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Life in Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
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BasiaOctober 31, 2019 at 11:33 AM
ReplyDeleteThank you for the map Gary. Is there one of Ambridge?
Ask and ye shall receive Basia......
Gary, you're so good to us and I shall share with the others of course on my way around Ambridge.
ReplyDeleteThe trials and tribulations of love in Abridge! Lily get grip! Of course Russ is going to say he is trustworthy, what else is he going to say! 🙄. Rex also get a grip. Anisha is history. How much thought have you really given her since she left! Heaven's above if you wait for the SW's to sort out your love lives we could be waiting till..................Ah! maybe a Christmas or New Year feel good story line. It would be good to have one apart from Johnnie and the silent Bella!
ReplyDeleteWell, what can one say ? Lily has zilch taste & zilch insight, it seems. If only Johnny had added '....love is blind'.
ReplyDeleteOdd, because she's shown irritation at his pretentious, silly ways before, & it looked as though the infatuation was fading.
I think the SWs are playing with us ! They must know they've portrayed the Russ character in a very particular way, & that the majority of listeners are keen for Lily to dump him, but they've decided to draw out the agony & have fun with our pyschologies !
What a lovely way to finish the Joe story going to church on his pony and trap and being escorted by his family! Very Thomas Hardy! It brought a tear to my eye!
ReplyDeleteStupid idea of Toby to try to pressure Rex to go to Anisha's wedding. How insensitive! What business is it of his anyway?
As for Lily words fail me. After the lies and procrastinations for over a year and she still trusts Russ? Lily - he's desperate. Dependant on her (and her mother) for job and housing of course he's going to keep saying he loves you!
Re Lara's age - Russ told Lily that she was a pschoanalist. Usually a Phd is required for that so four years' BA, two years' Masters and two years Phd makes her at least 25 years old.
No reason Lily would think she was too young if Russ is about 40!
Please excuse typos!
DeleteI didn’t finish my earlier reply tobufo9bufo because work rudely interrupted, but I was going to say that our differing views aren’t mutually exclusive. The description of Lily was of an immature just-out-of-teensager, and the pique I attributed to her is a typically immature reaction. So pique and the rest of the description can coexist.
ReplyDeleteI am also beginning to wonder if her ‘brightness’ is something of a myth too. She strikes me as perhaps one of those early bloomers who fizzle out by their twenties. She organised a superb teen party in Elizabeth’s absences a few years ago, the only one in the history os soap at the time that didn’t end in disaster - but ran into trouble when trying to manage Lower Loxley through inability to prioritise (fortunately Russ was on hand to help).
To bloggers asking about Russ misbehaving with other girl pupils - no, there was no mention of this.
ReplyDeleteMaryellen,
ReplyDeleteat least Lily waited until she was 20 + until she peaked.
Reading through my school reports I realise that I peaked at three and a half!
(I was sent to a little prep school so that my mother could do War work I believe.)
Hugely disappointed in Lily tonight.
ReplyDeleteBut time will tell whether she’s right to stay with Russ or not. If he really goes ahead with the divorce, as promised, perhaps there is hope for them as a couple.
But delighted that the Grundys are going to follow up on our suggestion for Joe’s final journey to the church. Very fitting.
Spicycushion 7.52 p.m.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the points you made. So disappointing that Lily didn't give Russ the heave-ho and tell him to get lost.
Love the pony and trap idea for Joe's final journey.
Why would anyone think it a good idea for Rex to go to Anisha's wedding?
Gary - I like the map.
Yes Clarrie “Just like Joe” Eddie’s funeral arrangements a bit last minute but it will be a personalised Joe departure as we thought!
ReplyDeleteLily you are a disappointment to me I thought you had seen the light. I am still no wiser re Laura, Russ has not confirmed they are married or why L is so vulnerable let’s have some proper info from their conversations 😡
Will now check others thoughts 🤔
Is Bartleby dead or just too old to draw the trap? If the latter, it wouldn’t it be heart warming if he could join the procession to the church too....
ReplyDeleteLoyalty is one of the great virtues, and there’s no questioning Lily’s capacity for it.
ReplyDeleteMessage from a frustrated Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteShe is currently “shut out” and is unable to post comments but is able to read the comments posted by other bloggers..
Keep trying Mrs P.
DeleteSummary of Russ's sincerity.
ReplyDelete" Of course I love you! I sleep with you don't I?
Pierre(8.33am), nice one ✓✓✓
ReplyDeleteI do begin to see why Lily is loth to let go; she's only 19 - possibly 20 by now - her first serious love affair, an older man in a position of authority, very flattering, he seems interesting & knowledgeable ( she was too young to see behind the much flaunted artistic sensibility) &, as bufo9bufo said, I think, the loss of her father left an aching need.
True, she's had moments where she seems to spot the feet of clay but it's still hard to face the stark fact that she's been wrong, wrong, wrong about him all along.
She was actually doing very well in rescuing LL, despite the state her mother was in, & all the worry about her twin. Russ was also exerting pressure on her to return to Manchester. He came down, & it seemed like support, & she was too stressed by then to see it for what it was, an opportunistic move rather than genuine support.
I guess it will all come.out in the wash eventually...
Do agree, a very heartening move re Joe's funeral procession, just as listeners wanted, too !
ReplyDeleteGary - interested in the map of the village above, and where you found it. As mentioned in the previous blog, I have a very detailed map of Ambridge village and its immediate surrounds and it is a bit different to yours. E.g. The Bungalow where Bert lives is down a track at the side of Brookfield Farmhouse, and Bridge Farm is a different direction!
ReplyDeleteI wish there was some way I could communicate this map to you for possible future use as it Has a lot of interesting detail.
I think Bartleby will make a last minute appearance. One of “the boys” will walk him to the church.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn re Lily, really good summation imo. Lily is probably and understandably jealous of Lara and I wonder if, as someone suggested (sorry I have forgotten who) that Lara wasn’t necessarily truthful with Lily. She has no reason to be and maybe Russ is still seeing her, although I accept we have no evidence to support this, no unexplained trips from LL, but...
Archerphile, that’s interesting. I have a map of Ambridge so I will make a comparison when I have a moment.
ReplyDeleteMrs P, hello to you and hope you are able to sort out your computer problems ASAP.
Toby has lost the Will to live? Ambridge has lots of ditches, perhaps he could seek one out and do me a favour. His whinging, whining brother should join him as they seem to be cemented at the hip.
