Life in Ambridge
Logs at the Nut House, seasoned, split & safely stored
Life in Ambridge
Starter kit for Ed & Emma
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Life in Ambridge
Following todays news
Life in Ambridge
Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
maryellenDecember 13, 2022 at 7:49 AM
ReplyDelete“Parish councillor charged with thieving”
Headline readers will be unbelieving!
REPLYDELETE
BasiaDecember 13, 2022 at 10:50 AM
As KP pointed out, those logs won't be available for use straightaway.
Also, I thought, if they'd asked, Kirsty and Rex might have given them some, though isn't wood burning unecological?
A question - is Oliver living with the Grundys at Grange Farm, if so, he might spot them.
REPLYDELETE
ArcherphileDecember 13, 2022 at 2:33 PM
It’s OK if the logs are properly dried - this can take about a year. Kiln dried logs are very expensive this year, for obvious reasons! If they are not dried , or seasoned, they don’t burn well and adversely affect the atmosphere……..so well done Emma and Ed! 🙄
JaniceDecember 13, 2022 at 2:33 PM
ReplyDeleteI am really disappointed with Emma and Ed. Any chance of them ever trying to discipline George in the future has just gone out of the window because he can, and will, use this against them.
I hope Kirsty and Rex tear them to shreds, particularly if they have taken older logs which might just have been a habitat for some rare species.
If they were freezing cold and taking some in desperation for their own use it might be understandable but not when they are selling them.
REPLYDELETE
MistralDecember 13, 2022 at 5:22 PM
Perhaps the script writers are referencing 'Good King Wenseslas'?
REPLYDELETE
SarniaDecember 13, 2022 at 6:14 PM
I wondered that, Mistral:
Yonder peasants, who are they,
Nicking their Lord's firewood?
REPLYDELETE
SarniaDecember 13, 2022 at 6:20 PM
...you know, it had never occurred to me until now that the original peasant might have been 'gath'ring winter fu-woo-
-well' in order to flog it to his equally poverty-stricken neighbours!
maryellenDecember 13, 2022 at 8:33 PM
ReplyDeleteI was shocked by Ruth’s disloyalty to David especially in conversation with someone like Tracy Horrobin who she has never spoken to before.
So we have two people saying things they normally might not have, Ruth out of desperation and Martin out of drunkenness; and then we have Hannah who Jazzer said had been in a corner chatting to Martin's personal assistant all evening. My bet is that Hannah realised that Neil and Jazzer wouldn't be able to pin Martin down on staffing levels and is bending the PA's ear about it. An indirect approach but it might bear fruit.
ReplyDeleteHope Emma and Ed don’t pay you a visit in the night KP!
ReplyDelete🤣🤣🤣
DeleteWhatever’s happened to the Carter family? Has the Grundy gene for dodginess migrated? So far we’ve had Emma stealing firewood and Neil blackmailing his boss - will we also get Susan misappropriating the shop funds and Christopher evading tax? Has Harrison got a crime wave on his doorstep? 🙂
ReplyDeleteHe's recruited a Grundy as his stooge at the very moment when his parents were stealing logs. Christopher's cash jobs had come up during the divorce row.
DeleteBoth Clarrie and Susan must have their doubts about George and the post box and for Susan it'd be the second time of perverting the course of justice.
Will Tracy and Jazzer speak out the words in unison?! They're both going for the same timing, so they must be a good match.
When the widlife cameras reveal the guilty parties, what a tangled web - once again.
DeleteHarrison will have to arrest Emma and Ed otherwise he is in breach of the law. Dont forget how closely together his wife and Emma work togetther and are counted as friends too. Tin hats' time in Ambridge? What a pity that perpetrator Eddy and the vile George will escape notice. Of course poor Clarrie will feel the backlash!
I wouldn't call Neil calling out Martin "blackmail" as such. I think it was making the most of an opportunity given to him. Jazzer, Hannah and Neil just used what Martin himself revealed after drinking too much to their best advantage.
DeleteNeil himself called it blackmail - they threatened to severely embarrass Martin by publicising the evidence Jazzer found on the internet, if Martingdidn't agree on staffing levels (basically more hours for Jazzer). Sounds like blackmail to me....
Delete(Thinks: How come Jazzer spends so much time in the managers' office - I thought he was just a lowly muck shifter?)
I thought it was blackmail too and was really unimpressed by it all. What a depressing place Ambridge is now.
DeleteIt was stupid, but the evidence not incriminating.
DeleteIf Tracy starts to spread the word it'll soon reach Kirsty.
ReplyDeleteChristmas must have come early for you this evening Maryellen. It was nice to hear Toby being so enthusiastic about Rosie's performance.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was. Lovely to hear him being a really proud Dad and supporting Pip and Rosie.
DeleteBut I would like to hear a bit more about how his new job is going, where he is living etc. It seems that he is just going to be a occasional fly-in character, which is a shame.
Maryellen - all the while Toby is an occasional visitor to Ambridge, I imagine that leaves the possibility of him returning to the village on a permanent basis at some point in the future.
DeleteBe grateful for what your getting at the moment and continue to hope for more in the future, I say !
Yes,, indeed! I was delighted to hear Toby in person again. My hopes were raised a couple of weeks ago when first Ruth and then Pip mentioned him taking additional care of Rosie in order to free up Pip during the crisis at Brookfield - rallying round, Ruth called it. Though I doubt it will earn him an invitation to Brookfield at Christmas if David has anything to do with it.....
