Tuesday 20 March 2012

The new Brookfield – where cows don’t get a 2nd chance 18.03.12

The Archers Monday 18th March 2012

  • Does Ruth not realise she’s a hypocrite?
  • The Smallest Cheeseshop chain
  • Bridge Farm’s Interest
  • Emma let go without a care
  • Youth cricket ahoy
  • Ruth was using a pan!


Does Ruth not realise she’s a hypocrite?

Josh is working in the dairy with Ruth – before he has to go to school. And he has breakfast.

He’s showing ever more commitment (watch out Pip …).

Josh has been trying to work out what the new Brookfield system means. He’s a bit confused at what David was saying after David and Ruth had been to visit a farm already using that system.

[Josh] “He said the farmers get rid of the cows if they don’t get in calf the first time round”

[Ruth] “Well he’s working on the same milk contract he’s always had, so he needs to drive his costs down. AI is expensive, and so is keeping a dairy cow if she’s not in calf”

[Josh] “so it’s all about costs?”

[Ruth] “Well, it’s more positive than that, He’s breeding health and fertility into the herd”

[Josh] “So that means they’re more valuable? … and he’ll have more pregnant cattle than he needs every year so he can sell some?”

[Ruth] “Like we do now”

[Josh] “At better prices, because of the way he managed the herd … and that’s what we’ll be doing?”

[Ruth] “It’s what we do anyway mostly. We’ll have to be more systematic about it. No second chances and drive down the costs, that’s the plan”

Huh. Ruth sounds like Brian.

Think she can hear herself? She’ll not have a leg to stand on (or a happy cow to call as witness) when she ploughs back into protesting against the Super Dairy. Her new system is hardly a softly-softly approach to the cows.

Also sounds like Josh was worried about all of the recent debates and worry over Brookfield – especially as he’s noticed his parents arguing.

Ruth tells him everything (everything!) will be just fine …


The Smallest Cheeseshop chain

Sounds great!

Acting on Tom’s suggestion to go and see a cheese buyer while also going to see Sharon, Helen’s got an appointment with Bee Hardwick of The Smallest Cheeseshop chain.


Bridge Farm’s Interest

Pat and Tony’s interest only mortgage agreement is up soon (blimey – has that been 6 months already?). So, they need to decide if they go to repayment, or negotiate another period of interest only.

With Tony very much consigned to the sofa, Pat turns to Tom to help her make a decision.
They go through the figures, with Tom reckoning that the figures look good enough to go back onto repayment. Pat doesn’t seem convinced. And she also doesn’t want to do anything with Tony.

[Pat] “I don’t want him to feel we’re marginalising him”

But how to talk to Tony without stressing him?

More importantly, if Tony disagrees with Tom’s deductions, surely another father V son? With father coming off the worst.



Emma let go without a care

Laura at Lower Loxley (who she?) was absolutely fine about Emma handing her notice in. In fact, Laura didn’t even want Emma to work out her notice.

Emma didn’t seem to notice that Lower Loxley let her go without a thought.

That girl is either thick skinned, thick or just couldn’t care.



Youth cricket ahoy

From what David was saying, sounds like Jamie’s idea for youth cricket is a goer.

They now just need to find:

[David] “Someone willing to turn up week after week for the sheer love of the game”


Ruth was using a pan!

Be scared …

And can pizza be cooked in a pan?

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