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Life in Ambridge
Life in Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments' - Episode 8 Life Outside Ambridge Beach Chairs
"Arkwright Hall is a large Victorian mansion with a 17th-century atmosphere. The building served as a community centre for many years, containing a soundproofed room and field studies centre. Later it fell into disrepair, but was renovated when Jack Woolley leased the mansion to the Landmark Trust; architect Lewis Carmichael led the restoration of the building to its Victorian splendour".
ReplyDeleteGary is that Ambridge Hall?
ReplyDeleteApologise. Posted before seeing yours.
DeleteMrs P, previous blog 16/9 11:58 PM.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I had our first child in early 1967. We had support of NCT only by correspondence as we lived rather rurally at the time. There was no opposition to my being present at the birth which was not unheard of but a little unusual at the time.
Lanjan 16/9 7:38. I think we established in a previous existence that I am a little older than you. I concede that you are a far more regular contributor than I.
That's very interesting Pierre l C - I'm pleased for you both that you were not opposed. Rural ? Would be interested to know which county ?
DeleteJanice - you are not alone in your doubts re surrogacy. Others feel the same.
I have stated in the past that I have no such doubts. IMO it is wrong, as I also feel IVF is wrong, despite supporting my daughter as far as I was able through several 'tries'. She didn't succeed, in my opinion because she too felt it was wrong.
Because we can, does not mean that we must !
This story line in TA may well be an attempt to portray the pitfalls of such arrangements in all the manifestations possible.
Hence OTT.
Could I politely ask if personal opinions and experiences of baby creation and rearing could go on the other blog while we wait to find out what will happen in Ambridge? Thank you for reading this request.
ReplyDeleteððð
Delete✔✔✔
DeleteWhilst Ian and Adam work out how they are going to juggle all their balls in the air regarding baby care and work life balance. Lets change the subject and examine another ethical issue.
ReplyDeleteEddie is seeking help from Brian to have William sacked over his concern for him being a risk around guns. Brian should, IMO go to M Gibson and discuss Will’s family circumstances and impact on his mental state. In this case M Gibson could request a psychological assessment to ascertain if such a risk exists. Colluding with Eddie may not be the right approach.
If we assume William gets the sack and finds out who did the dirty on him would that provoke him into shooting his father and Brian ? Ambridge is a sieve and things always come out one way or another.
You are right Stasia, the truth will always out, that's the purpose of this drama. William knows how Eddie feels but neither of them wants a confrontation, so it'd be obvious to him that Eddie was acting behind the scenes. As I said before, one gamekeeper had shot himself, would they repeat it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, who shot George's dog? Was it Ed because of the cows? If so, then what with? Lastly, forgive my ignorance, can a gamekeeper work without a gun?
It was Ed, by mistake. The light was poor and he aiming at something else.
DeleteI agree with you both.
DeleteIt is up to Will to talk to Martin G.about his job and home, not Eddie.
As Will could lose his home for himself + Poppy + visits from George, surely he won't jeopardise this.
I hope (like Freddie) he can put things into perspective + can move forwards, in a vey positive way.
The SW's might have other ideas, though.
PS I need to add Stasia + Maryellen into my thoughts. I apologise for that omission.
DeleteGood afternoon Brazil...
ReplyDeleteWho lives in Arkwright Hall as it's never mentioned in TA.
ReplyDeleteIt's a holiday let Miriam. Jack Wooley leased it to the Landmark Trust.
DeleteJack Woolley died, so did it go to Hazel??
DeleteI am just being curious only, to fill a gap in my Ambridge knowledge, which is not great.
Isn’t is used as a study centre as Gary said? Possibly for countryside research, seminars etc
ReplyDeleteJust the sort of place Kirsty could use for training volunteers for the local Natural History Society...I’m sure Borsetshire must have one, most counties do.
Pierre 11:38 am
ReplyDelete........but you carry your age so well !
ð
DeleteKate's very outspoken when it's none of her business but she couldn't quite bring herself to say: I can't have sex with Jakob with you in the house. I'm sure Peggy will send Joy packing or turn it all around to her own advantage, is she paying her or Jakob is?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth is so proud that Freddie is a kitchen porter, at least Lily can see that it's good for him to get away from Lower Loxley.
Will Lily go back to Manchester? If so, she's in two minds about it. Who is Hugh?
DeleteIt seems Peggy has been hoist with her own petard. - serves her right for playing the invalid in order to make things awkward for Kate. Though there’s always the possibility that she and Joy will get on like house on fire!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I do worry about Joy + Hilda O. that is the test...
DeleteWhat happened to Hugh? Is he still alive and if so, where is he now living?
ReplyDeleteHe and Julia had such a lovely and supportive friendship together, just like Gill + Leonard.
I assume you mean Lewis who was married to Julia. He had a separate apartment, presumably converted coach house or something, when he ran The Gallery. Certainly when the twins had their 18th birthday party he was still at LoLo. Then he retired and Russ supposedly took over. However as Russ and Lily are in the main house there would be no need for Lewis to vacate.
DeleteHugh is a chef, possibly in The Orangery.
The temporary manager Glenn, brought in by Kenton is apparently still there.
Oh poor Peggy! Kate has had the ultimate revenge!
ReplyDeleteLily seemed very un- communicative and unenthusiastic about her return to University and quite keen to stay and ‘help’ because of Hugh’s resignation.
But what I found most strange was that there was no mention of Russ at all !
Where is he? Is he still running the art gallery? Is he going to stay at LL when Lily goes back to Manchester? Will she find student accommodation on her own?
I think we should be told - it was almost as if he had been erased from the story completely.
How very strange.
Perhaps Russ has done a runner and they forgot to tell us.
DeleteOr perhaps he's fallen for an older woman, name of Kathy, and he has as a result lost his voice.
