The Archers Tuesday 20th November 2012
- Vicky’s huge and captivating
- Wheelie Bins are Council responsibility
- Brenda’s back to making coffee
- Who knocked a post down?
- It doesn’t take much to excite Sabrina Thwaite
- Arthur died, Matt didn’t tell Lilian
- Lilian slips up
- The Bull’s Fashion Show
Vicky’s huge and captivating
[Roy] “She's pretty big now. Huge. She sort of suits it, though ... and Phoebe's really captivated by it all.”
Wheelie Bins are Council responsibility
So Brenda tells a “stupid” tenant.
Steady on Brenda.
As a marketer, you should know how important it is to build good customer relations.
Brenda’s back to making coffee
With Matt away, Lilian’s determined to get back into running her business. She reckons she’s left Brenda to cope alone long enough.
With Lilian back at the helm, Brenda’s immediately despatched to make coffee. Which Brenda will likely moan about just as much as when she was in charge.
Who knocked a post down?
Somebody did, at The Bull.
Though no-one seems concerned about it, so would seem it doesn’t matter.
Odd.
It doesn’t take much to excite Sabrina Thwaite
Seems she and her friends are very excited indeed about the forthcoming fashion show at the Bull.
[Lilian] “The yummy mummies, yes I can imagine.”
Arthur died, Matt didn’t tell Lilian
It fell to Brenda to mention it in passing.
Seems it happened a couple of weeks ago. Brenda was only talking about it as Joyce can’t stand to live in her and Arthur’s house anymore, so is moving into the flat Matt had been harassing them about.
So, Matt gets exactly what he wants.
[Brenda] “I would have thought he’d have mentioned it.”
[Lilian] “So would I!”
So, rather than go to The Bull’s fashion show, Lilian lies in wait for Matt.
When he gets in, he doesn’t start well:
[Matt] “Dinner ready?”
Then, when confronted by Lilian about Arthur, Matt claims he’s positive he told her. In fact, Matt blames Lilian for forgetting due to the “stress” of having James and Leonie around.
[Matt] “You shouldn’t beat yourself up about it.”
Oh Matt, you’re playing a dangerous game there …
Lilian’s adamant Matt didn’t tell her about Arthur. Because he didn’t. Matt would have been too focused on getting Joyce out of the bigger house, into the flat.
Lilian’s obviously upset. She’d spent a lot of time with Arthur when Joyce was in hospital. She would have wanted to go to Arthur’s funeral.
And, of course, she thinks Matt’s treatment of Arthur and Joyce led both to Joyce being hospitalised, and now Arthur dying.
Matt blames social services, and Arthur himself (!) for being stubborn.
[Matt] “The silver lining, at least Joyce can make a fresh start.”
[Lilian] “Oh you smug bastard. This is exactly what you wanted … that poor man’s death should be on your conscience. I don’t know how you can sleep at night,. And if you want some dinner, get it yourself!”
Oh Paul … it’s an open goal at the moment!
Lilian slips up
During their argument, Lilian tries to back her side up by saying that even Darrell didn’t know about Arthur dying.
[Matt] “How do you know he doesn’t know?”
Oops.
Better get better at lying, Lilian.
The Bull’s Fashion Show
The Bull is very busy for its inaugural fashion show.
But. The woman (someone called Leanne) who was supposed to compare has got ‘food poisoning’:
[Kenton] “That’s what she’s calling it.”
Quite right Kenton. ‘Food poisoning’ is always a rubbish excuse.
Anyhoo, Kenton steps up (again), to MC (again) and take the limelight (again).
[Kenton] “What I know about fashion, you could write on the back of a sequin.”
Kenton has the script for the show, so (technically) the audience didn’t have to suffer his quips all night.
But since when has Kenton ever stuck to the script?
[Kenton] “Ladies and … is that Jazzer at the back?”
Yes it was.
Since when has Jazzer passed up a chance to be in a room full of ladies?
Anyhoo, Kenton was very witty, and everyone had a fab night.
[Brenda] “Even Hilary Noakes is smiling!”
Blimey!
The Archers Thursday 4th October 2012
- Haven’t had one of these for a while
- Elizabeth and Roy talk conferences
- Fallon was feeling low
- Mike was feeling chirpy
- Vicky was feeling low
- Bert rhymed Pargetter with Sat on a Spur
- Hayley’s worried about the consultant
- Arthur used to be a bus driver, and had a dodgy girlfriend
Haven’t had one of these for a while
I took a mere 15 lines of notes from today’s eavesdropping episodes.
