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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 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Ooh Gary 😂 naughty naughty! Anyone we know....
ReplyDeleteI’m first on that in itself is a first 😄
Is it Jill and Leonard taking a break from making mince pies and having a little flapjack instead😉😉😉😂😂😂😂
ReplyDeleteOh no, I won't be able to look at that rather boring biscuit confection again without sniggering 😆
DeleteThe person with the bosoms seems to be singing and has stunned the others into silence.
DeleteHave you noticed the writing beneath the cartoon Basia?
DeleteYes, only afterwards, it doesn't show when zoomed out!
DeleteOoh, that would be a bit chilly!!
ReplyDeleteIn reply to a previous comment, since when does a person's accent define their class or education. What an utter snob you must be. I worked in the N.H.S. for years (a senior professional), with people from all walks of life and, we all had different- not posh- accents. You must have been a joy to work with!
ReplyDeleteAre you referring to stasia's comment on the previous blog about Lee? If so I fear you may have gotten a hold of the wrong end of the stick Unknown - I didn't think stasia was implying what you took from it. I may be wrong, but if that was the case there would have been more than a few angry replies I can tell you!!! ☺
DeleteAgreed Gary. I certainly did not impute any snobbery in Stasia’s post.
DeleteOoh Matron! (Channeling Kenneth Williams! 🤣)
ReplyDeleteI am confused about the Josh business.
ReplyDeleteIf some vehicle went missing and Rex knew about it why didn’t either he or Josh report it to the police?
Also isn’t it a bit of a coincidence that this trouble has arisen when Josh took a very swift decision to go abroad for Christmas without saying a word to anyone?
I think Rex told Ruth that the digger had been loaned/hired to someone.
DeleteI do sincerely hope there is no connection between the robbery and Josh’s rapid departure on holiday. I have always rather liked and admired Josh and I hope he hasn’t let me down ! 🤔
ReplyDeleteOh Archerphile, I am fervently hoping the little weasel gets into all sorts of trouble!
DeleteFrankly I am puzzled at how Ruth and David expect to run a wedding venue. They are already up to their eyes in work on the farm with no or very little input from their children especially Pip who is now a rewilder. So they won't be able to count on her.
ReplyDeleteJill is off dancing the light fantastic (see cartoon).
Elizabeth and Kenton were right . These days couples are very demanding about their wedding no matter where it's held.
I honestly don't know where they would find the time.
Maybe we can understand now where the naivety of Pip comes from
Gary 4.34 and Archerphile 4.50pm.
ReplyDeleteThank for replying to the comment from Unknown regarding class, accent and education.
I was in fact writing in praise of Physiotherapists and the ridiculous way the character of Lee was being portrayed both as a professional and potential lover of Helen. I said it was my opinion that he was deliberately being written as the opposite of R.Titchner [controlling and coercive, public school and middle class) in accent and personality. I described Lee as caring and gentle but his voice is, imo definitely squeaky and without any specific accent.
Should Unknown read back She/he will see that I have questioned the S/Ws knowledge of what a physiotherapist actually does, and outlined the time it takes to achieve an academic training.
I make no apologies about class and accents, because unfortunately sociologically bias and prejudice continues to exist, as I know form my own experience.
Yes, I understood that Lee is portrayed as a caring man therefore less educated and sophisticated than Helen which is how such people are usually perceived by society at large. The only thing I'd like to add, someone I knew told me that her physio used to be a plumber, good with his hands presumably, but must have taken a fast track course or started very early in life, if accomplished in both professions.
DeleteAbsolutely, Stasia. I even thought another actor had been drafted, because he used to come across as confident generally, & commanding, too, in the Karate class. Maybe it's LERV that is making him wet, uncertain & immature ?!
DeleteThe point about accent prejudice picks up from what you & others were writing on the other blog, which I recognise as a feature of our society, but hadn't thought about for years, I suppose I hadn't come across that class &/or regional prejudices for decades. It was disturbing to read how done of you had suffered. Anyway, that is drifting 'off topic'...
'some of you...'
DeleteWe also have to remember that we are talking about radio where the voice ..and only the voice portrays the personality of a person . This is why I am in great admiration of radio actors..they have no expression or body language..what they project is all in their voice. Therefore if a character is broadcast with a high pitched squeaky voice and given lines accordingly, then it's up to our own imaginations of how to interpret the character.
ReplyDeleteWould so love David + Ruth, to concentrate more on their sheep, and cows for both dairy + beef, which is the true Brookfield business, rather than The Barn spin offs.
ReplyDeleteThought, David etc, had agreed a sort of deal, with Vince.
PS Where is he?
Lanjan, the digger was on loan and then used in a robbery. My initial thought was that someone had sold Josh a stolen vehicle which puts the responsibility on the owner/buyer and is common in second hand deals.
ReplyDeleteGary I really don't understand your abhorance to Josh.. maybe I am missing something but this is a boy who has been repeatedly undermined by his parents in favour of his incompetent and overprivaleged sister. He has instead taken his destiny into his own hands..seeing how his future will eventually unfold..to start his own business at a very young age with just scorn from the rest of his family.
