The Archers Friday 11th November 2011: Brian’s been fibbing to Debbie

(and I still find it strange that Debbie calls him ‘dad’)

• Debbie’s fresh from the Hungarian plains
• Susan still isn’t convinced about those rings
• Kylie makes up her mind about Clive
• Andrew is very dull indeed
• Kylie doesn’t remember the caravan
• Brian blames Lilian

Debbie’s fresh from the Hungarian plains

According to Brian.

She’s back over for a Borchester Land meeting about the Super Dairy.

Jennifer is upset on two accounts. Firstly, that Debbie isn’t stopping over – she’s here for the meeting then back to Hungry again.

And second, about Adam’s feeling about the Super Diary.

But Brian reassures Debbie that he’s sorted everything with Adam.


Susan still isn’t convinced about those rings.

She thinks Clive cheated Bert out of them.

[Susan] “Mum would never have left those rings to Clive. Never. Not in a million years … rings don’t go to sons, they go to daughters … Clive got hold of him when he was upset and vulnerable, got round him with his smarmy cheating lies, or just plain bullied him. Preying on a defenceless man … I can’t believe I was so stupid. I’ll never believe a word he says ever again”

Here’s hoping.

But either way, I don’t think we’ve heard the last of Clive yet.


Kylie makes up her mind about Clive

She doesn’t want to see him again nor have any contact with him.

All that after one meeting. Kirsty is quite an astute judge of character, methinks.


Andrew is very dull indeed

He’s on the BL Board, so was at the meeting about the Super Dairy, but I missed most of what he said.

Very dull indeed.

He seemed to be quizzing Debbie about the size of the Dairy.

And the main point I heard him say (between dozing) was that he’d heard Adam wasn’t backing Home Farm’s involvement.

Which was actually quite important.

BL don’t want to make any decisions until Adam (so the whole of Home Farm) is supportive of the project.

So, no decisions about the Super Dairy until January. Which give Brian ample time to brood about it.


Kylie doesn’t remember the caravan

Nor anything else about her time at Bridge Farm. Apart from her mum always being stressed out when they were there.

But she’s met Pat, who she likes.

Kylie had a thirteen year old brother called Rich, and has a stepdad called Eamon. Eamon has been with Sharon for quite a while, and Kylie sees him as her dad proper.

So, really no need for a Clive in her life. Thank goodness.

Susan even reckons that Clive walking out on them was the best thing he’s ever done.


Brian blames Lilian

For telling that Andrew about Adam not backing the Super Dairy.

Debbie isn’t best pleased with Brian, as he’d earlier told her that he and Adam had reached “an understanding”.

But, Brian now claims that the understanding was that he and Debbie wanted the Super Diary, so could carry on regardless as they had the majority share between them.

Is it just me, or is Brian being a bit thick?

Debbie would have found out that Adam was still against the plans, and would have also found out that Brian had basically told Adam that he was being outvoted.

And – now that Debbie knows – she reckons the whole project is “dead”.

No Adam. No Super Dairy.

Sweet talk your way out of that one, Brian.

The Archers Thursday 13th October 2011: Adam is most certainly not amused

• Will forgot his sandwiches
• Will’s not happy about Clive
• Will, a wallpaper?
• Adam is not for turning

Will forgot his sandwiches

But it’s okay.

Nic brought then to him. And brought her own. So they had lunch together.


Will’s not happy about Clive

Join the queue!

Seems Emma has been ringing about George being there to meet Clive.

[Will] “I’m not really happy about it … why she’s doing it?”

[Nic] “To please her grandmother”

[Will] “Well, that’s not worth upsetting George for”

Clive really is stirring it already.

Emma doesn’t want him there. Will doesn’t want him there. George doesn’t know him (as Will and Nic said – Clive means nothing to him – Will would rather it stayed that way). But as Clive has his mother’s love, he can turn the situation to his advantage.
What his game is, I don’t know.

Do we think he just genuinely wants to meet his nephews and niece?

But – knowing this isn’t Emma’s fault, and they’re all in a difficult position, Will agrees for George to meet Clive.


Will, a wallpaper?

Will wants to be “in the background” when Nic next goes to see Andrew.

No chance, I thought. Will’s not for blending!

But low and behold – they went to see Andrew, and Will did nothing but stick to the shadows.

Seems Andrew had split up with his girlfriend, which is why he was being so off with Nic, and rubbish in dealing with the kids.

[Nic] “He did say he was sorry, will. You heard him”

Nic reckons Andrew “really opened up”.

So hopefully that’s that then.