Slow ….
Elizabeth and Roy talk conferences
Um … how riveting!
Fallon was feeling low
Poor Fallon.
Mike was feeling chirpy
Hurrah for Mike!
Vicky was feeling low
Poor Vicky.
Bert rhymed Pargetter with Sat on a Spur
Which I would have liked to hear.
But we didn’t.
It was only told to use third hand.
Hayley’s worried about the consultant
She’s spotted it could mean cost cutting … less jobs … which is a worry, with both her and Roy working at Lower Loxley.
Arthur used to be a bus driver, and had a dodgy girlfriend
Lilian’s round seeing Arthur. They had a long chat over coffee and cake.
Seems Arthur used to drive buses.
And stepped out with a rather dubious girlfriend called Susan before he met Joyce.
[Arthur] “And like I fool I believe her … two days later it started again,. She even smiled at me when I caught her dipping into me wallet … and still I didn’t finish with her, she was like a drug …It’s all ancient history. It won’t mean nothing to you, hearing about something like that.”
Ah – but Lilian had been listening to every word.
Sounded very familiar indeed.
The Archers Monday 1st October 2012
- Lilian wants Matt back in bed
- There’s nowt wrong with fish paste!
- Joyce has a hairline fracture
- Guinea pig!
Lilian wants Matt back in bed
Seems Paris is still with them after all …
There’s nowt wrong with fish paste!
There’s a lack of bread supply at Ed and Emma’s again. So Ed had to do without at breakfast.
But, Emma has brought sandwiches down while he milks.
Which Ed is grateful for.
Until he realises they’re fish paste. Which starts him moaning again
[Emma] “You know there’s hardly any housekeeping money left, so why do you have to be so difficult!”
Quite right too Emma.
She’s only managing with what they have, and what on earth is wrong with fish paste!
(can’t believe I’m taking Emma’s side for once!)
Joyce has a hairline fracture
Seems Joyce fell on Friday, and Arthur had been trying to get hold of Lilian all week.
He was mainly concerned to tell her that their rent would be late – he didn’t want to give Matt an excuse to kick them out.
After Lilian has been round to see Arthur, and the state of their home, she’s beyond furious with Matt.
She blames Matt for leaving them without proper flooring. Matt blames Lilian for making him take Darrell off the job. Lilian blames Matt for taking him off – after all, she had no idea what state he’d left Joyce and Arthur’s house in.
So, Lilian is completely taking over Joyce and Arthur’s/
[Matt] “Oh don’t be so stupid!”
[Lilian] “Don’t you dare say that. There is woman in hospital because you’ve bee so damn careless!”
Oops.
I think Paris is now a forgotten memory.
Guinea pig!
Will turned up at Ed and Emma’s with a cage.
He’s bought George a guinea pig.
Emma’s horrified.
[Ed] “She’ll be alright Em, it’s not exactly Godzilla”
Emma’s worried about the additional cost.
[Ed] “It’s one more reason for George to like being there instead of there.”
And staying on a positive note:
[Ed] “Reckon it’ll taste a lot better than fish paste!”
I think Emma might be slightly more annoyed about Will not talking to them first.
And as a great fan of guinea pigs, I do worry it’ll be looked after properly (though I suppose Ed and Emma can get veg and grass easily enough)
The Archers Monday 17th September 2012
- Was Christine flirting with Jazzer?
- Darrell takes the floor boards up
- Brian and Jennifer are genuinely supportive
Was Christine flirting with Jazzer?
Jazzer happens to be passing Christine’s when she’s struggling to get an armchair out of her front door. She was coping, and had managed to wedge it in.
[Jazzer] “I think that was the problem. You were pushing when you were pulling.”
Christine invites Jazzer in for tea and toast. Jazzer’s most delighted to accept:
[Jazzer] “As long as that bread isn’t a present from Jim!”
My word – Jazzer really is still smarting about losing the Flower and Produce Show – losing the bread competition to Oliver (and Jim, who came in second).
He’s still insistent he shouldn’t have been disqualified – bread from a bread maker is still bread. Christine admits she also uses one.
