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Life in Ambridge: Comments week of November 21, 2018
Life in Ambridge: Comments week of November 21, 2018
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Oh, how true. Nothing about a competitive salary, etc. Just the hard grind.
ReplyDeleteFor 100s of years, audiences have lived with Shakespeare’s plot inconsistencies and deliberate distortions of history. I reckon if I can cope Richatd Ii’s historical child wife turning into a grown woman in the play, I can cope with mushrooming bedrooms and discrepancies in back stories. Dramatic convenience is what matters!
ReplyDeleteLesser mortals shouldn't think they're Shakespeare. That's where Sean O'Connor went wrong: the Helen/Rob story was impressive until SO'C begin to think he was Thomas Hardy (a lesser delusion than thinking he was Shakespeare) and tried to make Helen into Tess. Hubris or what? The key is 'willing suspension of disbelief'.
DeleteWe are to be lucky enough to hear Lynda's "Canterbury Tales" on Radio 4!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant Ruthy, but I won’t be applying for the job!
ReplyDeleteI won't be applying, it's the job from hell. Knowledge of Elizabeth mania an essential requirement.
DeleteSounds like Roy is not up to doing his job, He is suffering from a well known Bulgarian disease called Lexieitis. He and Elizabeth should see a doctor pronto. There is a treatment for both conditions.
Lynda Snell is now screeching her demands, I suggest the cast buy some earplugs.
I hope the barn falls down before her play commences.
No play, wonderful. Everyone can have a screeching free Christmas.
Thank you Spicycushion, I joined in the mid '80s and remember the rest.
ReplyDeleteI agree with MrsP. My point is why drag Caroline into the Bull for the presence of her spirit which surely must be present all over Grey Gables and Oliver said he wanted something to do to stop thinking of her.
Oh ! Very Grand Ruthy.
ReplyDeleteAnd a lackey sweeping the lawns.
I'm beginning to think that we are all being rather hard on both Elizabeth and Roy.
Both find themselves in life changing situations and are needing to adjust.
Change is difficult, challenging, and often painful, whoever you are.
I remember now about Caroline being Cordon Bleu trained. I remember so much about her as at the time I was quite envious of her. She seemed to have a glamorous life, even if she was living out in the sticks, as I was at the time!
ReplyDeleteI also remember that one of her boyfriends was a Secret Service agent wasn't he? Alan? I think they were to have married and he disappeared/dumped her.
Then she was going to marry the vicar but decided her lack of faith would not sit comfortably with being a vicar's wife.
There was the affair with Brian and two marriages to local landowners. Yes she certainly had an interesting life. All the time impressing Jack Woolley immensely with her 'connections' as she was the niece of Lord Netherbourne.
I also object to Joe being portrayed as a vengeful fly swatter in order to plant them in his drink. He could have made a complaint that the pint wasn't well pulled. We were told at the time of Nic's death that the Grundys were there for entertainment, so they gave them something serious, and it seems to be the general idea among the Archers' team.
ReplyDeleteMrs P ,I don't think that is a lackey sweeping the lawn I have a feeling that it is Mr LJ .
ReplyDeleteHe cannot abide leaves in the garden or grass sticking up at the edge of the lawn.
We have a picture from a book which might have been written about us.
We have it framed.
Some of you will have read the books when you were children.
I have a set of the books.
I will give you a clue.
There is Janet in her shorts and she is using a watering can and there is John pushing a wheelbarrow .
When we first tell anybody our names the books are always mentioned.
Oh yes LanJan I know you both well !!!
ReplyDeleteWould you please ask Mr LJ if he would like to sort my leaves for me I,m afraid I leave them till the spring.
My lovely next door neighbour has a large oak tree in her garden. I do enjoy it through the summer but at this time of year the falling leaves are a problem. Last year I was just about on top of it but have now found a gardener - an ex policeman! He just comes over when needed and yesterday cleared the front and back garden in two hours and took all the leaves away. It would have taken me far longer and what with looking after the dogs and house would have been exhausting. As you get older you do need some help!
DeleteI may have the wrong end of the stick, but surely the S/Ws objective in writing the Archers is to give us listeners something to satirise, criticise and generally have a moan about. The programme has tackled some serious issues, and presented some dreadful drivel, and we have engaged with each other using our specific knowledge to explain inaccuraties or omissions in the storyline.
ReplyDeleteFor me however, sometimes these blogs are more informative and funnier than than the actual content.
We in the UK have a long and healthy attitude towards sending up programmes, politicians and institutions through satire, and long may it continue.
I remember as a teenager waiting for Friday night and TWTWTW.
Now I wait for TA, the blog and the AO.
I repeat - we are to hear the Archers cast do the Canterbury Tails on Radio 4, like they did with Blythe Spirit a few years back!
ReplyDeleteDoh! Tales.... 😋
DeleteThanks for the info Gary
DeleteI'll look out for it, GG. Tails or Tales, whatever.
DeleteI think that TA have done a wonderful job in highlighting how a home can be adapted, when an incident occurs.
ReplyDeleteI am relating to Christine, returning to The Lodge.
A lot of the cost would be covered by occupational health services etc.
I think Chris. is being selfish, knowing that Peggy is paying for her stay in The Laurels. Surely she must understand the financial implications, which it is putting on Peggy, and where is Chris's son in her care?
I get the impression that Chris' son is more than happy to let everyone else sort out his mother's care
DeleteHe was never interested in his mother as far as I remember, though I have to admit I have very little memory of Chris when she was married. It was a number of decades ago. Long long long before George Barford.
DeleteSo it's clear at last: Lee escaped a toxic relationship, an 'unforgivable' treatment by his wife.
ReplyDeleteWe only have Lee’s version and no way of checking it out...
DeleteBrother and sister with chequered history in relationships both getting friendly with folk recovering from relationships recently gone sour. Perhaps a double wedding at Bridge Farm next year.
DeleteYes we only have Lee's version of the break-up of his marriage. People can justify all sorts of behaviour by describing things the way they want.
