Life in Ambridge
Autumnal colours
Lif in Ambridge
Archer Family tree up to 2000, (pre Helen, Pip & Tom’s off-spring)
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Life in Ambridge
An upcoming storyline methinks!
Life in Ambridge
This is how village cricket should be…
MiriamOctober 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
ReplyDeleteWill Bridge Farm take him back? There are 2 reasons for this idea:-
1) Pat gave him a character reference at his sentencing hearing, based on his work + loyalty there - well I think so.
2) Adam is now at Home Farm, so does Bridge Farm still need another pair of willing hands to help out?
Probably another ridiculous thought, as per usual!
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Cheshire CheeseOctober 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I was wondering who's doing Adam's job at Bridge Farm, there's been no mention of that. Not a ridiculous thought Miriam, maybe the SWs are thinking the same.
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maryellenOctober 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I think Tony would be the stumbling block to George’s employment at Bridge Farm. As Alice’s uncle, he can’t be seen to be disloyal to her or he could start a family feud.....
I quite like the idea of George joining his parents’ tree surgery business, properly trained of course, and possibly Amber too. Bet she’d be as proficient with a chainsaw as she is with a tractor!
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ReplyDeleteArcherphileOctober 13, 2025 at 3:34 PM
ReplyDeleteI too, thoroughly enjoyed this week’s Archers podcast, mostly about George. I loved Angus Stobie’s own accent which has a lovely soft Scottish twang to it, much more pleasant to listen to than George in aggressive mode.
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MiriamOctober 13, 2025 at 4:31 PM
What I loved hearing about was the recording of George's prison scenes, as to how he was isolated and having to speak quietly.
My mind went into overdrive though, when the lovely Angus Stobie talked about the river scenes. What was it, faces in buckets of water, walking on wet + sodden bath mats and whatever her
Cheshire CheeseOctober 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
ReplyDeleteI liked the accent as well Archerfile. I'm still getting used to having 2 grandchildren growing up with a Scottish accent.
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MiriamOctober 13, 2025 at 4:34 PM
When I was in Aberdeen, I was lost at first on hearing the phrase - I'm going for the messages.
At least Jazzer has never said that! Imagine what Tracy would have replied..
Lizzie DeeOctober 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
ReplyDeleteI live in Northern Ireland and am very familiar with the expression ' going for my messages ' and l agree, it is strange. But , hey, we all understand it. Part of the hamely tongue .
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BasiaOctober 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I always like to know someone's first name even though I don't use it when greeting them. I always introduce myself with mine. When I use first names when talking to my neighbours about others, some look at me confused until I say Mr/Ms this and that. We have known each other for nearly 20 years.
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MiriamOctober 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Anyone else like me, has just frantically tried to find their map of Ambridge to find where Meadow Farm is?
Just a random picture of Autumn for this thread, I didn’t want to find a picture of a dead farmer.
ReplyDeleteLovely picture thanks.
DeleteI've found my map in my very disorganised + untidy room, I call my study and found Meadow Farm.
ReplyDeleteThe character of Esme Mulligan in this week's cast list, is now known to be a relation of the late Farmer Mulligan.
Well that's convenient, the scriptwriters have materialised 120 acres for Justin to buy for his conservation project.
ReplyDeleteThe 1980 map of Ambridge in my Archers book shows Meadow Farm at the foot of Lakey Hill. It's not mentioned in the text, however.
DeleteJanice I've had exactly the same idea. There's another thought to go with this, in that IF Justin buys it, the farmhouse is tarted up for rental - Helen + the boys? They must be fed up living with Tom + Natasha by now.
DeleteLove the peaceful picture.
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteThe TA team are playing fast and loose with Ambridge.
ReplyDeleteNot only has David Archer never mentioned farmer Mulligan or his Meadow Farm over several decades, but I have no memory of Phil Archer, or indeed Dan of ever mentioning them either.
After 70 odd years, we suddenly have another farm appear in the district.
The Ambridge Fairy worked very hard overnight to achieve that little miracle.
Is it a clever way to bring in the inheritance tax on farms, without it affecting one of the main Ambridge family farms?
DeleteQuite possibly Miriam.
DeleteI’m just moaning at what seems unlikely scenarios.
George did say too much. Fallon wasn't ready for it, not at work.
ReplyDeleteIf Oliver doesn't want a party then please respect his wishes, but I fear he might.
I think Akram will think of applying for Meadow Farm as he seems stressed as a plumber and Azra as a “rare” full time GP should be able to support him financially. He could employ George.
