Life in Ambridge
Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
Life in Ambridge
Following todays news
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Life in Ambridge
Starter kit for Ed & Emma
Very quiet on both blogs. Hope everyone is enjoying the sun.
ReplyDeleteLady RJune 7, 2024 at 12:56 AM
ReplyDeleteAn excellent D Day Tribute episode ⭐️
I absolutely understood Fallons words regarding feelings of potential loss and in circumstances of high emotional moments they tend to sneak up!
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Lady RJune 7, 2024 at 10:48 AM
👍👏🏻KP
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KPnutsJune 7, 2024 at 7:34 AM
I have only listened with half an ear this week, I’ll have to re-listen
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ArcherphileJune 7, 2024 at 8:34 AM
ReplyDeleteYes, a lovely episode for D Day commemorations. Beautifully written and acted I thought.
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AmbridgesMrsPJune 7, 2024 at 11:07 AM
Can somebody remind me of the past connection between Chelsea and Ben that was alluded to last night. I’ve clearly forgotten whatever it was as I was mystified by that reference in last nights episode.
Like others I felt the day’s importance was marked very well indeed.
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MiriamJune 7, 2024 at 2:32 PM
It was after Ben and Beth split up, something to do with Vince + Brookfield?. Ben went to an event at LL and got drunk. Quite a while later Chelsea found out she was pregnant. Ben it eventually
turned out was the father, and Chelsea went through a late termination.
ReplyDeleteThat's how I remember it..
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AmbridgesMrsPJune 7, 2024 at 5:36 PM
Thank you Miriam- I had completely forgotten that.
Don’t I always say that TA just washes over me ?
Evidence I’d say !
Vince then had a go at Ben in the Bull, naming Chelsea as well so everyone heard about it.
ReplyDeleteThe picture is my nephew & his 14 month old son which my sister sent me
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely boys, especially the little one! Super family photo, thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant heading...and topical with tractors..🚜 ❤️
ReplyDeleteTwo handsome young men a great photo, thanks for sharing KP 🤗
ReplyDeleteLovely photo KP. My 2yr old grandson would be very jealous of that tractor!
ReplyDeleteHow I would love to drive one, but as I can't even get my lawn stripes straight, goodness knows how a field would end up..
DeleteWhat a lovely photo. It made me smile.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you again Gianna. How is La Bella Italia?
DeleteAs this is TA page, I worry for Will as to his very, genorous financial input into the Little Grange tree surgery enterprise.
ReplyDeleteThis is that, will he get the monies he released by his re-morgage of his home, paid back as and when payments are due?
..along with now paying for a van for Emma? This has to be big enough for all her equipment plus to transport the necessary "wood chipper". There also has to have space to take the debris for disposal...
DeleteMaybe we should take a leaf out of Ed’s book and not worry too much about the finances etc. After spending half an episode agonising about their business venture, he’s fired up again and with good cause, The scriptwriters have got them off to a flying start! 🙂🙂🙂
DeleteME. I am not disputing that, but just feel that all might not be as rosy as it seems.
DeleteI do hope I am wrong, and Ed + Emma do get the break they need, at last.
Which in soap land can mean only one thing maryellen 🤣😂🤣 as with the tree what is up must come down but I will try to keep the faith 🙏🏼
DeleteSell Bartleby?!?!
ReplyDeleteYou cannot be serious!
Sorry Fallon.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of how you feel about the pregnancy, it was Harrison's baby too. You may be relieved it didn't contiune, but to him it is a great loss. If you're not willing to talk to about it with him yourself, you must at the very least accept that he has the right to grieve and express his grief to *someone*.
Yes, the woman carries the baby for 9 months. But half the DNA is from the father. And after the child is born we rightly expect the father to be take his share of its upbringing. To deny that he is entitled to his own feelings reduces him to just sperm donor and bank manager.
Although in this case, I wonder if Fallon is trying to sweep things under the carpet because she is terrified that the vast difference to her and Harrison's desires for parenthood will result in breaking up the relationship.
DeleteHowever, Harrison has already made his choice between being with Fallon or being a father. The pregnancy complicated things, but it was still Fallon he chose. Sadly, if anything drives them apart, it will be her refusal to address the elephant in the room.
Agree wholeheartedly OwiaS
DeleteDespite the fact that I also believe that any woman - in this case Fallon - has the right to choose to bear a baby or not.
Yes Fallon it was your body and it was your business, but your husband who you love is also entitled to have feelings independently to yours.
You Fallon, are in danger of losing Harrison with your refusal to allow him his legitimate emotions and berating him for seeking solace elsewhere.
Owias 100 per cent agree with your comments. At present it seems an insurmountable problem that Harrison and Fallon have. The latter not being able to allow Harrison to grieve
Deleteshe does not want to acknowledge the difference between him suffocating his deep desire for a family in order to keep her in his life and the reality for him of knowing that they had (however inadvertently) created a new life and now that life is no more. Fallon in truth does not want to face the fact that she has a big chance of Harrison leaving if some form of joint counselling can not be agreed to.
As my granny would have said, it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other,. Their mutual agreement not to talk about it in order to preserve their day-to-day relationship means Fallon isn’t allowing Harrison to grieve and by creating this ‘elephant in the room’ he isn’t allowing her not to. Both are being denied what they need, Harrison to work through his immediate grief, and Fallon to resume her life as it was before her near-death experience following the crash.
DeleteI’m glad Fallon has remained true to herself and not assumed a grief she does not feel, and sorry for Harrison (although the word ‘wallow’ has sprung to mind, I’m afraid). I don’t know what the answer is but I hope we’re not going to spend the next 6 months finding out, because I already think TA is in danger of becoming The Fallon Rogers Show!
