Life in Ambridge
Fireworks ahead, literal & metaphorical
Life in Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
Starter kit for Ed & Emma
Life in Ambridge
Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
Lady ROctober 22, 2023 at 11:41 PM
ReplyDeleteI thought Helen was telling everyone that she is the only one in control of the Rob situation -well he will be preening himself on a job well done when he hears Helen plans to ditch Lee and what about Henry yet another upset and potential loss of a “stepfather” he does actually like!
Why was Lillian asking Alice what to do about the horses experienced horse woman that she is and
aren’t early / continuous fireworks set off most years even it appears in a cost of living crisis.🤞🏼The Stables animal insurance has many zeros in it.
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AmbridgesMrsPOctober 23, 2023 at 10:53 AM
Of course Helen is in control.
In control of contributing yet again to her sons emotional development by giving, then taking away, yet another adult male figure.
And then perpetrating this on her second son this time too.
ReplyDeleteWell done Helen…… you are such a marvellous mother !
DELETE
AmbridgesMrsPOctober 23, 2023 at 11:02 AM
Writing the above has taken me back in my memory to my early days on this forum, when I wrote on the same topic regarding the same female character and the same behaviour.
In the public perceptions it is often council estate strumpets that illustrate the kind of behaviour that we see from Helen. But in this case here we have a well brought up middle class woman from a farming family displaying such behaviour.
I despair !
Do Pat and Tony, I wonder ?
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maryellenOctober 23, 2023 at 1:26 PM
Strumpets occur in all socio-economic groups and so does Helen’s behaviour. Getting fed up with Lee was on the cards from the moment they got together. I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletercherphileOctober 23, 2023 at 8:55 PM
ReplyDeleteSo Mia and Alice are going on an anti-firework party campaign.
Shula managed the stables for years without any apparent problems, perhaps Lilian should give her a ring and ask for advice. Perhaps best not to leave horses out in the field when the fireworks are going on?
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OldWomanInAShoeOctober 23, 2023 at 10:20 PM
Surely stables have procedures in place for such occasions. OK, this particular event was short notice, but Alice must have been aware that bonfire night was coming up. After all, the date's quite memorable. What plans had she made? Does she not have a risk assessment for such scenarios?
Remember, remember, the fifth of November.
Like it the horses do not.
I fear lack of fore-planning
For fireworks' banging
Put Alice in quite a tight spot.
MiriamOctober 24, 2023 at 3:40 PM
ReplyDeleteWhy did I cringe at Adam + Iain holding hands? I just don't know, as after all they are a married couple.
Perhaps it is due to the difference in their relationship, as compared to that of Pip + Stella's?
I just can't see Iain + Adam skipping through fields, hand in hand, with a picnic basket to steal a lunch hour together...
In my mind, too much is being made of the Pip + Stella situation, but perhaps this is just a fill-in scenario, before the big ones start.
Rob, GG, Oliver, Helen, Rob, and the Grundy family in it's entirity.
Can they all squeeze into No#1 The Green...
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MiriamOctober 24, 2023 at 3:40 PM
Meant Robert, not a second Rob!
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Cheshire CheeseOctober 24, 2023 at 6:33 PM
I wish they'd all squeeze into a rocket and disappear off to the moon 🌙
Helen and boys can rent No.1. Eddie and Clarrie can join Will, Poppy and George in renting Kirsty’s 4- bedroom Beechwood house. Little Grange can become Little Ambridge view. Sorted!
Delete
ReplyDeleteSo how is Henry going to react to Helen’s news? Not well I fear.
Yes, I thought it was mean of Helen to say WE are going to tell them.....
DeleteDoes Helen really think that getting rid of Lee is best for HER boys, as she always refers to them?
ReplyDeleteNot only has he been a great substitute father to them, playing boys games, supporting them, generally looking after them etc, but he has providing them with a male perspective on life that they cannot get from their real fathers. I think Helen is being very selfish, putting her own needs in front of the boys and they will miss Lee terribly. I shall be very interested to hear Pat and Tony’s reactions.
When Lee moved in with Helen, I remember listeners saying now she would have 3 boys to look after, and I feel he has been more of a big brother to Henry and Jack than a role model for a father. Maybe he is the same with HIS girls. I get the impression his divorce was his wife's idea and possibly for the much same reasons. We have rarely, if ever heard him in parent mode. (I think losing Henry at the fireworks was meant to be an early indication.)
DeleteOn a more cheerful note, I have known at least one child survive a succession of daddies without harm (stability provided by grandparents), so fingers crossed for H & J!
I agree Archerphile and if Lee and Helen do not get back together I hope the SW leave it at that. Helen appears not to be stable enough to sustain a relationship and I do think the boys will be unsettled by Lee leaving and I saw red when Helen told Lee “We must tell them together” WHAT!! the truth maybe “ boys I don’t want Lee in my life anymore so I’m afraid that means he is going out of yours too and I have to admit it is not what Lee wants - but there you have it” 😡
DeleteI’ve always liked Lee and thought that Helen was lucky to have him in what seemed to be a happy,settled relationship.If they are going to split up,I hope that she will still allow him to have regular contact with the two boys as they clearly love him .
ReplyDeleteMeant to add lovely bright picture KP even though I am not really a fan of fireworks particularly unsupervised ones.
ReplyDeleteKnitting needles not required, then! Mia is my 3rd favourite character after Toby and Henry. I first encountered Molly Pipe when she was appearing at Stratford-upon-Avon as a 12 year old peasant girl in a Robin-Hood-themed Christmas show. Much less of a part, of course, but I liked her then and still do.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have got the wrong end of the stick with regards to Mia, although there is no way she is going to stop the bonfire on the green. Stabling the horses with calming music playing as suggested by Lilian is the way to go and she should know her onions where horse welfare is concerned.
