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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.
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ReplyDeleteArcherphile - August 13, 2021 at 10:40 PM
On a couple of other Archers websites there is huge speculation about who the celebrity is coming to judge the scarecrow competition.
There are endless suggestion and even a poll going on.
Everyone from Robert Rinder to Clare Balding via various Royals and even Jeremy Clarkson!
Personally I don’t really care who it is as long as Sunday night’s episode is well written and acted and is entertaining.
Portia - August 14, 2021 at 6:09 PM
I’ve been wondering if it was Alice herself who made the additions to the Bull’s scarecrow as someone commented that it was was wearing a dress they recognised as one of hers.
Miriam - August 14, 2021 at 6:51 PM
I thought the same.
It is quite typical Alice, to leave something relating to herself, before leaving for unknown pastures.
Lanjan - August 15, 2021 at 11:15 AM
I did not hear last week's episodes and have just listened to the omnibus and now wonder why I listen at all.
I thought that the only person who acted at all well was Brian.
I hate the way Jennifer talks .
I was unconvinced by the actor playing Ruarie .
The Alice situation is too long drawn out and I care not a hoot about the scarecrows and the village fête.
Bah humbug.
In light of the sad news about the wonderful Una Stubbs and all the talk of scarecrows, I couldn't NOT post a pic of the wedding of Aunt Sally to Wurzel Gummidge....
ReplyDeleteThe perfect photo Gary and a lovely tribute to Una Stubbs
ReplyDeleteAnd so nostalgic!
It is indeed the perfect picture to illustrate the last week.
DeleteWell done G G.
Agree, it's the perfect picture Gary.
Delete✔️
DeleteRIP dear Una 🙏🏼
GG So brilliant and as topical as ever.
ReplyDeleteI so admire the thoughts you put into, and then finding, the appropriate heading picture. Thank-you.
👏👏👏
TA again tonight. I have missed the Sunday night episode, far more than I would have originally thought.
ReplyDeleteI just hope it lives up to my long awaited expectations, and to know, who will be finally revealed as the celebrity "Scarecrow" judge.
My omnibus thoughts are simple, yet again today.
ReplyDeleteLilian said to Jennifer, she needs to talk to their Mum Peggy. Jennifer however, does not want any contact with Peggy just yet, due to hiding her knowledge about Alice.
Peggy opened up to Lilian, a while ago, about her awful experience with their father Jack. Jennifer also needs to hear about this...in my opinion.
Forgot to say:-
DeleteRuiari + Jennifer was so reminiscent of Brief Encounter. It was quite moving.
I agree with you Miriam, your comparison with Brief Encounter is very apt
DeletePassable I suppose but no more than that.
ReplyDeleteBut it has marked another step forward to some form of regular listening.
All I want to know is - Who won the Scarecrow competition?
ReplyDeleteMy bet is the Button family.
DeleteI thought it was Rex and Phobe with a camping scene!
DeletePhoebe and Rex with the "camping family".
DeleteThanks. I missed that.
DeleteSnap!
DeleteThanks both, that sounds plausible - and who was the celebrity? Was that plausible too?
DeleteMaryellen, it was Jackie Weaver, who was bullied by some local councillors on a zoom council meeting a few months ago. She was very calm, dealt with them, and appeared on Woman's Hour. I liked this episode very much, made me laugh which is a rare event.
ReplyDeleteIt was very plausible, " you have no authority here" became a minor catch phrase in my family :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mistral. Jackie sounds a refreshing change from the usual tv or sports name. I suppose appearing on Woman’s Hour makes her a minor radio celebrity, which seems appropriate for a radio programme like TA.
DeleteNever heard of the celebrity woman. She sounded as wooden as anything. If that’s what is put out as entertainment for a Sunday episode I’d rather they didn’t bother.
ReplyDeleteDon't think Jackie Weaver came across as wooden at all.
DeleteAnd she very soon realised that Tracey was keeping her at bay.
She clearly demonstrated her ability to be calm and put people in their place as she had on her zoom performance that swept the country earlier in the year.
( or was it last year)
It was a mildly entertaining episode, but as I said at 7.32 no more than passable.
Good to hear Usha's voice.
I hadn't a clue who Jackie Weaver was and I suppose if she isn't an actress she would sound a bit wooden.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that P tbY
I actually thought that it was a different Usha.
Surely she hasn't been brought back just for one episode so that they could get the Councillor woman on the programme.
Is it only P tb Y and me who had not heard of her?
I thought it was a different Usha too. Didn’t know who it was at first.