Maryellen- your last point reminds me that I have thought more than once recently, that Fallon is becoming a major player in TA.
DeleteWith each of the original members of the Archer family now gone, David and Ruth now rarely heard, and younger members of the A family dispersed around the village, I wonder if Fallon is being groomed into becoming the go to wise woman of Ambridge.
I thought that it was totally unprofessional of Alan to assume that Harrison had told Fallon and then mention it to her in a public place in front of someone else. I don't think it was realistic that a minister of his experience would do that. If I was Harrison I would have been very annoyed with him.
ReplyDeleteI was also surprised that someone of Stella's experience wouldn't have quickly picked up that she was the victim of a cyber attack.
I thought it unprofessional of Alan too, but it’s not he first time he has ‘assumed’ someone knew something that they didn’t. I seem to remember he let the cat out of the bag about Rob Titchener a while back and that caused problems too.
DeleteI know it’s a plot device to stir things up, but really, it’s not a fair or accurate picture of what a Minister would do.
What I didn't grasp, was why Alan was in the Tea Room to talk to Fallon in work-time, and not in Woodbine Cottage with them both, which is much closer to the Vicarage...
DeletePerhaps I misheard, so need to relisten.
DeleteShe'll swiftly drop the asking price when she discovers Bartleby refuses to talk unless Eddie is by his side ...
ReplyDelete🐎
Seriously though, have any of the Grundys googled her donkey sanctuary to make sure she's legit?
DeleteWell if any of them were to do so, it would be Emma.
DeleteAnd I don’t think she has.
Hope it’s not like an old edition of Heartbeat I was watching the other night when a dealer was stealing horses, including pet ones and turning them into meat to sell to France!
DeleteI imagine that Bartelby would be a bit tough to eat at his age Archerfile.
DeleteOh dear, what a miserable start to the week.
ReplyDeleteMoany Tony, sleepy George, itchy Paul, boring Adam and worried Alice.
I just hope it gets better as the week goes on
Ambridge has become a very miserable place Archerfile. I am increasingly wondering why I keep going there.
DeleteWill George be called to give evidence at the trial?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the penalties for perjury?
Hopefully transportation to somewhere far away!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSorry, meant to say George won't need to give evidence
DeleteIf Alice pleads guilty
DeleteI doubt George would perjure himself. I'm feeling quite sorry for him at the moment - unable to enjoy the tributes to his heroism which are rightfully his and get on with his life, which is currently blighted by the burden of guilt engendered by his wrongful claim that Alice was driving and the prospect of a prison sentence for her. My bet is that he will confess. Though I wouldn't weep many tears for Alice if she was sentenced since the whole affair is clearly her responsibility and prison seems to be the one place where she is compelled to be sober.
DeleteI have to disagree that the whole affair is Alice's responsibility only. She is guilty only as to driving to a quiet lay-by, so to drink her vodka, apart from drunk in charge of a vehicle even though not driving
DeleteBUT did she give George (an un-insured driver) her full permission to drive her home in her car?
She certainly wasn't in the drivers seat when the event happened, so how is she fully responsible?
Oh Well does it really matter, as she will plead guilty on Friday as she thinks she is.
We know that by not objecting, Alice allowed her car, and her to be driven by George, an uninsured driver. Unless she was too drunk to be aware that she was in her car and being driven by George. which seems unlikely. She was certainly too drunk to appreciate that if you want to get out of the passenger seat to be sick on the verge, it's advisable to give the driver time to stop.
Deletei think a discussion of responsibility versus guilt and technical versus moral responsibility would be too draining so won't attempt it. (Relieved faces!)
As I recall, she was far too far gone to be able to assent to him driving. He had to hunt for the keys before finding them in the glovebox.
DeleteI know someone who tried to open the driver's side passenger door on the motorway once. When stopped from doing so he proceeded to be sick in the back of his not-yet father-in-law's Jaguar. (he was forgiven, eventually!).
No, he wasn't a shoedweller!
'Unless she was too drunk to be aware that she was in her car and being driven by George. which seems unlikely.'
DeleteI'd say it's very likely, considering she is convinced that she must have been driving the car herself.
So basically we’re saying Alice was completely blotto, incapable of understanding what was happening or exercising responsibility in any shape or form - and therefore absolved of all responsibility for the crash and its aftermath?
DeleteIt was uninsured George who took the decision to drive her car. He could have called someone for help.
DeleteBut, of course, hw wouldn’t have been in that position, if Alice hadn’t irresponsibly succumbed to temptation in the first place (yes, I know alcoholism is a ‘disease’ but unlike most true diseases, one which allows for choice, which she had shown herself admirably capable of exercising That”s why I’m saying ‘responsible’ instead of ‘guilty’). And she was undeniably the cause of the incident which sparked the crash and all that followed from it.
DeleteI’m not exonerating George’s rash behaviour, which hopefully he will grow out of, I wish I could say the same of Alice, if only for Chris and Martha’s sake - though at the moment I feel they would be better off with steady and reliable Hannah.
A lot of autistic people practise masking in public - by conscious effort they are able to control their natural reactions and block out their sensitivities to noise, textures, whatever, in order to 'fit in' and appear 'normal'. This takes an awful lot of emotional and physical energy. We do not see the effect on them - this is saved for when they get home, take the 'mask' off and collapse. All a lot of harm to their well-being so the rest of us don't have to deal with their 'oddness'.
DeleteOMiaS used to smoke. Years after he stopped, he told me the desire for a cigarette was still there, especially at times of high stress.
