Life in Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
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Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
maryellenNovember 25, 2023 at 7:42 PM
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?
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AmbridgesMrsPNovember 25, 2023 at 7:44 PM
Mmmmm ! Hadn’t noticed that.
Good point ME.
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ArcherphileNovember 25, 2023 at 9:06 PM
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!
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maryellenNovember 25, 2023 at 9:22 PM
All you need is a dictionary of quotations....
ArcherphileNovember 26, 2023 at 1:51 PM
ReplyDeleteOf 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.
Apologies, this conversation is getting silly now!
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maryellenNovember 26, 2023 at 5:11 PM
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!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteLovely photo - possibly Hampshire Down sheep?
ReplyDeleteI take it Shula sold The Stables to Lilian & Justin then? I honestly can’t remember now. Shula and family don’t appear to keep in contact and of course she will never return to Ambridge other than as a silent character. I guess before we know it it will be David and Ruth’’s “older”generation that will be disappearing from our radios……
ReplyDeleteConfused as to Shula. She is letting The Stables House to Josh, to maintain it with others.
DeleteShe appointed Alice as the manager to The Stables Livery, as she has the knowledge etc
I do not know how Lillian fits into the day-to-day running of the Stables Livery, except as an advisor and supporter to Alice.
Does she have any actual monetary interest in this..not sure as I might have missed something.
My memory is that Shula appointed Alice to manage the stables with Lilian as overseer.
DeleteAfraid I can’t remember the financial arrangements, if there were any.
And no memory of ownership or change of ownership.
As I remember, when Shula was in financial trouble, Lilian/Justin rescued the business by buying into it, after Justin was convinced by its potential. it now belongs to Shula plus them. They employ Alice as manager. Shula still owns the house which is let in her absence.
DeleteThanks me. Maybe news of Shula as Christmas comes around 🎄
DeleteWhat was the point of that funeral yesterday?. A character we had never heard of, being given joke filled eulogy by Alan. I didn’t find it the slightest bit funny and I guess it was just a convenient vehicle to bring back Sykesy for an episode or two.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I suppose to show how anxious Alan is about Jakob's idea of a Christmas celebration and to warn us to expect something different to the usual pantomime.
I thought it was a scriptwriters’ contrivance to bring Sykesy back to Ambridge. I wish they hadn’t! I didn’t find him an interesting or attractive I character, in fact I thought he’d been introduced to give Ben a story rather than have a story of his own - and the acting was mediocre imo.
ReplyDeleteI actually enjoyed hearing Syksey again. He was originally such a help to Ben and will now be to Jakob, in doing a very different type of entertainment in the upcoming Festive Season.
DeleteIt might be nice to hear something different for a change, which will benefit all.
It will be worth listening to, but that is my humble opinion only. 🤫
I am puzzled that Sykesy who had to leave the Laurels Home for a Nursing ? Home because he needed greater care can be out and about, even though with a carer in tow, and offering to help Jacob.
ReplyDeleteAnd what's more I can remember him saying to Ben, when the latter said he would visit him, that it was a long way away and too far for Ben to visit.
DeleteSeems to be a bit of a lack in continuity these days. Do the SWs still use the old index cards I wonder? 😉
DeletePerhaps this was just temporary for the nursing care he needed at that time, but is now recouperated enough to have returned back to The Laurels.
DeleteKeri Davis said those cards had been digitised which makes them easier to consult but the extent to which that hapens is another matter, of course! I too think there’s a problem with continuity at the moment.
DeleteThe Ambridge Fairy, being short on building work, has branched out into healing miracles.
DeleteKale croissants and cauliflower éclairs, it's getting ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteWere we supposed to take last night seriously? Has Tom become that stupid? Surely his suggestions didn’t come from from Natasha had her blessing?
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable! 😤
Well, bearing in mind Natasha was happy to show her business plans to Justin, I'm not sure I have much faith in her discernment. Surely she should know enough about him to realise he would be bidding for the Grange Farm land too. And that all his 'altruistic' actions invariably have a self-interested motive behind them. (Volunteering at the village shop springs to mind ...)
DeleteI think that Natasha has sussed out Justin and was stringing him along.
DeleteThat's the impression I got too.
DeleteI wasn’t sure that Natasha was stringing Justin along, but I did hope she was.
DeleteI was surprised Justin didn't twig that's what she was doing.
DeleteWow Natasha - respect ⭐️👏🏻⭐️👏🏻
ReplyDeleteKate umm not sure I would like to advise her either way right now. Had she seriously envisage never dating again for fear of a break up and a return to drinking or only since the lady at the AA group told of her experience
I was cheering Natasha on last night when she was giving Tom some home truths about his treatment of Fallon and Emma especially after the handover ‘ ceremony of the keys’ to the tea room being photographed at his request.I just wish Fallon had insisted that the keys being returned to her should be filmed too.After his dressing down,I hope Tom will keep his revolting recipes to himself and concentrate on his veggie boxes.
