Phoebe arrives in Ambridge: Tues 31.07.12

(blimey, that was a quick flight)

The Archers Tuesday 31st July 2012

• Hayley wants Roy in the fast lane
• NOW Hayley worries about Phoebe’s room
• Mike likes grandkids
• Ed’s also dropping his price
• Phoebe’s arrival home is … muted
• Jazzer’s going to the ‘Brugh!
• Abbie likes the horses
• Brenda really has changed

Hayley wants Roy in the fast lane
So that they can get to the airport before Phoebe arrives.

Roy, ever calm, keeps to the slow lane.

They’ll get there. Eventually.


NOW Hayley worries about Phoebe’s room

She’s wondering if she should have spoken to Phoebe first before she redecorated.

Bit late for that, considering it’s done and Phoebe’s on her way.

When Phoebe sees it:

[Phoebe] “It’s different … I was expecting it to be how it was … than you. It was nice of you.”

So, not totally enamoured, but not horrified.

At least Delia’s pot matches the room (so reckons Hayley), though it might not have been a good idea for them to have hung photos of everyone Phoebe is “missing” from South Africa.



Mike likes grandkids

Vicky and Mike are sitting Abbie while Hayley and Roy go to collect Phoebe from the airport.

[Vicky] “This is fun, isn’t it Mike. It’s lovely to do things with the little one. There’s so much you can share with them. I really feel we have so much to give.”

[Mike] “Yeah, grandkids are great.”

Being Mike, I’ve no idea if he said that without thinking, or if he was trying to make a point.


Ed’s also dropping his price

So that Mike can drop his.

I would have thought they’d both be manning the barricades by now!


Phoebe’s arrival home is … muted

(Well, not literally. We wouldn’t have heard anything)

When Phoebe sees Hayley and Roy, she starts sobbing.

When she gets home, she goes straight up to her room. Not even stopping to admire the banner or cake that’s been made in her honour.

She’s a tad monosyllabic when Roy and Hayley go up to see her.

[Roy] “What about, um, well, eh, how are things with Kate?”

Phoebe changed the subject.

But, Phoebe doesn’t eventually go down, to say hello to all, and to get a hug from Mike.

[Phoebe] “It’s good to be home. It really is.”

Jazzer’s going to the ‘Brugh!

[Fallon] “I know what Jazzer’s superpower is mum, persuasion.”

Jazzer’s persuaded  Mike to let him go on holiday.

Because Fallon said he could come, when he fixed her van yesterday, she’s now stuck with him.

[Fallon] “I didn’t mean it. I was just being nice … I thought I was safe … I’d look like a right cow.”

Ever ready with good advice, Jolene suggests Fallon gets a fourth to come on holiday.

[Jolene] “Dilute him a bit.”

[Fallon] “Yeah, so he’s not so much of a gooseberry.”

(oh-ho! Fallon does have dishonourable intentions towards Harry after all!)

So who is Fallon going to call?

Kirsty.

She gets the time off of Ambridge Organics no problem (Helen must still be full of the joys of motherhood), but Jaxx might be a problem. It’s busy, and they’re already down staff.

[Jolene] “Do you want me to push Kenton a bit, see if he can sort something out?”

[Fallon] “Push hard … my happiness is at stake here!”

Abbie likes the horses

At the Olympics.

Bless.


Brenda really has changed

It’s a shocker!

Vicky tells Brenda that she’s told Mike she’s pregnant (Vicky, not Brenda).

[Vicky] “He’s been a bit dazed since then.”

Vicky doesn’t know if Mike is happy or not about the baby.

[Vicky] “And I realised I was just talking and talking because I was scared that he’d say … he doesn’t want it …  Will I measure up? I know what a wonderful mother Betty was to you and Roy … Mike’s been through it before, but it’s all going to be so new to me.”

[Brenda] “Mum was new to it once, you mustn’t worry about trying to be her. I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful mother, in your own way.”

[Vicky] “I can’t do it alone Brenda, but I can’t lose mike. If that’s my choice, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Brenda even offers to go to the midwife with Vicky, as Mike’s likely to be busy (and still pondering).

Caring. A good listener. And helpful.

Where’s our usual brand of Brenda?

