The Archers Wednesday 18th April 2012
- Jazzer’s neighbours moved out in a hurry
- Lynda “has a delicate matter to discuss” with Lilian
- Jack ate his lunch, Elona likes ironing
- Peggy interested in farm management software
- Back to “is Elona a bad ‘un?”
Jazzer’s neighbours moved out in a hurry
Which is not good news for Lilian (it’s her flats).
Lilian was worried about them having been driven out by Jazzer’s antics (Harry never gets any blame, though remember Jazzer being woken up by Robbie Williams at stupid o’ clock one night).
But when Brenda went round to check the flat that had just been vacated, she reckoned the soundproofing was great – she couldn’t hear Jazzer’s TV from downstairs, even though it was blazing.
[Brenda] “He did say they weren’t very friendly”
[Lilian] “Which in Jazzer’s book probably means quiet and sober”
Sounds like the tenants were themselves to blame. Brenda found the flat in a bit of a mess – untidy and broken furniture – and they’d also left just before their next rent was due. So the deposit may cover the damage, but Lilian will lose out if she doesn’t get another tenant in as quick as.
Which means quick repairs. So Brenda suggests Elona’s Darrell as the very chap.
Lynda “has a delicate matter to discuss” with Lilian
[Lynda] “Have you spoken to James in the last couple of days?”
[Lilian] “Ah, this is about the end of the affair is it?”
[Lynda] “So far we have completely failed to ascertain what happened … what is was that James did?”
[Lilian] “What James did? …If I’d been in his shoes, I’d have given up long ago. But he’s finally admitted it. That girl has serious problems … oh come on Lynda, don’t pretend you think she’s a ray of sunshine!”
[Lynda] “Well she can be a bit difficult …”
[Lilian] “James’ patience was tried to the limit, and he felt he could no longer continue pandering to Leonie’s childish neurosis”
[Lynda] “Well I suggest she was tired of being kicked around by a man who hasn’t matured beyond adolescence”
[Lilian] “Are you calling my son immature?”
[Lynda] “If the cap fits … I never understand what Leonie saw in him!”
[Lilian] “Yes well, you’re an appalling judge of character”
[Lilian] “I beg your pardon!”
[Lynda] “Now, I think you’d better leave Lynda before one of us says something we’ll regret”
Now while I expect Lilian to hear no wrong about James (she takes a mother’s blindness to extremes), what’s Lynda up to? She knows Leonie is a bit odd and annoying. So, why get involved?
Though Brenda hasn’t been in the room, Lilian gave her a full rundown. She later reckoned to Tom that it ended in a stalemate.
[Tom] “Sad though. If there’s one thing you can say about James and Leonie, they really deserved each other!”
Jack ate his lunch, Elona likes ironing
Elona was telling Peggy that Jack gave her a big smile after he’d finished all of his lunch. Sounds like he’s doing quite well, considering.
Elona’s at Peggy’s doing her general cleaning and helping shift. Today, Peggy had a large pile of ironing to do, while Elona is more than happy about – she seemingly loved a freshly pressed, tidy piles of clothes.
She tells Peggy that she and the family love it in Ambridge. Especially since they’ve got to know their neighbours Tom and Brenda. Seems Tom helped Darrell with a flat tyre the other day, and Elona is having a cuppa with Brenda later on.
Well I never!
Tom being helpful, Brenda being hospitable!
Peggy interested in farm management software
Or, she was just trying to show an interest to (in turn) show encouragement to Tom.
She made the right noises when he showed her how the modules talk to each other (!), and also when he excitedly told her that he now has a complete record of every animal, and the cost per kilo of every part of meat they produce.
(actually, that does sound quite nifty)
Peggy is still worried about Tony’s health, but is also worried about Tom overworking. So maybe her delight in the new system is her hope that he can get more time to relax.
Back to “is Elona a bad ‘un?”
Hmmm.
Elona was having her brew with Brenda.
