The Archers Thursday 1st March 2012
- Neil’s teaching Lily to bell ring
- Silly us … it’s all about Elizabeth
- Tony’s warmed by truce with Jennifer
- Tom visits Tony
- Tracey’s smoking in the kitchen
- Laughing at Susan
Neil’s teaching Lily to bell ring
She seems quite keen.
Neil tells her to look straight ahead, not at the ceiling, and to do a backstroke 9though not of the swimming variety). Then there was something about the Sally (the fluffy stripped but), and both of them pulling on the strokes.
(no inappropriate jokes, please)
Neil reckons Lily has a “natural feel” as a bell ringer. And even gives her a go on one that hasn’t got its clanger tied up.
[Lily] “I’m a real bell ringer!”
Wonder how long this fad will last …
Silly us … it’s all about Elizabeth
Neil was telling Elizabeth about how he’s been helping Jazzer with the pigs while Tony is in hospital.
[Neil] “As far as I can tell, they’re getting by, but it must be a struggle”
Elizabeth tells him she’ll be off to see Tony today.
[Elizabeth] “Well as it happens, I do know my way round the coronary unit”
Of course! Just in case we forget that Elizabeth has heart problems too …
Tony’s warmed by truce with Jennifer
[Tony] “It’s a great weight off my mind too .. if it lasts … Grow up and start behaving like sensible adults again. At least there’s one good thing to come out of this”
True.
But will it last? Especially with the Super Dairy ever looming ...
Tom visits Tony
Tom’s been hiding behind farm work – he’s avoiding going to see Tony in hospital (the guilt is too much).
Tony asks Helen to ask Tom if he’ll come to see him.
Helen delivers the message to Tom, but Tom isn’t sure.
But the guilt steps to one side for a second to go and see his dad.
They chat about bulling and AI, then Tony thanks Tom for his “quick thinking” and for using his head.
[Tony] “Saved my life. No two ways about it.; So, all in all, I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.”
[Tom] “I guess it’s lucky I came back out to the parlour when I did … all those things I said to you …”
[Tony] “It doesn’t matter now. Ancient history. I really don’t want to talk about it”
With Tony also having made up with Jennifer, it really is happy families with the side of the Archer clan.
Now, if David and Elizabeth can make up … hmmm, unlikely.
Tracey’s smoking in the kitchen
And is well settled into living at Bert’s (well, it’s her house as well. Not that anyone apart from her and Bert know that).
Neil also mentioned that she was also constantly “missing” about with something.
Did anybody make out what?
Laughing at Susan
[Tony] “So, come on then, entertain me, what’s all the news . .did I dream this, or did someone tell me Susan Carter is giving up gossip … for her, that must be like making a vow of silence .. .Clarrie,. oh blimey, it’s going to be quiet around the village”
[Tom] “Walk into the shop and you’ll hear …”
[Tony] “ … absolutely nothing!”
The Archers Wednesday 29th February 2012
- Jennifer feels guilty
- What’s the diagnosis?
- Tom feels guilty
- Brian doing veg boxes
- Jennifer and Tony make friends
- How many people does it take to cover Tony’s work?
Jennifer feels guilty
At last! She’s taken a while to realise that she hasn’t exactly treated her wee brother as a sister should.
Helen has called Jennifer and Brian to let them know that Tony is comfortable, and sleeping.
[Brian to Jennifer] “Come on love, it's late. There’s nothing more either of us can do now”
But Jennifer’s guilt is keeping her awake. She thinks they should have known that this could happen, especially with Tony having looked so “tired and awful” recently.
[Jennifer] “And then I was horrible to him over the website, and I went round there and said such terrible things to him … supposing that the worst had happened and we’d never had a chance to make up”
What’s the diagnosis?
Pat’s in seeing Tony.
Seems his blood pressure is fine, and his pulse rate is normal. He’ll be getting home Friday night.
The Angioplasty (which, Tony helpfully tells us) is a line put into his artery, which ballooned to break the blockage, and now he has a metal stent to hold the artery open.