ReplyDeleteDisappointed not to hear Pat & Tony’s reaction to Helen’s news on air - I still want to knock her block off I repeat I hope she doesn’t ruin any more men’s lives in the future. The reason she had Henry by donor was because she knew even that far back that she appears to be incapable of maintaining commitment in a relationship and all she is doing is tearing her children’s lives apart time after time. I never thought I could get more irritated with a character than that of Pip but Helen has managed that!!😡🤯😡
Entered a comment this morning but it disappeared - so once again:
ReplyDeleteI find the Editor/Sw’s frequently used ploy of not letting us hear an important conversation, only reports of it afterwards, extremely annoying.
I wanted to listen in to Helen telling her parents about Lee, it was a big moment in the story. To hear their reaction and if it influenced Helen’s decision at all. All we got was a few words via a chat with Ian - ‘Mum was upset and Dad just shook his head’.
Is this a way of saving scriptwriters time and actors fees? All because they can only have a certain number of actors per episode? If so, they could have cut out Mia and Alice’s firework chat and had Tony and Pat in instead.
I am in agreement with Lady R about Helen. Poor Lee has to find temporary accommodation with a friend and rethink his whole life, while she (and the boys) remain put. Whether Lee was a substitute father or simply a big brother to those boys they are going to miss his presence enormously and that is bound to have repercussions somewhere down the line.
Agree AP.
DeleteI too would have liked to heard Helen telling the Bridge Farm clan about the current situation, as to her version.
My main concern now, is for Henry + Jack as to their lives.
How is Helen going to pay the rent to Kirsty?
DeleteNo doubt Kirsty will be kind to Helen. Didn't Kirsrt let the Beechwood house at a reduced rent to Helen?
DeleteIs there still a mortgage on this house, I have no idea..
Mia's concern for animal welfare is all very well, but her form of retaliation when people didn't sign her petition was reckless. She obviously doesn't appreciate what the outcome could have been if the woman she targeted with her firecracker (not certain what it actually was, but it made a lot of noise) had actually had a stroke. Not forgetting that there could have been animals in the neighbouring properties and dogs being walked on the Green who could have been traumatised. She sounded like a spoiled brat when Will remonstrated with her and I think he let her off too lightly. I'm finding the various storylines a bit full on at the moment and a little too "soap-like".
ReplyDeleteUp to now the irony of Mia letting off firecrackers was lost on me but as you have pointed out by doing so she was adding to the trauma of there use both to animals and humans! It was of course a way of advertising that quiet fireworks are available- never heard of them myself so point made I suppose….
DeleteI am still wondering if Halloween in Ambridge will go well, or whether there will be a twist some-where?
ReplyDeleteOops. Speculating again, Sorry. 🫨
DeleteI seemed to have missed the turnover to a new thread, having posted earlier today of silence from everyone for over 24 hours.
ReplyDeleteNow I discover a new thread with 22 posts.
I’m pleased to see comments echoing my own thoughts regarding Helen selfishness towards both Lee and her boys.
Helen really does need to look at her history and behaviour when in relationships with men.
Please TA SWs - can we have Pat persuading her daughter to get some counselling to help her gain some insight into her motivations and behaviour.
She needs help before she creates mayhem in any one else’s life.
On second thoughts perhaps Kirsty can give her a talking to.
That was nice! Linda and Lilian job-sharing as the Good Fairy and storylines taking a positive turn with everyone behaving well!. More please, scriptwriters
ReplyDeleteI agree with that maryellen.
DeleteSilent fireworks I believe are available to buy, so hope the Bull can source these and soon.
ReplyDeleteAs to another TA page, a comment was made relating to the late Sir. Terry Wogan, who often had silent fireworks on his R2 morning show!
😂😂
DeletePerhaps he sourced them in Ireland.
ReplyDeleteI could “ knock Helen’s lights out” Lee you thought more about the boys than Helen tonight especially Henry by saying what you did about the break up. Sounds like you only want a bad boy after all Helen, where as Lee nice & kind, considerate worships you etc and it’s “oh clear off I’ve decided you’re getting on my wick”😡 This SL has had a damp squid finish to it all rushed and two key conversations completely missed out.
ReplyDeleteNow Grey Gables!! Who owns the dam place anyway is Oliver a part owner? and if not why is he financially having to save it. It’s all too much Grrrrrrr
I thought that Oliver still has a minority share in GG.
DeleteOooo, Lady R, I have by ever seen you so het up!
DeleteBut I agree about the Helen / Lee story and was very impressed by Lee’s conversation with Henry. So she doesn’t love him any more - well ‘love’ doesn’t last forever, whereas care, companionship and the mutual love of the boys would have done. If only she had been prepared to carry on a little longer. As usual with Helen it is.me, me, me.
As for Adil and GG - I was glad to hear Oliver telling Adil, in no uncertain terms, exactly the
trouble he had caused. But can he trust Adil’s promise.
And I still don’t understand why it is Oliver who has to stump up all the money to complete the works - why aren’t the other shareholders contributing the same ammount? I thought Oliver was only a mops or shareholder - am I wrong?
DeleteSorry about typos - ‘ I have never seen you so het up’
and - ‘ only a minor shareholder’
😂 well AP I listen very late and I could not have slept had I not ranted about the episode here 🤣
DeleteI was surprised to hear Lee described as big (when he shoved Rob) because he’s always sounded like a small man to me. It made me all the more appalled at his senseless assault on poor harmless Blake, probably half his size and defenceless. Engaging brain first isn’t Lee’s strong point!
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to Lee ,when he grabbed Blake it was because the latter had been seen several times by Joy,lurking suspiciously round the Beechwood house,instilling a certaintity in Helen that the intruder could be Rob,who up until then had never been seen by Lee.or Joy.and they had no way of knowing if he was harmless.,resulting in the scuffle.
ReplyDeleteI was pleased to hear last night that,to Henry’s Joy,the the boys will still have Lee in their lives .I think Helen will live to regret ending the relationship with Lee as the indications are that there is more trouble to come from Rob and his family,so she will need all the backup she can get.
I imagine Blake looked the wrong class and age to fit with what Lee knew of Rob. In any case Lee should have spoken to Blake, not beaten him up.