DeleteI was intrigued by the sound of Rosie’s spider dance - not the Dance of the Seven Veils but the Dance of the Eight Legs!
No comment.
ReplyDeleteWas tonight’s farce instead of the usual Pantomime?
ReplyDeleteTony and Rex weren’t talking in rhyming couplets, otherwise it could have been! I thought last night’s strapline - Rex faces a terrible dilemma - referred to having to prosecute the Grundys for theft (or not) and the effect on her family (Neil being the ex-Chair of the PCC etc).
Delete.
The coat musn't have been as nice as I thought it was supposed to be if Emma was wearing it to heave logs around in the middle of a wood.
ReplyDelete….and other activities!
DeleteOh, the suspense, do we have to wait till Friday for the coat mix up to be revealed.
DeleteThe issue of theft seems to be secondary to presumed adultery.
I've written to Feedback that the idea of "romance" in the Archers is engaging in a sexual activity while stealing logs allocated for wildlife habitat.
Am I right in thinking that Lily was (or is)doing a Degree in English at Manchester University?
ReplyDeleteI have just listened to part of last night's episode where Lily is talking to a young man (don't know who he was) and said that "Lower Loxley was "quite a unique set up""
Surely she ,the actress or better still the script writer should realise that something is either unique or it isn't and therefore what she said was incorrect.
Lanjan, Lily is now at Felpersham University and her current project is redevelopment of estates in rural England, whatever she's studying. She was talking to Adil, who is redeveloping Grey Gables. I agree with your point about the use of English which is now quite common. Just like people saying: you can also use our website as well. Lily was at university in Manchester, while Russ was painting, but they didn't survive on "foraging" and came back.
DeleteI maintain that virtually unique and almost unique are okay if there are only two of whatever’s being discussed - and quite unique is okay if quite is being used to mean very not somewhat. It’s a question of degree. Quite unique Lower Loxley is outstandingly unique, not trivially or boringly so. (Funny word, ‘quite’......)
DeleteIt was Lily’s honed marketing spiel.. Think a new storyline is being set up here!
Not convinced Maryellen!
DeleteWonder if Spicycushion would agree with me?
The two similar coats was leading to an obvious mix-up, and why not Fallon who is married to a police sargent, stealing with Ed as they are having an affair? To me it was a cleverly done light-hearted interlude. Emna was probably wearing her identical jacket, as it might be the only one she has.
ReplyDeleteWhat annoyed me was Emma + Ed (plus Jazzer), who are short of monies, playing the fruit machine in the pub. Now that is a waste of money and ill-gotten gains.
Harrison had nearly arrested Fallon over a parking offence while he was interested and she used to call him officer at the time. Besides, she'd fallen in love with Ed, they gave it a try but he chose Emma. Been there, done that.
DeleteAs for the fruit machine, Emma and Ed have all this extra cash now and Jazzer will soon be working full-time.
Police officer's wife or anybody else stealing/committing adultery - utterly distasteful.
I wish TA wouldn’t resort to sitcom - I’ve no objection to sitcom itself orTA introducing light relief, but the current TA team does it so poorly. Most FB contributors seem to find the mistaken identity scenario amusing and the moral issues arising from the theft unimportant, so I guess theTA team have largely achieved their objective. I feel sad that Ed and Emma, both of whom I like, have had their characters blackened by the scriptwriters for the sake of an easy laugh.
ReplyDeleteI'm obviously not the TA team's target audience as I wasn't laughing.
DeleteI think that some of the episodes heard recently - such as the choirs, George and Harrison's vocal training, Ed + Emma's shenanigans with the logs etc.- are "fill in" ones.
ReplyDeleteLynda is missing with her Christmas Chronicles.
I wonder if this is due to the sudden loss of Robert, so S/L's have had to be re-written as the planned ones, can obviously not now be done.
Christmas without Lynda, just seems strange to me.
You make a good point Miriam 🤔
DeleteWell yes, adapting plots and scripts, sometimes at short notice, because of changing circumstances is par for the course for scriptwriters, especially those working on long-running soaps. So is the pressure to find stories for characters who don't have much story potential but need to be kept in play. But that's no excuse for feeble plotting and scripting which is what we 're getting too much of, imo.
DeleteI have to say I'm not missing Lynda who annoys me more than she amuses me these days! I am missing the village show, though. The choirs story is no substitute, and nit very convincing.
Come on Emma why didn’t you say to Rex the same as you said to Ed “ he’s my husband for goodness sake” and all because of a coat mix up. All very Chinese whispers how the truth gets so easily distorted. It won’t be straight forward of course and will no doubt culminate in a big Eastenders type Christmas disaster…..
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! This ploy of talking over your interloqutor has been used to death. Why does no one in Ambridge know of the question, "what the Dickens are yoy talking about?"I presume hiding the truth in such an unsuble manner ia an attempt to make the situation more interesting. In fact it has succeded in making things more boring.
DeleteEast enders is available for those who want to hear their latest.!
BTW, when/how did Rex become the villages holier than thou moral compas?
My Archers Christmas wish is so very simple - Jill + Ben start to make progress together, and there is a true, traditional Brookfield get together....
ReplyDeleteWill it happen, who knows....
I don't see why anybody should give me the answers to the following questions but when I read your comments I wonder what has happened ........
ReplyDelete(I keep saying that I am not going to listen to The Archers any more but then sometimes when in the kitchen I turn on the radio and hear a snippet )
1)What is all this about two identical coats and what are Ed and Emma's shenanikins please.
Is Fallon playing away from home or /and is Ed?