ReplyDeleteI personally hope he's not involved in the robbery because quite honestly I don't think I could bear the scoffing of Pip and Ruth
I hope that he
Cancel the last bit..don't know where it popped out
DeleteI agree with you that for some bizarre reason his parents prefer Pip and I do like the fact he started his own business so young, but when he snogged Bella I took a very strong dislike to him! Poor Johnny...
DeletePistols at dawn..but it takes 2 to tango and if Bella was so easily led, then Johnny deserves so much better. And I hope he gets it.
DeleteOh don't worry, my opinion of Bella is EXACTLY the same as it is of Josh!
DeleteHow many people in Ambridge do run their own business? It sometimes seems that Rosie and Xander are the only ones that don't!
ReplyDeleteGood point Gary it seems Ambridge is Eutopia.
DeleteLet's take Helen's dairy as an example. She has the dairy with overheads..she employs 2 staff..wages, NI contributions , pensions . She has just bought a herd of Montes at God knows how much just to transport them plus the feed and vet fees.all this to produce cheese that is sold in their shop and a few exclusive restaurants. Add to that the taxes.
I wish I could move to Ambridge!
Where on earth is the profit!!!!!
DeleteIn real villages (like the one I've lived in for half a lifetime) people get in their cars and go off to town to work in schools, hospitals, insurance companies, local government etc. etc. However, that wouldn't make good drama. Eastenders is exactly the same and just as unrealistic. In Ambridge, I've just thought of Harrison who does have a "normal" public-sector job.
DeleteI've not seen EastEnders for about 25 years Ex-Londoner, but that's exactly what was in my head when I was writing the above! I remember thinking back then that it was weird that nearly everybody in Walford worked for each other at one point.
DeleteRuss has painted a scary Lynda, no wonder she found it unnerving.
ReplyDeleteWell he must have some talent if one is able to see the likeness.
ReplyDeleteI fail to see how Helen is sophisticated or well educated thus superior in the pecking order to Lee. I can’t recall her going into further education but could be wrong as it is a longtime ago. If she didn’t work from her parents’ farm I wonder how she would have made her way in the world.
ReplyDeleteHelen's entire existence appears to be centered around whatever man she is dating & cheese. She is not a well rounded person at all as far as I can tell. If she wasn't so annoying I would feel sorry for her.
ReplyDeletesurely not.
DeletePlus her children.
DeleteDon't her mum & dad (& Kirsty!) look after them? She's always mentioning the fact that her boys are with someone else, or someone else is picking them up or someone else is dropping them off!
DeleteJust like poor little Rosie, handed round like a parcel!
DeleteAt least Xander seems to have the constant presence of Ian, as far as we have heard.
Helen studied agriculture at Reese Heath college and bounced back into Ambridge full of herself and revolutionary ideas, as I remember. I think Pat and Tony lapped it up like David and Ruth with Pip, if I remember correctly, because they were grieving for John and clinging to Helen and Tom so as not to lose them as well (understandably).
ReplyDeleteIncidentally I have been locked out of the blog since I last posted and I don’t think I pressed sign out as I have in the past by mistake, as the post was published. I signed back in via blogger.com but still couldn’t post until I updated my profile - I didn’t change it, just saved it again. Thought this might be useful for anyone else who is locked out, although I realise the causes and remedies can be multitudinous.
I thought it was Pip who went to Reese Heath ....... perhaps they both went there?
DeleteGary, 8.27 last night
ReplyDeleteYour comment about soap opera characters having jobs in their own villages/streets, reminded me of something else that always struck me as strange when (many moons ago) I watched Corrie - the residents going to the local cafe at the end of the street for breakfast, or every time they wanted a cuppa. Anyone would think they had no kitchens!
Natasha is out and about with the 💳 credit cards!. Will Pat or Helen receive the face cream destined for Shula? Some of these creams can cost over£100.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Natasha blends her own anti wrinkle stuff, blended with essence of Pink Lady 🍎 apples.
She's also giving Joy a facial tomorrow. ...is this for Tony's benefit?💋💋
DeleteAs for the running a business, aren't there strict zoning laws that you can't run certain businesses e.g.. plumbing, car , mechanic and construction companies in residential areas? Seems these rules don't apply to Albert Square and Coronation St.
DeleteI may be wrong.
Archerphile, above, I think Pip went to Felpersham.
ReplyDeleteHelen did go to an agricultural college, Pat and Tony turned up with champagne when she graduated.
ReplyDeleteJim exchanged the lavender cream meant for Shula for something with olive oil suggested by Natasha.
When sorrow gets a makeover will she change into joy?
I've been on Twitter enjoying the "tweetalong" that people do, letting people know of our existence and generally joining in the fun & games there - and following on from the message I got from Ryan Early (Lee), today I have had several messages from Susie Riddell (Tracy) wishing me a Happy Christmas! I am chuffed to bits!!!!
ReplyDeleteooOOOooh!