[Jazzer] “Ah, there you see, if a respectable church going woman like you uses one …”
As they chat, Christine admits that she’s never been to see a stand-up comedian. Jim’s quite insistent she goes to see the forthcoming one (Tug Flower) at The Bull.
[Christine] “Jim’s trying to broaden my horizons.”
[Jazzer] “He’s tried that on me a couple of times but it hasn’t worked yet, but.”
(I have wondered about Jazzer’s rather over emphasised Scottish accent before. He’s obviously doing it to show off to his Sassenach pals, and it can often lead to him wandering through different Scottish accents and phrases. Using “but” at the end of a sentence is very much an Edinburgh habit. I thought Jazzer was most decidedly West Coast …)
When Jazzer mentions that he’s struggling for a flatmate, Christine said she’d move in, if she didn’t already have a home. Christine sounded quite genuine (and wistful) as she said it.
Could you just imagine what Christine and Jazzer living together would look like …
Christine also mentioned that she thought Jazzer was such a “strong, helpful young man”.
Sounds like a crush to me …
… Ambridge does Mrs Robinson?
*shudder*
Darrell takes the floor boards up
The pressure of Matt Vs Darrell’s morals Vs Rosa’s scooter seems to have driven Darrell slightly potty.
He’s finally doing Matt’s bidding (to inconvenience Arthur and Joyce to the point they move out, by lifting up the floorboards, and leaving them). But he’s doing so will still accepting the tea, cake and chat from Arthur and Joyce.
That’s not very nice. And not very like Darrell. Who is generally a nice chap.
He was even starting to annoy the unflappable Arthur.
Darrell has the upstairs landing up, and also the toilet. With Joyce’s hips, she won’t be able to get anywhere upstairs, including the toilet.
Darrell presses on regardless.
I suppose he also does have a washing machine off, so he must have decided to toughen up and get the money in.
Brian and Jennifer are genuinely supportive
Now that’s a rare thing indeed …
Mike called to say he’d be round to talk to them.
Though they were at first laughing about what Vicky’s christening invitations would look like (probably something tied to a teddy bear, reckoned Jennifer).
After Mike has been. Jennifer and Brian are a bit stunned. They wish they’d been pre-warned so that they could prepare.
[Jennifer] “ … then you might not have said what you said.”
[Brian] “Well I did my best. What are you supposed to say at a time like that?”
[Jennifer] “Well, not ‘my dear chap, I’m so sorry’ …”
[Brian] “Well, I’m not sorry the baby has Down’s Syndrome, I am of course … I wanted Mike to know how sorry I am for all the worry and heart ache they’re in for.”
Aye, I know what Brian means. He wanted to say that he was sorry, but not judging their baby for being any less a baby because it has a condition. What a minefield.
[Jennifer] “I just kept thinking, there but for the grace of god … I was 43 was Alice was born.”
And they both obviously have experience of being an older parent, because of Ruairi.
They reckon Vicky and Mike have a “long road” ahead of them. They’ll be there to give them all the support they need.
Neil was quite right.
Vicky and Mike certainly aren’t alone.
The Archers Wednesday 12th September 2012
- Pavel wants to say goodbye
- Darrell takes up the floorboards
- Is that Paul as in THE Paul?
- What’s going on in Jim’s shed?
- Jim appreciates Fallon’s talents
- Darrell has to buy a washing machine
Pavel wants to say goodbye
He asks Adam to his caravan. He’s about to leave to go back home.
(and makes tea, which he reckons he’s now got the hand of. He reckons he was using too many bags at first)
Pavel reckons he wants to say goodbye properly to Adam. Adam wants to walk away and forget him and what happened.
[Pavel] “Why feel so guilty, why not see it for what it is?”
Adam reckons he might have been a bit more relaxed about it when he was younger, but not now. Not married to Ian.
Pavel tries to wind Adam up again by suggesting Ian was up for it when he came onto him, but Adam doesn’t believe him.
[Pavel] “Though he was tempted anyway. What’s so wrong with being tempted, if it doesn’t hurt anyone?”
[Adam] “Well it does.”
[Pavel] “I just want to say goodbye properly, that’s all.”
[Adam] “I can’t take the risk.”
Pavel resorts to begging.
But to no avail.
Adam stand him up.
[Pavel] “Just a bit disappointed. I was hoping to have a date with someone before I go, but it’s not happening.”
I can’t quite make up my mind whether Pavel is incredibly naive, purely driven by his groin or if Adam has been whispering sweet nothings off microphone.
