe before E sorts herself out. There seems to be a lack of staff at this place......sounds like Geraldine does everything.
We need more Lillian in it to liven things up. The whole program seems grey and miserable at the mo. Can’t see Lynda’s play livening anything up.
The Ambridge Observer was on form yesterday - I fell for the gag in the Canterbury Tales item about Sabrina not being able to project her Voice further than her bust! I see Auntie Satya is advising Emma that she may be wrong about Hannah's character........
ReplyDeleteI would love that Chicken coup at the bottom of my garden but after my recent experience with the fox,perhaps not.
ReplyDeleteQuestions- What exactly was Ruari driving?
When did he learn to drive whatever it was?
Did he need to pass a test to drive it?
Apart from holiday times,when could these bosom pals meet?
Why introduce Ruari now when presumably he is back at school this week?
Why have we not heard song and verse how they both did in their exams ?
I have a feeling that brief mention was made of Ben's results but perhaps not.
Half term, at some schools goes on for 2 weeks. No idea what he was driving, but unlikely to be legal, as they're under 17 ? Maybe it was a motorbike. Think they've had plenty of time to bond over all the holidays down the years. Mention made several times about their friendship
DeletePositive mention of Ben's results was made.
Not just in the holidays, they have probably been texting daily in termtime. It was either a four wheel drive or a quad bike (impressions differ in this household!)
DeleteWasn't it some off road vehicle ?
DeleteFarm equipment I assumed.
Will did his best to inject some responsibility into them, and I got the strong impression that Ben had his fathers cautious gene well to the fore.
But then Ruari had Brian's strong ability to overcome any dissent equally to the fore.
Ruthy that is a wonderful chicken coop.
And a pleasure to admire.
It would look good in Linda's garden too, beside the Shepherds hut.
I'm sure you must take great pleasure in finding these wonderful pictures to illustrate our blog. Thank you so much.
I assumed it was a quad bike, which farmers' children would ride around the farm and adjacent private land from quite an early age (at their parents' discretion), but presumably needs the full driving licence on public roads.
DeleteWow Ruthy, what a super posh henhouse.
ReplyDeleteThese two Siamese boys need an operation pronto. Ruairi is clearly the dominant one and Ben is simply the follower. As Ruairi said, it is all down to his very expensive education. Is he the school bully or is that the way they are taught to view their position in the world. I wonder if his private school has taught him to be rude in Latin.
Sounded like they were in some sort of covered quad bike or tractor.
I would advise Ben to go back to his bedroom to play his music and games. He should stay there until Ruairi departs for Dublin and his Irish family.
I thought their little escape was totally out of place in this storyline.
Another thought, Elizabeth gave us enough clues to figure out that something nasty is going to happen on Halloween.
Ben and Ruairi were driving a 4x4 that belonged to Home Farm. Both Ben and Ruairi would have been driving for years on the respective farmland of their homes. I know the five daughters of two farmers in my home village (they were cousins) all passed their driving tests on their 17th birthdays, or thereabouts, because they had been driving vehicles around the orchards and cornfields since their feet could reach the pedals.
ReplyDeleteRuairi is 17 in November and Ben 17 next March. It is a pity that both are being played by actors ten years older than their characters. However the new editor (last night was his first episode apparently) has at least used two established characters and not imported some unlikely new ones.
Considering how Alice and Kate behave it is not really surprising that Ruairi is an 'entitled oik' as someone has described him! He has been brought up by the same couple as them! Jennifer has been the most awful snob for many years!
I absolutely love the hen house in the picture. Last year when visiting the Kent County Show my son had to stop me from purchasing a 'package deal' of a small hen house, small run and three birds for £200. I thought that was a bargain but he said my garden wasn't big enough! But I have plans to cut down a holly tree which I planted twenty-five years ago and which now shades the whole of the bottom 10ft! So next year's visit may end differently!
BTW The description of the vehicle was given by Ruairi in last night's episode.
DeleteBrian too is a non-state school product and very much wanted his only son to be brought up in the same mould.
DeleteRuairi was born on 14 November 2002 so will be 16 next month.
DeleteHaving read the cast list in RT for this week’s episodes I knew we were going to hear from B and R, so I was sort of waiting to hear their voices.
ReplyDeleteWhen they first came on I thought they were playing some sort of video game and it took me quite a while to realise they were driving an actual vehicle and not a virtual one!
I commented on the voices on the last blog, so won’t repeat here but agree with (I think ) LanJan saying all the young male characters could be played by just one or two actors now, thus saving the BBC money - apart from Johnny and Jazzer who are unique and irreplaceable.
About the chicken coop Ruthy - very pretty but very small and only suitable for a little garden and 2 or 3 hens. Would look lovely in an orchard with some traditional beehives.
My dad’s henhouse was a very disreputable looking old shed cobbled up from old wood, fence panels, old doors and goodness knows what else. But it did the job and could house up to 20 nesting and roosting hens. It also had a very large run surrounded by 8ft high chicken wire. Not at all pretty to look at but provided my parents with eggs and chickens throughout the war and for many years afterwards. I hated being sent to collect the eggs though because of rats scurrying around, after the dropped chicken feed.
Archerphile, your description has reminded me of my experience with chickens which I had forgotten.
DeleteMy mother's family, Greenwich, were all rehoused around Eltham and Orpington, and continued the life that they had grown up with pre-war.
The aunt that I spent much of my time with in Kidbrooke kept chickens in a house and run similar to that you describe. I seem to remember that the end of that London garden was completely taken over with the hens and their run.
I used to help her to cook up the mash and take it to the hens and I was allowed to collect the eggs.
All of the above was before I was five or six years old.
Some of the happy memories of my childhood.
Your mention of rats Archerfile reminded me of when I kept about 30 free range chickens. They roosted and nested in an old stone farm shed. At one time we seemed to be getting less eggs so I stayed very quietly in a dark corner of the shed. There was one chicken in a nest box, and I noticed a little face peeping out of a hole just under the roof. The moment the hen laid, started cackling, and jumped off the nest, the rat climbed down the wall went into the nest box, gathered the egg up inbetween his chin and the top of his front paws and then managed to climb up again gripping the slates to get a hold. I was very impressed by the rat's dexterity and his patience in waiting for the hen to lay, but not too pleased about losing my eggs!
DeleteSean O'Connor got rid of the one person who could act ,namely Real Tom.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think either Ruari or Ben sounded at all realistic.