As for Ben ........
ReplyDeleteI wish the editor wouldn't jump on every bandwagon going.
It worked with coercive control but although I didn't hear too much of it ,I didn't think the Ben/suicide business rang true.
Did David and Ruth blame themselves?
Think of all those months he was never heard.
Was he kept in the attic whilst they were waiting for his voice to break?
Never liked Ben.
He was spoilt but of course that wasn't his fault.
When did we discover that Emma and Fallon had identical coats? I must have been adjusting my stepping stones for that one.
ReplyDeleteThose who missed the coats and Ed and Emma's sex while stealing the logs: NOT worth the bother.
ReplyDeleteRex is unusually dense.
There is an article about mental health in the farming community on the website, but what we hear of it is a student nurse suffering remorse of missed parenthood after unprotected sex.
MIRIAM
I absolutely agree with your wish for Christmas, it is mine too.
People on FB seem to have found the coat/logs/Rex/Fallon/Emma story very amusing and are mostly in favour, some even saying it was hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI must have lost my sense of humour because I didn’t find it amusing at all, just tedious farce and not up to Archer’s normal standard. Clutching at straws to try and inject some humour after all the recent tough storylines.
Does anyone else agree, or am I just turning I to a miserable old woman?
It was a bit unnecessary! It did strike me that it’s a bit cold for that sort of shenanigan!
DeleteI felt as you did Ev, unnecessary and too cold.
DeleteAs you've asked Archerphile, was it instead of the annual pantomime?
DeleteEmma wasn't cold, she wore her coat, reserved as said only for special occasions: like lugging logs?
As we know, nothing remains private in Ambridge.
I'm with you on this Archerfile, found the whole thing very tedious.
DeleteYes it was a bit of a farce,and I’m glad it wasn’t allowed to run on and on.However,in spite of what was,on the whole, an amicable end to the ‘misunderstandings’ about the logs etc between the Fab Four,there could be further ructions down the line,if it comes out that Ed and Emma had been profiting from the stolen logs.
ReplyDeleteI find it strange that there's no mention of Graham Blockey's passing on the website, even if he might be replaced.
ReplyDeleteThere's a tribute to one of the writers though.
Miriam! Your wish and mine has been granted.
ReplyDeleteWill it be turkey at Brookfield?...
Jill still needs to make amends with David + Ruth, esp. as it was Ben who instigated the re-union not Jill. She has to approach them - so my wish is not quite there yet, but looking hopeful 🤞
DeleteA roast rib of beef, is my preferred option, with proper gravy.
Well, Jill, after granting Basia and Miriam's Christmas wish by apologising to Ben, could you now grant mine and apologise to Toby for being so mean to him the past few years. And then complete the hat trick by apologising to Ruth. In time for the Christmas meal would be good!
ReplyDeleteI am really quite worried about Paddy Greene. She sounded so feeble and old tonight, and I didn’t think it was ‘put on’ to sound extra distressed during the scanne with Ben.
ReplyDeleteI really wonder how long she will be able to continue appearing in the programme.
As for the missing pantomime, I am certain Lynda will make full use of the Christmas recollections she has been collecting. Perhaps she will dragoon all the participants into the pub to read out their contributions to the assembled village! Perhaps this will happen between Christmas and New Year.
Well I did not expect that last night! I’m assuming the scene was recorded before Patricia Greene left the cast - maybe there are more to come before she finally departs 🤔 At least peace has been made with Ben just the rest of the Brookfield clan to go. At least the outdoor sex footage has been corrected 🙏🏼
ReplyDeleteNB: Katie Redford, AKA Lily Pargeter is also a writer, responsible for this afternoon's R4 drama Christmas Wings.
ReplyDeleteYes, I listened and liked it, some of the references to Christmas rang true with me, but I disliked the obvious echo of the Archers.
DeleteJolene welcomed Ruth tonight, was she going upstairs as well?
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't believe in apologies much. What's done is done and you either move on or don't.
Apart from Paddy Greene, I find Jennifer's absence very sad. There are constant references to her and we know she'd be there plying them all with food but she's no longer heard.
I’ve enjoyed hearing Brian’s voice this week.
DeleteI miss him and Jennifer very much, but I understand that through all the decades we have heard those voices, they like each of us, have aged.
We listeners listen, they perform, so it’s reasonable I suppose, that we will lose them as characters before the wireless and the programme loses us.
Funny because just before logging on and having similar thoughts I tried to find any reference to Angela Piper in recent times. A completely different AP in her 50’s died in the summer and for a moment my heart skipped a beat. Every question asked just relates back to her having played Jennifer for over 50yrs and as of this year is now the second longest serving cast member.
Delete“Shula” /Judy Bennett announced she was retiring so I do hope that Angela becoming a silent character is not due to serious illness but more to age and the required travelling to record the show ☹️
A little warning for those who don’t like to see photos of Archers actors, like me.
ReplyDeleteHad a shock last night when logging onto Fb, one of the first items that came up was a photo of Adil and Lily on the official Archers FB page.
He is absolutely nothing like my Adil - or, going by the comments, anyone else’s Adil!
So, if you prefer to keep the pictures in your head, avoid FB for a couple of days!
I’ve sometimes wondered if listeners who don’t like seeing TA actors’ publicity photos also try to avoid watching tv and stage productions in which TA actors appear, for the same reason? It seems a shame if that’s the case. I always enjoy reading cast biopics myself.
