THIS POST IS CLOSED
Life in Ambridge: Comments week of 01/May/2019

Comments

  1. Replies
    1. GG - MrsP has mentioned them at the beginning of the last post. I've never seen these but they do look lovely!

      Delete
    2. I had no idea that such beauties existed, they are beef cattle but sometimes milked and purchased to adorn the pastures.

      Delete
  2. Oh dear, what has Ed got himself into. What's in the boxes? did I miss something?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thought they were some sort of chemicals - they are trying to get around paying tax and regulation.

      Delete
  3. Hey everyone - I am starting a new idea. I can open a free Drop Box account where photos can be added to a shared folder. I just need an email address to get start. I only have GaryG and Lanjan's emails. If you are interested, I can send an invite to you. With this, you can upload your photos to the Drop Box and I can use them on our blog and not just my boring repeated photos. Let me know if I am going to far with this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ruthy, it sounds like a good idea, and adds to the friendliness that we already have on here.
      Both GG and LJ have the email addresses of several of us, and so, with our permission ( No GPDR please ) can pass them on to you.
      This would work for the few who have participated in meet ups and give us a start.
      There must be one amongst us who could devise a way of accessing other email addresses from those who wish to participate.

      Delete
    2. That's a fantastic idea! Please count me in.

      Delete
    3. Your photos aren't boring Ruthy, however I'm sure it would help you if others could contribute to them.

      Delete
  4. Are the Belted Galloways that I saw last weekend.
    Thank you Ruthy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the "Belties" Ruthy. We have quite a few in this part of the country, and so nice to see them in the fields as a change from the more common Fresians. There are also a few herds of Gloucester cattle around too - used for making single and double Gloucester cheeses. I'm sure Helen would know all about them, and I'm still struggling to understand why she had to go all the way to France to find suitable cows for her cheese when we have our own breeds right here.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Poor Ed.
    I hope he has the gumption to get out now before he gets in too deeply.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes Ruthy, I would be interested in this drop box idea. Can I just clarify - would it just be for suitable photos for the titles of each blog or for people’s personal and holiday photos. I would be happy with the former but would personally not want to contribute personal photos or have to wade through everyone’s holiday and family ones!
    Not sure how to get my email address to you privately though, any suggestions anyone?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ruthy about the drop box. What a lovely idea. I had a drop box account for when my granddaughter took part in ballet competitions and performances and my son would send me the video.
    As far as I can see it would only be accessible to those who meet in person and who can then exchange email addresses, otherwise it means putting a private email address online. However as we expand our face to face meetings hopefully more will be able to join in.
    Both GG and PtbY ,who are in contact with you, have my email address and I readily give permission for which/whoever or both to pass it on to Ruthy. Signed Spicycushion!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Likewise, happy to have email address passed to you, Ruthy - a great idea. ( This sounds pathetic, well, it IS pathetic, but not sure if I'll figure out how to use it...)
      Fear not, AP, won't subject you all to family stuff ! Probably cats, chickens & fish, if anything....

      Delete
    2. Mind you, they're family, really.

      Delete
  9. Although I like the idea of the Drop Box account - but how do i pass on an e-mail address, privately?
    Also, my thoughts are that the photos are purely from Britain, wildlife, garden + wild flowers, scenery/views, apart from those regulars who live abroad ie no photos from hols.
    Ruthy, will you be able to manage something else, which could snowball???
    There is nothing untowards about your photo's.
    I enjoy these, with your unique USA themes, so why change???
    These are, as usual, my own thoughts.
    PS. I hope that I haven't upset anyone with my very honest views. At least I realise, that I can express these, as I percieve them. 😀

    ReplyDelete
  10. Back to Ambridge.
    I am very concerned about Ed. with his involvement with Tim.
    He had his doubts, but Emma talked him into, with £ signs in her eyes, as to their Beechwood Home.
    With the talk of baseball bats, Ed must realise this scheme is not as first seemed.
    I hope that he talks to Harrison, who would then certainly earn his "stripes", when all is revealed. Ed will be the hero, with Tim living at "Her Majesty's Pleasure". This is idealistic but it would be a great outcome for Ed + Emma.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ed is now in hock to Nasty Tim, can he back away from what sounds like dangerous criminal activity. Do as you are told Ed, sounds like Tim is a runner for a very violent dodgy gang. The boxes could contain fertiliser, in the wrong hands can be catastrophic.
    I watched a farming programme and they were featuring Texels and to my Astonishment a champion can fetch up to £200,000. Ed needs think about his and his family's safety.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I don’t think Ed can be exonerated here - he is ultimately responsible for his actions, and this wasn’t a case of bad luck or ignorance, he knew full well what he was doing. The whole thing goes back to Oliver who originally put Ed in touch with Tim. What is Oliver doing in associating with the likes of Tim?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ed should have listened to his conscience, his inner voice or his common-sense instead of Emma.
      Tim's proper work must be OK. Oliver won't know about any extra activities.

      Delete
    2. Ed and Brian Aldridge both, then.

      Delete
    3. I hope Ed isn’t on the slippery slope again just as things were looking up for him and Emma. Even though he doesn’t know exactly what’s going on he is liable for prosecution if it is criminal activity which it certainly seems to be. Oh dear!

      Delete
  13. Definitely start of 5 week recording of TA. Lynda and Tracy and who else will reappear or disappear this week?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Susan & Tracy were good fun tonight, but they're on the wrong tack about the missing money. It was Mia, UNLESS, of course, she has spotted George up to no good, & has suspicions about the bunting, the underwear & the money...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Freddie morphing into a reasonable character as he opened up under the benign' influence of Leonard !

    ReplyDelete
  16. Leonard an unbiased Ambridge outsider that has helped Freddie and hopefully given him food for thought....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I must say Mr B is a master of the platitude - one every 50 seconds, by my reckoning. I predict he’s going to reveal an unexpected talent for amateur dramatics and get head hunted by Lynda for this year’s panto (I don’t think anyone believes The Canterbury Tales was really her last show - The Ambridge Observer doesn’t). Russ has got form after his spectacular success as Easter Bunny, so no doubt she will talent spot him too.

      Delete
  17. I've just watched "Inside the Savoy:London's Most Famous Hotel" on Channel 5. It was very professionally narrated by someone with an accent matched to the topic. I was therefore amazed to see, when the credits rolled, that the narrator was none other than Emerald O'Hanrahan, our Emma Grundy! I do hope TA can hang on to her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh. I just watched that too. Didn’t notice the credits.
      Good grief but she’s good st keeping her Emma accent up then cos the narrator sounded quite posh.
      Love The Savoy. The flower displays are out of this world. They deffo do a mean cocktail in the American bar too.....bliss.

