The Archers: Jolene plans a day out … Peggy’s birthday plans … Con has been in touch … Nathan Booth is being naughty at the Panto … Poppies are selling well in The Bull
- Fallon’s working on her tunes again
- Does Jolene really just want bar supplies?
- Bill’s been on the pull
- Peggy’s having a birthday tea
- “Tom really has got his head screwed on, doesn’t he?”
- Con Lives!
- Robert’s making funny sounds
- Harry and Lynda up a tree?
- Ah, that’s why Lynda is so …
- Ruairi has his bottom pinched
- Vicky is not an ingénue
- I want to see Nathan’s Bruce Forsyth
- At last … someone realises Fallon can sing!
Fallon’s working on her tunes again
Oh, that’s a surprise.
Just when there’s a dire need for music in the panto.
If I was a cynical person …
Does Jolene really just want bar supplies?
She sounded very odd indeed.
And then she ‘reveals’ that Kenton is taking her to Borchester Bar Supplies.
That’s interesting. Very interesting indeed.
Bill’s been on the pull
Naughty Bill.
That’s Peggy’s sofa, that is.
Peggy’s having a birthday tea
Ah, how lovely. With family, and cake!
(and I’m not being sarcastic. That sounds like a lovely time for a lady about to turn 86).
[Peggy] “Don’t bother hunting out the right number of candles”
Bless her.
“Tom really has got his head screwed on, doesn’t he?”
No Peggy.
Sorry to disagree, but Tom is just an annoying little man who doesn’t have enough respect for his father to listen and discuss, rather than just railroad.
Con Lives!
And isn’t Peggy delighted about it.
On the one hand – Peggy is still married – on the other hand, it’s lovely to hear Peggy so happy and excited about something that’s just about her.
Might be good for all concerned?
[Peggy] “Thought [Con] was very gracious asking about jack”
especially as last time Con and Jack met, it was
[Peggy] “Like two stags sizing each other up”
Though as Peggy put it,
[Peggy] “How trivial that all seems now”
Either way, Con is very much alive and seems just as delighted to hear from Peggy.
He has a daughter Belinda, son Danny and granddaughter Amanda.
Peggy also thinks Con still has his sense of humour. Though I’d doubt he still had his own teeth.
Robert’s making funny sounds
Oh tee-hee Mr Snell!
In charge of the Panto’s sound effects, he’s having a grand old time to himself.
First a submarine sound effect
[“for when the rats dive away from the cook”]
then a ‘boing’ sound
[“King rat bouncing in the cooking pot”]
and finally a bit of a Pyscho soundtrack sounding sound
[“the littlest rat getting caught in the door”]
While Robert and Harry were having a right old titter at the sound effects, Lynda:
“If I hear one more raspberry or comic boing tonight, I will not be answerable”
At which point Robert ceases his schoolboy behaviour, and heads off to the pub.
Leaving Harry to sweet talk Lynda
(I kid you not!)
Harry and Lynda up a tree?
Harry is either trying to butter Lynda up for a swindle, or he genuinely adores her:
[Harry] “I can see how important you are to the village … you make things happen … life would be a lot duller … you deserve all the support you can get”
Oh Harry.
Sorry to be super critical, but I really can’t work you out.
What is Harry’s Game?!?
Ah, that’s why Lynda is so …
… extreme about the Panto.
Lynda reckons she was shy when young, (the wee poppet even got teased for being so quiet) but her head teacher (Miss Baxter)
[Lynda] “saw something in me no-one else did”
and casted her as Gerda in the snow queen. And that was:
[Lynda] “the best thing ever happened to me … I felt special”
So, Lynda is so focused on the Panto because she wants everyone else to have that feeling.
I do like Lynda. She’s just not the one dimensional obsessive she often makes herself out to be.
Ruairi has his bottom pinched
By the rather cheeky Molly Button.
Keep your eye on those two (but give it another 10 years for it to get properly interesting)
Vicky is not an ingénue
So says Lynda.