DeleteI have never been to a theatre where a TA actor is playing. I did see ‘Joleen’ in some recent episodes of Doc Martin on TV and she was quite different and much older than I had imagined.
DeleteBut for me personally, the joy of Radio drama is that you can imagine the scenery and the characters from what is portrayed by description, sound effects and the actors voices across the airwaves. I think this must also be true for blind listeners.
I have my own very strong, images of the residents of Ambridge, which never change (but don't age 😒). As such I personally don't mind seeing photos of the cast, as these to me are not the real characters in The Archers...
DeleteAs to theatre going, again if a well known TV personality is performing, I just see them as the character in that performance and nothing more...I obviously see/hear things differently, which suits me.
May I mention, how sad I was to hear that Chris + Alice are now officially divorced.
ReplyDeleteI had great hopes that this could have been avoided. Chris was supportive of Alice initially, but things went sadly very badly wrong.
Since Alice is now not drinking, they have got on so well together, with them both supporting and caring for Martha, as the parents they both are.
I had hoped that a reconcilliation could have happened.
I see the Ambridge choirs were played by members of the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham , a founder member of the Guild of Little Theatres for amateur dramatic companies with their own purpose built premises. I really enjoyed their singing and would have liked more singing. I suppose the rifts and reconciliations in the choirs storyline were chosen to mirror the rifts and reconciliations at Brookfield......
ReplyDeleteThe singing was beautiful but, being picky, was unbelievably good for 2 amateur choirs who have only been singing for a couple of weeks!
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest of the episode, it’s good that the Archers have had a rapprochement and will be spending Christmas Day together (including Leonard?) but I found that final scene terribly sweet and sugary. And why were they talking in whispers?
I'm singing from the same hymn sheet as you on both counts Archerfile.
DeleteThe same comment about the singing was made on Facebook but the actual singers were in fact amateurs with presumably much the same time to rehearse - so it shows what amateurs can achieve. In any case, if listeners buy into the unrealities of an additional English county called Borsetshire, then they buy into all the other unrealities too, whether big like zero covid and small like this (is my view!)
DeleteI also found the last scene too sentimental and have yet to hear a 'proper' apology from Jill for her behaviour in recent weeks, not to mention her behaviour in past years to Ruth and more recently to Toby and to a lesser degree, Rex.
The choirs were mentioned in the cast list just went back to check and cast has been taken down 😡
DeleteArcherphile, Jolene said that Jill would stay at home so as not to cause trouble with Ruth and "with the windows open might hear the singing". It seems that she might have strayed/was brought by Ben to the village hall (?) and stayed in the wings, hence lowered voices so as not to disturb the performance and we could hear the singing in the background, that's my take.
ReplyDeletebtw - I had no particular image of Adil, apart from being Indian, so what I saw on fb was ok by me
I had been imagining that Adil would be a bit like Rishi Sunak - early 40s, shortish, short well-groomed hair and very smartly suited and booted. The picture I saw, apart from being a good looking young man was nothing like that!
DeleteA warm and peaceful Christmas to everyone on the blog.
ReplyDeleteTo Maryellen and anyone who only reads the Ambridge Blog may I wish you a happy, safe and warm Christmas and best wishes for enjoyment in all you do, see and hear! 🙋♀️
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your Christmas message and good wishes - can I say the same to you in the nicest possible way! You have been my companions through a slow recovery from major surgery and.I have very much appreciated that. Thank you! May 2023 be kind to you all.
DeleteI've just listened to yesterday's episode and I must admit I don't understand why the final scene should be considered sugary or sentimental.
ReplyDelete'Silent Night' would have been chosen as being generally well-known and quiet background music so we could hear the dialogue outside. I doubt that 'O come all ye faithful' or 'God rest ye merry, gentlemen' would have filled the bill.
Of course, it might have been 'Aeay in a Manger'... ..
It wasn’t the music I found too sentimental, that was lovely.
DeleteIt was the scene with Jill, Ben and David and the whispered script
Happy Christmas to everyone on this blog! 🎄🎉❄💫
ReplyDeleteAnd to you, Janice.
ReplyDeleteI would like to add my best wishes to all you bloggers for a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Healthy New Year.Also, a big thank you to KP Nuts for keeping the blog going..
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone has the Christmas they wish for. Stay warm & safe folks.
ReplyDeleteI echo your sentiment KP, and second Portia’s thank you to you for keeping us all together it is so appreciated 👏🏻
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to you all. x
ReplyDeleteLooks like the Ambridge Fairy waved her magic wand over Ambridge again for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteJill totally forgiven by all.
Wedding bells to ring for Tracy and Jazzer before long
……but wait…..has she been to visit Vince yet?
As forecast, a fluffy pink Christmas at Brookfield with Deputy Ambridge Fairy Leonard organising things not too intrusively: no reproaches for Jill or apologies from her,; no more mental health issues for Ben who has recovered as quIckly as his aunt did and turned into a family reconciliation manager; no more worries about Vince/loan/land sale; and no disasters with David's Christmas cooking.
ReplyDeleteBut (big, big but) no Toby! Despite him being related through Rosie, despite him rallying round to help during the Brookfield crisis. David's "water under the bridge" doesn't include the Fairbrothers!
Toby may have had other commitments, I don’t think there is particular enmity from David
ReplyDeleteI agree that Ben is making an unrealistically quick recovery, but that is often the case in fiction.
I imagine this to be for the benefit of the listeners who complain of boredom when producers try to deal with real problems in a more realistic time frame.