ReplyDeleteWhen in Manchester Lily and Russ didn't socialise together because he didn't fit in, the same goes for her work colleagues and Freddie's party.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth has assisted him financially from the start because he is her daughter's married boyfriend.
Russ was very rude when Tracy came to lunch implying she was taking advantage of an older rich man. He then corrected her when she got some saying back to front in a very condescending way.
He is pompous, insecure and unpleasant.
I wish they wouldn’t have a Toby and Rex talking to one another because unless one of their names is mentioned I find it difficult to workout who is speaking except that Toby does sound more cheerful.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Toby trying to push Rex into going to Aisha’s wedding?
Since Toby is not known for his altruism,what is in it for him?
(Cue for Maryellen tostep in to defend him)
and
I am not the only one to have mentioned...........
Why would anyone want to go to the wedding of the bride who “chucked “ you and for whom you still have feelings ?
but
How insensitive of Aisha to invite Rex to the wedding.
I wonder if there was a plus1 on the invitation?
Hello
DeleteApologies but I too have been locked out from making comments for several months. I was just testing that I had finally recovered my account. I’ve been able to read and enjoy all your comments 😊
DeleteWelcome back jinner!
DeleteGreat to see you again jinner! I wonder what is happening when people get locked out of our blogs. I find it safer to connect via Chrome and never to sign out. I did have a bit of a problem when my various Apple devices were upgraded to iOS 14 but after a bit of a pallava everything has been OK since then. 🤞
DeleteJenner. 3.39 pm. I also had a period of being locked out, especially when I cleared my history, but like Archerphile and some others I got back in using chrome. Since then I’ve been fine to venture into the blog.
DeleteWelcome back.
☺️ Thank you for your welcome back Gary G and Archerphile
DeleteI use chrome and when clear history the icon stays, even when signed out by mistake it was easy to get back in.
DeleteLanJan - I’m not responding to provocation!!! 🙂🙂🙂
Deletejinner & MrsP have got me wondering how many people get "locked out" of our blog! How annoying for all concerned. I, luckily, have never experienced any problems since I posted my first comment. Will investigate possible causes...
ReplyDeleteThis being locked out is disturbing, isn't it. It isn't always the same reason, going by reports. Good to see you back, Jinner - it's been many, many months.
ReplyDeleteCan't remember how I made it on here, but I never sign out, &, so far, touch wood etc. , haven't had any problems.
All positive outcomes and reconciliations, nothing more to say.
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoroughly feel good episode tonight ! Not sentimental, not cloying, but mutual encouragement, a healing of wounds, maturity & courage shining through. Really quite uplifting.
ReplyDeleteI've had no problems at all ever since joining this blog. But then I use a laptop computer and not a phone, tablet, ipad or other gadgets so have a keyboard and not touch screen.
ReplyDeleteI do have an android (?) phone with a couple of apps, BBC news/sports and yahoo for emails. Also had to get bank app so as to get security code to bank online. But I really don't like using a touch screen, as it's too easy to mis-tap the screen.
BTW My phone bill also includes texts and 2 kb amount of downloading but only costs me £5.64 per month. I have been with them since 1994 and the phone bill started out then at £10 but I re-negotiated every so often, and have now got it as cheap as it will be I reckon! 😃 (Feeling smug!)
Sorry, perhaps should have been on other blog. Same subject on both !!!!
DeleteMore than happy to have any advice that will allow fellow bloggers to post as easily as possible written on either blog Spicycushion!
DeleteBest bit for me without a doubt was the exchange between Tracy and Oliver.
ReplyDeletePleased for Jim too.
Can’t get interested in the Rev St Shula and I have heard enough of the funeral but in truth I think it is Clarrie’s voice that I have had enough of.
Joe was 98 ,he died in his own bed in his sleep and as Eddie said that is about the best way for it to happen.
Now I hope they can give it a rest.
I don’t think we had all this when Phil died
It was so nice to hear Oliver and Tracy reconciled. Good on you Jim - play on.
ReplyDeleteLovely ep. tonight. I specially like Emma and Eddie chatting about Joe and trying the steak and kidney pies she had bought.
ReplyDeleteIt feels as if there had been a rapprochement between Emma and the family.
Also good to hear Jim facing his demons by returning to the tea room where he had had such a shock. I do hope he manages to play for Joe’s wake - it would be a good sign that he is beginning to recover from that trauma of seeing his abuser again after so many years.
But next week, once the funeral is over - different stories please!
A lot of stories moving forward this week so could be preparing the ground for something new. Will Emma and Ed get back together tomorrow or just reconcile to be happily apart as Shula and Alastair?
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Jinner, I had wondered if you were ok. I have been locked out when inadvertently pressing sign out, also I deliberately signed out a few times when I had problems with my data being gobbled, when off WiFi. I managed to keep signing back in by following “how to log into blogger” which Ruthy posted on the last Archers blog. Sorry I don’t know how to make a link to it, but I think it’s still on the Archers website April 2018 blog.
Archerphile re map: is yours called a definitive map of Ambridge, dated October 1999? I got mine from Archers Addicts and there are a few differences from this one above. It has a map of Borchester town centre on it as well.
Thanks Seasider😊. My sign in probs began when I updated my phone .... solved by creating a new sign in account.
DeleteHeavens to Murgatroyd!! Superficially this episode sounded benign and pleasant, but why wasn’t Eddie ironing his own shirts. Moaning Clarrie (Lanjan I agree her voice drives me mad) is a Grundy skivvy, and now Emmur has come back to continue the tradition. It’s bad enough Emmur skivvies for a living. She doesn’t live at GF any longer, so is she trying to ingratiate herself back into this feckless clan?
ReplyDeletePastor Shula wouldn’t be unusual in the Anglican Church it seems to be propped up by middle aged women. She will certainly fit into a rural parish.
Hooray Oliver and Tracy are friends again. 🥳More of them and less and less of the Brothers 👹Grim.
Spicycushion. 6. 7.52pm.
It takes a long time and lots of money to train as psychoanalyst and I don’t envisage anyone of 25 yrs acting as a practitioner. It requires a minimum of 4 yrs treatment in psychoanalysis with a qualified person. Academic qualifications are a prerequisite before any training can commence. I have never met any psychoanalyst under the age of thirty so I do wonder if Lara met Russ in her capacity as a psychologist working at the college as a counsellor.
Yes I thought that if Lara was really a psychoanalyst she wouldn't be particularly young. Wasn't it the point that she was so young that shocked and angered Lily? Or did I miss something?
DeleteOnce again lack of research!
Seasider: 9.29am
ReplyDeleteApologies to anyone not interested in this reply about maps - please just pass on by!