I agree with Archerphile that both Johnnie and Jazzer are played by actors who can actually act.
Give them a chance, Lanjan ! They've only had a few lines so far, ( & remember, as everyone points out frequently, their vocal equipment has had little exercise...)
DeleteWell Carolyn I deeded to listen again to last night's episode and this is what I have come up with.
ReplyDelete1) I thought the actress playing Elizabeth sounded very realistic.
She sounded exhausted as she would be.
Her stupid brother going on about his grandchild.......
Doesn't he realise that other people's grandchildren are not in the least bit interesting to anybody but them especially to someone without grandchildren of their own.?
OK so I know he was trying to take her mind off Freddie's situation but really...
2) Ben is a wimp.
It may well have been Ruari's idea but why did he let him take the blame ?
Is he so weak that he will blindly follow what his cousin told him to do?-yes
3) I don't blame the actors for sounding the same but I blame the editor for employing them ,Carolyn
4) Not sure I like the sound of Ruari .
Bit of a smooth talker methinks.
Wouldn't trust him.
5) Spicycushion mentioned that it was the new editor's first night last night so I am assuming that it is the first of a 5 week stint and will do what I did about 16 months ago and see if there is any pattern regarding which characters appear -or don't.
Just to remind you in case you are interested.
5 weeks of Archers programmes are recorded in 8 days = about 4 episodes each day
My theory is that they do not need to record the episodes in order and for example several of the characters in one episode may appear in episodes 5 12 and 20 which means only a certain number of actors need to be in the studio at any one time if you see what I mean.
I assume that possibly they record for 4days a week so a full year would be able to be recorded in about 84 days .
21 weeks of recording which actually doesn't sound a lot to me.
I agree with the points you make Lanjan, I also remember your research on the BBC blog, let us know your conclusions.
DeleteArcherphile I also thought they were playing a video game, directly before their scene D said to E that he bet they were doing us that! I was horrified when I gathered that what they were doing was for real!
ReplyDeleteI don't recall such difficulty in the past with recognising characters :- Dan, Doris, Phil, Jill, Walter and Nelson and even now the established ones are ok Helen, Emma, Fallon etc. With more recent editions ( but not Johnny) that is not the case, it is obviously a known fact and that is why names are used constantly in a way you would not normally do in real life.
Did I mention a book I was given called"Humbridge, -an everyday Story of Scriptwriting Folk " by Anthony Parkin who used to be the agricultural editor of"The Archers"?
ReplyDeleteMy friend picked it up from a Charity Shop and it seems brand new .
I am not surprised.
I thought I may get some idea of how the scriptwriting team works.
I thought that possibly the script writers had a meeting with the editor who outlined the storyline for the following 5 weeks and assigned a week or maybe two to each script writer.
I assumed then that if Writer A and Writer B were doing consecutive weeks they would chat about what they were going to do while they were at the meeting and go away and write the scripts .
However in this book they all seem to go their separate ways and 'phone each other to check up on things.
The script writer in the book obviously knows more about faming than the editor who keeps changing her mind about what she wants to happen.
I quote
Ed-The listeners don't want to hear about bloody silage ,whatever that is.
(SW then tries to explain why it is important)
Ed-Anyway I am cutting out all that crap.
You'll have to find something else for Farmer Dark to do.
That is about half way through the book.
SW is livid and is going to do something about it.
Can hardly wait to see what he decides upon.
(The Editor is called Annabelle by the way)
Yes, do tell us please.
DeleteI hope I haven't fallen at the second fence.
ReplyDeleteI only counted six characters this evening.
Did I miss somebody out?
Elizabeth,Geraldine,Tom.Hannah,Helen and Johnnie.
Questions -Why does nobody in a Midlands County speak with a West Midlands accent?
Geraldine sounds very efficient so why is Elizabeth doing bits of her job or rather forgetting to do some of it?
If Geraldine is the Manager why is she not doing it all ?
I think that Tom realises that friendship with Jazzer is of greater importance than a bit on the side with HH.
And HH doesn't realise so much as the concept of friendship, never mind friendship itself.
DeleteI am probably so far off on this - maybe Tom and Hannah will become a dating couple? Poor Jazzer - I remember when Hannah first came back, Jazzer made a beeline to get to her at the Bull.
ReplyDeleteJohnny seems to be distracted - was it because he was looking forward to young farmers party or still trying to forget Tom and Hannah's frolic in the sack? I would be very upset to continue to get woken up from a squeaking bed next door.
With you there Ruthy - poor Johnny 🙄
DeleteMuckspreader - Thank you. You may have gathered I was not a Maths teacher! :))
ReplyDeleteMore and more hints that there is going to be some sort of disaster at Lower Loxley at Halloween. Sure it will be something to do with the treetop walk. I think either Geraldine or Lizzie mention the young drama students could do some sort of performance up there......! 😵
ReplyDeleteLady R and Archerphile - I'm pleased I'm not the only one who thought the boys were playing some kind of video game and not driving an actual vehicle.
ReplyDeleteI have a really bad feeling about LL at Halloween and feel something awful is going to happen which will wake Elizabeth up to the problems her business faces. Geraldine is doing so much and was it Bert who said the tree top walk needed attention?
Maybe Johnny should buy some earplugs so that he won't be disturbed!
I'm another ! Didn't cotton till Will piped up.
DeleteI too subscribed to the video game idea.
ReplyDeleteI think Johnny's noisy ablutions and speedy exit were owing to the fact that, with his knowledge of the 'goings on' between his house mates, he feels less than comfortable with the situation in his home.
Wasn't he making g special efforts with ablutions because there's a girl he fancies at the Young Farmers' do ? That's what Helen figured.
DeleteYes, Lou, Helen asked if a pretty Lou ie Louise.
DeleteJohnny also worries about Freddie.
ReplyDeleteWith Neil laid up, I wonder if Hannah will try to assert herself.
Basia, I'm sure she will.
DeleteI heard the intention to do so in her last night.
I wonder if Johnny would be better off going back to live at Bridge Farm. Thus leaving T&H to get on with their ‘activities’, be on the spot for early milking when the dairy cows arrive and benefitting from Pat’s home cooking - or perhaps that’s not such a good idea, all those bean stews!
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with a tasty bean stew with dumplings, Archerphile, I'm about to make one myself, and mine are usually come out well, although I'm not sure that Pat's recipe sounds all that appetising. However, I think you're absolutely right - Johnny should go back to Bridge Farm asap, where he can just fall out of bed for milking in the morning, followed by a proper farm breakfast cooked by Pat.