DeleteThe cynic in me is wondering if Lee’s sharing of the decision to part, as told to the boys, was an attempt to get back into Helen’s good books.....
What a difficult episode to listen to tonight. Everyone talking over each other and not letting anyone get a word in edgeways.
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth would Rob ask Brian to be his sponsor, they were never friends as far as I recall.
Will Denise’s stay at The Stables become prolonged and eventually result in Alistair’s prediction by Clarrie’s token come true?!
Right on every level imo AP!
DeleteI.think Rob wanted to demonstrate acceptance of his ‘new’ self by a prominent member of the Ambridge community and now the cast has shrun, he doesn’t have much choice!
DeleteI thought Tony sounded slightly deranged. I was glad we didn’t get to listen to Helen telling her parents about Lee because I’m finding their reactions quite uncomfortable these days. Still (SPOILER ALERT), not for much longer. The Helen and Rob story ends on 17 November according to the TA testers!
The end of this storyline can't come soon enough for me maryellen.
DeleteNor me, CC! It’s been a big disappointment after last time round. Henry has been the only good thing to come out of it. I hope he isn’t going to get shelved again for the next x years!
DeletePlease don’t give ‘spoilers’. I really don’t want to know when things are going to happen in advance, it spoils the day to day surprises for me. Just putting ‘spoiler alert’ in brackets beforehand does not work!
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly I too want this particular story to end, but not exactly when……or how!
I gave a spoiler alert so you didn’t have to read it, which is accepted practice. If it doesn’t work for you (although it seems to work for others), that’s a shame. I don’t know how this story will end, or if indeed it will.definitely end on the day I mentioned - that’s the point, to get us speculating, which is something many listeners enjoy. Could you perhaps train your eyes not to focus on any words after the SPOILER caps? I don’t know how easy that would be. 🙂
DeleteYes, you did put spoiler in caps but quite honestly it is impossible not to see the rest of the words in the same line or just underneath. My eyes are not so selective to be able to just focus on one word at a time.line. If you are going to do this, perhaps you could put ‘spoiler alert’ then leave a couple of rows of blank space so there is time to look away
DeleteThank you, I hate to complain but I don’t think I am the only one to dislike spoilers, perhaps others have just not mentioned it.
Got it! Two blank lines to allow space to register SPOILER and avert eyes. Will do! For what it's worth, I've encountered more people who say or show they read spoilers than don't, and with the don'ts it's often a case of not bothering rather than actively disliking them.
DeleteI don’t like spoilers either and agree withAP that unless there is a large space between ALERT and the spoiler in question it simply is not enough of a warning to prevent one reading.
DeleteHowever I’ve never complained because I’m likely to forget the spoiler that I’ve read as soon as I’ve read it.
I personally do not have the RadioTimes and do not read anything about TA with the exception of this blog.
For me The Archers is in real time and daily, and I don’t wish for it to be any other way.
I suppose it’s a bit like reading the last few pages of a book to find out ‘whodunit’ before getting through all the chapters. I would hate to do that, the enjoyment for me is trying to work out what is going to happen by following all the clues along the way. Perhaps it’s from childhood, I hated having surprises spoilt in advance!
DeleteAlthough I don't comment often, I would like to echo the comments of Archerphile and Mrs P above. It is almost impossible or very difficult to avoid seeing the spoiler and it seems only right to respect the wishes of those who don't wish to read them.
DeleteNice to know that your still with us bufo9bufo even if rarely posting.
DeleteARChEPHILE, DON’T READ THIS - POTENTIAL SPOILER!
ReplyDeleteBut what about the wishes of those who are not opposed to reading about straplines, teasers, spoilers, call them what you will? Like the people here who happily joined in the discussion about Bruce T when a future cast list revealed his imminent appearance along with his sons. For some of us, the teasers are all part of the ‘fun’ of our TA experience and the blogs are our only means of communicating this.
I'm flummoxed! Have I somehow missed an episode in which Pip and Stella fell out, and that was why Stella was at the Bull quiz night on her own with no mention of Pip and has mentioned the spare room at the bungalow to Hannah? Even though Pip has suggested they move in together with the bungalow being the obvious choice. Stella said they didn't want to rush it..... Hmmm!
ReplyDeleteNo don’t think you have missed it ME
DeleteTA story lines seem to be floundering at the moment.
It seems so Mrs P. Ruth’s mind will go on alert at another girl moving in with Stella as she already seems convinced that Stella is not a one gal gal! Also if the go ahead is given Jazzer’s promotion will be going up in a puff of smoke! Not that the boss has even been informed yet and legally these days I believe you have to advertise and interview all interested parties? So Denise is back in Alastair’s frame 🤔 Now that the old guard are either leaving the programme or becoming silent characters I guess some padding out is necessary.
DeleteEnjoyed hearing Alistair in ‘silly’ mode last night at the Grundys’ Halloween event. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him let his hair down .
ReplyDeleteLadyR
DeleteI take your point. Padding out !
Perhaps I / we, should view this time as transitioning.
When we heard from Denise previously I liked her calm, thoughtful and adult personality.
She seemed to be very different in this new encounter, and I found that to be irritating.
Perhaps I should adopt the same stance as Portia and accept that it was Halloween silliness.
Well !
ReplyDeleteI think I need to listen again to tonight’s episode, and then think it through for a couple of days before I can truly understand what I’ve heard.
I shall be very interested in other opinion’s.
Gosh!
ReplyDeleteThat was amazingly perceptive, Tony, and a tribute to your strength and honesty that you were able to depart from your previously entrenched position and see Rob as a man trapped in a hateful persona and unable to escape. Baptism was a last ditch attempt. You didn’t become trapped in a vengeful persona of your own. (I’m sorry I said you sounded deranged the other day - must have been a trick of the mike!)
ReplyDeleteDreadful dreadful man. It explains why Rob is as he is, but why on earth he and Miles as adults haven't turned on their father and stopped his vicious bullying is beyond me. The ties that bind indeed! We were told that the mother had not long died so perhaps they maintained links because of her, or does the father own the farm that is Miles's livelihood? Hopefully soon Miles will be able to break the tie and leave.