DeleteLee is perfect for Kirsty but not for Helen
ReplyDeleteI thought that Henry sounded different this evening.
Can you explain your first observation, Lanjan?
DeleteIs it just me or did anyone else think Lee sounds very much like Tom?
ReplyDeleteAt one point this evening I was convinced Helen was chatting to Tom until Karate was mentioned!
Helen 😍 Lee........eventually.
ReplyDeleteDo hope so, she became almost human chatting to him ! Still, can understand misgivings, as most 'available' male TA characters are one or more of the following : wet, feckless, dishonest, abusive, dim, naive.
DeleteI exempt Roy & Philip from such charges, though I know many disagree.
Re Lee and Kirsty.
Delete1) About the same age I would think
2) Kirsty has no "baggage" .
Helen has two children,Lee has two older ones ,if they all get together I foresee problems.
Lee will be bringing up two step children whilst not seeing his children as often as he would like
At the moment four children with three different fathers .
What happens if Helen and Lee had a child?
Jealousy would rear its ugly head .
Certainly with Henry.
3) I like Lee -so far-and I much prefer Kirsty to Helen .
4) I don't like Phillip so I don't want that relationship to continue.
5) Kirsty is a stronger woman than Helen and if Lee isn't all he seems she would sort him out.
6) A relationship between Lee and Helen has been signalled from the start and I would therefore like the storyline to go in another direction.
Carolyn - I think you had better include T❤️O❤️B❤️Y in your list of exemptions or you will have Maryellen to deal with!
DeleteCan't do that ! Alas, can't do it for Rex either, as he's fallen under the 'wet' category, even hints of the 'dim' recently. I hope he'll muster some gumption, but don't want to hear from him till he does....
DeleteI suspect Carolyn was bitten in her pram by a boy called Toby and that would explain the irrational hatred expressed in her “Can’t do”.
Delete🙂
That's what I meant to imply, we only know Lee's version and I hoped he'd be a widower but that's too simple and no drama. Helen was very quick to critisize just like with Jess.
ReplyDeleteAs some of you have said, Lily will probably stay and Russ may follow. He can set up an art workshop for recovering offenders.
😁 & ✓ to your last point, Basia, but can't see the disastrous Russ being that altruistic, unfortunately.
DeleteRuss needs his own rehab for recovering idealists.
DeleteRuss was almost classified as an offender himself, he'd provide no end of entertainment and since he mentioned Lewis it'd be interesting to see his interaction with him and Tidcombe (?) if he's still there.
DeleteWho's Tidcombe,. please ?
DeleteTitcombe is the head gardener and general factotum at Lower Loxley and has been for eons. Mrs Titcombe used to be the housekeeper in Julia Pargetter day and, I think, still works there in some capacity or other.
DeleteThanks, AP & Seasider, below @ 2.41. Now you've said, I remember a ref. from Freddie, when E. smuggled him back for a night at home before the trial
DeleteTitcombe is sweeping the lawn in the picture heading this blog.
DeleteLanjan I agree with your assessment - it would invite the maximum of conflict and drama, plus Lee's divorce and custody settlement, so why not use it?
ReplyDeleteI've just discovered that 'pargetting' is a method of applying decorative plaster-work to the facades of houses by a 'pargetter', a technique dating from the C16 and mostly found in the counties along the East coast. I imagine it will have been many a long century since the Pargetters of Ambridge have done any actual pargetting!
ReplyDeleteIf you all knew that already, please forgive my ignorance.
That's interesting Sarnia. I wonder if Freddie might have the opportunity to do a plastering course where he is at present. He might turn out to have a knack for it, and I'm sure Lower Locksley has much decorative plaster-work in need of repair. Having a practical skill is always useful, and could be the making of him.
DeleteThat is interesting, Sarnia. May we suppose that LL is covered by decorative plaster work ? Perhaps there's a history of long ago Pargetters taking fatal tumbles from overhanging roofs whilst engaged in such work.
DeleteApologies if I've offended those who might find that tasteless, in regard to the late Nigel. Just couldn't help myself
Tidcombe is or was a staff member/ general dogsbody at Lower Loxley who I don’t think ever spoke but was mentioned a lot in Nigel and his mother Julia’s time. He married Mrs Pugsley, another staff member who was kept too busy to speak and so to much surprise they fell in love. The wedding was at LL I think, but of course it was just a quiet affair.
DeleteI asked a little while ago if he was still alive and then I believe he got a brief mention in the summer when Freddie was at his high jinks.
Not at all, Carolyn, pargetting strikes me as being a potentially hazardous occupation (round face with tongue in cheek).
DeleteI did know about pargetting as I have a great interest in architecture.
DeleteIt is seen most often in Norfolk but the odd example is found elsewhere from time to time.
Nigel did mention it at one time though strictly in relationship to the family name I think.
There is an article in The Spectator wondering if Michelle Obama listens to The Archers!!
ReplyDeleteNow why on earth would she do that ?
DeleteI found it a bit strange, the article asking what would MO make of the empowered, liberated Hannah addressing the Me#Too (?) and that she'd probably identify with Peggy or Jolene.
DeleteWhich she most probably will...
ReplyDeletePlease will somebody remind me.....
ReplyDeleteWhen IS Tom's 17th birthday?
Also have the scriptwriter's been reading our comments regarding our ideas regarding what is going to happen at LL ie that Lily will give up her place at University.?
The University will be very sympathetic.
Mother ,a widow who not has a terrible bout of flu but has also suffered a breakdown following the imprisonment of her son .
Not only that but her Manager on whom she depended has now ,after making a catalogue of errors,walked out on her
She only has her daughter to help her out .
I would go further.
I wouldn't be surprised if Lily doesn't turn everything round at LL to such a extent that she is able to return to Manchester next year to start again on her English degree minus Russ.
I also wouldn't be that surprised if ,in time ,Geraldine doesn't return but probably as a silent character
Ha, ha Tom's more like 34 and really, that 'I got the girl' grin. I'm astonished that Johnny is so concerned about Hannah, both he and Jazzer think that Tom has taken advantage of her as of some precious virgin.