I find I have two maps. My favourite, and the one I referred to the other day is made by a map publisher called Magnetic North. It is quite large and is called ‘The Ambridge Panorama’ issued by Archers Addicts and is beautifully drawn with pictures of all the houses, farms, church etc and roads, trees, hills rivers. It almost gives a bird’s eye view of the scenery.
On the opening page is a chronology of events in Ambridge from 1951 to 1974 which I suppose is when the map was published. Around the edge are descriptions and illustrations of the main buildings, with a few details of their history and who lives there (or did live there when the map was drawn.
This is my go-to map whenever I want to check on details in the programme. As I said the other day Bridge Farm, and therefore the Tea Room is quite a way out of the village centre.
The other map is ‘The Archers Addicts Official Map of Ambridge’ which is smaller and painted in an oil painting style. I think it was used on one of the jigsaw puzzles. The problem is it is not drawn from the same angle (North is not at the top of the map) which makes it a bit confusing.
Attached to the map is a small booklet with nice little sketches and descriptions of the main buildings and even a reference to Ambridge being twinned with Meyruelle! It was published by Old House Books and cost 5.99. Thanks are given to Vanessa Whitburn, Joanna Toye and Keri Davis ‘‘for their help in creating the map”. Strange to think that Keri Davis is still very involved today.
Archerphile - I have a couple of maps too and if you google there is one online as well.
DeleteYour original comment said that the Bungalow was nearer Brookfield farmhouse on your map. However the Bungalow was flooded badly but Brookfield wasn't (although I seem to remember Pip valiantly staving off some flooding somewhere near the milking parlour. (?))
So it makes sense that The Bungalow would be near to The Am river banks.
Seems that the village morphs as storylines proress. Wasn't there a case when SO'C was in charge that the Am reversed its flow of direction? 😄
I thought that The Bungalow was down near the banks of the Am, at the end of a track that passes Brookfield Farmhouse and Rickyard Cottage. From my map it looks as though the track goes downhill towards the river, hence the Bungalow could be flooded but the Farmhous, being higher up, escaped. But I seem to remember Pip was desperately trying to save some piece of feed machinery that was in danger of being flooded and Ed came to help her? She was regarded as a bit of a heroine by the family.
DeleteWhat I meant was that the Bungalow is closer to Brookfield Farmhouse than appears on the map above and is reached by a track next to the Farmhouse leading down to the river, rather than being further along the river and next to the road as shown above. Oh, I do which I could draw a little map here, to explain!
DeleteAll I hope, and wish, is that Joe is given a suitable, yet dignified, send-off tonight.
ReplyDeleteI want to hear a happy time, with fun reminiseces and memories, so it is laughter not tears.
So much has been said about Bert's Ode, but will it actually be heard?. At least he will be there and not in his bungalow, wherever it is.
I will raise a toast to Joe tonight, or perhaps that should be to the late Edward Kelsey, who portrayed him so well. He will be missed.
Please forgive me for returning to the Lily theme again, but I agree with Carolyn. she doesn't still trust R. It's hard to accept that you've made such a big mistake and she needs to be sure this time.
ReplyDeletemaryellen, I don't think she has 'peaked' . she is still learning - this time life skills rather than academic ones, and she will be far better when she is free of the inhibiting presence of R.
I hope tonight will be one of those episodes which the scriptwriters can do so well , simple, dignified and moving. Whatever his faults, he was at least a character and clearly distinguishable from others in the cast.
According to the RTs the actor playing Alf is called David Hargreaves and he is English. Don’t know why it has taken three weeks to name him.
ReplyDeleteNow that Alf has moved into Joe’s room are we going to be subjected to him remaining in Ambridge until he pops his clogs? Mind, I would rather he stayed and sorted out his accent (sometimes a bit Irish and then Welsh and then mummerset) and scrounged in the pub. I can hear the locals saying, ‘Alf, you are just like old Joe and now you also sound like him’. Must be in the genes.
Actually there seem to be a lot of scroungers in Ambridge, Russ, the Bore brothers, and now Alf. That is three, at east 10% of the village.
bufo9bufo. I agree. There was distinct determination in her voice to set boundaries and I could hear panic in his protestations of love. She is now going her own way, partying with people her own age, doing well at work. Eventually she will find him an embarrassment, but it will take time.
ReplyDeleteOliver has realised that Tracy is a true friend and companion, which is all he wants, as does Tracy, in her own way, at the moment.
ReplyDeleteNo-one can replace Caroline for Oliver, and Tracy is just enjoying their friendship.
I just hope it lasts, in this simple way. Anything more would so spoil it.
I hope that the "Murder Mystery" dinner at GG, as Oliver + Tracy decided upon, will be fun + very entertaining. I hope it actually happens soon. This will be before LL, with its alternative Christmas Show, takes over. This will mean hearing more from Lily + Russ.
DeleteI still can't forget about the LL proposed Attic Tours. Russ will then to start to show his true self, with scamming and fraudulant deals, to suit himself, at the expense of Lizzie, Lily + Freddie, the current custodians of LL.
I have realised, that my latest posts are on other topics, than those being currently discussed.
DeleteI have to admit, that I didn't read back before typing. 😶
Stasia 4.57
ReplyDeleteDavid Hargreaves has played Alf before and has been on the characters' page on the BBC TA page for some time.
I'd guess he wasn't named before so as to keep us guessing whether he would return or not.
Unless the Grundys stay somehow at Grange Farm there will be no room for Alf with the rest of the family at The Green. So hopefully he will return to his girlfriend in due course!
I found it rather cheap & cheerful, though I'm glad we didn't hear the church ceremony.
ReplyDeleteWhy did they keep calling Eddie Edward? I thought it was Ed.
The telegram from the "Queen" was over the top.
At least Jim played his show piece at the Bull NOT the tearoom.
Eddie was christened Edward. Lilian was giving people their full names - except Jim.
DeleteWe only heard a snatch, but is Joe and Susan's song "My Blue Heaven"?
ReplyDeleteSounded like it. As Alf was born 1944 I suppose Joe would have been married in the early 40s so probably a favourite war time song.
DeleteHowever, I'm not sure that 70 odd years ago couples would have had a 'first dance' at their reception? Certainly wasn't a 'tradition' at the weddings I have attended; the first I can remember was in 1955.