ReplyDeleteYou accept, Janice, you accept, and by the time you're old enough to stand up to it, so much damage has already been done you believe that's who you are and go on finding coping mechanisms to hide what you fear you have become. Men tend to try and cope by blaming every one else for the response their controlling behaviour produces.
ReplyDeleteI cannot understand why Bruce bothered to make the trip for the Baptism.
ReplyDeleteHe poured scorn on anything to do with the church and obviously despises his son - so why show up at all, unless it was simply to vent his spleen and make trouble.
What a truly awful man, well matched by the equally awful Ursula when she was alive.
But I think I will have to listen again because I was having trouble discerning exactly who was speaking throughout - not sure whether it was Miles or Rob at times. Even Alan sounded different to me, the only character I was sure if were Bruce and Tony.
Voice wise I’m with you AP I thought the opening voice was Jim and got so muddled I was completely discombobulated as Ken Dodd would probably have said 😂
DeleteI'm not sure that Ursula was equally awful. As I read it, she was the victim of Bruce's coercive behaviour just as much as Rob (Miles seems less affected, either because his father laid off him, or he has a different character makeup, or we simply don't know enough about him). But Ursula coped by colluding rather than confronting - fleeing wasn't such an option for a woman of her period and class.
DeleteI suppose the next question is, what made Bruce like he is. Is it a chain reaction - in which case has Helen broken the chain by removing Jack from his father's influence? I can see the old nature v. nurture debate looming so better stop here. I still think she should let Rob see Jack, though, if Jack's okay with that.
So was I, AP.
ReplyDeleteYes and my reasoning to need to listen again.
DeleteWas it the same actor playing bothRob and Miles ?
ReplyDeleteI could not distinguish between the two, so was at a loss to understand who was speaking and to whom.
Yes, two actors. Miles obviously chosen to sound like Rob, because when he first phoned the Bridge Farm shop and Helen answered, she put the phone down thinking it was Rob who spoke. How much the actor playing Miles actually sounds like Rob (light tenor?) and how much he is deliberately mimicking Rob's voice, I don't know, but if he does it very convincingly!
DeleteMy thought is that Bruce was made to be so dreadful in the way he was, to make Tony realise, that he had nothing to gain by hounding Rob any further.
ReplyDeleteAlso he probably also realised that Rob is definitely not a well man.
Not just for Tony’s sake Miriam - but for all listeners too I would say !
DeleteIt has certainly put Rob and his personality into a rather different perspective.
As far as his recent behaviour is concerned, I think ( not entirely sure ) that this is often the case with those close to their end with a brain tumour.
I have only ever been close to one person in this position but have known others with end of life brain tumour and have known about strange and erratic behaviours in their final weeks.
Can others confirm this ?
For the last month's of his life, when the disease reached his brain, Mr S was unknowable and unmanageable.
DeleteI can see letting Jack have a supervised meeting Rob when the effects of the brain tumour are making him so irrational is not such a good idea, but couldn’t Helen at least give him some photos of his son? The risk of Rob in his current state using them to track Jack down and make contact with him must be less than minimal.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think Rob would have to do much tracking to find Jack ME.
DeleteHe attends a rural school and is either taken by car, walks or gets the school bus.
Can’t ever remember any reference to there being a school in Ambridge in recent years, but there have been references over the years to the school bus.
I’ve pondered this sometimes, and am surprised that Helen does not seem to be micromanaging the boys school journeys.
Why should Jack meet Rob?
DeleteHe was the child of rape, born in a prison baby unit, so has never met his father nor knows him, the same as Henry.
In my mind, Rob meeting Jack now is a no-no, not forgetting Jack is still only 7yrs old.
I wouldn't want to put a similar person in my family, through such an ordeal, which could affect him, not now but perhaps later in his life.
Ignorance is better..
Let’s hope Jack agrees with you, Miriam.
DeleteI presume that the school will have been warned about the possibility of Rob trying to see Jack and appropriate arrangements made.
ReplyDeleteWhen my mum was teaching primary, there was at least one child who could *only* be collected by its mother. If father turned up, the child was to be taken to a secure room and the secretary given instructions to ring 999 child abduction. Hopefully something similar is in place for Jack.
DeleteIn one church I attended, we had an holiday club in the church and hung up, shock horror, large cardboard fish to set the scene. (We were looking at the calling of the first disciples.)
ReplyDeleteOne elderly member of the congregation decided this was on a par with 'turning my father's house into a den of robbers' (!!!?). She summoned the vicar to tell him of her disapproval and to inform him that she would be writing the church out of her will as a result.
She died the next day, presumably without having had a chance to instruct her solicitor. Tread carefully Peggy, ...
Time for Peggy to pop her clogs if trouble-making and waving her cash around (again) are all we hear of her!
ReplyDeleteI suppose it’s all they ( SWs ) could think of in order to remind us that Peggy is still alive.
DeleteAlso true to form !
Well she won’t be having her funeral / burial conducted by Alan at St Stevens now I guess!
DeleteThis isn’t the first time that Peggy has turned her back on St.Stephens,as years ago she made a very public show of going elsewhere to worship when to her disapproval, a female vicar was appointed.
ReplyDeleteTrue Portia. I wonder how she now feels about Shula (I was only thinking of her myself this week) even Kenton does not appear to keep in touch and of course she will never come home to Ambridge again - unless silently like Freda for all those years…
DeleteMaybe Rob has left money to St Stephen’s in his will?
DeletePeggy seems to think she is the equivalent of a village squire. Pity she couldn’t have spoken or written to Alan herself instead of sending poor Tony along to do her dirty work.
ReplyDeleteI have never liked Peggy, ( though I did have a fondness for her mother MrsP hence the name ) even way back when Jack Archer was giving her a hard time, she always had the last word with her sharp tongue. And it was always her way or no way as it still is.