DeleteLily can run LL, look after Elizabeth, placate Russ and do some reading for her English course, mentioned at last. Johnny alerted her and she realises she should have got in touch sooner as well as admitting that with Russ in tow she is missing out on the student life.
Yep.
DeleteI thought tonight that....
1. The SW have been reading the clever and creative posts on this blog, or....
2. The clever and creative writers on this blog have pre empted the SW.
Of course there could be a third option........
We have a mole !
The 3rd option ? Lanjan ! She wore out the BBC blog destroyers, she is the irritant that won't go away. Don't tell me she hasn't tunneled her way into the SWs' inner sanctum, made her own views, & others crystal clear, fixed them with a beady eye, sat tight, until they wilted & complied.....
DeleteYes she did.
DeleteI have to tell you....... LJ and me. We met secretly in Putney a few weeks ago.
She told me what she was gonna do.
You got in one Caro.
Lan Jan is our mole !
SO !! I bet you waited in the Hilton, opposite Broadcasting Hse., & when she rejoined you later, for an expensive coffee, shot, cream confection, a secret tape recorder was revealed from her tall person, & you giggled, sometimes guffawed loudly, at the timorous reactions of the cornered wordsmiths.
DeleteRE Putney meeting Mrs P.
DeleteI wish -but we will.
Carolyn and Mrs P.
DeleteNo mole.
The scriptwriter's have been reading our blog and getting ideas from us.
See my comment (17) on Waterloo blog.
Lily triumphant ! She's shown her mettle, except in the matter of Russ. I guess she'll realize she's kidding herself about him when she returns & falls out of love with him as suddenly as she fell in. At that point she'll remember he actually said, 'I just stare at the blank canvas without my muse here', & she will go crimson with embarrassment.
ReplyDelete✔️👍✔️👍
DeleteRuss sounded so weak that Lily will soon tire of him surely. Does Lily ever spare a thought for Russ's deserted wife I wonder - doubt it.
ReplyDeleteDid Lily say 'I love him as much as I ever did.'? Hmm. It's beginning to seem like a schoolgirl crush that she never meant to go this far (as she has hinted before).
ReplyDeleteDebbie abandoned her English course as well. Not that Lily has abandoned hers, yet.
Tom was cringe-making. I actually had sympathy with Hannah tonight.
ReplyDeleteRe Natasha: why do "relationships" in TA have to go from zero to 70 in the blink of an eye? As N has recently finished with her long-term partner, would she really want to start up with Tom? Perhaps she sees him merely as a "friend with benefits".
In defence of Tom, recalling Lanjan's "When is Tom's 17th birthday?". He did miss out a bit on adolescence. John died on his 17th birthday. Tom immediately took on John's business. Not long before that he'd been the youngest brother "Young Tommy". He met Kirsty shortly after.
DeleteSorry I didn't realise that John died on Tom's 17th birthday.
DeleteMy point was that he was acting like a teenager going out on hiS first date with the girl that they all fancied.
Testing via iPhone this time
ReplyDeleteSounded like Lily is setting up to be back at LL for a longer stay, hopefully without Russ. Heard E getting food from the Orangery. So who works there?
ReplyDeleteI think they must have at least a cook there. When Jill moved to LoLo (when Heatherpet moved to Brookfield) she made some cakes for The Orangery I seem to remember. so there would be someone to bake, heat and generally prepare food there .
DeleteThere must be several locals who work there. They would need at least one groundsman/gardener, waitresses for The Orangery (various teenage female Archers have had Saturday jobs there), and housekeepers(cleaners) for the house and function rooms .
Last year, when Shula organised the Hunt Ball, she did the seating arrangements, so why is that now the responsibility of LoLo?
Oliver was in charge of the Hunt Ball and he was trying to liaise with Geraldine about a wedding that was supposed to take place earlier in the day but somehow evaporated.
DeleteAnyway, Spicycushion, I couldn't resist to add that Heatherpet was moving towards Brookfield but expired along the way...as some predicted.
Ah yes! Thank you. But she did come and stay there not long before the planned move didn't she? Was it when Ruth had the miscarriage? I must have conflated the two in my memory! :)
DeleteYes, you're right about Ruth, that was before Heather's own troubles started.
DeleteI do hope Lily left Russ well stocked up with his special foods, and clean Egyptian sheets. He sounds more like a hardship, and she (you are my muse) is beginning to realise how clingy he is. I thought she was doing her best to fob him off, whilst still saying she loved him.. She is having a Damascus experience, wimpy Russ or control of LL?
ReplyDeleteI know which I would choose.
Quite ! No blank canvasses at LL, voluble guests with lists of requirements.
DeleteRight Lily, let’s get this sorted.
ReplyDeleteTime to ditch ‘the artist’ and leave him to his own devices, perhaps even to return to his wife, if she would have him (probably not, but that’s his problem)
Give up the expensive flat which, you admitted, is too far from the Univerisity to participate in all the activities there.
Think hard about whether you are really enjoying or benefitting from the course you are doing and seriously consider dropping out.
Return to live at home and begin taking over the reins from your Mum running Lower Loxley. You say you really enjoyed arranging the ball, so how about enrolling for a course in hospitality and business management at Borcherter College or Felpersham University. You could even study later for an MBA, a really useful qualification.
You could continue to live at home and pursue your new course while working on the job. Best of both worlds. You’d be supporting your mother through a very difficult time, doing a job you’d really enjoy and obviously have an aptitude for and be free of that clinging vine called Russ.
Come on girl, make the decision and take the plunge!
i do hope you are right Archerphile I am liking Lily right now and would like to see her to take on the role of helping to return LL to its former glory. I believe it is to be Freddie’s inheritance though 😔
DeleteGo on, admit it, Archerphile - as I suspected all along you are really Aunty Satya moonlighting as an Archers blogger!