[Helen] “So it shouldn’t happen again?”
[Pat] “Hopefully not”
...
[Pat] “Heart seems okay. No lasting damage”
[Tony] “It means I won’t be permanently affected. I can get back to work …”
Tony is a bit perturbed that he will have to take pills every day for the rest of his life, but is very aware it could have been far worse. Here’s hope he can take it easy from mow on (here that Tony!).
Tom feels guilty
[Pat] “We’re just so lucky you found him when you did. It made all the difference”
Though Tom is very much hero of the day for finding Tony, and Pat’s telling him just to be there for Tony (and get some sleep amongst working), Tom thinks Tony’s heart attack is his fault.
(I reckon he’s right. Tom was harassing Tony, while leaving him to do all the hard farm work)
[Tom] “I know I’m more to blame for this than anyone … it’s what Helen said mum, and it’s true … I was just too preoccupied with my own stuff”
[Helen] “The best way you can help dad now is to put it out of your mind and get on with running the farm”
Aye – get some work done, young Tom!
Brian doing veg boxes
Ambridge rallies round to help Bridge Farm.
David’s helping Tom do the milking. Susan and Jazzer are doing extra hours. And Brian’s once again rolled his sleeves up to do some real work (as he did for David and Ruth when David was Lower Loxley obsessed after Nigel died). I have to give Brian his due – he can be handy at time.
[Brian on Tony] “He’s had enough to put up with, he doesn’t deserve a thing like this”
[Pat to Tony] “I had a text from Tom. Brian’s helping Helen with the veg boxes!”
[Tony] “I’d like to see that”
But there’s more. Brian then offers to also deliver the veg boxes.
[Brian] “You put me in the van and point me in the right direction”
Helen’s gobsmacked.
[Jennifer] “Hello. Gosh, look at you both, hard at it!”
Again, to give Brian is due, he’s helpful when he chooses to be so.
Jennifer and Tony make friends
[Pat] “I don’t know how you feel about this … Jennifer called again this morning, she’d like to come and see you”
Tony agrees.
When Jennifer arrives to see Tony, he doesn’t say a word to correct her when she claims that Pat called her to say that Tony could have visitors, and that he’s bored.
She’s brought him apricots, cherries and strawberry bon bons
[Jennifer] “You were always pitching mine at the cinema”
“Tony …. Oh I’m so glad you’re so much better. You gave us all such a fright … it’s made me think hard about, well a lot of things, and about the last few months and the way I’ve behaved … it’s made me realise how mean and awful I’ve been to you … well it’s all so trivial, so silly and pointless compared to the things that really matter “
[Tom] “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain. I know what you’re trying to say … and you’re absolutely right. None of it really matters. Other things are far more important”
[Jennifer] “So, can we forget about it, leave it all behind us”
[Tony] “Jennifer yes of course, if you’re happy to do that then so am I”
Aw.
Happy families again.
How many people does it take to cover Tony’s work?
They’re all just about managing to keep ontop of Bridge Farm.
So Tony has been replaced by Susan, Brian, Jazzer, Tom, Tony and Helen.
Pat also isn’t at work – and they do all also have to do their own normal work – but I think it shows just how much of the weight Tony was shouldering.
They should be ashamed of themselves. Tony is hardly a young, fit man anymore.
The Archers Tuesday 28th February 2012
- It really is Tom’s fault
- Brian’s waving and smiling at Helen
- Seriously, it was Tom!
- Tony finally succumbs
- Nic’s seeing fireworks
- Tom finally does the milking
- Helen keeps the Home fires burning
- Tony’s fine
It really is Tom’s fault
Tom’s on at Tony. Again.
Something about:
[Tom] “He’s like THE Mr Chilli Pepper man”
(eh? If the chap Tom is talking about is “like” THE Mr Chilli Pepper man, who is actually the Mr Chilli Pepper man?)
Tony isn’t interested. He’s already had a long day, is behind in his work and still need to do the milking.
Tom isn’t listening.