ReplyDeleteProbably a “crash” to come in the New Year. The youngsters seem to have more health problems than the over 90’s in Ambridge 🙃
Deletecobblers galore!
ReplyDelete??
ReplyDeleteOh David do shut up! Ben is a bloody grown man who has made a very sensible decision. You’ve been bleating on about how you have made such a mess of things with Ben and should have realised this that and the other now you are back doing exactly the same thing 😡
ReplyDeleteYes David please do shut up.. Don'you know it' very rude to talk over your protagonist in a "conversation" whilst ignoring whatever thy have to say?
DeleteThis is a ploy too often used by the SLs. Another padding device to avoid having to give the audience their full 13 minutes of programme.
I too thought that David was well out of order last night,,barging on without really listening to Ben or Ruth.Ben’s decision regarding his course,taken after discussion with his tutor sounded extremely sensible.The training he has received so far will not be lost and I expect he will do some ‘reading on the subject in his own time over the next nine months.and there will probably be help needed on the farm ,during that time
DeleteHave I missed something? Why was Leonard Berry asking about the Brookfield land sale? I half-thought he was going to put in an offer for the land himself (to do what with?)
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for an offer of financial help too. I wondered if he and Jill had been talking it over and that they may have decided to sell Leonard’s house, move him into Brookfield and give the house sale money to David and Ruth so they needn’t sell the land at all.
DeleteI remember Jill being horrified that there were plans to sell any of the farm’s precious land.
Yes, I thought as you both, if something is said it's not for nothing, so perhaps together with mending the wretched guitar, Leonard will come up with a plan, when Jill comes out of the sitting room.
DeleteDitto response from me when hearing Leonard’s question.
DeleteVery odd, but reason to be revealed I hope.
Listened to three episodes on Iplayer when in bed last night.
The best thing for Ben's mental health would be to have a break from Ruth And David, they are giving him so many mixed messages.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100% - to use a well worn phrase “ They are doing my head in” (poor Ben)
DeleteGeorge has been shown by grown ups how to behave: steal and have fun while at it.
ReplyDeleteNow they'll tell him he must not and Fallon discussed it with Harrison.
If George gets angry he might tell him some more.
And why did Ruth turn on David like that?!
😡 to it all I say Basia. Fallen is getting on my wick right now always behaving as
Deletea member of the PC brigade!
Oops Fallon!
ReplyDeletePossibly a sub-conscious mistake Lady R! 😂😂😂
DeleteLady R - I've seen her called Fall-In on fb, but whatever, she is married to a PC, such is her fate. When Josh had a crush on Emma, including leaving chocolates on her doorstep, it was all resolved amicably.
DeleteWhy is Rex feeling guilty? For seeing more than he wanted, or for being dense?
Also, when Jazzer first spoke to Neil he said the best day for a proposal would be Hogmanay, so I hope he sticks to it which would coincide with Tracy's plan.
There are some very silly nicknames on FB, would-be clever nouns on the characters name (eg. Shoelace for Shula) with no relevance to the character at all. Fall-In is an example of this tedious attempt at wit. The reader soon learns whose posts to avoid.,(Apologies for being guilty of once or twice referring to Jazzer as McDreary - I’ve since repented of that and will never use any form of nickname again!)
DeleteI also dislike the use of nicknames on fB, the posters that use them also tend to make rather snide observations, as you say Maryellen, it is a tedious attempt at wit that does not bear the repetition.
DeleteNouns in my post above should be puns!
DeleteI have always hated those too and even had the temerity to complain about them once -which was not popular. The two that have irritated me most are The Dopeys for the residents of Brookfield and Nocasha for Natasha. There is one FB poster who thinks he is so clever mangling names that it makes some of his posts incomprehensible
DeleteI thought we should hear some of Lynda’s collection of Christmas remembrances. Not up to the usual Panto but at least she gets to contribute something to the village festivities.
ReplyDeletePerhaps they should stop focusing 'everything' on Ben.
ReplyDeleteI think it's all set to happen on new Year's Eve after all, can't wait till Sunday.
I’m giving up the Horrobins for 2023.
ReplyDeleteAny other anew a
ReplyDeleteAny other New year resolutions?
Mine would be to give up George
Send Joy and Mick to Coventry so I don’t have to hear from them or about them any longer
Persuade Vince to move his abattoir business to Malaysia, or wherever he went.
Bring back several long missing characters
Try to stop complaining about lack of farming input
Apply to become to new Agricultural Editor
Archerphile, whatever have you got against the Malaysians?
DeleteLove the way your last line instantly breaks the resolution directly above it.
DeleteBring back Johnny. This is my only true wish, along with keep Joy, but lose Mick.
DeleteBring Toby back to Ambridge to marry Pip and have a sibling for Rosie, to save her from becoming a sponch*
DeleteWill 2023 be the year Henry and Jack start asking about their fathers?.
Agree with you, Miriam, about Joy and Mick.
* spoiled only child
nothing against against the Malaysians OWIAS - feel free to nominate another country for Vince to emigrate to…..Russia perhaps?
DeleteYes, aware that my final idea contradicts my penultimate one Janice, but I would try to reinstate a few animal noises and sounds of farm machinery working in the fields and the odd ploughing match perhaps. Then I wouldn’t have to complain any more!
✔✔✔
DeleteMy resolution would be a lot less misery.
DeleteWe knew it would happen just not how, but it's done, so congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI think it's odd that Elizabeth, Lily and Freddy weren't at Lower Loxley on a night when one would have thought there would be a big event on for New Year.