When Russ was offered the job he is now doing, I thought he was offered the living accommodation as well as salary that went with it, so presumably Lewis’s retirement means he has left Lower Loxley. If I’m wrong, he’s still there, now living/sponging off the estate
ReplyDeleteIt's the little things like that that make me laugh - that the post of Gallery Manager in Ambridge not only comes with a salary, but accommodation! It's comedy nonsense. It's hardly The Guggenheim is it? I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Freddie's new job is paying around 40k a year the way the Archers has so little regard for reality these days....
DeleteYou have to remember that Ambridge exists in a UK where the English Channel and Irish Sea are only a couple of miles wide. (I’m not sure if Scotland still exists, it hasn’t been mentioned since Charlie Thomas got booted off to Stirling or wherever it was Justin Elliott sent him, and said JE went to visit his aunty there. ). So suspending your disbelief is the first requirement of every TA follower.ð
DeleteI DO try maryellen!
DeleteGod, how I try....ð
There is no reason to suppose that Lewis is 'sponging' off the estate. He is Elizabeth's father in lawof whom she always has been fond, and I would think he has a private and state pension.
DeleteI see no reason why Lewis should not still be there, still occasionally working in his profession as an architect, and living independently.
The Lower Loxley estate employs so many people in various departments:
Conference centre, wedding venue, Art Gallery, Rare Breeds farm, Falconry, Treetop walk, The Orangery, tours of the public rooms of the 'mansion,' and that's all I can remember off the top of my head.
There would have to be office staff as well as the manager doing wages, staff rotas, taking bookings etc.
As LoLo is a 300 year old country house the grounds and parklands would have been extensive with barns, outhouses and coach houses.
We have near to me, in the villages around, several 'tea rooms,' on farms in back lanes, which serve light lunches and which have galleries, gift shops, and craft shops. You have to book to get a table almost any day as they are very popular. I often buy birthday and Christmas gifts there as they have different types of gifts than the High Street shops.
Such places are very real.
(No apologies for adding anecdotal evidence!)
There. stop. Is.stop. No.stop. Need. Stop. To.stop. Be.stop. Unpleasant. Stop. Pip sounds like on of those early message machines.
ReplyDeleteMessage to granny. Revenge. Stop. Is. Stop. Extremely. Stop. Sweet. Stop. Kate. Stop.
Re Peggy v Kate:
ReplyDeleteIt should be remembered that Kate ‘started it’ by telling Jakob that she was Peggy’s ‘carer’. I think Jakob realised this was a huge exaggeration when he first met Peggy and silently corroborated with Peggy to call Kate’s bluff by playing up to her need to be helped to the toilet. The farce has progressed from there. How it will end is anyone’s guess, possibly with Kate loosing her grace and favour accommodation with Peggy and shacking up with Jakob! ð
Spicycushion, (8: 06 am ) I can not see how LL makes any kind of profit.
ReplyDeleteYou list the number of staff a place like that would need
The wage bill must be enormous.
It is not going to be inundated with coach loads of visitors each day.
Better known NT places like Dunham Massey,Tatton, Quarry Bank Mill ,Ham House and Osterley were not heaving with visitors when I have visited them..
How do they make ends meet ?
Stasia
ReplyDelete8:20 am
✔️✔️✔️
I think that Pip——is——-actually——gettting ——-worse.
David was once the voice on the Piccadilly Line telling us all to “Mind the gap”.
Perhaps Pip’s next job could be to record the journeys one hears on buses
This—- Is—- the —— 282 —— to ——Tolworth ,calling at ......................
I think the difference between Peggy and.Kate is that Peggy has a malicious streak, which Kate, whatever her faults, doesn’t have. As an example, most right-thinking people would shut their malevolent pet out of the room when they had visitors, rather than subject the unfortunate visitor to possible attack. Not Peggy! She barely apologises and her cushiony voice sounds as if she is positively enjoying her guest’s discomfiture.
ReplyDeleteKate sounded malicious last night, she, Peggy and Joy would get on together plus Hilda.
ReplyDeleteKate wants to keep up the pretence that she is Peggy's carer, with her usual eloquence she found it difficult to articulate how she wants her relationship to 'progress'. Peggy did offer to take her hearing aid out, so she outwitted her.
It’s true, Peggy does seem to have a blind spot when it comes to the evil Hilda Ogden! She is far too indulgent of that cat and tends to blame visitors of Hilda savages them, rather than the cat! ðū
ReplyDeleteKate (and Jakob) outwitted Peggy, surely - and hooray for that! Manipulative, controlling, old biddy.
ReplyDeleteAnd so say all of us! Well, some of us. ☺
DeleteJust caught up. Must admit, it was good to see Peggy outwitted. I guess she & Kate are quits now. Not that Kate is anything but a thoroughly outrageous & ghastly character, which, all the same, makes her kind of memerising to listen to - 'what silliness next', kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteI suppose we were meant to think that Kate's rudeness brought Ruth & stop/start Pip(loved your rendering of her odd speech patterns, Stasia !) back to a friendly relationship again. Sigh.
Oh, dear, Freddie hasn't changed that much - now he's whining because Iain told him like it is. Even Lily, whilst definitely encouraging her twin, could see Iain's point. I suppose he might learn that most Ambridge folk don't suffer from short term memory deficit, & a prison sentence for drug dealing takes time & evidence of reformation to overcome.
ReplyDeleteI'm amused by Kate, Peggy, Ruth, Pip etc shenanigans, amusing and playful, stuff of life for the Archers.
ReplyDeleteNow Freddie's problems are ok and dealt with quite well?
It's Will I have the question about. Why o why would Eddie break down in front of the very person who will have to 'do something' about the confession and loose him his job.
Will is not a social worker. - He's a man who very much loves his son and wants him safe for the the future and able to care for his grieving family - He doesn't need to loose his job.
There are many ways of committing suicide without a gun. Am I wrong?
Sorry I just came in with my thoughts and now see you've discussed it earlier ð
ReplyDeleteI was not pleased to see that Peggy was outwitted.
ReplyDeleteShe won’t be for long.
