MrsP Ambridge - March 12, 2021 at 2:37 PM When I wrote a few days ago that Chris might become a single parent, Miriam asked why I would think that. I didn't feel inclined to write a dissertation on Alice, her state of mind and the further development from that state, followed by possible consequences, and the extremely well acted nastiness spewing from Alice as she went into labour did not allay any fears I had. So....... thank you MISTRAL .... for putting my thoughts into words. Not at all off piste. Alice has never wanted to be a mother, and it is possible that if she does reject the baby, that Kate may step in to do the required practical help. Chris on the other hand has clearly wanted fatherhood for a very long time and has waited patiently for his time to come. Now it has, and given his present feelings, which are already developing into disgust for Alice's behaviour, he will I am sure become a dedicated father to his little girl. The single ( caring) parent that I referred to. Listening again today to Susan recounting to Alice the birth of Christopher with his hare lip, I suddenly remembered it all quite vividly. Like Alice Susan was very reluctant to bond with him.
Miriam - March 12, 2021 at 3:58 PM I still have faith in Alice..and do not think she has been drinking again....well just yet. The truth about FAS frightened her. That's all I am responding to.
Miriam - March 12, 2021 at 5:21 PM I think Alice is frightened, that when the wider family know about her alcoholism, she will be judged and not in a good way. She is so wrong. I feel, that they all would wish to have known, so to have given her + Chris, the support needed then, and will need even more now. They will be upset to hear this situation now, but judgemental - surely not? Hopefully just understanding. But then, this is Ambridge, so who can predict what the reaction will be - I can't even begin to pre-empt this.
MrsP Ambridge - March 12, 2021 at 7:27 PM I agree Miriam that Alice is frightened. Frightened of several aspects of what is and what might be happening. If you are correct and you may well be, Alice is very worried about being judged. But I don't think it is so much that she will be judged by her family so much as by herself. Actually I think she is already judging herself by being disgusted at her inability to control herself in her need for drink and the consequent behaviour when she is drunk. Of course it is her father Brian, who is most likely to judge her, but might also make excuses for her, since she is of course' his girl' - his chip off the old block. Then of course she is also very frightened by the FAS that might materialise at any point in the future. Of course she might also be frightened of losing Chris, who she believes she needs to keep her on the straight and narrow. She does need Chris for support, but it's her responsibility to sort herself out. Unfortunately Alice has never been enabled to develop the skills to do that.
I thought it was a cute pic Mrs P - and what with Chris being a blacksmith/farrier it was quite apt. (AND it's got a random chicken in it, so farm life is covered too...!)
I am so glad you started a new blog at exactly the time I was posting one which has disappeared into oblivion. It was a very pessimistic one and I regretted pressing publish so quickly.
As usual my Sunday Ombibus thoughts. It was all geared around Alice, along with her and Chris's angst, which has been well discussed. I am apologising in advance, as to my next comment, which I know could very well upset others I just felt that the rest of the week, revolved around the church + relgious beliefs, just too much. This was due to:- Shula talking to Neil as to her ordination. Ditto - her talk with Alan. Chris insiting on Baby Martha's blessing , but his heartfelt talk was needed. The Mysteries - An angel, bathed in sunshine on Lakey Hill, Clarrie sacked as a king, Shepherds overlooking Brookfield etc.
I have no faith, but I so understand that for some, this is so very important. I admire so many, who do. My comment is, it was just too much in one week.
There were very few light-hearted moments, to help lift our spirits. The best was Brian,Jazzer + Jim, eating a fry-up together. I bet Brian was glad of this escape, and hearty, greasy, breakfast!
The person I feel for most, at the moment, is Kirsty. She is helping Linda with The Mysteries, and is her hench-person, doing the dirty on some, manipulating others and is very up-beat.
What will happen when she faces the reality that, she has no home, no job, no income, and has to decide what to do next. So far she is being strong, but I am waiting for the total meltdown/breakdown, when the sentences of Philip + Gavin are revealed and she realises her true situation... Alice's problems will become less significant, as she + Chris bond together with Martha, in their own home, with family all around.
No job? I thought Kirsty was still employed at Grey Gables and although the business has gone downhill recently, I haven’t heard of any sackings, redundancies or resignations. (Apologies if I’ve missed any!)
It’s always.puzzled me why Kirsty hasn’t saved enough to find her own place, and doesn’t seem to have had any ambition to do so. Or, come to think of it, why she hasn’t acquired any specific work skills/qualifications. (Again, apologies if I’ve missed any!)
Kirsty gave up both her jobs at GG/Wildlife Trust "before" moving to Wales. When talking to Helen she was reluctant to reclaim either and said she had enough money for the time being, that's how I remember it.
Thanks, Basia. Why isn’t she trying to get another job instead of wafting round Ambridge on Lynda’s behalf? Perhaps Helen could find work for her, is she can’t hack her previous jobs, since businesses aren’t adversely affected by lockdown in Borsetshire? (Rhetorical question.).
No, I’m not sure about Alice & Chris either. I think there are big problems to come there and eventually both families will become involved when the truth about Alice’s drinking is leaks out ( as it surely will, sometime) I shouldn’t be surprised if Alice develops full post-natal depression, she already seems reluctant to have much to do with her baby, as others have said.
Miriam do you really see that sugarcoated future for Alice and Chris? IMO the SWs are in a very awkward position: the most likely outcomes are not pleasant ones and having taken up this issue, the Beeb are trying to deal with it without giving the listeners too much angst during the current pandemic.
Alice - as I said at the time, I'm not sure she resisted the temptation when left with the remains of the champagne which she poured down the sink in Christopher's hearing only. With hindsight, it'd have been much better if Kate and Adam had stayed to drain the bottles themselves.
It was concerning that Alice flew into such a panic when surrounded by others drinking alcohol. She is very unstable and I do wonder how events will play out when she comes home with Martha and Chris has to go back to work. The future certainly doesn't look rosy for them unfortunately.
I found the drama too simplistic, especially in the current climate. Afterwards, I listened to Round Britain Quiz which is far too cryptic for me, but Q5 was interesting.
Maryellen, I may have an answer why Kirsty is unattached, unemployed, without a stable home. They've used her character for so many unpleasant storylines, so this way they can always easily remove her and bring back when needed.
I just love that, want is meant to be, a simple 15min, or should that be now 12min, for 4 days a week radio drama, can give so many differing thoughts + ideas.
What an imaginative present! Ben was nonplussed at first but I got the impression that after chatting with Leonard his enthusiasm was genuine. (Or perhaps he just liked the look of the nurse!)
Hooray! Lovely Leonard is back with a thoughtful gift for Ben and even spoke about having his Covid vaccinations and made a little speech about how dedicated our nurses are. Felt as though TA is catching up a bit with present circumstances.
But how annoying was Josh? Taking the Micky out of his brother and that awful high-pitched mocking laugh. He sounded like a rather stupid teenage girl! I found him extremely irritating.
At the moment, although he is callow and has a lot of growing up to do, I much prefer the younger brother to the older one. Which is quite a change for me!
Here's the question from Round Britain Quiz: Why might you find a sightless one, who isn't, a North American one, who isn't, an a titled one, who isn't, celebrating an anniversary in the Midlands countryside?
Basia - it was my intention to alert you to the return of round Britain Quiz, but then didn't get round to it. I thought you a likely contender to be a devotee. I always listen, though this week didn't hear the end of the programme. So thanks for including it here. Sightless and titled ✔️ But North American ?
The landlady who in real life is Canadian. MrsP, as I said above it's too clever for me but it coincides with my tea (4pm here), so I started listening this time' round'. I prefer Brain of Britain where I'm of slightly more use but don't like the pompous presenter.
Thanks Basia, I did think of her whilst racking my brains, but didn't know that she was Canadian. The other two didn't really need any thought. Been listening to both the programmes from however far back. Big business in our home when a child. My father was phenomenal with GN. A walking encyclopaedia.
I also loved how Ben suddenly realised what Leonard was talking about and finally understood. A "time capsule" from Ben would be very revealing. This would be Covid in Ambridge 2020, with how it affected his teenage years, his college life, or rather lack off, and how it has affected the seniors and family life, in Brookfield. What a well thought out idea, by Leanard for Ben.
Basia,I like Brain;of Britain but like you do not like the presenter. Much better when it was Robert Robinson. I also enjoy Round Britain Quiz and sometimes get some answers correct. Didn't realise it was back .
I always listened on a Monday at 3pm but the last quiz I heard was Counterpoint.
How lovely, thst Alice seems to have finally bonded with Martha. I still have hope, of a settled and happy, new Carter Family. I do wish though that, Alice will bond more with both her own mother, and her mother-in-law, in that they both now understand, what she has gone through, with the alcohol problem (being found by Gavin drunk in the road) + the resulting de-tox. That was traumatic and upsetting at that time.Now she has had a premature birth, in the back of Jim's car in a car-park without Chris, with only Jazzer as the midwife. Alice needs a confidante, perhaps Emma will help.