DeleteAfter all the speculation I was disappointed the ‘celebrity’ was Jackie Weaver. She is not a celebrity in my opinion, just someone who became famous through a leaked parish council video.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the episode was a more ‘typical’ of of Sunday episode from the past with no conflict or or shouting or bad temper, so I suppose it was OK
I thought that Jackie Weaver did a good job, specially as she's not a trained voice actor. I enjoyed this episode as it was a bit of light relief from the sad Alice saga.
ReplyDeleteWell done Jackie Weaver she sounded totally natural and a lot better than some actors I have both seen and heard.
ReplyDeleteCompletely forgot about tonight’s episode until now it will take some getting used to. Mon - Fri would have flowed straight away and quire honestly I would be happy with a run of weekday episodes and leave it at the 5 permanently.
Souad Faress plays the part of Usha and according to Google has done for sometime. I read she is 73yrs ( young like myself 😂) that surprised me. Like Judy Bennet she has a very young voice .
ReplyDeleteMine is still bright and breezy too I am glad to say as I’m sure all the older ones amongst us are! My two sisters one 77yrs & the other 80yrs on Tuesday both are as busy as ever and sound no more than in their 50’s. A happier sign of the times….
Of course many of TA cast are in their 60+ years and especially 70’s, 80’s and of course 102yr old June Spencer.
I didn't listen. The repeat of the phoney story of Jennifer waxing lyrical about Siobhan with Ruairi was the last straw for me, time to let go, have fun, so long...Bx
ReplyDeleteI do hope you will think again Basia, or reconsider.
DeleteI for one will miss you, and you have fantastic recall of who/ what was said / when.
Don't desert us, please.
Lovely picture Gary, thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Jackie Weaver episode on Sunday night. This is what I listen to The Archers for.
Crossover between realities.
On Sunday The Archers was the real world, for sure. Thanks Jackie
Basia
ReplyDeleteI know that you are frustrated with the current story and in particular certain episodes and appreciate that you no longer want to listen or comment here
But PLEASE don’t abandon us on the other blog as well. I love reading your ‘Letters from France’ like Parsley’s, and hearing about what is happening over there.
So I do hope you will continue posting on the non- Archers side.
Ditto!
DeleteI was going to post re Basia but AP has said it all for me!
DeleteI loved listening to TA on a Sunday night again. I was undecided, whether the new 5th episode, should have been Friday or Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI am with those who have already posted, as to Sunday is the better option.
This is that it is nearly always, just focused on an Ambridge event. As such, more Ambridge residents are heard together, in a more gentle way. Let's hope that soon a cricket match plus the teas, will be heard again, plus the Sunday church bells.
I wonder how Usha knew Jackie Weaver?
She was not known to me, at the time.
On doing a search, I did recall her. To me, she was not a person well known enough, to be the 'celeb'. I was like Tracy, not a clue.
I thought Jackie Weaver was an excellent choice and she sounded natural.
ReplyDeleteBut I think that last night's fête was a fill - in happening. Nothing happened and it was just about the fête.
Please Basia don't feel you have nothing to add. I feel I know you, just like I do all the others who(m) I met in London, (just like I know Archerphile.) Things will be over Alice soon enough, although I do like the idea of going back to Rehab. Hopefully the may be a happier storyline soon!
Remember - an alcoholic, is always one, for life. They can do brilliantly, then relapse.
DeleteThis Alice S/L will not suddenly disappear in a "puff of smoke", never to be heard about again. This is my personal thought only, which I know is very different.
In acknowledgment, to all who don't like the Alice situation, I will not mention this, again. I have made my own feelings clear on this subject. This is now "off topic", in any future posts. 😣
The biggest problem with Alice will be, if and when she finally dries out, the tempation, seeing other family members + friends, drink alcohol. Alice will have to be determined, strong with a lot of will power.
DeleteThat's me finished on this topic re Alice. I promise.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteRe. the removal, I think the personal experience bit was fine.
DeleteBy the way I was surprised to hear the actor Souad Faress. She was involved in a nasty court case which she lost and I thought she was blacklisted.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Lanjan I didn't think you had left the blog, and for the main part I also say 'Bah Humbug'
That case puzzles me. I don't see how anyone could imagine that happening and wondered if it had been a different man, as she didn't recognise him in the line up.
DeleteI also wonder if acting in a violent series like Game of Thrones could predispose the mind to expect violent assault. Can an actor enter so fully into a part that the line between acting and reality become blurred?
She took the stand in court, hidden by an screen. Athough she has been absent from TA, I wonder if she had some 'medical' problems.
DeleteI remembered many articles on the web but very few are there now.
In fact I'll probably get banned now. Oh dear!