Kate May well regret what she has done.
I do not agree that Peggy has a malicious streak.
I would have been livid and hurt if my grandchild had done to me.
what Kate did to Peggy ,
Kate is a selfish ageing nymphomaniac who cares about no one but Kate.
I just hope that Joy turns out to be exactly the sort of person Peggy needs and that Peggy tells Kate it would be better for her to move in with Jakob so that she can get her Cleaner ,Emma ,back and enjoy Joy’s company.
Incidentally does Kate want to be the only person who is entering the vegan class in the Cookery Section of the Flower and Produce Show so that she can win first prize by default?
Dreadful woman.
Janet, I just think that people like Will who are so obviously under such emotional stresses really, really shouldn't have access to guns. Not only for their safety, but the safety of all around them.
ReplyDeleteLanjan - am very interested in how you come to the conclusion that Kate is a nymphomaniac! Or do you just mean she is a woman who enjoys sex? Or is Jakob an ageing nymphomaniac too?
Oh, no, Lanjan, Peggy won't like Joy at all - she's the one with verbal diarrhoea, Kirsty's Beechwood neighbour, who popped in leaving Kirsty & Lexi gasping & giggling. Peggy doesn't giggle, she'll find the woman infuriating.it'll be even better if Hilda really takes to her, cats' tastes are sometimes unaccountable, & so Peggy won't even have her as a deterrent.
ReplyDeleteThat said, quite agree about the hurtful & ruthless way she used Gran to ingratiate herself with Jakob.
Gary (3.23pm), there are some grounds for concluding she has nympho tendencies : the bouncy castle incident with Toby, at Ruth's 50th ?!
ReplyDeleteDon't think she is, though, particularly, just a woman who has to have whatever she wants when she wants it, including sex.
Gary I thought the definition of nymphomaniac was “a woman who has excessive sexual desire”
ReplyDeleteIsn’t that what Kate has?
That is not the same as someone who enjoys sex.
As for Jakob, I haven’t the faintest idea of what he feels .
I don’t know what the male version of nymphomaniac is .
He seems so wooden to me .
I actually wondered if he actually believes Kate when she says she is Peggy’s Carer.
I am prepared to guess that Peggy and Joy will get on with each other- maybe it will take time!.
Where. are you P tb Y ?
Shall we have a slice of cake on it?
How about you Carolyn?
Next meet up?
Mine’s a Chelsea bun!
Lanjan(3.31), you're on. I like Bakewell slice or coffee cake.
DeleteI'm confident because why introduce the Joy character unless for comedy, creating havoc amongst the villagers ?
"Excessive sexual desire"? Kate has had a bit of nookie TWICE in around a year!!!! Cut the woman some slack - she's hardly offering herself to strangers round the back of the Bull! And even if she was, more power to her...ð
ReplyDeleteHi GaryGilday,
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right in general and in the world as it is now - but i find it hard to believe Eddie would have said this to Brian.
I think Eddie behaved heroically getting Will through the gun episode and afterwards with Clarrie and the family. It seemed to be his finest moment and makes up for his, somewhat, 'Jack the Lad' persona of the past.
His conflicted concern, for this particular person, Will, would have erred on the side of working something out that didn't involve him losing his job to add to his woes.
Will always, always, often without just cause, feels the world is against him. This is going to destroy him if he isn't destroyed already.
I do feel that this tendency to pile horror upon horror upon the Grundies , as a family, is unfortunate.
They are amazingly hardworking, intelligent, caring, community minded and mainly optimistic and cheerful - except Will for the last two.
Come on Ambridge SWs shake a leg and give them a bit of over the top JOY. They mainly deserve it.
Great characters. Come on folks lets have
Sorry delete 'Come on folks' No idea where the rambling was taking me xx
ReplyDeleteMiriam 8.13pm. I agree Hilda will be the litmus test re Joy Horrible.
ReplyDeleteLanjan’s prediction that the two get on with each other could be correct.
Kate is hardly a nymphomaniac for having sex once with sleazy Toby. Her choice of sex partner in the bouncy castle makes her action tasteless, but hardly excessive.
I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near Kate when she is in a state of orgasmic ecstasy. I’d be frightened out of my wits. Poor Jakob he had better buy some ear plugs.
In fact Toby, by definition is the nympho, he had sex with PIP, and also allowed a woman (sexually involved with) to shave off his eyebrows. Maybe that was some weird sexual game?
Didn't maintain that the bouncy castle episode makes her a nymphomaniac as such, but it certainly makes her pretty desperate, immature, poor self worth, despite all.her prancing around.
ReplyDeleteThe incident with Ruth : next thing is she'll be giving Pip a lesson on Dealing with Parents Who Try to Thwart You ? Answer : Kick 'em out of their home ! No rewilding land for the winners of the misgotten competition ? Withdraw your services, start a fire at Brookfield, shame them publically for not caring about the environment, so they have to leave, like they nearly did before.....whatever.
Misbegotten
DeleteI think that TA is going through a more fun, normal + comical interlude (Tracy, Joy, Kate + Jakob).
ReplyDeleteThere is still the serious thoughts about Will - which I think Will will resolve himself - plus Ed + Emma and their parting.
I, personally, think that now there are more worrying S/Ls will appear.
The first has to be - what will Lexi do with the baby, pass it on or keep it?
The second is - Joe. How will the Grundys accept and adapt to this, and where will they end up living?
The third is - I am expecting a major SL concerning Lower Loxley. The Hunt Ball has already been mentioned recently, along with a conference with GG providing the B+B. Wil it involve Freddie, Russ, Lily?
The fourth has to about both Vince and Tim, with the consequences as to them both.
I am loving some of these light-hearted interludes, such as Leonard making the scrap cakes, for the flower + produce show, Lynda + Tracy together, Joy (just like when Bethany's mother appeared in Ambridge - I can't remember her name sadly).
Just a few of my idle thoughts.ðð
It was Vicky who married Mike Tucker.