She spent most of her time telling Brenda about how expensive the live in Ambridge – the cost of anything from the village shop, and the cost of having to drive the kids everywhere – Darrell not having enough work – Anna needing piano lessons (and a piano!) but them not able to afford it …
I think she was about to sting Brenda for a few notes, bit Tom walked in (with a 1950s hubby-returning-from-work “Heeellooooo”. Numpty).
[Brenda] “She is a really nice woman”
I really do have my doubts, again.
The Archers Tuesday 27th March 2012
- All go at Brookfield
- Martin Gibson is quite odd
- Darrell is nice to Peggy
- Kamikaze sheep
- Brian harasses Martin
All go at Brookfield
Seems it’s going to cost twice as much for the Brookfield new silage tank than they’d first thought.
David’s despondent (again), Ruth’s being positive (of course). She reckons the repayments won’t be so bad over 5 years. Though it will be tight times.
And they also have to get planning permission.
But, in a rare fit of positivity himself, David calls the planning department. They say they can’t see any problems with getting permission, as the tank is away from housing and not on the skyline.
[David] “I think, let’s go for it Ruth … we’ve been dealing in theories for so long, let’s just crack on and do something”
Thank goodness for that! Only been 4 months since the badgers did the deed …
Martin Gibson is quite odd
When Brian telephones him, Martin reckons he is “peachy”. Though his PA wants to resign. He can’t get the car he wants for 3 months. And his wife reckons she is fat.
[Brian] “Good lord. A young do is trying to kick a hare”
[Martin] “What sort of pub are you calling from?”
Hmmm.
Not much of a sense of humour, then.
Darrell is nice to Peggy
And Bill and Ben.
Which I’m very glad about, as I was worried Darrell and Elona were going to try and rip her off.
He’s changing over Peggy’s bathroom taps (they were that old, they had no purchase yet).
Ben keeps coming in and out, Peggy keeps chasing him away, but Darrell likes his interruptions.
A cat man, then.
He was saying that he, Elona and the girls love living at number 3.
[Darrell] “One of the things I like best, and I didn’t think I would, is the bell ringing”
So Peggy encourages him to join up. He’d be Ambridge through and through then.
When he’s finished the work, he’ll also only take money for the cost of the taps. Peggy is a bit horrified that he won’t let her pay him, but he wants to do it as thanks for all her help.
[Darrell] “I enjoyed the company anyway. You can the cats. I’d rather keep busy than kicking my heels at home”
(though he has got work with Lilian and Matt at Amside, and his daughter Rosa has work with Mike at his dairy)
Ah. People being nice to other people. Lovely.
Kamikaze sheep
At Brookfield.
When David and Ruth lugged her back out of whatever she’d got herself embroiled in, she kicked David’s shin “really hard”.
[Ruth] “It means she hasn’t hurt herself!”
And she hadn’t. She was fine, and able to get back to her lambs.
Brian harasses Martin
[Brian] “If we stick to our guns, we can win the argument at every level!”
Martin reckons not so. The cows not being outside on grass has a lot of “traction”.
But Brian reckons he can tell the protestors quite a few proper horror stories.
[Brian] “There’s a couple of brothers in North Borchestershire. Cows on grass, how lovely. Except most of them have foot rot because neither of the old boys know how to use a paring knife properly”
But Martin reckons it doesn’t matter about the substance of the arguments in favour of the Super Dairy. It’s the negative perceptions that count.
[Martin] “Withdraw gracefully, before BLs’ reputation takes too much of a beating … How much bigger do the protests have to get?”
Brian asserts that they just have to hold their nerve and hang on … there will be “kudos” to have once the profits start rolling in.
[Brian] “You watch. There will be one or two red faces on the board then!”
Martins sound unconvinced, so Brian brings out the big guns. That he’ll have to step down if the vote doesn’t go his way.
Not sure what Brian was expecting, but Martin seemed fairly nonplussed about that …
The Archers Wednesday 1st February 2012
- Neil’s reaction to Joe and Bert’s DIY?
- Darrell Speaks
- “I’m looking into selling the herd”
- Shelly Brazil and Tom
- Harry and every female in the village
Neil’s reaction to Joe and Bert’s DIY?