      Delete
    2. Their tea is not a patch on the tea you get at Wetherspoon’s though.
      Far too weak.
      I don’t know why they don’t use Yorkshire Tea.

      Delete
  18. I saw Emerald O’Hanrahan on Pointless last year, with Felicity Finch. I was amazed at her perfect RP pronunciation after having known her as Emma. She was quite tall and slim with short dark hair - absolutely not at all as I had pictured Emma.
    That’s the magic of Radio and an excellent actress.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Bunting bombing, and best of all Tracy is going to be Ambridges answer to Vera.
    I just love her 'me time', a Flake in the bath? No scented candles, just as well, we know the shop as run out. Tom can vouch for that.
    Susan and Clarrie may have framed the wrong culprit, George having a new Xbox is not evidence.
    Can't wait for Captain Chris managing Tracy at cricket.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Not the next Ambridge affair I hope stasia 🏏 😱 😂

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't think so, Lady R, because I think Tracy is Chris's 'Auntie Tracy'. I'm really looking forwards to their cricket interaction too. Thank heavens that Tracy is back to liven things up a bit.

      Delete
    2. Yes, she’s becoming quite a favourite! She and Susan are a bit like Hyacinth Bucket and sisters!

      Delete
    3. Of course Suz!
      🙄 (another) senior moment for me 😂

      Delete
  21. George was in the frame last year when the money went missing, because he had bought himself something he had saved up for, and then the finger was pointed at Alf. Don’t think it was conclusive but Clarrie and Eddie assumed it was Alf that time.

    Re the drop box: Ruthy, whilst I am happy for you to have my email I would be a bit nervous of signing up to this when I have problems with the blog and its background data when I am off WiFi. Do you have any thoughts as to why the blog is doing stuff in the background? Is there anything that could be disabled /reset? It certainly gobbled my pay as you go credit last month so I have to sign out when I’m away from my home WiFi in London, and read only. Also as I haven’t heard of a drop box, I doubt I would know how to use it. Sorry, as it sounds like a lovely idea, but not for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't realise that the blog acted in the background, as far as I know it hasn't interfered with anything else I do online. I don't have WiFi and have been on it for the past year apart from signing out by mistake.

      Delete
    2. I didn’t realise either, but my credit went down by several pounds a day on the days I blogged, and by a lot less on other days. My phone provider kept sending me warnings about how much I was spending. Mr S was using the same sites etc on his phone except the blog and was being charged an awful lot less. There is a message pops up saying information will be collected. I don’t fully understand it but I eliminated all other possibilities.
      Sorry if this is off topic but it is blog related.

      Delete
    3. I will respond to this post from Seasider on the off topic blog.

      Delete
  22. I hope neither Mia nor George took the money because that is exactly what the script
    writers want us to believe has happened.
    Surely we are not talking of a vast amount of money because I think it was the money that only Jim made for the Lent Appeal.
    I maybe wrong about that though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I am right in remembering that this is not the first time Susan has jumped to conclusions about something, and later been proved wrong. I certainly hope she doesn't go spreading her theory around the Village as it could have serious consequences for George, and for her relationship with Emma and Clarrie.

      Delete
    2. The culprit could be Joe, suddenly gone confused and funny in the head, took the money, went for a stroll, saw the underpants on the line and thought they were his. But will it all be resolved next week?
      Tracy has PC Harrison on the case, will he uncover the mystery of the bunting? He had better, otherwise it is another Flakey tale of the unraveling , bit by bit of the grungy bunting.

      Delete
  23. What wonderful posts and TA theories today. What a delightful read - + laugh.
    My replies are simple:-
    Maryellen - where is Oliver?
    Stasia - Tracey as Vera is beyond my comprehension (as I have read the books by Anne Cleeve). Clarrie is a more likely to be a Vera type.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Admittedly I don't think Tracy would don the hat, but she will Poke her antenna into every nook and cranny in her quest to find clues. To paraphrase our new detective, 'with my Flake and scratch card at the ready, I can spot a villian a mile off'. Simples, Harrison.

      Delete
    2. I have been thinking as to which "detective" Harrison Burns will emulate.
      He is not high brow enough to be Inspector Lynley (Elizabeth George) so more likely to take after - DI Banks (Peter Robinson) or DC Ben Cooper (Stephen Booth). Athough these are CID, which Harrison isn't, they are country based so I can see similarities.
      Tracey is more like the female PC (portrayed by Sarah Lancashire) in Happy Valley - hard faced and stands no nonsense.
      I am liking the repeat about the missing bunting and the missing Lent Appeal money.
      It is the lull before the storm - IMHO.

      Delete
    3. I think Harrison reminds me of Nick Rowan in Heartbeat played by Nick Berry. It’s so long ago that I had to look up his name! After he left it was never quite the same but we did enjoy it with all the music from the sixties!

      Delete
    4. Miriam, Ben Cooper is now a Detective Inspector, having been promoted twice since he appeared on the scene - but I think you are right, Harrison would be most like him, with a rural policing background. Just as long as Tracy doesn’t turn into a bitter Diane Fry who is still just a Seargent!

      Delete
  24. How come no mention of Russ ? He lived in that flat, paying nothing. Surely his number is up now.

    ReplyDelete
  25. So Russ and Lily left thinking that the rent arrears would just disappear?
    If they received letters, by recorded delivery presumably, did they put them in the bin?
    What a load of rubbish and it's resolved now, is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For a brief moment I thought it was some delayed arrest warrant for Russ.

      Delete
  26. I'm equally surprised at Elizabeth and Lily's calm acceptance of Freddie's attic tours.
    Didn't Nigel step onto the roof from there?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Surely health and safety would come into all of this.
      Leonard sounded out of breath when he walked up to the attic .
      I imagine the stairs are not very wide and probably the gradient would be rather steep.
      Attics don’t usually have high ceilings and I imagine most of the stuff stored up
      there are the sort of things many people put in their more humble attics like suitcases or Christmas decorations
      Why have a suit of armour in the attic anyway.?
      If there are tours of the house, it would have been on show.