[Tom] “Every day is costing me money … at least we can talk about it, have a discussion …”
[Tony] “I’m sorry, but I’m flat out. I’ve got other things on my mind”
[Tom] “Oh sure, what you mean is you can’t bear to spend a few quid on a poly tunnel”
[Tony] “Tom, please …”
Tom still isn’t listening. He continues to waffle on about investment, selling the surplus at a premium, they can’t lose, it’s a win win …
[Tony] “Tom, I said I’m not going to discuss this now!”
[Tom] “But why?”
[Tony] “Because I’m shattered. And if I don’t get on I won’t get finished til midnight. So will you shut up about it? Please!”
Brian’s waving and smiling at Helen
That must have been a terrifying sight.
[Pat] “I expect he was wondering how to spend his huge profits he’ll make from his evil dairy scheme”
Seriously, it was Tom!
After Tony stormed off to do the milking, Tom’s stormed off into the kitchen.
[Tom] “Talk about hitting a brick wall … Why can’t he just be reasonable for once in his life … he ended up telling me to get lost!”
His shouting makes Henry cry. Both Helen and Pat tell him to leave Tony alone.
[Tom] “No. No I can’t keep putting it off. Milking or no milking, I have to settle this now”
So off he storms to the milking parlour.
A*se.
Tony finally succumbs
Tom finds Tony slumped in the milking parlour.
[Tony] “Inside my chest … and my arm … it’s bad, it’s very bad … like a crashing …”
Thankfully Tom has a wee bit of wit about him, puts a jacket over Tony and calls an ambulance.
[Tony] “The cows …”
When the Ambulance crew arrive, it actually sounds like Tony is having a stroke as well as a heart attack.
But when asked, Tony says the pain is an 8 or a 9 out of 10 (horrific agony rather than a stroke).
Tony says that the pain came on fast, and the ambulance crew spray something on his tongue for pain, do a blood test and give him an ECG. All on the milking parlour floor.
I didn’t know they could do that.
Nic’s seeing fireworks
Nic has a new passport.
Nicola Grundy.
[Nic] “So it’s official now, and we can go off anywhere in the world together!”
(no comment …)
The kids then run into the room with fireworks. Seems Nic was clearing out and didn’t notice them.
Rather than being horrified as such dangerously bad parenting, they all decide to set them off!
[Nic] “Why not? It was our 8 week anniversary on Saturday”
Just as they’re setting the fireworks on their way (after tea, and when it’s gone dark), Nic rushes over to the car to put on a CD.
Shania Twain. You’re Still the One.
(as they played at their wedding)
A little bit of a sick bucket moment, and doesn’t Nic seem a tad clingy?
Tom finally does the milking
It only took his dad having a heart attack to make him finally do his work.
Helen keeps the Home fires burning
(see what I did there … Home fires at Home Farm …. though it should be Bridge Farm … sorry …)
Helen’s called Nic to ask her to babysit Henry. She’s also called Lilian, Jennifer and David.
(why not Kenton and Elizabeth?)
She’s also having to deal with a guilt ridden Tom.
(as he should be!)
[Tom] “But we should have known Helen. We should have seen this coming, the way he’s being … it’s all down to me, the way I kept pushing and hassling”
[Helen] “Tom please it doesn’t matter why we’ve just got to stay calm and wait and hope …”
Tony’s fine
Pat calls home.
[Pat] “Dad’s okay. He’s going g to be alright …it was a heart attack. A blocked artery, but he got here in time, he’s already had a small operation … an angioplasty”
After she’s off the phone, she gets a chance to talk to Tony.
[Tony, sounding very wobbly] “Yea … not so bad. Much better than before. Did you speak to Tom? Is everything alright at home?”
[Pat] “Yes. Yes the cows are alright., Everything’s fine”
[Tony] “I’m sorry to be such a nuisance … well, for a while there, I really thought I was a goner”
Pat starts crying.
[Pat] “I thought the same. I thought …”
[Tony] “It’s alright. I’m okay now”
Good.
Must admit that I was not remotely concerned about Tony.
Not that I dislike him.
It wasn’t his time.
(it should be Tom’s!)