DeleteYes, I had to search on-line..
Joy + Vicky, are behaving similar in their initial introduction to Ambridge and its well established residents.
Yes, Vicki was ghastly, too, wasn't she. Topped it all with forcing poor old Mike into having another child, even going ahead with the pregnancy when they found out about the Downs Syndrome. He would have opted for termination, but she had her way, despite the fact of their age, the likelihood of lifelong dependency, the fact that she would be orphaned relatively early.
ReplyDeleteControversial view perhaps - bet this made for lots of argument on the BBC blog !
I would have loved for Bethany to stay in Ambridge. A downs syndrome child could have provided so much info. as to what this is and it's problem.
DeleteBethany might have provided a good source as to how things could have been adapted re life, schooling, plus Mike + Vickys love and care for her
TA missed a lot there.
I had a relation, who was Downs Syndrome, and all my family adapted to her needs and helped her
The criteria used for labelling Kate a nymphomaniac would apply to Kirsty too. I guess Kirsty is also tarred with the same brush as Kate regarding veganism (depending on your POV re veganism).
ReplyDeleteHelloooo.....a cappuccino on it. Peggy and Joy will never be friends.
ReplyDeletePeggy made a swift recovery from her defeat. She had a tiresome woman dumped on her so that Kate and Jakob could have an undisturbed night and morning of sex, after which Kate decided he was the one and he to take time off to think about it. As Peggy said, they are right for each other, both very self-centred.
ReplyDeleteI remember hating Vicky when she came to Ambridge.
ReplyDeleteWell I suppose I should say when Mike brought her to Ambridge.
She did improve, a bit, but I never took to her and very much disliked her way of taking Mike over. And Mike kowtowed to her every demand. ( demands not wishes).
And then she took him off to Brum.
Good old grumpy Mike. A solid TA character of decades standing, gone in a flash.
And although there was a hint of ' Mike will still be with us' he is not even mentioned by Roy any longer.
Too late P tb Y !
ReplyDeleteYou should have come in before this evening’s episode.
Not that I have definitely given up hope that Peggy and Joy won’t find something in common at a later date despite what Peggy said.
As for Jakob .
Presumably he had arranged to go to Sweden before he and Kate had decided to have a night (and morning) of passion.
I imagine his parents are looking forward to seeing him.
He has been given time off from the Vet’s Practice .
The obvious answer is for him to take her to Sweden with him-and forget to bring her back
I don’t think he is being selfish.
I think Joy is juat a comical interlude, added in, until more serious things start again, as to my earlier, silly, ideas.
DeleteSusan, Lynda, Kirsty + Emna, will take her down somehow.
Don't think so Miriam, they may try, but people like Joy don't get taken down, they just steamroller over everyone, being insensitive to anyone else's needs or emotions. Because they don't listen to others, but only hear their own voices or thoughts.
DeleteOh, well, Kate & Jakob have to have their first row, don't they, & it had to be because a) Kate Must Come First b) Jakob's too socially inept not to have mentioned his month with family earlier.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you might hope, Lanjan, but, surprisingly swiftly, looks like I might have won the coffee cake...
No no no Carolyn, it won't end there, the SW will spin this one out, I'm sure.
DeleteIt's good for quite a few laughs yet, like this evenings when Kate failed to see the similarities in behaviour between her and Jacob. And Peggy's gleeful recognition of same.
Incidentally I do so agree that Peggy has a malicious streak to her nature, but think also that Kate has also.
I think Peggy summarily dismissed Joy, though we'll hear from the latter again in other contexts. Wait till she meets Lynda, for instance! The focus now will be on ridiculous misunderstandings between
ReplyDeleteKate flouncing, & Jakob being bemused..,.then they'll make up, noisily...
That’s right Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn ,you can’t jump in and think that the slice of cake is there for the taking.
Lots of water will go under the bridge before that happens.
I think Kate deserves all she gets from Peggy.
ReplyDeleteHear hear P tb Y.
ReplyDeleteI think vice versa.
DeleteI'm with you on this one maryellen! I do think that they are both pretty horrible people, but at least Kate hasn't made her children compete against each other for her money. (Yet!!) And Kate does make me smile a lot, whereas Peggy just angers me with her rubbish condescending "wisdom" - by God, the woman is the head of a family of bizarre monsters, largely created by her!
DeleteKate v Peggy - I prefer Peggy. Kate is just a self-centred , gobby loudmouth. It was hateful for Kate to pretend that Peggy needed a carer and she, Kate, was such an angel - quite the opposite in fact. Peggy is daft over Hilda Ogden but people can be blind as to their beloved pet's faults. I can understand and forgive that but Kate is just nasty.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree Anneveggie, you put it much better than I did.
ReplyDeleteI think Kate suffers from the scriptwriters playing to the gallery - they know listeners love to hate her, so are piling it on. It’s the same with Tracy Horrobin, where they are piling on the loveability. The actor playing Kate is good and has a nice speaking voice, so I always enjoy listening to her.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Kate has a lovely voice and is instantly recognisable.
DeleteAs for stop start Pip, well what can I say that hasn't been said already. I notice, however, that she very often likes to round the whole thing off with a flourish by sucking in air at the end of her sentencesð ð
One of my favourites is the Lynda Snell sniff!
DeleteMaryellen 7.13am
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement with you! The S/Ws have been (as I think I said recently) over-egging the pudding with lovable, down-to-earth Tracey recently and are making Kate into an almost unbelievably outrageous character. What a pity they can’t ease back bit on both of them!
As you say, Kate has a beautifully modulated voice, such a shame it has to be heard saying ridiculous things.
If only Kate’s actress and Pip’s actress had been given each other’s roles - I think I would have liked Pip more and Kate less! But, of course that is down to my personal perception as a listener.
