Saturday 4 June 2011

The Archers Thursday 2nd June 2011: Open Farm Sunday cliff-hanger

  • Jennifer’s a crafty player
  • “Have your strawberries got a vicious streak?”
  • Supermarkets – a positive news story?
  • Gisela “pulling the homesick stunt again”
  • Does Jennifer have cravings?
  • Kate likes the jade pendant
  • “Paddocks of Desire”
  • Not sure if I can wait until tomorrow …



Jennifer’s a crafty player

She sells every punnet of strawberry at the farmer’s market – then manages to get Jazzer into emptying out her van for her.

Sometimes easy to forget that Jennifer isn’t just the straight-man to Brian’s wheeler dealings.



“Have your strawberries got a vicious streak?”

Jazzer ends up emptying Jennifer’s van as he’s too distracted trying to get Zofia’s telephone number from Jennifer.

He reckons Zofia was about to give it to him anyway at the Sticky Wicket, before Harry interrupted them. Jazzer tells Jennifer that Zofia looks lonely, so he just wants to help.

[Jazzer] “You know me, always wanting to extend the hand of friendship”

Jennifer won’t give it to him (employee confidentiality), and also won’t let him go into the polytunnel to see Zofia.

[Jazzer] “Have your strawberries got a vicious streak?”

So, in return for all his effort, all Jazzer gets is a list of dates of when there will be Picker socials. And a loose promise from Adam that he’ll be invited to the next one.

Methinks Jazzer will have to be a lot more crafty if he wants to beat Harry to the chase.


Supermarkets – a positive news story?

Penny Marsh seems to think so.

Penny is Matt’s ‘insider’ at the Council – and meets with Brian and Annabelle to substantiate Matt’s claim that there’s more “sugar” to be had from the Council, if they get an early push on with the new Mart.

It seems that at least two supermarkets want the site – and Penny reckons the councils want them to be in on the site as soon as possible. It would (seemingly) be a terrific boost for the Council.

Hmmm.

I can see how making money out of a Supermarket buying a site is a boost. I can also see that a new supermarket creates more jobs, gets more folks in to the area (and so on), BUT don’t most communities fight against new supermarkets?

Death of local high streets. More traffic. Environmental impact (etc).

Either way, Brian still isn’t convinced that this is all real. It sounds like a great deal for him and his fellow directors, but it would involve having to move all of their plans forward – so more of a risk.

[Brian] “ … a golden opportunity for BMD or being bounced into something nasty by Matt?”



Gisela “pulling the homesick stunt again”

According to Adam.

Gisela is one of Home Farm’s pickers, and she wants to sue the office Skype to call home.

Adam reckons she just wants to chat to her boyfriend back home, but Jennifer is a bit more sympathetic (which is why Adam is probably asking Jennifer to speak to Gisela instead of tackling her himself).

Seems that Gisela has a bit of a dodgy boyfriend, who she literally needs an eye kept on to stop wandering.

Doubt a Skype call will achieve that …



Does Jennifer have cravings?

Jennifer is 66, so surely not.

Maybe the “seriously hot” Jalapeno Salsa was just a wee fancy of hers.

Though she is right to be a bit embarrassed that it wasn’t homemade. She has quite a reputation to up when it comes to culinary delights.



Kate likes the jade pendant

Even to the point where she thought it was the best present Brian had ever got for Jennifer.

If it hadn’t also gone down well with other folks (excluding Lilian, of course), I’d be sure it was naff, if only based on Kate’s approval.

Anyhoo – I didn’t quite understand what Jennifer meant when she said she gets Jade and Coral this year. I know it’s just been her and Brian’s 35th, and she was 66 in January – but what else is special about this year? She made mention of December. Is it just that she’s excited about what her Christmas present could be, considering Brian’s doing so well with his presents so far?


“Paddocks of Desire”

Would be a “ridiculous title” for a book, according to Jennifer.

Interesting that she hasn’t read past page 5 of Mistress of the Paddocks.

Talking to Adam about it, Jennifer claims that she thought it had been a good idea

[Jennifer] “ …local author … rural themes … much less daunting. For all Jim’s carping, it’s attracted at least one new member”

So while Jennifer seems to have not read it, it’s got Pat into the Book Club. I never took Pat as a romance fiction fan.

I can't track it down anywhere – but can we assume that Mistress of the Paddocks is one of Jennifer’s?


Not sure if I can wait until tomorrow

… to find out about whether Brian will agree to Home Farm doing Open Farm Sunday in place of Brookfield.

Adam wants to. Jennifer’s also keen.

There was even mention of Tom’s burger van.

But Brian is oddly negative and cautious at the moment.

[Adam, to Bran] “ … open farm Sunday, yes or no?”

Blimey. The tension is awful!

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