Pondering The Archers: bunty hebden

Daniel buys his first pint in The Bull

Yup, he’s a man now.

Bunty and Reg don’t want meals on wheels

Shula had organised frozen meals to be delivered to Reg and Bunty, but they’ve cancelled them. Much to Shula’s frustration.

[Shula] “They’re lovely, but he sees it as an insult. I was only trying to make their life easier.”

Oops.

Sounds like Shula’s life just got more difficult then.

Daniel’s party

James and Leonie were there.

Oh joy.

It sounded like Daniel got an iPad.

Most of his class turned up to celebrate. Shula has hired a marquee. And got a hog roast.

(how posh!)

Daniel had a marvellous time.

[Daniel] “This is the best night of my life!”

Who is Rhys trying to suck up to?

Lynda is very impressed with Rhys’ acting ability.

Seems Lynda said to him: “Rhys, you’re giving it such subtext”.

Fallon reckons he’s teacher’s pet.

[Rhys] “I’m not trying to impress Lynda, okay!”

[Fallon] “Well, who then?”

Hmmm …

Oh Fallon and Rhys – just get on with it!

Shires just isn’t the same

Reckons Jazzer, according to Ed, since Fallon stopped pouring them.

Though Fallon seems to be enjoying Jaxx, she also misses Ambridge.

[Rhys] “Things don’t feel quite the same round here though.”

He missed Fallon, and isn’t exactly having a ball with Kenton in charge.

[Rhys] “Me and Fallon, we’re sort of a team … I’m just not in the loop anymore.”

Doesn’t help that Kenton also treats Rhys like a scullery maid. When Kenton gets back in, he immediately takes over the bar, sending Rhys out to collect glasses.

The kids in America

Daniel’s going to take a gap year, probably heading off to live in America, either in new York or San Francisco.

Jamie’s already planning to stay with him.

[Daniel] “The Ambridge boys take on America, it’s a deal.”

I Gotta Feeling

By the Black Eyed Peas, was playing at Daniel’s party.

That’s a song played at my footy team when we win.

We didn’t get to hear it much last season, but more or less every week this season.

‘Mon Queen of the South!

(sorry for interrupting, but we really have been marvellous this season!)

Mark would have been proud

Shula’s having a moment with Kenton about Daniel flying the coup.

[Shula] “Having Daniel, it’s what kept me going.”

[Kenton] “You should be proud. He’s a fine young man, And Mark would be proud too.”

Indeed. Daniel does seem like a nice young chap.

Worried that Jim’s going pagan

Jim’s obsessing about dressing trees for the Community Orchard event.

Olive and Caroline are worried he’s revelling too much in what seems to be a Pagan ritual.

[Kenton] “Him and Joe dancing naked around the orchard!”

Shula thanks him for burning that image forever into her brain …

Kenton accepts he’s not a young ‘un?

[Kenton] “Time for me to bow out and let the bright young things get on with it.”

Blimey!

Kenton would normally force himself to stay up to the bitter end.

Jolene really has helped him settle.

Ed needs Eddie for a pint

Ed’s in The Bull looking for Eddie.

He can’t afford his own pint.

Grim.

Sunday, 26 August 2012

Shula has a Funday … the Tuckers not so: Sun 26.08.12

The Archers Sunday 26th August 2012

The lady ain’t for gardening
Shula’s Funday
Still laughing at the Grundys
Don’t get between a man and his dairy magazines
Elizabeth expects Lilly to think she’s better?
I still think Alistair can help with Reg and Bunty

The lady ain’t for gardening
Mike’s been flicking through the Flower & Produce Show schedule. He wondered aloud to Vicky about whether she’s going to enter anything, considering she enjoyed it so much last year.

(*sigh* Mike seems to have lost all his tact)

[Vicky] “It hasn’t even crossed my mind, and I certainly amn’t going to be doing any gardening.”

Shula’s Funday

Was, obviously, horse related.

Elizabeth and the Twins certainly had a grand time.

They both took part in the racing games.