Lynda now has the run of Brookfield because Leonard wants to play. There was Mia with vegan, Leonard with covid, they can both go into the capsule and come out when the play is over. The lambs can go straight for slaughter to Vince's, bypassing Home Farm, because Ruth thinks they're a waste of space. What a lot of twaddle.
I missed the Leonard episode (completely forgot it was on!) Do I gather that Lynda gave Clarrie’s part to him so she could use Brookfield premises, and invented the pretext of Clarrie’s betrayal of confidence?
So glad litltle Martha has started feeding properly : )
I was in agonies with one of mine. The previous baby had been a biter and I assumed this one was the same. Fortunately, the midwife came round after about a week, took one look at me feeding, took the baby straight off, then got her latched on properly. At that stage the skies cleared and blue birds started singing : ) And the baby started to put on weight. I hope Alice's experience remains similar.
I do wonder how many new mums gave up breast feeding this year because they missed out on the encouragement of more experienced mothers to get them through the tricky first few weeks getting feeding established. (Although I suppose there will be others who have been able to keep feeding for longer because they were able to work from home once their maternity leave ended.)
I found last nights episode very painful. I was close to tears, feeling all over again the emotional pain of failing to feed my babies. Desperate to do so, no help or encouragement, the attitude in the mid sixties being, ' if that's what you want, then you get on with it. No help from us '
I was relieved that Martha latched on.
But it hasn't changed my predictions for the Carter couple.
This is a going to be, an ongoing situation, with very differing thoughts. Whether Alice/Chris/Martha will become a loving family - or then perhaps not - only time will tell...
The only positive so far is Alice bonding with her baby, but she's not yet on a straight and narrow, so I'll suspend my judgement. She wasn't pleased to see her own mother, who in turn had to bring Ruairi into it, again, the storyline which has left me reeling. He wasn't a baby when she started caring for him, why couldn't Jennifer talk about her own children, she's had four. I'm not here to speak for Maryellen, but she said she forgot to listen.
Yes Basia, I noticed that too. When Jennifer spoke of Ruairi as though he was a baby when he came into her life, but he wasn't. Certainly he was young, probably dazed and confused, but he wasn't the baby that she insinuated he was last night. As you said Basia, Jennifer ? It's all about HER !
Miriam, I am never less than positive about T❤️O❤️B❤️Y! Sadly we hear very little of him nowadays. But in any case, we can all express our opinions freely here whether they are often negative in my case (I can’t speak for Basia) or nearly always positive in yours. That’s good, isn’t it?
Not to worry, Miriam. Sorry if you were feeling down and added to it. I do like the idea of a time capsule, and hope we will hear more of it, and I’m interested in Emma and the Parish Council and hope that develops to give us fresh insights into village affairs., but I must admit the ‘big’ issues of modern slavery, homelessness and alcoholism, aren’t engaging me as much as they deserve to.
Well she might have Basia, since it's the first we've heard of it - ( and if we don't hear it.... it hasn't happened). And Clarrie has been known to have a deadpan mischievous streak.
I think she probably has made it up on the spur of the moment. Very funny, I thought.
Well she might have Basia, since it's the first we've heard of it - ( and if we don't hear it.... it hasn't happened). And Clarrie has been known to have a deadpan mischievous streak.
I think she probably has made it up on the spur of the moment. Very funny, I thought.
'Though I bet Darrington haven't thought of using a horse in their production. Susan had better to be careful not to mention the idea to Lynda!
I was in a Mystery play once, it was great fun. We didn't travel around but the stage was in front of a lake so part way through the performance the geese would fly over. The woman who played Mary was a bit of a diva and referred to by others in the cast as the BVM. We children had to give 'Jesus' a bunch of flowers. Once in rehearsals we gave him thistles. He warned us that if we tried the same trick on the night, he would laugh. Never work with children or animals - Lynda, do you really want those sheep? Or that horse?!
I know nothing about ‘Mystery’ plays, not coming from that background, never having seen one or known anybody connected with them. But I simply don’t understand what all this secrecy is about. Is is usual to cloak everything about the performances in secret, in the hope that villagers will suddenly come across people in various venues, dressed up and acting a scene - with or without a horse? Was it really ne essay to humiliate Clarrie by offering her a part, then snatching it away because she talked about it? This all strikes me a a bit of Lynda’s theatrical nonsense and how she managed to inveigle Kirsty into being her enforcer I don’t know,
Well AP, most of us wished for Lynda’s recovery but unfortunately it seems to have reached 150%. With the addition of her MBE she has become more absurd and pretentious in her imposition of her “standards” on the peasants. What is the point of this SL?
When is the production date for this play? How many people will be inside the Brookfield kitchen at a time? Will this be in line with the Covid restrictions in place at that time? Or will the Ambridge Exemption apply?
Interesting point OWIAS. Especially since Brookfield must be aware of Covid since Leonard has been speaking about his vaccination - I assume Jill has had hers too, so she won’t want dozens of people in ‘her’ kitchen. It almost seems as though the SWs aren’t collaborating over how Covid is acknowledged in the scripts at present.
I think Lynda is competing with Darrington for the title of Oberammergau of the West Midlands and it’s easier if your competitor doesn’t know about the competition (or they might pinch your ideas and your audience ).
Oberammergau, according to legend was spared from the plague. So the villagers promised they would perform a play every 10 years. As Ambridge has avoided the current plague maybe this is Lynda’s giving thanks to a higher being for saving the inhabitants from experiencing the effects of COVID. So ten years should be the future rule for mystery plays.
I just looked it up and in Oberammergau they are called Passion Plays, performed in the years ending in zero, currently postponed till 2022. Also, when in the area many years ago I was told that early in the year men start growing beards which are not required in Ambridge.
Hello Penny and welcome. I like your thinking behind Lynda’s choosing a mystery play to give thanks for Ambridge’s lack of Covid. Maybe a video could be taken and put inside Ben’s time capsule.
All I wish, is that Alice expands her support group from just Chris + her helpline, to others. It is times like this, that family and friends will just be supportive, as to the well being of this new family unit. It would be nice, that those who are close to them, can help now understanding the dilemma and problems. It can still be kept low-key. Help-lines are equally supportive and important, and rightly so as not talking to some-one close. This helped Lizzie with her counsellor, Jamelia (?) as talked openly and honestly. As such she is now going forwards + enjoying a life again, even though it is with Vince 😣
Hello Penny and welcome from me too. It will be very interesting to hear your views on current stories. It’s always good to get different comments and opinions.
Lynda’s Mystery Plays aren’t anything to do with the pandemic. They replaced her original idea of Alan washing the feet of everyone in the Parish as an act of contrition and absolution for their (unwitting) complicity in the Philip Moss affair and general feeling of guilt(Alan’s carefully controlled reaction was one of the funniest five minutes I’ve ever heard on the programme!) The Mystery Plays in York and Chester aren’t due till 2022/23, so no competition there.
That was a joke, Basia! Not a comparison of their origins. I’ve heard no direct comment linking Lynda’s effort to the pandemic, because as we all know, Ambridge is virus-free.
So why did Leonard get his vaccine? Oh, of course, he doesn’t live in Ambridge, yet, does he? Only joking Maryellen, but I think the very beginnings of the virus are starting to show in one or two remarks recently. Can you perform a mystery play with actors standing 2 metres apart and wearing face masks I wonder? 😷
Well yes, Archerphile, there have now been references to safety precautions eg. Jim barking ‘mask!’ at Brian in the shop, but businesses haven’t closed, and no one in Ambridge appears to have caught Covid, been hospitalised or died. So hardly the scourge that the Black Death was, or Covid has been elsewhere.
I am in the "escapism" camp. I prefer to hear about the lives and families in TA as normal. There are mentions of covid rules, and rightly so, as other posters have highlited.
I thought they did get close to some realism in the hospital scene when Alice and Chris actually spoke the truth: Chris is at bursting point and Alice told him she isn’t cured, she wants a drink every day. Alice was convincing as an alcoholic who is coming to terms with her situation. For the first time I saw a glimmer of hope.
...and lets hope it continues. This is Chris, fully understanding Alice's situation + fears, whilst also feeding and caring for Martha, who was 6 weeks prem. My worry is, if Alice returns home, leaving Martha in hospital, will she be too tempted? She might think, Martha has had the most important first feeds, so now it just doesn't matter now.
Mrs P what gave me some hope was the honesty between the two. Alice shattered Chris’s idea that this was an illness which could be cured and it sounded as though he might be starting to understand the reality of living with alcoholism.