Either which way, you’d have thought he’d got the message well before now.
Darrell takes up the floorboards
At Joyce and Arthurs.
After all the fuss about Matt forcing him to do it, it seemed to take him half a day.
What was all the fuss about?
Anyhoo, as Darrell gets an electric shock from Arthur’s drill (he won’t get his insurance to cover him for using a client’s equipment, you know …), Matt turns up.
Is that Paul as in THE Paul?
Darrell tells Matt that he has other work coming up. He’s off to work with a chap called Paul Morgan, who says that he also knows Matt.
Is that THE Paul? As in Matt’s half-brother Paul? Didn’t he have something to do with building?
Perfect timing if he wants to take things further with Lilian (than he did last time). She’s ever so angry with Matt at the moment.
This could be very interesting indeed.
What’s going on in Jim’s shed?
Jazzer is even wondering.
[Jazzer] “The whole shed was shaking, I thought there was a fight going on!”
[Jim] “Just had a little local difficulty.”
[Jazzer] “Sweating like a pig, whatever it is.”
[Jim] “Can’t a man occupy himself in his shed without attracting the interests of the whole village?”
Jazzer’s so intrigued that he even buys Jim half a pint later on.
But Jim’s not for telling.
He asks Pavel is he concurs that they have all “exhausted” the topic.
[Pavel, not a clue what they’re on about] “Erm, I think so?”
Jim appreciates Fallon’s talents
He’s very appreciative of Fallon’s efforts to get folks into The Bull.
Especially the forthcoming comedy night.
Nothing else attracting you, Jim???
Darrell has to buy a washing machine
On credit.
He and Elona’s has died, beyond repair.
Poor Darrell.
Hope that new job does work out and he doesn’t have to go back to Matt.
Matt can be ever so nasty when someone has to beg to him.
The Archers Wednesday 5th September 2012
- Darrell’s leaving Matt
- Jim and Oliver bump chests
- What’s an appropriate time for a Maid of Honour?
- Don’t go to Vicky’s dentist for the next wee while
- At least Vicky isn’t entirely alone
Darrell’s leaving Matt
Seems Darrell has been asking round for other work. It’s making him a tad paranoid.
Brenda met him while she was down her garden outing something in the bin. He was in his garden, making phones calls.
She didn’t hear anything, but he was over-explaining that if she did (which she didn’t), she shouldn’t think he’s trying to leave Amside (which she didn’t, until Darrell mentioned it).
Darrell needn’t have worried. Brenda has no loyalty to Matt (or Lilian).
[Brenda] “Well he’s not going to hear it from me. Amside’s just a job as I’m concerned, I’m not going to snitch to Matt or Lilian … you take your chances when you can.”
When Darrell is over Arthur and Joyce’s later on, he forgets his paranoia, and tells Arthur all.
Seems he has a job interview elsewhere.
Arthur congratulates him, while emotionally blackmails him about leaving him and Joyce to the mercy of Matt.
Tricky.
Darrell does need to get away from Matt, but do any of us doubt that Matt will let him go that easily?
And will Arthur grass him up first to make sure he isn’t driven out of his home?
Jim and Oliver bump chests
(not literally … though that would have made for rather interesting listening …)
It all started off with a trip to the bird hide.
[Jim] “I don’t know how much we’ll see. The birds are a bit betwixt and between at the moment …I like swallows. Swifts are deserters, always gone by mid-August, but swallows always stick around til the bitter end of summer.”
They spot a buzzard.
[Jim] “Only a buzzard, Waiting for things to warm up.”
[Oliver] “It’s a bit cruel calling them ‘only a buzzard’”
(quite right Oliver. But I know what Jim means. Buzzards are as common as sparrows round our way as well)
Oliver then mentions that he would love to see an osprey.
Jim then brags about how he’s seen many an osprey. In Loch Garton (an RSPB Reserve in the Cairngorms). In Scandinavia. And in America.
[Jim, pompously] “I got rather bored in the end. Altho0ugh if one passed through here I wouldn’t look away.”
[Oliver, sarcastically] “I hadn’t realised you were such an accomplished ornithologist Jim”
Oliver then spots a Moor Hen.
[Jim] “Oh you mean the coot … Lots of people muddle them up. When they first start bird watching.”