Honestly, Lynda and Vicky are the worst friends ever!
Vicky stabs Lynda in the back over the Peregrines – now Lynda is merrily slagging Vicky off when Vicky had actually stepped in to help Lynda out.
Still bereft of an Alice Fitzwarren for the Panton, Vicky read the part during rehearsals.
Not impressed by Vicky’s giggling and waving to Mike, Lynda is becoming increasing desperate to cast her leading lady.
I want to see Nathan’s Bruce Forsyth
Especially if he has managed to make Bruce seem more like Maureen Lipman.
At last … someone realises Fallon can sing!
Ah, we can always depend on Clarrie to speak sense.
And the penny finally drops for Lynda.
Trying the idea out on Jolene, Lynda realises that while it is probably too busy a time at The Bull for Fallon to take a full part in the Panto, she could always get Fallon to record the backing music.
Didn’t Vicky suggest that weeks ago?
The Archers: Jazzer still isn't tidy ... Jill joins the computer lessons ... Kathy and Jamie row ... Kathy and Pat drink wine
- “How Jazzer can drive the milk van safely is beyond me”
- Why was Fallon so affronted?
- “You have to be firm with him – he’ll come back wagging his tail anyway”
- Harry’s got a threesome
- Shandy!
- Peggy really wants a bit of Con
- “not everything is about you”
- First mention of Christmas shopping
“How Jazzer can drive the milk van safely is beyond me”
Harry is discovering that Jazzer doesn’t need much sleep.
“He’s like a shark … and I still can’t get him to do the washing up”
Well, come on now Harry – when was the last time you saw a Shark get a pair of rubber gloves on?!?
Why was Fallon so affronted?
After Harry telling Fallon all about Jazzer’s habits, Fallon was utterly seething.
So, Jazzer is a shark that won’t go near marigolds. So, Jazzer leaves his dirty clothes in a bin next to the toilet. So, Harry feels:
“dirtier after I come out of the bathroom than when I went in”
What’s any of that to Fallon?
She gets so het up, demanding Harry creates a rota (oh my giddy aunt!), that even Harry remarks:
“Blimey – it’s a good job he didn’t move in with you!”
I think Fallon is increasingly falling for Mr Harry Mason’s charms, so sees any insult on his honour (well … his flat), as a slight on her.
“You have to be firm with him – he’ll come back wagging his tail anyway”
Just following on from Fallon’s odd behaviour over Jazzer’s lack of domestic skills, what on earth was she on about when she said the above?
Has Jazzer ever wagged his tail?
Or, does this give us more insight into Fallon maybe not being the all-round good lass that we think her to be.
Has she just been treating mean/keeping keen Jazzer all these years?
Harry’s got a threesome
And wasn’t it nice of Peggy to share him with Jill.
But to be serious – I found it lovely to eavesdrop in on Peggy and Jill having a chat.
It was like coming in from a horrible winter’s storm (anyone shouting at each other in Ambridge) to a lovely warm fire, with a wee toddy close to hand.
But, it was sad to hear Jill mention that she might go to the Panton auditions because
“it would be nice to be involved in over Christmas”
The first Christmas without Phil. Here’s hoping Jill’s family don’t forget she’ll need that extra bit of festive TLC.
Shandy!
What’s wrong with Jamie?
Come on – shandy, two (TWO!) pepperoni pizzas, a Hawaiian pizza, chips and dips (which I really hope Kathy meant actual chips, cause it’d have been ‘crisps’ otherwise).
There’s a right teenage riot setup for you!
But of course, it isn’t cool if mum made it happen.
So we’re back to bad communication between Kathy and Jamie yet again.
Kathy said Jamie could have his mates over. He grunted. She assumes. He grunts again. She makes an effort. He’s still grunting. She shouts. He goes out.
I though Kathy was making a bit too much out of Jamie having nae mates – but it’s typical of her seeing everything he does as an attack on her, rather than it just being his life.
Poor chap had to go over Fallon’s to watch DVDs to escape his mum, and exactly because he has next to no mates.