I just hope Alice + Chris, turn to A.N.Other local family member for support. This has to be Emma - so there goes her thoughts of being the Parish Council Chairperson. There are many other suitable village candidates for this post, but not as aux-fais, as to be a support to Alice + Martha.
Oh Penny : ( Firstly, welcome. Secondly, congratulations on your little one. I do hope the birth wasn't as traumatic as Martha's. Looking after a tiny baby is hard work at the best of times. It must be extra hard when you're stuck at home with no visitors to come and admire the baby / help with the housework / share the joys and woes of parenting. Are you in any online baby groups so you can at least share with others via the internet? Your health visitor may be able to put you in contact, or try NetMums. Be gentle with yourself. Perhaps keep a diary of times with your baby that made you smile. Remember, your baby thinks you're the best person in the world (especially when he or she wakes up in the middle of the night thinking the world is about to end because the last feed was over an hour ago!) It will get easier, honest.
There again, I might have got to wrong end of the stick and you might be talking about brick-laying. In which case, I'm sorry, I haven't a clue. You could try Neil Carter. (I would say the Misters Moss but they're otherwise occupied at present.)
I feel for anyone who's had a baby in this last year. My youngest daughter gave birth last August having had to attend her ante natal appointments and scans alone. She was taken ill with a vomiting bug 5 weeks before she was due ending up in hospital on a drip for 6 days. They were about to discharge her when she went into labour at 4 weeks early. She went home 2 days afterwards with a tiny baby who wasn't feeding properly and got progressively more jaundiced. Because of Covid the support she got at home was nowhere near what one would normally get, thankfully we were able to go up to Edinburgh to help out until things settled down.
The usual groups and activities weren't available, just some online ones which aren't the same. We've only seen them once since then and it's mainly been mum, dad and baby at home with very little in the way of face to face social interactions with other people for the baby. Mum and dad both work from home and have shared the parental care but it's going to be a shock for the baby when she they are both back at work full time and she starts nursery in May. It's been hard for them and we don't know when we'll be able to see them again, fingers crossed it won't be too long now.
Like Owias, I didn't get the impression that you were a new mother. Perhaps, like some you have problems logging on or other concerns. I'm still curious as to how you found us but there's no pressure to reveal anything.
Penny I spent a long time only able to read but not publish. By luck they opened the old bbc blog for a few days and I was able to make contact and given very welcome advice. I had to download chrome and get in that way.
Yes, so do I Penny. We need some new voices here. I had trouble logging in from my iPad when it was upgraded to iOS 14. All of a sudden I kept getting error messages. Now I have to clear the history from Chrome first, every time I want to post anything. It’s a pain, but at least it works!
Have I remembered correctly, in that Mia said that on moving back to Grange Farm, she would do the cooking? However in the Omnibus this morning, Clarrie called Poppy + Mia in from the garden, for their tea. So - Did Clarrie actually cook vegan or has Mia changed? This amused me, and this is just a bit of tounge- in- cheek. I think my coment is the lack of continuity, which I have spotted on other occaisions, but not mentioned. However - This is so understandable, and totally accept.
I have shoe-dwellers who have great plans to make a regular contribution to cooking the meals on a certain day each week. Usually lasts three weeks at most. I expect Mia found she'd bitten off more than she could chew, offering to cook the meals all week, and Clarrie has quietly taken the load off her. Probably she's doing her best to provide a vegan choice for Mia (and Mia's turning a blind eye when she doesn't quite manage it) and has asked Susan to up the stocks of vegan food in the village shop for the times when inspiration fails her.
The rest of Ambridge felt she had reverted too much to the old Lynda. You'll find her tied up and gagged in the shepherd's hut. (Her right hand has been left free so she can write instructions to Kirstie, but she is only allowed one sheet of paper a day.)
Penny. Keep posting, as and when, you have the urge to do so. All comments are relevant, and very often show, another idea as to TA, which others haven't thought about.
If anyone who is as addicted to the police drama ‘Line of Duty’ as I am, you will have recognised Rex’s old girlfriend Anisha in the first episode last night, I think she has been in an earlier series too. Couldn’t be a more different drama to The Archers!
Archerphile - I never even started to be interested in Line of Duty, though aware of its popularity. Also aware that new series about to start I had a conversation with daughter on Saturday urging me to give it a try. So...... Saturday night I binged on series one. Last night completed series two. I'm on my way .......... !
I am recording it, to binge watch, as + when. I am looking forward to my TA fix tonight. I so miss the Friday episode, which used to have a "cliff-hanger". I miss this anticipation - but I am not complaining.
So it seems Clarrie wasn’t joking after all, which is good because if she had been, I thought it a bit mean of her when Susan was being genuinely noble. I really sympathised with her during her riding lesson, I’d have hated it too.
Me too! I did try riding once as a child, when my best friend was given a horse and offered to let me have a go. Being very fat I had great difficulty getting on the thing and it terrified me. A big, hot sweaty animal that didn’t want me on its back and did its best to throw me off!
Never mind about your inner core Susan you to could end up with a large exterior if you continue on the Gee-Gees. Susan’s tongue nearly ran away with her, shame she wasn’t on the horse at the time. If Shula has a big bum, should she be torturing the poor horses?
Never heard of Shula being 'broad beamed.' Now I'll have to think of Shula as being well bummed instead of the lithesome snippet I though of her in the past years!
Wonder if they ever hear of Lilian being broad beamed, and she drinks as well!
I think Emma will be forced to apply for the chairmanship of the P.C. if only to stop those other disliked candidates from grabbing the reins. Sadly Jim can’t apply, as the Parish Clerk is not allowed to be a candidate. But couldn’t he resign as Clerk, then apply to be Chairman? Then perhaps Emma could take on the role of clerk instead. Mind you, there is a tremendous amount of work attached to that post, more so than even the Chairman’s which she might find difficult to fit in. We have been advertising for new Parish Councillors in our village, but nobody wants the job, all claiming to be too busy!
Listeners were amazed to learn Oliver was on the Parish Council when he announced he was giving it up (because he and Caroline were going to live in Italy). We haven’t heard he’s rejoined it since his return, but maybe now is the moment! In fact, I was surprised Jim and Emma didn’t mention him as a possible candidate for Chair. Sentimentally, I would like it to be someone born and bred in Ambridge, like Emma, rather than an incomer (though Emma’s father was an incomer of course).
At least Oliver would know what he was doing and I’m sure he’d have the best interests of the whole village at heart. Some very new newcomers to the village might want to alter long held traditions and impose urban rules - thinking of when Joy arrived and wanted to stop tractors leaving mud on the roads. So, if not actually born and bred in the village, at least someone who has lived there for a long time might be the best bet.
I really think that Clarrie was having a joke at Susan's expense about the horse. The whole production is shrouded in secrecy, so that Susan won't know what is really happening. She herself is being secretive about the riding lessons. I think Clarrie will end up feeling both smug at the expense of her friend, and also guilty at the expense Susan has been put to.
Well spotted Mistral, the way Clarrie said it I was convinced it was a joke. Still, that means everybody is in on it. Susan wanted to get out of it, Lynda said no, she wanted a pony instead, Shula said no. She mentioned the cost of riding lessons, is she paying herself, wouldn't Shula waive her fee for the common good? And if it is a joke, why is she wasting her time? All too silly for me.
I still think Clarrie said about the horse entrance, as a joke! Little does she knows, that Susan has taken it seriously. I can't wait for the reallity to become known! I will be reducing my volume down 🙉
Susan will develop a taste for riding and insist they find the money for regular lessons. It will be up to Emma to convince her that her status as 'retired' radio presenter does not justify the expense of owning her own horse.
Rex. That was a real "curve ball" tossed in by the S/W's. So what now? I hope it's not just the re-wilding project with Pheobe, compost loos, stand-pipes and so on. It is not what he wants.
Oh dear! Rex heard having another of his hissy fits. I don’t understand why the pigs can’t go back to Neil’s field where they came from. Susan suggested they use the vacant field for ponies for the children but that doesn’t seem to have happened. Maybe the herd has got too big.
Yes, it seems the obvious solution. Especially if Neil is getting the boot from Berrow ( forgotten if he is still there?) and that he could help Rex when Rex is busy doing rewilding work
Yes, Neil is still at Berrow after he was forgiven for his lapse in talking to the Echo reporter, but he is approaching retirement age. I have never got the hang of the Neil/Rex/pigs relationship. They were Neil’s pigs in Neil’s land. Then he hired Rex to manage them on land rented by Rex. Now they have become Rex’s pigs and are about to become homeless. Neil’s role seems to be confined to goodwill advice. At what point did Neil sell the pigs to Rex and where did Rex get the cash?