[Nic] “Having you there Will, quietly backing me up. It made the difference”

[Will] “You’ve got me. I’m always going to be there for you Nic”

[Nic] “I’m sorry I misjudged you … I thought you’d get into a slanging match, I should have known better”

[Will] “No. I’m glad you said it. Really glad”

[Nic] “Oh Will, I feel I can face anything with you here”

Aw.

Seriously – wedding bells!

They haven’t got much time if we’re to enjoy a Christmas wedding in Ambridge!


Adam is not for turning

Brian tells Adam about the Super Dairy plans.

To say Adam is not happy is to put it very mildly indeed.

[Adam] “Damn right I have some questions … I can’t believe what you’ve just told me … I don’t know where to start … perhaps with this outstanding act of betrayal by my sister … she cooks up this entire scenario behind my back without a word to me … over my dead body!”

Brian starts fibbing again, claiming that some other BL board member had come up with the suggestion of Home Farm being part of the Super Dairy.

Then Debbie comes in:

[Debbie] “Nothing is going to happen without you agreeing to it or being consulted”

[Adam] “Why couldn’t you have been straight about it … you can’t have much confidence in this scheme, Debbie, if you thought the only way I’d agree if you presented me with a fait accompli”

Brian leaves, and Debbie tires to persuade Adam that it’s actually Brian that mishandled everything. That Brian should have let Debbie talk to Adam first.

But, Adam isn’t one for feeling calm and rationale right now,

[Adam] “The scale … fells so wrong … cows should be outside not farmed for 360 days per year”

But Debbie explains that the cows will be in roomy and clean accommodation, that most farm animals don’t get the ‘natural environment' they should have.

Adam is worried about changing all of Home Farm’s land to arable. That it’ll loose diversity.

Debbie reckons it means they have more control. That it’s actually a “perfect circle.

[Adam] “People round here won’t think it’s perfect; They’ll see an industrial sized unit like this as a threat to three very popular farms. It could be a PR disaster”

And Adam is worried about his sheep and venison businesses.

He's actually worried about his business.

They’re trying to change it all without him.

Adam sees it as a “takeover”. That it was meant to be Debbie doing the arable, him doing the rest. That Debbie now wants the rest for arable, which leaves him with nothing.

[Debbie] “It's a radical rethinking. The world’s changed, we need to change with it”

But please note – Debbie then talked about how she and Adam need to now renegotiate the deal they have with Brian. Which Brian doesn’t know about, as yet.

Ah – crafty Debbie.

This might not all turn out as well as Brian planned.

While Adam thinks that the Super Diary would be wrong for Home Farm – and totally the wrong scale for Ambridge – Debbie’s mind is on bigger things.

As well as the Dairy, she’s also thinking about how:

[Debbie] “Divisions of labour won’t work anymore … tear up and start again”

Seriously. I think Brian might be in trouble …

The Archers Friday 30th September 2011: Nic won’t take Will’s aggression

• Brian hit a pheasant
• Andrew’s upset Nic (again)
• Jolene’s organising the barn dance
• Kenton and Jolene’s love nest
• Harry’s scaring folks
• Tony tries Jennifer
• Clarrie doesn’t punch Derek Fletcher
• Will doesn’t know what he’s like

Brian hit a pheasant

And gave it to Will.

[Will] “It was a nice clean bang on the head … when it’s fresh road kill, there’s no shot to worry about”

Andrew’s upset Nic (again)

Seems he was on at her again about her wanting to know what’s going on in his life – and gave her a bit of a dressing down in front of the kids.

[Will] “He’s got a nerve … he can’t speak to you like that Nic!”

But Nic reckons that’s just what Andrew is like – and there’s no point in getting upset about it.

What’s more – she doesn’t want to hear Will getting all macho.

[Nic] “I can’t bear this … I can’t bear you being with Andrew like you’ve been with Ed … leave it Will, you don’t understand”

Jolene’s organising the barn dance

For the harvest supper.

I still don’t get why they didn’t just have the supper at The Bull again.

But Jolene doesn’t seem bothered.

Looks like The Bull is doing just fine at the moment.


Kenton and Jolene’s love nest

Jolene was telling Kenton that the offer to move in is still open. He can move in when he feels the time is right.

Kenton feels the time is right now.

And Elizabeth has given her blessing.

(how very generous of her!)


Harry’s scaring folks

His pining for Zofia is a wee bit off-putting.

[Jolene] “He seems to be able to clear a space around him in 30 seconds flat”

Tony tries Jennifer

Tony and Pat haven’t said it out loud – but looks like they’re now trying the Bank of Aldridge after their failed attempts at the Bank of Peggy.