DeleteHave you asked Pat? 🙂
DeleteApologies for denigrating bean stew Suz - no objections personally but I seem to remember that, before he left Bridge Farm, Johnny complained that all they’d had for days was bean stew and he was fed up with it (no pun intended😉)
DeleteAs for asking Pat, Maryellen; well, no, that’s a good point, but I suspect she might be delighted to have him back under her wing. Though I have lost track of the bedroom arrangements at Bridge Farm - they might have to get the Ambridge Fairy to conjure up another one!
Didn't Olwen have quite a bit to say about Pat's stews? Perhaps they have a bit more taste since she's been following her friend's advice.
DeleteMind you, if it's got dumplings then I'm happy to come and get my portion. Is suet back in favour with the health police yet? I know lard is so suet can't be too far behind : )
I'm a veggie, OWAS, so don't use suet, but I find I can make a very acceptable dumpling by just rubbing in some Stork margarine - makes them a bit richer, but still nice. I used to get special vegetarian suet, but found it rather bitter, so don't bother now. You'll have to pop round for a taste when I eventually manage to make my stew. No time today - have been delivering an underweight hedgehoglet (brought in late last night by my big lurcher, Harry - a regular occurance at this time of the year) to a rescue centre, and it seems to have taken up most of the day!
DeleteSuz - bless you for rescuing the hedgehoglet.
Delete😇 well done Suz. Your lurcher must have had a mouth full of prickles!
DeleteGeraldine sounds so reliable & efficient, it contrasted painfully with Elizabeth last night, who does little, & can't even remember what she has or hasn't done any more. G.was patient & polite, but one could hear in her voice a certain reluctance to contact Oliver, to add to her long list, which she itemized. Agree with others, trouble is on the way at LL.
ReplyDeleteHannah was abrasive & sharp tongued as she often is, & clearly takes it for granted now, that it's 'sex on demand' with Tom. He's such a wuss. Agree, Mrs P & Basia, intentions perfectly obvious where Neil is concerned.
What job did Elizabeth actually do for a job before she married Nigel?
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know please?
I thought that Geraldine was starting to get a bit annoyed with Elizabeth and started to list the things she ,Geraldine had done and had still to do.
Then I think she thought about it and realised what Elizabeth is going through and was very kind and helpful.
I don't know who the actress is but I am impressed.
Elizabeth was a journalist on the Borchester Echo for a while. She had been planning to do some sort of environmental studies course in Birmingham, I think, but got a rather poor A-level in Geography (she needed a good one for the course) and a good one in English. Jack Woolley was the owner of the Echo and gave her a chance. I can't remember how long she did that.
DeleteArcherphile - I agree Pat would probably be pleased to have Johnny back under her wing, I think she was quite taken aback (as was Tom) when Johnny announced he wanted to join Tom. I imagine It would be easier for Johnny to take the prospective girlfriend he rushed home and got smartened up for, back to Tom's than Bridge Farm, I imagine, especially if involved 'goings on'!
ReplyDeleteI can't answer your question LJ.
DeleteThe only ' job' I can remember Lizzie doing was helping Nigel with Mr Snowy, the ice cream van.
But because I cannot remember does not mean that Elizabeth did not have any job at all. Others will.
I think Johnny will feel better about Tom and Hannah when he's got someone he can bed too.
DeleteWhy do Ruth and David need an overdraft?
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the money left to Ruth by her mother?
I don't recall the details but I think they mentionned some months ago that it was long gone. Something about the market dropping and the house not selling for as much as they hoped, I think.
DeleteOr maybe it got spent keeping Jill in stock with ballistic flapjack ingredients.
Ruth's legacy, as the only child of a successful businessman, was unbelievably meagre. Heather must have gone on far more cruises than she owned up to.
DeleteThe Episode of Unsatisfactory Conversations. David seemed quite cross that no solution had been found to the problem of poor milk yields, yet everyone had ideas, all had flaws - what did he expect ? I would have thought that he was used to varying profits in his business, so much depending on weather conditions. Brookfield won't be alone, so he might just have to accept the loss, & work to damage limitation. The contrast between his attitude, & Ruth's, to Josh & Pip was quite painful. How come they are going to continue allowing space for Lynda's egotistical project when it it interferes with their work ? They clearly don't value their son's farm machinery business one jot.
ReplyDeleteAs for Jazzer & Tom ! Ok. nice that they are mates again, but their lack of self awareness is staggering, & neither have the slightest clue about Hannah. What's all that about respect for someone who shows none for anyone, unless it suits her interests to pretend it occasionally ? Lust is blind.
I agree with you Carolyn about Hannah. She seems as hard as nails to me and not someone who has to be 'protected' by anyone. Tom is so weak.
DeleteYep....agree re Hannah.
ReplyDeleteI am sick of David and Ruth not supporting josh. Good grief, he’s trying so hard to get that business going. I’d like to see what they’d be like if he’d turned into a layabout that didn’t get out of bed till lunch time.
Aargh!!! Makes my blood boil.
And don’t get me started on little miss perfect Pip and the out of wedlock kid.
I’ve gone off most of them in this storyline at the mo.
Thank goodness for jazzer.
Bring back some Clarrie and Susan banter.
It is a bit strange because with the amount of land they have they could easily have let Josh have sole and free use of a field for him to use for his own purposes, and an encouraging father would have been helping him build or acquire a shed so he could work under cover; but I suppose it is all part of the storyline. In return they would have him around to help in times when an extra pair of hands was needed.
DeleteWell done, Hannah (OKH)! Your gentle prompting of Tom at the end of yesterday's episode to keep friendships in repair, has got him and Jazzer. back together. It's not the first time the pair have fallen out - there was that insensitive joke Jazzer made when Helen was in prison which got him fired - but it didn't last so long this time, thanks to you.
ReplyDeleteJazzer uses the word "numpty" to describe stupid people. Well he can share that label with is "bestie"friend Tom. Two adult men heading for forty years of age acting like adolescents. They have little awareness of how they are being manipulated, and I do hope Neil realises the real potential in Hannah.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand Josh's role in the farm business. Ruth and David expect him to undertake farm chores, more so since Pip's pregnancy, yet he is trying to run his own business. Does he get paid?
Why don't they let him lease the barn housing the gin still?
Pip is still stalling her words. Irritating.
