Breaking News Fri 24th Sept 2010:

We Love The Bull on the BBC! (click here for the article)

I’ll admit that I have a foot in both camps (though I’m not sure you’re allowed to only be partly an Anarchist).

I believe that “The Archers Are real. There Are No Actors”. The BBC pretending that they write The Archers is just a conspiracy to keep everyone from finding out where Ambridge is. After all, wouldn’t we all like to live there?

But, I also admit (with slight trepidation in case my fellow Archers Anarchists put me first up against the wall) that I am a member of the Archers Addicts. I have even been known to look at the ‘actors’ pictures on the BBC website (which I always feel slightly soiled about after).

So, I can’t claim to be an AA puritan, nor do I accept (in my mind) the claims of the BBC that they create The Archers for us. (Which is a ridiculous thought. Why on earth would they have kept a ‘radio soap’ about a small rural area on the air for nearly 60 years. Who on earth would be interested in that!?!).

So the piece on the BBC Archers pages about the We Love The Bull campaign is very rewarding for Harry, and the rest of us who have been working away to show Jolene about how much we do Love The Bull.

But it’s also a bit perplexing for me as @thearchersfan to actually be part of this BBC conspiracy.

And while it’s a great peace and will hopefully fuel even further support for We Love The Bull, I don’t understand what it means about the Archers residents on Twitter being ‘listeners’.

Surely not?

I hate to think that the chats I’ve been having with @bartlebythepony were actually just with some bloke …

I’ll have to regroup to ponder this new development, which is in danger of making my entire view of the world split like an atom.

Either way - the important thing is to show that We Love The Bull!

Save The Bull!

Join Us

- twitter
Hashtags:
#welovethebull
#savethebull
#archers
#TheArchers

Profiles:
@welovethebull (446 followers and counting)
@thearchersfan
There is a @savethebull, but there’s no tweets under that account as yet

- Facebook cause:
We Love The Bull : http://www.causes.com/causes/526294

The Archers Tues 21st September 2010: Nic reveals herself

The Archers: BL make their decision ... We Love The Bull meeting ... Mighty Me! On yersel Nic!

• I'd feel sorry for BL if they weren't so rich
• Ambridge villagers rush to signup to We Love The Bull
• Nic has bite!
• Will's not impressing Brian
• Harry and Nic?
• Kenton finds a new friend?!?

I'd feel sorry for BL if they weren't so rich

Borchester Land vote on whether they accept Matt's terms (that Lilian joins the board, as well as a good price for his land), and it was seemingly a close one.

After lots of testosterone fuelled posturing and shouting, they vote to tell Matt no to Lilian being on the board - it's cash only.

I'll admit that a have a sneaky smugness for their woes. As they pointed out, Matt's managed to create major havoc for them only months after getting out of prison.

"he now wants to see who's going to blink first"

I think Matt super glued his eyes open before he was released, and I think Brian's right that they'd better

"hope that Matt is bluffing"

As if it's not, they had indeed better start looking around for other projects.


Ambridge villagers rush to signup to We Love The Bull

Well, we only have Nic and Harry's word for it. We didn't get to listen in to their first meeting.

Seemingly Bert, Mike, Roy, Hayley and Jim are active supporters, and Jolene's had a look at the website.

And that's the whole point of it.

Lest we forget that The Bull isn't actually about to close - it just could close if Jolene doesn't shape up.

And Ambridge's way of helping someone shape up is to show them some love.

Aw!

Now where can I buy a We Love The Bull t-shirt that Harry was on about ...

(and don't forget t follow @welovethebull on Twitter, plus join Facebook's We Love the Bull page)


Nic has bite!

Who'd have thought it!

I certainly completely misread Nic. I thought she was a pushover for Will, and would (quite literally) be pushed over by him without complaint.

Yet she came out fighting, and floored Will within the first round!

After mentioning that she'd have liked to have gone for a "nice drink" with Harry and the rest of the We Love The Bull supporters, Nic suddenly has a sense of clarity when Will reacts badly.

"honestly Will, you don't have to get tetchy. I'm not going to abandon you"

Which was followed up Nic utterly letting rip when she got back from work to find a Will stressed out by the kids, read to pick a fight with her about Harry.

To paraphrase:

[Will] "he's just all you seemed to talk about at the moment - Harry this, Harry that ..." (interrupted by Nic)

[Nic] "what are you saying?"