      Delete
  27. What I don't understand is how the letters about the rent arrears have not been seen.
    Lizzie was not herself so can be excused, but surely Lily was helping running LL at that time. Did she just ignore these letters, which must have been addressed to Lizzie personally which she opened?
    I wonder if Russ told her to just ignore them - that would not surprise me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think there were references to Elizabeth ‘dealing’ with the correspondence ever since the bout of flu, and Lily, Glen, Kenton have dealt with the day to day running. So perhaps E has been ‘filing’ unopened letters for a while. Let’s hope there aren’t any LL unpaid bills.
      E is so desperate to maintain a good relationship with Lily and Freddie it seems she can forgive them anything. She’s been living an ivory towered existence for so long she seems to have lost touch with reality.

      Delete
    2. Re Russ - if we didn’t hear it happen, it didn’t happen, so says senior scriptwriter Keri Davies.

      Delete
    3. In my experience, and i did experience renting when I first moved from London,
      letters continue to be sent to the property after one has left the property.
      If one does not live there and the management or the new tenants do not inform the previous tenant or re address the mail, (even when a person might have made such arrangements) then that previous tenant does not know that mail has been sent.
      I had to pay out almost £500 because of this situation.
      No point in appealing whether you have been negligent or have been let down by a person you trusted.
      When the bailiff arrives, you pay up.

      Delete
    4. Surely the letters would have gone to Lily, as the flat was rented out to her ? She paid from her allowance while it lasted, & when it didn't, she felt she couldn't ask mum to bail her out when she was so ill. We've never heard of Russ paying for anything.
      Next ring at the door will be a summons re the mysterious divorce which we never hear about either, &, equally strangely, Lily has only been heard to query once.

      Delete
    5. I thought I had written something similar ,Carolyn , about the bailiff coming to LL to see Elizabeth rather than Russ or Lily but I mustn’t have pressed “publish”...
      Did the pair of them do a runner or a pair of runners?
      The whole thing doesn’t sound very plausible to me.
      Like Mrs P I assumed the letters would be sent to the flat in Manchester.



      Delete
    6. There was some mention about rent arrears when Lily and Russ turned up suddenly the first weekend and I remember how it was queried about how Lily and Russ could have run out of rent so soon. It appears they paid absolutely nothing, if there are debts of £5k odd. Having watched the TV programme 'The Bailiffs are Coming' (I know very sad but it's on before Bargain Hunt!) I know that when the Bailiffs arrive there is nothing you can do except pay up. If you physically attack the bailiff you are in real trouble.

      At last perhaps something will be said about Russ being a scrounger for the past six months, leaving Lily to worry about her family, begin a University degree and work in paid employment to support the aging Lethario.

      Delete
    7. All leading up to him getting his feet very firmly under the table.
      And not just metaphorically in the case of Russ.

      Delete
  28. I couldn’t understand why Elizabeth didn’t ask Lily why Russ hadn’t contributed to the rent or helped sort things out when things were getting tight for Lily.
    Not once did she even mention Russ or query why he seemed to be living entirely on Lilys grant and part time job earnings.
    She seemed to be very sympathetic towards Lily when she should be railing at Russ for letting things get to such a crisis point.
    I hope Elizabeth questions him very closely when he next puts in an appearance. He should hang his head in shame.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was known to E that Russ was a freeloader. I wonder how much she is paying him for managing the gallery?

      Delete
  29. I found the whole scene ridiculous. Where was Russ and why wasn't E questioning his part in all of this? He is just as responsible as Lily for co-habiting and not ensuring the rent was paid. Did they both think they could just escape their debt. They are not that stupid. As a side comment: whoever played the debt collector at the door was beyond wooden and almost sounded comedic.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I kept thinking how good it was that Elizabeth was showing herself to be capable of handling the debt collector situation, including Freddie’s melodramatic reaction.She wouldn’t have been ableto do that a couple of months ago, so it must mean she really is getting better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also thought it was good that Freddie was beginning to wake up to his responsibilities and and the need to pull his weight at Lower Loxley. He was showing initiative, even though his idea was hasty and half-baked, and he was going about it in an idiosyncratic and not very business like way.

      Delete
  31. When Freddie and the bailiff were in the same scene it was like a wardrobe shouting at a table it was so wooden. It's as if around half of each episode nowadays is recorded with absolutely no one paying attention to what the actors are saying and how they are saying it - just a technician looking at a stopwatch and ensuring time is filled. "Any old crap will do as long as the scene is 3m 27s long...".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not sure I can entirely agree Gary. There have been some very well acted scenes recently, two of which included Paul Copley as Leonard - the one in the churchyard with Jill and the one where he counselled Freddie.
      But I do agree about last night’s confrontation with the Bailiff; Freddie going off the deep end was overplayed, the Bailiff was trying too hard to sound professionally officious.

      I think the actor playing Freddie is still learning his craft and has a tendency to overact sometimes , but he’ll learn, and hopefully, by the time he is Paul Copley’s age will have matured into a seasoned actor.

      Delete
    2. Ah, but there's the rub Archerphile - should we have to listen to people who MAY become good radio actors? I wouldn't want to be operated on by someone who had the POTENTIAL to be a good surgeon or take advice on legal matters from a first year law student!

      Delete
    3. I absolutely agree with Gary. I sometimes think actors are only as good as the scripts they are given — but on the other hand, a good actor can do wonders with a humdrum script.

      Delete
    4. Gary - I think that’s what SO’C thought when he sacked some actors and recruited ‘new’ Tom and ‘new’ Pip. ‘Professionally trained actors’, as he insisted.
      That didn’t turn out at all well in, my opinion, either!

      So, conceding that we need young actors to take the parts of the numerous youth in the village, where are they to be found? It must be quite a headache for the casting staff to find enough young actors with the credentials and experience to take on roles in such a prestigious programme (with such engaged and critical listeners!) as The Archers.

      Delete
    5. I think Paul Copley is an excellent actor and it sounded as if he was genuinely sympathetic towards Freddie.
      However I think the road to Damascus scene with Freddie was a bit over the top.
      Of course it may well be that Leonard is a great Counsellor and Freddie will be a changed person now but somehow I doubt it.

      Delete
  32. Elizabeth confirmed that she had stood as guarantor for Lily, therefore she was liable. What I am unsure of is at what stage would she have been informed of the debt as presumably been going on for some time and at least 30% of the monies being collected will be legal and enforcement fees which are added to the original debt.
    I certainly hope that once Elizabeth has recovered from the shock she takes Russ to task for freeloading.
    Elsewhere I think George has been set up as stealing the Lent money, as he was last year, we will have to see how the script writers play it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, she was the guarantor, so the debt collector rightly came to her door.
      It's still ridiculous that Russ and and Lily pretended that the whole matter didn't exist, Elizabeth sorting it out AND on top of that apologising for being a bad mother, PLEASE...