Oliver claims it was just a slip, and that he’s far from a beginner.
Then, Oliver spots a Widgen.
Jim says it cannot be. They only come in October. It’s a Poachard. Which Jim reckons is quite unmistakeable. Normally.
Starting to get quite irritated, Oliver claims he’s been busy.
[Oliver] “Apart from grey Gables, I’ve been trying my hand at bread making. And getting quite a lot of praise at my efforts. Actually.”
(not sure why that means Oliver can’t name birds properly, but there you have it)
Jim’s interest is piqued.
[Jim] “Where’s the pleasure in beating Derek Fletcher or Nathan Booth at anything …”
So, now that Oliver is part of the battle … Jim shall also wage war.
[Oliver] “Rest assured it won’t be me having sleepless nights about break making, Jim.”
[Jim] “Ah, but do you have the wisdom of the ancients on your side?”
Here we go again. Bloodshed over the Flower and Produce Show.
What’s an appropriate time for a Maid of Honour?
[Arthur] “Maid of Honour?”
[Darrell] “No thanks. It’s not that long since I had breakfast.”
But Darrell does relent a few moments later.
Don’t go to Vicky’s dentist for the next wee while
Vicky’s worries are affecting her work (which is understandable).
Today:
[Vicky] “My first amalgam mix was as runny as water … it’s a wonder I didn’t stick the suction hose up someone’s nose!”
Aye, best steer clear.
At least Vicky isn’t entirely alone
Brenda is astounding me at the moment.
She’s suddenly become such a nice person.
Perfect timing for Vicky (and also one assumes the personality-transplant is because of Vicky and Mike’s baby).
[Brenda] “I wanted you to know, whatever you decide, me and Roy will support you. One hundred per cent.”
Vicky starts crying.
[Vicky] “It’s just so nice to hear that … Sometimes I go hours not worrying. It’s just the way it is. Something I’ll deal with. Then this terrible panic hits me right in the chest, and I’m certain I’ll never manage … not on me own. Normally your dad puts everything in proportion for me. Not this time.”
Brenda reassures that’s just typical Mike behaviour. He needs time to think things through.
Vicky thinks Mike will never be ready to talk.
I don’t think he’ll be able to avoid it forever …
The Archers Monday 27th August 2012
- Matt should check the phone messages
- Rhys and Harry wouldn’t be a good couple
- Tug Fowler
- Darrell dobs in Matt
Matt should check the phone messages
Especially when he’s up to something Lilian has already told him not to do.
Lilian checks the business phone after the weekend. It had 9 messages.
(I thought their business was setup in their house? If so, how could they not have heard that racket?)
All the messages are from Arthur.
They had a damp patch. Which became a leak. Which has now got into their cupboard. Even with the mains turned off, it’s still leaking.
Lilian calls Arthur back.
[Lilian] “How are things?”
[Arthur] “We have a leak, how do you expect things to be?”
Lilian asks if she can call Arthur by his first name rather than Mr Walter.
[Arthur] “You can call me Shirley, as long as you get it fixed.”
[Lilian] “Well don’t you worry, Sh … ahem … Arthur.”
(tee hee!)
So Lilian calls Darrell to go fix.
Rhys and Harry wouldn’t be a good couple
Harry’s due back on Wednesday to say goodbye, and collect his things. So Fallon is planning him a farewell party.
[Rhys] “You see, that’s why he and I could never be an item, apart from one or two other factors …”
[Fallon] “Like, you not being gay, you mean?”
[Rhys] “Thing is, he’s a lark and I’m a night owl. Being a bar man suits my body clock.”
Fair enough.
Tug Fowler
Is who Fallon wants to pay a small fortune to come and do a comedy set at The Bull.
Seems he’s an up and coming comedian Fallon and Kirsty saw at The Fringe. Fallon thinks he’d be perfect for The Bull.
Rhys reckons not so. After all, Fallon and Kirsty saw this comedian at midnight, after a few drinks.
[Rhys] “Later night on the Edinburgh Fringe, it’s a bit different from The Bull in Ambridge.”
[Fallon] “You know your trouble Rhys, you’re just happy just coasting along, I wanna push things forward”
[Rhys] “Yeah fair enough, push things forward, but you don’t want them falling over a cliff.”
Blimey, Fallon really is in a bad mood.
But Rhys isn’t helping.
What would he have to lose if Fallon gave something new a go?