It’s. A pity they cannot
Whoops, sorry, ignore stray words at bottom of above! ð
DeleteVoices : both Tracey & Kate have good vocal nstruments, & have fitted their tones, accents, attitudes to fit the given roles, it seems to me. They are competent actors, & I doubt if either sounds exactly like that as themselves, any more than Ruth, Lynda, or, more strikingly yet, Emma do.
ReplyDeleteKate intends to sound strident, spoilt, sharp, indignant, pretentious etc., & It works.
I don't mind that she & Tracey are somewhat caricatured as they are not 'straight' characters. Of course, our reactions are manipulated, rather more than with the straight roles, such as Brian, David, Ruth, Shula, but can't see anything to object to in that.
No objection here! Shakespeare did it too.
Delete'Kate' featured in Casualty as a 'difficult' patient a while ago. I was listening, but not watching the screen, while I did something else, but I recognised that voice immediately. The sharp edge to it, and the petulant delivery. I knew instantly that it was Kate, even before I looked to see who the actress was. So distinctive - and so nice to not be confusing her with many of the other Archer characters. Oh, and by the way, she looked just like the Kate I had imagined too.
ReplyDeleteReading Suz experience leads me to think that perhaps the actress who plays Kate is being typecast.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Carolyn's post about both Kate and Tracey.
Characters need to be balanced against one another.
Bert as a contrast to these two women comes to mind.
However i don't agree with others regarding Kate's voice. I do agree that it is a good vocal instrument and is played well, but to me the voice is harsh, and unpleasant.
My heart went out to Eddie last night. Here is a man who has known troubles but there's nothing that pierces your heart more than seeing a child in difficulty and you don't know what to do about it.
ReplyDeleteClarrie thinks everything can be resolved with a shepherd's pie and a hot water bottle but Eddie is seeing the the bigger picture and realises that William has serious problems and has had for a very long time.
Hats off to Eddie, a loving father and to the actor who plays him.
I will second that Autumnleaves.
Delete✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️Autumnleaves
ReplyDeleteWhilst I understand Ed wants to raise some cash how does he intend to breed his sheep, he has sold Peppa, and now Son of Peppa, will he have to go back to on-line purchases again?
ReplyDeleteEv September 19, 2019 at 8:26 AM
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourites is the Lynda Snell sniff!
Me, too - such disdain in that sniff ð!
Sir Ron. Is that a nose???
Deleteðððð
DeleteI tried to use the nose emoji in an email once, and then decided it was too easily misunderstood for a different part of anatomy and deleted it! ☺️
DeleteOooo - you saucy lot! Never occurred to me it was anything other than a nose...
DeleteVery fetching hat. Did you kill it yourself?
DeleteAre you related to Davy Crockett?
KPnuts(1.36), I agree, but think Ed is so churned up about Emma, guilt, grief & so on, he wants to do something, anything tangible to help her, & is not using his head. She has her pride, of course, having been rejected, so only accepted reluctantly, making clear the money would only be for the children.
ReplyDeleteAutumnleaves, I do agree totally about Eddie. He is desperate for his son & wants to protect him, but I do think it's a mistake ( however understandable) to cut short his job as a gamekeeper. It's all he knows, even Gibson thinks he's good, according to Brian, & imagine how his damaged self belief would take a death blow, perhaps literally, if that were taken away ! Such a risk, but I honestly think that he would not use a gun in a 2nd attempt to end his life, having nearly done it once. There are other ways.
Will might be an excellent gamekeeper, but he doesn’t cut the mustard as a father or stepfather. Mia stepped into her mothers role, and Will didn’t notice all the work she was doing for him and Poppy. He thought everyone was jogging along nicely, so he then begins to spend more time at work having got rid of his deputy. Mia can’t take anymore so goes back to her Dad and Will’s solution is take Mia to work, in the middle of the night. Mia’s teenage brother had already disappeared back to his father because he didn’t like Will’s Dickensian ways.
ReplyDeleteWill is essentially a loner grieving for the wife he expected to follow a traditional housewifey role. and now he is sinking because he doesn’t have the ability to see beyond the props and structures he created to manage his life.
Nic should have been called Offwill.
Oh nice one Stasia!
DeleteWill was always ready to rub Ed's nose ð (and i mean nose) in his good fortune with a wife that according to him was perfect.
"Ooh Nic doesn't want that or ooh Nic doesn't need that"every time an opportunity came up that gave Nic a choice.
Now Will realises what it takes to be a parent.
Something which I honestly don't think Adam and Iain have cottoned on to.
They think they will be "playing houses"
There is nothing wrong with a Clarrie's remedy of Shepherds/Cottage Pie and a comforting HWB. I endorse her prescription (though not an NHS one).
ReplyDeleteI love the "Lynda Sniff" but I also love the Lynda bicycle handle bar bell ring.ðī♂️
No neither do I Miriam....but C larrie has a habit of putting rose coloured glasses on problems and not looking at the bigger picture.
DeleteWilliam is a threat to himself (and possibly others) which no amount of tlc will cure..at least in the short term.
Things will change, when the SW's finally address Joe's sad demise.
DeleteI, for one, expect that there will be a major change re The Grundy's.
But what do I know...
I am just giving a "guesstimate".
So Freddie has cemented his job at GG by offering to Spy on Hugh for Ian! Nice!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard Ian sounding so angry and bolshie as he did tonight. If he is really so worried about his job and his kitchen why is he opting for a full year on maternity leave?
Presumably he and Adam are going to hire a nanny so he could return to work, even part-time, much earlier.
This time GG has poached staff from LL, previously LL poached Roy from GG and that ended in his affair with Lizzie - I wonder what might happen this time?
I was surprised to hear that Olivier had recruited Hugh from Lower Loxley. I would have thought he wouldn’t want to cause Elizabeth any upset, seeing how he is generally portrayed as an extremely considerate type.
ReplyDeleteI thought Pip sounded rather condescending towards Adam , and he didn’t sound that appreciative of h words of wisdom.
Smart move Freddie! Good idea Tracey!