      Delete
  33. During the time, a month or so ago, when Elizabeth kept running away from people and situations, she often gave the excuse "I have paperwork to sort out." I presume that it was during this period that the final demands, debt collectors letters, summonses, court letters etc were being sent to her and whoever gets to sort out her desk will find the letters, all unopened.
    I expect some would have had to be signed for but any one of the numerous staff could have done that and left the letters for 'the office' to deal with.

    Like GG I don't think 'Freddie' is acted very well. He does overact, both with his whiny voice and with his angry voice. The interaction between the bailiff and Freddie was awful!

    When I saw that 'the bailiff' was in the cast this week I wondered who she was going to visit? Bridge Farm to catch Natasha? The Bull as Kenton is, as usual, complaining about bills? Lower Loxley, which has been described as losing money 'hand over fist' since losing the alcohol licence?
    Well, it was LoLo but in regard to Russ and Lily's debts from Manchester! I'd forgotten about that!

    Well done S/Ws for setting up several different possibilities of plot development!! That's what I call REAL story-telling!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I am one who has in the past complained about storylines being left unfinished but thinking about it surely that is what life is like .
    For example Helen and Lee in the real world would never bother with each other again.
    End of story.
    However I bet a pound to a penny that we do hear more about Lee.
    The same with Ed and Tim.
    In the real world Ed would realise that Tim is a dodgy character and tell him that he will not be getting in touch with him again.
    He should be satisfied that he has got away with whatever criminal act Tim is involved in and say enough is enough.
    We would never hear about any of it again were that to happen....
    but it won’t be like that will it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not with 6 episodes per week to fill Lanjan 😂

      Delete
    2. Agree LJ - loose ends throughout my life, and I think this must be 'normal' !

      Delete
  35. Spicy, I did the same as you, reading the cast list and musing all week on who would have the bailiff visit. (I never read The Week in Ambridge, though - that would be too much information for me.). I agree that I also didn’t remember about the rent arrears. I think Elizabeth reluctantly agreed to pay for the flat via Lily’s allowance when Lily informed her she had cancelled the room in halls. She suppressed her horror, only telling Shula I think on the telephone that she thought Lily was about to make a big mistake in her life.

    Yes, Elizabeth has been hiding in corners pretending to do paperwork since before Christmas. I just hope that between all the people who have been helping thy have kept track of it all and don’t find other unopened bills.

    Lan Jan, I thought Elizabeth was going to mention the health and safety checks to Freddie when she said his tour idea would take time to organise, or that she doesn’t want strangers in the attic where Nigel died.
    I remember Nigel had all sorts of memorabilia up there but maybe it has been cleared out, except the suit of armour.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. About 10yrs ago I attended a special event at Clandon Park coffee / talk and a behind the scenes tour then for those who had booked it lunch too. I was amazed even then at where we were taken very narrow and twisty high wooden stairs and I think attics it was extremely hard work and I could not imagine how staff had managed to carry pails of water up and down them for the owners baths etc. Intriguing though as I have always been fascinated by the downstairs element of the big houses - although with my name I would have preferred upstairs I guess 😂 hopefully I would have been a considerate employer 😇
      When Clandon Park so sadly went up in flames I thought of how terrible it would have been had such a tour been in progress.

      Delete
    2. While Castle Drogo in Devon was having a major renovation it was possible to have a tour to places not normally open in order to see how the building work was done. Hard hats had to be worn and the ground was uneven in places, and the guides warned people before starting that it would be difficult in places.

      Delete
  36. The amount owing of £5300 obviously included court + court enforcement fees. I wonder what the actual rent arrears were, before being inflated by such costs.
    Lily + Russ appeared back in December (I think, as they were around at Christmas) and on their return did not mention their eviction for non-payment of rent. This is surely down to Russ who insisted on his, what with his special foods, the space with peace + quiet to take up his art again, and did not contribute 1p towards any costs. How long were they in Manchester to accrue such rent arrears?
    Lizzie calmely paid up - but when will she put 2+2 togethed to = 4 and realise what actually happened.
    I think and hope, that there will be repercussions, from both Lilly + Lizzie, and it will be Bye Bye Russ. 🤞🤞

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not as far as I know. Poor woman has been silenced. Perhaps she doesn't know where he lives, and doesn't want to know.??

      Now that Freddie has discovered his raison d'être will he be dressing up in the suit of armour as he processes the tours of the hidden gems of LL? I do hope he undertakes a thorough risk assessment, especially after the fiasco of Halloween and the plunging from the parapet. Then there his own history of pushing drugs on the premises to deal with, nothing wrong with ambition, but someone just might ask the question. "Are you the lad who is out on probation having done time for peddling drugs?
      He is going to need a lot of help, most visitors to stately homes are well over 50yrs plus.

      Delete
    2. Continued. Also if those visitors are well read, intelligent and inquisitive, they may ask probing questions. Will he be able to respond, I think not.

      Delete
  37. He may as well have suggested getting a job as an astronaut! It's all just nonsense of the highest order. ☺

    ReplyDelete
  38. Just thinking, sorry, be it rightly or most probably, wrongly :-
    The attic, what is hidden there?
    Will Russ recognise masterpieces and says they are worthless?
    How will he try to smuggle them out?
    Will he get found out?

    To me - this seems the long slow build-up, as to why Russ is still ensconsed in LL. He is now in charge of The Gallery, as the so-called Art expert and Artist in Residence. He will be not be as sincere nor helpful, as he seems.
    As said, just thinking aloud!!😥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have just realised that Russ still has his own car, so it will be an easy get away, with said, purloined paintings. I predict Freddie to the rescue.
      As said, I am only thinking aloud, so these are just my silly opinions + ideas only.
      No-one I know listens to TA, so this is the only place that I can vouice my ideas.
      Apologies, as I know these are controversial and silly.

      Delete
    2. Actually, you might have a point. I don‘t think your ideas are silly but may well prove to be plausible and correct. Only time will tell. I, too, think that there is more to the attic than we currently know.

      Delete
    3. Hopefully Leonard will do some research and realise that some of the paintings are valuable, so that Elizabeth can sell them and bail Lower Loxley out of debt.