ReplyDeleteThis will allow Helen to move across the road to the Maliks’ house.
ReplyDeleteI went to see the play Haywire on a circuitous journey from Surrey to Manchester two weeks ago. This was after hearing about it on The Archers Podcast. It was very fast with a small cast who switched seamlessly from RP accents in the 1948 just as thinking about educating farmers to “1960s” accent when deciding to do a play about the startup of The Archers. It reminded me of the Farther Brown episode with the parody of The Archers recording live in “Kembleford” but without the murder.
Welcome ANROL
DeleteAnd thank you for telling us about the play.
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ReplyDeleteI wonder how conflicted about losing the baby Fallon is. She didn't want the baby but it did make her aware of how very very much Harrison wanted a child and it did seem to destabilise their relationship.
ReplyDeleteGeorge in his apologising for the loss of the baby I think showed himself a more caring person than Fallon.
Maybe Amber, in the same way she confronted Kate with some truths about Alice, will point out to Fallon that she owes her life to George.
Whilst there is no doubt that George showed his heroic side in rescuing those in the water, there is also no doubt that he wiped the positive aspect of his actions that night, by the following months of refusing to admit that he had moved Alice into the driving seat.
ReplyDeleteThat negative action caused palpable harm to Alice and to all her friends and family as well as the wider village community, and in doing so, diminished the positive aspects of George’s actions.
In addition, it seems to me, that everyone seems to forget that George was driving the car that caused the accident.
When George found Alice in the car which was in a laybye he should have contacted a member of his own family, or a member of Alice’s family to come and rescue her.
Not doing so was his first mistake.
Choosing to drive her home was the second.
Having the accident was a matter of circumstance since he was not responsible for Alice opening the door.
But after heroically saving Fallon he then chose to move Alice into the driving seat, a heinous mistake to cover his own previous actions, and UNFORGIVABLE in many people’s eyes.
Finally compounded by the cover up.
A litany of damage.
Yes he has done his time, but the damage to his character that George has perpetrated upon himself is likely to live forever.
He will be in many eyes a morally reprehensible person, and that is dependent on each individual’s moral outlook.
For me, the most telling moment of the crash was George’s genuine apology to Alice when he shifted her into the driving seat. How many so-called villains apologise to their victims, I wondered It certainly doesn’t bear out one FB contributor’s description of George as “pure evil” (an example of a post telling us more about the writer than the individual they are writing about).
DeleteWhat depresses, but also interests me, is Ambridge’s doubt standard. Freddie’s drug-dealing and accompanying lies, deceit and irresponsibilty, was in my view far more morally reprehensible than anything George has done. Freddie did his time and his standing in the community hasn’t been affected. His mother has only ever described his behaviour as stupid, never immoral or simply wrong.
Similarly, Alice who was certainly guilty of a motoring offence with which she wasn’t charged, and whose dangerous behaviour was largely responsible for the accident, has come out of all this smelling of roses, especially in her highly protective family circle.
(Though I’m not sure how many people actually know the extent of her responsibility for how the crash. Her recall therapy stopped short at the point when she remembered George was driving, so public knowledge would depend on what - and if - George told his parents and/or the police.)
So what is this double standard based on? Tempting to echo Clive Horrobin and say class!
There are people who have been traumatised by the consequences of George's decisions. None of them have had proper professional help to deal with that trauma and probably won't unless they realise it and, in this day and age, can afford it.
ReplyDeleteWho are you thinking of, CC?
ReplyDeleteMainly Fallon, Joy, Mick and George.
DeleteHaving read Basia's comment probably Harrison as well.
DeleteThanks, CC. I hadn't realised they were traumatised, but I don't know enough about it to recognise the signs.
DeleteThere are so many strands to this story. Alice inebriated in charge of a motor vehicle on a public road. George driving her car without permission, causing an accident, rescuing and perverting the course of justice. Alastair and Denise on a tryst. Harrison grieving for his unborn baby and Fallon ambivalent over her pregnancy. Much thinking must have gone into it and there will be long time repercussions, with people of Ambridge taking sides according to their opinion.
ReplyDeleteI'm just intrigued as to why Mulligan, his farm and now his daughter Esme, have been introduced, and in such a way.
ReplyDeleteFor once, I have no idea!
At least, It's a good distraction from George, his fiancee, and The Grundy's.
I'm not sure about Esme, why doesn't she make practical arrangements and pay for temporary staff. She lives in north Borsethshire and hasn't been for 2 months. A bottle of whisky that she had bought for her father and it's appropriate if someone helps you to change a tyre or something. Her job must be well paid. It doesn't sound good from the start.