I’ve literally lost the plot! How does the dypsomaniac scarecrow fit into Alice’s exit from Ambridge and why did she not want her parents to know she was going back to the rehab centre? They were hardly likely to stop her!
ReplyDeleteShula to the rescue again - first Freddie when he came out of prison, and now Alice taking the only positive option available.
The scarecrow outside the Bull was dressed up to look like Alice. Lynda saw it and br ought it to Harrison’s attention. Personally I never liked Worzel and even found the books creepy when I was little. Jon Pertwee and Una brought the characters to life brilliantly but it was never for me! I see a glimmer for hope for Alice as her recent bad behaviour due to the demon drink has shocked even her and propelled her back to rehab under her own steam. Her problem is serious though and it will be a long road. She can never touch drink again if she is to recover.
ReplyDeleteIs the implication that Alice saw her scarecrow double and that shocked her into going back to rehab? Did Rory dress up the Bull’s scarecrow the night before he left for Ireland? (I’ve lost track of the timescale.). Will we ever hear how Jolene and Kenton reacted?
DeleteWe don’t know who doctored the scarecrow but the dress looked like one that Alice had worn so she could have done it herself. Unlikely, but who is to blame? No doubt time will tell.
DeleteI haven’t heard any suggestion by the Aldridges that they might alter their drinking habits to help Alice’s road to recovery. Perhaps that’s story to come.
ReplyDeleteThe wine cooler will have to go! That is if they have one now having moved away from the new kitchen
ReplyDeleteAt least Alice has done one thing right and gone back to rehab. I agree that she may have shocked herself with her diatribe against her family which drove her to going back.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a good idea for Brian and Jennifer to alter their drinking habits as this would help Alice.
It does help. My family had several get togethers, with not a drop of alcohol in sight. It is just a sign of support + understanding. Small steps turn into larger ones, slow but sure.
DeleteThe other sad thing, is that Banjo is neccesarily having to be sold, but that decision has already been made.
ReplyDeleteI hope a family member will buy him, keep him with Shula at the Stables, so is still there and can then be be re-united with his previous owner.
It is a bit idealistic, though.
Perhaps Shula?
DeleteI didn't really focus on the Adam, Ian and Xander S/L last night.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky Adam seems to be, to secure a new job, so quickly + seemingly easy. Hopefully it is right for him.
Brian, what will he now do, without his daughter + stepson?
Enter Eddie + Ed, to do what they do best, as long as they get paid.
Perhaps Debbie might return, to take over Home Farm?
...but as a different actress. This has been done quite succesfully in the past eg Tony.
DeleteOh dear ! That was a surprise.
ReplyDeleteAnd not a pleasant one.
Is Steph Casey getting married at Lower Loxley, with the reception in the Brookfield Barn?
ReplyDeleteThere have been so many changes, that I am no longer what is happening where.
No they are not getting married at Lower Loxley. Perhaps the marriage as well as the reception is taking place at Brookfield.
DeleteWhy on earth has Vince done that, and what has happened to cause it so very close to the wedding? Are there now elderly aunts coming, who weren't before because of covid rules, and does he have skeletons in the closet that he wouldn't want disclosed to Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteOr is he playing games, as some suspected when he was first flirting with Lizzie.
DeleteI seem to have totally lost interest in Lizzie, Vince, Lily, Lower Loxley and what is happening with a wedding. Last night all seemed very tame and silly.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it’s after all the drama concerning the Aldridges that made last nights episode seem as if it was from a different drama altogether.
I just can’t be bothered to work out what was happening!
I can’t work up any interest In Chelsea’s scholastic progress, or lack of, and would much rather have been given an explanation of The Bull’s scarecrow makeover. If Alice did it, why and how, given she must have been fully occupied in organising the finance and journey details for her return to rehab, all without her family noticing? This plot is creakier than my wooden staircase!
ReplyDeleteOr my bedroom floor which is excessively creaky!
DeleteI owe Tracey a small apology for criticising her for not offering to help Susan out (true at the time). Yesterday she decentered enough to notice her sister was looking rough, and. offered to take Martha for an afternoon (though she didn’t insist when Susan demurred, and soon went back to her own concerns).
ReplyDeleteI think it might have been Ben making the tipsy scarecrow. He was furious with Alice for upsetting his mate, had access to her clothes from Rory's bedroom, and had a car to transport it at night when no-one would see. He also has form, he helped ,David create an effigy of Justin Elliot if I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a brilliant piece of deduction, Mistral! I’m sure you are right. Will Harrison get there too, I wonder?