By my reckoning, Rex’s goose business failed, but he still had his income from taxi driving to help pay Bert his rent and living expenses, plus what Neil paid him to manage the pigs. Doesn’t sound much. Now he presumably has the profits from the pigs plus his rewilding project manager’s salary. Not sure where he is with the taxi job. Neil’s current laissez faire attitude to the pigs’ plight suggests he’s not a shareholder!
I wonder what Toby's plans are, now that he has sold his "Scruff Gin" business. He is silent at the moment, and is he still residing in Ambridge? I would like to hear the two Fairbrother brothers, talking together about their future lives. Rex needs a 💡 moment. I hope it happens soon, as to me, he is not commited to the re-wilding project, and would love to escape it.
Does the Am run through Brookfield Maryellen, I haven't looked at the Ambridge map for a very long time. And is there enough woodland and scrub for the beavers to collect dam building materials ?
On the maps there doesn't seem to be a lot of trees along the banks. The Am flows quite close to the Bungalow, and Brookfield fields seem to run down to the river. Beavers are a nice idea though. OWIAS 😂🤣
I wonder as Maryellen did earlier why the pigs can't go back to Neil's fields. Bill Insley left Neil buildings and 8 acres of land. Rex mentioned having 50 pigs, and homesteader type books seem to think you can keep 25 to 35 free range pigs on one acre. That seems too many to me because ideally you need to rotate the land so it doesn't get too rootled up, but even so 8 acres should be plenty. I haven't heard of Neil having other animals to keep the grass down but perhaps he cuts it for hay to sell. I know at one time he kept some chickens but they wouldn't need much space.
Neil built the house from the land. I seem to remember the delight from Neil and Mike to grant the council's permission to set a house next to the farm animals. So there would make a couple of acres more. However at least 6 acres would do to house Rex's pigs.
It’s so useful to have the maps of Ambridge and Borsetshire, to look up where things happen and how far places are from each other. (I remember them coming I useful when Matt Crawford was run down) But I can’t work out exactly where the re-wilding land is and Oakey Bank is not marked on my maps to give me a clue. Does anyone know, so I can work out where Phoebe’s ill- researched camping site is going to be located?
So Neil’s pigs mysteriously morphed into Rex’s pigs with no hint of a transaction - maybe Neil’s acres have also mysteriously morphed into someone else’s acres with no hint of a transaction. That would explain why Neil hasn’t made the offer. He may still do so of course.
Radio 4 website has a new look and it's a mess. I've worked out that if I want to listen to the Archers I have to press on the picture even though it may say Six o'clock News. Some programmes are not listed at all but they'll sort it out no doubt.
I listen to TA via Sounds, on my 'phone with ear buds in. Any radio programme can be found - if do a search. It works for me. I also subscribe to programmes, I don't want to miss, so can then listen, as and when, I want to. This, which I appreciate, does not suit every-one. At least, I can always find The Archers, so never miss an episode nor omnibus.
The Pigs. 🐖🐷 I am getting so confused, but that's not unusual. Neil was raising weaners, then not. Tom gave up his pig business and also Jazzer, then enter Rex at Hollowtree... What happens next. How important are these weaners, apart from Rex's livelihood. I have lost the plot, so would love an explanation from any-one who understands this pig situation.
Alice wss fearful, and full of doubts, about taking Martha home. This is understandable in her situation. I just wish she will tell all to, Jennifer, Susan, Kate + Lillian. She will need their, united support, as will Chris. Martha, after all, should now be her priority, but can she do this - I hope so - with a lot of help + support.
A question, which I have no idea about - As Chris is self-employed, can he claim Paternity Leave payment? Not sure how this works. But then, will he let his regular clients down, so affecting his own farrier + Forge business? It is Alice who needs to step-up, for her and Martha's sakes, + their livelehoods together.
In a strange way, I think Kate may well be the one, to be the person Alice needs. She is a sister, a mother, and had also seen + experienced life, in many varying ways. After caring for Peggy for a year now, she might just love a different project, without Hilda O. + son!
Miriam, the answer is on the government website which you can find by googling paternity leave and. self employment. The answer is no, unless you pay yourself in a particular way.
PS. It looks as if Chris is not taking time off work, judging by yesterday’s episode. I expect they need his income. I like Basia’s suggestion that Amy could reappear to help with babycare. With Lisa on the detox front and Amy on the baby front, plus Chris of course, Alice would be well supported.
*** FROM PREVIOUS BLOG ***
ReplyDeleteMrsP Ambridge - March 12, 2021 at 2:37 PM
When I wrote a few days ago that Chris might become a single parent, Miriam asked why I would think that.
I didn't feel inclined to write a dissertation on Alice, her state of mind and the further development from that state, followed by possible consequences, and the extremely well acted nastiness spewing from Alice as she went into labour did not allay any fears I had.
So....... thank you MISTRAL .... for putting my thoughts into words.
Not at all off piste.
Alice has never wanted to be a mother, and it is possible that if she does reject the baby, that Kate may step in to do the required practical help.
Chris on the other hand has clearly wanted fatherhood for a very long time and has waited patiently for his time to come. Now it has, and given his present feelings, which are already developing into disgust for Alice's behaviour, he will I am sure become a dedicated father to his little girl.
The single ( caring) parent that I referred to.
Listening again today to Susan recounting to Alice the birth of Christopher with his hare lip, I suddenly remembered it all quite vividly. Like Alice Susan was very reluctant to bond with him.
Miriam - March 12, 2021 at 3:58 PM
I still have faith in Alice..and do not think she has been drinking again....well just yet. The truth about FAS frightened her.
That's all I am responding to.
Miriam - March 12, 2021 at 5:21 PM
I think Alice is frightened, that when the wider family know about her alcoholism, she will be judged and not in a good way.
She is so wrong. I feel, that they all would wish to have known, so to have given her + Chris, the support needed then, and will need even more now.
They will be upset to hear this situation now, but judgemental - surely not? Hopefully just understanding.
But then, this is Ambridge, so who can predict what the reaction will be - I can't even begin to pre-empt this.
MrsP Ambridge - March 12, 2021 at 7:27 PM
I agree Miriam that Alice is frightened.
Frightened of several aspects of what is and what might be happening.
If you are correct and you may well be, Alice is very worried about being judged.
But I don't think it is so much that she will be judged by her family so much as by herself. Actually I think she is already judging herself by being disgusted at her inability to control herself in her need for drink and the consequent behaviour when she is drunk.
Of course it is her father Brian, who is most likely to judge her, but might also make excuses for her, since she is of course' his girl' - his chip off the old block.
Then of course she is also very frightened by the FAS that might materialise at any point in the future.
Of course she might also be frightened of losing Chris, who she believes she needs to keep her on the straight and narrow.
She does need Chris for support, but it's her responsibility to sort herself out.
Unfortunately Alice has never been enabled to develop the skills to do that.
Oh my goodness !
ReplyDeleteWhat an odd picture.
Thank you Gary for doing the changeover.
I thought it was a cute pic Mrs P - and what with Chris being a blacksmith/farrier it was quite apt. (AND it's got a random chicken in it, so farm life is covered too...!)
DeleteI'd just be worried about the baby waking up and falling off!
DeleteI was able to see the relevant aspects of the picture and do congratulate you Gary for finding it.
DeleteNevertheless, I still find it odd !
I think it is a very clever compilation of current goings-on in Ambridge.
ReplyDeleteWell done Garry!
Apologies for double ‘r’!
DeleteI am so glad you started a new blog at exactly the time I was posting one which has disappeared into oblivion. It was a very pessimistic one and I regretted pressing publish so quickly.
ReplyDeleteI aim to please Soz!
DeleteJust brilliant Gary ⭐️
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is.
DeleteAnd a very clever find.
👏
As usual my Sunday Ombibus thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIt was all geared around Alice, along with her and Chris's angst, which has been well discussed.
I am apologising in advance, as to my next comment, which I know could very well upset others
I just felt that the rest of the week, revolved around the church + relgious beliefs, just too much.
This was due to:-
Shula talking to Neil as to her ordination.
Ditto - her talk with Alan.
Chris insiting on Baby Martha's blessing , but his heartfelt talk was needed.
The Mysteries - An angel, bathed in sunshine on Lakey Hill, Clarrie sacked as a king, Shepherds overlooking Brookfield etc.
I have no faith, but I so understand that for some, this is so very important. I admire so many, who do.
My comment is, it was just too much in one week.
There were very few light-hearted moments, to help lift our spirits.
The best was Brian,Jazzer + Jim, eating a fry-up together.
I bet Brian was glad of this escape, and hearty, greasy, breakfast!
I guess they had to make the most of Alan while they’d got him in the studio!
DeleteYes - and agree.
DeleteHe is now back in the cupboard, along with Usha, for a while...
As for Shula, I would love to hear her, concentrating more on The Stables, which I still think, she cannot give up full control of, just yet.
The person I feel for most, at the moment, is Kirsty.