ReplyDeleteAnd stops referring to himself as “the big boss”!
DeleteYes AP I felt like slapping him for calling himself that!
DeleteI don’t mind a strap line but what are BBC sounds playing at a whole synopsis on every episode when click on to hear one! Fell for it once now divert my eyes and press the play button quickly.
ReplyDeleteEven Friday had one and not the usual cast list 😡
It's all gone very quiet in here.
ReplyDeleteI'm still annoyed with Harrison. If I saw someone I knew at a restaurant and they were clearly on a date, I'd leave them alone. OK, perhaps a quick hello if they spotted me, but certainly not a long, clearly awkward conversation.
I get that he's Chris's mate. But he and Alice are no longer together. And I think the divorce came through some time ago. Out of order, Mr Plod.
✔️✔️✔️
DeleteAgree !
DeleteA quick wave or look of recognition and acknowledgement should have been the order of the day.
And NOT telling Chris either - although telling Fallon would probably be natural. But then Fallon with her good sense would hopefully steer him away from doing so.
Kate to now move in with Brian - or will Brian buy The Lodge so Kate will still live there, along with Hilda O. + Stan (son of Hilda) 😺😺
ReplyDeleteShula lives!!
ReplyDeleteBut what a nasty sneak Justin is , deliberately phoning Shula out of the blue, just to let her know what Lilian is planning for Shula’s stables. Hoping no doubt that she will put a stop to the plans.
And Shula sounded just as match a goody-goody as ever.
No doubt Judy Bennet was sitting at home by the fire, phoning her lines in. Wonder if we’ll hear from her again?
As well as hearing Shula, I had a sense that something is amiss with Clarrie. We have heard her infrequently in recent months and in her words and voice I heard Betty, taking me back decades.
DeleteI hope I’m wrong as I am very fond of Clarrie, but perhaps she too ( the actress ) is choosing to end her days in Ambridge.
It was such a pleasant surprise to hear Shula again (not included in this week’s cast list on the BBC’s TA website) and I was interested to hear what she’s been up to even if Justin wasn’t. I hope we hear more of her and not just this land sale episode. I’m backing Tom and Natasha, their attractive Ambridge in Bloom Project lost out to.the rewilding so I reckon the Ambridge Fairy owes them!
DeleteI don’t know if this is significant or not, but the weekly cast list I just mentioned gives the writer (Keri D) and director but there’s a gap where the editor would be.......l.
DeleteHave the SW been reading our blog! Shula on the line from Petersfield no less, at least I am assuming she did her stint from home either way it was a treat to hear her again even though she sometimes got on my wick - however one of the old guard gracing the airwaves for a guest appearance 👏🏻⭐️👏🏻⭐️
ReplyDeleteI imagine that Shula when wanting to retire from the programme would have agreed to the occasional telephone call that she would be able to do from home, in order to keep her ‘alive’. It’s been a long time coming though !
ReplyDeleteWas it actually Judy B. or someone sounding like her? I couldn’t be sure!
DeleteI didn’t have any doubts on that voice Maryellen
DeleteMe neither - a guest appearance I take it which is why no entry for her in the weekly cast list.
DeleteI thought maybe Shula was omitted from the cast list in order not to 'spoil' the surprise. I still find her voice slightly strange. Perhaps the actor has grown rusty or it's the effect of recording in isolation at home (If that's what's happening) rather than interacting with the rest of the cast in the studio. It would be good if the character was revoiced like Tony was, and as I hope Rpbert will be.
DeleteAnd here she is again and cooking up a storm - well done Shula for reigning Lilian in!
ReplyDeleteBut wouldn’t want to being in Justin's shoes when Lilian gets home.
It surprised me how harsh Shula was with Lilian. The latter had consulted with Shula, who must have okayed the idea, about making a bid for the land and the possibility of a spa. The rest was very much just an idea in the making that would have needed future discussion with Shula and her assent gained before it could happen. Presumably Lilian could use Amside properties as collateral for a loan to buy the land herself. If Shula remained opposed to the admittedly huge idea of some kind of international set up, then Lilian might decide to just have the building developed, and then Ed could go on renting the land, and if it was turned into flats Eddie and Clarrie might be able to afford to rent one in their old age and so remain on the land even if the farmhouse was sold after Oliver.
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to believe that Judy Bennett is 80 yrs she sounds years younger - actually I remember now that she used to be able to play children’s parts due to that very fact and it makes it more understandable that she wanted to be (on the whole) written out. In fact I don’t think many of us “sound”old these days voice wise my sisters and I still natter on in a bright and breezy manner and Mr R similarly.
ReplyDeleteI thought for a minute there that Oliver was going to tell Eddie that he would leave them the cottage in his will however Eddie did not appear to think so and is very excited about the prospect of an Alms House. Of course it has to be said that the Ambridge fraternity are a healthy and active bunch just look at Peggy…..