Bit confused there. I meant to say the first reception I can remember was in 1955. The 'First Dance' tradition I witnessed I think may have been in the 1990s
DeleteAt first, I was surprised and perhaps a bit disappointed that we didn't hear any of the procession through the village or the service. But I thought it was well done. Very poignant with the comment about the stars and Jim playing Joe and Susan's song at the end.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Jim was able to play in the pub.
Earlier today a couple of people commented that they couldn’t bear Clarrie’s voice.
ReplyDeleteBut tonight I found it far preferable to Lilian’s.
She sounded almost like a caricature of herself, coarse, raucous, drunk and to my ears very irritating.
But I was glad we didn’t have to endure Bert’s doggerel and was relieved to hear Jim’s playing of My Blue Heaven instead.
So, now Joe is well and truly buried please can we move on from the Grundys to something more interesting?
I'm pleased too that Jim was able to play the song for Joe.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way Clarrie wanted Emma to go to the pub and then they saw the stars.
Lilian,, as Archerphile commented, was so over the top and irritating too.
I’ve been told it’s more difficult to act drunk or even tiddlly than you’d think - and I think we’ve had proof of that in the past couple of weeks, what with Jazzer, Johnny, Lily, and the Cider Club members last night!
ReplyDeleteHere, here, Maryellen!
DeleteMichael Caine said that you play a drunk not imitate a person who is.
ReplyDeleteI knew someone who did it very very convincingly, once just before reading a news bulletin.
Perhaps because he never really got drunk himself.
Hear, hear. Archerphile 8/11 at10:32
ReplyDeleteI find no problem at all with Clarrie's voice. I think she is an excellent and lifelike character played true to her family circumstances - which cannot be said of many others.
Lillian, as usual, is nowadays written as an attempt at an amusing character. She totally fails and is nothing like the girl I remember in the 50's and 60's.
Just read an article on regional dialects and discovered that Susan could be described as a Blatherskite, cagmag, jaffock or yapper in various parts of the country.
ReplyDeleteThey are all dialect words for a gossip!
I agree that today Clarrie was far more believable to listen to than Lilian .
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, tonight was a bit over sentimentalised for me but I can understand that others would think differently.
I think that the actress playing Lilian never sounds that she is doing anything but act -badly.
She is a bored ,ageing ,often sozzled , woman with a dreadful false sounding accent, speaking voice ,expressions and cackle
Hope we have a new group of characters next week although I am happy for Johnnie, Tracy ,Oliver,Jazzer and Jim to stay around.
Hope it is not “bring back time “ for Ian
and Adam
Please may I enter ?
ReplyDeleteI think I may have got back in.
ReplyDeletePraise be, MrsP! Welcome back...😀
DeleteThank goodness, Mrs P !😊
DeleteGlad you are back😊
DeleteP Les C. 11.30.am.
ReplyDeleteThat's because......... Re: Lilian's voice/character she is played, (as I said on a previous blog), by a different actress!!!
Apologies the above sounds a bit terse. Wasn't meant to be! 🙂
DeleteBB no apology needed. I quite understand re the voice but differt actor does not excuse change of character. That surely is determined by the scriptwriters who no longer have access to the once legendsry archive.
DeleteIt's not just Lillian's voice as played by the actress of a number of years now, it is the character of Lillian.
ReplyDeleteRemembering her as a young woman, ( I don't, but do have a sense of the memory of her) she has grown into an unbelievably different person.
But then so has Jennifer in many ways, but since she has always been played by the same actress it's somehow more acceptable.
I also find Clarrie totally believable and love her voice.
Oh, here here Mrs P. I love Clarrie and and think she is a totally believable country-bred woman with a totally believable accent. I think those that dislike her might do so because of what the SWs write for her to say, rather than because of her accent. But to me she is at the heart of TA, carrying on from the likes of her forbears, Jethro and Ned Larkin.
DeleteBut I shall be grateful for a little break from the Grundys for a while. Clarrie needs a rest!
I believe that Lilian is still being performed by Sunny Ormonde, or have I missed something. The character + behaviour of Lilian, is dictated by the SW's and production team, so the actress has to act accordingly.
ReplyDeleteYes to the above. It seems to affect more characters than just Lilian. It was a big talking point during the Helen and Rob saga when it was felt that so many characters acted totally against their normal behaviour. This is where I think the SWs let us down by turning the Archers into a plot driven series rather than a character driven one. All really good writers put their characters in the supremicy. That's what make stories so inticing and believable. I'm sure bloggers have their own favourites! 🤔
ReplyDelete*supremacy..........*enticing 🙄
DeleteWhat make drama interesting for me is seeing how characters react, develop and grow in circumstances outside the normal run of their lives, and that is why issue-inspired stories like the Rob and Helen one are so gripping and rewarding for the listener. - because of theiy bring out in all the characters concerned. Whereas, character-driven stories (of the ‘we need something for Jill - any ideas’ variety) tends towards sitcom, where characters behavie stereotypically in the way they always have, and no one ever behaves out of character, as people do in rea life. I persist in regarding TA as serious drama, although it has become closer to sitcom of late. Which is fine, for listeners who like it.You can’t please all the people etc.
ReplyDeleteWith you on all the above, Maryellen(8.24pm yesterday). The character led SLs, as opposed to the character challenged plots, are clunky at times, agreed, but harmless enough & lend some light relief, even if the humour is laboured ( Jill throwing flajacks, Jazzer getting drunk etc). l suppose it's a way of pleasing everyone at least some of the time !
DeleteMaryellen 8.24 yesterday
DeleteAnother prime example of thinking “we need something for....any ideas?” was Peggy’s announcement of her half million prize for conservation efforts.
In fact, I read that it was June Spencer herself who asked for a special story to celebrate her 100th birthday. A story much debated as being implausible and which seems to have gone very quiet recently.
Actor-driven drama worst of all !?!
DeleteOnly caught up with Joe's funeral this a.m. Pitch perfect, imo, even Lilian's OTT contribution, as it reflected an aspect of Joe's character.. Favourite moments were between Clarrie & Emma - warm, gentle, sidestepping sentimentality by a whisker.
ReplyDeleteSame for me carolyn (in fact only just now! ) Yes it was all just right especially Eddie saying so quietly at the end “yes to dad” - lovely🙂
DeleteAgree Maryellen agree !
ReplyDeleteAfter tonights episode with both Jim and Mia, I wonder if Will will backtrack, and try to get his previous job back, and Greenwood.
ReplyDeleteWilliam turned a blind eye to poaching now that he's no longer a keeper and preferred not to find out the provenance of the fireworks. I don't know why Jake and Mia were invited to the funeral, it seems only in order to reconnect with William.