I cannot play 'just one or two' goes of a computer game. There's always 'just one more go', If I don't play for a few days I tend to forget about the game. But woe betide me if I feel like revisiting it sometime later... This is one of many reasons why I would never risk myself in a betting shop or on fruit machines.
Yes, Alice *has* shown she is capable of supressing the siren call of drink. She may even have made it look easy. But we don't know how much daily and hourly effort that took her. That is why AA and other groups insist you need to keep attending the meetings and why you are always a recovering alchoholic, and never a recovered alchoholic.
Alice will not be the first addict who thought she was doing OK, took her eye off the ball, and found that she wasn't quite as strong as she thought.
And, she purposefully took herself away from people and places she could damage, and took steps to prevent herself rashly driving off in her car, before she started her binge. How was she to know she would be found by her nephew who would decide the best thing to do would be for him to drive her home, uninsured?
My feelings are that Alice always did her best to act responsibly even when drinking.
DeleteShe has been consistently responsible around Martha since understanding her appalling action in dropping Martha, and has co operated with Chris in every way regarding Martha’s care.
It would seem that when intending to drink, she buys the alcohol and drives to a safe spot to drink when in the car. She has been adamant that when doing this she puts the car keys in the glove box. I have imagined her doing this in order to prevent her just turning the key and driving away. With the keys out of her immediate reach she would have to stop and think.
My understanding of this behaviour is that she is concerned to keep herself and others safe.
I view this as responsible behaviour even when under the influence of the alcohol.
We heard George move Alice into the passenger seat when he encountered her in the lay- by. This was his decision, not Alice’s.
He could have chosen instead to alert another person to help. He did not.
I completely agree with the statement from OwiaS - June 18 - 7.53 pm.
However I too feel sorry for George in his present predicament of heroism V guilt.
But agree with Miriam too in her first para.
As to her question regarding giving George permission to drive her car.
No she did not.
But, will she plead guilty on Friday.
I hope that she will be given the opportunity to explain her concerns about her responsibility V guilt, and I very much hope that George’s conscience (and it has become clear that he does have a conscience) will lead him to be honest about his actions.
My problem is this, and I am saying as no idea of the Justice system, so perhaps some-one can tell me..
DeleteIf Alice pleads guilty in the Magistrates Court, can a prison sentence/fine/ban be immediately imposed there + then by a Magistrate, even being 4× over the limit...
I could do a speculation which involves Alice + Martha, but obviously won't tell. 🤣
DeleteTo sum up (hopefully I’ve understood the arguments, though OWiaS’s reference to autism in relation to Alice somewhat flummoxed me): Firstly, Alice has shown she is capable of parental responsibility (mainly in the years she was sober, and despite what that sobriety was costing her), and secondly, she showed a general.sense of responsibility by hiding the car keys from herself before she began her binge so she wouldn’t drive home in a befuddled state (but somewhere obvious enough for her to find them when she recovered). Incidentally we don’t know if she was already over the limit when she drove to the lay-by.
DeleteNotwithstanding these examples, I believe that Alice was massively irresponsible in drinking herself into a stupor which rendered her incapable of controlling (a) what happened with her car, and (b) her own actions. It was the fact that she was out of control that sparked the crash.
Obviously she didn’t know in advance that she would be found by George in her drunken state, but she must have been aware of the risks she was running. Anyone could have taken over the car and her like he did, but with far worse motivation.
So finally what I’m saying is that it was Alice’s lack of responsibility that made her morally responsible for what happened that evening . For what it’s worth, I think she will plead not guilty, for the simple reason it gives the scriptwriters more dramatic potential.
That’s all from me.
Fair enough ME.
DeleteOK ME and your thoughts.
DeleteI am fast losing my liking for Fallon.
ReplyDelete(ME, I have limited expertise on alchoholism. The autism example was my attempt to find other examples where behaving 'acceptably' may be taking far more effort, and exacting a far greater toll, than is apparent to an outside observer.)
I take your point, ,OWiaS. The scriptwriters may have downplayed it.
DeleteI agree about Fallon. She recognises that she has no grief too contend with but cannot accept that Harrison has.
ReplyDeleteLast night highlighted Fallon’s inability to understand Harrison’s feelings and beliefs. I found some of her outburst difficult to listen to.
ReplyDeleteThe sooner Harrison finds a less self centered woman and one he can have a family with the better I think.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion - Fallon is not only misunderstood, but is also misunderstanding.
ReplyDeleteStalemate seems the only conclusion.
Agree with all comments but must add that Harrison should have told her that he was, for his own benefit, going ahead with the short service with Alan.
DeleteHo has told Alan on two occasions I believe, that he would tell Fallon what he intended to do, but then has not done so.
There are definitely faults on both sides.
I wonder if Alice has any legal representation, I can't recall any mention of it.
ReplyDelete..and has Brian sorted one out for her + he is paying 😃
DeleteI believe he is on holiday and Alice does not want to spoil it by contacting him….🤔
DeleteWell done Alice!
ReplyDeleteThe Crown Court requires guilt to be decided beyond reasonable doubt.
Presumably now George will have to be called as witness. After all, he was the first person to go to Alice's car after the accident, and I think he was still there when the emergency services arrived.
If her lawyer is looking for proof she wasn't driving, she will need to ask George where he found her.
If George doesn't step up and do the right thing, I suggest we charter a bus and go to the hearing ourselves to present ear-witness testimony.
Yes, we could describe how Alice’s dangerous drunk passenger behaviour caused the crash - in case her sudden recollection of the evening’s events doesn't’ Include that.