SPOILER ALERT
ReplyDeleteI:noticed Jill’s name in the headlines for future episodes and wondered if she might be inspired by Peggy’s latest move to join.her two sister in law in The Laurels?
Could be 🤔
DeleteSeems to me that half of Ambridge will end up at The Laurels. Time for a spin-off programme perhaps?
DeleteThe Laurels is in Ambridge Fairyland so bedrooms are always available! I liked the sound of the individual apartments that Christine has one of.
DeleteRemember 'Waiting for God' with Stephanie Cole and Graham Crowden? Very funny.
ReplyDeleteYes I do Sarnia they made a great couple growing old disgracefully 👏🏻 😂
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s episode it’s rare to feel uplifted but I did tonight Eddie being proactive in an above board way - goodness! As Pat and Tony are “retired “ why don’t they move into April cottage and let Tom, Natasha and growing family have the use of the farm house as they are officially (?) running the farm etc now along with Helen. How many bedrooms though as Helen and her boys may need to come back. Just realised April cottage is rented ?I think is it Kathy’s hard to recall now for me anyway.
ReplyDeleteIsn’t April Cottage owned by Kirsty Lady R ?
DeleteYou may have meant Kirsty rather than Kathy !
Rented from Kirsty by Helen.
Agree about the episode, NO drama !
I admit maryellen that I am confused these days as to who owns what - didn’t Kathy go off around the world or something and rent out or sell or did she never own and only rent herself. I wonder how Jamie is getting on must be married with a family by now 🤭 😂
DeleteAs Lilian doesn’t have a property of her own, maybe she/Amside will buy The Lodge? (As long as she does.it quietly - she’s such a drama queen!)
ReplyDeleteSuch an optimist, ME. When has Lilian ever done anything quietly?
ReplyDeleteYes Lilian is often a drama queen, but as she is aging she seems to me to have more sense than previously, AND she seems to have lost that dreadful cackle for which I and many others are thankful.
DeleteNevertheless she is still prone to be very reactive rather than thoughtful whenever she feels harmed or insulted, and yes is very loud about it.
Good point, Sarnia! I did wonder if she was any quieter in the period before her tax exile years in Guernsey (before I was listening to TA) but agree it’s unlikely. I think this week’s outburst was fuelled by a guilty conscience re Shula as much as annoyance at Justin’s behaviour.
DeleteIs everyone noisier when they come back from Guernsey or is it just Lilian?😶
DeleteWhoever wins the auction tonight, I just hope that it doesn't become a purely financial based venture, such as the EV Station when Brookfield also had to sell land, as needed monies.
ReplyDeleteMartin Gibson hasn’t been mentioned since we originally heard he was interested in building a mansion on the.Grange Farm land. Could he be the mystery buyer?
ReplyDeleteSurey it has to be Hazel Woolley!! Of course I am happy to stand corrected!! 😏
ReplyDelete*Surely
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMystery buyer speculation, Harry?
ReplyDeleteDoes Hazel have access to that sort of money? I got the impression when she last visited Ambridge that she was experiencing financial difficulties I suppose she could sell her existing Ambridge assets, Keepers Cottage (displacing Dr Locke) and the village shop/flat (displacing Susan & Co and Chris Carter.).
ReplyDelete“Lilian there are people in Peru who can hear Justine snoring” wonderful Brian I laughed out loud!
ReplyDeleteAny ideas as to who the purchaser of the Grange Farm land is? I think it will be someone we know
or have known - but who 🤔
Felt so much for Brian this evening a very sensitive piece of script writing with which many will be able to identify be they the male or female partner. It was obviously going to strike a chord with Justine - be grateful for every day that you are lucky enough to be able to spend with your special person. Of course Chris will hear Alice’s news from Harrison who will assume he already knows and so on a new man in Martha’s life…. Just hope they are not planning on Alice having a relapse with the strain of it all!
ReplyDeleteI agrée it was a very sensitively written script yesterday and made one realise how much Brian misses Jenny, despite his apparent busyness and involvement in farming and other activities.
ReplyDeleteI am becoming increasingly irritated by Justin’s voice. I keep wishing he’d have a good cough to clear his throat. Don’t know how Lilian has out up with it for all these years!
Interesting words for Lilian from her brother this evening, and giving thoughts for her to consider. Wonder how long she will take mulling over the mildest of character assassination of her live in lover.
ReplyDeleteThis could be a clever plot device by TA, in that Peggy moves into The Laurels and Lilian buys The Lodge, and Kate continues to live there.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem would be Hilda Ogden, Stan and Ruby, all together.
Another problem could be Lilian and Kate together!
DeleteI liked Lily more when she was with Russ, and when she was in her teens. Since she started uni and left Lower Loxley to live with the lads she seems to have shed her early maturity and become self-centred and ineffectual. At the moment I’m not impressed by either twin.