I’d almost feel sorry for the wee lout …
Peggy really wants a bit of Con
As Jill and Peggy silver surf the internet, Peggy is once again on about her long lost American GI Con.
My word. We are keen!
With Harry’s help, Peggy has worked out Con’s old army unit, and has sent email to his veterans association.
“I suppose it is easier than ever to track someone down”
Uh-huh.
It’s also called ‘stalking’
At least Peggy does mention that she’ll tell Con about Jack (though it didn’t sound like it’d be in the context of ‘I’m already taken).
And there is something nice about Peggy acting like a teenage girl, checking her emails every day in case of a reply.
Kinda scary, but kinda cute as well.
“not everything is about you”
Hurrah Pat!
Well said, if you were a bit tardy in saying it. Months ago would have been perfect.
After not being able to get the extra pizzas into her freezer, Kathy invites Pat over.
Alongside the moaning and groaning from Kathy, I think Pat actually made a breakthrough:”
“He’s a teenager Kathy … they have mood … not everything is about you or Kenton or even his dad”
“You’re his mother you’ll never do anything right”
“Perhaps you should spend a bit of time on yourself”
While, seconds later, resulted in Kathy saying
“If Jamie doesn’t want to spend time with me, I may as well spend time on myself!”
Yikes! Is Kathy moving on? Letting go? About to have fun?
For starters, Pat and her are going to take a whole afternoon off to go shopping.
Phew!
First mention of Christmas shopping
As much as I love Ambridge, that wasn’t fair or right.
The Archers: Jazzer moves in with Harry ... Vicky faces Ed ... Peggy's second lesson with Harry
- "even a pig ark is bigger than this"
- Men on bikes?
- Jazzer 'two plastic bags' McCreary
- Widows get a basket of produce
- To give Vicky credit ...
- "Scrub calves!"
- "Call yourself a farmer? I wouldn't trust you to run a pets corner!"
- Google, perchance?
"even a pig ark is bigger than this"
So there's a surprise. Jazzer's not impressed with his room at Harry's.
Despite Harry trying to tell Jazzer that
"space is all relative",
the box room does sound teeny. It's not even small enough to have a bed - Jazzer has to make do with a futon (which has to stay up as a sofa if he wants to move around at all).
Alarm bells are sounding already with Harry mentioning to Jazzer that he "might want" to leave his shoes in the hall ...
"we'll get along fine ... Jazzer old son"
I very much doubt it, Harry me old mate.
Men on bikes?
It'd be a bit clumsy to deduce anything from Harry having pictures of last year's Tour de France up in his box room (now Jazzer's bedroom), but what else would be the point of it, in this context?
Harry claims the pictures were to:
"add a touch of colour, a bit of class"
Jazzer's response:
"if I do have to live in a shoe box, I don't plan to share it with a bunch of pumped up guys in lyrca"
The obvious response to all of this would be to assume Harry might be gay.
It would explain why he's shown little interest in Fallon (isn't she supposed to be a bit of a looker?), though it wouldn't explain his interest in Nic.
It might also explain why he's gone to such lengths to be a useful part of the village. Maybe he thinks Ambridge still burns gay men (or lesbians) at the stake, so best to be integrated before the big reveal?
Hmmmm.
I'm not convinced.
Maybe this was more about Jazzer being a bit of an insecure lout, than anything about Harry.
Making a point of saying how he'll put up
"some fine wee lassies",
and how his toiletries amount to a toothbrush and a razor - maybe Jazzer actually doth protest too much?
Jazzer 'two plastic bags' McCreary
Aw!
Jazzer can fit all of his worldly possessions into (which sounded like) two plastic carrier bags.
What a wee shame.
Still, if he didn't spend so much down The Bull ...
Widows get a basket of produce
That seems to be the case during the Harvest sermon at the church.
Jill was given once as she's been recently widowed.
I’m not sure whether I'd be touched or embarrassed (and upset), in her place.
To give Vicky credit ...