[Neil] “Oh my …”
We next hear of him in The Bull, in much need of a pint.
Then, he’s taken Mike and Darrell back to take a look at the devastation.
[Mike] “You mean this eyesore is someone trying to help!?!”
They can all still smell the cider. Bert and Joe must have been properly sloshed.
Neil is incandescent. He needs to finish up the tiling by Friday so that the electrician can get his bit done. Joe and Bert’s ‘help’ will mean the whole thing has to be redone. Which will mean Neil won’t be able to let the electrician in. And that means waiting for longer to get the electrician back in (we all know how hard it is to get an appointment out of an electrician). Which means waiting longer for Tracey (and brood) to move out.
Joe and Bert do not realise the harm they’ve done.
But not to fear. Darrell is here.
He offers to help Neil. Not for money, just as a neighbour.
Good bloke.
Which brings me onto …
Darrell Speaks
And sounds like a nice enough chap.
Darrell (Elona’s husband) is having a pint with Mike at The Bull after having done some work with him. Darrell has also got a bit of work at Grey Gables. Seems Peggy has put in a word.
He’s getting bit and bobs of work, but one of his daughters, Rosa, can’t find anything.
[Darrell] “I don’t think she thinks she’ll ever find a job”
He and Mike concur that it’s a terrible world for young ‘uns. No jobs, and no hope of jobs.
Well, that’s until Mike later on decides to offer Rosa a job at his dairy.
Darrell helping out Neil has impressed Mike and paid dividends (for Rosa).
“I’m looking into selling the herd”
It’s a day of blokes drinking.
Mike and Darrell. Neil. And when David goes round to see Oliver, they talk over beer.
Stressful times indeed.
David cuts to the chase (in telling Oliver something he can’t quite talk to Ruth about)
[David] “I’m looking into selling the herd”
[Oliver] “Of everything possible I thought it might be, this never came into my head”
[David] “I never thought I’d see the day would come when I’d entertain it as a serious possibility … I am sorry to dump this on you Oliver, but Ruth is so passionate … God Oliver, I still never thought it would come to this”
With milk yields low, and the slurry problem (plus cost to fix), David can’t see what else to do. So he wants a clear objective view from Oliver.
It’s a relief for David to be able to talk to someone about his dilemma. He’s started putting out feelers about prices and the like, but he’s carrying a lot of weight by himself. Part of him also wants someone just to tell him what to do.
(well, Ruth will do that for him!)
David is guilt ridden.
[David] “I promised him I’d keep Brookfield a mixed family farm”
[Oliver] “But Phil wouldn’t want you to drive yourself into the ground to keep a promise you made over 10 years ago … he wouldn’t, times change”
And Oliver tells David that he must (must!) talk to Ruth about this soon. They’re in together.
Shelly Brazil and Tom
Tom seems to be very hung-up on Shelly.
She’s a local celebrity chef, and writes for Borchester Life. She already did one event at Ambridge Organics a while back – Tom is obsessed that she also appears at the new Ambridge Organics brand launch on Thursday.
But Shelly has gone silent on him. So he keeps calling. Stalking …
Brenda later checks Tom’s texts for him while he’s driving. There is one from Shelly.
Brenda tells him that Shelly can’t come.
But it was just a jest:
[Brenda] “Actually, she says she can … I just wanted to see how much you cared!”
(funny sense of humour, that Brenda)
Shelly can come AND she’s taking a Borchester Life photographer with her. So the launch will get into the social pages … Borchester’s Bashes.
[Brenda] “I can see it now – celebrity chef, Shelly Brazil, sample sausage King Tom Archer’s Wares!”
Ew!
Would rather not see that. Not at all!
Harry and every female in the village
Brenda is also bidding for Harry’s Britain in Bloom Promise Auction.
[Brenda] “There is loads of us lining up to have him dig our garden”
Brenda, Kirsty – and also Hilary Noakes and Vicky (so it seems).
Harry is a popular chap.
Wonder if he’ll speak again anytime soon.