ReplyDeleteShe is helping Linda with The Mysteries, and is her hench-person, doing the dirty on some, manipulating others and is very up-beat.
What will happen when she faces the reality that, she has no home, no job, no income, and has to decide what to do next.
So far she is being strong, but I am waiting for the total meltdown/breakdown, when the sentences of Philip + Gavin are revealed and she realises her true situation...
Alice's problems will become less significant, as she + Chris bond together with Martha, in their own home, with family all around.
No job? I thought Kirsty was still employed at Grey Gables and although the business has gone downhill recently, I haven’t heard of any sackings, redundancies or resignations. (Apologies if I’ve missed any!)
DeleteIt’s always.puzzled me why Kirsty hasn’t saved enough to find her own place, and doesn’t seem to have had any ambition to do so. Or, come to think of it, why she hasn’t acquired any specific work skills/qualifications. (Again, apologies if I’ve missed any!)
PS. What happened to Tracy’s “We’ll save Grey Gables, Oliver - together”? It’s mostly words, with Tracy!
DeleteKirsty gave up both her jobs at GG/Wildlife Trust "before" moving to Wales. When talking to Helen she was reluctant to reclaim either and said she had enough money for the time being, that's how I remember it.
DeleteThanks, Basia. Why isn’t she trying to get another job instead of wafting round Ambridge on Lynda’s behalf? Perhaps Helen could find work for her, is she can’t hack her previous jobs, since businesses aren’t adversely affected by lockdown in Borsetshire? (Rhetorical question.).
DeleteI think you have a very strong point regarding Kirsty Miriam.
ReplyDeleteI feel much the same as you.
Not so sure about Chris and Alice though !
No, I’m not sure about Alice & Chris either. I think there are big problems to come there and eventually both families will become involved when the truth about Alice’s drinking is leaks out ( as it surely will, sometime)
DeleteI shouldn’t be surprised if Alice develops full post-natal depression, she already seems reluctant to have much to do with her baby, as others have said.
Miriam do you really see that sugarcoated future for Alice and Chris? IMO the SWs are in a very awkward position: the most likely outcomes are not pleasant ones and having taken up this issue, the Beeb are trying to deal with it without giving the listeners too much angst during the current pandemic.
ReplyDeleteAlice - as I said at the time, I'm not sure she resisted the temptation when left with the remains of the champagne which she poured down the sink in Christopher's hearing only. With hindsight, it'd have been much better if Kate and Adam had stayed to drain the bottles themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt was concerning that Alice flew into such a panic when surrounded by others drinking alcohol. She is very unstable and I do wonder how events will play out when she comes home with Martha and Chris has to go back to work. The future certainly doesn't look rosy for them unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteAfternoon Drama is based on a true story far from Ambridge, starring Michael Lumsden.
ReplyDeleteI found the drama too simplistic, especially in the current climate.
DeleteAfterwards, I listened to Round Britain Quiz which is far too cryptic for me, but Q5 was interesting.
Brian will expect to come round to wet the baby's head.
ReplyDeleteMaryellen, I may have an answer why Kirsty is unattached, unemployed, without a stable home. They've used her character for so many unpleasant storylines, so this way they can always easily remove her and bring back when needed.
ReplyDeleteI just love that, want is meant to be, a simple 15min, or should that be now 12min, for 4 days a week radio drama, can give so many differing thoughts + ideas.
ReplyDeleteEven though my thoughts are often more diverse 😂
DeleteWhat an imaginative present!
ReplyDeleteBen was nonplussed at first but I got the impression that after chatting with Leonard his enthusiasm was genuine.
(Or perhaps he just liked the look of the nurse!)
Hooray!
ReplyDeleteLovely Leonard is back with a thoughtful gift for Ben and even spoke about having his Covid vaccinations and made a little speech about how dedicated our nurses are.
Felt as though TA is catching up a bit with present circumstances.
But how annoying was Josh? Taking the Micky out of his brother and that awful high-pitched mocking laugh. He sounded like a rather stupid teenage girl! I found him extremely irritating.
At the moment, although he is callow and has a lot of growing up to do, I much prefer the younger brother to the older one. Which is quite a change for me!
DeleteLeonard's remark about the nurses' salaries must have been a reference to the recent 1% rise for the NHS.
DeleteHere's the question from Round Britain Quiz: Why might you find a sightless one, who isn't, a North American one, who isn't, an a titled one, who isn't, celebrating an anniversary in the Midlands countryside?
ReplyDeleteBasia - it was my intention to alert you to the return of round Britain Quiz, but then didn't get round to it. I thought you a likely contender to be a devotee. I always listen, though this week didn't hear the end of the programme.
ReplyDeleteSo thanks for including it here.
Sightless and titled ✔️ But North American ?
The landlady who in real life is Canadian. MrsP, as I said above it's too clever for me but it coincides with my tea (4pm here), so I started listening this time' round'. I prefer Brain of Britain where I'm of slightly more use but don't like the pompous presenter.
DeleteThanks Basia, I did think of her whilst racking my brains, but didn't know that she was Canadian. The other two didn't really need any thought.
DeleteBeen listening to both the programmes from however far back.
Big business in our home when a child. My father was phenomenal with GN. A walking encyclopaedia.
I also loved how Ben suddenly realised what Leonard was talking about and finally understood.
ReplyDeleteA "time capsule" from Ben would be very revealing.
This would be Covid in Ambridge 2020, with how it affected his teenage years, his college life, or rather lack off, and how it has affected the seniors and family life, in Brookfield.
What a well thought out idea, by Leanard for Ben.
I didn't read back, hence the typos. 😂
DeleteBasia,I like Brain;of Britain but like you do not like the presenter.
ReplyDeleteMuch better when it was Robert Robinson.
I also enjoy Round Britain Quiz and sometimes get some answers correct.
Didn't realise it was back .
I always listened on a Monday at 3pm but the last quiz I heard was Counterpoint.
Lanjan, they go in cycles and I was pleased there was an Ambridge related question.
DeleteI study the Radio 4 website every day.
How lovely, thst Alice seems to have finally bonded with Martha. I still have hope, of a settled and happy, new Carter Family.
ReplyDeleteI do wish though that, Alice will bond more with both her own mother, and her mother-in-law, in that they both now understand, what she has gone through, with the alcohol problem (being found by Gavin
drunk in the road) + the resulting de-tox.
That was traumatic and upsetting at that time.Now she has had a premature birth, in the back of Jim's car in a car-park without Chris, with only Jazzer as the midwife.
Alice needs a confidante, perhaps Emma will help.
I think Emma has a Parish Council storyline looming, but Kate is going spare for this one!
DeletePS. But the again, they might want to maximise on Emma’s presence at the studio.
DeleteLynda now has the run of Brookfield because Leonard wants to play. There was Mia with vegan, Leonard with covid, they can both go into the capsule and come out when the play is over. The lambs can go straight for slaughter to Vince's, bypassing Home Farm, because Ruth thinks they're a waste of space. What a lot of twaddle.
ReplyDeleteI missed the Leonard episode (completely forgot it was on!) Do I gather that Lynda gave Clarrie’s part to him so she could use Brookfield premises, and invented the pretext of Clarrie’s betrayal of confidence?
ReplyDeleteNot far off the mark, I wouldn't bother to find out more...
DeleteI enjoyed the vegan cake s/l which showed Eddie's closed mindedness about vegan food which he then found delicious. Well done Mia.
ReplyDeleteSo glad litltle Martha has started feeding properly : )
ReplyDeleteI was in agonies with one of mine. The previous baby had been a biter and I assumed this one was the same. Fortunately, the midwife came round after about a week, took one look at me feeding, took the baby straight off, then got her latched on properly. At that stage the skies cleared and blue birds started singing : ) And the baby started to put on weight. I hope Alice's experience remains similar.
I do wonder how many new mums gave up breast feeding this year because they missed out on the encouragement of more experienced mothers to get them through the tricky first few weeks getting feeding established. (Although I suppose there will be others who have been able to keep feeding for longer because they were able to work from home once their maternity leave ended.)
I found last nights episode very painful. I was close to tears, feeling all over again the emotional pain of failing to feed my babies.
ReplyDeleteDesperate to do so, no help or encouragement, the attitude in the mid sixties being, ' if that's what you want, then you get on with it. No help from us '
I was relieved that Martha latched on.
But it hasn't changed my predictions for the Carter couple.
This is a going to be, an ongoing situation, with very differing thoughts. Whether Alice/Chris/Martha will become a loving family -
Deleteor then perhaps not -
only time will tell...
How I would love Maryellen and Basia, to post something positive about TA, for once, as they both must listen intensely.