ReplyDeleteGeorge could do it, they'd better make the connection, let them meet at the Bull next.
DeleteIt was very uncomfortable hearing George begging at the pub this evening.
DeleteHm, might be a good idea BASIA.
Must say, BASIA, I’m enjoying you being back in the fold !
It struck me too that given the opportunity,George might be able to show his mettle at Meadow Farm .
DeleteIt’s a good idea but how would he get paid? David and Akram may be doing it for free but George needs the money.
DeleteI could cheerfully throttle Lillian. Uncharitable - and unpleasant with it.
I wonder if she could afford to pay him a small wage now and then the rest when the farm sells.
DeletePS. Eddie Grundy has done relief milking at Brookfield, I believe, so maybe Esme could employ Eddie temporally and he could bring in George to help him. That would just leave Esme/Brookfield to to liaise with the. milk tanker and deal with any problems in the herd. Hopefully Meadow Farm is sufficiently outside the Aldridge clan’s sphere of influence for there to be no problems from them over George’s employment
DeleteAll good ideas, but I suspect those same ideas have already been discussed around the TA team meetings, and resolved.
DeleteIt’s a shoe in !
Good luck George.
(Cont.). ......like the pressure poor Jolene is experiencing from Lilian at The Bull.
DeleteAnd.sorry about temporally, I meant temporarily but my iPad thought it knew better.
Don’t worry Maryellen, I understood temporarily, and I expect others did so too.
DeleteEsme seems to be self-employed and with no other family commitments, so she should be able to afford to pay for milking. She hasn't made any contingency plans for her elderly father living alone on the farm. If she has no spare money then she could contact the NFU or borrow against the farm.
ReplyDeleteIt seems Mulligan did things his way + the "old" way.
DeleteWho knows - Esme might have tried to put things onto his computer but he told her No, she probably asked him if she could help with anything, again the answer, No.
Then when she asked how he was - "I'm fine, stop fussing".
She probably got frustrated as to his obstinacy.
This is how I am perceiving things,, as to what has been heard so far.
I am though, perhaps basing Mulligan on exactly how my late father was - would not embrace change.
To add, none of my sisters nor self, knew anything about his finances as it was his business and nobody else's.
DeleteMulligan might have well been the same.
How I wish I could edit a post once published.
DeleteI forgot to mention that Esme said that she cannot access his accounts at the moment.
Not being able to access a deceased relatives bank accounts is becoming an increasing problem for many families.
DeleteThis subject alone could generate a considerable Archers S/L.
Perhaps it will !
Oh, and to add, Miriam we had the same problem with my father, who was a mean bugger who kept account of every penny he spent.
DeleteWe were all convinced that he had money stashed away, probably in accounts in made up names. But since we had no evidence it was never found.
Well said Lilian plus the decision by Tracy, Joy + Fallon. They had their reasons + why.
ReplyDeleteSo what if Lilian is threatening to sell her share in The Bull, that's her choice which she had a right to do without giving a reason. She has though as tobsomething which she objects to.
Lillian was even more appalling than I expected, there was nothing to change my already low opinion of Tracy, and I was disappointed in Joy and Fallon, particularly Joy whose reasoning sounded quite convoluted.
DeleteI think Lillian selling her share of the Bull could make a good storyline, which might well work out in Jolene and Kenton.'s favour but I also wonder if we are going to get a storyline about the difficulties currently faced by ex-prisoners in finding work (unless you're Freddie Pargetter!) Personally, I hope they refuse to be blackmailed by her, don't ban George, and risk her pulling out.
I also think the reason the Aldridge clan are being so vehement about George is that they are trying to avoid thinking about the role played by Alice's alcoholism.
Much better that George works at a farm than at The Bull for the sake of the village if for no other reason.
ReplyDeleteMuch better is my idea that he goes + helps Meg at the animal sanctuary.
DeleteOut of sight, out of mind and he can take his fiancee with him.
But the anti-George brigade on FB would miss having him and Amber to revile! I hope they stay as to me they are two of TA’s multidimensional and more interesting character. My secret dream. for them is that they win the Lottery and buy/rent Meadow Farm. It won’t happen!
DeleteSomeone who must have known Mulligan has to be Alistair. His services as a vet must have been needed from time to time unless Mulligan went elsewhere, of course.
ReplyDeleteGeorge is likely to avoid the Bull if he's not welcome, but let Lillian go all the same.
ReplyDeleteNow, why does George blame Susan and Neil, but no Emma for denouncing him, she was the one who picked up the phone.