DeleteWow Gary you are going up in the world 🌍 good for you👏🏻 !
DeleteWhat fun, Gary ! Soon those 2 actors, & others, will start an Archers' fan blog in reverse...( I mean a Gary fanblog !)
DeleteFrankly, I’m jealous Gary!
DeleteBut I decided not to join Twitter because of all the awful things that have been put on it.
I often wish I could follow people like Keri Davis or the Archer cast members or the Countdown programme and Rachel Riley.
I just worry about keeping safe on it ......and I already spend far too much time on my iPad as it is (according to Mr A!) ☹️
Oh, and hey Gary - you’re not going to desert us for Twitter are you ? 😳🙀
DeleteNo fear Archerphile!
DeleteI only look at the Archers stuff on Twitter and everyone seems to be of the same spirit - it should be harmless fun...
Archerphile..I am not on twitter instagram or Facebook. Never saw the attraction..this blog is the furthest I have dipped my toes into any kind of social media. And m quite satisfied with that.
DeleteGary, I have signed up and tried using Archers twitter, all I can see is a blog on mince pies and boring tweets. Maybe I doing it wrong. Am not Facebook etc.
DeleteWhy does Helen need permission from an nearly nine year old to invite Lee to Christmas 🥗 lunch?
Hope she isn’t going to terrify everyone with the sound of slurping the face of the new man.
If you put " #thearchers " in the search box you will find all the gubbins there stasia...
DeleteMaybe I was over hopeful, but thought Henry sounded closer to his own age last night. It helped that he said more than 'No', & 'Aw wight'.
ReplyDeleteCan't see why Helen had such a worry about inviting Lee, Henry always liked him, & was pleased to see him again the other day. She's one of those who worry about nothing, yet miss the glaring, neon lit events she should be wary about.
As for Josh, likely as not it'll be a storm in a tea cup.
No Carolyn, don't think over hopeful, the team have at last found an older Henry.
ReplyDeleteHip hip hooray ( Henry )
Josh + the digger problems, seems a bit OTT, esp as he is now so far away.
ReplyDeleteWhat would like to know re Josh + his business - is he doing what was agreed with Ruth + David a while back.This was paying rent, and also then giving them a % of his profits, after a time.
Have I got that wrong?
Phoebe does think it's *her* project because she's ambitious and if it has nothing to do with Oxford, does she feel entitled because it's her family's money and 40 acres of land? Probably.
ReplyDeleteI realize this is probably normal farmer's language but 'the empty ones' regarding non-pregnant ewes sounded so cold, as if the animals are bits of machinery, which I suppose to a farmer they are in a way.
ReplyDeleteFor Pip and Rex the re- wilding project is a side line so how come it is going to be Phoebes full time job and what sort of salary will she be paid, as much as one might expect to earn post achieving an Oxford degree (of the highest order?)
ReplyDeleteFor once I was as annoyed with her as Pip was - and I don’t agree with Pip very often that’s for sure.
Me too, Lady R. I thought she sounded like a spoilt little girl who was stamping her little foot because her friends didn’t want to play any more.
ReplyDeleteDespite her Oxford education she sounds very immature. Time her family stopped cushioning her and made her face the real world.
Where is Roy in all this - we haven’t head a word from him for ages.
I had to sympathise wth Phoebe’s ‘why does everyone keep going on about Oxford’, but otherwise found her deviousness unsympathetic - a case of ‘like grandfather, like granddaughter ‘. I don’t doubt her commitment to rewilding but as I’ve said all along, I think this is also a job creation scheme for herself, in lieu of more usual job finding routes which she seems reluctant to take.
ReplyDeleteSeems the scriptwriters are throwing a different young woman to the lions each week, we’ve recently had Hannah, perhaps Alice next.....
Phoebe sounded more mature when she was studying for her ‘A’ levels - what has happened to her? Younger Alice likewise was to my mind more likeable than in recent times, and remember Alan’s daughter and how she crumbled after a failed relationship - she’s another character I liked and liked hearing before the great drama happened to her. Next generation of young Ambridge residents take heed: get out and don’t return or bad things will happen to you.
ReplyDeleteLike you,Seasider,I really liked Alan’s daughter,Amy.
ReplyDeleteWe haven’t heard of her or Usha for ages.
Carolyn,although I agree with what you say about Henry,to me he sounds like a little southerner who is acting.
In my opinion ,the best films made with children had non actors in the main roles.
They were natural.
Remember “Whistle down the wind”( no not Hayley Mills her Lancashire accent was dreadful but a little boy called Alan )
Remember”Kes”?
Tge young lady playing the main part was excellent.
That should read....
ReplyDeleteThe young lad playing the part.....
Henry sounds like the same young actor three years older and now able to handle longer speeches. I’ve never had a problem with his delivery - his accent matches his family’s (excluding Johnny, of course) though may be more ‘local’ when talking tohis school chums, which we don’t hear.