ReplyDeleteI agrée that Lily seemed very juvenile last night and I couldn’t make out what that smashing things up was all about. Is this a new activity designed to celebrate an occasion with, like escape rooms or paint balling? I would prefer a nice meal in a country pub myself!
DeleteMost of last night’s episode seemed geared towards younger listeners.
DeleteI did understand what they appeared to be up to, but haven’t a clue where they were doing it or what they were doing it with.
But whatever it was it was clearly a ‘ filler ‘ !
Agree with you all re last night’s episode - only half listening as it seemed so boring I thought they’d taken advice from TV Kirsty and were knocking down a wall or something of that nature 😲 Accept new generations come along let’s face it we have lived through a few but even in their 30’s and 40’s most seem so immature.
DeleteI really enjoyed tonight’s episode. Doing your own Christmas & hosting parents is, to me an important step in growing up. Admittedly this change in my family was partly triggered by my parents divorce when my siblings & I were between the ages of 16-25.
ReplyDeleteI was really pleased when my younger daughter said she wanted to host this year now she & her girlfriend are in a house. Tonight we’ve just completed a text exchange which started with a request for me to source a chunk of meat (the original plan was a veggie centrepiece but her friend is allergic to most plants it seems so needs some animal protein) & then concluded with me offering the contents of m veg box which arrives on Christmas Eve & will fresher than supermarket offerings. Already signed up for wine, other drinks, chocolate, crackers & napkins. Really looking forward to the day.
Eldest daughter is hosting Christmas for all the family this year. We're signed up for cake, puddings, mince pies, bubbly and non other drinks. I made 5 dozen mince pies on Monday followed by a lie down. Just got the cake to ice now.
DeleteAgain, this week’s cast list shows only the writer and director and the director for this week was Jeremy Howe. So it looks as if not only is he no longer editor but there is no editor at the moment, or perhaps not at all. Have the roles of producer and editor been combined and filled by a weekly succession of directors?, in other words, cutting a job to save on budget.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, David is becoming a dull and miserable old man. I’m not surprised he wasn’t invited to the Christmas Day knees up at the Stables. But to show his jealousy and annoyance was so juvenile.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it looks as though Joy is going to be very well entertained this Christmas, with or without ‘her Rochelle’
One day we will learn the truth about “Rochelle” after all Joy has become a favourite resident in the village. Helping out in many ways with common sense and sensitivity whichever is needed (both if required) and never wanting to hear the praise heaped upon her. So why is her Rochelle not in touch / never visits……
DeleteWe can’t yet hear about ‘my Rochelle ‘ because “they” are still formulating it.
DeleteWhen they have, it will be written.
Then, we will learn the truth.
Mrs P. I thought it might have been written about before now..Due to Covid + the Pandemic and with so many S/L's being discarded, this background about Joy still remains a mystery.
DeleteAs I have said else-where, I hope it stays so as Joy is now a firm and true addition in TA.
However I would love to learn where Rochelle + the grandkids are now and why, without it being a massive issue.
I wonder where Josh will be - The Stables or Brookfield?
ReplyDeleteNot sure if this has been mentioned, but perhaps I just missed this.
The Stables - David said he was peeved because his son was hosting the season's biggest social event and he wasn't invited. Perhaps Josh wiil go to Brookfield on Boxing Day....
DeleteME Thanks. I knew you would know about Josh, which as said I thought I had missed.
DeleteI'd like Chris and Alice to get back together for Martha's sake. That would be my Christmas 'feel good'. As things stand, I expect the feel goods we get will be Justin and Lilian's reconciliation and Jakob's disaster-loaded event turning out to be a wild success due to Lynda's timely rescue, either that or cancelled.
ReplyDeletePS. The Christmas feel good I would really, really like, but have very little hope of, is Toby's return to Ambridge to give Rosie her present and spend time with her.
DeletePPS. In fact, what are Toby and Rex doing at Christmas? Will they too end up at The Stables or possibly Brookfield?
DeleteSilence for so long, I think Rex might have already sunk along with his barge.
DeletePerhaps Rex is having a full on Christmas celebration on his narrow boat! He’d better not have candles on his tree though, too much of a fire hazard.
DeleteAs for Toby, I should have thought he would be invited to Brookfield to spend at least Christmas Day with his daughter.
One or both of their parents are still alive, so presumably Toby and Rex are going there. It would cause a bit of ruckus if Toby asked to have Rosie. Actually Rosie’s paternal grandparents seem remarkably uninterested in their only grandchild.
DeleteAs far as we know. A lot goes on behind the microphone that we never hear about.
DeleteWasn’t it said, a few years ago, that if you didn’t hear it, or hear about it, it didn’t happen. Maryellen will know who said that .
DeleteScriptwriter Keri Davies, I believe.
DeleteThank you ME - always to be relied upon !
DeleteWould it were so, Mrs P!!
DeleteAs I have just posted elsewhere, David will be hosting Christmas for 4 Archer generations:-
ReplyDeleteJill, David, Ben + Pip, and Rosie.