ReplyDeleteAnother good episode pathos and a joke from Alf to bring a smile back to Eddie (yes it does hurt Eddie no matter what age a parent has lived to an adjustment period always needed)
ReplyDeleteSo Mia & Jake do not know Will has given his job & cottage up and not keeping them in the loop may not go down too well....
Liked Jim trying to help Will too so much nicer than rows and shouting!
Agree with all the above, Lady R !
DeleteI found tonight's episode rather heartwarming. Wise words from Jim and Ed paying attention and acting on it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how Tony's action for animals rights has gone down with the rest of Beechwood residents. He should do the same before New Year's Eve because they suffer from the noise too.
ReplyDeleteWho thinks we shall really get to hear the much anticipated Rochelle and her brood on Wednesday?
ReplyDeleteI think it’s likely something will happen to stop them coming (if they actually exist) and Kirsty will be looking out for their SUV in vain!
Does anyone else think it's about time that Tony got into another argument with a bull?
ReplyDeleteNo, not really Gary! I thought he was quite right to have grave concerns about these lanterns that can cause so much harm to livestock if ingested, or start fires.
DeleteI was jolly pleased he sent the leaflets round and the irritating Joy really shouldn’t have moved to a rural village if she complains about things like tractors leaving mud on roads and doesn’t like seeing the consequences of people’s carelessness. She has a lot to learn about living in the country!
I do agree Archerfile. They look lovely but if they drift into a hay barn they can cause a fire and destroy the animal feed; and like plastic bottles and bags can cause a lot of damage if eaten. Cattle have four different stomach areas so not easy for a vet to locate things once swallowed.
DeleteMrs P is locked out again.
ReplyDeleteI feel for her as it happened to me twice.
Unfortunately she isn’t able to go through Chrome
I'm with Archerphile(12 58pm), on this, After his tirade to Joy, Tony regretted being a little harsh towards her, but how else could anyone silence a vocally incontinent, self obsessed person, & make them see reason, other than by explaining plainly & forcefully how dangerous to animals firework debris can be ?
ReplyDeleteMrs P, I hope you can still read the blogs, as you could when blocked from writing before.
ReplyDeleteApologies if this is too obvious and/or already tried, but have you considered driving to any local computer shop (EE, whoever) to explain the problem on your device, so that they can figure out a solution ? I appreciate they will want to sell you an update, but they should also be able to understand what has happened & help you get back to where you were.
I have deliberately not been contributing to the blog over the time of Joe’s funeral. I found the whole thing ludicrous and virtually sanctifying an unpleasant old git who didn’t think twice about breaking the law and using the goodwill of others. The idea of villagers lining the streets, standing room only outside the church, and buy one and contribute equivalent in money for his send “ wake “ off party. Unbelievable, given he never bought anybody a drink. Now we are going to be subjected to What would ‘Old Joe’ do! what would Dad think, do eat, drink etc. It happened last night at the fireworks.
ReplyDeleteNow we have Alf.
Rogue or not, a scrounger of drinks, the Village Residents, at least gave him a great send-off. 98years old and a firm resident of Ambridge, Joe was known by so many, who just wanted to just pay their respects. The funeral tea, was surely, for Edddie + Clarrie + family, as to their memories. It was fitting.
DeleteMiriam (4.33), agreed, the wake was well attended, out of respect to Eddie & the other Grundys.
Deletecarolyn 3.33pm. Sounds like good advice for MrsP.
ReplyDeleteJoy is a very lonely woman and is attempting to make friends, maybe in the future we will learn why she came to Ambridge.
I do sympathise with her being upset at at the depictions of the physiological damage done to the cows after the operation to remove the metal. She wasn’t responsible for the lantern things so perhaps Tony was too hasty in sending out the leaflet.
I frequently receive such lurid stuff through the post depicting cruelty to animals and the effects of war on individuals! Usually they are begging for money. I find this unsolicited material, just like Joy upsetting.
I agree, that Joy is lonely. I think she just wants to fit in, but is perhaps just trying too hard, initially. She definitely has a past, and I wonder what explanation she will give, when Rochelle + family, don't arrive on Wendesday, as she has said. I think Kirsty will get Joy to talk a bit more and give some hints.
DeleteI see you are withholding judgement, Miriam .Probably wise.
DeleteYou're giving Joy some leeway, awaiting developments. We only know the surface so far. That's fair.
DeleteOh so reluctantly, Stasia(4.12pm), have to admit you are nicer, more tolerant than I am ! I just have no time for Joy, lonely though she undoubtedly is ( many are lonely through circumstances, no fault of their own, but some personalities simply repel others, because they are plain nasty, or like Joy, too full on & needy.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I suspect like others, that we are going to find out more about this character when Rochelle either fails to turn up, or does, revealing why Joy is the way she is, & so evoking more compassion in those of us who feel none, by current showing.
It was obvious that Leonard should stay, but the sofa will do and he can take Jill a cup of tea in the morning.
ReplyDeleteIf Russ only found real love with Lily then it was worth the 'sacrifice', so no need to complain.
I am with you Stasia about Joe.
ReplyDeleteWill they all do the same for Peggy when she dies?
Why should anyone cough up for the Wake?
It was far too sentimental for my liking.
I agree with you about Joy too.
She is needy and would probably drive me round the bend if I had too much of her but she is doing her best to become involved in the Community which is more than can be said the Gills.
I too thought that Joe was just an annoying manky old thief!
Delete
ReplyDeleteDid David sound rather surprised and possibly horrified that his mother was inviting her man friend to stay the night?
Why is there one rule for the under 30s and another for the over 70s?
It is time Jill asked the silent Carole to move out of her cottage ,she can move back and then Leonard can have sleepovers whenever he feels like it.
Hear hear Lanjan 👏
DeleteI was hoping Jill suggest Leonard shared her room for his sleepover at BF why would David be shocked 🙄
Liked J & L chat at the hospital 🥰
Elizabeth is an appallingly bad parent. Imagine, just imagine, being in any way sympathetic to the whining adult married man who sleeps with your teenage daughter - the one he had an affair with while she was a student at the college where he was Deputy Head. And not only is Elizabeth seemingly not unhappy about any of that, she both shelters and pays him!!!! If she had any other younger children I would have been tempted to get social services involved. Grrr!!
ReplyDeleteSomeone should remind Jill she is no longer mistress of Brookfield.
ReplyDeleteAs long as she holds all the purse strings she is!!!!
DeleteBut she doesn’t, surely?