      Delete
  39. I thought Mia sounded very much like Clarrie when she was in full flow, younger actress imitating the older one. Tracy is a good sport, sharing her winnings with others.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Most are pouring cold water on Freddie's idea - it's the first time he's had a thought, taken any sort of initiative which isn't to his benefit ( even if it isn't). Why not give it a chance ? It's a bit left field, & he doesn't yet grasp what he'll have to do to make it safe, viable & interesting ( it'll need more than flights of stairs & an old suit of armour) but maybe has creative potential. Leonard could be his mentor, &, what's more, take over the art gallery when Russ has been exposed & sent packing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed Carolyn.There are all the stage costumes which belonged to Julia. That would make an interesting exhibition I would have thought.
      I think Leonard is a dear and has been introduced as a 'nice' character as opposite to the varied not so nice characters introduced over the past few years. He might be full of platitudes but if the words he says fit the bill why not? After all Freddie doesn't have many good role models does he? David, Kenton, Toby? The only adult male who took notice of him was Alistair.

      Delete
    2. I guess we can forgive him the platitudes, but what about the fibs?

      Delete
  41. I like Leonard very much but I am not sure how knowledgeable he is about art.
    He sounds just like my mum.
    She once told me that she was giving a talk at the W.I. about Paul Cézanne.
    I said that I didn’t think she knew anything about the painter and her retort was.
    “I ‘ve read a book about him ,haven’t I ?”

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 😊😀 Nice one, Lanjan ! 'sppkse she winged it; more to the point, had she looked at a few of his paintings ?
      Leonard, we know, isn't an able practitioner, but he was an architect, loves art, & probably knows quite a lot.

      Delete
  42. Poor Mia, but at least it's out in the open just how much she has been doing.I hope she gets proper support now.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I was about to write “Poor Mia “when I saw that you had already done so ,Zoetrope.
    It is so sad when a child feels he or she has to Care for a sick parent or younger sibling
    I am surprised that Clarrie hadn’t realised her situation earlier as the listeners did when Clarrie kept shutting Mia up when the poor girl was trying to speak.
    It is a pity that Clarrie isn’t more like her daughter in law who I believe will be the one to help Mia most.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Clarrie realised she should have been aware. Mia did a good job of covering it up because she didn’t want to be disloyal to William, knew how much he was missing Nic. So Clarrie thought William was doing more than he is.

      Delete
  44. Well, thank goodness Clarrie and Will are now fully aware of the burden that Mia has been shouldering.
    But shame on them
    Both for not noticing before!
    Hopefully a new routine can be organised so that Mia can live a more normal life as a young schoolgirl. Will has to realise he has duties at home as well as for the shoot and he must persuade his deputy not to leave and to take over some of the tasks Will has been trying to cover single-handedly. Pete(?) offered before to give Will a break, now Will must take up that offer and spend more time being a good single parent.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I could have throttled Will tonight.
    The way he said to Carrie “why shouldn’t she” in front of Mia in that tone....poor girl having to put up with that foul tempered man as a step father. He never listens, always goes off on one.
    Clarrie waffing on like she does drives me mad.

    As much as I normally love Jazzer this storyline of him in the cafe is making him out to be a useless lump. About time he had a bit of luck.

    This week has not been very interesting for me. Getting a bit bored with it all at the mo. Suppose I’ll have to put up with a load of cricket waffle too on Sunday. ☹️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fall on could persuade Jazzer to make stacks of waffles for the cricket tea. He loves a waffle🤣🥞

      Delete
    2. I’m looking forward to the cricket waffle PtbY ! Been missing the doings of the Cricket Club all winter!

      Delete
  46. So glad Mia's opened up and both Will and Clarrie are now aware of her situation. I feel sorry for George who has been wrongly accused though.
    I think Freddie should be encouraged with his idea, even though it's far from ideal, it could be worked out, given time, and end up being successful. If the access to the attics is tricky there could be strong warnings given to the customers perhaps with age limits, health advisories etc.
    Jazzer can't be that useless can he? If he is, he's more trouble than he's worth to Fallon.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Ahh as we thought Mia and all because Clarrie cut her off at the cricket match. Still out in the open now thank goodness. All that exams and starting her periods - who would be a woman Mia 🙄

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, Lady R. Often said next time I’m back on Earth I’m going to be a man!

      Delete
  48. How good it would be if we could hear more of Tracy.
    She may be a bit rough round the edges but what you see is what you get Andre heart is obviously in the right place

    ReplyDelete
  49. Mia’s catalogue of jobs sounded horrendous! By default she has had to take on a parental role and responsibility for running the household. Will may have lost his wife, but he is self absorbed and lacks the sensitivity to see what is going on with his family. He took a thirteen year child for granted, and never stopped to assess how chores were completed.
    Surely if a child was going on a school trip a letter/email would have been sent to the parent requesting payment and permission?

    ReplyDelete
  50. Maybe it would be best for Mia to live with her father and Jake, and have a more ‘normal’ adolescence?

    ReplyDelete
  51. Hot chocolate and sticky buns, not for me, but at least they're not taking up childhood obesity.

    Going back to the bailiff's visit, as Maryellen said, it showed that Elizabeth is up to dealing with emergencies, 5k must be a dent in the budget though. Somehow it has nothing to do with Russ because it was Lily's flat with E as guarantor. As for Freddie and his proposed enterprise, never mind the logistics, I was surprised to hear that E was all for it. She said she didn't go up there but if she has no qualms about the attic being explored then it'd seem to me that she's come to terms with Nigel's death. Great, all so'ted then.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If she has got qualms, time to dispel them. This is a new era for LL, even as all profits, such as they are without an alcohol licence, draining away, as they surely are ? Why do these people always avoid the elephants in the room ? Namely, Freddie lliving these when still on probation, & Russ living there at any time? I suppose elephants being ignored is not uncommon but these Two are trumpeting so loudly, I don't see how even the Archer family can continue to step round them, deaf & blind...

      Delete
    2. Basia - Russ may not have had any legal obligation to pay the rent, because Lily was the lessor and Elizabeth was the guarantor, so his name was not on any of the documents.
      But surely he had a moral obligation to help out when Lily could no longer pay the bills?
      He was living there rent free, living entirely on her grant and earnings. He is the more experienced and older of the pair and should have taken some responsibility for allowing Lily to get into debt.
      The fact that he couldn’t bring himself to find even a part time job to help out speaks volumes for his character and also for how much he cares about Lily. It should also have signalled to Elizabeth what a waster and leach her daughter has got herself involved with.

      Delete
    3. Of course, I was being ironic, hence 'somehow' and as Carolyn says Russ is one of the two elephants. I agree with everything you say Archerphile but it was Lily apologising and Elizabeth in turn for being a bad mother and she is still under the impression that they came back to help her out, which they did, but the main reason was because they couldn't afford the rent.