ReplyDeleteThere are too many young Soundalikes in the Archers
ReplyDeleteThe young women like Phoebe ,Alice and Lily sound like Sloanes
Ruarie and Ben sound the same to me as do Rex and Toby.
Not one of the young children has a midland accent.
I still say mention them but don’t let them speak .
They never sound natural.
Henry still sounds like a child actor reading his lines .
Now when they get to Mia’s age ,that is fine.
There are too many older soundalikes too, among the men with regional otr public school,accents, eg. Alan and Harrison, Justin and Oliver. I think it’s what they are saying that distinguishes them rather than how they are saying it.
DeleteI always recognise
DeleteJustin at once - he sounds like a heavy smoker with a bad throat!
I guess it depends on the listener to some extent. I always recognise Phoebe, Alice and Lily.
DeleteLanjan 8.33 a.m. - 'Whistle Down the Wind' was such a wonderful film and I agree with your point about non-actor children. I always remember the scene at the table where the young lad lets the cat out of the bag. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteI nearly expected Phoebe to shout, I’ll thcream, and thcream until I get what I want. But she is passive aggressive, ‘ Oh, Great grandma, Oh grandad, weep and tears, I wanted my own rewilding for Christmas, but they won’t do what I want. I’ve said I’m sorry.
ReplyDeletePhoebe is devious, underhanded and a liar, she is in effect a burgeoning power crazy monster.
She whines, whinges and bleats because rewilding is all she has got, and she has worked so hard, and it’s not fair. What’s not fair is dumping her mates in a mess. She is prepared to work with Justin, he who will happily destroy a woodland, but that’s okay for for the wunderkind. She is the rewilding Queen.
DeleteWhat has she been doing for the last six months since getting her degree?
Two minds with but a single thought Stasia!
DeleteI quoted Violet Elizabeth Bott’s famous saying on another Archers website this morning! Phoebe reminded me so much of that character last night, I could almost see the long red ringlets, the fussy dress and the stamping foot!
Great minds Archerphile 😄
DeleteAh, so skimmed milk sorrow has blabbed, though not about the casserole.
ReplyDeletePat and Tony's marriage is the only one that has survived to-date unscathed and they're using cheap tactics to undermine it after 45 years. Will I have to stop listening next year?
Does Philip actually understand Kirtsy, an enviromentalist and her ideas, whilst putting up yet more, Christmas Lights?
ReplyDeleteSeems a bit chalk + cheese.
Tick off approval from Susan, so please, please don't turn it all sour for Tracy now...I found it rather sweet that despite slapping Susan away loudly & often, she was clearly chuffed that big sister gave her the thimbs up !
ReplyDeleteHIM the thumbs up..
DeleteOh Susan! You just can’t help yourself can you?
ReplyDeleteTwo laugh out loud moments.
ReplyDeletePhilip, “you don’t want me to fall off”, Kirsty should have replied, ‘yes I do’.
Well that was my response.
Enter stage left, Susan shouts Traiceee, She responds, ‘Oh no, ‘splutter, ... UCK, I’ve lost my smiley 😃 face’.
I had to listen again to check out if I hadn’t misheard. I’m sure Tracy swallowed the missing letter.
The senior Carters and Grundys have also stayed together, don't know the tenure though.
ReplyDeleteSusan's notice: time off in loo! In lieu of what precisely? Is there no English for it?
ReplyDelete😅😂🤣
DeleteAs Susan has been postmistress for many years and before that she was the doctor's receptionist when Richard Locke had a surgery in Ambridge, I am sure she will have come across the phrase before.
DeleteThis phrase 'in lieu' is used all the time of 'time owing.' There is no other phrase used in English.
In officespeak, it’s referred to as TIL (time in lieu): when employees put in extra hours they are repaid with time off in lieu of cash payment. If Susan isn’t paid she’s taking time off in lieu often time she would have had off if she hadn’t been working overtime.
DeleteTime in lieu - I've never heard it referred to as anything else!
DeleteI think the habit of writing and speaking In acronyms has grown rapidly in recent years. I suppose it’s the effect of e-communication.
Delete'Time off in lieu [of payment]' has been a familiar phrase since I started work in the 50s, so not such a modern term after all. I do agree with you about the modern acronyms though maryellen. So hard to understand sometimes.
DeleteIn fact I typed the acronym wrongly - it’s TOIL (time off in lieu). Must have originated with an office manager with a droll sense of humour!
DeleteI see that none of you are much bothered about the 'skimming sorrow' - I'm absolutely seething about it being pursued, they would, wouldn't they.
ReplyDeleteBasia, I don’t know what you mean, was that in last night’s episode? I must have missed something as I was gripped by the banter between Susan and our Traiceeeee.
DeleteI’m a bit puzzled too Basia - are you referring to Joy by any chance?
DeleteThe skimming sorrow sounds very poetic, Basia, but having missed an episode or two, I don’t know what it refers too. Skimming makes me think of the dairy?
DeleteYes, I started calling her "sorrow" because that's what she is. She told Natasha that she gave Tony tea with skimmed milk and Tom said he never touched the stuff. Hence skimming sorrow, or scheming witch, listen again, or don't bother because it won't stop there.