Could it be because the Fairbrothers are already leasing Hollowtree with barn included?
DeleteI wonder where Josh was dashing off to last night during that turgid family meeting? It sounded to me as if he had suddenly come up with a good idea for solving the farm’s problem about what to do with the herd, winter feed etc. I do hope he has the perfect solution, just to prove he is as valuable to the farm as Saint Pip and so that David will pay him some respect for once.
ReplyDeleteAnd while on the subject of Josh - how can Ruth and David even consider that using the barn and farmyard for the village play is more important than Josh’s business? Fancy telling him, in no uncertain terms, to shift all his stuff just so Lynda can pretend she is a great theatrical impresario and commandeer (and perhaps endanger) the area with her massive cast and flaming torches.
I am amazed at their priorities. Family comes first, I should have thought.
Bah humbug! 🤨
Your 2nd para, pretty much what I wrote last night. Can see they might have said 'yes' to Lynda initially, just to shut her up (which is mostly the default reaction of everyone when she makes demands) but it beats me why they don't stop her now they know the space is needed. Ah, but it's just Josh's stuff & he doesn't t count...
DeleteI didn't think Josh had another brilliant idea, but was chasing some skirt at the Young Farmers', like Johnnie; OR something to do with Jill & the new hens OR setting up a surprise spookiness thrill at LL for tonight.
Sorry for echoing your thoughts Carolyn, am having real problems using this blog at the moment - can’t get logged on, then seem to have posts missing, I am almost giving up!
DeleteSo didn’t read thoroughly enough though yesterday’s comments.
However, I am glad we are of the same opinion and it’s not just my bias towards Josh and away from the parental tactics at Brookfield.
On the one hand, I don't think David and Ruth should now tell Lynda she can't have the barn. They offered it in the belief that it would be available because Josh would keep his stuff where he'd promised to and not let it get out of hand.
DeleteOn the other, when Josh had his light-bulb moment and rushed off, I assumed, like Archerphile, that he'd had an idea that would help the farm.
Archerphil, I felt the same as you, Josh had an idea and rushed off to see if his idea could be worked out.
ReplyDeleteI agree....perhaps selling some piece of machinery and donating the money towards the extra feed?
DeleteLanJan- I believe Elizabeth as employed as Manager of the LoLo Conference Centre. Then Nigel's and hers relationship developed into a romance; all of which was vehemently opposed by Julia.
ReplyDeleteThe actress who plays Geraldine is Bharti Patel who is probably better known as Rhumha Hanif, the midwife, now married to Dr Heston Carter in "Doctors." Lovely lady who has a beautiful speaking voice.
All summer I have seen farmers on Countryfile (and heard on Farming Today) bemoaning the fact that because of the lack of rain they were feeding stored winter feed in the summer because there was no grass. Seems to be a distinct lack of planning at Brookfield!
Ruth was left about £250k (from some sort of insurance policy I believe) as well as her parents' house which was, OWIAS says, sold for less than expected (said David at one point.) Ruth said at the time of the cattle disease spread, that the bulk of the money had been invested in long term investments as well as being deposited in a pension pot, which would now be untouchable.
If Johnnie moves I think he'll have to say why, seeing he was so keen to have independence with Tom. Could be awkward!
Bharti Patel has been on TA before, taking a part during the Helen/Rob story. I can’t quite remember exactly who she played but I remember people commenting at the time how beautifully she spoke and how kind she was to Helen
DeleteOh, I remember now - she spoke to Helen on the phone from the women’s abuse centre, or perhaps the hospital offering help after Helen had been admitted.
Thanks Spicycushion
ReplyDeleteI started to write in agreement with you,Archerphile in regard to the way Ruth and David are treating Josh.
Was it not St Pip who hadn't noticed that they hadn't enough feed or whatever ?
Of course she has other things on her mind now so is excused if she forgets something.
I didn't think Josh appeared to be that interested in what they had been discussing .
He made his point.
They turned him down.
Nobody else came up with any viable suggestions so Josh thought it was a waste of his time being at the meeting.
I also thought like you ,Carolyn that Josh's disappearance was maybe to do with Jill's
Then I thought I would listen again and see if I had missed something.
Well I hadn't.
I am confused though about the use of the barn for Lynda's Christmas Show.
maryellen, the numpty (I have taken to that word) Fairbrothers are only leasing the barn because Pip can twist her parents round her little finger. At least Josh is industrious and can mend and renovate old farm machinery, as well as cover for endless tasks around the farm. Pip only comes up with ideas that cost lots of money, such as the new milking parlour.
ReplyDeleteRuth and David should be encouraging Josh in his business venture by providing him with a committed space to work on his farm machinery. But instead they are providing two incomers with valuable work accommodation that would benefit their son.
Pip gets a free ticket every time with David and Ruth. I commented when they were purchasing the new milking parlor and how they would recoup the money. Now it seems we have the answer - they can't. When will Pip get a nanny to look after Rosie so she can resume her full time farm duties - so that Josh can pursuit his farm equipment business - which he has keen interests to see it grows.
ReplyDeleteI also don't get why they are letting Lynda use the barn for the show, especially if it inconveniences them. I don't think any sound business person would allow it.
Geraldine - how old is she? If not for her, LL would be in pieces right now.
Another thing I catch last night - David and Peggy thought E was being brighter? And David thought the Halloween show was a good distraction for E? Are they fools and can't see what is really going on with E? They all need to step up and see what what they can do to help.
Yes Ruthy , I would say that David is not very bright.
DeleteI suspect that he thinks Elizabeth is feeling better.because he has thoughtfully been round to tell her about how her great niece has managed to sleep for 4hours on the trot without her poor mummy having to get up at night to see to her.
What a thoughtful brother he is.
In fact I think that they have all been a waste of space.
The family that is.
Geraldine and Bert are doing their best for her.
Yes, Ruthy, it is odd, isn't it. The Archer clan are notably obtuse when it comes to seeing what is going on in people. There are countless examples. Right now, they fret impotently when E. presents in istakea let distress, but she only has to smile once & talk about a topic other than Freddie for less than 2 minutes & they take it she's 'getting better'. In fact, the situation is worse, since she gave up all hope of an appeal.
Delete' unmistakeable' distress, as opposed to garbage blossoming from inefficient fingers.
DeletePip will get a nanny when Ruth and David fork out for a nanny.
DeleteHow. About employing Emma?