DeleteI wanted to yell at Susan last night for not accepting Tracy’s offer of help with Martha,but she is still insisting on having complete control which is wearing herself out.OK Chris needs his sleep,but Martha is his child so he should be more hands on when he must see the effect on his parents.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the scarecrow mystery,Mistral,I think you’ve probably got the answer.
When Chris first took her to Neil and Susan, Susan told him that both sets of grandparnts could manage but Chris said he didn't want that at all and to stay away from the Aldridges!
DeleteI will have to check the programmes again because I seem to be the only one who remembers!
Spicey-
Deleteyou are correct, Chris did say that.
I remember very clearly because I thought it so wrong.
Whether J and B have some responsibility towards Kate's condition or not, they are the baby's grand parents, live close by, and should be given some input into their G daughters care, even if Chris's parents take the greater responsibility.
Susan allowed his decision to go unchallenged.
IMO this would have been an opportunity to highlight the social deprivation of many grandparents, as there are many in society today.
However, it might be a long term plan of the SWs to create problems for the future.
If it is I applaud them.
If not, I'm sorry for the missed opportunity.
I thought Chris said that initially because he felt it would be difficult to avoid Alice interacting with Martha if the Aldridges were in sole charge of her at any time. As Martha’s father, his wishes are paramount with his parents, so neither Neil or Susan have challenged them. We know they have taken Martha to visit her other grandparents and Jennifer has seen her when visiting the Carters, so the Aldridges are not being deprived of contact with their new granddaughter (and haven’t complained that they are!). Maybe Chris will relax when Alice is at the rehab centre
DeleteI just feel that Susan is being far too over protective, with both Chris + Martha.
DeleteDoes she realise that, she is not helping Martha in her development, by keeping her in such a close, and idealistic "bubble".
I am sure Susan is taking Martha for the normal checks, innoculations etc.
This is why I think she is keeping something quiet.
Vince is certainly showing an alternative side. By that I mean, he is being coniving and manipulate, to get just what he wants to acheive, which he has shown before.
ReplyDeleteAs for "The Aunties", what a brilliant "red herring" to exclude Lizzie, as Vince knows that he cannot get his hands on Lower Loxley.
Excellent! Granny J takes Martha to visit Shula, giving grandmother and granddaughter some quality time together and enlarging Martha’s social circle, while Granny S gets a well-deserved break. .
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I wonder if Chelsea is going to be the next Lily.
ReplyDeleteRubbish!🙂
DeleteWell I really do hope that Russ genuinely just wants to be helpful. 👨🎓
DeleteBelatedly I know, but I've just read the synopsis of the fete episode, with Jackie Weaver warning the protesters that they 'have no authority here', and thought it very funny and really quite clever. One particular parish councillor will be having his nose rubbed in his arrogance for evermore.
ReplyDeleteOf course, for listeners who were not aware of the original news item, the joke falls on stony ground.
Absolutely, Sarnia
DeleteI assumed that Vince's former wife had decided to go to the wedding and that it would be too embarrassing for Vince to have his mistress there as well.
ReplyDeleteWere I Elizabeth ,I would have been delighted not to have been going.
She wouldn't have known anybody and would have been a subject of speculation.
Elizabeth would probably have been the only one wearing a proper hat at the wedding anyway.
ReplyDeleteI borrowed my friend's "mother of the bride" tasteful outfit for my step grandson's wedding.
I was the only one wearing a hat .
Some women wore those ridiculous "fascinators ."
Peas on a drum.
I think Elizabeth is well out of that wedding as she would have been the odd one out and subject to speculation etc.
ReplyDeleteLanjan - I actually think some fascinators look pretty, just depends on the design.
Tracey's determination has brought results with Russ promising to look into help for Chelsea.
You are possibly right ,Anneveggie but I have never seen anyone wearing one who wouldn't have looked better in what I call a "proper' hat
DeleteI agree with LJ that they fascinators are usually daft but it also depends on who's wearing them.
DeleteDoesn't Vince have a youngish daughter? I am dredging my memory now, as wasn't this one of the reasons Vince came to Ambridge, getting Lillian to help him find a pony for her?
ReplyDeletePergaps this daughter is part of the ceremony, plus her mother - hence exit Lizzie.
I bet Vince's Mum will ask where she is, as they got on well together. Sorry can't recall Mum's name.
....just wittering, without a constructive thought or idea. 😣😨
Delete...except what his happening to his planned and promised, abbatoir?
DeletePerhaps he is about to regade as to his original talks, with David etc.
As one who often plays for weddings, I've always been amused by the effect of a pew-full of women in fascinators, nodding their heads as they chat, as it looks as if they have a cloud of bluebottles hovering over their heads. Quite fascinating to watch. I wonder if that's why they're called... ...