Tony’s round seeing Jennifer (who is “quite hoarse after talking to Kate”)

[Tony] “It feels as if we’re staggering from one crisis to another”

Jennifer makes lots of sympathetic noises, and agrees that he and Pat really shouldn’t be hassling Peggy while she’s so stressed, but utterly; sidesteps Tony away from even being able to ask her if she and Brian would help.

[Jennifer] “Of course, these are difficult times for everyone, I’m afraid … well, do you want some more coffee Tony?”

So – Bank of Aldridge is not open either.

Who does that leave?

Lilian and Matt.

That’ll be interesting …


Clarrie doesn’t punch Derek Fletcher

Clarrie had a grand time during her first shift as a volunteer at the Village shop.

[Clarrie] “It were great to be behind the counter dealing with people”

She even coped with that Derek Fletcher when he came in,

[Clarrie] “I just said good morning and took his money”

So moral victory for Clarrie – she feels useful – and enjoys the banter.


Will doesn’t know what he’s like

Nic and Will are still have a bit if a bargy about Andrew.

Will wants to ‘have a word’. Nic wants him to stay away.

[Nic] “You do know what you’re like Will. You must”

[Will] “No. I don’t … “

Will reckons that he’s been really trying n(for Clarrie’s sake) to get on with Ed. But is doesn’t sound like Nic is convinced it’ll last.

[Nic] “It’s always a competition between you. And it’s been violent in the past, hasn’t it. We’re all treading on eggshells”

Nic’s worried that Will will behave as Will always does – and in the process ruin their relationship.

They’ve been having such a nice time together recently, and she feels Andrew could be part of making it all go horribly wrong.

So message is clear – Will’[s to shut up, stay away from Andrew and out up with Andrew treating Nic like muck.

The Archers Thursday 29th September 2011: More bad news for Bridge Farm

• It’s Alice’s birthday
• Andrew is still frustrating Nic
• Elona says yes
• It gets worse for Pat and Tony
• Nic isn’t good with eggs

It’s Alice’s birthday

She loves the candles Chris made for her, but isn’t so enamoured of the two cashmere sweaters Jennifer and Brian gave her.

[Alice] “Oh dear … I’m trying to get rid of stuff not getting more”

Selfish wee madam!

[Alice] “She knows we’re saving why couldn't she have just given me a cheque!”

Even worse.

She really doesn’t deserve Chris then taking the afternoon off to go on a picnic.

But anyhoo, he does and they do.

They enjoy the Tofu wraps rejected from Susan’s book club spread

[Alice] “Hey, do think that duck would fancy a bit of tofu?”

(it did eat it)

They chat about Kirsty’s ideas for how to eat cheap and healthy through experimenting with lentils.

But it then starts chucking it down:

[Alice] “You must have ordered weather for the ducks by mistake”

(great days for ducks then – rain and tofu!)

Later on, in front of their crackling fire, they decide to have an early night.

So all-in-all quite a sedate, but nice, birthday.

Shame the cashmeres spoiling the start (!)


Andrew is still frustrating Nic

And she isn’t even going out with him anymore.

He’s meant to be having the kids later on, but after he let them down the other day, Nic’s worried he’ll do the same again.

So she texts – he texts back to say yes. And he does take the kids.

But it’s not all plain sailing.

When Nic later collected the kids from him, it seems he was “a bit off” with her.

[Nic] “It was my fault really … I just asked him if there was anything going on I need to know about … he seemed to resent me asking … said it was none of my business … I wouldn’t care but I need to know for Mia and Jake’s sake”

Will’s not happy to hear how Andrew’s treated Nic. Not happy at all.

Here we go again.

Will on a mission to teach another bloke what’s what.


Elona says yes

Peggy’s telling Elona about being worried she is so dependent on her family.

Which is the perfect moment to again tell Elona that the offer of No.3, and work at her house, is still open.

But Peggy is also now offering Darrell work. Doing odd jobs around the house.

*sigh*

[Elona] “We’d ;like to take up your kind offer Peggy”

[Peggy] “That’s wonderful Elona!”

So the die is cast …


It gets worse for Pat and Tony

They’ve received their fuel bill.

[Pat] “We’re really between a rock and a hard place … I can’t believe it's gone up so much … do we pay that or cover our mortgage payments …”

And they haven’t worked out how they’re also going to manage to pay the Underwoods fine.

Pat’s still as negative earlier on.

[Tony] “This time of night everything looks worse”

But Pat’s adamant that it looks bad no matter what time of day. And they’re out of options.


Nic isn’t good with eggs

[Nic] “Can you break the eggs for me. I always get so much shell in”