How many can say this, and who knows, could this be for the last time?
He should embrace this Brookfield Christmas in every way.
We will be 4 generations, Miriam : my father-in-law (age 97), my husband (65), my eldest son (40), my grandson (3 years old).
DeleteHow Brilliant and so lovely to hear about. ❤️
DeleteWhat is irritating me at the moment, is who is the new owner of the Grange Farm land.
ReplyDeleteThis owner is still not known, just like when Brookfield sold that parcel of farm land, which is now being developed into an EV charging station.
Now there is the Grange Farm sale and what this will now end up as!
Now what is going on? I've just had to google Harry's surname because I couldn't remember it. It was indeed Alice's new beau phoning Farrier Carter to arrange a shoeing.
ReplyDeleteWhat is he doing? Sussing out the competition? Planning to show Chris his ex-wife is in safe hands? Planning to kidnap Martha? Or just too dense to realise turning up at your girlfriend's ex-husband's place of work unannounced is not going to end happily?
Perhaps he's just buying his horse some new shoes?
ReplyDelete👠👠👠👠
Nasty episode last night, I thought.
ReplyDeleteGeorge reverting to playing a horrid trick on his Mum, though she did get back at him. But a rather juvenile and unnecessary story. Were we supposed to find her embarrassment funny?
Then much-too-nice-Harry sneaking a meeting with Alice’s e ex. How come a local farrier like Chris did not know of an important stables with many horses in the local area and didn’t recognise the name of the owner? I am worried Alice is going to be tipped back into drinking if Hardy’s turns out to be a wrong-un. Or is it all a wind-up just before Christmas?
Well I guess we knew it would not turn out to be straightforward for Alice let’s just hope the inevitable doesn’t happen especially during the festive season when alcohol is so much to the fore.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I am both disappointed and frustrated at the possibility of yet another Ambridge relationship being torn apart before it has hardly had time to begin. Where are the couples of the future coming from such as Doris & Dan,Jill & Phil, Clarrie & Eddie, David & Ruth Will any of them reach even a silver anniversary let alone beyond 😡
I need to immediately say I am not a trick person.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn’t ever play a trick on another on principle, quite apart from not having the wit to do so. And if anyone ever dared to play a trick on me I would be absolutely furious, and probably nasty with it.
Nevertheless I rather enjoyed the trick George played on Emma, but enjoyed even more so Emma’s revenge.
Laughing again now at the second hearing.
I fear for Alice, and indeed Chris.
That late evening phone call spells trouble I fear.
I am just hoping that Harry only wants to meet Chris, so to learn that he has no lingering feelings for Alice. As such he can then go forwards with his relationship with her.
DeleteIt is about time Alice had a bit of fun in the company of a lovely male!
I'd be really disappointed if one of my children had played a trick like that on me and I'm getting very bored with all the various relationship problems they keep churning out.
ReplyDeleteI find listening to Jill quite painful. I really think the BBC should stop being sentimental and retire her.
ReplyDeleteThat voice really was painful, I agree.
DeleteI’m still not sure about Harry. A very strange way of going about checking out Chris.
ReplyDeleteAnd how entitled and a bit pompous he sounded when offering to recommend Chris to his posh horse-owning friends. I wonder if Chris, or more likely Susan, will tell Alice what happened?
As for Jill, I can understand Paddy Greene still wanting to have a role and occasional appearance in the programme she’s been a big part of for nearly 70 year, but she did sound very strained. Perhaps she should take the cue from June Spencer and formally retire.
but it was nice to hear her again and that she is still making "lemon drizzle".
DeleteShe certainly didn't like any criticism of her lemon drizzle cake.
Delete"Syksey" seems to have recorded his last TA episode doing what he has always done, his own brand of comedy.
ReplyDeleteDid I enjoy it as to 🥕?
Personally I think I should have preferred a Lynda Pantomime to that ‘performance’ last night. I couldn’t understand what the very forced sounding laughing was all about - I didn’t find any of it very funny. Bah Humbug!
ReplyDeleteHas Martha shown any interest in riding? At least let Alice arrange a few lessons to see if she likes it. Just going out & buying her a pony Chris….really??
ReplyDeleteBuying a pony is for Chris’s self esteem combined with his fantasy of fatherhood.
DeleteLast heard of, Sykesy was.too frail for The Laurels and needed nursing care at a Home too far off for Ben to be expected to visit him. Next we know, he is able-bodied and apparently staying in Ambridge, we know not where, and delivering a comic monologue purporting to be from an old farm hand but all about being old and nothing about farming. In fact, the kind of thing you might expect from his actor, who was evidently shoehorned back into the narrative to strut his stuff in lieu of Ambridge’s regular Christmas entertainment. I was bitterly disappointed!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the nursing home can include him in their advertising.
DeleteIf other residents may similarly miraculous recovery their impact could be revolutionary, especially if such methods can be replicated outside the confines of Borsetshire. Or perhaps the Ambridge Fairy is moonlighting as a geriatrics doctor.