ReplyDeleteFor all her apparent generosity- at times - not a very ice person.
Agree AP - the village squire would seem to be her natural position.
Mrs P - I wonder if it is genuine generosity or a more of a desire to influence people and get her own way over various events?
DeleteOver the years I have never liked her or the way she deals with family and people. A proper matriarch, wielding her chequebook to influence events and people’s actions.
Now she thinks she can pay Alan back by withholding her money from the church. Surely a lifelong Christian (but what would I know about it ?) would not be so petty as to try and harm her local Vicar and village church in such a way.
I know the SWs won’t allow Peggy to depart before her very elderly actress does, but quite honestly, Ambridge would be better off without her. She has become a very nasty and vindictive old woman.
AP -
DeleteSee my inclusion of the word…… apparent !
You have summed her up precisely.
Ah, well, AP, there's Christianity and then there's Churchianity, in which the original purpose of the institution is lost in the mists of time and it has become an end in itself. There's a lot of that about.
ReplyDeleteI should apologise for the mistake in my post at 11.08 yesterday. It was Brian sent along to tell Alan of Peggy’s intentions , not Tony. And I noticed in the omnibus this morning that he said it was ‘the family’s intentions, well, Peggy’s really’ . Do we assume she discussed this with all the family before deleting her direct debit? At least Brian had the decency to say he didn’t agree with her.
ReplyDeleteYes of course, Peggy doesn’t have Jennifer to carry her messages or to do her bidding any longer.
DeleteSo, it would appear that Brian has stepped into Jennifer’s shoes, for this task at least.
I rather think that Alan will be requesting a new parish soon, through no real fault of his own.
ReplyDeleteHe did refuse to baptise Rob, but however he did his true christian duty to ensure someone entered the church, and in the correct way, for whatever reasoning.
As such and as a "member of the cloth", he did his rightful duty, as how could he judge against another?
Remember he baptised Harrison, when he found faith...
I loved the way that Harrison dealt with Rob waiting for Jesus by the roadside. I had to do a lot of that sort of thing for Mr S and it calls for some very quick thinking.
ReplyDeleteHe did it well. Although Harrison will have been trained to deal with mental health issues, there was a personal feel about it, as he knew Rob. He didn't judge him, just understood him and helped.
DeleteThose must be the two most unconvincing TA scenarios ever! The Grundys bullying Oliver and Hannah turning Jazzer into a computer-literate. His best bet is to persuade Jim to offer Hannah the annexe he vacated, which would let him off the hook. I don't want to lose Hannah so fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteConsidering all the help and kindness that Oliver has shown the Grundys over the years,he didn’t deserve the tongue lashing he received from Eddie and Ed when discussing the possibility of having to sell some of his own land .Eddie course still maintaining the old chestnut that Grange Farm is traditionally Grundy property.
ReplyDeleteI found myself wishing that Ed and Eddy would patiently and gently understand Oliver’s predicament.
DeleteHow foolish of me !
I don't think Oliver was patiently and gently understanding the Grundys' predicament either. That's partly why the episode was so unconvincing.
DeleteI found the Grundy’s attitude reprehensible last night. How many times has Oliver helped them out over the years? Even down to letting them stay at Grey Gables when they were evicted, with the ridiculous consequences of the ferrets escaping.
ReplyDeleteHe has been a real friend to them over the years and has received little thanks.
Ed was particularly bitter about grazing land for his Texels, but had no right to speak to Oliver in the way he did. Oliver owes him nothing.
I’m surprised Oliver didn’t respond more angrily. And where is Clarrie in all this? Just worrying I suppose.
The budget can’t stretch far enough to include Clarrie as well.
DeleteUnfortunately !
Didn’t necessarily mean last night, but we haven’t heard from her at all about Oliver’s news since her first told them. Perhaps her actress is not available at the moment.
DeleteI agree about the behaviour of Ed and Eddie. The Grundys lost Grange Farm because of their own financial mismanagement and are behaving as if they still have the right to do what they want there. Oliver has been good to the family letting them stay there at below market value rent for so long, but it is his place now to do as he wishes.
DeleteI wonder if Oliver will move to live in Grey Gables as in the present atmosphere it would be difficult for him to continue at Grange Farm. That would free up a room for Hannah then perhaps.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Clarrie ……
ReplyDeleteIf I recall correctly we’ve heard nothing other than a few words once or twice, since the ‘ new window ‘ episodes.
That must be months ago now.
Might this be another TA actor getting older and possessing health issues ?
I do hope not.
Tonight’s episode……..
I wondered as I listened to Helen and Joy, if we might be about to get some of Joys back story.
Was this conversation a preamble to that possibility ?
We heard Clarrie a couple of weeks ago offering to take over from a cheesed off Will as the Witch of Leaders Wood on Eddie’s lHalloween Trail.
DeletePS. It was at the end of that scene that Oliver broke the news and aothers have said, there were a few words from Clarrie as his words sank in, then Berwick Green and nothing more. There have been several instances recently of characters being inexplicably absent, like Stella at The Bull with no Pip. And doesn’t Freddie live at The Stables too, yet no mention of him at the Halloween party?
DeleteAnd speaking of who lives where, is Kate now on her own at The Lodge with the dreaded Hilda?
Kate presumably is still based at The Lodge with Peggy. We haven’t heard that Peggy had moved.
DeleteIt was only Lily that moved to the stables with Josh & Paul, she actively prevented Freddy from joining them.
Thanks, KPnuts - I forgot about Freddie, still with his mum, then. But I thought Peggy had gone to Bridge Farm and don't recall her returning to the Lodge. I must listen up!
DeleteYes, I think Peggy went to Bridge Farm temporarily just after Jennifer’s death. I just assumed she has now gone back to The Lodge with Kate as her ‘lodger’. Surely at her age she cannot be living entirely alone with that cat?
DeleteLoved the conversation between Tracy and Jazzer tonight. They are so good together and really understand and care for each other. At least Tracy is not intent on pushing Jazzer to ‘better himself’ by doing a job he dislikes and is unsuited for, as Susan did with Neil and the feed representatives job.