Joy sold Alice the vodka (and cider to George), Alistair was there and it ruined both their plans. Why didn't they stand up to her like Susan and Jim.
Lillian let Matt go after he swindled Christine out of her savings. Ah, it's only money - our society is based on money and sex with a few exceptions and morality is the stick we beat others with.
The Grundys also have a secret but it died with Nic.
George just wants a "Hero" glass behind the bar at The Bull, again! 🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteThis is to replace the one Kenton (?) smashed for good reason.
What evidence of George's feelings do you have that I've missed, Miriam? It seems highly unlikely to me. Far from "swanning around", as someone put it on FB, enjoying the village's hero worship, he was very embarrassed by it all and tried to play it down, including the Hero glass. He didn't really want it then so why would he want it now?
DeleteI think he deserves credit for his heroism in saving Fallon, not least from Fallon herself, but he hasn't ever sought it and it seems he's unlikely to get it now.
Maryellen- I do admire your ongoing willingness to advocate for George Grundy, however the many times you rehearse his act of heroism- which I do not deny for one moment- it does seem that in most eyes, that the period of time when he kept the truth of who was driving that night ( and allowed it to be believed that it was Alice, driving in a drunken stupor) to himself, was cruel in the extreme.
DeleteThat cruel act alone, never mind that it was also criminal, seems to outweigh any heroism to a point where the heroism is nothing more than incidental.
I do think that your advocacy, however well intended, is on a hiding to nowhere.
George will come good - trust me!
DeleteThere are no circumstances in which I’d describe heroism as nothing more than incidental, but since it carries so little weight with others, and for the avoidance of boredom, I’ll limit my references to it I still think, however, that George’s instinctive behaviour was the most heroic act that Ambridge has seen.
Freddie followed his instinct and rescued Lynda from the fire.
DeleteGeorge followed his and then showed his cowardice by moving Alice into the driver's seat.
I thought of William's comment to Emma when he found out that it will blow over.
The same as his attitude after Nic's hit and run - he went there, nothing to be done, so left.
I hope George will help out Esme.
Not wanting to use more space I'm concerned about Oliver's birthday. He doesn't want a
celebration, so they want to organise a reunion with his former foster children. I wasn't listening, just remember one talking to Alan about drugs.
Oliver does have children who are in the US?
Whatever hope I had for George he more or less wiped it out. "I've done my time" "she owes me" - even Jolene said that he rescued Fallon because he'd caused the accident. He insisted in his aggressive way on sweeping the glass and he waited there for Lilian in the dark? to have it out with her.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Josh will be milking for a while, but at least he pointed out to Ruth that they can't stretch that far for long.
Agree 100% with BASIA first sentence.
DeleteNothing positive left in my hope for George after last nights nasty outburst.
Have faith!
DeleteIllegitimi non carborundum - don't let the bastards grind you down, George!
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DeleteI even put 🤣 on a post, but to no avail obviously.
ReplyDeleteIf you're referring to me, Miriam, I'm a words-person not an icon-person, so you'll have to educate me as I can cope with a smiley face but that's about it. Does your emoticon x 3 indicate a very, very, very funny joke? Or acute distress? I think it might be a form of dyslexia. Seriously.
DeleteGeorge framed Brad, then Alice, he called Emma a slut, he made William evict Hannah.
ReplyDeleteHe made connections with criminals, improved his body, now he's served his time and feels entitled.
Sorted, Oliver escapes the ambush, I knew he had children of his own and no surprises, unless his daughter also booked a flight.
ReplyDeleteAlice, well done for speaking up, let Brian deal with it, Ruairi can't be trusted with a tractor.
It occurred to me that Oliver could be the one man in Ambridge who is both big-hearted enough and has the resources and standing in the community to help George now. He rescued Ed when he was at a low ebb - might.he do the same for Ed’s nephew?
ReplyDelete(When is he due back from New York?)
Sorry folks, having been in 2 different hospitals (by ambulance to the first one) this week, I have not been able to keep up with events in Ambridge for a little while. Now home I will try to catch up on Sounds so I can understand your comments and add my own thoughts. Sounds as if it has mostly concerned George recently - not surprising!
ReplyDeleteGood to see Archerphile that you're back and willing to take an interest, you'll soon catch up.
DeletePoor Archerphile, that sounds horrid. I do admire your fortitude and hope whatever took you into hospital responds to treatment. It will be good to have you with us again, and it's an interesting moment to rejoin TA, with Amber about to be revoiced and recast as a young woman with her head screwed on. Welcome back!