ReplyDeleteOh fish hooks , Sarnia, you have found me out ! 😉
DeleteJohnny is very good at picking up how people feel, plenty of instances lately. In Hannah's case, not so difficult, as it was obvious that there was a nose seriously out of joint ! Tom, insensitively no doubt, but innocently I believe, simply takes her at her word &assumes jealousy is not a problem.
ReplyDeleteShe's neatly written, presenting a modern woman front - ambitious, capable, sexually relaxed, straightforward, but the last 3 are far from her reality. ( she is jealous, she's not as easy come, easy go in relationships as she portrays, she is economical with the truth, & her capability doesn't stretch to keeping the work force on board, & satisfied with working conditions)
Agree 100% Carolyn ✔️
DeleteIn fact, Hannah did keep the workforce on board as regards the new timetable. It was only the already shown to be unreliable Duncan (who Neil was giving second chance/being soft with) who objected.
DeleteWaterlooers and anybody else interested I have posted a comment on the Waterloo blog .
ReplyDeleteDo you think I can be correct in what I say?
Carolyn. Johnny is a sensitive bloke, he is perceptive about the feelings of others. But he is making a mistake about Hannah who is certainly not needing to be rescued from Tom's just using her for sex.
ReplyDeleteQuite ! He is intuitive about feelings but not so hot on sussing put character. Give him time, little experience yet, 18/19 yrs. only. ( Witness Lily who hasn't fully seen through Russ yet)
DeleteI look forward to seeing how Johnny develops as a character in future.
DeleteWatching him grow and mature into full adulthood.
I do hope the SWs treat him with the sensitivity they have given him in his youth.
HatH, re '0 to 70'. Quite. Tom and Natasha haven't had what is conventionally regarded as a 'date' yet. We only learnt she had a partner when she broke up with him. Before that it was all about whether Tom's 'relationship' with Hannah would get in the way of his interest in Natasha, when, it has since transpire, she wasn't even in the market anyway. I'm getting old . . .
ReplyDeleteIt was similar with Rex and the vet. They had one proper date; she refused to kiss him more than once; next thing she takes him home to shower and bed; nothing in between. I thought I'd missed some episodes or been out of the room during all their scenes in between.
DeleteThe only recent relationship which has grown naturally is that of Kirsty and Phil - is that because he's older and was "out of action" for a long time.
Then there's Roy & Lexi twosome which took an odd turn.
"Conventional" would be a refreshing change.
I'm glad I'm old. I'd be like Phil, totally adrift in a modern dating sea.
DeleteHedgehogs display similar courtship behaviour and have been known to disturb people's sleep, as Johnnie's was disturbed.
DeleteHannah certainly is prickly.
DeleteI have a sad story about a hedgehog, but it belongs on the other blog.
Bill Nighy look alike for Shula, he's far too nice for her. Shula knows about Russ because Elizabeth cried to her on the phone but clearly not that he followed Lily to Manchester.
ReplyDeleteTom may not have had a proper date with Natasha but they've been to bed together which to him means that the're getting on really well, yes, I'm old too...
L. is not a bit keen to rush back to Manchester, is she ? It's not her English course, she said not, it doesn't seem to be anything to do with the university, so that leaves....
ReplyDeleteWhy does Ben sound like he is 30 years old?
ReplyDeletePerhaps because he is played by a 26year old actor - or so so have read.
DeletePerhaps Elizabeth does not want to do the dumping.
ReplyDeleteShe may string him along long enough for him to decide to dump her.
It might be a long process though, particularly since she probably does not fully understand, yet, that for her it's over.
The five week stint will end on Friday Mrs P.
DeleteWe may hear from Russ or Ross on the telephone again this week but then that will be it.
Lily will not go back .
No point now they will all be Breaking Up for the Christmas Holidays.
As for Ben unless David calls him by name I don't know whether it is him or Josh speaking.
We only need Dan to return ,George and Jake to turn up and have a bit of Rex and Toby in the episode and we won't have a clue who is who.
Here is a suggestion for the Editor.
Why not have actors who are a similar age to the characters they are playing .?
I still think there is a new Henry.
I agree about Henry, he did sound more like a 7 yr. old when he last opened his mouth.
DeleteA thought occurs.
DeleteYes it did sound like an older Henry, but perhaps it was the same child/woman actor, who has in the past, adopted a very young voice and has now been asked to speak as Henry, but a little older.
.......because we have been complaining and they read it here!
DeletePargetting on Countryfile.
ReplyDeleteI watched that. What a co-incidence ! Or spooky! :))
DeleteI saw that too
DeleteYes Tom, you are a numpty, and you are beginning to sound like PIP. This actor cannot act.
ReplyDeleteLily will have to go back to Manchester if only to collect her things and dump the silly old lover.
Lily is a mature head on young shoulders, I do wonder how she would cope with students the same age as many won't be as mature, especially if this is the first time they left the family home. She would run rings around them and become bored very quickly.
I think she is already bored with the "you are my muse, I can only paint when you are here" Russler. Listening to him leaves me wanting to stick my fingers down my throat in a gesture of yuckyness.
Don't think she'd run rings round the other students. They have their stories too, & she hasn't been mature over the pathetic man, Freddie, or her mum in the past. However, she has a proven ability for the business, she is beginning to see E. as a human being, the scales seem to be falling from her eyes about Russ.
DeleteAll that above - long winded way of saying she's growing up !
Very well put Carolyn and just as I see Lily right now.
DeleteTom's pretty touchy about Natasha - Tony only asked ! The latter clearly is proud of Tom's Nuffield work & ready to consider new ideas, but he's been a farmer forever, has to think things through.
ReplyDeleteThe SWs have decided to showcase the gran & grandson relationship between Jill & Ben, quite well done, I thought. Shows Jill in a more interesting light, & music to the ears of those who complained the lad never had any lines, no doubt ! Except, like others, find it disconcerting that he sounds as old as the 2 Fairbrothers.