      Delete
    4. You wonder whether Russ’s wife knows where he is as suspect he left her with debts as he seems to be oblivious to money concerns. The wife has been strangely silent and maybe she is glad to see the back of him! E should surely take him to task about the mess Lily found herself in with the rent arrears. He is not a youngster and should know better. Lily, you have to offload him!

      Delete
  52. I can't blame Clarrie for being oblivious to Mia's situation, it really is Will's responsibility, which he's shockingly let happen. The Grundy men are all unreconstructed, though Ed bucks the trend to an extent. So glad the girl exploded but it's appalling that she had to reach breaking point first. I can imagine her actual dad & stepmother have no idea, as she isn't skivvying away when she visits them. I think Andrew only went into the custody situation after Nic's death in order to be clear about the legal position, though Will became typically paranoid, but if he knew what has really been going on for over a year, he'd be back to the lawyer with a view to action ( though we don't know his wife's attitude)

    ReplyDelete
  53. It was obvious that the script writers were spelling it out to us when Clarrie totally ignored what Mia was trying to tell her about three times during one episode.
    Mia is not her responsibility but Clarrie could have been more sensitive towards her by actually listening to what the child had to say instead of interrupting all the time therefore indicating that what Mia said was of no interest.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Sounds like Mia loves her little sister very much, but is now struggling because Will is so wrapped up in his own grief. His obsession with work has clearly been a way of avoiding dealing with being a single parent with a young child, and an adolescent girl, who in her grief takes on the role of mother in the household. Mia is struggling at school, and it’s not surprising considering the chores she has to complete in the morning getting Poppy ready for school. Will’s unhealthy paranoia saw Ruairi sent packing, his deputy given the push, and because he hasn’t got the time to spend with his children, employs a tutor for Mia. Mia had a friend whom she liked and he gave her confidence with her learning. However, it was important that she become a silent housemaid to Will. Tied to the kitchen sink and only 13yrs! Reminiscent of nineteenth century, abuse of children. If will’s house had a chimney, I expect she would be expected to clean it. No Haribos for Mia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think any child should have Haribos!
      What's wrong with an apple, an orange or a banana? Treats yes, be it ice-cream, a muffin, a slice of gooey chocolate cake....

      Delete
  55. After Friday night's, not unexpected revelations, will Will understand and accept these. He needs a part-time house-keeper, so why not Emma. She knows the situation, the house, the family and this could mean she can recoup the wages which since Peggy dismissed her. Perhaps she could then give up some of her chicken factory work, or Ed doesn't need to work with Tim again.
    I still think Ed should talk to Oliver. He promoted Tim to Ed, as a reliable and trustworthy person. I am sure Oliver would be helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  56. ...not forgetting the rental income from Grange Farm. Does he actually need it, plus what about the property in Tuscany?? In other words, Oliver needs to reappear and give his thoughts and ideas relating to his incomes with his properties, which could well include the selling of Grey Gables. Where will he live - that will pose a problem, but there will be a solution, can't think what, but it will happen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who knows. Oliver might love living in Grange Farm again, alongside Eddie + Clarrie. Joe will sadly have departed, and Ed + Emma will be in their Beechwood Home. Oliver will with Eddie, take over the care of Eds texcels, plus Gem + Bartleby (if still Bartleby is still around - another idea of mine but not mentioning yet awhile).
      Bert is fine with the Fairbrothers, so why not Oliver with The Grundys, in his own farm.

      Delete
  57. Just listened to last night's episode. I 100% agree with maryellen that Mia should live with her dad and brother. Poor thing must be frazzled beyond belief. Will truly isn't cut out to be a parent it seems. Some people just aren't I suppose.

    PS maryellen - look at us agreeing yet again! 😉

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, Gary - it feels unfamiliar but nice!!!😄

      Delete
  58. I can’t agree with you,Gary..
    Were Mia to go to live with her father it would make things extremely difficult for his wife.
    Mia would obviously be comparing her with Nic.
    The poor woman would’t stand a chance.
    We don’t know why Nic and Andrew split up but Nic was such a pleasant young woman I doubt if it was anything she did to upset the Apple cart.
    If Mia went to live with them she would spend her life worrying about Poppy.
    Now that Clarrie realises the situation ,she and Emma can step in when necessary.
    Yes Will is a plonker but he has gone through a lot in his life so it is time we gave him a chance.




    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But I think it would be far better for Mia's mental health to not live with Will. It's completely natural for a youngster to compare any woman with their late mother, but completely unnatural for a youngster to be expected to BE that late mother!

      Delete
    2. Almost forgot! Nic didn't seem that nice to me when it turned out she had smooshed Matt into the tarmac, left him for dead and then kept quiet about it!!!

      Delete
    3. Mmn...I'd rather it had been Lil or Alistsir, - poetic Justice. I think Nic panicked, living with Will turned her into a nervous wreck, just as her daughter is finding now.AND she did repent on her deathbed. Crawford, of course survived the accident. I know that doesn't excuse Nic not owning up when she realized what happened, l do wonder if she would have survived the sepsis if she hadn't been wracked with guilt ? Far fetched but body & mind are intimately connected...

      Delete
    4. Yes Carolyn, my thoughts at the time.
      Nic will not survive - she has so much guilt.

      Delete
    5. GG - it may be as you say unnatural to expect a young woman to be 'the mother' - but in times past and sometimes even now, however ' unnatural ' it may be, it was often the norm.

      Delete
  59. I didn't much like Nic either, she was really nasty to Emma in the pub, flaunting her wealth in Emma's face, also her voice was very irritating, but, to her credit, she did stand up to Will when neccessary. I'm sure any mother would hate to see her young daughter becoming a drudge, so Will isn't really being respectful to his dead wife's memory. I think Mia should live with her father.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't particularly dislike Nic, but I didn't like her very much either.
      I never felt that her character developed very far from the young woman on the bus with the pushchair.

      Delete
    2. The scriptwriters never used Nic very much until her untimely death, when she came in useful to highlight the dangers of sepsis.
      I can imagine them sitting around discussing who they could sacrifice to give the greatest impact to the sepsis story without unduly losing one the long serving cast members.
      Nic was ideal - she hadn’t been around for years and years and she didn’t feature in stories very often. Being a young Mum with several children her death would be seen as extra tragic and could be used to promote more problems for that unfortunate family - the Grundys

      I realise I am sounding very ironic here but that is truly why I think Nic was chosen. It certainly wasn’t because the actress wanted to leave, she was very upset to be written out.
      Had that not happened, who knows how Nic might have developed in the future or what stories she could have been involved in?
      I liked her but the SWs never bothered using her, until the coup de grace.
      Bit of a ´Nigel Moment’ in my view

      Delete
    3. Sorry to be cynical, but isn’t the main reason actors are “very upset” when their characters are written out, that they lose not only the performance fee but also their retainer fee? I gather the BBC’s retainer fee is minuscule but worth having, I guess. I sometimes wonder if a character like Kathy who hasn’t been written out but never appears qualifies for a retainer fee or not. If yes, it must be a further drain on budget.