[Freddie] “I like the way the fences go higher every round.”

Abbie and Phoebe were also there, though Roy is cautious about Abbie seeming to get more and more Roy into horses. That would be too expensive a hobby.

Still laughing at the Grundys

[Roy] “And I can assure you it is pork, not wild boar … I hear the Grundy’s are overdosing on it a bit, eating it every meal.”

[Mike] “Oh yeah, you don’t want to get Joe Grundy on the results, I can tell you that.”

Ew!

Don’t get between a man and his dairy magazines

During Sunday lunch, Roy and Hayley are caught between Mike and Vicky

Vicky wants to start buying more baby stuff.

[Mike] “Oh Vicky, surely not yet!”

Mike claims he just meant that they have months and months to go, but what he really meant was they don’t know the results of the tests yet … so they don’t know what their decision would be ‘if’ … and that means there’s no point having baby clothes. Yet.

Vicky then starts talking about clearing out their spare room (which is would seem Mike sees as his study, where he goes to stew). She seems to suggest Mike’s diary magazines are just rubbish …

[Mike] “Why do you have to go at it like a bull at a gate?”

[Hayley, sounding very uncomfortable] “It’s the nesting instinct …Forces of nature, they can be difficult to deal with.”

After Vicky and Mike leave (obviously to continue their argument, finally in private)

[Hayley] “Wasn’t exactly a perfect Sunday dinner, was it?”

[Roy] “It was a bit …”

[Hayley] “Awkward.”

[Roy] “A baby, it’s a huge think to come to terms with, especially at their age of life, especially dad …”

Elizabeth expects Lilly to think she’s better?
Sounded like it.

Almost as if Elizabeth also thinks Lilly is better …

At Sheila’s Funday:

[Lilly] “Freddie’s a natural.”

[Elizabeth] “Very generous of you to say so.”

Eh?

What an odd way to talk to a child.

But then again, it is Elizabeth.

I still think Alistair can help with Reg and Bunty

Shula still has to go over to Reg and Bunty’s house every week. Bunty is better, but they still need help.

[Shula] “And I can’t ask Alistair to do anything, my first husband’s parents.”

Well, I don’t see why not.

It’s not as if Mark is around to be an alternative to Alistair for Shula.

Alistair seems to cope with Mark and Shula’s son in his life quite nicely.

Anyhoo – Shula wants Reg and Bunty to move into somewhere more “appropriate”.

[Shula] “They get so defensive. It’s like I’m farming them out to a home.”

[Elizabeth] “It makes me realise how lucky we were with Julia.”

Which, Elizabeth says herself, is something she never thought she’d say outloud!

As much work as Julia was, at least she was independent and healthy. Until she died.

Reg and Bunty, on the other hand, can only get worse until a solution is found.

Saturday, 21 July 2012

The Beast in the garden, the Beast on the road: Fri 20.07.12

The Archers Friday 20th July 2012

Brian wants to talk
A lounge with a view
Keith’s been found guilty
Bunty’s had a fall
Jennifer discovers the Beast in her garden
Eddie to become a recognised artist?
Bust, and then BOOM
Hayley’s annoyed with Kate

Brian wants to talk

That’s always worrying.

He forces Adam to sit down and talk to him.

Well, more to listen to him.

He tells him about losing one of their arable suppliers.

[Brian] “Which leaves us with only one option … Home Farm is going to have to be the supplier to the dairy … You can keep the venison and the sheep and the soft fruit, of course.”

[Adam] “Look .. I’m not going there again.”

[Brian] “It’s not up for discussion any longer.”

[Adam] “It’s not going to happen.”

[Brian] “Debbie agrees with me … we’ve looked into all the options, and basically there isn’t any.”

[Adam] “All my hopes for this place, all my ideas, you just want to sweep them away.”

[Brian] “All I want is the best for this business. It’s a family business. I need you to be part of the team.”

[Adam] “Oh come on, it's a land grab. You and Debbie are taking over the farm and never mind what it does to me!”