Syksey did say he was was now living elsewhere, his carer was not available for the event, so Ben took his/her place just for the occasion.
DeleteSyksey broke a hip, pelvis or similar so had to leave the Laurels due to the nursing care he required.
He has recovered well and why not with the correct care + attention and is still loving life, as it showed.
Thanks, Miriam!, I must have missed all that, perhaps because my ears tend to tune out when I hear his voice. It still sounds very contrived on the part of the scriptwriters, as if hastily cobbled together. Why write him out, only to write him in again, I wonder?
DeleteI believe Jasper 🥕 wrote his own script for that very strange + different episode, which the SW's did not change in any way.
DeleteTo me it was done well in advance so to surpass the normal Ambridge Show.
I am not sure it worked though 🤣😱 😉
Just popping in inbetween writing cards to wish everyone on this side of the blog a very happy Christmas. Hoping 2024 is a happy and healthy one for all of us. 🎄🎉
ReplyDeleteJust read on Facebook the Ian Pepperil, the actor who plays Roy has died. Sad news , I feel for his family, he was only 53.
ReplyDeleteI've just read it also and such sad news.
DeleteJeremy Howe gave a lovely tribute to him (on BBC News site). 😪
Yes I just read that too and was coming on here to let everyone know. Such a young age.
DeleteHe ran a pub in Ringwood where we visited one day, but he wasn’t on duty that day.
So many well known people seem to have passed away this year and very sadly, so many have been far too young
Is this the last of a Tucker in Ambridge?
DeleteAP. I have been listening to Desert Island Discs repeating episodes from those who have sadly departed this year. It is sad to realise just who these are.
DeleteSuch a shock to learn of Ian Pepperell’s death,following a long illnes,though on reflection, it’s been a while since ‘Roy’ has been heard on the programme.RIP Ian,and condolences to his loved ones.
ReplyDeleteMy very similar sentiments are posted on our chat blog 😣
DeleteVery sorry to hear of this death of a favourite on The Archers.
DeleteRIP especially after a long illness.
Not heard because travelling today.
Now safely ensconced in a very cold Cornish house.
Wishing all friends of TA seasonal greetings and many thanks for sharing thoughts of Ambridge goings on over the last year.
So now the Archers heirachy have to decide what to do about two, very sadly, missing actors. Will they recast or just allow the roles to fade away with nothing said and no new stories written featuring Robert or Roy?
ReplyDeleteI have already sent good wishes for Christmas on the other blog, but for those who only read this one, have a happy and peaceful time wherever you are and whatever you are doing.
And thank you all for sharing thoughts and discussions on our favourite programme, they make listening in doubly entertaining. Here’s to interesting new stories in 2024!
Roy would have been expected to come to the fore when the reopening of Grey Gables finally happens so I hope the character will get honourable mention then.
ReplyDeleteOn a happier note,I would like to add my very warmest wishes to everyone for a happy Christmas and a guid New Year.
So sad to hear about Ian Pepperell's death. He was such a long standing character in TA. I didn't know about his illness and it was only recently that I thought he hadn't been in the programme for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI hope Roy will be prominently mentioned as the new GG finally opens. The character needs to be acknowledged as to the work he has done silently behind the scenes, which is now known why.
ReplyDeleteWhat will happen to "Roy":-
Go to Birmingham to rejoin his family.
Stay in Ambridge and so be recast.
Decide to join Pheobe in Scotland or efen Lexi?
If Roy leaves Ambridge, what will happen to Willow Farm which is also Kirsty's home.
All I hope is that whatever is decided, it is done in a lovely way and does not cause any upset to the Ambridge community, nor us the ardent TA listeners.
Ah !
ReplyDeleteSo now can we expect a return to the happy expectation of a return of a romantic development between Alistair and Denise ?
I rather hope so.
Not sure how Paul & Denise are going to get along working together
ReplyDeleteWell I think I know what Alastair is hoping for especially as Denise is in a unhappy marriage 🤔 Hence long stay with Paul etc saying it was because a relative she did not like was staying at hers.Also didn’t Alastair tell Jacob of his fondness for her one time…
DeleteAs I predicted an affair begins….
ReplyDeleteAgree Lady R, but surely one that needs little secrecy in Ambridge.
DeleteDenise lives away from the village as far as we know, and Paul seems to be aware of his parents ‘difficulties’.
The current Denise seems different to the original Denise, who was quite starchy. This one always sounds slightly sloshed to me. Did she get revoiced while at the other branch of the practice, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteAnother random thought: Why has Paul got a different surname to his mother?
DeleteWhat have I missed here?
My alternative idea is that it was such a great way to get Alistair + Denise together again and in such a close way. This might be short-term only though, but as she is rejoing the practice again there is a lot to ponder about.
ReplyDeleteI thought she, Denise was the same voice, but her personality had been modified.