DeleteI think George will either confess in advance (who to?) or stick to his story (with added detail to cover his fingerprints in the car), in which case the jury can decide who to believe, plausible George or a woman who habitually drinks herself so insensible in her car that she has had to devise a strategy for hiding the keys. Whoever gets penalised, I hope it’s a lenient sentence.
Well done Alice ! - were my words spoken out loud as I listened.
DeleteWether we think Alice or George to be responsible - jointly IMO - or not, a proper investigation should be made into the cause of the accident and should include detail of the run up of what happened.
I am pleased that Alice has listened to her instincts and paid attention to her deep underlying sense of responsibility, which she appears to me to have retained along with her undeniable sense of shame.
Ah, perhaps George could be tried for car jacking and kidnap. The kidnappee, not unreasonably, made an attempt to ascape the car. 'Tis not her fault the kidnapper was unable to control both the car and his victim.
DeleteYes, I know that holds as much water as a sieve, but Alice neither requested or consented to George driving her. She wouldn't have been a dangerous drunk passenger if George had stayed where he found her and phoned for help.
What happened to "silence implies consent"?? The point is, she didn't stop him. And he did phone Will, if not specifically for his advice, at least to let him know. Not George's fault if Will didn't pick up and George made his own decision (admittedly with the prospect of driving Alice's posh car as a possible contributory factor!).
Delete'What happened to "silence implies consent"?? The point is, she didn't stop him'
DeleteSo, if a man rapes a woman when she is too drunk to resist, the woman is at fault?!?
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSorry - Wrong Archers page 🥺😱😵
DeleteI was about to delete, but decided not to.
OWiaS - with respect, are you comparing like with like? We don't know whether Alice would have rejected or accepted George's offer if she had been in a state to respond properly.
DeleteMiriam - it wasn't till after the incident that George managed to delete his voicemail to Will, when he needed to cover his tracks. I agree that George is technically responsible for the accident caused by Alice's dangerous behaviour, since he was behind the wheel at the time. I hope there are mitigating factors to taken into account if and when he is sentenced. My heart goes out to his family. I also hope Alice, if wrongly convicted, gets a non-custodial sentence. Whichever way it goes for her, I'm with Justin on replacing her at The Stables.
I just think that 'silence implies consent' is a pretty risky road to be travelling along.
Delete'Someone cannot give their consent when they are:
Asleep
Under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Coerced
Scared'
(https://uksaysnomore.org/learn/learn-sexual-violence/understanding-consent/)
Yes, that context is sexual violence. But if you're not deemed capable of giving sexual consent, how can you still be capable if consent in other circumstances?
Yes, “silence means consent” is a red herring, I shouldn’t have introduced it. The original Latin proverb translates as: He who is silent, when he ought to have spoken and was able to, is taken to agree. It has no authority in English law (hence the right to remain silent when questioned).
DeleteSo Alice neither objected or consented to George driving her car (someone on another blog thought she said No...... but I don’t recall that, and in any case, we don’t know hat would have followed the No). Alice may say in retrospect what she would have told George but “would” is not “did” when it comes to hard evidence.
My only thought is that Alice pleading "Not Guilty" is justified and proven in some way or another.
ReplyDeleteIf not, then she will join the list of other Ambridge residents who spent time in a HMP.
Interestingly, Chris was the only character who didn't immediately question Alice's not guilty plea.
Delete(What will George say when he hears?!?)
I am wondering if there was cctv anywhere along the lane. Would the car have passed by the church because the church might have cctv? I am not sure of their direction of travel.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t like hearing that Clarrie has given Oliver’s bank account details to the supposed buyer of Bartelby does he know this? I feel the whole thing is a scam and Oliver will have his bank account cleared out 😱 ( I have just listened again to make sure I heard right)
ReplyDeleteGeorge will panic big time when he hears Alice is going to trial and he will be called to be a witness on oath to boot!
I wonder how detailed the investigation of the accident was. We haven't heard anything about that.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering how thoroughly the car has been inspected - will that have been done by the police? Will they be dusting for finger prints on the steering wheel or glove box?
DeleteAnd will they find bottles/cans of drink?
Nor sure how thorough the police would be if nobody has been killed in a accident
I think I was asking some if not all of those questions about the police and a proper investigation in the days after the accident.
DeleteAnd I’m still asking them.
As for Alice saying ‘No’ or not, I feel that I can remember at least some slurred word or grunt from her when George first found her slumped in the car.
I believe that its possible to listen to each episode for 28 days.
Have we passed that point yet ?
In answer to my own question- yes we are way beyond 28 days.
DeleteSo the money has been paid into Oliver’s account and early! The red herring for when his account is cleared out. “Can’t be that lady who has done this to me she had my details yes but she not only paid me my money but early”) as suspected Roy is going to stay with Lexi and it’s goodbye to a wonderful actor 🙏🏼
ReplyDeleteYou could be right Lady R, especially as Oliver is being portrayed as losing the plot at the moment
DeleteYes, Roy’s decision to stay with Lexi has been very heavily signposted in recent episodes so it’s not really a surprise. But it’s a shame we will miss other members of his family too.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that the last of The Tuckers has now left Ambridge.
DeleteI still remember Brenda finding Betty...
Betty was such a lovely person. I still miss her decades later.
DeleteRe the payment for Bartleby going into Oliver's account -I don't think that Carrie would have had any information other than the name and address of the bank, the name the account was in, the sort code and account number (she will probably have this information because of paying Oliver rent). I don't think Oliver would have let her have his login details, ie. Password, User ID or Memorable Information, which would be needed to access his account.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right Patricia. I send payments online to a builder when he does repair work and to the dairy for the monthly milk bill and i just have the sort codes
Deleteand account numbers.