Jennifer tried to suggest they could only use half of the land Brian needs from Home Farm, but he’s not interested.

Doesn’t Adam have a legal right to be consulted about the use of Home Farm land?

Maybe not.

If not, he’d be far better off elsewhere.

A lounge with a view

Eddie and Joe are at Home Farm, putting Ruairi’s dog statue on its plinth.

Ruairi told them to put it near the swimming pool, which they duly do. And they also made sure it could be seen from the house.

[Joe] “Nice to give them the benefit when they’re sitting in their lounge.”

Eddie kids around that he fancies taking a swim first.

[Eddie] “Maybe I’ll strip off and go in for 5 minutes.”

[Joe] “Madam Aldridge comes back with her la de da friends, that I’d like to see!”

Which gets Eddie pondering.

The Aldridges do have rather well connected friends.

Maybe he should also put a sign up saying ‘sculpture by E Grundy’.

Well, it is now going to be a very prominent feature of the Home Farm garden from now on.

Keith’s been found guilty

By Adam and David’s clan, it would seem.

[Adam] “Incredible aren’t they, that family.”

[David] “I must say, we’re all very relieved.”

Though they both agree that they shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions, that’s exactly what they are doing, They’re bath talking like it’s all over.

[Adam] "I won’t forget what you did. What you’ve had to go through, all of you. You’ve been rock solid.”

[David] “Well you know, anytime. Hey, we’re all alive.”

Have the forgotten it’s a gang that was after them?

Keith Horrobin may be many things, but he’s most definitely only one man.

And whether he was the man who’d been terrorising them on behalf of the gang has yet to be confirmed.

Bunty’s had a fall

Oh dear. Hope she’s okay.

(Bunty was the mum of Shula’s husband Mark)

Jennifer discovers the Beast in her garden

Hayley was round to Jennifer’s to see if she’d heard of any specific dates for Phoebe to return.

Then:

[Jennifer] “What in earth is that in the garden!”

When they go out to see it.

[Hayley] “Actually, I think it’s rather good. It’s got a lot of character.”

[Jennifer] “Oh, do you think so. To me it’s got a rather nasty sort of leer …The thought of having to stare out at this every day.”

(Brian joins them)

[Jennifer] “I blame Lilian for this. The ridiculous amount of money she had to pay him … I’m beginning to wonder if this has all been a put up job … he’s getting very devious, this son of yours.”

[Brian] “If it amuses him, where’s the problem … (once Ruairi bores of it) we can ship it off quietly behind the garage.”

Eddie to become a recognised artist?

Eddie’s plan to have Jennifer’s friends desperate to buy his ‘art’ might come true after all.

As Jennifer was worrying about what people will say when they spot the Beast from the terrace:

[Brian] “Spin them a line about getting into naïve art, the investment potential and so on, they’ll all what to go out and get one.”

Bust, and then BOOM

Eddie and Joe haven’t had a good week.

They sold the dog to Ruairi, but discounted.

And they sold two monsters, but as a BOGOF.

[Eddie] “We’ll go bust at this rate.”

[Joe] “That lot wouldn’t know a bargain if it jumped into their recycled shopping bag.”

Then Joe shouts out as Eddie hits something (they’re in his van).

[Eddie] “Bloomin’ eck, where the hell did he come from.”

[Joe] “A bad week just got a lot worse.”

They’d hot a boar. A rather large boar. Which they reckon will be hard to explain on their insurance forms.

[Joe] “Don’t suppose they get a lot of wild boar suicides … You know what you just done, don’t you. You killed the beat. It’s going to be the end of your monsters … there ain't no mystery beast no more.”

[Eddie] “Unless, who’s to say this is the Best of Ambridge … it came screaming out of the wood like a bat out of hell, like summit had scared it half to death … Play our cards right we have our cake and eat it too.”

*sigh*

Another Grundy scam ahoy.

Oh joy.

Hayley’s annoyed with Kate

Nothing unusual there, but it’ll explode if Kate isn’t more forthcoming soon.