DeleteThank you ME, I am slowly recovering I am glad to say.
DeleteI managed to catch up with the story this afternoon. I didn’t know Amber is about to be re-voiced, I wonder if her personality will change too?
I have a feeling that Josh will team up with Miss Mulligan (sorry forgotten her name) to help her get the farm back into shape and run it as a going concern. He seemed very comfortable in her company. Then there might be a space for George to work there too. And I feel George will be allowed back in the Bull to drink his pint. Jolene is more forgiving than Lilian and willing to give him a chance.Personally I should be glad if Lilian were to give up the Bull and take herself a long way off, with Justin in tow!!
My other thought is that if the SWs wanted to introduce a new character, this sudden appearance of a previously unknown farm and unheard farmer was a pretty clumsy way of doing it.
Back to listening regularly from tonight. PG
On the subject of Oliver with George - didn't he do this at one time when he gave him K£5 for his 18th birthday, and what did George do - trash Caroline's bench at GG after drinking + smoking a "spliff" on Eddie's limo.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably wrong and if so- so he it.
My memory is not as good these days!
DeleteSorry about the typos.
I am making a prediction, George will get work at the abboitoir and Vince/Freddie will be the ones to help him.
DeleteMiriam, this is also my recollection of Oliver's help for George.
DeleteHe likes animals, so I don't know about the abattoir, but perhaps as a former offender Freddie could convince him.
Miriam, would your prediction be based on Vince and Freddie’s appearance in next week’s cast list, by any chance?
DeleteNot at all, it was only a thought. As Joy is also in the cast list for next week this could mean Rochelle is due to appear in court so Vince + Freddie will be asked to give evidence, information etc relating to that incident.
DeleteNo more guessing games from me.
DeleteThat’s half the fun of listening and blogging Miriam - the guessing games and all the different ideas we put forward
DeleteI'm glad Ruairi has decided for them, otherwise they'll never go.
ReplyDeleteWhen David tried to get into Nigel's computer Elizabeth said to try "Tiddles" and it worked.
Well, that’s rich - “precious Alice” (I’m with George there), who has always done what she wanted, usually without considering the effect on other people, accusing Ruairi of being selfish. No prizes for guessing who s/he inherited that gene from.
ReplyDeleteI don’t feel at all happy about Brian going back to live at Home Farm, especially with another woman.
ReplyDeleteI realise he couldn’t return without Miranda’s money but somehow that makes it even worse. He couldn’t afford to buy it back for Jenny but seems happy for Miranda to facilitate *his* return to his showplace of a house. Jenny did so much to make it a wonderful home; Brian did so much to ruin it. I like him less and less, the older he grows.
1. Maybe Freddie will be sympathetic to a fellow ex-con (as he was before George was sentenced) and encourage Elizabeth and/or Vince to offer George work?
ReplyDelete2. Listening to Esme and Josh reminds me of Rochelle and Rex and it’s making me feel uneasy!
3. I completely agree with you about Brian, Archerphile. I get the impression Miranda regards the Farmhouse as an investment (as she once hinted, she comes from a monied family) rather than a permanent home for herself. Brian wants to cosy up to Ruairi.
I’ve enjoyed hearing Josh be gentle and kindly to Esme.
DeleteIf George can’t get work at Meadow Farm ( particularly as Josh has got his feet under the table literally) I agree with ME that Freddie as a former offender can persuade Vince to offer him a job. I don’t think slaughtering will be a problem as he had his own poults; Ed slaughters his sheep and Eddie works at the market where animals are sold for slaughter presumably.
ReplyDeleteDoes Amber work at an agricultural supplies store. If so she would meet other farmers and see if any work is going.
What work does Will do?
I think Ruari is reluctant to move to Home Farm. Perhaps he and Paul will move in together. Are there any vacant properties?
ReplyDeleteWill Chris want to move back to the flat over the shop?
When is Lily going to Australia? That will leave space at The Stables.
My immediate thoughts when Brian announced the possible move to Home Farm (house ) with Miranda - was ‘ how distasteful ‘.
ReplyDeleteBrian Aldridge really is something else !
Time for Musical Houses again! Brian moving back to Home Farm would pave the way for Anrol’s suggestion that Ruairi and Paul should move in together. They could take over Brian’s tenancy of Blossom Hill.Cottage. If Brian’s move actually happens, which I doubt, I think he’s doomed to disappointment. He’ll be rattling around a barely recognisable interior with no Ruairi and Miranda away doing Miranda things.....