I’m glad to hear this ladies of course most bank online these days but not me - as yet
DeleteIt is probably just as well the money has gone into Oliver's account and Eddie can't spend it because George may eventually need it to pay for a lawyer.
ReplyDeleteand some!
DeleteMy crystal ball predicts that the case against Alice will be dropped because the police/CPS failed to follow the correct procedures (not unusual in these days of short-staffing and the low priority given to motoring offences). Alice's plea of not guilty will not be heard. The ball got a bit blurry when it came to George's future but seemed to suggest a deathbed confession!
ReplyDeleteNic's was enough.
DeleteYes, we have a precedent for a deathbed confession, though if George has a normal lifespan, we won't be around to hear it. There is also a precedent for the CPS dropping a case. Rob's charge of kidnapping was dropped without a reason being given (as I recall). A list of possible reasons I read included witnesses not turning up (George?). It added that sometimes no reason was given.
DeleteIf your crystal ball is correct Maryellen then the door is left open for Alice to be hung out to dry by the village for ever and a day, with everyone except perhaps Chris, and including all of Alice’s family, believing for ever more in her guilt.
DeleteI do hope not.
Alice said there were two charges (when she left the police station which I think were (1) being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink, and (2) driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit etc. We know she is not guilty of (2), unless she was already over the limit when she parked in the layby, which I imagine is unprovable. But it seems to me she is still guilty of (1), judging by the state she was in when George found her.
DeleteThought it was:-
Deletea) Driving over the legal limit
b) Driving without due care + attention.
I was obviously wrong so thanks for clarifying this.
You could well be right, Miriam - in which case, forget I spoke!
DeleteThere’s a thought CC!
ReplyDeleteAt least Kirsty still owns her Beechwood house even though rented out to Helen + the boys.
ReplyDeleteMy thought is that Willow Farm will not be sold just yet, until Roy is firmly settled in Bulgaria.
George in a ‘ two an eight ‘ after his chat with Susan.
ReplyDeleteAre we are meant to interpret this as his guilt weighing heavily on his conscience ?
I still think he has other plans, but won't speculate 🤣
DeleteI wonder if Carlotta (a prettier version of Charlotte,I think) will become a love interest for one of the Brookfield boys?
ReplyDeleteJosh is my thought.
DeleteAfter my omnibus listen this morning, it made me realise that it was the final Good-bye to two well loved Archers characters. Roy + Bartleby. They have left in differing circumstances but both were done in a lovely and positive way.
ReplyDeleteYour right Miriam
DeleteIt was a clever move to have the two of them involved in leaving in one episode. And it was well done too.
On May the 7th I predicted that it might well be Chris that sees or thinks that there was something amiss with the immediate belief that it was Alice driving.
ReplyDeleteThat’s approximately 9 weeks thinking Chris, but I’m pleased you’ve got there.
And, I think this is the first time that we have heard that an empty cider bottle had been found in the car along with the empty vodka bottle.
Is this the first time we’ve heard that ?
Who needs a court case? The Ambridge Judge and Jury have already tried the case, the solitary voice of the defense has been declared irrelevant, and the defendent has been declared guilty. Thirty years hard labour as a minimum.
DeleteAnd while we're at it, George should be recommended for an eponymous cross.
Alice's lawyer has got her work cut out for her if she's going to convince the real jury. Unless George finally fesses up ...
Enter Joy !
DeleteJoy will remember that George bought the bottle of fruit cider at the same time as Alice bought the vodka.
And Joy will have her say !
At least Chris has asked he question “was someone else in the car” admittedly he is fixated on Harry ( romantic jealousy) but if he asks Alice, and she is talking to him, she may have some hazy recall of George and hopefully there will be available evidence,, fingerprints etc to confirm his presence in the car, and I think he would crumble under questioning
ReplyDeleteAgree that George is most likely to cave in under questioning.
DeleteFingerprints would be on the bottle of cider as well as the driving wheel.
And so far nobody has thought to ask why George happened to be at the site of the accident at that time. Presumably because the fact of his heroic actions in the rescue of passengers has out shadowed any other questions that might have been asked.
OWIAS, I've just caught up with your suggestion that we hire a bus and present ourselves at Alice's hearing.
ReplyDeleteBetter still, may I offer the use of one of my nice, shiny blue and white aeroplanes so you could fly into Felpersham International Airport. Although such a place has not been mentioned to date, I'm sure that a metropolis large enough for a cathedral and a university must surely have one as well.
😊✈️
DeleteHarry seems.to be recovering splendidly. Will the.dramatic situation be reversed, with Harry encouraging Alice to seek help like she encouraged him? It’s the kind of parallel the TA scriptwriters are keen on......
ReplyDeleteMmmmm wondered that too ME
DeleteI think Harry has been re-introduced just to support + believe in Alice, alongside Chris.
DeleteI don't think he will try to stop her drinking, as Alice needs to find the motivation to do this herself.
It is known that Martha loves Harry reading her a bed-time story. Could this be the smallest of triggers to help her?
I can’t say I warm to either Martha or Rosie. From the little we know of them, they seem to me to be “typical only children”, used to being the centre of adult attention.
DeleteI can't wait to hear Emma and Susan eat humble pie when Saint George's full role in this saga is revealled ...
ReplyDeleteI feel very sorry for the heartbreak any disclosure will cause them. At least they will have George’s undeniable heroism to console them. If the trial goes ahead I hope we don’t have to attend it. I thought Susan was brilliant with Chris. It’s not the first time we’ve heard her wisdom applied to a wounded soul.