ReplyDeleteAn event at LL would probably be too costly for many. Also this New Year is the first one for 3 years, with no restrictions of any kind. In my mind, a community get together at The Bull, was what was so needed by all.
DeleteI’ll need a new hat!
ReplyDeleteTo eat I guess?
DeleteAlso, Vince had been to the Philippines and was impressed by the butchers there.
Perhaps Janice's family know better about that.
There is ranching done in the Philippines and they have a spectacular rodeo type event in Masbate in April every year. Very wild west, and very skilled "cowboys", with competing teams. Son and daughter in law sent me a video one year and the way of getting an animal to the ground, which was done easily and without harm to the animal, was exactly the same as my father would have done on the farm here, and probably the same as at Brookfield.
DeleteNot sure about the actual butchering though. Mabel says when back in Masbate she shops for her meat and fish, and fruit and veg from the stalls of the open air markets. Being coastal the fish is very very fresh, straight out the sea ( she turns her nose up at the fish in the supermarkets here and says it isn't fresh). I will ask her later about the meat, as I would think there would have to be a fast turnover because of the extreme heat. It is quite common there for women to try to make an income by cooking a meat stew each day and then selling it from a big cauldron outside their house to people going home from work. Their version of a takeaway.
No, not to eat, a nice hat, definitely not a fascinator, for Tracy and Jazzer’s wedding which I am really pleased about.
DeleteAnd I knew Vince had been to the far east but couldn’t remember if it was Malaysia or The Philippines. Apologies for getting it wrong. But wherever, the further away the better!
Well thank you both, Janice and Archerphile - I got it wrong, but I'm with you, all for the wedding, though they may want it simple, so perhaps hats will not be necessary.
DeleteOf course you wouldn't eat a new hat but an old one.
😂😂😂
DeleteIf Chelsea has anything to do with it the wedding won't be simple.
DeleteBrian is Stella's boss and pays her salary.
ReplyDeleteAs for Susan, she's just jealous that Tracy has something to look forward to, on top of everything she is looking after their father.
Susan isn't jealous of Tracy, she's just naturally put out that Tracy's thoughtlessness means she had to hear the news from a third party. At least Tracy acknowledged Susan' sisterly contribution (along with Jazzer's) during the pregnancy crisis.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, Tracy's 'price' for keeping house for their father was joint tenancy of the property and its renovation by Neil. He didn't want to do it but saw it as the only way to get Tracy and her children out of Ambridge View.
I don’t agree that Tracy was thoughtless about her wedding news.She was taken by surprise herself at the Bull’s New Year party and it was just unfortunate that she didn’t. make it to the shop in time to be the first to give Susan the news.Both sisters have their faults and are inclined to be touchy and will surely make up soon.
ReplyDeleteThere’s no Ambridge bylaw stating communication between the sisters has to be face to face! A more thoughtful Tracy would have anticipated that Susan might bump into someone who was at The Bull the night before on her way to or at the shop, and phoned her well in advance.
DeleteI completely understand why Susan feels hurt - and why she might have doubts about Jazzer as a husband for her sister. I share them.
Not unexpectedly I expect, I agree with Basia about Susan’s reaction.
ReplyDeleteOf course Tracy wanted to tell her about the engagement first, (she actually said so) and it was just unfortunate that someone else got in beforehand. Susan’s whole attitude to Tracy’s lovely news was appalling. Cold, jealous, probably annoyed at having missed the occasion in the pub.
And as for all the warnings - ‘are you sure it’s what you want, have you really thought about it’ they were a total cold blanket on Tracy’s news.
However I don’t doubt she will eventually come round and busy herself organising everything and insisting on doing the cooking. Hopefully Neil will be much more enthusiastic
Had Grey Gables not been sold no doubt Oliver would have “given” Tracy a wonderful wedding day there as he thinks a great deal of her, as things are now how will the day be funded🤔 Not that the best and most meaningful weddings are the most costly ones or the ones that last come to that!
DeleteI think your prejudice is showing, Archerphile! 🙂 But remembering belatedly that I’ve given up the Horrobins/Jazzer for 2023, I’ll say no more.
DeleteTouché. If I am prejudiced against Susan (which I admit), who is prejudiced against Tracy?
DeleteNeil was very enthusiastic when Jazzer first told him of his intention to marry Tracy, as his finances would improve. Susan said that he'd mentioned it to her, so it wasn't a total surprise.
ReplyDeleteWhat did you think of the altercation between Stella and Brian, though?
Brian said it was the kind of thing he used to go to in the past so my guess is that he would have liked to go himself, and might have done so if Stella had told him about it. He is feeling left out.
DeleteVery much an episode with a theme of people not being told things beforehand.
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ReplyDeleteI caught the end of repeat today - Tracy summed it up: somehow you've managed to make it all about you Susan.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Brian told Stella he'd come to the office to discuss the report, when he did, she said it wasn't the right time and when asked to inform him of any plans she said she would not. Then when his phone rang she was annoyed that he didn't pay her attention. How long can this sort of work relationship go on?
Nice to have my opinion verified by Susan herself tonight !
ReplyDeleteNo, no, I don't want Vince back, hand painted fruit bowl will not sway me.
ReplyDeleteHe ranted at Ben, OK, but no excuse for disclosing details about Chelsea and Tracy.
By law, he has the right to withdraw the loan but that petty add-on about the holiday was just so telling about his character, he won't change.