ReplyDeleteEmma was true to form in The Bull again. What a shame she didn't see or hear what her darling son said to both Jolene + Lilian and how the glasses were smashed. It was an accident but only because his temper was showing.
ReplyDeleteNothing has been confirmed but it seems Charlotte Jordan (Amber) is cast in a new series called The Hairdresser Murders.
ReplyDeleteAs said not sure if this is fact yet.
Perhaps Amber was meant to be a short-lived character just whilst George was in prison, and still might be, with the replacement just doing her exit.
DeleteSorry, I'm guessing again!! 😱
Correction It's the Hairdresser Mysteries.
DeleteSome might have already seen this, as I posted elsewhere recently.
ReplyDeleteNext week there is a bit part played by someone called Django Bevan. The name intrigued me so looked him up.
It seems he has won in 2025 a BBC bursuary, the prize, a year contract in the BBC Radio Drama department.
The Archers his debut?, if so, what a way to start
DeleteBodes well.
DeleteSo many acting careers have blossomed after a start in TA.
Writing careers too of course.
As a lawyer, I don’t know why Esme was looking for a Will on her father’s computer because unless it is a copy telling her where the original is stored it is invalid. A Will must still have a wet signature. Even in Covid where a Will could be witnessed by video link, the Will still need a wet signature. If he died without a Will, if Esme is the only child and she doesn’t have a deceased sibling with children, then it will all pass to her under the intestate rules. I think there was mention of 145 acres so even without the farmhouse and stock(cattle) it is going to be worth a minimum of £1.5 million so still potentially Inheritance tax to pay as no longer fully exempt. Was Mulligan widowed or divorced? I think she will be lucky to get a Grant of Probate within 6 months more like 9-12 months. If she supposed to have a good job herself even working for herself, then she will have to use her own money to pay the feed bill, vet bill & medicine, She could open a new account with whoever takes the milk and have an income stream that way.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I was mistaken but I thought I heard David say that Esme's father was a tenant farmer.
DeleteYes CC - he did say he was a tenant farmer.
DeleteBut who then is the freeholder.
Was the farm part of the Bellamy Estate I wonder.
You're right CC, they both mentioned it, but apparently tenancy can be passed on, still, she wants nothing to do with the farm, so where is the owner? As well as Mulligan's first name?
DeleteThat’s right, CC - the question now is who owns it and what happens if Esme doesn’t want to take over the tenancy.....
DeleteInterestingly, when the major landowners in the area - the Lawson-Hopes - sold up in 1954, the bulk of their estate was split between George Fairbrother and the Bellamy family. Lillian later sold off the Bellamy estate, and presumably the Fairbrothers did too, or we’d surely have heard about it from.Toby or Rex. Where Meadow Farm ended up, I’ve yet to discover!
DeleteMulligan was a widower. I don't remember the details but there was talk the other day about him struggling since his wife had died.
DeleteDoesn’t Esme need to check.the terms of the tenancy agreement to see if it covers succession rights or not, in addition to consulting her father’s will? It sounds as if the two of them didn’t talk about it but it’s likely she at least knows who the landlord is, and could approach them or the relevant body if her father’s copy has gone missing like his will.
DeleteIs Django Bevan going to be George’s supply worker or probation officer?
ReplyDeleteHe’s described as ‘Driver’ in the weekly cast list on the TA website..
DeleteGeorge is only just starting his true punishment - being shunned, no driving, no job so no income.
ReplyDeleteHe's learning the hard way.
To clarify. George et al think his punishment is over. as to his being in prison, but he's now going through another form of punishment. This will perhaps equally as bad and as long
DeleteThe first thing he needs to do, is to stop punishing Susan + Neil. It would be a small but significant step in the right direction
DeleteI wondered when the stray heifer would crop up - just in time for Esme to the rescue.
ReplyDeleteWill she organise a costume for Rosie too?
Freddie should have spoken to Vince first and it doesn't look promising, but perhaps deliberately misleading.
Now what will happen when Stella meets Esme, if you get my drift 😉😉
DeleteI had.the same thought, Basia, about what we could expect from Vince as regards George’s employment at the abattoir. I hope we’re not going to get another display of gratuitous unpleasantness like Justin’s to Emma.
DeleteWas the Amber we heard last night the new actress or the same as previously ?
ReplyDeleteAnd why the change ?
New actress - Olivia Bernstone - I didn't notice, except that she called him Georgie, but that's the script - why? No idea, but Maryellen knew Amber would be recast.
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DeleteThanks BASIA.
DeleteI read MEs post re change of actress but didn’t know when it would happen or why the change.
I did notice the change last night, but it’s a very slight change, although also less histrionic.