ReplyDeleteI kept waiting for a hideous crashing of branches last night, but the scriptwriters spared us that.
ReplyDeleteI actually thought that Justin was quite fair with Alice, ( but I have always had a slight crush on Simon Williams even if he does play cads, or maybe that’s why! )
Must say I liked him in the early days, Upstairs, Downstairs etc. Handsome and dashing.
DeleteBut now I find his gravelly voice unbearable and keep wishing he would have a good cough!
Oh ARCHERPHILE I do feel the same as you about Justin / Simon Williams.
DeletePlease clear your throat before speaking into the microphone
I can't remember what the set up at The Stables is. I thought that shula owned it and Alice is employed to manage it but don't know about Lilian and Justin. Do they have a financial interest or is it purely administrative? Does anyone have the answer?
ReplyDeleteA telling contrast tonight between ineffectual Kenton ("Take care") and forthright Susan ("This is what you have to do to save yourself and Martha"). Of Alice's immediate family, only Brian seems to be doing something positive to help her - checking out rehab facilities. Good to hear that Miranda is understanding and supportive. Incidentally, I'm surprised we haven't heard from Brian himself now he's back from his holiday, hope this means the actor who plays him is unavailable for a good reason, not bad!
ReplyDeleteWell done Susan- now let’s hope you have hit all the right buttons to kick start Alice back into recovery 🙏🏼
ReplyDeleteA bit late to the table but will echo…….. we’ll done Susan !
ReplyDeleteShe is a good woman at heart for all the gossiping and I’m pleased she has spoken up to Alice.
I have a friend who after the birth of her first child suffered puerperal psychosis which lasted for years. Terrified of having another child she was protected and cared for by the NHS and gave birth without any after effects. But when her mother died some years later, she went into psychosis again, and this time for many years.
Finally after much treatment and support from friends she became better.
She now says “ I decided that I just didn’t want to be ill any longer “.
She has since resumed a normal life and now as a grandmother is thriving.
Alice can decide if she has the will to do so.
I believe she can and hope she will.
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DeleteRe the set up at the stables Cheshire Cheese, I think Lilian has a financial interest in it but wasn't sure if Justin did. I tried finding out on the Archer's website, but with no success. Like you, I hope someone with more in depth knowledge can let us know. I've always disliked Justin and thought he could have easily sent a very vulnerable Alice "over the brink", but hopefully and along with Susan's wise words it may have the opposite effect.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Patricia that it is Lilian who has an interest in the stables, given to her by Shula. I’m not sure about this 100% however.
ReplyDeleteBut I am sure that Lilian has given far too much latitude to Justin and allowed him to take over the parts of the business that he feels he is better suited, and better experienced, to deal with.
I do not like Justin either, although I do think that he and Lilian are well matched and make a good couple.
Justin had no right whatsoever to visit a vulnerable person and railroad her, and Lilian has been far too soft with him when finding what he did.
She needs to rail that man in !
I wouldn't put up with the way that Justin pokes hos nose into things that are non of his business. I don't think that he had any right to go and say what he did to Alice.
DeleteI think Justin does have a financial stake in The Stables, but it is a joint one with Lillian.
DeleteWasn't it Justin who changed the plans for the cross country course, so making it dangerous?
Alice stood up to him then, as she did when he tried to make her resign.
'That other car coming towards *us*'
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that little pronoun niggles at Adam and he startes asking questions.
I’m hoping that the ‘us’ niggles at Alice too, as well as Adam.
DeleteWithout the alcohol and in daily therapy Alice will surely think her way through what happened and slowly realise that what she remembers is from the POV of a passenger and not the driver, eventually leading to her remembering opening the car door.
It's still all heresay at the moment though, as Alice needs proof.
DeleteThe event was on May 5th, so how can her memories if any, be proven?
BTW I am Team Alice 😀
I wonder if any of the cars had dashcams.
DeleteI’d like to think so cc but if so would the police not have investigated them already?
DeleteStill hoping George will crack - the main thing stopping him is the possibility of prison but by his ongoing action he is making that more and more likely when “it” hits the fan.
I am also wondering if the therapy sessions will make Alice remember the accident.
DeleteIt looks like the brown is about to hit the fan for Denise & Alistair as we’ve been introduced to John.
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ReplyDeleteI didn’t enjoy listening to Alistair and Denise’s lovey dovey goings on. I felt embarrassed and uncomfortable about the two of them carrying on in secret. I rather wish Denise would decide to stick with John and Alistair would find an unmarried woman to set his heart a-fluttering.
ReplyDeleteWhat with their affair and Paul’s romantic problems I have had enough of sex this week. Get back to farming please.
I just want less George and more Joy with the fete organisation.
DeleteI still can't work out why George seemed to be responsible for the harvesting?
I think Ed would normally have done it but couldn't because they had been offered a big tree felling job,
DeleteEd (and Emma) had a tree job booked and George was next in line for the haymaking.
ReplyDeleteI’m enjoying a spell without the Horrobins or Jim and very little Jazzer. I’d enjoy it even more without Alistair and Denise. I suspect she’s toying with him.
I am missing Tracy, Jazzer, Chelsea and Jim. The reason is they have great personalities and so are nowhere near as bland as many others - Paul, Pip, Denise, Josh, to name a few.
ReplyDeleteMy wish is for Johnny to return from the high seas.
Don’t think that’s going to happen Miriam !
DeleteI imagine that the actor has other fish to fry.
More references to fruit cider tonight. I think George’s defence is slowly unravelling.
ReplyDeleteGeorge shot himself in the foot tonight with that outburst.
DeleteYes, he is unraveling.