Wow Ben is certainly very fortunate with his NHS mental health care especially in the current climate. A priority because of his hallucinations and suicidal thoughts of course but I just hope that in the real world where similar circumstances are many that the same level of instant care is available 🤔
ReplyDeleteI guess Vince is about to cancel his money back and will give it as a gift to R & D for all the aggro he has caused and David and probably Ruth too will tell him to stick it where the sun don’t shine because of the damage he did to Ben…… Thoughts?
I agree with both of yours Lady R - NHS on speed, but they obviously decided not to play it out in real time, but there may be flare ups in the future.
DeleteAs for Vince, I've already said, he bought his way in and he can't regain trust by throwing money at it, as Beth says. He's taking her to a carvery. Don't mix business with pleasure.
I am annoyed at Elizabeth for still having anything to do with Vince at all, pretty bowl or not.
DeleteHe behaved appallingly over Ben (especially in the pub) and the loan/cancelled holiday money.
I think you are both right, if (and it is a very big ‘if’) this dinner goes ahead, he may offer to cancel his demand for money. But it won’t be because he is truly sorry for his behaviour but because he wants to get back into Elizabeth’s good books.
Nearly used a coarser expression there, but thought better of it! 😉
I'm glad this gathering went well and hope the one tomorrow will not.
ReplyDeleteAlso good to hear Stella and Brian getting on.
Sarnia comments on the other blog that there is not much life outside Ambridge at the moment - so few people posting.
ReplyDeleteLooks to me as if there is not much interest in Ambridge at the moment either, with few comments about what is going on there! Have we found the last few episodes too boring to talk about or just suffering from post-Christmas malaise?
Perhaps
Delete “perhaps”
ReplyDeleteI’ve quite enjoyed the recent episodes, not terribly realistic but I’m happy for a bit of fuzzy escapism.
ReplyDeleteJust listening to the actors who play Rauri & JulieAnn speaking on the Today programme (8.47 if anyone wants to listen on sounds)
I've just listened, Julianne says you can call it prostitution, I do, no muddied line for me.
DeleteI prefer the real mud of Ambridge.
Am I the only listener to whom it has occurred that Brian and Stella might embark on an affair? (No matter that he's twice her age.) Jenny will definitely leave him this time, and go to live with Debbie.
ReplyDeleteNo, Maryellen, you're not. I thought they're beginning to sound a bit cosy.
ReplyDeleteStella has been standing up to him and he is clearly enjoying the challenge.
Well Jennifer will definitely have to be written out I feel. No recent info can be found anywhere regarding Angela Piper only that she is now the second longest serving actor in TA -Paddy Greene now being the first (?) Angela is now in her 80’s so it would not be a surprise if similar to Judy Bennett she decided to retire. However it maybe that she is suffering from an illness that she does not want publicised 🙁 I miss her character even though at times as “Jennifer” she could rub us listeners up the wrong way big time.
ReplyDeleteI miss Jennifer too, although agree with Lady R, she rubs me up the wrong way too from time to time.
ReplyDeleteNow that it’s mentioned ( I had not reached that conclusion on my own yet ) I can see a way of Brian and Stella becoming close, and can hear the enjoyment of the challenge in Brian’s voice. I doubt the age difference would be a problem with either B or S.
KP - thanks for the heads up. I shall listen.
For me it would be the device to write out Jennifer and I wouldn't like it.
ReplyDeleteI don't see it that way. To me it is just Brian admiring Stella's work and ethics, as the Home Farm manager, so he can now step back a bit from the hands-on control ie semi-retirement.
DeleteI agree, I hope they remain professional.
DeleteI must admit I found their discussion of agricultural trends a bit dry - it made me think we should be careful what we wish for when lamenting TA’s lack of farming content. But at least the new Agricultural Advisor was earning her keep!
ReplyDeleteIndeed. And we always used to get a lot of information from the Oxford Conference. I am glad it has not been ignored this year.
DeleteWhat a coincidence, Brian taking out Jennifer for her birthday at the same restaurant.
ReplyDeleteThey are really trying to keep her in.
The rest was predictable and I find these exchanges between Pip and Lottie stage managed and uninteresting.
I was furious with Slizabeth tonight. It seems she has decided to side with Vince and will continue her relationship with him rather than support her Brookfield family. Selfish woman. That is going to cause another major split in the family
ReplyDeleteI should have thought she would have told Vince exactly what Ben had been going through, but apparently not.
Also, I am sorry David and Ruth left the restaurant before telling Vince exactly what his foul temper had done to their son. And we shall never know if he was going to withdraw his demand for repayment of the debt. I don’t suppose that will happen now. A thoroughly unsatisfactory evening.
ReplyDeleteI only listen to the programme intermittently so should probably not be commenting and have possibly missed something vital but I am sick to the back teeth of Ben.
Why should we feel sorry for him ?
What made him suicidal?
I cannot abide Ruth now .
Even her voice annoys me.
David is another one.
I imagine -but am possibly wrong - that Vince had a go at Ben which is why he felt obliged to try to make amends .
I thought David was very rude and I think that Elizabeth did the right thing in supporting Vince.
However of course I don't know the full story.
LanJan - Vince certainly did have a go at Ben. Almost chased him to his house, banging on the door and shouting to be let in. He was in a terrible temper and Ben was terrified. The following morning, Ben was so affected by the confrontation and his own guilt that he considered suicide.
DeleteOn another occasion, when Leonard had taken Ben to The Bull for a calming chat and a drink, Vince came in. When he saw Ben he confronted him in front of other customers, ranted and raved about what Ben had done to his precious Beth and threatened him so that the whole story was publicised to the village.