ReplyDeleteOliver has now made three dubious staffing decisions. As I mentioned before, I think he might be becoming a bit of a liability,, and I suspect Ian senses this and is reacting accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more maryellen.
DeleteArcherphile 10.52pm
ReplyDeleteIn real life Ian is not entitled yet to maternity/paternity leave anyway. He has no 'connection' to the baby until he adopts it so can have 1 year's 'Adoption leave' beginning the day of the birth.
I think someone has watched too many hotel fly on the wall programmes or the celebrity chef programmes with Chef shouting and everyone says "Yes Chef, No Chef, Three bags full Chef!"
Pip has got a blooming cheek offering babying advice when she seems to expect her fulltime farming mother or her 89 year old grandmother to do the bulk of the baby-sitting, especially as now the Rosie is possibly mobile!
Adam investing in good earplugs? Someone ought to tell the dozy duo that babies cry for a reason and you just don't ignore them!
When Brian told Adam that he had fallen down on the job by forgetting to order the gas for the dryer and Adam was about to go off on one, as he assumed it was Brian's fault, I actually said, "Ha! In your face Adam!" to my radio. ð
I am LOVING all the parenting advice by the way! Reminds me of my sister when she had the first of her three - "I'm literally going to just wing it like everybody else does and I couldn't give a f**k about everyone else's opinion, learned or otherwise!". Her children are now like an advert for well adjusted young adults...
ReplyDeleteThe funniest thing I heard in tonight’t episode was Pip telling Adam that if he needed any
ReplyDeleteadvice when the baby arrives, just give a shout! The only advice she could give him is to
draw up a list of people they could dump the baby on to avoid the inconvenience of any
interruption to their lives. Even the baby crying in the night, if I remember rightly, was
passed on to Toby so as not to disturb Pip’s sleep.
I know Peggy! Isn't she just absolutely insufferable? I don't know a single person that listens that wouldn't ***** *** ******* **** **
Delete(fill in as you deem appropriate!)
GG, PK, love it! ðĪĢ
Delete✔️✔️✔️
DeletePip the rewilding expert and Pip the baby expert - how did Ambridge manage before she was born. Thank Goodness she didn’t take that job abroad......................she certainly gives me the PipðĪŽ
The best thing to do with a Pip, spit it out. Preferably Into a tissue and put in the bin.
DeleteAll of the above comments re Pip.......ððð✔️
DeleteLikewise ✓✓✓✓✓
DeletePipsqueak indeed. So on trend cliche too ' Now I have a child, I'm concerned about the environment...' So, unless you have a baby yourself, you don't notice that children are around ? A sort of, funny old, human/animal feature of one generation succeeding another ?
Glad Adam made it clear that he personally wasn't convinced about the merits of rewilding. Half baked Pipsqueak.
Good point, Spicy, (11.43, last night), rather dangerous to leave a newborn howling !
Did Freddie learn to be a sneak whilst banged up for criminal activity?
ReplyDeleteIan can’t control Hugh from a distance. Hugh has a contract for a year so he is in charge of the kitchen and the staff.
Ian can’t have his soufflÃĐ and eat it. Paranoia is not healthy.
Poor baby, listening to Daddy 2 moaning about his kitchen and Daddy 1 moaning on about quinoas.
I’m dreading the next year of baby talk.
Freddie "The Snitch" Pargetterð
DeleteThis must be him turning over a new leaf. Honest, reliable, trustworthy etc etc
What a nasty piece of work he is!!!
Spicycushion, yes, that's what I thought, in your face Adam. It was Jennifer who told Brian not to tell Adam off, he's not a pregnant mother.
ReplyDeleteCan someone explain how Tracy loaned her black dress from a boutique and it's going back tomorrow?
I have heard of this 'trick.' There was a feature on it on the radio while I was driving somewhere. You just get a dress, pay for it, do not remove any tags or protective plastic but just hide them. Wear the outfit, being very careful not to soil or damage it then take it back to the shop the next day with the receipt and excuse that it's too small/large/not what you want and get your money back! Not very nice though is it?
DeleteI've heard of the same trick Spiceycushion, but I've also heard of a number of new businesses who hire out the dress or outfit for an occasion and then it is returned. Dry cleaning of the item is included in the cost of hire.
DeleteHowever Tracey did mention hiding the label, so I imagine in this instance it's the former trick that she is using.
Freddie- probably did not learn to be a snitch when in custody. It is part of who he is. And if Ian were an honourable man he would have castigated Freddie on his offer, as he is doing about any future shenanigans from Freddie.
Ian didn't do so, instead he jumped at the chance.
Insufferable hypocrisy.
I knew someone who got married in a dress on a Saturday and took it back on the Monday!
ReplyDeleteOliver has never smiled so much since Caroline died.
ReplyDeleteYou don’t think................?
Lanjan (11.04am), no, I don't think, but Tracey could be nuturing some more personal ideas ?!
ReplyDeleteNurturing
DeletePoor Iain is attracting a lot of adverse comment ! I'm inclined to give him some leeway, despite the blatant double standards. At least, Freddie has played his cards right over the last couple of days in the job, so life is looking up for him.
ReplyDeleteWhen's this lunch at LL, which Tracey invited herself to ?
Is Oliver really shafting Elizabeth by employing her ex chef ? I thought Hugh had already resigned, bit can't remember if we were told a reason.
29 September - Tracy specified her availability for a celery free lunch at Lower Loxley. I wonder what she'll decide to wear. She obviously thinks nothing of using this trick since she was open with Pip. Perhaps Oliver will be invited too, though I attach no importance to it.
ReplyDeletePS Thank you for the above comments on no charge dress hire.
Obviously Oliver will not be invited because of Hugh or will they all pretend to rise above it?
DeleteCarolyn 12:15 pm.
ReplyDeleteI don’t even think that Tracey would be thinking that Oliver might become interested in her in THAT way but I wouldn’t put it past the scriptwriters.
