Life outside Ambridge
G’day from down under!
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…
AnrolNovember 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
ReplyDeleteJanice I hope your daughter in law’s family are safe in the Philippines with the latest super typhoon
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JaniceNovember 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
They are fine thank you Anrol. It didn't hit their island. They are used to typhoons but not to the present day very severe ones.
JaniceNovember 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
ReplyDeleteThat is really weird. My reply to Anrol is still here but my original earlier long comment that my son copied and posted from a page I kept open in case it vanished again is once again nowhere to be seen. There is a glitch in the Google matrix somewhere!
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JaniceNovember 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I won't write it again but just say I agree with Soz about the book.
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LanjanNovember 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
We had our Reading Group meeting this morning.
We meet at the local library and the library get the books for us.-not literally but you know what I mean! - and provides the kettle and boiling water for drinks and we bring our own mugs and we have a kitty to pay for biscuits milk ,teabags and coffee.
There is quite a good range of books
We meet once a month.
We make choices as to which books we would like and sometimes if the book is very popular we have to choose something else.
There are 10 of us - we range in age from mid 60s to mid to late 80s.There are 9 women and 1 man.
We give marks out of 10 for readability ,characterisation, plot and literary merit and have a discussion about the book.
Then we say whether we would recommend the book in qu
and have a discussion about the book.
ReplyDeleteThen we say whether we would recommend the book in question
Two people actually read all of "Never let me go " .
Most of the marks were either 2 or 3 out of 10 .
Nobody recommended it.
The meeting ended early!
Next month's book is Jane Austen's "Emma".
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ArcherphileNovember 11, 2025 at 9:40 AM
“Emma” was one of my books for A level English, which sort of ruined it for me!
But strangely suitable seeing that I was in Austen House at school, have ended up living next to the village where Jane Austen was born, and had children who went to school in Oakley Hall where Jane had attended balls and assemblies. Our whole area is dedicated to Jane Austen with the council erecting a statue of her in the centre of town and her name on every signpost welcoming you to Basingstoke.
Proud to be Yorkshire.November 11, 2025 at 8:56 AM
ReplyDeleteI had a lovely morning yesterday visiting cowgirl for a long overdue catch up. We really put the world to rights. Came home with half a dozen eggs, she has chickens, and a bag of home made biscuits for husband. Had a call in at sainsburys and b and m on the way home. Really quiet. Had a good look round. My first solo trip since op. Freedom at last. 😊
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JaniceNovember 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Well done you, and nice to hear about Cowgirl again.
I’m now enjoying Cairns, having whistled through New Zealand, which was fabulous, had a few days in Melbourne, got soaked on one day, now in Queensland with rain forecast for our trip up to the rain forest tomorrow and possibly following us down to Ulruru and Alice Springs, it will make the colours brighter, but the stars less visible.
ReplyDeleteMr R poorly today waiting for liquid AB and hoping he will swallow them. Came on quickly although
ReplyDeletemany germs about. I have been very low too so I may be responsible…..
Dr met him for the first time last Wednesday and said he had found him quite perky! Mr R / George is now with my practice.
Sorry had to be a short call last Wednesday Lanjan all that photocopying to do anyway when things settle we will chat again I’m sure.
Don't think you are anything to do with germs! There is so much around and there has to be so many staff/visitors in his environment.
DeleteHe will be well looked after but I do understand your worry + concern.
Stay Strong + Positive, well as best as you can.🤗
Good to hear from you Lady R, however short your update.
DeleteAs Miriam says….stay strong and be positive.
Whatever happens now, your Lord George is now very close to home where you can visit daily, and is comfortably resident and does not have to be moved again.
These two elements are a vast improvement on the events of recent months. Hang on to those positive events.
Love a Koala. Thank-you for such a fantastic photo.
ReplyDeleteMy OZ niece sent over at one time, a video of a koala playing in one of the trees in their garden.
So much more interesting to see, than the pesky squirrels in my garden!
Looks like an amazing trip away, yet you're still looking after us all.