Darrell dobs in Matt
When Darrell gets to Arthur and Joyce’s, it’s chaos.
The cupboard is flooded, so they’ve tried to save their things out of it, and dry them on the radiators. That includes photos. Letters from Arthur to Joyce when he was in the navy. And the stamp album Arthur was showing to Darrell the other day.
[Arthur] “Even out the heating on, in August, I ask you …”
But, the radiators are not warming up. Which gave Darrell a clue (not that he needed it. He’d set it up in the first place …)
The central heating pipe had split under one of the floorboards upstairs. Darrell fixes it within minutes.
[Arthur] “On a bank holiday too, I hope you get double bubble for that!”
Darrell can’t say sorry enough about all of their ruined things. And so he should. They Arthur and Joyce don’t know it, Darrell made this happen. On Matt’s say so.
As Darrell is leaving, Lilian calls.
[Lilian] “So, how did that happen then, you’re not going to tell me it was metal fatigue!”
Darrell reckons it was because the floorboard was loose, so was stressing the join as folks walked over it.
Lilian still isn’t convinced. She knows there’s something odd … especially considering she knows Matt wanted Arthur and Joyce out of that house.
[Darrell] “Well, it was, you know, all part of the job … that Matt had me doing there.”
[Lilian] “Oh, was it!”
Uh-oh!
Matt’s in trouble …
The Archers Friday 24th August 2012
- Vicky’s prepared
- Fallon’s lost her sense of humour
- Will one of Arthur’s stamps be worth millions?
- Money’s not a modern day obsession
- Fallon’s jealous of Alice
- Matt’s playing the hard man again
Vicky’s prepared
She’s taking snacks, magazines and a thermos to the hospital in case she and Mike have to wait around for her test.
Poor Vicky.
She’s just keeping herself busy.
When they get there, though Vicky has to lie down, she doesn’t even need to be numbed. They tell her it’ll just be like another scan, but with them also taking a bit of fluid.
[Mike] “It's all in a day’s work, eh?”
(I can see what Mike is trying to do to reassure Vicky, but it’s just not the right way to do it!)
The test went fine. But
[Vicky] “It's not over yet Mike”
She’ll have to be careful for the next few days. And they won’t know the results for at least 4 or 5 days.
[Mike] “There's every chance it will be fine”
Here’s hoping.
Fallon’s lost her sense of humour
[Rhys] “You've got to laugh.”
[Fallon] “Do you?”
Seems Harry leaving Ambridge has dropped Fallon in a bit of an angry depression.
She can’t even see the funny side of Eddie being made a fool of on local radio.
Eddie’s in for a pint, but has had to go into the Ploughman’s side as Bert’s doing an impression of the Beast, and Jazzer is doing Nessie.
Even Rhys wants in:
[Rhys] “If Jazzer can have his local ness monster, why can’t I have my welsh dragon?”
Fallon is not amused.
[Rhys] “He's only got himself to blame, if he wasn’t such a scam merchant.”
[Fallon] “Humiliating people on the radio, just to get a quick laugh …”
But not to worry Fallon – seems you’ll get to see Harry at least one last time when he visits next week:
[Rhys] “The runaway milkman, he's still alive then ... that didn’t last long!”
(it is only just a visit. Actually, not sure if that’d actually be a good or a bad thing for Fallon)
Will one of Arthur’s stamps be worth millions?
Arthur is showing Darrell his stamp collection.
I know nothing of philately, so though he has stamps from Queen Victoria’s time, and a 10p purple and red, they could just be nice things to look at.
Or worth a few bob … that would solve a few problems if Arthur and Joyce could actually buy their house off of Matt.
Though seems Joyce isn’t a fan of Arthur’s hobby. She thinks it isn’t healthy.
[Arthur] “ … stamp collecting's for sad old geezers with no life ... so I told her I was going to take up train spotting!”
Money’s not a modern day obsession
Arthur was telling Darrell that he’s a good lad with good morals.
[Arthur] “Some lads these days don’t though what they need and what they want.”
Well, that’s hardly a new thing, is it Arthur?
But well-timed comment, I suppose.
Darrell is just about to create havoc for you and Joyce, just for money.
(though I Darrell could grow a pair and tell his wife and daughters they can’t always get what they want, he wouldn’t be in this situation)
Fallon’s jealous of Alice
Even though Alice is unemployed.
