The Archers Sunday 7th August 2011: The Snells’ Garden Party

• 25 years in Ambridge
• Tom really is a heartless prat
• James and Leonie seem to be laughing at Ambridge
• And the surprise music is …
• James and Leonie’s surprise is …
• The Diary of a Pretentious Modern Day Couple
• So the party went well

25 years in Ambridge

[Lynda] “When I looked out the window this morning and saw the heat haze rising off the river …”

It’s a perfect day for the Snells’ 25th year in Ambridge. And for their garden party.


Tom really is a heartless prat

Tom on Clarrie resigning:

[Tom] “Pity she didn’t do it a week ago … this is isn't about feelings mum”

[Pat] “Nor is it just a PR exercise!”

Pat reckons Clarrie was brave to resign – Tom just reckons it’s good news.

So he now wants to put it all behind him, and crack on with getting more stock back into customers, and rebuilding their reputation.

He didn’t spare one thought for Clarrie (or the rest of her clan).

Nasty.


James and Leonie seem to be laughing at Ambridge

Leonie, on Lynda and Robert’s party:

[Leonie] “That’s so sweet, like a really quaint rural custom … guests brining food and stuff”
James then drags Leonie off to have a chat with Joe – as he reckons the “Grundys are good value”.

And they both openly laugh.

Hmpf.

Nasty little pair.


And the surprise music is …

Jazz.

Steady on!


James and Leonie’s surprise is …

That they are moving in together.

[Lynda] “Well, um, is that it?”

Actually, not quite:

[James] “We really want to cement our relationships … by writing a book”

Oh, how wonderful (!) …


The Diary of a Pretentious Modern Day Couple

Seems James and Leonie mistaken family and friend politeness about their blog as a “fantastic response”.

[Leonie] “Out styles seem to complement each other”

Bloomin ‘eck! Can you imagine a blogger thinking they have a book in them?

Perish the thought …

But there’s more.

They don’t just want a book – they want to create a whole product line. Spin off products to include things like “crockery and tea things”. All of which should appeal to folks with money to spend.

(are there any of those left?).

[James] “Produce something along the lines of a Country Diary of an Edwardian lady”

Good God no!

How very dare they. I hardly think they have the class and artistic emotions to even tough such a classic. Matt concurs:

[Matt] “And pigs might do the proverbial”

Leonie continues:

[Leonie] “A little bit of heaven, a Year in an English Village”

[Lynda] “Isn’t it terribly hard to get a book published these days?”

Yes it is Lynda (I used to work in publishing – we’d have a stack of hundreds we hadn’t read, let alone rejected … many of which eventually were once we got round to reading them).

But it would seem a “mate in publishing” has given them the “thumbs up”. Probably did so just to get them to desist their wittering.

Leonie eventually twigs that neither Robert nor Lynda nor Lilian seem very excited about their book. She gets very upset. She thinks they should be jumping with joy - especially as it’s going to be about Ambridge.

Oh hang on.

Leonie mentioned “ A Year in”.

Does that mean we could end up with james and Leonie on the secret microphones for a whole, solid year?

*sigh*


So the party went well

Despite Leonie stropping off like a child:

[Lynda] “I think no-one noticed she was looking sulky”

The Snells seem very pleased with their special day.

[Lynda] “I’ll never forget today Robert, surrounded by all our friends and music … Ambridge has been the right place for us, hasn’t it”

They have a laugh over Neil’s pigs breaking into their garden on their first day – and Eddie charging them £10 to remove them (Robert mentioned it to Eddie – he seem scared that Robert wanted his money back – well, he would do, especially now).

[Robert] “Best move we ever made, wasn’t it”

I’d have though so Robert. I certainly have enjoyed The Snells for all these years.