DeleteShe must have a spare hour or two when she isn't cleaning,working at the chicken factory ,working at the tea shop and being a Parish Councillor.
I reckon Ruth and David know their eldest son better than we do. It's part of Josh's inherent entrepreneurial instinct (which I admire) that if you give him an inch, he'll take a mile, and there have been countless occasions on which he's put his business, or wanted to put it, before family and farm, Jill's hens being a recent example. I like the lad for all that (partly because he's Brookfield's best actor). I expect he will outgrow Brookfield before long, end of story.
DeleteWell there is another thing we agree on,Maryellen.
DeleteI also think that Josh is Brookfield's best actor.
I agree with all the comments about Ruth and David's favouritism towards their saintly daughter. David's gushing over the baby makes me feel nauseous - sorry if that sounds harsh. Josh should be encouraged in his go-getter attitude and desire to make money but of course he also has to consider the other family members and how his business affects them.
DeleteI agree with Maryellen about Josh on both points.
DeleteI am prepared to give David the benefit of knowing his son will push boundaries unless reigned in from time to time, whilst at the same time ' allowing ' but not extending his paternal generosity in farm space.
Molly and Tilly are coming along nicely, perhaps we'll hear them soon.
ReplyDeleteMolly, Tilly, Rory, Ben. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteHenry’s second daddy is waiting in the wings me thinks!!!
ReplyDeleteWas tonight's episode so boring? I wasn't really interested in Brian reprimanding Ruari because you know there will be a next time and will probably be a lot worse. Nor Helen reprimanding Henry, who is 6 going on 3. What happened to the Halloween event going on at LL? Was that suppose to be today, or happening Saturday?
ReplyDeleteI think it goes over several days Thursday to Saturday but the hired in “entertainment” could only do Saturday so Bert and co have to dress up and scare people! No doubt we will have a dip into it all in the remaining few days.
DeleteFriday and Saturday for the acting troupe, I think.
DeleteI am looking for images for future posts. Does anyone know the name of the particular milking parlor that Pip had the family invest in? I remember hearing it when they were researching it but don't remember now. I know there is someone who knows this answer :)
ReplyDeleteAny other suggestions?
I think it was a herringbone milking system.
DeleteWhat type is planned at Bridge Farm?
DeleteI think they decided on a mobile flip-over milking bale which would actually be kept in one of the barns. (Rather than out in the field) As they won’t have that many to milk they can do one lot, then flip the milkers over to the other side where the second lot of cows would be waiting, ad infinitum. Saves time apparently.
DeleteSo what did we learn last night ? One M. Gibson is still a stinker, &, what's worse, has no style when hosting post shoot jollies;. Insight into the Brian/Ruairi relationship - at least the latter calls the former Father, not Pater, some concession to (21; Lee is good at talking to the young, Helen tried, but given Henry's confusion, hard for him to distinguish between a teacher & a daddy ( though he does have Tony & Tom at home, which should give him a clue)
ReplyDeleteHow ironic!
ReplyDeleteBrian telling Ruairi off - the birds must have been terrified with you crashing through Spitfire, disturbing them.
How does he think the birds would feel the next day with the beaters crashing and hollering through the woods, then the guns blasting them out of the sky?
Double standards or what?
I’m glad Brian didn’t really enjoy his days shooting!
Good point Archerphile, I'm glad you picked up on that, at least we've been spared the sound of the guns which some of us found disturbing in the past.
DeleteI am glad too,Archerphile.
DeleteDreadful practice.
I have found every episode to be boring this week.
I am not looking forward to the burgeoning romance between Helen and the Karate Kid who obviously is wasted in the job he is doing and would be the perfect counsellor.
I don't think I will want to listen when the rehearsals get going.
I have never liked the Christmas Shows.
I am definitely not buying a ticket.
I think we should have an episode where Freddie meets Ruarie and Ben and Jake and George turn up as well .
That leaves another two characters so perhaps Uncle Tom and Rex could join them .
We could then play the game called "Who's speaking now?"
👏😅
Delete😂😂With Toby as the understudy. We're spoilt for choice when it comes to soundalikes.
DeleteRuthy, I also found last night boring. Ruairi is 16 but sounds 26, and Brian did a classic double bind. As a punishment for his and Ben's escapade, He told Will to donate Ruairi's wage to a charity, Then after lunch handed him a wad of money. Given that the Aldridges are up to their necks in debt how can they afford to pay for a private boarding education for Ruairi? Such schools are at least £30,000+ per year. A salary most people, even in Ambridge would love to earn.
ReplyDeleteI can only say to Helen, you are a farmer, you have sown the seed and now Henry is producing the product. Daddy abondoned him and Lee doesn't like him. We reap what we sow.
I wish speaking Henry would be banished to his bedroom to resurface when the same age as Ruairi and Ben.
😁👍
DeleteAnd as every farmer/allotment holder/Gardener knows, you also 'reap' a lot of stuff you didn't deliberately sow! I'm pleased the new editor seems to be grasping the nettle of how to handle the long-term effects on Henry and the family in general. There have been occasional references from Helen - and to unknown quantity that is Jack,
ReplyDelete✔️👍
ReplyDeleteAs every allotment holder etc knows it is important to get rid of what we do not want. Helen should have avoided planting Titchner in her life, instead she let him grow on her and like club root has contaminated her son. As Helen said casually (as though such behaviour it is ok)Henry pushes other children at school. It is Jack we should be worrying about.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt Lee will apply some wonderful miracle grow, and all will be healthier in the garden at Bridge Farm.
Archer didn't know Titchener was a coercive controller when she moved in with him, any more than her grandmother did when she welcomed him into her home and family. Many a gardener has been taken with a plant only to find out its bad habits when it has become too established to remove easily. Not to mention the undesirables you didn't deliberately introduce!
DeleteI don't think the sensei will be able to repair the damage just by being a nice guy himself. If indeed he is - he could be another coercive controller!
Lets hope not Maryellen, it is time she found a nice guy.
DeleteSome of the biggest names in the childcare scene have been fooled by peodophiles. like coercive controllers they are very adept at hiding their true selves, any one of us could have fallen.
Actually, I can't see why pushing Keira was such a big deal. Most 6-7 yr. olds do that, in the playground, when excited about anything. Not as if he pulled her hair, punched or kicked. Not saying the reprimand + chat about working as a team wasn't called for, it was, but in itself not an indicator of a particularly disturbed child. The tears, & what he said to Helen, ' Lee doesn't like me', on the other hand, probably was.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone else noted, that this weeks editor, is Huw Kinnear-Jones, who I thought left that post a year ago?