ReplyDeleteThe only positive so far is Alice bonding with her baby, but she's not yet on a straight and narrow, so I'll suspend my judgement. She wasn't pleased to see her own mother, who in turn had to bring Ruairi into it, again, the storyline which has left me reeling. He wasn't a baby when she started caring for him, why couldn't Jennifer talk about her own children, she's had four. I'm not here to speak for Maryellen, but she said she forgot to listen.
DeleteYes Basia, I noticed that too.
DeleteWhen Jennifer spoke of Ruairi as though he was a baby when he came into her life, but he wasn't. Certainly he was young, probably dazed and confused, but he wasn't the baby that she insinuated he was last night.
As you said Basia, Jennifer ? It's all about HER !
Miriam, I am never less than positive about T❤️O❤️B❤️Y! Sadly we hear very little of him nowadays. But in any case, we can all express our opinions freely here whether they are often negative in my case (I can’t speak for Basia) or nearly always positive in yours. That’s good, isn’t it?
DeleteIt is 😁😁.
DeleteI must have just been a bit down, when I posted.
Please forgive me
Not to worry, Miriam. Sorry if you were feeling down and added to it. I do like the idea of a time capsule, and hope we will hear more of it, and I’m interested in Emma and the Parish Council and hope that develops to give us fresh insights into village affairs., but I must admit the ‘big’ issues of modern slavery, homelessness and alcoholism, aren’t engaging me as much as they deserve to.
DeleteHas Clarrie made it up about a horse? She must have, hilarious anyway.
ReplyDeleteLynda and Kirsty know they are friends, all this secrecy, really unnecessary.
Well she might have Basia, since it's the first we've heard of it - ( and if we don't hear it....
ReplyDeleteit hasn't happened). And Clarrie has been known to have a deadpan mischievous streak.
I think she probably has made it up on the spur of the moment. Very funny, I thought.
Well she might have Basia, since it's the first we've heard of it - ( and if we don't hear it....
ReplyDeleteit hasn't happened). And Clarrie has been known to have a deadpan mischievous streak.
I think she probably has made it up on the spur of the moment. Very funny, I thought.
'Though I bet Darrington haven't thought of using a horse in their production. Susan had better to be careful not to mention the idea to Lynda!
DeleteI was in a Mystery play once, it was great fun. We didn't travel around but the stage was in front of a lake so part way through the performance the geese would fly over.
The woman who played Mary was a bit of a diva and referred to by others in the cast as the BVM.
We children had to give 'Jesus' a bunch of flowers. Once in rehearsals we gave him thistles. He warned us that if we tried the same trick on the night, he would laugh.
Never work with children or animals - Lynda, do you really want those sheep? Or that horse?!
I know nothing about ‘Mystery’ plays, not coming from that background, never having seen one or known anybody connected with them.
ReplyDeleteBut I simply don’t understand what all this secrecy is about.
Is is usual to cloak everything about the performances in secret, in the hope that villagers will suddenly come across people in various venues, dressed up and acting a scene - with or without a horse?
Was it really ne essay to humiliate Clarrie by offering her a part, then snatching it away because she talked about it?
This all strikes me a a bit of Lynda’s theatrical nonsense and how she managed to inveigle Kirsty into being her enforcer I don’t know,
Should have been ‘necessary’ but iPad wouldn’t let me correct!
DeleteWell AP, most of us wished for Lynda’s recovery but unfortunately it seems to have reached 150%. With the addition of her MBE she has become more absurd and pretentious in her imposition of her “standards” on the peasants.
DeleteWhat is the point of this SL?
Archerphile, perhaps Lynda's taking the concept of a *Mystery* play a little too literaly ; )
DeleteWish I knew Pierre! Perhaps to introduce a bit of levity after the dismal stories of late?
DeleteWhen is the production date for this play? How many people will be inside the Brookfield kitchen at a time? Will this be in line with the Covid restrictions in place at that time? Or will the Ambridge Exemption apply?
ReplyDeleteInteresting point OWIAS. Especially since Brookfield must be aware of Covid since Leonard has been speaking about his vaccination - I assume Jill has had hers too, so she won’t want dozens of people in ‘her’ kitchen.
DeleteIt almost seems as though the SWs aren’t collaborating over how Covid is acknowledged in the scripts at present.
I think Susan was really taken in by the news of a king on horseback. Good for Clarrie!
ReplyDeleteI think Lynda really needs to up her game - it should be a camel, surely?
DeleteI think Lynda is competing with Darrington for the title of Oberammergau of the West Midlands and it’s easier if your competitor doesn’t know about the competition (or they might pinch your ideas and your audience ).
ReplyDeleteI agree with others - good for Clarrie! The whole s/l is a bit daft, as I've said before.
ReplyDeleteOberammergau, according to legend was spared from the plague. So the villagers promised they would perform a play every 10 years.
ReplyDeleteAs Ambridge has avoided the current plague maybe this is Lynda’s giving thanks to a higher being for saving the inhabitants from experiencing the effects of COVID.
So ten years should be the future rule for mystery plays.
Hello Penny, were you on the BBC blog or found us by other means?
DeleteI just looked it up and in Oberammergau they are called Passion Plays, performed in the years ending in zero, currently postponed till 2022. Also, when in the area many years ago I was told that early in the year men start growing beards which are not required in Ambridge.
ReplyDeleteHello Penny and welcome. I like your thinking behind Lynda’s choosing a mystery play to give thanks for Ambridge’s lack of Covid. Maybe a video could be taken and put inside Ben’s time capsule.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a great idea Soz.
DeleteAll I wish, is that Alice expands her support group from just Chris + her helpline, to others.
ReplyDeleteIt is times like this, that family and friends will just be supportive, as to the well being of this new family unit.
It would be nice, that those who are close to them, can help now understanding the dilemma and problems. It can still be kept low-key.
Help-lines are equally supportive and important, and rightly so as not talking to some-one close.
This helped Lizzie with her counsellor, Jamelia (?) as talked openly and honestly. As such she is now going forwards + enjoying a life again, even though it is with Vince 😣
Yes welcome Penny.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to have a new voice join us.
Hello Penny and welcome from me too. It will be very interesting to hear your views on current stories. It’s always good to get different comments and opinions.
ReplyDeleteLynda’s Mystery Plays aren’t anything to do with the pandemic. They replaced her original idea of Alan washing the feet of everyone in the Parish as an act of contrition and absolution for their (unwitting) complicity in the Philip Moss affair and general feeling of guilt(Alan’s carefully controlled reaction was one of the funniest five minutes I’ve ever heard on the programme!) The Mystery Plays in York and Chester aren’t due till 2022/23, so no competition there.
ReplyDeleteMaryellen, you made the link with Oberammergau, so it perhaps it's both.
DeleteThat was a joke, Basia! Not a comparison of their origins. I’ve heard no direct comment linking Lynda’s effort to the pandemic, because as we all know, Ambridge is virus-free.
DeleteSo why did Leonard get his vaccine? Oh, of course, he doesn’t live in Ambridge, yet, does he?
DeleteOnly joking Maryellen, but I think the very beginnings of the virus are starting to show in one or two remarks recently.
Can you perform a mystery play with actors standing 2 metres apart and wearing face masks I wonder? 😷
Well yes, Archerphile, there have now been references to safety precautions eg. Jim barking ‘mask!’ at Brian in the shop, but businesses haven’t closed, and no one in Ambridge appears to have caught Covid, been hospitalised or died. So hardly the scourge that the Black Death was, or Covid has been elsewhere.
DeleteWe gained a new blogger as a result, albeit briefly it seems.
DeleteIt's nice to have a glimse of somewhere where normal life hasn't stopped!
DeleteBack to the old escapism versus realism debatevto which there is no answer!
DeleteI am in the "escapism" camp. I prefer to hear about the lives and families in TA as normal.
DeleteThere are mentions of covid rules, and rightly so, as other posters have highlited.
I thought they did get close to some realism in the hospital scene when Alice and Chris actually spoke the truth: Chris is at bursting point and Alice told him she isn’t cured, she wants a drink every day. Alice was convincing as an alcoholic who is coming to terms with her situation. For the first time I saw a glimmer of hope.
ReplyDelete...and lets hope it continues. This is Chris, fully understanding Alice's situation + fears, whilst also feeding and caring for Martha, who was 6 weeks prem.
DeleteMy worry is, if Alice returns home, leaving Martha in hospital, will she be too tempted?
She might think, Martha has had the most important first feeds, so now it just doesn't matter now.
Not sure that I've caught that glimmer yet Soz, but it was very well acted by the duo.
DeleteAnother OTT idea 😣😭
DeleteMrs P what gave me some hope was the honesty between the two. Alice shattered Chris’s idea that this was an illness which could be cured and it sounded as though he might be starting to understand the reality of living with alcoholism.
DeleteI just hope Alice + Chris, turn to A.N.Other local family member for support.