ReplyDeleteWhat is there to celebrate Pat? She doesn't like cinnamon, eats like a rabbit and tells you to conceal your age. It was all about trousers tonight and who wears them: Pat, Hannah and Susan who has yet to find out that she'll come down in the world.
ReplyDeleteAnd trousers for Natasha too of course.
DeleteNicely summed up, Basia !
DeleteA couple of little gems tonight: Bridge Farm and Chez Carter. Keep it up SW's it's good not to find myself moaning about all the carry-ons every week! ☺
ReplyDeleteYes, neatly planned scenes, with the trousers theme...
DeleteLiked the awkward dinner, storm in a cinnamon cup, really.Stuff like that happens. Now Jenny, feeding someone for the first time, would have checked if there was anything they couldn't eat, or disliked, & chances are, they wouldn't remember cinnamon - it's not the most common ingredient in a stew.
Tony was just being Tony, & his question wasn't impolite. She may have had an answer along the lines of fruit juice/healthy eating/detoxing/good skin.
Confused of Lancashire.
ReplyDelete1) I think I must have got this wrong
I thought Hannah was talking about the pig food they were saving by not sending all the pigs to market.
Surely the more pigs they sent the fewer they would have to feed
Couldn't ' follow her logic.
2) Tom is going to give up the kefir.
Tom has already given up the baby food.
Who paid for him to go abroad?
What about the marvellous speech he gave at the Award Ceremony?
He got a Nuffield Scholaship.
Surely he has to produce something at the end of it.
Natasha was in "the beauty industry"
How come she is now an expert in wood chip?
Well I have to tell you that I got in there before I knew about her ideas.
I collected a bag of the stuff recently
There is a huge mound of it not far from here .
I imagine it has been dumped by the Council.
We have used it to cover paths in the allotment but am now using it to put over the fuchsias when the frost comes.
I don't think I could have been listening too closely this evening although I did quite enjoy the episode
A pig has to be 'ready' to go to market ? So, whilst a whole van load might not be at that stage, you save money on feed by sending off those that are, rather than keeping them, eating away until there's a full complement. Sounds specious to me, swings & roundabouts - save on feed, lose on petrol. time, man hours travelling.
DeletePigs go ‘to market’ at different weights according to whether they are intended for meat (joints, chops etc) or to produce bacon (when they are known as baconers) for which they must be heavier. It would depend on what contract the farm has with the customer. They would have to supply the right combination of weights to fulfil their contract so I cannot see what the problem is. The smaller pigs would be ready for butchering as meat and the larger ones would go to the bacon producer. All seems a bit of a storm in a tea cup to me!
DeleteIt was a mean-spirited attempt by Neil to prove that Hannah had done something ‘wrong’ in his absence. All his quibbles with her management have failed - the new timetable was accepted by all the workforce except the unreliable Duncan, who had been getting away with poor timekeeping, she had Justin’s agreement to the expenditure on equipment, and the entirely valid reaison of cost efficiency for the abbatoir decision. His own management style is beginning to look bumbling in compiarison.
DeleteMaryellen, you really have got a downer on Neil just as many bloggers here have on Hannah. She has overstepped the mark by rearranging rotas while Neil was absent for what was always going to be a short time. When deputising for an absent colleague you don’t then make vital changes.
DeleteEv - this is not the first time Neil Carter has disappointed this listener by being less than wonderful. Remember the time he sided with Will Grundy when Will Grundy was being particularly obnoxious about Harrison Burns’ plans for including women in the cricket team? That’s just one example. My theory is that the character is ontheeay out and the Rich/Johnny character is being groomed to take his place.
DeletePoor Tony, still putting his foot in it. 😞
ReplyDeleteOh dear, looks as if Natasha is going to be as difficult to like, but in a different way, as Hannah!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awkward guest to have to dinner. Poor Tony putting his foot in it and Pat mortified that Natash disliked her stew.
Wonder if Pat was using her Greenham Common friend’s recipe for that stew - I seem to remember she advised Pat to spice things up a bit....but cinnamon? How odd. 😝
Perhaps it was stifado, Greek beef stew - that has cinnamon in it!
DeleteThe Greeks put cinnamon in the mince for moussaka. It does add a little something! We are more used to it in sweet dishes of course.
DeleteBen needs to watch his luck - my gran always told me to keep my wish secret or it won’t come true.
ReplyDeleteI thought exactly the same. No chance of a wish coming true if you blurt it out to all and sundry. Surely everyone knows that.
DeleteI am sure Jill would know that. I expected her to tell him so.
DeleteI found the awkward dinner tonight rather fun. Why shouldn't Tony ask how Natasha went from make-up to farming? N seems rather a bossy boots to me, bit like Hannah. N also insensitive recommending make up for under eye shadows to an older woman who she doesn't know very well at all. Cinnamon's rather unusual for a stew but surely it's more polite to just get on with it in order to avoid hurt feelings etc. specially if one wants to make a good impression.
ReplyDeleteI agree - didn't think it was a problem Tony asking how Natasha got into fruit juice. Seems if Natasha was so successful at selling makeup, why did she give it up. Tom is a dense chap - isn't he!
DeleteAgree about Tony, wrote as much earlier, why cut him short? N. May have been happy to answer.
DeleteJury's out on N. I think she was being friendly, no intention of offending. She's Welsh ! They are more open & honest, it's refreshing, & wouldn't struggle through a meal aspects of which they didn't like. As for the skin stuff, it sounded not like make up, but a treatment cream.( might have just been camouflage) & it's not only the over 45 who develop dark circles.
As for Hannah, her whole manner to Neil was patronising. Who knows about the van load, though Neil has the edge on experience, economics, & the work force weren't happy about the roster changes, but they need the job, can't afford to walk out like one of them did (he probably couldn't either, but personal circumstances more pressing Neil said something about that, but can't remember what)
Neil didn’t contradict Hannah when she commented apropos of advertising/ interviewing for Duncan’s replacement that they didn’t want another one like him. I trust Hannah’s judgment on stock management- she may not have worked with pigs as long as Neil Carter but she’s worked with a heck of a lot more of them.