Thank-you...💛
To add her total thyroid-dectamy scheduled for Monday has been postponed. It's something to do with a piece of equipment being specially ordered and is to do with her larynx + voice, which won't arrive in time, but what this is all about, I have no idea. 🤷♀️
DeleteAs promised here is my method for gaining re entry to the blog.
ReplyDeleteI suggest anyone interested should screen shot, or take a photograph of my instructions for future use should it be necessary.
In the past I have googled the following :-
Archers fan blog spot
I usually then get a picture of the blog from a few years back when GG was still running the site.
I go into that page and scroll through until I come across a post from KP NUTS
Often this may take a lot of scrolling, be patient.
Sometimes I might need to go to the next blog.
When KP Nuts post is found, click on her profile.
This will take you to her blogs. There are two.
Click on the archers fan blog.
You should now be shown the current blog.
RESULT I hope.
However when I tried this before writing this post, I found that the current blog came up in google, which renders my method redundant.
Nevertheless I would urge people to keep this method to hand as I have found it useful on several occasions when I have inadvertently deleted my ARCHERS pages.
I hope this is helpful.
I must advise that I have an Apple IPad.
I do not know if this would work in the same way on any other device.
Good luck Janice.
Thank you Mrs P. My son showed me how to take screenshots, and he has taken two in case I manage to lose one! At present all is fine it is just the nuisance of having to sign in for every comment. It is very puzzling.
DeleteAs previously said, I had my 'flu vaccine on Friday. Here we are on Tuesday, and I still have a sore arm which is still slightly swollen.
ReplyDeleteIt's not red nor hot etc. just annoying esp.when I turn over onto it in bed.
Really sorry to hear that your husband was not well today,Lady R.
ReplyDeleteI hope that things will be better tomorrow for you.
Am sitting here just watching the birds as they feed. I have a starling who has a damaged foot so I like to watch that he comes and is safe. The chickens seem to like the food that I put out for the birds, but it is exactly the same as theirs !
ReplyDeleteMy Gander is a bit naughty, though he will no longer go for me ! He has attacked Lucia my dachshund on a few occasions, but he hasnt learnt his lesson and still thinks about going for her, despite her getting the better of him on two occasions needing intervention from me . I cant blame her, but she has been told off! fortunately she has no interest in the chickens.
I miss my cows, but somtimes my neighbour puts his cows in my field which is lovely.
Otherwise not much else to report
How very nice to hear from you CowGirl, and I’m sorry to hear that you no longer have your cows.
DeleteIt’s been a long time since you posted, so….. welcome back.
So good to hear from you CowGirl. It’s sad that you no longer have your cows but sounds like your gander and the chickens keep you busy. I do understand about the cows; on our dairy farm my husband and his 2 brothers ( all in their 70s and 2 nearer to80) love their cows - we’re a closed herd so all of them have been bred on the farm, Arthur knows them each of them - all three brothers hate the prospect of losing the cows so on we go……….
DeleteI seem to remember you having a tricycle - do you still ride? I think I’d be safer on a three wheeler.
Lady R I hope Lord R is feeling better today and is able to take the medication. Also and equally important, make sure you remember yourself. If you don’t feel well enough, it would not be a crime to stay at home for a day to recover. Sending positive vibes your way.
ReplyDeleteI hope that Lord R is able to take the medication and start to feel better soon. I also hope that it doesn't take too long for you to get over your bug .
ReplyDeleteFor those who have to keep logging in, have you a shortcut added to the home screen of your device?
ReplyDeleteI have this, and so far, have never had a problem.
To do just look at the top of the page which says something like archersfanmk2.blogspot.com. ,click on the three dots and there'll be something like save to home screen, desk top or similar.
If choose to do this, then an icon appears, on home page etc.which just needs to be tapped for instant access.
Not sure if this helps though.
DeleteI have a shortcut on my home screen too Miriam, and, touch wood, haven't experienced any problems when I've posted.