DeleteI think that might be over-glamourising Joy with such poetic language!
DeleteNot if she is a scheming witch: "you hold on to him Pat" famous last words".
DeleteWhat are the chances the Grundy's will give some of the profit from World of Christmas to a charity..........nah! Don't you need a trading licence for this sort of activity! 🤔
ReplyDeleteOn a more altruistic note. Seasons Greetings, good health and peace to one and all. Happy Holidays! ⭐🌜🕊️
The Grundys will spend Christmas at GG and then it'll be time to vacate the farm.
ReplyDeleteOK I reckon the script writers are definitely setting up a reconciliation between Emma and Ed. I’m glad Will cleared the air with Emma, I was worried earlier that they would “reconnect”.
ReplyDeleteI wasn’t surprised at Eddy donning the Father Christmas outfit.
KPnuts, I agree, I said they'd get back together over the coffee table.
DeleteBasia. 7.20pm
ReplyDeleteAh, now I understand! I guessed you were referring to Joy but had forgotten about the skimmed milk. It’s all going to get back to Pat sooner or later isn’t it?
That woman seems to have been introduced to become a catalyst in the village who (inadvertently) stirs up trouble. The little bit of grit in the pearl!
What amused me last night was David saying to DC Tanner: thanks for coming, as if.
ReplyDeleteAlso, why have the Gills a skip outside? Are they planning to refurbish the house? Jennifer would be unconsolable. At least the Grundys benefited from their cast offs.
ReplyDeleteVery quiet on here today! I suppose it’s a bit like Grundy world, everyone out and about getting busy for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI have been pondering two things about the money the Grundys will make from their festive shanenigans. Each adult and child/ren had to pay individually to enter, then there was the tombola, Father Christmas and ??? I don’t recall any other activity.
Given the never ending shortage of money in the Grundy family how have they paid for Joe’s funeral?
They can’t have made enough from the, buy one for Joe drinks malarkey at the bull.
Then there is the stuff taken from the skip.
Will and Emma may have committed an offence.
I understand that any items put into a ship is the property of the skip owner.
There is something definitely fishy about the Gills, what sort of people toss new clothes into a skip. Never used with tags still in tact.
Maybe they are Russian oligarchs or even worse nasty criminals.
Gosh, so Emma & Will might have 'stolen' stolen goods ! Not unlike the Josh scenario...perhaps the Gills, false name, are behind the Vince, chemical waste SL.
DeleteRE Joe's funeral - I am assuming that Ed or Emma stepped up to the plate & gave a chunk of the many thousands of pounds that they DIDN'T spend on a new house. Didn't she run around the village like a maniac demanding money from everyone, including Eddie who managed to get a large bank loan?
DeleteYes she did Gary, but I don’t think anybody actually gave her any dosh!
DeleteI think you are right about the skip Stasia and someone is going to see Emma wearing those shoes or Clarrie that hat. I knew someone who when a young man down on his luck sorted through a pile of reject potatoes in a farmer's field to take some home to cook. He was seen and ended up fined in court. I spent a summer when still at school riding on a potato digger machine. The potatoes come up onto a revolving table and any that are too small or misshapen are chucked away and wasted. The old tradition of people in need gleaning seems to have vanished. I used to go to bed at night and even the bed would be spinning round and round!
DeleteJanice - I remember when a big event of the year st Bridge Farm was when the women arrived to do potato picking for Tony. Much hilarity ensued about the women and their coarse language and how they could eat the men for breakfast!
DeleteI also remember when our local farm planted potatoes with the workers lying full length, face- down on a machine behind the tractor, individually placing each seed potato into the soil. A truly awful job!
How lovely that Oliver is treating Clarrie + Eddie, to Christmas Day lunch at Grey Gables.
ReplyDeleteIs this to assauge how he feels, when he finally gets his own property ie Grange Farm back, in the New Year.
I wonder who the new tenants will be? Brian + Jennifer, spring to mind, but not sure if will happen.
Would love to know more about "The Gills", as one year in residence (almost), they have another skip outside. Are they moving again? - so can Brian + Jennifer be able to move back, or will it be Alistair, Ian + "Babe", buying it and then take up residence?
Idle thoughts only. 😀
Forgot - Babe is Xander.
DeleteGary, Emma asked Neil for a loan and when he said that the bank agreed to 15k she sniffed at it.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you'd agree that no one would loan money to Eddie!
Since Joe gave Ed his thousand pounds for the funeral I expect he repaid it.
Joy to the world
ReplyDeleteThe Horville has come
Let Bridge farm receive her tongue
Let Pat prepare a room
And Tony her midget zoom
To Bridge farm this Christmas the Joy has come x3.
Basia, your comment about skimming prompted me to write this rubbish.
Gloria in excelsis doe, et in terra pax hominibus.