      Delete
    4. In my opinion Archerphile you have summed up the character of Nic as part of the Archer cast very well.
      Spot on indeed.
      And Maryellen cogently adds to what you have said.

      I do wonder if some characters are retained as peripheral in order to have a useful character to dispose of should a story line require such.

      Delete
    5. I also think that Nic would have been a very good future Ambridge resident. She was a good wife to Will, a wonderful mother, was a member of the WI with Clarrie, ran the junior church - so why was she sacrificed.
      To then have Matts accident blamed on her - was just diabolical and unbielable IMHO and not deserved.
      Rant Over. Phew!

      Delete
  60. You haven’t convinced me,Mistral or Gary.
    (I did agree with you though Mistral about Nic’s voice.Rather”little girlish “I thought)
    Living with Will is certainly not ideal for Mia but we don’t know if Andrew’s wife has children;we don’t know how many bedrooms they have or whether Mia would have to change schools but the main reason for my thinking Mia is better off staying with Will is because she would worry about Poppy if she was not around to look after her.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Miriam. Re Haribos. It was Will who, when Mia confessed she borrowed/stole the money 💰 suggested, in a not nice voice, she had spent it on Haribos and something else. This man will be a controlling parent, a misogynist parenting two girls. Run for your life Mia, and take Poppy with you.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I think Will is trying his best with the little skill he has with parenting. He can speak very gently to Mia as his apology about Rhuari showed. He is too quick to reach boiling point but has never been unduly harsh and let’s face it bringing up teenage girls is no picnic - I had the task three times over! Emma has been a big support and maybe Clarrie will be a bit more careful about listening to Mia. With their support I feel Will will win through.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you Ev. Will has got it all wrong do far, but he does have his caring side too which Clarrie and Emma can help him to engage. He’ll learn, but in the meantime he desperately needs help around the house and with childcare

      Delete
  63. Where Mia lives would now at her age be very much down to her, unless there were any serious Concerns about either parent, any court would be bound to take her wishes seriously and it would be unusual not agree.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When Nic was in hospital it was Will who Mia wanted so he went out of the room to comfort her which was why he was not with Nic when she died.
      I think Emma will be the one who helps Mia the most.
      I think Clarrie means well and is very kind but the way she speaks and often acts would drive me round the bend.

      Delete
  64. Just thinking: does Grey Gables still exist?
    Can’t remember the last scene played out there or the last time we heard from, or about Roy, Ian, Oliver or the mummified Kathy.
    Perhaps it has been taken over by Russian Oligarchs or demolished in a freak earthquake? 😲

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We haven’t heard Kirsty for a while ,either

      I can’t understand why we have not heard a word about Kathy's son,Jamie
      Wasn’t he one of the cricketers?

      .

      Delete
  65. As per usual, on listening to the omnibus this morning, I picked up something which I hadn't appreciated before.This might have been mentioned already, but....
    After the visit of the Court Officer and the following talk between Lizzie + Lily:-
    Lily - only spoke as "I" not "we"
    Lizzie - spoke to her as you, singular, not you, plural.
    Russ was not implied nor even mentioned, as to his responsibilty as to the rent arrears.
    Also, surely Lily opened the personal post when Lizzie wasn't coping.
    Now, Lizzie has a large £5300 balance on a credit card. I hope she makes Lily + Russ to jointly pay off the monthly payments.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As to the brilliant idea of Freddies about tours of the hidden Lower Loxley - 10 days is surely not feasible. He will have to do a comprehensive Risk Assesement and satisy Health + Safety Rules. The time-scale seems wrong, but it is a great idea though.
      I still think that there are many valuable hidden treasures in that attic, which need professionly assessed and valued - and not by Russ. Isn't there a antiques expert in Felpersham, who could look at it all?
      It could be the financial input LL needs, in the short-term.

      Delete
  66. Just a quick extra.
    I am happy with Jeremy Howe as the editor of TA. Why?
    He has focused on:-
    a)The Bunting issue
    b) A lovely Senior Citizen friendly pair - Jill and Leonard
    c) The available support to problems/situations, shown with Lizzie and Freddie
    d) Side-lined characters such as Chris + Tracey, becoming more prominent
    I could say so much more, but this is not the time.
    It will happen, though.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Something I noticed in the omnibus this morning (and I have mentioned elsewhere) was when Susan was speaking to Leonard and he asked if she would like to be on the art committee - she said .......Im too busy , being on the senior team at the dairy.
    Now, I didn’t know there were teams at the dairy, or that one of them was senior to the other!
    Just Susan self-aggrandising again I suppose.
    She is really is incorrigible!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Tracy vice-captain, can't wait till next Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Ditto, Basia! I loved her summing up of Chris’s captaincy - hasn’t got enough Horrobin in him!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too Maryellen- he's too like his dad - she said.
      Well Tracy Horrobin you may think of Neil as lowly, but your sister knows he's the tops.

      Delete
    2. Let us please have more of Tracy Horrobin.
      I think that she is great..
      She is a lass after my own heart.
      She is generous ,would call a spade a b****y shovel and she does not bear a grudge.
      What is not to like about her?

      Delete
    3. She was really kind to take Mia to the tearoom but a shame Mia ran out before she had her bun. Tracy is rough round the edges but has a generous heart!

      Delete
    4. Even I coped with the cricket episode tonight thanks to Tracey’s hilarious heckling.

      Will and clarrie = makes me want to 🤮🗑
      (Couldn’t find a bucket).

      Delete
    5. I agree with the comments about Tracey. She may be 'common as muck' but she's fun to listen to.
      Jolene: it's all gone to her head
      Freddy's tours: can't believe they've been set up so quickly. Can only hope they've taken care of the necessary legal protections, although I doubt it.

      Delete
    6. Tracy might call a spade a bl**dy spade but never a bl**dy shovel - she’s smart enough to know the difference.😀

      Delete
    7. Of course she does but she would still say shovel ,I bet when she decides to doctor the cricket pitch a little .
      No she wouldn’t stoop to that would she?
      (She would need to stoop if she used a shovel for the job)
      I was very impressed and surprised really that she knows all the cricket positions.