... she does at least her the nerve to face Ed to tell him that she's failed to sell any veal (apart from a wee bit to Ian).
And she kept her cool when Ed basically said 'I told you so'.
Though she doesn't entirely accept that it was a doomed to failure plan:
[Vicky] "how could we know till we tried?"
[Ed] "It's just common sense!"
Despite Ed getting quite blatantly more and more angry, Vicky continues to blunder on - now suggesting that they keep the calves for breeding bulls.
Which leads us to:
"Scrub calves!"
[Ed] "scrub calves! They're not good enough! They're not fit for anything!"
How did Vicky explode when Ed called her beloved calves "scrub"!
Quite suddenly, she went from slightly humble, to furiously righteous:
[Vicky] "It's a failure .. because I couldn't guarantee continuity of supply! ... if you'd shown a bit more guts and imagination ..."
[Ed] "either way, it's a stupid idea"
[Vicky] "you just think you know it all!"
[Ed] "you must be away with the fairies!"
Al of which results with:
"Call yourself a farmer? I wouldn't trust you to run a pets corner!"
Ouch! That final verbal blast from Vicky must have somewhat bruised Ed.
When Vicky later retells the rather unsightly scene between herself and Ed to Mike
"my lovely boys ... scrub calves!"
Demanding that Mike takes her side, and to tell Ed that
"before he gets anything from me ... I'll proper detailed invoice and an apology"
What's the chances of either of those being forthcoming from Ed?
While Vicky does owe him money for the upkeep of her "lovely boys", her frothing rant won't make Ed keen to be nice to her anytime soon.
Poor Mike, stuck in-between.
If only he hadn't pandered to Vicky's whims in the first place.
Google, perchance?
Harry was showing Peggy how to use 'one of the most popular search engines".
The first thing Peggy wants to look up is Alzheimers.
Which was a bit of a sad moment, as Peggy also mentioned that everything with Jack might have been a bit different if she'd has access to the wealth of information on the internet before now.
Very true. Peggy could have found more advice and support.
Peggy's GI is back!
Well - not really. He's not back in body, but it looks like he is well and truly back in Peggy's mind.
As Harry shows Peggy how to look people up, and despite saying that she'd be able to have few friends on Facebook (as they'll either have forgotten her or are ... well ... dead), Peggy does want to look up Con Korchmar (sp?).
Will Peggy find her lost love?
And if she does, what will happen (considering that her husband is still actually alive)?
The Archers: Hayley and Roy get a stern letter ... Kate gets a talking to from Peggy
- All isn’t well with Grey Gables?
- “Bert took the microphone and staged a coup”
- Hayley is simply not amused
- Kate and Peggy start off quite civilised ...
- A stroll and a chocolate muffin
- Hell hath no fury like a Hayley …
- “That really hurt, gran”
All isn’t well with Grey Gables?
Ian seems concerned about Grey Gables isn’t very busy.
Is a double whammy recession about to hit Ambridge?
“Bert took the microphone and staged a coup”
Roy was reporting back to Ian about last night’s quiz:
“really obscure questions”
Though he did also report that Bert had given Jim the time to find a few of his (properly) easier questions.
When all was said and done, Shula and Alistair’s team won (called ‘Horse Chestnuts’), and The Bull was heaving.
Which is the main thing.
But isn’t the point to get the punters in, but also make sure they keep coming back?
I don’t think the war is won quite yet.
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Hayley is simply not amused
And here’s where Roy’s living hell starts.
Hayley calls him at work to tell him that Phoebe’s school has sent them a very stern letter.
It did sound a tad full-on for one “unauthorised absence”, but I suppose the school is having to battle the scourge of bunking off, plus parents taking their kids on holiday when it isn’t holiday (every little helps!).
Either way, Hayley is absolutely livid:
“we’re carrying the can”
“it’s aimed at parents who don’t give a stuff!”
“I’m going to ram this letter down her throat!”
“damn right I’m upset, and I want her to know it!”
“I’m not giving Kate the chance to manipulate the situation!”