Hayley has no idea of when Phoebe will be coming home.

And when she called to talk to Phoebe tonight, at a time they’d all arranged, Phoebe was out. Kate couldn’t say when she’d be back.

Sensing something’s not quite right, Hayley did ask if everyone was okay, but Kate didn’t say anything useful.

I can foresee Hayley getting on a flight to South Africa very soon …

Monday, 28 February 2011

The Archers Wed 23rd Feb 2011: Scotland’s so far away

VisitScotland need to sort this one out
“I can’t be with you all the time”
Usha’s book club slowly attracts the likelys
Temper temper, Ruth
Brian’s got the measure of Matt and Lilian
Spare a thought for Jill
Bunty hasn’t changed
David needs to stop promising

VisitScotland need to sort this one out

So it’s taken David a few months to drive a bull up to Scotland – and many months more to get back.

Come on chaps – it isn’t quite the Siberian outpost it used to be.

Not exactly a great advertisement for holidaying in Scotland (if it is such a trauma getting to and from it), but then again, you can’t blame Ambridge folks for speaking their mind.

(and I also declare my interest - I’m working on a tourism project in Scotland at the moment. So I guess it’s as much my problem to sort as it is VisitScotland!).

“I can’t be with you all the time”

Oh Kate – do shut up, will you.

Poor Phoebe is showing her age (that she’s still a child), but Kate doesn’t seem to notice and/or actually give a toss!

Jennifer was worried about Brian on route back from Paris – which got Phoebe worried about her own trip – then, when Brian came back with tales of lost boarding passes and dodgy engines, Phoebe was starting to sound terrified.

Phoebe asked Kate to change her plans to fly back with her, but Kate’s refusing in order to spend time with her kids in South Africa.

Which is fine. But she takes no time to hear what Phoebe is really saying (that she’s scared), instead assumes that Phoebe is some sort of carbon copy of herself as a youngster.

[Kate] “Just think how grown up you’d feel. What an adventure!”

No Kate. No.

Phoebe doesn’t want an adventure.

She wants a mum who spares two thoughts for her own feelings.

Usha’s book club slowly attracts the likelys

She’s not quite going at a Richard & Judy’s Book Club pace, but Usha does seem to be getting some interest.

Ruth is being ever so gently frogmarched into it, but Jim’s also joining – and Jennifer sounds very keen indeed.

I wonder if this will inspire Jennifer to return to her authoress days?

Temper temper, Ruth

Stressed out yet again due to an absence of David, Ruth has a go at Pip for wanting to go to a party.

Now you know that’s not fair, Ruth.

Pip’s been a gem at helping out, but she is still a teenager who wants to do teenage things. Like “go off and get drunk with your friends”.

Not that Pip wants to get drunk. She’s just happy to have passed her test, so has no problem with being the designated driver.

Brian’s got the measure of Matt and Lilian

Back from his trip to Paris with Matt and Lilian in tow:

[Jennifer] “What about Matt and Lilian? Was it everything you feared?”

[Brian] “They weren’t that bad … I got a little tired of being treated as their PA … having so much time to watch them operate … I thought it was only a matter of time before one of them throttled the other, but actually seeing the two of them work together, they make a formidable pair.”

Will this herald a whole new attitude towards Lilian? Will she finally be accepted as something more than just Matt’s puppet.

Actually – does she really deserve more? Lilian may not be as daft as she often seems, but she’s hardly any real use in doing her own bidding …

Spare a thought for Jill

Jill’s either at Lower Loxley or Brookfield – helping out, cooking food, and soothing nerves/tempers.

Difference is that there’s no-one there to get angry on her behalf.

Aw.

Bunty hasn’t changed

According to Jill.

And Bunty reckons Daniel’s growing up to look like Mark.

Well at least we know something about Daniel. He’s been very, very quiet as of late.

David needs to stop promising

We all know now that the moment David promises Ruth that he’ll be around at Brookfield more, something else will mean he’ll break that promise.

Goodness sake man. I know you’re in a difficult position, but will you ever learn?