I hope it doesn’t happen.
I think that Tracey is a very kind person who genuinely wants to help people .
I don’t mind if we have another 5week stint of her.
I think it is better than hearing the continuity announcer saying”if you have been upset .................help line”
Spicy, 10.47 and others
ReplyDeleteI used to buy most of my clothes from catalogues or online. The companies usually offered free returns, which was very useful as I never knew what was actually going to fit.
But I once ordered a lovely new winter jacket which I really liked and was going to keep - until I put my hand in the pocket and found a snotty, used tissue with lipstick on it! Needless to say it went straight back and I never ordered from that firm again! I think many customers take liberties with the free-returns service and many companies no longer offer it.
Freddie knows Hugh. He must have left LL for a reason, as I am sure Lizzie would not have let a good chef, in charge of the Orangey, go, without a problem. Why else is Hugh just a "stand in" chef?
ReplyDeleteFreddie has worked with him, so knew him.
Freddie, IMHO, has played an Ace card, with no actual knowledge, as to Hugh as a chef and his capabilities.
This S/L has two sides, but how long will it last - as there are so many variables - which could alter the situation.
My main concern is that, will Ian need a full year for paternity care??
DeleteThis depends on Lexi..
I had an acquaintance who used to regularly buy clothes, wear them to an event and then return them and get a refund. Dishonest practice. Surely Tracey cannot be thinking of Oliver in those terms - what a ghastly thought.
ReplyDeleteWhat I hate, is finding something in your size and style, which you love, only to find it has "deodrant" marks on it. I then leave it on the rack.
DeleteDoes this happen in Underwoods, I wonder?
It wasn't much of a revelation from Lily, I suppose Elizabeth had greater expectations for her children but as long as they are happy with their lot that's all that counts.
ReplyDeleteLeonard's had a success.
The sneaky underhand Justin.
What was Vince doing there with his womanising?
In my thoughts, Lizzie needs an investor so LL becomes the viable and profitable business, it should be. There will have to be a profit share situation, but why not. What is the alternative?
ReplyDeleteIt would be just Lily and Russ, (and Glen) who will try and progress things but it all will be just the same, as Nigel set it up. Nothing wrong with that.
I loved Nigel, and I still miss him even now, but has LL moved on since then?
I just don't think Lizzie, Lily and Russ can sort things out to the benefit of LL.
How sad the heir to LL, Freddie, has been sent away, and has no real input
How I wish that things will change in a positive way
Ambrinomics is forever creating new jobs. Doesn't anyone go into the public sector? I could give a long list from my village. (Just remembered Harrison, but he doesn't do any proper policing....)
ReplyDeleteHi Miriam,
ReplyDeleteNigel was great and I remember him in his gorilla suit and as Mr Snowy - his kindness of heart was always there. I reckon the point is that he was seen as a 'ne'er do well' in his youth. He eventually became a fabulous, cheerful, happy, loving person. His privileged background helped of course.
His sins seem not so sinister as Freddie's but I perceive a similarity in character and, hopefully, a happy outcome for FP
So Lily is not going back to University - what a surprise!
ReplyDeleteI’m sure none of us guessed that would Happen, did we?
So we are stuck with Russ in the gallery, hopefully not hearing too much from him though, and Lily selling kitchens.
Seems an awful waste of her intelligence to me, but perhaps she will decide to go on a business or management course eventually and prepare herself to take over from Lizzie.
As there was some discussion of David’s birthday I had hoped to hear something about Joe’s being on the same day. In fact, I fully expected to hear sad news that he had passed away in his favourite chair today.
ReplyDeleteBut not a word!
When are they going to let the old chap be reunited with his dear Susan and have a decent funeral at St Stephen’s after a cortÃĻge around the village on the trap pulled by Bartleby and Gem?
Exactly Archerphile! It is always recognised that David & Joe’s birthdays are on the same day! I guess that is why we didn’t hear any of David’s actual birthday itself. In October it will be 6 mths since Edward Kelsey passed so I am expecting his Archers death to be during next month.
ReplyDeleteW(hen checking this info tonight I found out that the actor was born in Petersfield Hampshire - where “Brian” & “Shula” also live as husband and wife!)
I expected Lily to give up Uni but in order to become more involved in the management at LL it appears very few young Ambridgers fly the nest. As for Pip (Thurs episode) informing Adam what a doddle parenting is and “come to me for advice anytime” Well! ððĄððĄððĄ
Basia. 20/9. 9.41 am
ReplyDeleteAt one time I worked in a Department Store and people used to bring things back after they
had been worn. We have found things in pockets such as Funeral Order of Service cards, We
were trained to check pockets and on occasions we were able to refuse refunds (much to the
customer’s embarrassment). However, difficult to spot if the tags are left on, apart from a
strong odour of perfume !! Even that could be passed off as from trying on the garment. It is
rather like stealing though isn’t it ?
Yes, Peggy, just like stealing because no payment is made for the hire.
DeleteWhy was Leonard making scrap cakes at Brookfield (without asking first) when he has got his own kitchen? Sponging again? Or did I miss a valid explanation?
ReplyDeleteHe said at the beginning that Pip had invited him to make them in the kitchen at Brookfield I believe.
DeleteAnd is he going to pass them off as all his own work or admit he had help? (He has a history of passing off other people’s work as his.)
DeleteIndeed!
DeleteAll that scrap cake carry on was to show how imbedded & accepted Leonard is at Brookfield now, so matey with David, who was rather stand offish when Jill introduced him. I'm disappointed that L. Is so wrapped up in Jill's narrow world - thought initially he'd broaden her domestic horizons, having been an architect & been places....not to be, alas, such is the pull of Ambridge....same with Lily, how dreary, at her age, & with her potential, as we were led to believe, to stick around the old home. Russ is going to have a character transplant of sorts. Seems to me that we are being weaned off the impression that he's a pretentious prat & an opportunist. SWs have changed their minds !