ReplyDelete✔️✔️
DeleteRemembering the episode of marital rape I wonder if Rob will twist it and tell Jack that he wanted him (a baby) and that Helen didn't.
ReplyDeleteQuite likely to do so Janice - ageee.
Delete😳 🥺 😢
ReplyDeleteHard to know how the SW are going to play this out. Will Rob knowing Helen will have warned Jack about him be perfectly behaved and loving so that Jack will turn against Helen anyway for telling him “lies” about his dad - this simply lovely man…….🤔 As for the Grundy SL, give me strength 🤯
ReplyDeleteUnder these circumstances paternal visits are usually supervised and take place on neutral ground. The supervisor would be briefed as to the background.
ReplyDeleteYes, if you go through official channels. Helen will organise everything herself with no reference to professional support.
DeleteAgree your point OwiaS -
DeleteAnd, of course the SW will choose that route in order to ramp up further discourse.
Silly me, of course she would. This is just how things are done at our council accredited church Family Centre.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember The Archers doing a film, of The Canterbury Tales ?
ReplyDeleteOn my BFI thread today it is on the list of films available this week.
I do have a vague memory of it happening but cannot be sure.
Anyone ?
I felt tonight’s episode was odd and disjointed, can’t explain why. Just odd !
ReplyDeleteI totally agree.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed hearing Kate and Jakob together, they are an interesting couple and I'd like to hear more of them and considerably less of Jazzer and Tracy. Tracy's declarations of love are getting very repetitive.
ReplyDeleteI cant help thinking its a bad idea to take a small boy to visit a man in the last stages of a terminal illness. What will he remember? A man suffering in pain, probably looking very ill and unable to communicate properly. Not a healthy youngish Dad, full of enthusiasm, wanting a game of football or other game, cracking jokes and discussing his favourite sport.
ReplyDeleteIs this what he will want to remember? I thinkHelen has made a very bad decision and may regret it bitterly.
I’m so glad it’s Joy going with Helen, remembering how good she was when Ben had his crisis, and a much better choice than Kirsty who, despite her good intentions, tends to get thec tone wrong. I have always admired and liked Joy as a very capable and welll-meaning woman who would turn her hand to anything from cat whispering, to nude modelling, cooking, diy, and child care. It used to grieve me when bloggers called the neighbour from hell, etc etc.
ReplyDeleteI must admit I didn’t like Joy when she first moved to Ambridge, she seemed gossipy, nosey, naive about living in the country and she talked far too much.
DeleteBut I too, have come to appreciate her qualities of common sense and her helpfulness to her neighbours and friends. She was excellent diffusing the situation with Ben and has been a tower of strength to Helen recently. So my opinion has completely changed and ME, you were right all along! 😊
I too must own up about Joy, not to disliking her so much but rather being somewhat suspicious of her.
DeleteNow like AP I am very much in favour of her.
As Helen said last night to Joy, ‘ I never feel that you judge me !’
I agree with the above, Joy has grown on me as a character and I would like to know a bit more of her backstory.
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts about last nights episodes?
ReplyDeleteI found it difficult to listen to but very glad Jack decided not to see Rob. Let him live with his picture of an ideal football loving Dad, not an illness ravaged sick man who canot move or hardly speak.
I just hope he doesn’t live with guilt after having changed his mind.
Joy was wonderful, Helen sensible for once.
I think.It was the producer and/or scriptwriter chickening out rather than Jack!
DeleteOf course it was! But then everything that happens is down to the back-room boys, isn’t it! 😉
DeleteIt was indeed a ‘ chickening out ‘as ME has put it !
DeleteNot at all satisfactory IMO.
Like some others I’m beginning to feel pleased that it will soon be ‘ all over ‘
It's time Jack was given a voice. It wasn't realistic for the very upset child not to be heard in the background when Helen and Joy were discussing his refusal to see Rob.
ReplyDeleteThere’s still time for Jack to change his mind, or for Helen to walk him past Rob’s window so Rob can at least see his son.
ReplyDeleteIt didn’t seem clear to me whether the possibility of the “visit” had actually concluded or if more is still on the cards for tonight. Jack may yet decide he wants to deliver his handmade card. Also Rob seemed genuinely amenable last night but Helen had already written in stone in Jacks mind that Rob would be unkind to him so I think that at the last minute changed his mind.
DeleteOh good grief! How many more dramatic shocks are they going to wring out of the upsetting and far too prolonged storyline. Talk about twisting the knife! (Or pillow, in this case)
ReplyDeleteI didn't see that coming. Don't do it Helen, and don't let him goad you in to doing it. I shan't listen tomorrow, not until I've read the blog first anyway.
ReplyDeleteI’m prepared to retract my comment from earlier today.
ReplyDeletePerhaps they ‘ chickened out ‘ over Jacks visit in order to give us a further dramatic moral dilemma to wrestle with for the next twenty four hours.
Am I being cynical thinking that this is Rob’s last swipe at Helen,trying to goad her into smothering him, and again face a possible murder charge.Get out of there,Helen.fast!
ReplyDeleteApologies if your question was rhetorical, Portia, but taking it literally, yes, I do think you are being cynical. What I heard was pleading., not goading.
DeleteOn other blogs, Rob has been called vile and manipulative and listeners have hoped he dies in agony. I find what that says about the bloggers concerned more upsetting than the storyline itself.
Yes, there was pleading. Rob is clearly suffering and is very aware of his own fragility.
DeleteI think he feels desperately hurt by his father's lack of compassion, despite knowing not to expect anything different from him. He probably feels very let down by Miles, 'I stood up for you all those years, why can't you support me now?'
With Helen it's complicated. He seems convinced that she still loves him, deep down, and that they were good together. He still shows no acknowledgement, or even awareness, that he was abusive to her. Perhaps such delusion and complete lack of self-awareness are hallmarks of a psychopath, I don't know.