And yes I noticed the ‘ Georgie ‘ which I liked. It sounded affectionate.
Yes, Amber is still with us in the week ending 14/11 and played by Olivia in that week’s cast list. I don’t know why the charge was needed b it can guess why she is the replacement. It was a smooth transition, I thought, the squeals had quietened down beforehand!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteCharlotte Jordan is now busy recording the new BBC series The Hairdresser Mysteries to be shown sometime in 2026.
DeleteExtra Recording of this started in September.
DeleteWell, didn't I say she'd fit Rosie out? Esme a woman for all seasons.
ReplyDeleteAs for George, I thought the Rochelle experience wouldn't help and now clumsy Will, not that I like George, but I am fed up with the continuing angst.
I think the angst will continue until the SWs find a way for G to learn some humility.
DeleteIt might take a very long time BASIA.
Although ……….. a few words from Amber went down well earlier this week when she calmly told him what’s what about working and paying, or not needing to pay, rent.
Perhaps her common sense ( she clearly has some, if not quite a bit ) will worm it’s way into his thick entitled skull at some point.
Thick, entitled skull - that was Freddie not George, Mrs P. Luckily for him, his mother’s lover gave him a job.
DeleteEsme grew up on a farm in Ambridge but didn't mix with or even seem to know any of the other farmers' children. how did that happen?
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think there must have been an SEP field around Mulligan's farm.
Exactly what I've been thinking - I think the Scriptwriters ought to do their homework on the layout and history of the people of Ambridge and realise that many of us have been listening to the Archers for years and see how improbable this storyline is.
ReplyDeleteThe comment from Esme last night about visiting Lower Loxley with her mum when a child, just shrieked of a shoe in.
ReplyDeleteI could almost see Pip’s jaw dropping !
I’m with you PatriciaC.
I agree , there has been some clunky bits recently. Might it be to do with Charlotte Jordan leaving and the new actor taking over as to her time in Haywire?
ReplyDeletePerhaps scripts had to be rewritten quickly with the pool of actors in the studio for this recording time
If so Esme was the obvious choice to have extra lines and air time.
Just a thought, sensible or not!
I think the storylines, rather than the scriptwriting have been appalling recently. The scriptwriters have to interpret the stories dictated by higher-ups and the Editor. It is they who are to blame for these hurriedly and improbably contrived stories - especially the ridiculous invention of a farm, farmer and his family never mentioned before in the village. It just doesn’t wash.
ReplyDeleteI agree Archerfile
DeleteThe farm hasn’t just been invented, it’s been on the map for almost half a century, if not more. .Brnging it into play seems a good idea. Perhaps farms can do pop ups like characters!
DeleteI checked up on the transcript of the Episode on 22 October & David said “ “Yeah, but I'm not a tenant farmer. So I'm in a completely different boat.”
ReplyDeleteSo Mulligan was a Tenant Farmer & if he moved in 30 years ago he was likely to have a Farming Business Tenancy with no automatic succession rights. However as David said it was 30 plus years, it may be an Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 tenancy with succession rights. Normally you have to notify the Landlord of the death within a month. I think the SW have got themselves tied up in knots.
But as TA is fiction, they can plead dramatic llcence.
DeleteI came across this entry for 1973 in Peter Hesketh's Chronology of TA:
ReplyDeleteBellamy took over as chairman of Ambridge Wanderers football team, and told Sid (manager) that he expected more team discipline in future.
There are no other references to the team in the Chronology, and I've not heard or read anything about it elsewhere. It's always surprised me that Ambridge (apparently) had no team, given football is the national sport. Do any of you old-timers recall anything further about it? Sounds as if the players might have wandered off!
Belatedly, I did the obvious thing and googled Ambridge Wanderers, though not expecting to get much of a result, and to my amazement, found a link to Jennifer’s Ambridge Website with a page on sport (a BBC initiative). It said the traditional annual football match with Darrington was revived in 2002 after being dropped in the 1800s due to a fatality. But modern Association football was in decline there since the glory days of the Ambridge Wanderers in 1976.
DeleteI didn’t know the website existed in real life. Was any of the above actually broadcast?
I thought l heard David telling someone that his father Phil had bought 30 acres of the Mulligan farm many years ago so l was confused when apparently he was a tenant farmer. Who is his landlord?
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of Meadow Farm, on another site, someone posted a link showing the studio map of Ambridge which is still used to this day, but it does look a bit fragile now.
ReplyDeleteMeadow Farm is clearly shown as are many other farms in the area, also never mentioned.