ReplyDeleteI think it was because the scriptwriters felt they had to find a story for him, however inconsequential. It demonstrates the downside of the character led approach,. Some characters must be more difficult to come up with stories for than others. Plot led is better imo. Think of a good story, then weave it into Ambridge life.
DeletePerhaps they’re bored with the story line so Russ is confined to a silent art retreat in the gallery occasionally silently bumping into Lewis in a zen sort of a way, while Lily learns to drift around LL in a wifely sort of a way, arranging roses when she tires of selling kitchens.
ReplyDeleteOh, Seasider - a grim picture ðð. Time to stop listening ?! All these ghosts at LL & GG, it's unnerving.
ReplyDeleteCan't buy into the St. Nigel angle, which probably isn't fair as I wasn't listening in his earlier days. Granted he was passionate about LL, but what I registered was an amiable buffoon, somewhat infantilized, who called his mother 'Mummy', & was reigned in by his rather bossy & sharp tongued wife.
ð✅✅
DeleteI think Lily has made an informed choice. She's taking a gap year to work things out. Going straight from school to university and then into a job is not always a good idea, plus these days there's a loan to repay. She likes financial security which all young people crave. She also decided early on not to rely on her privileged background and try out the world outside.
ReplyDeleteBasia(9.56), I wouldn't call LL 'the world outside' ! She landed a job, but she's basically snuggled down again in home territory, even offering to help out with the business.
ReplyDeleteI agree, no point in continuing a degree course, if she has lost interest, but it's more like 2 gap years, as she only did one term, if that, in Manchester, in a half baked fashion, held back by the clingy Russ from really engaging with student life, or, indeed, the course, though she was keen initially.
No, it looks like the SWs want her to hang around in Ambridge, with the disgraced Dep. Principal in tow. Similarly with Pheobe, who had the full Cambridge experience, yet rather unconvincingly, is all excited about the rewilding project. I suppose they want that young generation on board, bit it isn't very realistic.
I think you are right, Carolyn - moving out of the enclave amounts to character death, which is why Jennifer and Brian remain cooped up in Willow Cottage when they could easily find a larger property to buy elsewhere in Borsetshire.
DeleteAs I have said previously - I thought that Jennifer + Brian would into move into Grange Farm. Perhaps this is why, they are still in Willow Cottage, with their furniture still stored at Home Farm, with the various pots of plants, at the Dower House.
DeleteI hope there is no mice/rat infestation in that barn.
Basia 9.56
ReplyDeleteIs Lily taking a gap year? We didn’t actually hear that, just some vague suggestion from Lizzie that Lily could always return to study at some future, unspecified date.
I don’t think Lily ever liked or fitted in to University life (even allowing for the Russ factor) and I think she was glad to leave and very reluctant to return. She found the work harder than she had expected and probably realised the whole University thing was a mistake - for her.
Plus, she has now experienced earning good money and is going to enjoy that, and pottering around LL helping out when necessary. I am convinced that she will eventually take over running the whole place and probably make a great success if it. Whether or not Russ will still be on the scene I don’t know but, as others have said, I think he will be undergoing a S/W induced change of personality before long. (Wonder if he as got a divorce yet BTW?)
Good for Lily,I say.
ReplyDeleteUniversity isn’t for everybody.
She is enjoying what she is doing.
She can help out at LL
She can-but it is unlikely- return t.o University later if she so wishes.
My younger grandson was studying Physics at University ,realised that he hadn’t a clue what he wanted to do with a Physics degree when he left so gave it up and is training to become a plumber-and loving it.
I am with you,Carolyn about Nigel..
ReplyDeleteI apologise if I am treading on anyone’s toes but a grown man calling his mother “mummy” is not for me.
The reason I didn't want him to die was that the actor didn’t want to leave the cast and he sounded a thoroughly nice bloke.
I think Elizabeth was Nigel's Second choice.
He fancied Shula at first-as did Neil of course before he realised he was setting his sights too “high “ (ironic) so settled for Susan instead.
I had a very strange experience trying to listen to TA on my little iPod via the wretched new Sounds app. last night
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I opened up the app there was a little tune playing in the background, only a few notes constantly repeating and varying in volume from quiet to loud. On and on it went, even when I eventually found TA and started it up, the tune continued through the entire programme, almost blanketing out the voices at times and meant I lost quite a lot of the conversations!
SO annoying! Nothing I did could silence the infuriatingly repetitive tune, I checked all my settings, switched things off and on again and nothing worked.
I have had to listen to the episode again this morning on my iPad and thank goodness everything was fine! But I am wondering if I have a poltergeist or Tracy’s ghost in my iPod trying to drive me insane! Anyone else experienced this? Is it a quirk of Sounds or just my equipment? ðĪŠ
Maryellen(7.57am), interesting point, character versus plot led fictions. The best detective & thriller genres have to be plot led but have rounded, convincing characters as well. Don't know about TA, which just seems to ramble on year after year, but Leonard has evolved as a spare part, absorbed into Jill's small world. Disappointing - I hoped he'd shake her up a bit, & her equally insular family. Suppose TA is the wrong place to look for such things !
ReplyDeleteI would like to see Jill + Leonard evolve more, as they are so comfortable together.
DeleteI hope Leonard does become a permanent feature, and puts his foot down about how much Jill does at Brookfield, cooking and Rosie minding.
He has to persuade her to step back, so that they can enjoy more quality time together. I still think that they evict Carole T. and move into Glebe Cottage together. They have a choice of bedrooms to suit their relationship and live their lives comfortably, in harmony together.
I am but dreaming. ð
I am liking the thought whether TA should be character or plot led. I think it should be 50:50. A good plot needs to involve suitable characters and good characters need a suitable plot to keep them interesting, but it must be happy balance between the two.
ReplyDeleteIs Jolene still "on tour", is Oliver still working at the Bull, is Lillian still redecorating it?
ReplyDeleteThis has gone very quiet recently and not even mentioned in passing.