I think Helen showed him great compassion in telling him about Jack. She must have such conflicting emotions in this situation. On one hand, Rob is the man who abused and raped her and goaded her to kill herself. On the other, in his weakened state, there are echoes of the charming man she once fell in love with. And, of course, the man is dying slowly and painfully. Those emotions will become even harder to tease apart when Rob actually dies.
As for the nurse?, could she really just up and leave like that? She was expecting to hand Rob over to Miles. Should she really have left him in the care of some random visitor? (I don't think we heard Helen introduce herself as his ex wife.) What if she had just been a neighbour dropping in to say goodbye? I know she is busy and probably has too many other patients to attend to, but she should at least have checked Helen was happy to be left in loco fratis. Her railroading attitude reminded me of the consultant when Rob was first diagnosed. I hope real-life medics are rather more clued up on complicated family relationships!
Helen, don't use the pillow!
Miles, turn your £$%^&*()(*&^% phone on and get back on duty!
Whilst in admiration of posts immediately above, I would also wish to acknowledge and admire the acting of both characters in what must have been a very difficult scene.
ReplyDeleteAnd I too must admit to a scintilla of cynicism as to pleading or goading, coming down however, to pleading, in the final analysis.
DeleteYes. "Helen" and "Rob", have both given great acting performances over the last few months + weeks, in so many ways - meaningful, heartfelt yet also disturbing..
DeleteI refer to the meet up with Henry, alongside what occured outside the swimming event.
Whatever happens, Helen will suffer in some way, as will Henry + Jack, be it now or in the future.
Helen will only do as she wants to, regardless of what Pat, Tony, Joy, Krsty and others such as Iain say or do.
Now it is obvious why Lee had to leave!!
To add - which I have said elsewhere - will Helen be coerced by Rob yet again, to partake in an "assisted suicide" event? 😵💫
DeleteWell done Helen !
ReplyDeleteRight to the bitter end he was trying to control Helen .
ReplyDeleteThank goodness she had the strength to walk away
And bless Joy for suggesting fish finger sarnies!
And Rob’s final words were I’m sorry,. I applauded. But I shouted Go away at Pat. I think it was a faux pas by the scriptwriter, bringing her in. Fish finger butties? Ugh!
ReplyDeleteI too was angry at Pat whinging her way in , though praise to Joy for ‘managing’ Pat and her emotional guarding of her daughter. Can’t blame the SW tho’ as yet another apt example of Pats behaviour.
DeleteAnd yes the apology came from Rob, but after Helen had shut the door.
I admire Joy's ability to reign in Pat's emotional responses and bring her down to earth.
ReplyDeleteI thought the mundane nature of fish finger butties was the perfect antidote to the intensity of the previous scene.
Louiza Patikas is good, but that Timothy Watson is some actor, isn't he!
Oh yes, thanks Sarnia, I hadn’t appreciated the dramatic role of the fish finger butties! I suppose I shouldn’t say Ugh! when I’ve never actually eaten one, but the very thought is off-putting, and I felt Helen and Pat’s response to Joy was also somewhat muted. Either that was my misconception based on my own feelings about FFBs or they were too drained.
DeleteOh, ME, after an hour spent in Mr S's parallel universe in which he was a world-famous film director, the hospital was his film set and the staff his actors, plus having to reassure him that the inmates left free to wander into his room and wouldn't join in his narrative, were extras who hadn't been briefed yet .....
ReplyDeleteI would have given any thing for a fish finger butty, even though I don't like them either; it would have released the tension.
Goodness Sarnia, you make the experience sound terrifying. So very sorry you had to go through that and for Mr S too. We lost a good friend from a brain tumour but he was able to stay at home until the end and was fairly lucid. He didn’t know who visitors were but didn’t appear to have illusions. Though of course, as he had lost the power of speech, we couldn’t be sure. Such a cruel way to finish one’s life.
DeleteI wasn't terrified, I just dealt with whatever he came out with but it's only really been in the last year that I've begun to work out who I am now and function properly again.
ReplyDeleteHelen has all this to come, to try and remember who she was before she met this dreadful man, but she will be surrounded by supportive family and friends, so won't have to cope alone. If nothing else her experiences will have made her stronger.
Agree Sarnia about becoming stronger through struggles, but I think that we have seen the strength grow in Helen already over the recent years, and I’m sure that will continue to grow.
DeleteHowever that strength does not mitigate the mistakes that many of us (including me) feel that she makes.
I am enjoying Joy becoming an established character in Ambridge and look forward to her back story emerging.
ReplyDeleteMark my words, it’s not going to end here There will be the angst over the funeral, who goes to it, etc. and then the angst over the will, who does/doesn’t benefit from it, etc. and the consequent danger of upsetting Peggy and affecting her will. Joy’s fish finger butties will be in constant demand!🙂
ReplyDelete✔️✔️
DeleteAnd then there’s the underlying concern for Jack as he grows up.. Strong-willed was the first thing Helen said about him to Rob (and the first definite thing we have heard about his character). Hmm, I thought, does that = controlling, or what?
DeleteI wonder if Bruce in turn was also the product of a harsh, controlling father, which made him the way he was. If this is the case, then Helen has an opportunity to break the chain.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if something has happened to Miles.
ReplyDeleteHis brother is dying and he has stepped in as main carer. There is no way he would be uncontactable by phone, or at the very least checking his messages regularly.
It was Miles who put pressure on Helen to take Jack to the hospital to meet Rob earlier than she had planned.
ReplyDeleteCrikey. I feel almost as discombobulated as Helen. The power of a character like Rob's to get under your skin. And a tribute to some very fine acting.
ReplyDeleteBut I won't be booking my seat at his funeral.
Mmmmm now that’s a thought !
DeleteI wonder if Miles will try to persuade Alan to give him a funeral.
Or will there be a non funeral which seems to be becoming quite popular.
It would seem quite likely that Miles would be the only person in attendance.
What if...
ReplyDeleteThe farm actually belonged to Ursula (perhaps for tax purposes because I can't otherwise explain why Bruce would have allowed that).