DeleteThank you Miriam, but my son put a shortcut on the homepage way back in Gary's time and then did another when KPNuts took over, and I have always been able to click on that and get here alright . It is just that once here Google tells me I have to sign in before commenting. It isn't a big problem just a nuisance.
DeleteAnd it has to be done for every comment!
DeleteJanice When I press ‘reply’ it then says to sign in with google which just means to press on the blue box below and write my comment. Is that what you have to do ?
DeleteThanks Soz. Yes that does seem to be the case. I have been puzzled though because it hasn't just been that that has changed. The page where I listen to the Archers has changed as well. I liked the original because if I wanted to listen to a bit again I could just push the slider back until it reached that particular bit, but now it seems I would have to restart the whole programme. I don't know whether it has anything to do with messages coming up telling me that the app is better.
DeleteIs it a sign of getting older, not liking change!!
How are you doing Lady R?
ReplyDeleteHope Lord George is improving. 💐😘
Thank you ptby Lord George finished his intense 3 day course of AB today and although still gruff of voice much brighter in himself smiling as usual at all the young ladies who help him 😉
Delete(I liked the photos that LJ sent me - two very glam ladies I shall have to up my game - eventually 🤣)
Very kind but I looked like a bag lady in that green frock.
DeleteHave lost a bit of weight since then. Your what’s app pic is a lot more glam than me.
Glad to hear Lord G improving.
😊
On my news thread this morning I see a piece from the Farnham Herald about a local campaign against an enormous housing complex planned for the Jane Austin countryside.
ReplyDeleteAre any of the Hampshire contributors involved or following ?
Yes indeed Mrs P the local paper is on it once again! It’s crazy we are awash here right now with building and applications and this particular area will probably get permission in the end and it is very near Chawton.
DeleteIt is stated the builders will incorporate a school but what about another Health Centre the 3 A31 practices are bursting at the seams now with the general public and the many retirement blocks and nursing homes to cover!
It's the same in my area. There are so many developers putting in applications for new housing developments, mostly on green belt land.
DeleteWho will he buying all these new properties as they are far from starter homes and affordable housing.
When I bought my first property, it was a new build and the whole development were starter homes of various types, either one or two bedroomed.
The buyers were either singles like myself or young couples just starting out..
My little house was just one bedroom, so was more like a flat on two floors but the bedroom was large with built in wardrobes. Downstairs I had a L-shaped lounge diner and a separate kitchen.
It served me well for about 5yrs and I made a good profit when I sold it.
These types of starter homes are just not built these days but these are needed at an affordable price.
I made a Spag.Bol last night, so what.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I'm mentioning this is that I used 500g of 5% Pork Mince which was just £2.55. I did my usual recipe, all I did differently was to add in some extra Italian blend herbs and half an oxo cube.
It was delicious and way cheaper.
To add I use a Sainsbury's own brand chunky vegetable pasta sauce, again cheap + cheerful but tasty.
I also bought a pack of own brand cannelloni tubes (35p) so it obvious what I'll be doing next, to go into the freezer!
I might look at costs for my own meals, but Pusscat always has what she likes best - I have the priorities right. 🐈⬛
I believe there are many on this forum who ( generally speaking ) champion the BBC
ReplyDeleteFor those that do, this weeks Media Show on R4 is IMO well worth listening to.
It's wild weather here today. The road at the bottom of our lane has been completely blocked by a fallen tree with two cars under it. Thankfully no serious injuries were incurred.
ReplyDeleteSome of our front fences have blown out taking part of the brick wall they were mounted on with them, thankfully no cars or pedestrians were damaged in the process. We've just got in from clearing up the mess which a kind neighbour came out to help us with.
DeleteThat sounds awful CC. How kind of your neighbour. We have had heavy rain but not the high winds - yet!
DeleteI hope everyone is coping with this wild weather…….and to think, back in the summer we would have welcomed a forecast full of rain! I still have dahlias in flower, in November but frost is forecast for next week so I suppose that will be the end of them
Can’t see beyond twenty five yards out the window today, just a white mist, and Lady baulked at going into the garden for her morning wee. The wind blew the rain inside when I opened the back door, so it seems to be coming from a northerly direction.