ReplyDelete😂
DeleteI am confused with Adam.
ReplyDeleteHe has surprisingly had yet another job offer as a farm manager, and not too far away.
Yet he was very gracious to Brian, telling him what his future plans for Home Farm, would have been.
Also he even volunteered, to aid Brian, to look at the CV's for prospective candidates, for the position he is leaving.
His heart, is still obviously with Home Farm, despite his disdimeanor with the K5.
Now Jennifer knows, will Adam be asked to stay??
Also. Brian seems to be so lucky, getting suitable CV's for Adams position, so quickly and easily.
DeleteI wonder if accomodation has been included?
Ambridge is certainly different.
Brian sacked Adam in June! They have had several discussions since then and Adam had two jobs offers.
DeleteI don't think unreasonable to get CVs ib two monhs.
' in two months.'
DeleteI got the impression that Brian had head-hunted one of the two CVs and then advertised the job to get the other one ‘for show’. I daresay the head-hunted candidate will become a ‘who izzit’ cliffhanger for a future Thursday evening!
DeleteAdam is 55 so needs to make any employment change now, before the opportunity passes him by. It’s high time he ‘did a Debbie’ and followed his own career path, while still retaining a partner’s interest in Home Farm.
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DeleteThat's my thoughts squashed down, again.
DeleteLike Basia, I give up, but only for a few days. I need to think, as to how I give my thoughts, in a better and a more suitable way.
It is pointless to give any individual ideas at the moment, as these seem ridiculous to others. This is being made so clear.
I don't mind being corrected in the slightest, but it is the way it is done...
I just need, to sit back and decide what thoughts I post, how and when..
I don’t think any of us do that Miriam the idea of the blog is to post our own views and they will obviously be a mixed bag. I often write mine before reading any other comments in order not to be influenced by others before I have contributed and then sometimes add a comment to previous posts as I catch up with them afterwards - as I am doing right now. So post away 😊
DeleteI think Steph’s wedding is not going to display the Casey clan at it’s best, it could be entertaining, or it might just be cringe making.
ReplyDeleteI was pleased that Adam and Brian seem to be getting on a bit better. I don’t generally recommend secrecy but I hope that Jennifer doesn’t find out about Adam’s creative accounting, it would only upset her.
Well, I was wrong, a very civilised, if slightly garish, gathering. As Miriam suggested some time ago the Sunday episodes do tend to be cosier and less angst.
ReplyDelete........and really boring!
ReplyDelete.........unless it’s the cricket tea!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWell, I can’t believe it. I actually enjoyed all the Archers tonight. Long may it continue.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think it was boring at all.
ReplyDeleteA typical wedding reception I thought.
And like PtbY I enjoyed it.
I thought Elizabeth did a very good job of being the 'new' partner.
She behaved very well and was able to be a useful go between.
I enjoyed it too. I am still trying to visualise the wedding dress of her dreams with"fifty thousand hand sewn crystals". It must have cost Vince an awful lot of money.
ReplyDeleteMelania Trump's dress apparently had 15,000 rhinestones and pearls handsewn on it, and Victoria Swarovski had 500,000 handsewn crystals and that cost a million dollars. The most expensive dress in the world cost 12 million dollars and had real diamonds. I guess if she gets divorced she will still have the dress!
DeleteWhich by my reckoning, and converting dollars to pounds, would mean Steph's dress cost about £73,000, in which case Vince certainly wouldn't have designs on Lower Loxsley, and he must be a very very wealthy man, and if Elizabeth did marry him she would never again have to worry about how to keep up with the repairs on the house.
DeleteI agree wholeheartedly with the previous comments.Hats off to the script writers for such an excellent wedding episode.I would liked to have heard how the two ewes behaved at Brookfield.Probably not enough air time.
ReplyDeleteMust surely be a first for any “soap/drama” tonight a wedding without a hitch 😱 a relaxed episode without angst. Still finding the Elizabeth / Vince relationship a little strange but maybe the next Christine & George of Peggy & Jack relationship 🤔
ReplyDeleteIt worked for me as a satirical look at modern weddings (the prickly straw bale rustic seating was a nice touch, I thought). But I hope that’s the last of we hear of the Casey females - I’m afraid we’re stuck with the ghastly Vince, when there are longer-established and more interesting characters whose voices we don’t hear.
ReplyDeleteThe groom was totally eclipsed by the dress? Was his name even mentioned- or did I miss it? (He May have been a victim of TA’s budget limitations, of course, rather than Steph’s priorities!)
Delete