      Delete
    8. Tracy and Susan grew up playing cricket with their brothers so no surprise that they are both knowledgeable and good at it.

      Delete
  70. Another corker of an Ambridge Observer this week - including a photo of Freddie dressed up in a suit of armour in preparation for his Hidden Loxley Tours; and a heartbreaking reply from Auntie Satya to Will’s letter asking what to do about Mia. Don’t miss it!
    (I am hoping Christine Michael will pay me a retainer for all these trails I give her paper!) 😉

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also read the Ambridge Observer. Brilliant.

      Delete
  71. I can't wait to hear Susan -
    Chris as the cricket captain and now Tracey, as vice-captain. She will be unbearable - but love her. 😀

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will she take over the cricket teas - or will she tell Alice, that it is now her responsibilty. This is the sort of simple Ambridge Life, which needs to appear again. Wishful thinking, only. 🏏🏏🍰
      🥞🌯.

      Delete
  72. So Jim is succumbing to the delights of North Yorkshire. Sensible man.
    Think he’ll be disappointed in the Roman road though.
    Ed.....how can anyone be sooooo stupid.
    Now will Bert finally speak in the art meeting. Have missed him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Didn’t think I’d be learning local history from the Archers! I stayed at Wheeldale youth hostel with school and I thought friends were joking about the Roman Road. Dramatic up there though - Shula’s right it’s beautiful (I am not biased)😊.

      Delete
  73. Its not that Ed is not hearing the alarm bells, he most definitely is.
    But he is also trying to convince himself that all will be well.
    And why ?
    Because of the pressure of making enough money to save for that bloody house.

    All will not be well Ed.
    And you know it !

    ReplyDelete
  74. It's not that Ed is not listening to the alarm bells, he most definitely is.
    It is rather that he is doing his best to convince himself that all will be well.

    Why ?
    Because he understands that he must make enough to save for that bloody house.

    All will not be well Ed, and you know it.
    Listen to those alarm bells and to your own common sense.
    Get out now !

    ReplyDelete
  75. Esscee, it came across to.me that the alarm bells were ringing very loudly for Ed, but he's being threatened, indirectly, though not subtley, & he's going along with the next job out of fear. ( What do 'they' do to people they 'don't trust'?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, Mrs P, wrote the above before I saw your post - our first words almost exactly the same !

      Delete
  76. Sorry.
    My first attempt did not publish. Then they both published together.

    ReplyDelete
  77. No need for apology Carolyn.
    We often have similar thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  78. My thoughts exactly Carolyn (regarding Ed!) Quite enjoyed the episode not over dramatic or BP raising for a change! 😉

    ReplyDelete
  79. I’m afraid that Ed has been both weak and stupid (not for the first time when you review his past history), He has neglected a legitimate source of income in favour of an illegitimate one. And as we could all have predicted, he is now in danger of getting in too deep to get out easily. As Carolyn says, what could the repercussions be? A petrol bomb through the Grange Farm letterbox is probably too extreme, but I can’t see him escaping Tim scot free. He is basically a decent man, it’s just that his moral backbone needs stiffening.



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are spot on there,Maryellen.

      Delete
    2. I think the least Tim could do is to repossess Eddie’s van (and no more fencing work, of course), so someone is bound to suffer besides Ed. Jazzer has already felt the effects.

      Delete
    3. ‘They’ might poison Peppa Pig!

      Delete
    4. I hope not Maryellen, lets hope it is insured

      Delete
  80. Another aspect of last night - Shula, Alistair & Jim hit it off much, much better than they ever did before the divorce !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly what I was thinking! Shula seemed so much happier last night, in fact she has been a lot more relaxed ever since she went for that drink with Alistair. And all of a sudden they seem to find lots of things they can do together and to help each other with when before their separation, Shula could not seem to agree on anything with Alistair. I wonder how this S/L is going to develop - friendship after divorce, or a new kind of relationship.

      Delete
  81. I agree carolyn and Nigella A that they seem to get along so much better now but then I could never understand why Shula so suddenly found Alistair to be the opposite of what she wanted. To put it mildly, Shula is a very silly lady.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps they get on better now they don’t have to live together.

      Delete
    2. Could well be; not the imarriage & in law pressure plus Alistair & Jim really have become closer, so more tolerant of their differences.
      On the other hand, there have been hints that Shula might regret her decision even though she firmly denies that. Self knowledge has not been her strong point, has it, so maybe in her foggy, slow way she is finding out more about herself !

      Delete
  82. Sometimes a divorced couple will stay as close friends and why not. They share children and joint memories, which should not be forgotten. They know each other well and are more relaxed with each other.
    This is what Shula + Alistair are doing - being comfortable in each others company, in a very different way.
    I think Shula + Alistair will still have a good relationship.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Miriam, my husband and I divorced sixteen years ago, but, when we meet up, I find that we can still have long chats about our children, things that we're both interested in, and about past times, in a friendly and comfortable way. So much easier without the stresses that come with living together. I could absolutely understand where Shula was coming from last night.

      Delete
    2. You have so well expressed my simple thoughts. ✔✔

      Delete
  83. I hope that Russ's new project will make money for Elizabeth.
    As for today: how dare he say that at least all the guests were invited.
    Also, I'm with Kenton, I find the lines divisive.
    Tom - jump into your car and go to see Natasha, you've got nothing to lose and ask Jazzer to look after the pigs in your absence.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Only Kenton & possibly Helen, given scant information from Tom, made any sense whatsoever tonight. Elizabeth might be feeling better in herself, but she's a gullible idiot, Shula is trying too hard to please & Russ, aside from being a scoundrel & an egotist, is a send up of certain types of artist who who utter garbage & over explain. If you want to criticize Brexit & the fallout, find a more clever, imaginative, & visually exciting way of doing it than sticking tape in various ways on the floor !

    ReplyDelete
  85. I hope that Freddie, with his innovative "Hidden Lower Loxley" tours, will be allowed to spend as much as Russ seems to have done, with his first Art Gallery enterprise.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Surely if you have to explain what you mean and the message in a piece of art then it's not very good?
    What a send up of a pseudo artistic failure! I hope Kenton manages to get Elizabeth and Lily to see what a parasite Russ is, now he's found out that Elizabeth is fully supporting him and Lily financially.
    Or will it be yet another fall-out between Elizabeth and one of her siblings because she is so stubborn and 'aways right!'

    ReplyDelete

Popular posts from this blog