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps rather than modified perhaps amplified ?
I’ve wondered too about Paul and his mother having different surnames.Possibly, John, the cyclist is Denise’s second husband,but no doubt we shall find out more if a romantic relationship with Alistair is on the cards.
ReplyDeleteOr - Denise refers to the cyclist as her husband but never had an actual wedding.
ReplyDeleteIn which case Paul carries the fathers surname whilst Denise has retained her maiden name.
Or again, Denise has never adopted her married name.
My daughter does not use her married name and has chosen to retain her family name. I was once corrected by her for sending a letter using Mrs R…….. instead of her name C….. F……. a mistake I made once only.
I must say I found the Christmas Day Turkey fiasco at Brookfield. Nonsensical.
ReplyDeleteHow come the oven was broken?
They have an Aga which has at least two ovens, did they run out of fuel for it? How come they had to take their Turkey to the one house that already had half the village crammed into it?
Couldn’t the kitchen at The Bull have helped? Or surely Lower Loxley has several ovens, not all in use.
It just seemed a rather lame plot device to get even more people together at the stables, to interact with each other.
Bah Humbug again!
Quite possible the Barn also has an oven. Apparently, according to another Archers website there is also an electic cooker in Brookfield !
DeleteI agree Archerfile, a load of nonsense!
DeleteBit of a coincidence, don't you think? I bet David sabotaged the oven!
DeleteOf course the Events Barn at Brookfield has a kitchen of sorts, as it is needed for the happenings there.
DeleteWhat a good thought from Spicy. 💛
Ed training as a tree surgeon at the cost of £17,000 - How, when and how long, is my initial thought.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt he will be qualified in a few months and not the years it takes others.
Why not bring back tree surgeon Jamie Perks, who worked with Mike Tucker who was the then tree warden, before getting the necessary qualifications as a qualified tree surgeon.
He could reclaim April Cottage which is still owned by Mum Kathy, so Tom/Natasha + twins have to go elsewhere.
Totally improbable and as equally unrealistic, as a lot of TA is at the moment.
At least Denise + Alistair are bonding - the only SL with a possible positive outcome 🫰
Will say nout t’other than agree with all comments above.
ReplyDeleteBecause of having family staying I am not listening to the Archers until late at night in bed and am finding I can’t remember what happened next morning, or even who was taking part! My only memory of last night is Kates very annoying voice grating on me. I’ll have to read the synopsis to find out what actually happened.
ReplyDeleteWhat collateral have Ed & Emma got to back up a £20,000 loan! As things are right now I doubt they will be successful in their quest. Although I can understand Ed’s dream, maybe a private investor in Ed is lurking…..
ReplyDeleteAnd how did Ed suddenly acquire ANY equipment so quickly - and at what cost - two days after Christmas ?
DeleteSo unrealistic !
I assumed the chainsaw plus the safety equipment that both Ed and Emma were using is part of the Grange Farm equipment. As such it belongs to Oliver and neither Ed nor Eddie.
DeleteThat's how I perceived things, as how else has this all suddenly appeared and at such short notice?
That's my simple idea 🫢
Ed when first talking about his idea mentioned he had a couple of old chainsaws but that a tree surgeon would need more up to date, and better, chainsaws. Even I have my own chainsaw ( a battery one, not large enough to cut through a tree trunk but big enough to cut branches into logs for the woodburner). Doesn't everyone?
DeleteWell Janice, I have an eldery hedge-trimmer, does that count?
DeleteIndeed it does. I bet yours is an electric one and that you don't do daft things like cutting through the cable. It was after I gave myself a bit of a fright, and worried the children, doing just that that I changed over to battery run things. I have been surprised how powerful they can be. I frequently remember with gratitude our now departed electrician who was replacing some electrics and he saw me in the garden and added some safety thing to our porch electric socket and him telling me that "it wouldn't stop me getting a shock but it would prevent me being killed" if I cut a cable.
DeleteI haven’t used any electrical equipment for decades.
DeleteI’m not safe !
Decades ago I used a strimmer, and if it got stuck I would kick it.
It pretty soon dawned on me that I was a dangerous individual and shouldn’t be let loose with such things.
😂
DeleteJanice, yes it has a slightly frayed cable...but I always plug it into a special Residual Circuit Breaker plug, which is just as old. I am always super careful with trailing flexes though.
DeleteJust catching up on the Christmas episodes.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one surprised by the sudden failure of the Brookfield Aga. (I hadn't thought of all the other possible back-ups.)
Was it sabotage? Did Jill put it out in a huff because her lemon drizzle was criticised? Or did it extinguish itself in shame at having failed to cook the precious cake to perfection?
As for the tree surgery, wouldn't Ed be better off joining an established firm of tree-surgeons? Perhaps less lucrative long term but at least he'd have a regular income rather than massive start-up debts. I assume there must be some local firms. Or do Borsetshire trees have a special gene that means they only need attention when someone needs the work, or when a car needs crushing?