Others, feel free to amend what I have written or add further details.
I don’t think David was rude at all, when you consider all Vince has done to the Brookfield family and I disagree that Elizabeth has done the right thing by her family.
To add to what Archerpile had said the most frightening for his family was Ben's psychotic episode on the village green when he was confusing Beth with Bess and Joy came to the rescue and the A&E, with Corrie on record. That doesn't mean we must like Ben. He is now under supervision and medication for a year. This was not mentioned to Vince, why? Out of shame or protection for Ben?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I am of the opinion that it was better that way. What was not a good idea was the choice of venue, except for finding out that Brian and Jennifer were there to celebrate her birthday.
Ruth and David didn't have to agree to go but meet Vince informally, together with Ben, best of all at the Bull I think. David fell out with Vince before, why did he agree to do business with him? Ah, money talks and sexual attraction for Elizabeth. I don't see how it can be resolved.
Anyway, what do you think of the continuation of the pantomime between Pip and Lottie - what is the purpose of bringing her in?
Rex’s new love interest or is Lottie married / a single mum or divorced?
DeleteYes, I wondered that, there's no mention of Maddie's father, so if they are both unattached, perhaps that's the idea...
DeleteBut don't forget! Rex liked Pip first but Toby beat him to it. Even Robin could see that Rex was madly in love with Pip. He gave Rex the family heirloom ring and I asked at the time if it'd end up on Pip's finger. Some of us speculated that Pip would have an affair with Toby but marry Rex...
According to Facebook contributors, Lottie is a vampire and Rosie's sleepover puts her in mortal peril !!! (I do hope they are joking !!!)
ReplyDeleteI thought that Pip and Lottie sounded like a pair of over excited sixth form scoolgjirls.
ReplyDelete✔️✔️
DeleteThe yummy mummys meeting in the local coffee shops with their buggies sound like that.
DeleteI saw this on another Archers site which I don't remember. This is that Pip had a friend called Izzy and they were so michievious together.
DeleteCan any-one else recall this, as Lottie is now being shown as Pip's one and only true friend.
Young mothers, make friends at the school gate, meet up for coffee/meal - happens all the time.
ReplyDeleteWe're still friends with a couple we got to know at the pre school when our children were 3 years old, they will be 40 this year.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I keep reading but only comment now and again, I still love this Archers site, as it means such a lot to so many and also myself
ReplyDeleteIt is with being with true friends and the feel of almost being a family.
I now post on another Archers site far more often - but I will keep looking in and posting here - if I may do so.
Miriam, Everyone is welcome to post or just read as they prefer, quite a few of us also join in & follow other forums.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know if anyone here is interested but it looks like the Academic Archers conference is going to be held in Birmingham in April, I don’t know if anyone wants to go, I’m thinking about it at the moment
I wonder if Gary will turn up at that meeting? He was very enthusiastic about the last one and posted on the Academic Archers website and even took part, if you all remember.
DeleteRe your comment earlier re young mothers at the school gates.
DeleteOn Boxing Day I binged watched "Motherland. " a programme I had not previously seen.
Loved it
Andonis Anthony was on Broadcasting House this morning for the press review.
ReplyDeleteHe sounds better as himself than Russ.
He's currently on Splinter Cell on Fridays and Sarah Vine only listens because of his sexy voice.
Like her I've never understood these Friday "dramas", so stopped listening, voice or not.
I heard him too this morning Basia. I wouldn’t have recognised him as being Russ’s alter ego had he not been introduced as such. Interesting that his names is pronounced as ‘Ann-duniss I thought. Wonder where it comes from?
DeleteHe did refer to his hellenic origins when talking about the Elgin marbles.
DeleteCarole Boyd sounds much better as herself than Lynda.
DeleteI looked up the Archer page on characters this morning, needing to check something.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to see Graham Blockley’s full CV and photograph still there with no mention of the fact that he has now sadly passed away. I realise that this character may be re-cast but should have thought the BBC have amended the page.
I've already commented that there's a tribute to the script writer but nothing about Graham Blockley.
DeleteSo another new member of Ambridge is about to be foisted upon us. I guess this means Kate is about to be blown away by Jakobs (spelling) brother 🙄
ReplyDeleteThe rush is certainly on to replace the older members of the cast it’s as though such a thing happening has only just occurred to the production team, unless Jenny was to have a major storyline and rewrites are required. Usually we just past from one generation to the next as the main stay of TA but now it appears to be coming a village of transient nobodies. Such a shame because so many genuine Ambridgers have been dropped Kathy’s son for one - name? Mike, Vicky & their lovely little Downs Syndrome daughter and other younger characters. I doubt any actors will be in it for the long haul now after the next older layer retire from the programme IE Tony, Pat, Ruth, David, Brian etc etc. up to now I have never been able to envisage TA being “dumped” but now I wonder if it will survive to its 75th anniversary, another 3yrs!
Yes, we have just had Lottie (of whom I had never heard before; like Miriam I thought Pips great school friend was Izzy) and now Erik. We haven’t heard much from other newcomers like Adil who were introduced some time ago and Vince’s daughters have become silent.
DeleteIs this the new policy? Bring in a new character for a few months then drop them?
Perhaps actors do not want to be tied down for long contracts these days.
If so, it will not contribute to continuity in the village, and though I realise villages are not inhabited as they used to be years ago, we do need to have a core of multi-generational families to give that continuity.
New thread opened, look for the wedding photo
ReplyDelete