DeleteThis has to be Emma - so there goes her thoughts of being the Parish Council Chairperson. There are many other suitable village candidates for this post, but not as aux-fais, as to be a support to Alice + Martha.
Thank you. Like Alice I’m having difficulty bonding
ReplyDeleteOh Penny : (
DeleteFirstly, welcome. Secondly, congratulations on your little one.
I do hope the birth wasn't as traumatic as Martha's.
Looking after a tiny baby is hard work at the best of times. It must be extra hard when you're stuck at home with no visitors to come and admire the baby / help with the housework / share the joys and woes of parenting.
Are you in any online baby groups so you can at least share with others via the internet? Your health visitor may be able to put you in contact, or try NetMums.
Be gentle with yourself. Perhaps keep a diary of times with your baby that made you smile. Remember, your baby thinks you're the best person in the world (especially when he or she wakes up in the middle of the night thinking the world is about to end because the last feed was over an hour ago!) It will get easier, honest.
There again, I might have got to wrong end of the stick and you might be talking about brick-laying. In which case, I'm sorry, I haven't a clue. You could try Neil Carter. (I would say the Misters Moss but they're otherwise occupied at present.)
Perhaps Alice would benefit from this wonderful advice.
DeleteI feel for anyone who's had a baby in this last year. My youngest daughter gave birth last August having had to attend her ante natal appointments and scans alone. She was taken ill with a vomiting bug 5 weeks before she was due ending up in hospital on a drip for 6 days. They were about to discharge her when she went into labour at 4 weeks early. She went home 2 days afterwards with a tiny baby who wasn't feeding properly and got progressively more jaundiced. Because of Covid the support she got at home was nowhere near what one would normally get, thankfully we were able to go up to Edinburgh to help out until things settled down.
DeleteThe usual groups and activities weren't available, just some online ones which aren't the same. We've only seen them once since then and it's mainly been mum, dad and baby at home with very little in the way of face to face social interactions with other people for the baby. Mum and dad both work from home and have shared the parental care but it's going to be a shock for the baby when she they are both back at work full time and she starts nursery in May. It's been hard for them and we don't know when we'll be able to see them again, fingers crossed it won't be too long now.
Hello Penny,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry if you are struggling with bonding with a new baby.
I hope the last episode of TA helped.
Do stay with us.
It's possible to get a great deal of support over on the other thread.
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI was using Alice as a metaphor for having difficulty posting on here.
Like Owias, I didn't get the impression that you were a new mother.
DeletePerhaps, like some you have problems logging on or other concerns.
I'm still curious as to how you found us but there's no pressure to reveal anything.
Penny I spent a long time only able to read but not publish. By luck they opened the old bbc blog for a few days and I was able to make contact and given very welcome advice. I had to download chrome and get in that way.
ReplyDeleteApologies to Penny for misinterpreting her post.
ReplyDeleteBonding with us.
Durr !
Welcome nonetheless Penny.
Penny, I hope that having dipped your toes in the water you'll be able to stay longer.
ReplyDeleteYes, so do I Penny. We need some new voices here.
ReplyDeleteI had trouble logging in from my iPad when it was upgraded to iOS 14. All of a sudden I kept getting error messages. Now I have to clear the history from Chrome first, every time I want to post anything. It’s a pain, but at least it works!
Yes, welcome Penny! No pressure, just enjoy browsing and comment if you feel like it!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Penny! I wrote a post to welcome you yesterday but it failed so fingers crossed this time!
ReplyDeleteYay!!
DeleteHave I remembered correctly, in that Mia said that on moving back to Grange Farm, she would do the cooking?
ReplyDeleteHowever in the Omnibus this morning, Clarrie called Poppy + Mia in from the garden, for their tea.
So - Did Clarrie actually cook vegan or has Mia changed?
This amused me, and this is just a bit of tounge- in- cheek.
I think my coment is the lack of continuity, which I have spotted on other occaisions, but not mentioned.
However - This is so understandable, and totally accept.
I have shoe-dwellers who have great plans to make a regular contribution to cooking the meals on a certain day each week. Usually lasts three weeks at most.
DeleteI expect Mia found she'd bitten off more than she could chew, offering to cook the meals all week, and Clarrie has quietly taken the load off her. Probably she's doing her best to provide a vegan choice for Mia (and Mia's turning a blind eye when she doesn't quite manage it) and has asked Susan to up the stocks of vegan food in the village shop for the times when inspiration fails her.
Why has Linda suddenly become a silent charcter, with Kirsty being her voice?
ReplyDeleteThe rest of Ambridge felt she had reverted too much to the old Lynda. You'll find her tied up and gagged in the shepherd's hut.
Delete(Her right hand has been left free so she can write instructions to Kirstie, but she is only allowed one sheet of paper a day.)
Penny.
ReplyDeleteKeep posting, as and when, you have the urge to do so.
All comments are relevant, and very often show, another idea as to TA, which others haven't thought about.
Penny: I read for ages before plucking up courage to post, and for the first few times was then terrified at what I'd done.
ReplyDeleteJust as well you got over that then Sarnia !
DeleteIf anyone who is as addicted to the police drama ‘Line of Duty’ as I am, you will have recognised Rex’s old girlfriend Anisha in the first episode last night, I think she has been in an earlier series too.
ReplyDeleteCouldn’t be a more different drama to The Archers!
For those 'obsessed' there's a podcast on Sounds.
DeleteArcherphile - I never even started to be interested in Line of Duty, though aware of its popularity. Also aware that new series about to start I had a conversation with daughter on Saturday urging me to give it a try.
DeleteSo...... Saturday night I binged on series one. Last night completed series two.
I'm on my way .......... !
I am recording it, to binge watch, as + when.
DeleteI am looking forward to my TA fix tonight.
I so miss the Friday episode, which used to have a "cliff-hanger".
I miss this anticipation - but I am not complaining.
Oh Emma....
ReplyDeleteWill she
Or
Won't she ?
Hopefully - Won't.
DeleteIt has to be The Prof, to be the new Parish Council chair.
ReplyDeleteBut will Linda, Justin, Brian, Tony, Helen or Robert, be equally tempted?
I enjoyed the image in my mind of Susan not enjoying her riding lesson.
ReplyDeleteI think Emma will stand for chair.
I thought that clip was really well acted, I could imagine the scene
DeleteI loved the way Shula interrupted Susan who just going to launch into the reason why Clarrie was sacked. I think my core is on a long break!
DeleteSo it seems Clarrie wasn’t joking after all, which is good because if she had been, I thought it a bit mean of her when Susan was being genuinely noble. I really sympathised with her during her riding lesson, I’d have hated it too.
DeleteMe too! I did try riding once as a child, when my best friend was given a horse and offered to let me have a go. Being very fat I had great difficulty getting on the thing and it terrified me. A big, hot sweaty animal that didn’t want me on its back and did its best to throw me off!
DeletePresumably Susan will master the art of horse riding in her usual competent way, at least to the extent that Lynda’s pageant needs it.
DeleteNever mind about your inner core Susan you to could end up with a large exterior if you continue on the Gee-Gees. Susan’s tongue nearly ran away with her, shame she wasn’t on the horse at the time.
ReplyDeleteIf Shula has a big bum, should she be torturing the poor horses?
Never heard of Shula being 'broad beamed.' Now I'll have to think of Shula as being well bummed instead of the lithesome snippet I though of her in the past years!
DeleteWonder if they ever hear of Lilian being broad beamed, and she drinks as well!
I have always imagined Shula (and Clarrie) to have ample buttocks!
DeleteAnd a belated welcome Penny! Always great to see new names on here...
It’s Susan who’s the lithesome snippet - Emma has inherited her mother’s attractiveness from what we’ve heard.
DeleteI only thought of Lilian as a candidate for that remark.
DeleteI'd always imagined Shula to be slender and agile like a real rider like Princess Anne. I feel sorry for he poor horses if she's not.
DeleteI think Emma will be forced to apply for the chairmanship of the P.C. if only to stop those other disliked candidates from grabbing the reins.
ReplyDeleteSadly Jim can’t apply, as the Parish Clerk is not allowed to be a candidate.
But couldn’t he resign as Clerk, then apply to be Chairman? Then perhaps Emma could take on the role of clerk instead.
Mind you, there is a tremendous amount of work attached to that post, more so than even the Chairman’s which she might find difficult to fit in. We have been advertising for new Parish Councillors in our village, but nobody wants the job, all claiming to be too busy!
Listeners were amazed to learn Oliver was on the Parish Council when he announced he was giving it up (because he and Caroline were going to live in Italy). We haven’t heard he’s rejoined it since his return, but maybe now is the moment! In fact, I was surprised Jim and Emma didn’t mention him as a possible candidate for Chair. Sentimentally, I would like it to be someone born and bred in Ambridge, like Emma, rather than an incomer (though Emma’s father was an incomer of course).
