Tuesday 22 March 2011

The Archers Tues 22nd March 2011: Gardeners’ Question Time AND the first Book Club

  • Gardeners’ Question Time
  • Hello Christine!
  • “Roy is a treasure”
  • Nigel and Topper – picture perfect
  • No grazing allowed at the Book Blub
  • “What’s under that there foil there, Caroline Sterling?”
  • Can’t afford books??????????
  • “Little Drummer boy died of his wounds an’ all”
  • “Cheer up Nathan Booth”
  • Joe enjoyed, Usha not so
  • Sabrina’s “paucity of intellectual rigour”
  • What will Jim choose?
  • ‘That’ statue



Gardeners’ Question Time

Might be coming to Ambridge.

Steady on there! Camilla, possibly some hat woman AND Gardeners’ Question Time.

Makes one hope that loads are not being blown too soon …

No mention of exactly when, but they seemingly need the village hall from 12pm-2pm.

Ah – anticipation.



Hello Christine!

It’s been an age – so lovely to hear Christine again.

It was she who Jim had to race round to in order to check if the village hall would be free for Gardeners’ Question Time.

Christine mentioned that it was Phil who had first asked Gardeners’ Question Time to come to Ambridge.

(pause … sigh … lovely, lovely Phil)


“Roy is a treasure”

So says Elizabeth to Caroline.

Funny how suddenly Elizabeth feels less stressed now that Roy is on-hand – just goes to how that Farmer David’s intentions were good, but not really up to the job at hand.

Still, Elizabeth does sound in far better form, even though Lily is still having nightmares.


[Elizabeth] “The device has given me new confidence, and I’m being waited on hand and foot”



Nigel and Topper – picture perfect

To ease the Twins’ sadness at having to lose Topper (and, ahem, their dad), Caroline has framed a seemingly superb picture of Nigel and Topper.

Nigel’s holding the Stirrup Cup, and is “looking mischievous”.



No grazing allowed at the Book Blub

Usha’s being strict with her cultural endeavours – the Book Club shall break for nibbles, rather than be allowed to munch during the discussion. Avoids “greasy marks” on the book, you see …

Jennifer couldn’t be there (and Jim was surprised to learn she is a published author), and neither could Ruth (she never sounded that keen in the first place, and now wants to clean before Home farm’s cleaner comes to Brookfield to clean).

But Caroline, Jim, Richard Thwaite (Usha, of course) are all at the inaugural meeting.

As is Jim and Nathan Booth …



“What’s under that there foil there, Caroline Sterling?”

As suspected yesterday when Joe’s ears perked up at Robert Snell’s mention of nibbles and wine at the Book Club – Joe’s invited himself along.

He’s joined by a Nathan Booth, very keen to see Sabrina.

(one would have thought he’d been able to see enough of Sabrina in her cat show during the Panto to provide him with enough pleasurable memories for the next decade!).

And the answer to Joe’s question to Caroline – leftover canapés …


Can’t afford books??????????

Joe reckons he hasn’t read the book for the Book Club as he can’t afford books.

Have all the Borchester libraries already shut for good?

He later went onto say that he might get it on tape (if he can).

Why not just ask Clarrie to read it aloud while she’s clipping your toenails?




“Little Drummer boy died of his wounds an’ all”

As the group is getting into meaningful discussion about the murder (in The Suspicions of Mr Whicher – which I do highly recommend) was so shocking because it was middle class etc. etc. , Joe jumps in to ramble on about the Little Drummer Boy.

For those who don’t know it – he was shot by a round head musket, or an Irish one, the battle of Hassett Bridge on 14th June, he staggered to The Bull but died, then June 14th 1995 a cannon ball was hurled into The Bull, followed by a Tap, Tap Tap Tappity Tap Tap from the wall – the very next week Sid opened the Hassett room in the Drummer Boy’s memory.

What’s that got to do with the topic at hand, Joe only knows!


“Cheer up Nathan Booth”

[Joe] “Cheer up Nathan Booth, it’s time for the nibbles”

And that was really all there was to cheer up poor Nathan.

[Joe] “Nathan Booth is a very disappointed man. He only showed up on the promise of Sabrina Thwaite coming … got a crush on her see. He don’t get to meet many women, socially”

Maybe Harry could help Nathan learn to use the internet.

I’ve said it before about our single Ambridge residents – dating websites …


Joe enjoyed, Usha not so

[Joe] “A nice social occasion with the grub and that Them canapés was past their best, mind …”

[Usha] “Oh the cheek of him … I don’t know who invited Joe, I certainly didn’t””

Jim relates that it was Robert’s fault for Joe being there – but he own fault for a scowling Nathan’s presence. It was he who mentioned Sabrina.

Though Usha thinks it was a disaster, Jim’s quick to correct her.

[Jim] “It went very well. No, you’ve heralded something culturally rather interesting for Ambridge”

Cripes!



Sabrina’s “paucity of intellectual rigour”

[Jim] “Then I made an ironic comment saying I could only hope Sabrina would join as well, if only to enrich her mind, Usha. She has such a paucity of intellectual rigour, I dread doing a shift with her in the shop”
Meow, Mr Lloyd. Me-ow!


What will Jim choose?

Usha is normally quite an astute lady – why did she give the next book choice to Jim?

He might surprise us all with Angela’s Ashes (or the like), but it’s a bit of a gamble for only the second meeting.

[Jim] “Ah,. Don’t you worry. I’m still cogitating. It’s going to be a hard one though, when you consider the legions of classic books so dear to my heart”

Hmmm.


‘That’ statue

[Joe] “Nice Indian Statue in the living room, by the way”

[Usha] “Thank you, not everyone thinks it”

Considering Usha and Shula actually spoke (and were civil) to each other just after Nigel died – I wonder if more is yet to come about the statue?

It’s been a fair while.

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