[Fallon] “It's hard on her, but I wish I had some of her problems.”
Seems owning your own house, having a degree and being married to a “hunky farrier” is better than having a job.
(actually, she might have a point…)
Matt’s playing the hard man again
[Matt] “When I get back, I expect to see some results, or I will be very disappointed.”
He’s getting very repetitive.
The Archers Monday 20th August 2012
- When is a bath a kitchen sink?
- Vicky can see thumbs
- Would you gamble on not being 1%?
- Matt’s not a nice man
When is a bath a kitchen sink?
At Joyce and Arthur’s, because Darrell’s pulled their one apart.
[Joyce] “It’s not been easy, Arthur got cross because I’ve been doing the washing up the bathroom, he found a fork in his bath water, so I said to him make sure you give it a good rinse before you put it back again!”
[Darrell] “I bet he got a wet flannel for that.”
But not to panic. He’s got it fixed again.
Vicky can see thumbs
And a little hand.
And the baby sucking its mouth.
They’ve had their scan, and Vicky reckons the baby has grown (well … that is the idea …).
Mike can only grunt about the quality of the scan picture.
[Mike] “It’s an, um, good picture yeah, it came out good and clear.”
He then tells her to put it away in her handbag.
I really can’t work out if he’s embarrassed, or just doesn’t want to think about the baby in case they have to make a rather difficult decision …
Would you gamble on not being 1%?
The midwife tells Mike and Vicky more about the amniocentesis test.
The test takes skin cells from the fluid around the baby, then they grow them in the lab to check for Down ’s syndrome.
But, the test carries a risk of causing miscarriage.
A 1% risk.
Which Mike sees it as routine. But Vicky sees as one woman in a hundred losing her baby.
[Mike] “Only a few, though.”
[Vicky] “But it still happens. I don’t think I can do it Mike.”
The midwife stresses that though they have to think carefully about what to do, they also are running out of time. Vicky is now 20 weeks pregnant. They have 4 weeks until they can terminate (if that was there decision, if the test results showed anything).
Mike asks the midwife how late they can leave the test.
Vicky starts crying.
[Mike] “Come on love, it’s just like we said, getting the facts.”
[Vicky] “How could you do it Mike … are you sure you haven’t made up your mind already!”
[Mike] “You really think I want us, to have …”
Mike doesn’t want to automatically terminate if the tests show the baby does have Down ’s syndrome. He just doesn’t want to:
[Mike] “ … rule anything out at this stage … we’ve got to be sensible about this. Responsible.”
[Vicky] “What do you mean responsible?”
Mike reckons having a baby is a big change to their lives.
[Mike] “Even more so if, well, you know .,.. we gotta go into it with our eyes open, and that means all the facts.”
Actually, Mike’s quite right.
And does sound like he hasn’t made up an opinion about anything.
He also tells Vicky that he does want her to have the test, but that he’d support her if she decided not to. He’ll support it, no matter what.
[Vicky] “And if I do, and it’s positive, what happens then?”
[Mike] “Well, well at least we’d know, we’d have a chance to prepare ourselves … what I find so hard … is all this uncertainty. I need to know the facts.”
Later on:
[Vicky] “If I’m honest there’s a part of me that feels the same. I know it’s what you Mike, so, I’ll do it.”
Matt’s not a nice man
Darrell is a nice man.
He’s nice to Joyce and Arthur, including having the decent to feel guilty when Joyce feeds him cake.
Sounds like lovely cake.
But Darrell knows that he has to choose between being fair to Joyce and Arthur, or bringing home the bread for his family.
(well, not actually the case, but that’s how Darrell sees it)
Joyce then talks about Elona. Seems Joyce was in The Laurels for a bit, and remembers how lovely Elona was. She reckons Darrell’s just the same – so kind and patient.
But Matt calls.
He wants Darrell to handle an ‘emergency’. One of the tenants has had their flat broken into, so needs a new door fitted.
Darrell argues with Matt (brave chap!). He’s just ripped up floorboards at Joyce and Arthur’s. he doesn’t want to leave them in that sort of mess.
But Matt’s not listening.
He reckons this other tenant is a “one man tenant association”, so Darrell better fix some other problems while he’s there. It’ll only take him a day or two.
[Darrell] “I can’t go off and leave them now. It wouldn’t be playing fair, would it?”
[Matt] “Just do it!”
