Wednesday 30 March 2011

The Archers Wed 23rd March 2011: David and Ruth fallout over Johne’s

  • Thought I’d stumbled onto an audio recording of Trainspotting
  • David, Phil or Dan?
  • Patsy and Horatio
  • Poor Alistair
  • A big boy did it and ran away
  • George isn’t a happy chappy
  • “You’re going a bit mad”
  • Marty is back!
  • Last man to see Nigel alive



Thought I’d stumbled onto an audio recording of Trainspotting

[Alistair] “It’s okay David, I’ve got the vein. Let me wipe it.”

Cripes!

It’s okay though. It was just Alistair testing the Brookfield herd for Johne’s Disease.

And anyway. Trainspotting is fiction.



David, Phil or Dan?

Alistair’s trying to reason with Ruth and David that Johne’s Disease could have been in the herd since Phil, and even Dan’s, time.

He also tries to explain that it could have been caused by “mismanagement, not just poor husbandry” – but either way, it sounds like someone (sometime) is to blame.

To make matters worse – while there is a vaccine, it’s one that interferes with TB testing. So is too big a risk.



Patsy and Horatio

Patsy, normally Brian and Jennifer’s cleaner, has started at Brookfield while Emma is off having the spawn of Ed.

And she seemingly has a cat called Horatio.

Fancy!

And what was the verdict on Patsy’s work?

[Ruth] “She was quite terrifying. Like a force of nature! I mean, Emma’s so easy going”

Later, Ed happens to say to Emma:

[Ed] “You should see David and Ruth’s kitchen, it’s gleaming!”

What an idiot. Emma then has to launch into how she does her best, but it is David and Ruth who are mingers (I paraphrase), and that Brookfield is so big.

I wonder what Ruth will find more important. A better cleaner, or a nicer cleaner.

From what Emma is saying, doesn’t sound like cleanliness is particularly high on Ruth’s priorities.




Poor Alistair

He asks both Ruth and David out for a drink, but only gets David.

That’s a shame.

David’s hardly the life and soul these days.



A big boy did it and ran away

Well, not quite, but I reckon that’s what David would have like to say to Ruth.

[Ruth] “Alistair’s talk of poor husbandry is quite timely, isn’t it … it was you who put off the repairs to the calf shed that caused them to cough”

[David] “Hey, that is not fair … if you had listened, Ruth, Alistair never said this outbreak had anything to do with recent lapses … it must have been in the herd for years”

[Ruth] “And I’m saying we shouldn’t be complacent, David. You’ve had your eye off the ball since January,. Your neglect could have devastating consequences down the line”

[David] “Don’t call it neglect”

[Ruth] “You left them in a draft in a bitter wind , what else should I call it … you were careless”

[David] “I did my best. But I head to give my time to Elizabeth. You were the one who was here, on the spot”

[Ruth] “Oh don’t you dare try to blame me for this … I kept this farm going. But I couldn’t do everything … (maintenance) if you dealt with them instead of playing superman at Lower Loxley!”

Thank goodness Ed interrupted them as he came out of Brookfield after collecting some of George’s toys. That was all very (very) shouty.

But I wonder is Ruth is right, and David is setting up disaster for whichever of their brood takes over Brookfield.

Later on, when David and Ruth have had a calm talk, and David meets Alistair for that pint, he’s also pondering if he’s setting Brookfield up for a fall.

[David] “It has made us question what we’re doing with the herd”

Main issue is whether he and Ruth have expanded the herd too fast.

Maybe. But it could indeed have been there for years – it could have been David’s ‘neglect’ – and, as Pip found on the internet, seemingly up to 50% of UK herds may have sudden clinical Johne’s disease.



George isn’t a happy chappy

Not only is he having to now share his drawers with the new (as yet to be born) baby – drawers for clothes, that is – his toys are also now being put away to create more room.

But not to worry, George.

Ed has the answer to all your woes.

[Ed] “Come on George, let’s settle you in front of the telly”

“You’re going a bit mad”

So says Ed to Emma.

Brave chap.

Emma does seem to be particularly stressed. Baby due. Lots to sort. And not enough temper to cope.

To top it all, Clarrie’s also coming round on Sunday for her lunch, after Eddie insisted (!).


Marty is back!

*Groan*

Marty is Jamie’s mate, and tends to encourage him to hang around, drinking.

I also think Marty does sound particularly thick …

Which is what they were doing when Alistair met them.

I never quite get the teenage propensity to snigger over nothing. Marty and Jamie though the fact that Alistair is Jamie’s (step)dad was worth a snigger.

[Marty] “I can see where Dan gets it”

Gets what?

A decent personality and basic politeness?

(hark at me ... Mary Whitehouse reincarnated)

Marty reckons Jamie’s lucky to only have one parent, as

[Marty] “They’re hard to dodge when there’s two of them”

Jamie’s quite rightly indignant that luck has nothing to do with it!

[Jamie] “My dad’s dead, Kenton’s deserted me, my step-mum’s gone mad … no-one gives a damn about me!”

*sigh*

That’s because you make it so hard to care, young sir.



Last man to see Nigel alive

Which is David. And he’s not looking forward to the inquest next week.

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