If Joy is invited to Bridge Farm, I do hope there will be peace.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 stasia
DeleteI can’t make up my mind whether the Adam character is a wooden actor or whether he is trying to make Adam sound petulant and boring. The only time he comes to life is when he shouts at Brian!
ReplyDeleteAdam IS petulant and boring..I don't think I've ever heard him laugh or be happy...maybe he's an adult Henry.
DeleteHe's always complaining and quite frankly whenever I hear him my stomach tightens.
He needs to take a leaf out of Kate's book😲😲... find something that sparks joy..and he's got lots in his life to give him joy.
He's just a grumpy old man ...Brian's got more zing!
Oh btw..did you notice that Ruth talks to Rosie in exactly the same way she talks to the cows?....there yego girl..probably with a pat on her rear..hilarious🐮🐮
ReplyDeleteOh Stasia,I am so slow on the uptake.
ReplyDeleteOf course.
Pat will invite Joy to Bridge Farm on Christmas Day .
Until then Pat won’t know about the stew that Tony consumed on his Wedding Anniversary
She won’t realise that he spent a long time chatting with Joy who will over egg the pudding
I bet it will be to Bridge Farm we go on Christmas Day.
We will have a sad Johnnie ,a polite Lee, an annoying Helen, a mouthyJoy ,a silent Pat,and an apologetic Tony,
We need one more character who will possibly be Natasha who will just pop in with the expensive rubbish nobody wants.
Can hardly wait!
😃🌟🎄🗣
DeleteLanjan, it was beef casserole that Tony consumed, but stew is so much better, he'll be stewing in his own juice, with skimmed milk on top.
ReplyDeleteBeef Casserole is what posh folk (or them as is trying to be peas above sticks ) call stew, Basia!
ReplyDeleteIt is one and the same.
Similar ingredients Lanjan but casserole is cooked slowly inside the oven and the meat can be incredibly tender, but stew is cooked on the hob with yummy dumplings. What say you Miriam?
Deletemoi, je suis d'accord. 😊
DeleteHave I been making casseroles all these years?
DeleteI cook my stew in the oven at gas 3 for hours and hours .
I add the dumplings about half an hour before the end and potatoes carrots and onions.a bit before that.
Nothing fancy since I once added beer ,trying to be clever and it was awful .
I have to say though I am no cook so maybe I have been doing things wrongly for years.
Do the same with Lancashire hot pot .
Don't worry about the technicalities of cooking Lanjan. If it tastes good you can call it anything you want😋😋
DeleteWell, I made a beef and vegetable concoction last night, in a Le Creuset pot with a lid, long slow cook in the oven at 160 C for 2 hours and added dumplings for the last twenty minutes. So was that a casserole or a stew?
Delete(I thought stews were made in a large saucepan on the hob on a very low heat)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNow that is interesting. I suppose if you keep the lid on the dumplings would still be soft, as they are when cooked on the top. The only times I have tried cooking dumplings in the Rayburn I have not used a lid and they have turned out crunchy, but they are rather nice like that.
DeleteGary ,your picture at the top of this blog reminds me of a card Mr LJ bought some years ago which is a photograph of the back view of a tall slim,silver haired man holding hands with a rather elderly lady with an enormous backside.
ReplyDeleteBoth are naked
They are walking into the sea together.
My step granddaughter who was a little girl at the time said to me.
“That could be grandad but it isn’t you”
I was pleased about that until she added.
“The woman is too small”
The caption on the card says.
“Nothing is more beautiful than the love that has weathered the storms of life”
Jerome K Jerome.
I only repeated what was said: beef casserole first (at "skimming sorrow's"), followed by his favourite winter casserole with home made sourdough and lots of trimmings on the side at home.
ReplyDeleteTo reply:- to me a casserole is slow cooked for 2-3hours in an oven,wheras a stew is cooked in a "pan/pot" on the top of the cooker. Might be wrong (and not for the 1st time 😁). Back to TA.
ReplyDeleteAm still intrigued, as to Tom + Natasha's Bridgefarm.App. This is, how are they providing the produce, which they put on-line for order and then can fulfil these orders, and who is delivering them??
Aren't Helen, Tony + Pat involved somehow with payments to this App. Just can't recall what agreement was made.
PS Use a brilliant set of "Stellar" saucepans, casserole pots and assortment of other things eg steamers for veg. + potatoes. They were very expensive at the time, (over 15yrs ago now) but are light and lovely to use, plus cleaning is easy.
DeleteRex felt he had to cover up for Josh but it'll all come out.
ReplyDeleteHow can Rex cover for Josh by making out a fake invoice since he was not told the name of the person who had been allowed to use the digger. Besides which if Josh owns the digger he can charge whatever he wishes so why does he need to cover up his" favour"
DeleteI meant, Rex should have told David but he didn't want to worry him. As for Josh, the loan should have been invoiced, that still doesn't make him a criminal.
DeleteWhat an awful pre Christmas Sunday episode that was. Just concentrating on Josh, Rex, along with Lilian, Kenton (with this ridiculous "free" designer).
