The Archers Wednesday 27th July 2011: Chris needs £200,000

• The Chelsea Chop
• Bets on for Robert Snell booking Rage Against the Machine?
• Shame about Oscar, Happy about Coriander
• Matt plays a birthday card
• No hoo-ha at Alice’s graduation?
• 85p for a can of tomatoes … outrageous!
• No-one compares to Helen
• “Crazy Punt” Chris?
• Elizabeth misses Roy
• Alice isn’t buying Bridge Farm ice-cream
• The crack barn?

The Chelsea Chop

Lynda’s still on about Gardeners Question Time.

She took their advice to keep her flowers working longer and harder – seems if you cut back late flowering perennials, it’s called the Chelsea Chop.


Bets on for Robert Snell booking Rage Against the Machine?

Lynda’s trying to guess what type of music Robert’s organised for their garden party on Sunday.

He’s keeping it a surprise, so Lynda has no idea whether it’ll be a string quartet or a brass band.

Wonder if Robert will take the surprise even further?
 


Shame about Oscar, Happy about Coriander Bamford

Seems Jason has work on in the Netherlands, so he, Oscar and Coriander can’t make it to the party on Sunday.

Can’t say I’ll miss Coriander. I know she’s supposed to be ‘nicer’ than Leonie, but she still often doesn’t make for pleasant listening. Especially when she gets snippy about Lynda’s adoration of Oscar.


Matt plays a birthday card

Seems Matt also won’t be at the Snells’ party – it’s the same day as his birthday.

Lilian is still going, as (the very odious) James and Leonie will be in attendance.

Quite right too, Matt. Feet up. Large glass of whisky. Radio 4. Marvellous.


No hoo-ha at Alice’s graduation?

Is it just me, or is the damp squib count increasing in Ambridge?

Alice had to go back to Southampton for her graduation ceremony (she got a 2:1), accompanied by Chris, Brian and Jennifer.

And that was that, really.

No resurrection of Chas (actually not even a mention of Chas – Chris only mumbled that he wasn’t looking forward to spending the day with Brian and Jennifer).

Pfft.


85p for a can of tomatoes … outrageous!

[Susan] “You have to expect to pay a little bit extra here, for the convenience of having the shop on your doorstep, and when you think about what you spend on petrol going to the supermarket …”

I do agree with Susan, but there’s ‘a little bit’, and there’s taking the Michael.



No-one compares to Helen

Susan and Lynda are worried about Rhys’ forthcoming flat warming party. There could be noise – it could spill out into the Green – there’s could be cans and bottles scattered far and wide.

It wasn’t fair of them to compare Rhys to that weird Jonti chap who had lived (and ran away from) No.3 – but it was utterly unrealistic to compare him to Helen.

Of course Helen was the perfect tenant. Her idea of a wild time was a glass of wine, a box of chocolates and a DVD.


“Crazy Punt” Chris?

Chris was worried about his meeting with his bank manager. He’d spent plenty of time working on his business plan – and Alice had every confidence in him – but Chris reckoned that his bank manager would think his plan was a “crazy punt” and that he had “crazy expectations”.

Seems Chris needs £200,000 – and would have to raise at least £50,000 by April to at least have some sort of deposit.

Ouch.


Elizabeth misses Roy

But not in ‘that’ way. She just misses “Mr Dependable”.

But it’ll be her turn to have a holiday soon. She and twins will be off to Cornwall in September.


Alice isn’t buying Bridge Farm ice-cream

But not because of the E. coli – she reckons it’s just too expensive.

Which is very sensible, as she and Chris do need to save.

Would seem that Jennifer was kinda right that Alice isn’t living the life accustomed. Alice admits herself that she had been used to everything “provided on demand” by her parents.

But, as Chris pointed out, she got her degree through her own hard work – and at least she isn’t running a mile now that money isn’t flowing.

That’s love for you.

Alice reckons Chris is her “hero”.

And they have managed to get through a whole year of marriage. Their anniversary is tomorrow.

Aw. Sweet.


The crack barn?

Did I hear that right?

Did Elizabeth say that Pat has cancelled her stall ion the “crack barn” at the Garden Festival?