Deletebut she,
Just testing to see if I can comment on this blog.
ReplyDeleteGreat!!!! I have been trying for ages to add a comment or two. Firstly I’d like to thank Ruthy for this blog. The pictures are so apt - much more appropriate than the bbc blog.
ReplyDeleteI think the Hannah/Neil situation will be resolved amicably, at least I hope so. Hannah might be very direct but she wasn’t rude to Neil and he is a fair and decent person who is “big enough” to see someone else’s point of view.
I’m more worried about the Natasha effect on Bridge farm. Was Pat as forceful a personality when she first arrived?
Yes, I think Pat was far worse than she is now.
DeleteSoz and Zoetrope. Good to see you again!
ReplyDeleteSeems to me Natasha is someone who doesn’t really understand others feelings by her words or action. I think even if you don’t like cinnamon, as an adult you would politely eat what you can. As she gets to know the family better, than she can make her feelings known. Of course, Tom doesn’t know her either. Why don’t they date and get to know each other. He would probably have found out she didn’t like cinnamon and could have avoided the messy situation.
Couldn't agree more, Ruthy. Natasha has gone from being a bit of an unknown – apart from being attractive and successful – to being quite a long way up herself: having childish food fads and insulting Pat's physical appearance. (I speak as a one-time fussy eater who grew out of it once I left home aged 18 and got rational, and who intend to grow old in whatever state nature dictates.)
DeleteIt was suggested a while back that Hannah was sleeping with Tom in order to worm her way into Bridge Farm. Well surprise, surprise Natasha has already got there and Susan is about to lose her Management position.
ReplyDeleteTom, can't see the wood chips through the trees, he's not only a numpty but gullible, Natasha has already put the lead on him and he is hanging on her every syllable, drooling as she tells him to follow. Heel Tom, come Tom, sit Tom. Here's a bone Tom
What dim witted individual hands over business/financial plans to someone they hardly know.
Industrial espionage come to mind.
I did enjoy this episode of 'The wrong trousers'.
I feel a bit of a trait has developed with Tom. He certainly seems to favour ‘strong women’ who boss him around. I remember right back to Brenda who was a very go-ahead business orientated girl and pushed Tom into ready meals etc back in his ‘sausage days’. Then both Hannah and Natasha are both very strong and genned up in their own fields of business and have him under their thumb, in different ways.
DeleteThe only exception was Kirsty, lovely Kirsty, whom Tom left standing at the altar. Though even she became the bride from hell, demanding the big wedding and house that Tom didn’t really want, but was persuaded into.
It’s time he learnt to stand on his own feet and stopped being so easily influenced.
Archerphile ,Kirsty IS a strong woman.
DeleteStrong women have got a lot going for them.
They are not all like Hannah and Natasha.
I was very pleased when my elder son who was asked whether he had married a woman like his mother said that we were both strong women.
La jan perhaps I should have said ‘strong women’ who are able to strongly influence the men they are associated with and get their own way, using any means - I would have said ‘bullied’ but feel that is a bit too strong.
DeleteI don’t think Kirsty was at all like Hannah or Natasha and think she would have been very good for Tom...if only he hadn’t messed things up so badly.
I am beginning to fear for the future of the Carters
ReplyDeleteIf Neil isn’t careful, he could find himself being ‘let go’ at Berrow as Justin favours Hannah’s way of running the place in his absence. He needs to be careful how he responds to both her and Justin. Justin could just decide he made a mistake in employing an outdoor-rearing, fairly small scale pig breeder to run a huge indoor pig facility and find Hanah’s USA experience more suitable to run the place long term. She certainly seems more au fait with the financial side of things.
Then Susan is going to find her elevated status as kefir manager has been dispensed with and she is back on the same wage, and employment level, as Clarrie - packing yogurt and ice-cream. She is not going to like that!
Cue much wailing and complaining from Susan, a change in income and status which she will hate and, possibly a knock-on effect on helping Emma with a deposit on the longed for house. 😥
I don't like either of them but give me Hannah any time with her 'voracious' appetite, she eats and cooks and shares with others, that carbonara sounded good.
ReplyDeleteGood Lord! You make her sound like a nightmare! 🙁
DeleteBecause those American expressions are more imaginative !
ReplyDeleteEnglish wouldn't have the richness it has today if it hadn't absorbed outside influences. So why not variations within the same language ?
I don't like Hannah or Natasha either but I would think that it would be easier to put Natasha down as Tony almost did..
ReplyDeleteShe is so full of herself and I feel sure if pressed on any subject she would soon prove to be "all talk"
Esscee Strong women are not tactless.
ReplyDeleteThey are caring ,sensible, capable and .strong.
Right-on Sister.
ReplyDeleteNatasha won't be invited back to dinner anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteSorry .I misunderstood ,Esscee.
ReplyDeleteAren't there different sorts of strong? There are those who are incredibly organising, who will not accept a different point of view and have to dominate and those who get on with things quietly and undramatically but achieve a lot without the unpleasant aftertaste that both Hannah and Natasha have for me! Admittedly we are only getting a one-sided view of them , but they certainly don't come over as particularly pleasant characters! Tom also appears to be very naïve and immature, one of those who have great enthusiasms but can't stick at anything, but maybe it's just a lack of feeling for others that has been a part of his character from the beginning?
ReplyDeleteI agree Bufo, in fact that was what I was trying to say in my post earlier (9.41 am), but didn’t put as clearly as you have done. Our two current ‘strong women’ seem to be a bit lacking in tact - or should that perhaps be lacking in empathy?
DeleteThere might be B9B but I don't think so.To my mind people like Natasha and Hannah are not strong .
DeleteThey are bullies.
A strong woman would have eaten the cinnamon flavoured stew and said that although it was lovely she wanted to save room for the delicious looking pudding so wouldn't want seconds thank you.
She might even pause for a short time and say she is really tempted but she wanted to save room etc .......
I like to think that a strong woman is one who is able to br depended upon ,who will listen to others and not one who thinks her views are always the correct ones .