SPOILER ALERT
ReplyDeleteARCHERPHILE - PLEASE LOOK AWAY!
I was thinking we wouldn’t hear Jill again, only hear of her, on account of the actor’s age and infirmity, but now I see her inane in a case list for early next month. Will it be her swan song, I wonder? No Leonard Berry in the list, which looks ominous.....
Mrs P. As to why I wish Johnny would return..
ReplyDeleteThe thoughts are many:-
Johnny is the son of John, and as such is a true member/heir of the Bridge Farm Enterprise.
At the moment, Tom + Natasha along with Helen, are the main managers. Johnny needs to become prominent and put a realistic input into this business.
Johnny, even if being portrayed by a wonderful new and young actor, needs to return to support this organic farm and protect Pat + Tony from Natasha, with her very meddling ideas!
Well that’s fair enough Miriam, perhaps he will return with another voice.
DeleteFor your sake and your reasons, I hope he will.
Not fair to Natasha, Miriam As the wife and business partner of a Bridge Farm director and legitimate heir, she is naturally involved in its running, KP and it has benefited from her initiative. Whereas Johnny showed no head for business or general interest in development and now seems to have lost interest in the farm altogether, even the cowman’s work he so much enjoyed. (Did his hair ever grow back?)
Delete.
A decision has now been made easier. Thanks ME.
DeleteI don't know how the KP in my last post crept in - it's not meant to refer to KPnuts in any way! Going back to the Alice/George storyline - if Borsetshire prisons are as overcrowded as they are in real life, it seems to me unlikely that anyone will be given a custodial sentence following the Heydon Bridge crash. That's a relief!
DeleteWhat an earth was last nights episode about! It seemed to go on forever and yet just be a load of drivel. Maybe that is just me but really did not enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteYou are not the only one Lady R!
DeleteTo start with, I had difficulty working out who was speaking, Lily being the only obvious voice that I recognised. There are several young men of similar age in the stories now and I get their voices mixed up.
Then there was the venue - some sort of party or concert or perhaps a rave?
The only thing that did stick in my head was Freddie being bullied by work colleagues and a threat to his safety from the bloke who was stealing meat.
Well I didn’t even take that on board AP - something about to happen there then,
DeleteI also am bamboozled regarding Johnny such a lame and unrealistic storyline. He was a traditional character who loved farming and especially his Montbeliarde cows to have gone off as he did in the first place and then never to return - pifflel! I cannot understand why this character was dropped like a hot potato? I don’t think the actor died or was in disgrace as far as I know, and like Miriam I would like him to return and be his sensible self once again…..
ReplyDeleteWho is this Milo Haywood? I tried googling him without success. Does he appear on national TV or just on BBC Borsetshire?
ReplyDeleteI think Milo is a fictional character which means Lily can criticise him without fear of repercussions.
DeleteOur veg box farmer has a field kitchen at the farm and they occasionally do foraging events. The food collected is taken back to the restaurant where it is cooked and served. It costs a lot less than £250 per head!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the days that Hugh Fearnly Whitingstall arranges, but his are very expensive now too
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ReplyDeleteWho thinks that Natasha was right or wrong, in talking to Fallon at that time and place, as to her this one-off event helping Pip, Lottie and a Ukrainian Bride, when costs were low, so just helping out?
ReplyDeleteAnother episode that went over my head Miriam 😏
DeleteI'm not sure if Fallon is the Manager of the teashop. If she is and had arranged for Emma to cover for her, then she was free to do the catering for the hen party. If she isn't the manager, then Natasha was right that Emma covering for her should have been run by her. After tonight's episode it is clearly now Natasha's intention to offer outside catering . As we have seen, Natasha can be very caring and supportive on a personal level, but can be ruthless when it comes to business.
ReplyDeleteNatasha was within her rights - another example of her initiative potentially benefitting Bridge Farm - and Fallon was in the wrong. Moonlighting is technically legal but doesn't go down well with employers when it conflicts with their requirements, as it did in this case. Rather than tick Fallon off (and bearing in mind that Fallon's skills are a major asset where the Tearoom is concerned), Natasha astutely turned the situation into a business opportunity.
DeletePS. It's also a good business opportunity for Fallon, as Natasha pointed out. That's if Fallon plays her cards right!
DeleteI felt that Fallon was potentially at fault for not running her - potential moonlighting - through with Natasha. But then if she had done so, Natasha would likely have turned it into a business opportunity for the tearoom as she has now done.
DeleteNatasha is an acute business operator and ruthless with it.
I felt very sorry for Fallon, but also felt that she is not helped by Chelsea the over eager puppy dog, who sticks her oar in at every opportunity, and who needs reigning in.
At the end of this episode I felt that perhaps now is the time for Fallon to strike out on her own, find premises and set up her own catering operation.
I also hoped that Pip and friends ( yet again I was unable to distinguish voices other than Pips ) would feel able to turn down Natasha’s overriding suggestions and insist on Fallons offers exclusively.
Don’t suppose that will happen though !
Fallon is the manager of the Tea Room and as such, is in charge of the day-to-day running.
DeleteShe doesn't need to ask Natasha to have a day off, especially as cover in Emma, was booked in, so no difference as to The Tea Room service.
Yes I agree, Fallon did not need to ask for the day off.
DeleteHowever I do believe it would have been circumspect for her to have to
told Natasha what she intended to do, given the way that Natasha operates in response to any initiative anyone else is likely to take.
Natasha always has to go one better at any and every opportunity.
Why should she have any need to tell Natasha? She is doing something to help out Ambridge friends, to provide something for another in the best way possible, and why.
DeleteFallon had no reason to say what she was doing!