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is a link to the new editor taking over, and about time.
As to TA - I just don't trust Josh, He is schemeing as is Hannah. What a "minx" she is.
No way Miriam.
DeleteJosh and HH are poles apart
He is not a schemer just the elder son of a family who is trying to help.
And Ruth accepted his effort to help.
DeleteEditor ? - This has been mentioned on fb this week. It looks like sloppy editing of the RT article/information. The web page gave the new editor "whatshisname" (Sorry can't remember!) as editor this week and next. However the cast lists, usually printed after the Friday night's episode, have been removed from the web page so there is now no information about the production team or who will appear in the week's episodes.
DeleteThere is a lady who posts on TA fb page (very knowledgeable about TA history and who has reference books!) who knows someone on the production team and she confirmed that Monday's episode was the first done solely under the auspices of the new editor.
I agree with Carolyn regarding pushing etc having spent last week at Group Camp with Beavers (6-8), Cubs 8-10/11), Scouts (11=14) and Explorers (14-18) I can confirm that pushing/ jostling and generally elbowing is common in the two younger Sections. The older ones do not touch each other, presumably as taught in schools etc. Perhaps Henry has just got to learn. BTW None of the Beavers spoke as babyish as Henry!
Lynda would never say ..."tell myself or Robert"
ReplyDeleteYou're quite right, Lanjan. I was shocked. A solecism well sent up in the excellent R4 sitcom 'Cabin Pressure', and one of which Lynda would never be guilty.
DeleteI'm not sure that schoolchildren are taught about reflexive pronouns nowadays. The scriptwriters are probably young.
DeleteWhat's a reflexive pronoun?
DeleteThat is no excuse ,Janice.
DeleteOur resident proof reader Bootgums would have been onto that like a shot had she been employed by the BBC.
They have people in the BBC who supposedly know how to pronounce names of places (like Winwick is pronounced Winnick ) so they should have someone in the Archers team who knows a bit about grammar .
Surely the actress playing Lynda should have known?
People do use 'myself' in a mock pompous way - it's all part of the playing with spoken language that keeps it so much more alive than ancient grammatical rules which nowadays only apply (if at all) to written language, and mainly the academic kind...
DeleteI suspect the scriptwriter knows that Lynda can be pretentious, and knows that 'myself' when 'me' is called for is pretentious/hypercorrective, but pitched it wrongly: this wouldn't be Lynda's kind of pretension, as it's a rather uneducated kind. Lynda's pretensions are more elevated, like putting on the Canterbury Tales instead of a panto, and her deliciously enunciated foreign phrases, which I love.
DeleteMust say I have also noticed how often ‘myself’ is used when it should have been ‘me’.
DeleteIt seems to be becoming as prevalent as ‘can I get’ instead of ‘can I have’ ( or even better ‘MAY I have’). These verbal changes are particularly noticeable when watching the TV quiz ‘Countdown’ and are much more common amongst the younger contestants than the older ones. They make me cringe!
David, you should have given your technical assistance to Elizabeth, rather than giving in to Lynda's instructions.
ReplyDeleteHow about David having an evening off ? Ridiculous giving in to Lynda - who does she think she is ? Lucky he agreed to hand over the barn for the duration ( ill advisedly), but surely up to her to sort out the heating, & anything else she needs. As for Jim, of course it won't be performed in Middle English, given the audience, given any audience, really. He can't be unaware of that
DeleteWhen the RSC toured its 2-part musical adaptation of The Canterbury Tales about 10 years ago, Chaucer began the Prologue in Middle Emglish and morphed into Modern English by about the tenth line - at which point the audience visibly relaxed! The tour ended in Canterbury, where else?
DeleteStasia Why shoud we worry about Jack? Is it just because his father may try to abduct him? He certainly wouldn't know or remember anything about Rob.
ReplyDeleteA bit puzzled in case I missed something that's all? :))
Maybe meaning nature or nurture re jack.
DeletePossibly meaning that Henry may push Jack around.
DeleteI thought josh had tried really hard to help the feed problems. Sounded like he’d paid for the stuff himself. Then princess Pip gets uppity......
ReplyDeleteI really think Ruth anc David need a good kick up the bum re their parenting skills. Josh’s idea got worked into the farm “feeding ideology” quite well.
Well done lad! 👍
Don’t think I’ll be able to stand Lynda’s Christmas carry on. I usually can’t bear them.
For once, David & Ruth didn't rubbish Josh's enterprise, in fact, were quite appreciative & struck a compromise. Pip was ungracious, unpleasant & unfair.
DeleteYes. PtbY - I said the other night that Josh had raced off from the meeting because he had an idea to help - some folk here thought he was only concerned with his own business - but no, as I said, he was really was helping with the farms feed problem!
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly his solution was a bit unconventional and Pip was very quick to dismiss his efforts but thank goodness Ruth could see the possibilities of incorporating the stale biscuits into the rations and decided to use Josh’s idea.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it precious Pip! 😆
I couldn't help wondering if the biscuits would be bad for the cows' teeth.
DeleteDairy milk chocolate biscuits perhaps!
DeleteI thought Pip's point was a valid one - Josh should have consulted his family before spending their money. Okay, so it made a mini cliff hanger for us, but she's right that he's not one of Nature's team players.
DeleteJosh is the one person at Brookfield with a bit of nous.
DeleteYes LanJan, he has nous. Loads of it, but as Maryellen says, he is not a team player, and surely farming is about team work ?
DeletePip mentioned bourbon cream biscuits. Perhaps she was concerned that if fed to dairy cows they would produce chocolate-flavoured milk.
DeleteI do think Elizabeth is going to get in trouble with the cherry picker (not sure what it was actually called but that is what I think it is) and will spell more trouble for LL. Dave and Ruth still believe Elizabeth is still in a better place? Wow, they continue to be disillusioned.
ReplyDeleteTelehandler? I was puzzled too.
DeleteYes I thought the cherry picker thing was well highlighted for an imminent disaster. Course when it happens it’ll be David’s fault for not going to check the thing with Elizabeth.
ReplyDelete..,..D.'s culpability also well highlighted, so stand by for another outburst of 'righteous' fury from Elizabeth that was on display after Nigel's fatal fall.