Ian could hear Hayley screeching at Roy on his mobile from across the room.
Determined to confront Kate, Hayley also (literally) dumps Phoebe on him at work, so that she can tackle Kate unhindered.
But Roy starts a whole new world of pain for Kate by asking Peggy to take Phoebe for a few hours ...
Kate and Peggy start off quite civilised ...
Peggy and Kate are having a lovely time catching up, chatting about Kate’s college.
Though “daunted” by the amount of work, Kate’s finding College “stimulating”, and has even made a friend (Chanteuse (sp?), a single mum, who will soon learn that Kate is best avoided!).
Kate’s especially pleased that Peggy gives her a “generous” amount of money as a belated birthday present.
A stroll and a chocolate muffin
When Peggy later looks after Phoebe for Roy, Phoebe once again unwittingly drops Kate right in it.
To be fair, Phoebe doesn’t see what all the fuss is about (despite Roy telling her that “it was very wrong of Kate” to take her out of school without permission).
Having to first work out what Phoebe means when she says ‘mother’ (Peggy assumed Kate, Phoebe meant Hayley), Peggy and Phoebe have a right old time chatting about what Kate was like as a youngster.
Retelling the time when Kate, Helen and Brenda used Blossom Hill Cottage as their “den” (with the help of Will as a gofer), Peggy told Phoebe about the trouble Kate caused when she pretended to be Peggy when writing a letter to Con Korchmar (sp?).
Con was an American GI that Peggy had been ‘close’ to during the war. Con wrote to Peggy, Kate answered the letter, and poor Con arrived in the UK to claim his lady. But Peggy was already married (and knew nothing about the letters, as well as Kate and co squatting in her cottage).
[Phoebe] “Poor guy. Did you still fancy him?”
[Peggy] “well … we had been close during the war”
[Phoebe] “... but he was not marriage material”
(Eh? Where’s Phoebe picked that one up from?)
So, as well as adding “forgery to her list of crimes”, Peggy also mentioned that Kate had nearly burnt the cottage down.
What a gal!
In return for these blasts from the past, Phoebe lets slip about the letter from her school.
Which Peggy is not.
At all.
Amused about.
Hell hath no fury like a Hayley …
… really quite peed off!
Hayley drops in on Kate to give her what for.
Showing Kate the letter from Phoebe’s school:
[Hayley] “we’re marked down as irresponsible parents”
[Kate] “it looks like bureaucratic rubbish”
[Hayley] “I’d be very grateful if you wouldn’t do it again … please”
[Kate] “oh … whatever”
[Hayley] “this is only going to work if all pull together … Phoebe needs clear boundaries …are you prepared to cooperate from now on?”
(at this point, Kate’s ignoring Hayley, pushing Hayley to have to shout ‘KATE!’ to get any response)
[Kate] “well, it’s two against one, isn’t it”
As Ian said earlier on about Kate:
“she’s what my aunty Anne used to call a wee madam”
And as for a woman of 33 using “whatever” …*glare*
“That really hurt, gran”
[Peggy] “you didn’t ask permission - that can’t be right, surely!”
[Peggy] “it was highly irresponsible of you”
[Peggy] “apologise to Roy, Hayley and the school”
[Kate] “but Phoebe is my daughter. I gave birth to her!”
[Peggy] “only when it suits you, dear”
[Kate] “that really hurt, gran”
[Peggy] “the truth often does”
Ouch! Peggy really didn’t hold back from giving Kate a verbal kicking.
Although Peggy does seem Kate as Phoebe’s ‘real’ mother, she’s also very aware that it’s Roy and Hayley who are bringing Phoebe up.
They have the day to day authority, so Kate was utterly out of order for taking Phoebe out of school with their permission.
Also worried about Phoebe being confused about who has the say over what, Peggy’s simply not going to stand for Kate’s childish selfishness.
And hurrah to Peggy! It was about time someone put Kate in her place. Here’s hoping Kate actually takes this bollocking on board.
(though I think the chances of that are slim).
Peggy. You’re our hero!