ReplyDeleteWhere were the mince pies, hot mulled wine, along with some more Yule-tide festivities, such as carols/christmas music, be it in the church, in The Bull, or just being heard in the background via a sound system?
Hope TA is not going down the TV soap route. In that Dec. 25th is just not the joyful, caring + sharing day, it is meant to be, but when mayhem takes over, with dire consequences..
Surely, this can't happen in TA, or could it 😣😭
I agree Archerphile. Rex definitely should not do anything to try and cover up what Josh has done or didn't do. He should have told David the whole story.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Rex is trying to protect his own job prospects with Josh’s firm? If Josh goes down, so does he.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much Rex relays on his income from Josh’s business. He has the pigs of course but I don’t know if he still does taxi work as well. He might be relieved to give up being Josh’s office slave.
DeleteInteresting ironies abound. Quite rightly, Rex & Pip were furious with Pheobe for lying, yet now Rex is doing the same thing; Pip is showing concern for her parents not hearing from Josh, yet, going back a few years, she held back for a long time before owning up about the escaping cows.
ReplyDeleteOne rule for others, another for self. Not uncommon & very depressing.
Whereas my opinion of him has just about stayed where it was! 😉
ReplyDeleteSelective memory loss, Carolyn, there's a lot of it about.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to hear Christine who let Jazzer out of the bag.
ReplyDeleteAlastair paid for the minibus.
ReplyDeleteWho paid for the tickets?
Tonight’s episode was quite entertaining. Love the way jazzer really cares for Jim and goes all out to help.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased Jim’s first evening was successful - thanks to Jazzer. It should give his confidence a big boost after all his hard work.
ReplyDeleteChristine lives! I was quite surprised to actually hear her and not just a mention. I did not think she or the other Laurels residents were as sprightly as to be able to do a last minute trip to LL and Jazzer was lucky to be able to book a mini bus so near to Christmas and yes Lanjan a good thought re ticket payment!
ReplyDeleteNever mind - seasonal poetic licence 🤗 and a lovely gesture from the caring Jazzer 😘
Any reason why The Laurels contingent wouldn’t have paid for themselves? They can’t be short of a £ or two, or they wouldn’t be at The Laurels!
ReplyDeleteI assumed that they would all have payed for their tickets themselves.
DeleteSo did I - I assume that’s what the scriptwriters assumed listeners would assume. The minibus payment was just another excuse for Jazzer to crack one of his all-too-predictable jokes at someone else’s expense.
DeleteI agree that there’s no reason why the contingent from the Laurels shouldn’t have paid for their own tickets, but I can imagine Jazzer offering the mini bus as a sweetener. My concern would be getting all those senior citizens into the attic, after all they are probably at the Laurels because of increasing frailty, luckily there were no falls or trips.
ReplyDeleteI thought minibuses were all inclusive, as we know Christine is not wealthy and I don't care about the practicalities. Lee was on hand to help the less able bodied.
ReplyDeleteThey were all there and it had the desired effect on Jazzer, that's all that matters to me.
Philip repairing the kiddies playground is a silly story line. The PC would have check their insurance to ascertain if a jobbing builder would be covered to undertake repairs. Even if he has agreed to do it for cost. Health and safety checks would also have to be undertaken to identify the vulnerability of the equipment. I’m surprised he didn’t come a cropper on the swing which sounded very unsafe.
ReplyDeleteThe playground where I live cost £250,000 to update and repair and this was covered by a combination of donations from various organisations, and undertaken by specialists in kiddie playgrounds.
Well done Jazzer.
I guess its a bit more poetic licence on behalf of the S/Ws to add to the Christmas cheer!
DeleteWill Phil's extra lights, along with the latest "Rudolph" end in tears or should that be "flames" 🔥🔥.
ReplyDeleteYou'll regret it Pat.
ReplyDeleteYes, Tom, you ARE being paranoid ! Tony would run a mile if sad, garrulous Joy made an unmistakeable move on him.
ReplyDeleteLynda Snell is on University Challenge as I type!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you,Carolyn.7:20pm.
ReplyDeleteFor once I also agree with Natasha.
✔️ 👏
DeleteOf course Tony is NOT in the least interested and Tom is paranoid but it's a mistake inviting "sorrow" for Christmas, she gushes and takes over and I fear may say something uncalled for.
ReplyDeleteWhether Joy says something uncalled for or not,I agree with you Basia that she should not have been invited to a family Christmas ...
ReplyDeleteI implied something like that in an earlier post.Nothing to do with Joy’s infatuation with Tony.
If a virtual stranger is trying to fit in with members of an established family at Christmas it will be very difficult for any of them to act naturally.
There will be Lee as well........
Pat needs a replacement for silent Kathy but also for her homeless friend whose name escapes me. Joy is a much more grateful recipient, and I agree that Tony at most would be flattered by the attention but isn’t interested in a dalliance.
ReplyDeleteOlwen?