DeleteGary: 9.28
ReplyDeleteI do so agree with you about Elizabeth’s attitude to Russ. She has shown very little parental care of her daughter who has this liaison with a much older, married man with all the other drawbacks you listed. The way he often complains about all he has ‘sacrificed’ for Lily makes me feel sick.
What about what she has sacrificed for him - Elizabeth should jolly well point that out to him.
Poor, poor Russ, being embarrassed about having to discuss his finances with a solicitor and then complaining about it to Elizabeth - she should throw him out on his ear, tell him to man up and sort himself out properly before she wants to see him at Lower Loxley again.
I cannot understand why she is so feeble where Russ is concerned and let’s him take such huge liberties.
I am already looking forward to the episode in a few years time where Elizabeth apologizes to Lily for being an absolutely terrible mother!
DeleteI was very irritated by David’s attitude to Leonard this evening.
ReplyDeleteAnyone would think Leonard is courting David’s teenage daughter rather than his mother!
If I’d been Jill I should have told David to keep his comments to himself and to stop treating her like a child.
Remember when David was creeping about the farm on the evening of the kids Anti Valentine's Day party last year and he told off a couple of them for having a snog? I think he's very, very Victorian and uptight when it comes to matters of the flesh....😉
DeleteGary 9.28 pm. Agree with you totally and also Archerphile 10.29 p.m. Russ feeling sorry for himself is laughable. He's clueless and a bad'un IMHO.
ReplyDeleteNay Annveggie! I put it to you that the man is an unscrupulous weasel! A grotesque scoundrel! An egregious poltroon!
DeleteHa ha Gary. I agree with you yet again!!
DeleteWhat a good idea of Russ’s to make ghost stories the theme for Lower Loxley’s Christmas event! Joe Grundy’s homespun tales always went down well, proving there’s an audience for them. i’m partial to a ghost story myself and have a couple of anthologies. Maybe we’ll hear a selection, as with last year’s very successful Canterbury Tales.
ReplyDeleteYes, Anything would be preferable to another of Lynda’s rhyming couplet pantomimes!
ReplyDeleteWho was it recommended Jim’s ghost story to Russ last night? - I can’t recall.
Ghost stories were Russ’s idea which Elizabeth mentioned to Robert Snell who happened to appear - and he recalled his Halloween experience with Jim.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maryellen. I had forgotten the sequence of last nights discussion.
DeleteI wonder if Bert will be asked, to write a spooky poem, and perhaps they could enact some scenes featuring the Christmas Carol’s ghosts, which would be very seasonal.
You heard it here first.!
ReplyDeleteAfter last night’s episode it is obvious what the next storyline will be and I am really looking forward to it.
The marriage of Jill to Leonard.
Can’t you just hear the conversation between Ruth and David?
Ruth-What’s the matter Deevid,you’ve been funny all day.
David-There’s nothing the matter with me.
It”’s mum.
Ruth-Why what’s the matter with your mum.?
David- Oh there is nothing the matter with her except that she seems besotted with that Leonard.
After last night I am worried that they may be thinking of getting married.
He is younger than her and if anything happens to her she will get all her money.
Ruth -(laughing) Perhaps they will have a pre nup.
David- it is no laughing matter Ruth .
I don’t want his son to get what is rightfully ours and our children’s ...................
(I don’t need to go on .You get the picture .
How I wish Jill had said last night
“Don’t worry David ,my bed is big enough for two.”)
I, for one, would be highly delighted if Jill and Leonard were to marry and spend their declining days together.
DeleteAt least she could then resign from the post of head cook and bottle washer at Brookfield and Ruth would have to learn how to cook Christmas Dinner
Yes Lanjan and to add - forget about the pyjamas David, I'll keep him warm and I'll be careful with my wrist, don't you worry about that.
ReplyDeleteOld Christmas cards assembled into a collage, they apparently “confound, challenge and subvert their original source material” . Joy is an amateur when it comes to verbal diarrhoea! At least she doesn’t talk gobbledygook inflated bollworms in a whining poor me voice. He sounds more like a spoilt fourteen year old teenager than a forty something ex deputy head teacher. He didn’t sound grateful for the job Elizabeth gave, him sitting in the gallery, lonely and isolated watching philistines like Robert show no appreciation for his version of arty fairy crap.
ReplyDeleteHas Elizabeth found a new vocation now that she has been therapeutised?
Enjoyed yesterday's offering - just caught up over elevenses( now that's an old fashioned expression), glad the Leonard/ Jill friendship is becoming ever closer. David's prudish reaction I can understand as sons can be 'funny' about widowed mums forming new relationships.
ReplyDeleteAs for Elizabeth - clueless ! Time to return to Jamila the therapist, methinks, in order to be gently questioned into a clearer awareness about what is really going on in this affair between her daughter & this oh-so-precious man. BTW, she didn't have a course of ECT, did she, alongside the therapy ? I ask because ECT can wipe certain memories, & she appears to have completely forgotten how worried she was when Lily first got involved with the Dep. Principal, how she disliked the man & the inappropriate affair.
Oh, Stasia (10.36am), I also laughed - & sighed - at Russ's explanation of the Christmas card exhibition. It's the way he says it, isn't it. - nothing untoward about the idea, artists often make curious juxtapositions to encourage viewers to look differently at familiar images, but Russ sounded as if he was quoting from a learned essay in an exhibition catalogue, not at all as if it's something he's come to himself. How dare he call Robert a philistine ! Also it was Robert's suggestion about ghost stories & contacting Jim that caught Elizabeth, not would be avant garde artist's old hat idea of readings from A Christmas Carol.
ReplyDeleteJust to be clear: Robert asked Elizabeth what she planned for Christmas attractions, she said Russ had suggested Christmas carols and he added, and ghost stories and Robert directed them towards Jim. More of a joint effort or "brain-storming" if you will. Robert just happened to be passing, as one does, to facilitate this storyline.
DeleteGhost stories were definitely first mentioned by Russ as an alternative possibility to his other suggestion of A Christmas Carol. Perhaps Alf will turn out to have inherited his father’s talent.
DeleteThat’s the second time Russ has rescued a Lower Loxley event, first taking on the role of Easter Bunny which everyone else fought shy of, and now being the first to utter the words ghost stories. In their traditional Victorian Christmas setting, I think they would be great!
carolyn 11.38am.