DeletePleased to hear only damage and no one hurt CC, but doubtless there will be fatalities in some places today.
Hope all on this forum stay safe.
CC I saw the photo as it pinged up in my f/b feed.
DeleteIt looked awful but luckily no one lost their life.
It's not bad hear, just dark + gloomy but wind + rain just normal.
The only thing is the temperature has really plummeted
I might have to give in and put the CH on
I usually get buffeted if things come in from the west which is over the Welsh mountains Today it is North Easterly and I've not been really affected as seem to be in a area no longer affected.
DeleteWe escaped the storm pretty well. Chucked it down last night but didn’t get any strong winds. All the leaves are off the two enormous beech trees behind us so will have to have a leaf picking up day this next week.
ReplyDeleteStill surrounded by mist here but I can just see the Quantocks, faintly, but Exmoor to the other aspect still shows very low cloud, so it’s still coming in, but no actual rain so far today.
ReplyDeleteI’ve done two lots of leaf clearing in the last ten days. Hopefully the next effort will be the final one. And I’ve found a new home for the black bags of leaves for leaf mould next year.
Has anyone who might be in touch with Sarnia any news ?
ReplyDeleteI’m sure I’m not the only one to think about her.
I shall also ask Maryellen on the other thread.
Maryellen -
ReplyDeleteI’m aware that you have been in touch with Sarnia in the past.
Might you have any news of how she is ?
I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking about her.
I keep Sarnia in my thoughts...as others do here.
Delete🙏 I certainly do too ❤️
DeleteWhen Sarnia emailed me last month, she sent the link to her new poem called Horses recorded by her neighbour/friend i"n his Michael Sheen voice" and available on YouTube (google Rosemary Parrott) with her own illustrations. The plan is to print her last few poems with those illustrations and some of her photos.
DeleteBut the very sad news is that her health has worsened. The brain tumour is unstoppable and her pain relief has been upped. it has affected her sight and hearing, in a relatively mild way then, but I don't know the situation now. She said she finds emailing increasingly tiring and I don't want to encroach on her energy reserves when there are more important claims on her attention. We have said what we needed to say. I was thinking of sending an undemanding card and could add your message if you would like that.
Thank you Maryellen for responding to my request.
DeleteI’m sure we would all be grateful if you were to send our warm thoughts.
Please do Maryellen.
DeleteWill do.
DeleteYes, Maryellen, from me too, I miss all her interesting posts about her garden and aeroplane watching. I do hope she is comfortable and able to dream of past happy times.
DeleteI immediately thought of Sarnia when I saw that Blue Islands airline has gone bust
ReplyDeleteSo did I...
DeleteMonmouth dear me such a flood into stores such as Waitrose etc to private properties all brown muck. My heart goes out to all.
ReplyDeleteHow are things with you + Lord R?
DeleteDear Lady R, so typical you to worry about the people of Monmouth and the floods - when you have your own worries to cope with. We do hope Lord George is happy in his lovely new room and with all the care he is receiving. Are you getting used to the travel to see him every day? At least it’s easier than coping with Basingstoke roundabouts. I had to visit the hospital 3 times in the past couple of weeks and it’s such a trek, to say nothing of the car park costs. Daughter had an appt at Andover Hospital last week - easy free parking, no wait for treatment & she was home within the hour! So it can be done. Keep well, both of you, with my love 🥰
DeleteI don't know if anyone else is able or interested in an idea I had last year.
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't mind my mentioning it here.
I watched Newsnight on Thursday evening and mention was made about Hospices being desperate for money.
Very soon we pensioners will be getting a Christmas bonus of £10.
The money appears in the pensioners Bank Accounts .
Many pensioners do not realise they get the money.
To the majority of pensioners £10 is not a great deal of money and would not be missed ,especially if they don't realise they get that money so maybe they could donate the £10 to their local hospice
I am in the process of contacting various people and organisations to see if they would help publicise my idea.
If anybody you is interested I will tell you how get on !