The Archers Friday 3rd June 2011: Kate sits down to “talk sensibly”

• Phoebe’s birthday bound to be a farce?
• Abbie’s not an artistic type?
• Hayley has a blonde moment
• Open Farm Sunday will be at Home Farm
• Grumpy bees
• Kate tries to be an adult
• Cakes and rifts
• Shula’s comeback to St. Stephens?

Phoebe’s birthday bound to be a farce?

It’s Phoebe’s 13th birthday at the end of this month.

So, Roy and Hayley are busy planning. Village Hall, DJ, ‘bouncers’ to stop any cider being sneaked in (the bouncers will probably be a rotation of dads).


Abbie’s not an artistic type?

Roy and Hayley were being nice parents, and praising Abbie’s clay modelling efforts.

But both had to ask what it was she had just made for them (turned out to be cakes and tea).

Not to worry Abbie. You’re only 3. Plenty of time to find your calling.


Hayley has a blonde moment

[Hayley] “Lynda saw an Ostrich in the Forest of Dean”

On Roy saying ‘you what?’

[Hayley] “No … Goshawk … .knew there was on o in it somewhere”

Bless.


Open Farm Sunday will be at Home Farm

Phew.

That kept me awake all night, worrying.

And David is also very relieved.

Though he feels like he should be doing it – especially as he is President of the NFU – but needs must.

[David] “Well it will be easier working as normal instead of trying to entertain the masses”

Wonder how the Aldridge’s will cope with the masses … probably first time they’ve come into close contact with ‘them’. Though, of course, there is the Carter side of their family.


Grumpy bees

[Jill] “They’re still quite grumpy in the third hive, I hope I don’t have to end up re-queening”

Anyone who’s read this blog will know that I love a bit of bee action.

Lovely to hear Jill talking about them, and that Josh is still interested and helping.

Marvellous.


Kate tries to be an adult

Earlier on, Hayley had been talking about Phoebe.

[Hayley] “She’s still got such a grump on about South Africa”

Considering it was Kate that caused all of the problem in the first place by promising Phoebe that she could live with her in South Africa, it’s only right that Kate tries to sort it out.

Very surprisingly, and quite out of character for Kate, she actually tries to do just that.

Kate doesn’t get off to a good start. She arrives at Roy and Hayley’s unannounced, when Roy is sat around in socks with holes in them.

[Kate] “Don’t worry Roy, I’ve seen you in much worse states, haven’t I?”

You could feel Hayley’s hackles go up at that one.

But down to business.

[Kate] “She (Phoebe) seems so unhappy”

[Hayley] “Well, she is getting tugged backwards and forwards rather a lot at the moment”

Kate explains that Phoebe’s heart is set on going to South Africa to live for a bit. Roy reckons it’s just what Phoebe “thinks she wants”. But Kate insists they still need to:

[Kate] “talk sensibly and calmly”

(blimey!)

Kate explains that “mum and dad” (Brian and Jennifer) will be paying for Phoebe’s flights. (wonder if they know about that). Roy explains he doesn’t want to lose Phoebe for a whole year. Hayley reckons Phoebe is too young to be making that sort of move. Kate thinks it’s an amazing opportunity at the right time for Phoebe (before she starts exams and such), and that Roy and Hayley need to think about it properly, “for Phoebe’s sake”.

When Kate leaves, Hayley starts on a ‘the nerve of her’ rant, but Roy isn’t so sure that Late doesn’t have a good point about this being an amazing opportunity for Phoebe.

[Roy] “What if we’re being selfish?”

But, Hayley seems to be thinking with heart not head.

[Hayley] “They’re both my daughters (Abbie and Phoebe), just the same, and I can’t bear to see her go for so long”

Roy reckons they’ve all got to compromise. Which is a point well made.

BUT – isn’t the real problem that Phoebe going to South Africa means that Kate will be looking after her?

Would any of us trust the care of a child (or anyone, of any age) to Kate?


Cakes and rifts

Shula and Jill are having a chat about the twins.

Seemingly Freddie was “enormously enthusiastic” about making cakes with Jill – to the point where Jill is still finding bits of ingredients around the kitchen – and Lily made a good Victoria sponge.

Shula reckoned that Freddie and Lily going to see Brookfield’s new puppy Tigg was a small step forward for Elizabeth and David, but Jill thinks not.

[Jill] “ …Roy took them … there was no change in her (Elizabeth) own attitude. If anything, she and David seemed to be accepting that it was a permanent rift”

Poor Jill. What a horrific situation for a mum.