ReplyDeleteI’m hoping your comment about ECT was tongue in cheek. My ‘memory’ recalls Elizabeth being referred to a Therapist by her GP. The only person who can prescribe ECT as a treatment is a Psychiatrist, and this is usually done as an inpatient and only if the patient is severely depressed. I think Elizabeth is using Russ as a replacement Nigel, just as Lily is confusing her need for a father as love. Both are experiencing transference, Russ has become parent and husband and isn’t doing it very well, because ultimately he doesn’t have control. He has regressed to ‘ nobody understands me’, and these two women have fallen for his facade in different ways. The only person he loves is himself, if there has to a philistine he should look in the mirror, or make an appointment with the Therapist.
In fact Russ has some responsibility for worsening Elizabeth state of mind, but then acts as the rescuer, after spending her money. Now he comes up with a Christmas show. Didn’t Nigel have those qualities, as I don’t much about him perhaps someone can enhance my level of knowledge?
The Chinese Laterns S/L
ReplyDeleteIt was assumed, rightly or wrongly, that these originated at Beechwood.
What about Home Farm and the very silent Gills? Nothing is known about them, except that they have two sons and love a party (New Year last year).
Stasia (5.31pm), rest assured, tongue in cheek. I know it's the psychiatrist who would decide, & for someone in a worse condition than E. was; just a ref. to her selective memory ! Think you're spot on about the rather unhealthy relationship he has with these 2 women. Can't answer about Nigel, but my impression was that he was a bit wet & immature. Others, who've heard more from him over the years, are of a more favourable opinion.
ReplyDeleteI actually hated Russ's sneer about philistines, including Robert in the dismissive description ! Not everyone is interested in art, or looks closely at it, but what does Mr Superior know about pig rearing or bird species ? I can't imagine Neil or Robert sneering at him for being an ignorant philistine.
I can't stand Russ, especially after the way he treated Tracy.
DeleteWhatever he does is always a favour bestowed on others.
Re Nigel, I was always a bit embarrassed for him.he was always trying so hard to please lizzie and she would just brush him off as though he was a silly schoolboy she barely tolerated him at times. Now of course since his death he has become in Elizabeth's eyes a superhero. Honestly if he had lived ,I don't think the marriage would've lasted. this is just my opinion and I'm sure others will disagree but I think Elizabeth is a bloody🐄🐄🐄
DeleteThat's jogged vague memories, Autumnleaves; E. sighing, 'Oh, Nigel' frequently, as if addressing an exasperating child...
DeleteThat Mia is far too mature for her 14 years, telling Emma that she and Ed were meant to be.
ReplyDeleteEmma couldn't tell her how she looked the other way about Ed's job and Clarrie about William trying to shoot himself.
I wonder what plans Justin has for the Bull.
I dread to think Basia!
DeletePossibly starting a chain of ubiquitous Steak Houses à la ‘Bernie’ or “Chef and Brewer”, with a vast over illuminated car park, flashing signs, huge menues with photos of every dish and a limited range of bottled beers!
If Lilian has any sense she won’t let him anywhere near The Bull and Kenton and Jolene had better man the barricades!
Ah, but Elizabeth is not the only wife to remember her husband as all goodness, I've met quite a few and they weren't like that before and for a good reason. I asked my family to point out my faults when I'm gone. I always give credit where it's due but don't forget the whole picture.
ReplyDeleteAs for Elizabeth employing her daughter's lover, again I knew a woman who would say in a moment of pique that "I was paying her for *sg* my son", because she needed a job. Elizabeth didn't seek a manager, she just did her daughter a favour but she doesn't see it as such.
An interesting thought on whether Nigel and Lizzie ‘s marriage would have lasted. They did seem close and in spite of his foibles he did ground her a bit. She might have found his immaturity refreshing at first but could have tired of it. He did seem to grow up when handed the responsibility of LL though. I wonder whether she would have toyed with Roy but maybe part of this was her missing Nigel. You could go on forever with what ifs but we never know what might have happened if things had been different. Still think killing off Nigel was a major mistake though!
ReplyDeleteI think that a Autumnleaves may have a point re Nigel-7:45pm last night.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure he fancied Shula at first-didn’t they all? (well Neil did at any rate)
I think Elizabeth was his second choice.
I always thought he sounded very immature and called his mother “mummy”.
Yuk.
On the other hand one night have asked Elizabeth
“What made you decide to marry a man with a large house and gardens who can afford to employ enough servants to make life pretty comfortable?”
On another Archers site, somebody pointed out that 2021 will mark the 70th Anniversary of The Archers, and wondered what big story would be written to mark the occasion.
ReplyDeleteOne suggestion was the Wedding of Jill and Leonard.
Another was that the Grundys will the lottery and live happily ever after.
My contribution was to suggest a modified repeat of the 60th Anniversary ‘celebration’, but this time it will be Russ who falls off the roof of Lower Loxley!
The first time, when Nigel was sacrificed, the storyline was hated and derided by most fans, but I don’t think many people would complain about the loss of Ross. 😉
No No, Archerphile, he doesn't deserve the limelight and martyrdom. I wasn't a fan of Nigel but thought it was stupid. Vanessa Whitburn said it was to have a death an a birth, of Henry. Also to provide Elizabeth with more chances, so far she's managed to break up a marriage.
ReplyDeleteI hope we have Jill's and Leonard's wedding next year and not keep them waiting.
I have just checked Jill Archer’s age and she 89 years of age. She appears not to have any of the physically difficulties experienced by most individuals her age. She isn’t hard of hearing, doesn’t complain of pain from aching bones, no hip, knee replacements, heart tickety boo, and is devoid of memory problems.
ReplyDeleteNow she has experienced a fall and ended up in hospital with a sprained wrist. I know we were told she tripped over a 🧸 toy, but she being Mrs Houseproud should have realised that a child always come attached to many objects which eventually litter the environment. Is this the slippery sloop?
Given her age the medics should have referred her to the Falls clinic.
I don’t believe vending machines sell jelly babies.
Can any-one explain why Justin is suddenly so interested in The Bull? It is jointly owned by Lilian + Jolene, well I think so. Justin must be busy with all his Demara enterprises, so what is his sudden interest, unless it is something to do with his relationship with Lilian.
ReplyDeletePS Where is Ruby?
He is going to turn it into one those pubs with children’s indoor activities and buy one get one free steak and chips on a Wednesday.
DeleteBut he has no financial input in it, it is Lilian. That's my point.
DeleteGlad to hear Mia again, a likeable 12-13yr old. She'd clearly missed the Grundy clan, & is emotionally invested in them, regardless of her different life now with Dad & stepmother. Clarrie & Emma did their best to explain the changes, & to reassure but, as I think Basia said, they can only tell part of the story, omitting Will's near suicide attempt, & the chemical waste saga.