Well, I wouldn’t argue with Matt …
The Archers Wednesday 15th August 2012
- Romance and heartbreak
- The village Fete and Community Games raised a record amount
- Arthur will be taken out in his coffin
- What is it with raves?
- It took Lynda to say “down’s syndrome”
Romance and heartbreak
[Vicky] “So you were there then, when it happened, when Harry and Grant were reunited … and how did you feel the next day when you saw them together again?”
[Fallon] “Surprised …”
Vicky thinks it’s ever so romantic, completely missing that Fallon might be ever so miffed that Harry had such varied tastes … just not her.
The village Fete and Community Games raised a record amount
Well done indeedy.
There’s even talk of making the Community Games an annual event, they were that popular. Fallon reckons Lynda will be most delighted about that:
[Fallon] “Now that you’ve got your medal to defend!”
Arthur will be taken out in his coffin
Darrell’s round at Joyce and Arthur’s (the Walters – the elderly couple Matt wants out of their home so that he can get more rent for it). After Rosa bought her scooter, he decided to go ahead and be part of Matt’s plan to scam Joyce and Arthur out of their house.
But he’s not having an easy time of it.
[Joyce] “Real ginger, not the powdered stuff, that’s what makes the difference.”
They’re feeding him cake.
[Joyce] “52 years and he still thinks he’s the boss!”
They’ve been married even such a long time. 40 years of which has been spent in this very home.
And they both have arthritis. She in her hip, he in his hands.
Just when Darrell is about to crack, and leave them be, Matt calls round.
[Matt] “So, quite a little tea party … you’re only making it hard for yourself … this place just isn’t suitable for Joyce and Arthur … it’s your jib to make them understand it too.”
When Darrell gets back to Joyce and Arthur:
[Darrell] “I’m sorry to say this, I’ve got some bad new to tell you.”
He says the damp has spread. He’ says he’ll have to rip apart the kitchen. He says they should move out, into that nice modern flat Matt suggested.
But no.
They say they’ll “make do”. They’ll use their camping stove, then do the dishes in their bathroom. They say their neighbours will rally round.
[Darrell] “Hold on, I know you’re fond of this place but, that’s only the half of it. It’s a renovation job.”
[Arthur] “When I move out of here, it’ll be feet first in my coffin!”
And they tell Darrell to do what he has to do, and not mind them.
Matt’s not going to be amused. Maybe he’s met his match.
What is it with raves?
That’s the second mention in a week.
No one has ‘raved’ since the early 90s. Apart from in Ambridge.
Seems Fallon and Rhys are getting a DJ and a band in.
[Lynda to Vicky] “Do you fancy a rave upstairs at the bull?”
Good god!
It took Lynda to say “down’s syndrome”
Vicky had a shock today.
She’d got a call about a test. I thought it was to say the baby wasn’t Mike’s …
… far more serious than that.
[Vicky] “I should have thought. I knew that there had to be a risk at my age … I just blanked it our … there’s a higher than usual probably of the baby, you know …”
[Lynda] “All it means is, according to the initial test, you’ve a slightly increased risk of having a baby with down’s syndrome … that’s still a long way from a diagnosis, the chances are you’re worrying about nothing at all … you’ve got to be realistic of course, but you shouldn’t be jumping to any conclusions at this stage.”
[Vicky] “I’ve been so happy these last few days and now …”
[Lynda] “Now, nothing’s changed, the baby’s still inside you quite happy. It’s not worrying about any test results!”
But now Vicky’s worried about whether she should get more tests, and what he’ll say. But as Mike’s working, Lynda takes Vicky home to hers to have a proper talk.
With Vicky being 19 weeks:
[Vicky] “We’re come so far already.”
She tells Lynda she thinks she can hear the baby moving. Fluttering.
[Lynda, sounding wistful] “Ah, that must be so exciting for you.”
[Vicky] “I couldn't bear losing it now. Not for the sake of some test.”
It’s the amniocentesis test they’re talking about. Which carries a risk in itself, and could tell them perhaps more than they want to know.
Vicky doesn’t even want to tell Mike she has to decide whether to have the test.
[Vicky] “Well that’s why I’m worried Lynda, he’s been on such a high, I’m sure the possibility that we might have a baby with down’s has never crossed his mind.”
What a worry.
And if Vicky has the test, what will she do if it isn’t perfect news?