Shula’s comeback to St. Stephens?

During times of difficulty, Jill could normally find solace in St. Stephens

[Jill] “And no matter how hot and busy life is outside, or cold and miserable, I’ve nearly always found great comfort there”

In a very poignant and moving speech, Jill explains that she can go to St. Stephens, sit quietly, and let go of her troubles. After which, she’d often find that she found a solution to her problems.

[Jill] “And very often, I’ve been filled with a certainty, a real sense of God being with me … that’s when I’d see if he had time to take notice of my little troubles. He always did”

But, not last week.

[Jill] “No, all I could think about was David and Elizabeth and this terrible row … I sat and prayed after the service. I couldn’t see any way forward. None at all. I felt so helpless”

So Jill wants Shula to come with her to St. Stephens this week. Even though Shula still hasn’t resolved her issue with Alan, Usha and ‘that’ statue …

[Jill] “I don’t want to be all on my own again”

Goodness. Phil is still very much missed.

The Archers Sunday 1st May 2011: Kathy bows down to Jamie

click the title above, of the 'read more' link below the bullet points, to read the full post on this eavesdropping episode

• Second mention of silage clamp!
• Ted has an impressive box
• Jamie has it made
• But has Jamie changed?
• Abby is a worry
• Jill Vs Lilian
• AV, Ambridge style
• Missing Mandisa
• Son or husband?

Second mention of silage clamp!

No idea why I get so excited about the silage clamp time of year, but I do.

Though a mention of Tony working on a tractor always sends shivers.




Ted has an impressive box

Ted took an enamel box, which he’d made. She was very impressed. Very impressed indeed.

Kathy and Pat have spotted that Peggy seems to be quite fond indeed of Ted proper, as well as Ted’s box.


Jamie has it made

Back at home with Kathy, Jamie came in late, but didn’t get shouted at … gets woken up gently by Kathy, in plenty of time for his shift at The Bull … Kathy then makes him sausages … and takes his dirty clothes away to wash them.

I hate to say it, but Jamie’s mates were right. Jamie has Kathy right where he wants her.


But has Jamie changed?

He has got Kathy pandering to him, but he also seems to be in better feckle.

Jamie sort of agreed with Kathy that he probably should have his exam schedule up somewhere in the house (which is better than just shouting).

And he told Kathy that he’d come home after his shift at The Bull to then start revising.

Cripes!


Abby is a worry

As Roy is mulling over, with Hayley, that this is his last week at Lower Loxley (after having started there as a waiter 14 years ago), this rather odd moment happened:

[Hayley] “Is Abbie alright over there? She’s not trying to eat those daisies again?”

Well! Abbie seems to be one to watch.


Jill Vs Lilian

Jill and Lilian are both standing for election (for the Parish Council).

Who would you choose? Conservatives (with a most robust capital C) or the Gin Party?

Hmmm.


AV, Ambridge style

Peggy’s chatting with Kathy about AV.

Peggy reckons she understand how it works, and isn’t sure it is a good thing.

[Peggy] “the old system seems to have done us well enough … better than some of these continental countries with all the bickering and horse trading that goes on”

(*snort* Peggy will be going on about the Colonies next!)

Kathy, on the other hand, reckons a change might be a good thing, and might make folks feel that their vote counts.

Phew! Heady times indeed.


Missing Mandisa

Here we go.

[Phoebe] “If l lived over there … we could be proper friends”

So we know Phoebe had a grand time in South Africa, but sounds like she was more fond of it than Roy and Hayley would like.

Phoebe is fixating on her new bessie mate Mandisa, who she met in South Africa, as the reason why she wants to be back in South Africa.

Phoebe can go. As long as she takes Kate with her …



Son or husband?

Is it just me, or has Kathy forgotten that Jamie is her son, not her husband?

In her speed to play nice with Jamie, Kathy sounds like she has a cheating husband to placate – along the lines of ‘as long as he comes home’ sort of nonsense.

[Kathy] “Safe subjects only … I don’t say too much that might rock the boat. So I play the doting mother. Cooking his meals, doing his washing, tidying up after him”

To be fair, Kathy does know what she sounds like, as she describes it to Pat, and she knows it’s not good for either her nor Jamie.

Must admit, I’m not fussed. As long as they don’t scream at each other.