What does Ed’s change of plan mean for the Texals? Sold to fund chainsaws etc?
ReplyDeleteTrained to wield chainsaws 😉
DeleteI wondered about that too Maryellen,and think OWIAS’s suggestion about Ed joining( or at least seeking advicefrom )an established tree surgeon would be the most sensible course to follow ,rather than diving into debt.
ReplyDeleteHe should check with Jamie he trained as a TS if I remember correctly!
DeleteAfter listening to the omnibus this morning, I suddenly realised that Kate + Brian might just work together in Blossom Hill Cottage, but what about the cats?
ReplyDeleteThese are Hilda Ogden and her son, Stan 🙀
I was a bit confused though, as on Boxing Day the wind was so strong a tree blew down, damaging Emma's car. Then a short while later, Alistair + Denise ate their packed lunches outside, in a sunny yet cold day..
DeleteMaybe it was sunny, but very cold because of the wind after all we are talking Ambridge ❄️ ☀️ 🌬️ 🤣
DeletePerhaps they found somewhere out of the wind.
DeleteLillian ok so in the end Brian enjoyed winning the darts with you at TB but bear in mind some people don’t want to be dragooned into changing their plans! Fresh air being enjoyed outside - full of your cigarette smoke 🙃 I do agree though that New Year’s Eve is often melancholy and a time of memories that can be bitter sweet for many. Best just take each day as it comes, enjoy the good realising it is so because of the difficult periods that will inevitably come around them - because that is life!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year everyone. Hope 2024 is a happy and healthy year for all of us.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been noticing the absence of Neil for quite some time now.
ReplyDeleteCould this be another Archer actor coming to the end of his career ?
That’s true Mrs P - we have heard Susan on occasion but no Neil. Ashamed to say I hadn’t noticed!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy initial thought about New Years Eve in Ambridge was it was a damp squib. However on reflecting on this, it showed the changing of the times.
ReplyDeletePeggy has moved into The Laurels, The Lodge will be up for sale soon, and Brian, Kate, Lillian, Tony (plus Pat) are all moving forwards into 2024, just as the anniversary of Jennifer is approaching, Jan.22nd I think.
At least Alice has a new focus to help her through this.
I haven’t been very excited by the Christmas and New Year episodes either Miriam.
ReplyDeleteOver recent years we have been used to a big cliff hanger around this season, but everythjng was much more humdrum this year. No surprises or dramas, just normal-ish everyday life.
But it’s been a bit of a relief after all the Rob business, and some new stories have been set up for 2024.
I have just read some very interesting review of who has appeared in TA over the past year.
ReplyDeleteIt was on FB and I couldn’t see how to reproduce it here… So I took 2 photographs of the piece, put them as my identity photo. If you go at look at my profile and enlarge it a bit you should be able to read it.
I will now change the photo to the second half of the item, and in a couple of days will revert to my usual picture.
And , hopefully, here is the second part !
DeleteThat’s very clever of you AP however the second picture is the same as the first. Mentioning it only as you may not have realised, not as a criticism.
DeleteThank you for the read.
Personally I am often aware that not a single ARCHER is in some episodes, but then feel that AMBRIDGE is more to the fore in current times than in the past.
I adhere to the past as MrsP of Ambridge in honour of Peggy Woolly’s mother, a character I always hoped to grow into as I aged. In fact I think I’ve become a lot less like her as I’ve aged than I expected to.
When alls said and done tho’ I would not want the programme to be changed to Ambridge Matters after all these decades.
Oh dear - good idea but doesn’t seem to work! I can only suggest anyone interested in the annual statistics goes onto Facebook and searches for the Archers Academic page. The poster is called Simon Pemberton and he has just issued the third part of the statistics which are very interesting. This is something he does every year apparently.
DeleteWasn't Simon Pemberton the name of a character in The Archers, son of Guy who Caroline married?
DeleteJust read APs post above and thinking how familiar the name Simon Pemberton was then read that clever Miriam has given the answer.
DeleteYes Miriam, well done.
But I seem to remember him as a boyfriend of Debby.
Could be both ?
Here's hoping for a Good Year in 2024, well to begin with. My wishes are sumple:-
ReplyDeleteGG opens and is a great success
The land at Grange Farm does Not become another site like the EV charging station.
Alice + Harry have good times together, until she realises her true love is still Chris, so they reunite.
Ed + Emma have some luck at last, but not as tree surgeons together,Ed maybe but not Emma.
Brian + Katy hit it off in Blossom Hill Cottage.
Fallon has sole control of the cafe again perhaps even as a partner.
As for Tom + Natasha, they stop interfering.
Joy tells more about her past.
Just a few thoughts in an ideal Ambridge
Good choices Miriam - love your speculations and possibilities
DeleteGood to hear Helen being very adult, talking with Henry this evening
New blog opened topped byFB posts with the statistics
ReplyDelete