Bye for now, as to my Archers thoughts.
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DeleteFallon is middle management, Natasha is top management. Anywhere I've worked, it's been standard practice to clear dates with one's immediate boss before putting in for time off. Saying why wasn't required but in smaller organisations where the boss was a daily presence, it usually came.up. It avoided situations like Fallon's where Natasha needed her to be there on the day in question, and the demands of her day job conflicted with her own business commitments. She would have been wise to inform Natasha beforehand, as a matter of courtesy if nothing else. She As Mrs P says, Natasha would probably have responded in the same way, but in pleasanter circumstances.
DeleteAt the time the Tearoom concession was due for renewal, Fallon's business plan for it mentioned extending the cafe's field of operation to include outside catering. When Bridge Farm made the understandable decision to bring the Tearoom management in house, listeners suggested she should take her business elsewhere (the proposed cafe at the charging station was mooted). But Fallon opted for the financial security of employment at Bridge Farm, and since then, it seems to me her own business has been in the doldrums.
I'm basing this mainly on the fact we haven't heard much about it till now (or her upcycled furniture). The Tearoom appears to be well-patronised (despite Tony's unsought contribution to the interior decor!) and Fallon's energy seems to be devoted to that. Recent weeks have been difficult for her. of course.
My point is that, courtesy of Natasha, she now has a second opportunity to develop her business interests. She needs to ensure that her new contract states all Bridge Farm publicity recognises the part played by her business in providing outside catering, and as Natasha pointed out, the association with Bridge Farm will be a valuable selling point in her own publicity.
All good points Maryellen -
DeleteBut none that address Natasha’s passive aggressive operating style.
Personally I hear the smile that fronts the dagger every time Natasha speaks.
I congratulate the actor on her skills.
I've been trying to find the words to describe my feelings about Natasha MrsP, and you've come up with them. Passive aggressive is exactly right. I've had quite a few managers over my working life, Natasha is one who would have set me on edge every time she walked into the room.
DeleteShe sets me on edge CC every time she walks into my hearing room.
DeleteMrs P - I didn’t address Natasha’s “passive aggressive” style because I didn’t associate any of the behaviours typical of passive aggression with her. She’s always seemed pretty straightforward to me and the feelings she expresses are genuine. I certainly don’t believe her kindness is “weaponised ’ (to quote an American website I encountered).
DeletePoor Fallon. Natasha will no doubt take a big cut for the budgets and accounting she said she is going to do and for the use of the kitchèn, and it will never actually be Fallon's own business. She will be working her socks off for the Bridge Farm brand. Nasty Natasha has well and truly trapped Fallon. If the latter ever does try to leave and set up on her own she will struggle against the competition from the Bridge Farm business, a business she herself will have built up, and whatever new manager Natasha appoints.
ReplyDeleteGive it a few years and flexible employment which began with covid will be the norm, things like 3 days for an employer and 2 days working for yourself, maybe building a hobby into a business. Employers will have to offer a lot more benefits to keep employees for a full week. I think covid gave people the time to think about what they really want from life.
DeleteMeanwhile, the event that sparked off the Fallon/Natasha situation seems to be getting out of hand.
ReplyDeletePip is trying hard to keep this hen party reasonably small and inexpensive, whereas friend Lottie wants to splurge on ever bigger, more costly activities and decor.
Who is actually going to pay for all this and will it be what the Ukrainian bride-to-be wants?
I was amused a few weeks ago when Natasha's signature sound effect (high heels tapping across an office-type floor ) was also used for Lily at Grey Gables. It neatly bracketed two smart young business women - birds of a feather.
ReplyDeleteHow unfortunate that Paul heard about his Mum’s affair with Alistair by overhearing their conversation at the surgery.
ReplyDeleteHe should have been told by one or other of his parents in a quiet moment at home.
I’m not at all surprised he was so angry and whereas other posters on FB sites have told him to ‘grow up’ and not be a ‘drama queen’, I sympathise with him. I have also lost any liking I might have had for Alistair for allowing such a situation to develop at work, right under the nose of his employee. Unprofessional, untrustworthy and uncaring.
I'm just bored with this long drawn out saga.
DeleteI'm sorry, Archerphile, I can't work up enough interest in this storyline to have a serious opinion on it. I'm beginning to find it vaguely creepy!
DeleteMust say I find it creepy too and Alistair has gone right down in my estimation.
DeleteBut there are no particular stories that are engaging me at the moment apart from wondering if George will ever confess to his part in the car crash.
A bit of a lean time for me recently.
Just heard on the radio that the actress Ysanne Churchman who played Grace Archer, has died. I wonder how the older cast members feel?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting long story about Grace’s death and the feud between Ysanne Churchman and Godfrey Baseley that led to the story - in Saturday’s Times. A lot more went on than I ever realised. Godfrey Baseley sounds like he was a very bitter and vindictive man
DeleteJust been listening to Thurs and Fri episodes together as I missed them.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely sick & tired of hearing about Alast-air & whatshername’s affair and its effect on Paul. Just wish they would wind the story up and go on to something else
As for the bullying at the abattoir, it’s hardly surprising putting someone like Freddie amongst the rest of the lads in such a place & I doubt very much that the ‘little talk’ Vince arranged has settled the matter for good.
George? He’s crumbling, not helped by Pats advice to just tell the truth. Will he or won’t he? I don’t know and I’m almost past caring. Hopefully that will be another story ending soon.
As you can probably tell, I’m very disenchanted with TA at the moment & hoping for a traditional Summer Fête story soon; bridge rolls, WI cakes, brass band, Lynda and all. 😄
New thread opened
ReplyDelete