Other things which fascinated me, is that the Dower House is shown opposite Grundy's Field and allotments are shown nearby.
DeleteThe most stupid and boring ...stuff
ReplyDeleteA bit more back stuff backup this evening with Chris Carter and Oliver and Caroline’s foster reminiscing and allowing mention of Meadow Farm.
ReplyDeleteThis is getting dire !
What was Carly doing there in Oliver's absence? She was supposed to bring the other foster children. She and Chris knew each other as children - total waste of time.
DeleteOh bother! I had Hannah lined up for Chris.
ReplyDeleteHannah was interested and Stella told her to go for it, but then Hannah told Chris that he was still in love with Alice and he told Carly that he'd be staying with Martha and not going to the bonfire.
DeleteIt's no wonder Harry was sounding off, as he doesn't have any space to read quietly. It must be squashed with the 7 of them in Beechwood. Is Helen trying to find somewhere to live, or is she just content with the living arrangement now?
ReplyDeletePlease note, I posted this before tonight's episode.
DeleteI'm confused about this family holiday. If Henry and Jack are staying with their grandparents that means Tony and Pat aren't going. Peggy has paid for a family holiday but her son isn't going on it, have I missed something?
ReplyDeleteYes, very stupid, especially that Pat and Tony were for it.
DeleteUtterly exasperating!
DeleteI reckon George could do both - get paid at Bridge Farm and volunteer at the shop, but given the choice he might let Susan down.
ReplyDeleteI was so pleased Henry was reading a book as books haven’t featured much, if at all, in Ambridge since the days of the Book Club. As an ex-librarian, (aka information manager), I rather hoped the book was from the library and he was reading for pleasure rather than schoolwork. Then I wondered.if Ambridge ever had a mobile library and if it had survived local government cuts, - not that we’ve heard of any in Borsetshire. It would be an alternative to the. village shop, Tearoom and Bull as somewhere people could meet
ReplyDelete.....and romance could flourish!
DeleteThe mobile library used to stop opposite our house. Very useful for us, brilliant for people with limited mobility. The librarian was great and new all her regulars' likes and preferences.
DeleteThen the council decided to save money and axed the service 😞
Also utterly exasperated that Helen and Adam are being so rule driven ( and the programme so obviously advocating that rules should be followed) that the children are going to miss out on the experience of staying in a castle and soaking up its history and architecture. Just pay the £80 fine for goodness sake. It could if necessary come out of Peggy's holiday money.
ReplyDeleteBright kids like Henry, and definitely In the past Brad, are usually streets ahead of the majority in the class and just held back by school anyway.
Sorry, as a teacher I disagree with you. Absence from lessons disrupts education.
DeleteMost schools set or stream their pupils, so bright kids will be in a class with other bright kids. They should be working at roughly the same speed, and a good curriculum will challenge and stretch them, not hold them back.
Yes, motivated pupils can make up the work missed, but not all are so motivated. And, particularly for a subject like maths where learning very much builds on what has gone before, a week's gap will have an impact on the next stage of learning.
Of course, for most families, the problem is that holiday prices hike massively during school holidays, which is why many families decide the fine is the more economic action. (Less of a problem for children at private schools - their summer holidays tend to start weeks before the state schools break up ....)
Dear Janice, I’m sorry to say I totally disagree with almost every word you’ve written. In my view (and my parents’) the only thing to take priority over school education is health, and possibly a major family or external one off event.
DeleteAnd reverting to.TA, the ‘castle’ may be a.Victorian mock-up with no history or architectural merit, to speak of.
In any case, I can’t imagine Ambridge’s schoolies soaking these up! Henry got it right when he said they could have all gone away in the holidays.. In how many other ways did Ruairi get it
.....wrong? Mary x
DeleteIt was supposed to be a family holiday and should have been arranged at a time suitable for all. Ruairi was totally out of order.
DeletePerhaps I'm being unfair to Ruari and his was simply the character chosen to be the agent of the scriptwriters' cunning plan - to create a situation in which short notice made it difficult to hire cover so Bridge Farm have no option but to take on George Grundy. Henry suggested it, of course, because he and George have been friends - and that friendship may be further cemented if George does indeed get a job there while Henry is staying with his grandparents because he can't miss school to go on holiday with his mum. Hurray!
DeleteThe points raised by Janice and Owias have been discussed elsewhere between parents and divide more or less equally. In France - due to its size? term holidays are staggered, but there is still mass exodus on the motorways. It is also the most visited country with the access to sea and mountains, so not so much need to fly abroad.
ReplyDelete