DeleteThe possibilities for some sort of disaster tonight are increasing by the day. Slippery boards on the treetop walk, Bert taking a tumble, Cherry Picker out of control, amateur actors In danger, fireworks starting an inferno!!
DeleteI can hardly wait!
Just hope Lizzie hasn’t forgotten to renew LL’s public liability insurance as well .......
Could it be that with all these clues leading to catastrophe, the event actually goes well?
ReplyDeleteMaybe not.
Suppose it could’ve been a big windup by the scriptwriters, they did it once before with a party at lower Loxley which turned out to go well, with no problems, but somehow I think this is going to be a bit of a disaster and very bad news for Lizzie. ☹️
DeleteThe same thought occurred to me when I read the strapline for tonight's episode. Maybe the disaster will simply be Mrs T forgetting to put a note out with the milk bottles, so no milk delivered for breakfast.
DeleteI had to google what a cherry picker looked like and now know that they are called a Mechanical Boom Lift. They look just like the sort of apparatus a fire officer would use to rescue someone from a fire. I have seem them used to change lights in public street lights. So a person stands in a square platform and the arm is extended to what ever height is needed to pick. Let's hope the manager actor is totally au faith with the mechanics and Elizabeth has done an assessment and risk analysis of his skills. There again Bert did warn her about the state of the tree top walk!!😱👻💀.
ReplyDeleteWell, they all got off lightly, as far as I'm concerned, I thought someone would get badly injured.
ReplyDeleteWell I think that is a contender for one of the worst episodes in one of the worst weeks of episodes since I have been listening.
ReplyDeleteSurely Geraldine would have checked exactly what was being done by these so called actors.
Ruari I think is supposed to be a pupil at a genuine Public School -the one Brian and possibly the one that Charles Collingwood attended.
(I may be wrong on this)
Some advert for Public School education.
I didn't know which one of the two was talking until I think Ruari mentioned Ben's name.
....and then to make matters worse Lexi is due back next week.
I agree completely with you on being the most boring week, then it ends with Emma being a total bitch. The show would have been a great success if the little kids weren't there - too bad.
DeleteWhat exactly is Emma threatening in saying 'you haven't heard the last of this'? Elizabeth and/or Geraldine should definitely have viewed the proposed skit before it was performed.
DeleteI was somewhat relieved that those two young twits 'only' hit a badger and not a child or adult. Sad for the badger of course but it could have been so much worse. What a couple of numpties they are.
I agree with everything. Dreadful week.
DeleteOnly going to get worse in Lexi comes back......hope she misses the plane.
Me too LanJan, not knowing which one of the two new tearaways was speaking. Obviously Ruairi is the leader and Ben the follower in their exploits. I think Brian went to Sherborne by the way, so presumably that’s where Ruairi goes to school, too. Don’t suppose they are too keen on how one of their fictional students is being portrayed - if they realise.
ReplyDeleteAs for the ‘disaster’ at
LL, not at all what I was expecting, but nobody hurt apparently. However adverse press coverage could do Elizabeth a lot of damage.
Good point of episode; hearing Abby loves being with Kirsty and they came to the event together
Bad point; the mention of Lexi’s return next week.
But I predict she is only returning to dump Roy, then go back to her family in Bulgaria, resulting in (a) an end to the surrogacy story and (b) leaving the way open for Rot and Kirsty to get together - which Abby would love.
You read it here first!!
Fingers crossed Archerphile that your predictions come true.
ReplyDeleteI like Kirsty.
🤞
Ah, wouldn't that be nice ? I wondered before, but K. was too churned up then, & now it's rather complicated, K. being with Philip, as far as we know, & R. will take time to get over Lexi (surely, one way or another, that relationship. Won't survive)
DeleteIs Kirsty still living with Roy (co-residing rather than cohabiting)?
ReplyDeleteBrian and Charles Collingwood both went to Sherborne. I don't think Ruairi's school has ever been named, possibly for fear of libel claims if he continues to be as obnoxious and generally prattish as he's proved so far.
I believe Kristie is co-residing still with Roy.
DeleteRuari attends a Catholic boarding-school. Brian remarked that he was in Ruari's granny's good books for a change when that school was selected.
DeleteIt wouldn’t make sense to me if Lexi comes to Ambridge just to dump Roy. My prediction is that she will stay for awhile, then she will miss her girls, and not able to find work, those will be her excuses to go back.
ReplyDeleteFound last night varied & eventful rather than boring. Perhaps Jenny will put her foot down & rule that Ruairi spend his school holidays in Ireland with granny & auntie, given she's already gone above & beyond her duty in nurturing her faithless husband's off spring ! R. had moments when he sounded like Freddie, & Ben's voice was too mature - he sounded older than Josh.
ReplyDeleteNever heard Roy so angry before, & not surprising, as he's in the business &knows how ill managed the evening was, plus Abby will probably have nightmares along with Keira & other children. Emma does explode from time to time, but I don't think she was being a bitch, especially when she met with Elizabeth's incomprehension. Good acting & scripting for E., In denial just as she's been over F.'s sentencing. She wasn't with it all evening, going through the motions of polite interest in proceedings, leaving all the work to the overstretched Geraldine.
ReplyDeleteCue : a takeover for Lily ( who can do an OU degree later if she wants, which I doubt), Russ is history, Geraldine will leave because she's had enough of LL, & Lily will somehow get Roy back as manager. E. will take a back seat, but, together with Freddie, will enjoy the burgeoning profits from the return of the licence & the excellent skills of Lily & Roy....
Not quite the disaster that we were led to believe was going to happen, which leads way to what I believe will be the next.
ReplyDeleteAt the rehearsal David made a point again about Linda and her flaming torches and his hopes she would extinguish them before the fuel store...… a pointer in my view if ever there as one.
agree.
DeleteSpare a thought for Keira who has had a terrible week - first shoved by jealous Henry, and then exposed by thoughtless adults to nightmare-inducing sights. (Should be worth a consolation ice cream or two!)
ReplyDeletePerhaps Lily will return with Russ who will make a valuable contribution to restoring Lower Loxley's fortunes. There has never been any suggestion that he wasn't good at his actual job which must have involved quite a lot of admin.
All a lot of overreacting acting. Surely, on these sort of occasions the purpose of Halloween is to be scared witless. Quite a lot of children play computer games that are realistically more violent and psychologically damaging than spending a night in a wood. They know the evening will be full of goulies, ghosties, long legged beasties, and dangling stuffed bodies. Blood and guts everywhere and an evening of screaming. An event to remember.