I would like Pat to have given as good as she got and asked Natasha why she hadn't used these marvellous cosmetics and also if they were so good ,why she wasn't still selling them.
No I suppose that would have been bitchy
Tony did try
In fairness I would have been delighted if someone had given a pot or tube of the stuff to me but I would have liked the person offering it to say something like
"I thought you might like to see what I used to do.
I know you don't need it Pat but if you'd like to try some I have a tube here if you would like to try it out sometime.
Natasha said she used the products and could vouch for them, what I didn't like and neither did Pat, was that she offered to put them on for her, Pat is her senior and they're not that familiar. What I also found very rude was that both she and Tom were on their way to some fun coctail event. It was the first time she was properly invited to Tom's parents house, she complained about the food and then rushed off. Oh, and I thought that it was customary to give your present when you arrive and not on departure:-)
DeleteAgree with all you wrote Basia.
DeleteWould also say that I would have liked Pat to have told Natasha that she was quite comfortable without make up of any kind, thank you, and she had certainly not expected a beauty session when she had planned dinner.
Natasha is patronising.
I do hope Susan is in a union or that her employment contract has inserted conditions about change in job title, and roles and responsibilities. Tom may find that he will have to continue paying Susan the same salary for a specific period. In my experience such changes which as a result of reorganisation/restructuring leave an employee demoted, may see the employer having to pay the same wage. I do hope Susan's excellent knowledge of management of people will have ensured a clause in her contract indicating continuation of her current salary for the next four years, should there be no need for kefir.
ReplyDeleteNatasha obviously thinks it's a lost loser.
I am sewn as a strong woman.
ReplyDeleteI am also, often tactless.
So be prepared LJ !
God almighty - sewn ? By whom !
ReplyDeleteMary Shelly.
I meant of course...... seen
MrsP - I agree with you completely - patronizing is a good word for Natasha.
ReplyDeleteI would doubt Susan is in a union or that she has an employment contract. The labor laws in the UK might be stronger in the US, so maybe I am way off on this topic. As a part time worker in the US, there are basically no protection.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely looks like the SW's have woken up this week. Lively drama, touch of the Carry-ons and Susan with all rockets firing, off to demolish Tom and stake her claim on status, job and salary! 😏
ReplyDeleteSusan finds out about her demotion by a text from Clarrie, as one does, as for all the innuendo it passed me by, must be aimed at a younger audience.
ReplyDeleteHave to say, think everyone is being too quick to judge Natasha. Time will tell, but suspect she's simply very different to these Archers, &, by her lights, was polite & friendly at that rather excruciating dinner. It was Pat getting tense, Tom too obviously smitten that spoilt it. Tony was pretty normal.
ReplyDeleteI think Pat was a bit tired and tetchy after all that cooking! Tony wasn’t rude or putting his foot in it and asking N why she switched from cosmetics on the surface seemed like polite interest. N did say that she used the cosmetic so wasn’t targeting Pat because she is older. It does seem a bit personal though to apply it when they hardly know each other. Methinks Tom falls in love too often and too easily but will run a mile when things get serious!
DeleteA bit personal Ev ?
DeleteI would think it an assault on my personal space, and would probably throw up my hands in horror.
How dare she !
I agree wholeheartedly with your final sentence.
I suppose it is what is known as being in love with being in love.
The older Tom gets the greater a fool he becomes. In every way.
Yes, agree. I don’t like to be touched by people I hardly know in general! I always refuse makeovers in stores even if they are free! I think further along the line if P and N did establish a relationship this would be acceptable but N has certainly started out on the wrong foot with P.
DeleteWell, we were right, all those months ago!
ReplyDeleteIt *was* Kenton who informed the college about Russ’s Extra-curricular activities with a student i.e. Lily.
Good for him and also good for trying to get through to Lily about the difficult situation she has got herself into.
However, Lily, playing little miss hoity-toity wasn’t in the mood to listen, more’s the pity.
So much for thinking she was cooling off on Russ - sounded like she is still smitten to me.
I thought Tony came across as the most sensible person around. Pat was trying to be tactful and back Tom up, but she can't really have liked Natasha. Does Pat, the one-time feminist, really think marriage to anyone is better than marriage to no one?
ReplyDeleteBootgums, I think we need to remember that today's SWs have forgotten what the feminists of the seventies stood for. ( if they ever knew). Today's feminism
Deleteseems to me to bear very little relationship to what we understood.
So they cannot write Pat as the character we knew way back when.
It was unfortunate that Kenton was so anti-Russ (and so honest), and so may have been the means of driving Lily back into the arms of the man she will now see as the victim of unfair prejudice and so feel obliged to defend. At her present time of life, she's clearly much better at management than at relationships. As she's always been presented as very bright, however, I'd be disappointed if she didn't finish her barely started degree.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed hearing Kenton telling Lily exactly what he thinks and quite correctly summing up the situation with L and Russ. Lily sounded like a right little madam and wasn't ready to hear a few home truths.
ReplyDeleteLily is still in denial on her relationship with Russ. I still think she'll want to be managing LL soon.
ReplyDeleteSo what fight can she mount to maintain her manager status? Threaten to quit? Offer to make another product?
I meant to say Susan...not giving up without a fight.
DeleteI’ve really enjoyed this weeks episodes-so far, a few lighter moments mixed in for a change 😄
ReplyDeleteThe not so mature side of Lily flaring up & flouncing last night ! Totally realistic - who cares to have their choices in life rubbished ? Especially romantic ones. Good for Kenton, though. She won't forget your words when she next hears that wheedling voice of disgraced former Deputy Principal, though pride will not let her admit it. 'You're not my Dad !' she cries, but unlikely Nigel would have spoken or thought any differently. Sigh, I suppose she'll now take it out on E., who will in turn shout at Kenton, before falling into a coughing fit....