ReplyDeleteThinking about the latter, it's hard that Ed & Emma have paid so heavily for their mistakes. Ed did smell a rat with Tim, but caved in under pressure from Emma, who, not even consciously, I beleve, became deaf to the danger signs, as her desperation for a home over rode everything else.
Still, that's just going over old ground. Interesting that Mia came up with, ' you were made for each other', same words Roy used to Ed, if I remember correctly.
Agreed, Stasia, it is remarkable that Jill appears not to suffer even the minor limitations that the late 80s surely bring ! Maybe it was a sweetie vending machine, where you'd pull down packets of jelly beans, wine gums, liquorice all sorts ?!
I want one, liquorice all sorts, black jacks, gob stoppers, pineapple chunks. A childhood dream.🍭🍡
DeleteFlying saucers for me.
DeleteDeffo Black Jacks, black tongue!
DeleteSherbert dabs for me!
DeleteParma Violets for me!
DeleteIf Jill is 89 then they'd better marry at the New Year or soon after.
ReplyDeleteJill has had cataracts (removed?), the actress suffers from the macular degeneration, I'm not confusing the two.
Does Peggy suffer from anything related to old age?
Doesn't Jill have or did have, thyroid problems? She had her cataracts done, after giving up driving for a while and Shula took Jill for her ops.
DeletePS Does any Ambridge resident, young or old, have a type of Diabetes? If not, I find that strange, and what about those with a gluten intolerance? Does Fallon + Emma, cater for these, they must surely do, but it has never been mentioned
DeleteThis evening’s episode was nice and light.
DeleteNo illness ;no deaths ; no arguments .; .
It was enjoyable.
Maybe some characters do have diabetes or high blood pressure or are lactose intolerant
If they have presumably they are being treated for that illness but I do not want to know the ins and outs of every illness going when I tune in to the programme.
Nobody ever seems to go to the dentist and the Dr seems to have vanished .
I really don’t care.
Are there not enough medical programmes on TV like Casualty,Holly City,Doctors etc without The Archers getting in on the act?
Let us have more of these episodes where nothing really happens but the people actually seem pleasant.
I liked the Joy/Tony encounter.
Quite heart warming
I was pleased though rather surprised that Bella had sent flowers to Peggy who I didn’t realise she had ever met .
Maybe she and Johnny really are getting serious .
Another positive.
Things may be looking up .
So as predicted Joy's family didn't turn up, she was getting on well with Tony until Kate's crass insinuations. I reckon Joy will take one of Hilda's kittens.
ReplyDeleteIf Chris and Alice move away and start having children, she won't need a job for a while. Kate can then move into their cottage with Jakob, who'll pay the rent.
Good instinct, Peggy, to pressure Tony into making up with Joy, & well done those bloggers who predicted Joy would be let down by the wretched Rochelle ! Joy's disappointment & vulnerability came across well, & she was able to show a more agreeable side, where she wasn't pushing to be accepted & talking trapped listeners into the ground.
ReplyDeleteOf course she'll take one of Hilda's kittens !
Is the plan to banish Chris & Alice to Newmarket ? Sounds like it. Don't trust Alice's stated motivation in urging Chris on, saying it's her turn to encourage his career. She's made it clear very often that she finds her current work highly stressful, so this is as good an escape route as any for her.
Alice sounded like her M-I-L
DeleteSusan pushing her man on to greater things like it or not!
Lanjan......got to agree. I like a lighter side to the episodes and I don’t want to cover any medical issues for political correctness’s sake.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think it’s a question of political correctness but realism,, and begs the bigger question of how real listeners want their Ambridge to be (given it exists in a parallel universe, anyway!)
DeleteFelt rather sorry for Joy who was obviously getting a message that her family wouldn't be coming. Tony was pleasant to her and Joy didn't sound so needy and desperate. Kate sounded so juvenile gushing over the kittens. Joy will of course adopt one and I hope she enjoys him/her.
ReplyDeleteA whil6e ago, I was chatting to an elderly accountant about his rural background and he told me that as a small girl it had been his mother’s job to drown the unwanted kittens born on the farm. It was a purely practical division of labour - this was a.job that a small girl was able to do. It made me wonder if drowning was still the option for getting rid of unwanted kittens?
ReplyDeleteInteresting question, no doubt posed to counteract suspected sentimentality here ! Google just now & apparently ' Drowning an animal is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1999'. I bet it still happens on farms - who's to know ? In the domestic world of course, prevention is the answer & encouraged these days.
DeleteHilda's kitten are safe, plenty of local children around to cajole parents into taking one or even two. I hope Joy does have one, good company for her & probably easier for locals to listen to gushings about furry bundles than the conspicuously absent Rochelle.
Extraordinary that Hilda wasn't seen to by previous owner when 6 months old.
Carolyn - in fact, my motive for posing the question was not to counteract sentimentality as you have “no doubt” was but to find out if the cat owners here knew the answer. I remembered the conversation and thought the same thing when Joy asked Ruth if Brookfield had a cat, and Ruth said no - then remembered the ratters on the farm, almost as if they were a separate species!
Delete'Early Purges' by Seamus Heaney springs to my mind! Ridculous storyline in the first place as it would be impossible (in my experience of rural background and 70 years of cat ownership!) for female cat to give birth unexpectedly after a couple of 'Tom cat' free years?
DeleteWhy would we want to hear about 'issues' all the time? Ambridge is a place to where I decamp , to escape from pressures of everyday life. It may be idealistic but what's wrong with that?
What with the plethora of real dramas, fly on the wall programmes (cheap programming!) competitions galore, it is good for a bit fiction from time to time. So Jill is 89 and doesn't suffer from any debility? Some people don't! (although I don't believe that she should be doing the housekeeping and childminding!)
Please do not give the writers and production team the idea that *every* plotline must mean something! 😀
Re the drowning of the kittens.
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily the little girls' job. Not sure why that should be the case? The kittens would be drowned at birth, not later when eyes are open or a couple of weeks old.
Farm cats ('ratters') *are* a separate species on a farm, nearly feral and certainly left to breed and multiply as nature decrees, with a period of culling every so often. The farm cats are necessary to keep the rat and mice numbers down because of the animal feed kept.
I remember at the age of about 7 years, watching my father drown two rats in a trap. We had chickens and of course there were rodents after the cornmeal etc. I don't remember being anything but interested at the time but now I do not care to think about it now too closely! But that's life and how we change.