DeleteLanJan - I was watching Carol Boyd on University Challenge as well and noted that she jokingly said Lynda was about to recruit participants for next years pantomime! There were several other BBC people on the teams too, Bunny Guinness from Gardeners World; Jonathan Freedland from The Long View ( one of my favourite programmes), Anne McElvoy of The Moral Maze and Don Mosely who once produced Today. Nothing like keeping the quiz in-house!
ReplyDeleteI think Pat is being remarkably generous by inviting Joy to share the family Christmas, after such blatant hint-dropping
ReplyDeleteI regret to say that I wouldn’t have done so. A family Christmas, with all It’s little traditions, is such a very special time and a stranger trying to fit in would put a huge strain on proceedings.
Joy will take over, become the centre of attention and talk incessantly, ruining the day for everyone.
You are a far better woman than me Pat - good luck!
She's taken over already, by barging in on a family tradition of decorating the Christmas tree (Tom told her), I won't stay, must be off, then going to the top of the tree and needing Tony's hand to get down. She'll be with Tony in the kitchen in the morning while Pat is out volunteering, how about she brings back a stray man with her. Then Lee after too much to drink can stay at "sorrow's".
ReplyDeleteWell that wasn’t a surprise.
ReplyDeleteChristmas greeting to all in TA.
Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete"He's not tall enough for a start!"
ReplyDeleteIt ended as it should, thank you Oliver, best Christmas present from you to all.
Oliver is a prince amongst men!
ReplyDeleteSo grateful for the kindness shown him by the Grundy family that he rewards them with the very thing that will ensure their future happiness. How sad Joe didn’t live to appreciate what Oliver has done for the family.
Well done Oliver!
On the other hand - the most stupid plonker in Ambridge shames himself on Christmas Day in front of his whole family - which I found quite funny!
Well done Tom!
Couldn’t agree more Archerphile & Basia 🤗
DeleteHad some good moments last night, especially the scenes with Oliver & the Grundys, but the two main dramatic moves didn't convince me at all :
ReplyDeleteWhy would Oliver 'suddenly' realise that Grange Farm & this family belong together, & decide to let them stay on a reduced rent or whatever other arrangement ? Nonsense, he's not a complete idiot & knew this all along.
Why did Tom suddenly expode, & ruin the family Christmas ? It's not in his character to be confrontational. He's hesitant & timid over personal matters, also slow to pick up undercurrents. For instance, amongst other things, being briefly manipulated by Hannah, unable to cone clean with Kirsty over their marriage until the last moment, failing to see Helen was being abused until Kirsty spelt it out. Yes, Joy would get on anyone's nerves, but surely he knows his father better.
PS found Helen's sniggering at the collapse of family festivities pretty unappealing: 'I have a man in tow, never mind anyone else's upsets'.
Exactly,Carolyn.
DeleteI thought that the whole episode was clumsy
Far too over the top.
I also agree about Helen
“I’m alright Jack ,don’t care about anyone else”
Dreadful woman.
I agree Carolyn, about Helen and Lee as if they were watching a pantomime, which in a way it was: he's not tall enough, stupid or what? At least Pat didn't seem to find out why Tony was delayed on their anniversary.
ReplyDeleteAs for Oliver, yes, he's known all along and so have we perhaps, so it's the feel good factor for Christmas and that's how I look at it.
Yes, Basia, it was all concocted in the spirit of Christmas goodwill. Would it have been more convincingly pulled off. The right ingredients for the day - family joy for the Grundys, family row at Bridge Farm. a stereotypical Christmas all right, but clumsily contrived.
DeleteOh, please don’t be too critical ladies! The scriptwriters were trying to give us a Little of the Christmas Spirit and a bit of humour to lighten the mood. I think they succeeded because I enjoyed the episode and didn’t find anything amiss. And I’m sure I would have had a giggle too, just like Helen and Lee .....welcome to the family Lee!
DeleteThe only thing I might have had a niggle about was the concentration on just the two families. I should like to have heard a snippet from Jill and Leonards posh hotel Christmas Day and Jill meeting Leonard’s son. Also how little Rosie got on at the Lower Loxley do. I wonder if Toby had been invited to share Christmas with his daughter?
Of course, it’s a lot to fit into 13 minutes so perhaps we’ll hear about those things tonight.
What planet of reality does Oliver live on? Stay as long as you like, we’ll sort something out about the rent.
ReplyDeleteEddie has inherited genetic longevity from Joe and could possibly live for the next 35 years.
I don’t know how old Oliver Is (will check in my old books) but he is surely old enough to be a fool!
So it’s all back to Grange farm??
I'm in agreement with Archerphile, and thoroughly enjoyed yesterday's Christmas Day episode. The Bridge Farm situation was excellent (and representative of so many family Christmas bust-ups!), and Pat and Tony were completely unscathed by the whole thing. Enjoyed Lee and Helen's giggles too - a great way to illustrate the difference between Helen's relationship with Lee and the one she had with Rob (who would never have found anything to laugh at in the situation). I also loved the Grundy's special meal with Oliver, who has found a way to repay the extreme kindness he found with them immediately after Caroline's death. Really nice episode :)
ReplyDelete