ReplyDeleteIn my experience the more you rail against the chosen one, the more the Lilys of this world glue themselves to the One! She will have to learn the hard way that he is weak, too dependent and feckless having left wife he is just as likely to leave L if something better comes along! Only time will tell and it is an interesting SL. Seem to remember E was equally smitten some years ago and then left in the lurch.
DeleteAgree with both Carolyn and Ev, both speaking words of truth and probably experience of many of us.
DeleteWell written and realistic in my view.
Time and the future will tell, whichever way the SW choose to take this SL.
I think a rejoinder from Kenton could have been, ' no I'm not your Dad, but your mum needs her brothers to be there to sometimes be surrogate fathers for you and your brother'.
Of course that would not have satisfied Lily, but again, would have given her food for thought in time to come.
Disappointed with Neil recently.
ReplyDeleteHe sounds so wet.
He seems to be accepting and be oblivious of the fact that HH is trying her best to undermine him
and is trying to take over.
Over to you Susan.
When you have sorted weak Tom out please have a go at Hannah.
✔️👍
DeleteI liked the matter of fact new article about Hannah on the BBC blog and the actor’s comments on the character she plays. It made a refreshing change from all the paranoia surrounding Hannah’s role.
ReplyDeleteMaryellen, your post reminded me to look at the official Archers website. Since the BBC Archers blogs finished I haven’t bothered to check the site out to see what news or features they have added - so thank you for the prompt.
DeleteI must say the photo of Hannah (which I couldn’t avoid seeing) looks remarkably like my imagined image of her. So that’s good. It was also interesting to read about her first appearance in Ambridge, of which I could remember very little.
One thing that struck me - and it is my own fault for looking - Is that Ben looks quite a bit older than Josh and has a well grown beard, going completely against my mental pictures of the two lads. That will teach me! I shall just stick to reading the news and features in future - though they are a bit out of date as the most recent feature is on the birth of Pip’s baby!
Go Susan, Go. Give Spineless Tom what for and check out your employment rights.
ReplyDeleteAl the nudge, nudge, wink, wink humour I find tasteless, and we seem to be getting it a lot, especially when the younger actors are involved. It's all very 1970s with the likes of comedians like Benny Hill etc.
Lily's reaction to Kenton was what I would expect from an adolescent. She may have the managerial skills of a mature person, but tell her to leave the boyfriend, and she will do the opposite. Given time she will see(I hope) Russ as the sponger he is.
Agree with every word on all three subjects in that post Stasia.
DeleteThere again, maybe as Lily heads out of her teens, and the voice deepens Russ will be turned off. Perhaps he has a latent paedophile tendency and Lily was his first grooming experiment. I imagine her to look as young as she sounds.
ReplyDeleteDaddy is the operative word.
I think Susan will find she hasn't been in the new role long enough to have any rights . No doubt someone will correct me.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think you are right Cowgirl, I have read that elsewhere. Though no doubt Bridge Farm will make some sort of recompense, if only to shut her up when she stars complaining - as she surely will! And to be fair, I don’t think Pat would allow Susan to suffer too much. I do feel sorry for Clarrie though, who is going to get the full blast of Susan’s anger.
Delete✔️
DeleteI am wondering if Nic's scarf is going to be significant.
ReplyDeleteI find it all a bit strange.
Nic gave it to Fallon because she thought it would suit Fallon more than it would suit her.
Why then is Fallon using it for the Show?
Surely that is a bit insensitive.
At one point wasn't Fallon going to cut it up?
If Will goes to see the Show will he recognise it was Nic's?
Will Mia or Jake be going to see their step grandad to see the Show?
Why did Harrison mention the scarf?
How many men notice a scarf a woman is wearing?
Not many methinks but I suspect that Will will .
Fallon had qualms that it would be insensitive to wear the scarf but Harrison convinced her that the Grundys would be pleased to see something that belonged to Nic, that's it I think.
DeleteI had bad feelings about the scarf. Fallon should keep it as a treasured memento, wearing it when she wishes, but bearing Will's feelings in mind and not using it as a stage prop. Don't listen to your husband, Fallon!
DeleteI agree with Lanjan, Basia and bootgums on the scarf.
DeleteSo Natasha took it in her stride, little did she know that it was at Hannah's prompting.
ReplyDeleteRoy's loss is Lynda's gain, he might just as well study Chaucer rather than Bulgarian.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI think Natasha would take the knowledge that it was at Hannah’s prompting in her stride too. She seems a level-headed young woman.
DeleteJust checked up on the photographs of the various characters
ReplyDeleteHannah is exactly as I imagined her and Ben looks like he sounds -a chap in his twenties.
Did Hannah advise Tom to tell Natasha about his sordid past involving her because she thought Natasha wouldn't like it and end the romance Pronto.
I think Tom should have gone to ask Phillip's advice.
He has all the answers and he IS Welsh
I would have guessed that was Hannah' motive.
DeleteNo, LanJan, Hannah advised Tom to tell Natasha because she wanted things to be above board, and because it would be better for Hannah to hear it from Tom now rather than have it come out some other way later. I don’t think the fact that Philip and Natasha and Pat are all Welsh is likely to have any plot implications.
DeleteI tried to find Ben-actor's age. I couldn't, but he says voice-wise he plays 16–30 years old. So he's playing a 16-year-old but using his 30-year-old voice. But then, I thought New Pip sounded far too old, especially compared with the very young-sounding Old (i.e. Former) Pip, but it turned out the actor was about the same age as Pip the character.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that ‘Ben’s’ actor is 26. Cannot confirm that but it certainly seems about right for his photo and voice.
DeleteI believe when the two new actors began (Ruairi and Ben) it was said that both of the 'boys' were being played by 26 years olds.
DeleteI wonder how much longer Lexi is going to hang around Ambridge. It seems very cruel to be staying in the area after dumping Roy, but I suppose she still feels obliged to continue with the surrogacy plan.
ReplyDeleteI hope she has the last transplant (or whatever it is called ) as soon as possible, it fails, and she can high-tail it back to her girls, thus leaving poor Roy to lick his wounds in peace.