She left it to Rob.
Rob has left it to Jack ...
Wow! That’s taking speculation to a new level! I’d vaguely imagined a.business arrangement similar to the Home Farm partnership with Rob as one of the partners but not an employee. Whether he could will his share (or the monetary equivalent) away from the family, I’m not clued up enough to know..
DeletePS. Jack is a Titchener, of course, but I bet Bruce wouldn’t see it that way!
DeleteOr, the farm could have been passed to Ursula through her own family.
DeleteHelen said she couldn't bear to hear Miles's voice because it was so similar to Rob's , so I reckon sure as eggs are eggs she is destined to hear a lot more from Miles. Probably because Rob's share of the farm will go to Jack which will mean consultations and meetings over the years, the same as there is with Home Farm.
ReplyDeleteI was so glad that Rob's death became known in such a simple way.
ReplyDeleteThis to me, was done in the best way possible and without any recriminations.
All over bar the shouting, then.
ReplyDeleteHmmm I wonder Sarnia. 18yrs ago Rurari’s SL was set in stone should TA survive Jack’s may well be the next in line. At 94yrs 😂🤣 I maybe able to confirm either way!
Delete😂🙃😂🙃
DeleteI have no doubts whatsoever that Rob’s death will be the end of this particular story.
ReplyDeleteAll manner of threads in any direction are imaginable, in the near future or as Lady R suggests far in the future.
Not least Henry may very well wish to find his donor father, never mind Jacks biological inheritance.
Suppose Henry's donor father turns out to be Miles!!!!!!!!!!!!
Delete😱 now that is a thought maryellen !
DeleteTime for Eddie to get his Metal Detector out!
ReplyDeleteNot if Helen threw the ring into the Am! (I think she was wrong to throw it. It reminded me of the Christmas when Henry made a card for Rob without telling anyone and set off on his own to deliver it to Blossom Hill,Cottage. When he was discovered and stopped, Helen destroyed it.)
DeleteMmm…….. if this ring was thrown from the back door of Helen’s house it might be found in Joys garden.
DeleteOr were they still on the walk ?
DeleteI think so just after Helen asked if they could go back now as she was very busy. Did we hear it tinkle as it landed though? That I cannot remember…..
DeleteWhat on earth was tonight’s episode about - who wrote it - was it a new writer ?
ReplyDeleteNothing I heard sounded like The Archers to me !
You put it so well Mrs P, having only just listened I feel just the same. Where are the members of the Ambridge population we all knew and (mostly) loved 😊 surely they cannot all have left the village but of course we must not forget the boxes the BBC are required to tick whether the SL to accommodate makes sense or not!
DeleteI agree - it was a terrible episode. All the characters sounded as if they were galloping through their scripts in order to get to the staff canteen before it closed! The Brian/Oliver encounter vzwas a complete waste of airspace.
DeleteAfter the death of Rob, the wedding ring episode in which Helen finally got rid of her demon, then there is bound to be more insignifcant and meaningless episodes. Or are they!!
ReplyDeleteThere have been a lot of quiet pointers as to new and future S/Ls.
Alice + Henry
The Grange Farm Land sale.
Azra and her supposedly wayward son (George to befriend), now moving nearby as a new GP.
Adil and Grey Gables.
Jakob helping doing the St. Stephen's event.
Sometimes Less is More...🙂
Meant Alice + Harry, obviously 😉
DeleteWell, less feeble writing would certainly give listeners more joy! It’s not the storylines I’m complaining about this time so much as the poor production values and lack of editorial judgment. The episode in question sounded tired and rushed. What did the encounter between Brian and Oliver add to our knowledge of the land sale (except perhaps to set up the age old contrast between the haves and have notsas outlined by Ed next day), and why did we need Adil beating himself up again and. explaining the fiancée/wife situation again? A waste of time which could have been better spent elsewhere. Still, at least we got some movement on the GG kitchen front, even if Ian was behaving with uncharacteristic haste and unpleasantness.
DeleteMaryellen - I felt that the conversation between Brian and Oliver did just as you suggested - contrast between the haves and the have nots - which hardly needs exaggeration in TA, because it’s frequently obvious.
DeleteBut the worst aspect of that episode for me was Adils monologue.
It was truly excruciatingly pathetic !
Not for its content but rather for its delivery and or presentation.
Also, it seems to me that in recent years the establishment of Ambridge newcomers has become rushed or hurried along by over exposure far too quickly. This happened with Joy at the beginning of her time in Ambridge but without any back story ( I’m still waiting with anticipation for this ).
Adil has had time for us to become accustomed to him, and with hints of his backstory, but the appearance of his sister seems to me rushed and unrealistic ! ( yes I know it’s a soap ! ) But to have that awkward and gushing monologue seemed very out of character in contrast to the man we have been listening to in recent months.
Perhaps it was considered natural on this occasion because he was talking to his sister ?
Good point, Miriam.
ReplyDeleteRandom thought: Has anyone else noticed that Jim no longer comes out with Latin quotes? Is it because he doesn't have Jazzer to talk to now?
ReplyDeleteMmmmm ! Hadn’t noticed that.
DeleteGood point ME.
There have been quite a few new Scriptwriters recently. Perhaps they didn’t have a traditional classic education and therefore don’t know any Latin!
DeleteAll you need is a dictionary of quotations....
DeleteOf course! Should have thought of that. In which case, perhaps they think today’s audience isn’t bright enough to understand Latin phrases so perhaps the Beeb should issue a Latin primer on the Archers website.
DeleteApologies, this conversation is getting silly now!
Seriously, I think it’s an indication of the good effect on Jim of working in the village shop under Susan. He’s much less pompous and patronising than he used to be. Customers understandably want efficient service tailored to their needs, not pontification peppered with Latin quotes. It was mainly Jazzer who was impressed by them and referred to Jim as The Prof. - I don’t remember anyone else doing so, but stand to be corrected!
DeleteNew thread opened
ReplyDelete