ReplyDeleteMind, I would have been frightened if scary Emma had jumped out, face extended with marshmallows and screaming threats of "you wait and see".
Spicycusion. I do hope Henry wasn't there to witness the cherry picker spectacular.
I don't like the idea of Halloween and as Stasia says, if you're not prepared to get scared, don't go.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth asked why was Roy acting as if he still worked at LL, because if he had been, 'the disaster' wouldn't have happened. Rory is privileged and callous with it, just like Fred was.
Rory takes after his father.
DeleteDavid shot a badger, Mat saw it and he went to court, I believe Ben will have to report the accident.
ReplyDeleteIf I had seen something advertised as a family event then I would have expected it to be suitable for little children, and I am not convinced that horror on the level of a realistic hanging body with blood shooting out of its eyes does anybody's mind good.
ReplyDeleteOf all the reactions to last nights programme, I agree wholeheartedly with Janice and Basia.
DeletePersonally I would not go anywhere near any Halloween event.
Nor me Mrs P. Simply does not appeal. I am absolutely fed up with the overkill this year with seemingly every TV programme’s cast dressing up in weird costumes and horror make-up. And every high street store full of costumes and masks. Even my local supermaret’s entrance was chock full of pumpkins!
DeleteWith you there Archerphile.
DeleteBadgers quite often get hit around the lanes here, and are not reported. They are lovely animals to watch, but I know farmers, whose cattle have been affected by T.B., who are glad to see a dead badger. There have been government sanctioned culls done in this area, carried out quietly to avoid risk of controversy. In fact years ago when there was the first cull I think my own daughter sprung shut traps when she found them. I am torn, liking badgers but knowing farmers who have been badly affected by bovine T.B.
ReplyDeleteBadgers have very strong skulls and occasionally can regain consciousness and recover after being hit by a car.
Stasia re your point about the gruesome games children play. It is not only games but books and TV. The most popular series of books n schools recently has been ""Goosebumps" which has just been produced for children's TV. They are quite gruesome and gory.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly to me is the change of children's attitudes and behaviour. When I first started to take Cub scouts to camp, they would always play a "Wide Game" (hide and seek, or similar) in the dark on the first night of camp. (They are so hyped up they will not sleep until gone 1 am.) Twenty years ago they would roam the camp site in pairs or small groups with no worries at all. Now the children are nervous, and even scared, often predicting unworldly creatures in the dark. Even insisting that they had seen a werewolf last weekend! They were definitely staying together in a much bigger groups, or choosing to stay with a leader throughout the game.
So I think that the Grundy and other children would be happy enough in the safe environment of their respective homes; but taking them to the depths of woods in the dark woud be a completely different story.
Janice - I was told a few years ago that the local Council has a duty to remove badger road kill but I'm not sure if that still applies. Certainly when I drive round our country lanes to pupils, the occasional dead badger has been removed within a couple of days but foxes remain. But removed by whom I have no idea!
I'm not sure whether if Elizabeth had witnessed any of the performance but it is quite unbelievable that if it was that unsuitable for children she would have been so blase (imagine the accent please!) about it. She used to work well with Hayley when producing 'educational' literature for guests' visits, which included school parties. She would be well aware of what was suitable and what wasn't.
Although a bit of a damp squib episode, (in that no-one died, except the poor badger) I thought it was quite clever to have two parallel dramas, leaving the listener to wonder where the disaster would happen. It says a lot about the listeners (and the devaluation of the drama) that people (especially on fb and mustardland) felt cheated that no serious physical damage occurred to a character!
Very well said Spicy, both about children’s fears today and the reaction of TA audiences in some Archers fan platforms.
DeleteI am one who thinks Roy should return to Lower Loxley. He knows Elizabeth well, perhaps too well, but he is such a suitable candidate to work alongside Geraldine and sort LL out. I would hate Lily + Russ, to swan in and take-over whilst Freddie is still elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI think Geraldine may resign.
ReplyDeletea) Because it was Geraldine's fault for booking those players on hearsay, so it would be the decent thing to do, and b) Because Elizabeth has become impossible to work with, and she needs to get out.
DeleteYes, I agree Maryellen. She may well have had enough recently, having to do just about everything at LL whilst Lizzie is so preoccupied - and with precious few thanks I expect.
DeletePerhaps she and Roy could do a job swap: Roy to LL and Geraldine to GG 😉
Agree with b) wholeheartedly, but not with a) because she is hard pressed, & it is down to E., as owner, to check anything that is arranged in haste, & to make the informed final decision.
DeleteProbably LL is the last place Roy would want to work : bad history with E. & flakey present = nightmare.
DeleteBut it was Elizabeth's fault they had to replace the actors at the last minute because she forgot to forward the fee!
DeleteGeraldine resigning is unlikely, since she has just joined the ranks of the speaking.
DeleteOn the other hand, perhaps she has become a speaking character in order to become part of the wider Ambridge community, but in another capacity.
If Geraldine resigns, Oliver may offer to lend Roy to help Lily out. To be honest, I'm having difficulty maintaining interest in the Lower Loxley storyline, or Home Farm, both businesses seem to have lost momentum.
DeleteDead badgers have to be reported to MAFF I believe, although, I'm not sure about the motives behind it. Probably want to know where the badgers are so that they can cull them! :(
ReplyDeleteMaybe they can still test them for T.B. when dead which would give an idea if it is present in the area where the body is found.
DeleteDead squirrels are tested for squirrel-pox in some areas.
DeleteSpiceycushion ,somebody who blogged on the Archers website and may still be with us told me how to do accents.
ReplyDeleteYou just keep your finger on the e and run it up and accents appeaser.
So blase becomes blasé .
You could have had èêēëęė.
All very clever.
The accents appear!
DeleteWorks for me on my iMac computer and my Android phone. Touché! (Not particularly appropriate, but nothing better came to mind.)
DeleteHave just listened to the mummy episode again. Before the ‘illusion’ face painting The included werewolf’s and various scares took place. Agree that the pouring of blood from eyes is ultra gruesome and scary for little ones but as Basis said if not prepared to be scared don’t go. I find the whole Halloween thing and what I see of it in shops (which has included severed hands )very uncomfortable. Some masks on sale scare me! I wouldn’t take part myself. My daughter had a party at school and on Wednesday night drove home dressed as a witch with a green face decorated with a spider 🕷 web! Thank goodness she wasn’t stopped along the way!
ReplyDelete