DeleteAt least Oliver would know what he was doing and I’m sure he’d have the best interests of the whole village at heart. Some very new newcomers to the village might want to alter long held traditions and impose urban rules - thinking of when Joy arrived and wanted to stop tractors leaving mud on the roads. So, if not actually born and bred in the village, at least someone who has lived there for a long time might be the best bet.
DeleteI really think that Clarrie was having a joke at Susan's expense about the horse. The whole production is shrouded in secrecy, so that Susan won't know what is really happening. She herself is being secretive about the riding lessons. I think Clarrie will end up feeling both smug at the expense of her friend, and also guilty at the expense Susan has been put to.
ReplyDeleteIf so, It lowers my opinion of Clarrie.
DeleteAgreed Maryellen, Clarrie is nothing if not generous spirited.
DeleteIf it was a joke she will 'fess up to Susan.
Ahhh, BUT, Maryellen and Mrs.P, it will soon be April 1st.......and I think it would be a very good effort from Clarrie.
DeleteWell spotted Mistral, the way Clarrie said it I was convinced it was a joke. Still, that means everybody is in on it. Susan wanted to get out of it, Lynda said no, she wanted a pony instead, Shula said no. She mentioned the cost of riding lessons, is she paying herself, wouldn't Shula waive her fee for the common good? And if it is a joke, why is she wasting her time? All too silly for me.
ReplyDeleteI still think Clarrie said about the horse entrance, as a joke!
ReplyDeleteLittle does she knows, that Susan has taken it seriously.
I can't wait for the reallity to become known!
I will be reducing my volume down 🙉
Susan will develop a taste for riding and insist they find the money for regular lessons. It will be up to Emma to convince her that her status as 'retired' radio presenter does not justify the expense of owning her own horse.
Delete🤣🤣
DeleteRex.
ReplyDeleteThat was a real "curve ball" tossed in by the S/W's.
So what now?
I hope it's not just the re-wilding project with Pheobe, compost loos, stand-pipes and so on.
It is not what he wants.
Who currently lives in Blossom Hill Cottage? I'm sure the garden could expand enough to accommodate a multitude of pigs.
ReplyDeleteAlan seems to be following Chris. When he and Alice married she said she'd like Amy to be her midwife, perhaps they'll bring her in.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought, Basia.
DeleteOh dear! Rex heard having another of his hissy fits. I don’t understand why the pigs can’t go back to Neil’s field where they came from. Susan suggested they use the vacant field for ponies for the children but that doesn’t seem to have happened. Maybe the herd has got too big.
ReplyDeleteRex said fifty, as Phoebe repeated Neil's words: something will turn up, meaning that Rex is staying put in Ambridge.
DeleteRex's character seems to have changed.
DeleteYes, it seems the obvious solution. Especially if Neil is getting the boot from Berrow ( forgotten if he is still there?) and that he could help Rex when Rex is busy doing rewilding work
ReplyDeleteThat was in reply to Maryellen post)
DeleteYes, Neil is still at Berrow after he was forgiven for his lapse in talking to the Echo reporter, but he is approaching retirement age. I have never got the hang of the Neil/Rex/pigs relationship. They were Neil’s pigs in Neil’s land. Then he hired Rex to manage them on land rented by Rex. Now they have become Rex’s pigs and are about to become homeless. Neil’s role seems to be confined to goodwill advice. At what point did Neil sell the pigs to Rex and where did Rex get the cash?
DeleteFrom his piggy bank ; )
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteBy my reckoning, Rex’s goose business failed, but he still had his income from taxi driving to help pay Bert his rent and living expenses, plus what Neil paid him to manage the pigs. Doesn’t sound much. Now he presumably has the profits from the pigs plus his rewilding project manager’s salary. Not sure where he is with the taxi job. Neil’s current laissez faire attitude to the pigs’ plight suggests he’s not a shareholder!
DeleteNeil uses a toothpick to go through the accounts...
DeleteI like your piggy bank comment, OWIAS!
DeleteI wonder what Toby's plans are, now that he has sold his "Scruff Gin" business.
ReplyDeleteHe is silent at the moment, and is he still residing in Ambridge?
I would like to hear the two Fairbrother brothers, talking together about their future lives.
Rex needs a 💡 moment.
I hope it happens soon, as to me, he is not commited to the re-wilding project, and would love to escape it.
Maryellen, over to you, as per your posts of T❤b❤y.
ReplyDeleteWhat will he do next?
Introduce beavers to Brookfield (for starters)!
DeleteDoes the Am run through Brookfield Maryellen, I haven't looked at the Ambridge map for a very long time.
DeleteAnd is there enough woodland and scrub for the beavers to collect dam building materials ?
Ambridge already has Brownies, so they might also have Beavers : )
DeleteOn the maps there doesn't seem to be a lot of trees along the banks. The Am flows quite close to the Bungalow, and Brookfield fields seem to run down to the river. Beavers are a nice idea though.
DeleteOWIAS 😂🤣
True it might need a bit of preliminary landscape engineering.
DeleteI wonder as Maryellen did earlier why the pigs can't go back to Neil's fields. Bill Insley left Neil buildings and 8 acres of land. Rex mentioned having 50 pigs, and homesteader type books seem to think you can keep 25 to 35 free range pigs on one acre. That seems too many to me because ideally you need to rotate the land so it doesn't get too rootled up, but even so 8 acres should be plenty. I haven't heard of Neil having other animals to keep the grass down but perhaps he cuts it for hay to sell. I know at one time he kept some chickens but they wouldn't need much space.
ReplyDeleteNeil built the house from the land. I seem to remember the delight from Neil and Mike to grant the council's permission to set a house next to the farm animals. So there would make a couple of acres more. However at least 6 acres would do to house Rex's pigs.
DeleteIt’s so useful to have the maps of Ambridge and Borsetshire, to look up where things happen and how far places are from each other. (I remember them coming I useful when Matt Crawford was run down)
DeleteBut I can’t work out exactly where the re-wilding land is and Oakey Bank is not marked on my maps to give me a clue. Does anyone know, so I can work out where Phoebe’s ill- researched camping site is going to be located?
So Neil’s pigs mysteriously morphed into Rex’s pigs with no hint of a transaction - maybe Neil’s acres have also mysteriously morphed into someone else’s acres with no hint of a transaction. That would explain why Neil hasn’t made the offer. He may still do so of course.
DeleteRadio 4 website has a new look and it's a mess. I've worked out that if I want to listen to the Archers I have to press on the picture even though it may say Six o'clock News. Some programmes are not listed at all but they'll sort it out no doubt.
ReplyDeleteI listen to TA via Sounds, on my 'phone with ear buds in.
DeleteAny radio programme can be found - if do a search. It works for me.
I also subscribe to programmes, I don't want to miss, so can then listen, as and when, I want to.
This, which I appreciate, does not suit every-one.
At least, I can always find The Archers, so never miss an episode nor omnibus.
The Pigs. 🐖🐷
ReplyDeleteI am getting so confused, but that's not unusual.
Neil was raising weaners, then not. Tom gave up his pig business and also Jazzer, then enter Rex at Hollowtree...
What happens next. How important are these weaners, apart from Rex's livelihood.
I have lost the plot, so would love an explanation from any-one who understands this pig situation.
Is being organic, or not, still an issue?
DeleteAs said, I have lost the thread of who is doing what, with the pigs.
Alice wss fearful, and full of doubts, about taking Martha home. This is understandable in her situation.
ReplyDeleteI just wish she will tell all to, Jennifer, Susan, Kate + Lillian.
She will need their, united support, as will Chris.
Martha, after all, should now be her priority, but can she do this - I hope so - with a lot of help + support.
This was posted before tonights episode. I stand by these previous thoughts.
DeleteShe needs help.
A question, which I have no idea about -
ReplyDeleteAs Chris is self-employed, can he claim Paternity Leave payment? Not sure how this works.
But then, will he let his regular clients down, so affecting his own farrier + Forge business?
It is Alice who needs to step-up, for her and Martha's sakes, + their livelehoods together.
In a strange way, I think Kate may well be the one, to be the person Alice needs.
DeleteShe is a sister, a mother, and had also seen + experienced life, in many varying ways. After caring for Peggy for a year now, she might just love a different project, without Hilda O. + son!
PS Peggy might have let some things slip, so that Kate perhaps knows more, than she actually realises.
DeleteThinking too much again 😆😁
Miriam, the answer is on the government website which you can find by googling paternity leave and. self employment. The answer is no, unless you pay yourself in a particular way.
DeletePS. It looks as if Chris is not taking time off work, judging by yesterday’s episode. I expect they need his income. I like Basia’s suggestion that Amy could reappear to help with babycare. With Lisa on the detox front and Amy on the baby front, plus Chris of course, Alice would be well supported.
Delete