[W] "it just don't make it very easy for me you doing all these shifts ... I'm wondering why you want to spend so much time there"

[N] "you're jealous!"

[W] " ... eh?!?" (sorry to interrupt - but, aye right then Will!)

[N] "you think there's something going on between me and harry!"

[W] "i dropped by ... you're round the corner hugging and kissing"

[N] "With Fallon there!" (interrupted by Nic)

(deep breath folks, and read the rest of Nic's parts of this with the angriest voice your head can muster)

[N] "I am not Emma! Is that what you think? I can't believe you actually think I would ever cheat on you ... you know what happened with Andrew ... I'd never hurt you like that"

[W] "If I'm wrong, that's fine ... " (interrupted by Nic)

[N] "it's no more than your mum does" (meaning Clarrie works behind the bar as well)

[N] "It's because of that stupid tramp and what she did to you ... maybe you'd like it if I never spoke to anyone ...if someone bought me a drink, throw it back in their face!"

[W] "who has been buying you drinks?" (interrupted by Nic)

[N] "I am not going to spend the rest of my life making up for the mistake of that women ... I'm not going to let whatever is going on in your head spoilt it for me. I love you - you need to believe me. You're just going to start having a bit of faith in me"

Phew!

I was applauding Nic all the way through that.

There was me thinking she was a sitting duck for Will's anger and frustration, yet she headed him off at the pass with fifty elephants to his one.

All well and good, but will Will come back fighting?

And what's going to happen when he hears about Emma's pregnancy ...?


Will's not impressing Brian

This happened a few days back as well, but it would seem that Will isn't doing very at his gamekeeper job.

He didn't sound pleased to see Brian - fudged his way through telling Brian the figures (which weren't as good as Brian expected) - and generally seemed to be in a bit of a muddle.

As we all know, Brian doesn't suffer such ineptness.

As I said before - will Will lose his job, girlfriends and dignity (Emma having a baby with Ed) all in one go?


Harry and Nic?

It'd be a bit obvious, but yet more hints are falling about Harry and Nic.

Well, at least that seems to me to be what's happening. And Will (yikes!)

A bit of a *snort* moment when Harry surprised Nic by popping up from somewhere unusual:

"I wasn't expecting you to be back there!"

('just where was Harry!', I hear you cry)

Harry does seem like a nice enough bloke, and Nic could do with a nice enough bloke (she needs to get away from Will before he really blows!).

But then again, I'm with Jazzer that Harry is possibly too good enough to be true.


Kenton finds a new friend?!?

I never understand how the BBC announcers can foretell what's going to happen in Ambridge, but the nice chap mentioned that Kenton will find a new friend tomorrow night.

Do we think the friend will be of the lady variety?

And will Kathy be relived or livid?

The Archers Sun 19th Sept 2010: The Flower and Produce Show

Tweet

The Archers: Kathy's made to listen ... Judge Joe

• Kathy is a wandering cloud of doom and gloom
• "Bigger than an honour from the Queen"
• So Veg judging means plenty of cakes and wine
• Ad Victoriam 
• Ex Dolo Malo 
• "the bounty of Ambridge - it never ceases to amaze!"
• A pint and a cake for your 89th birthday
• Even Jim is supporting We Love The Bull!

Kathy is a wandering cloud of doom and gloom

Talking to Clarrie (well, moaning at Clarrie), Kathy thinks Jamie was bragging about Kenton's Police cell time to Eddie.

Kathy reckons that it's Kenton's fault for showing off, rather than being embarrassed and humbled by the experience.

"I can't imagine he'd do something like that"

responds Clarrie.

So while Kenton has his defenders, Kathy sounds like she's had enough. Finally!

"In the end ... I told him we're better off without him here"

Phew! Whether you side with Kathy or Kenton, them splitting up must be good news for us all. Well, apart from Jamie (who will inflict months of 'whatever').

"But there's always another side to a story, isn't there?"

No no no Clarrie. Don't put doubts in Kathy's head that she isn't right to leave things with Kenton as they are. We all deserve a break ...

Then bloomin' (but the ever lovely and well meaning) Nigel tries to convince Kathy that Kenton isn't bad (this was while Kathy was at the Show, doing her best to wilt the flowers with her despondent glare).

After a failed first attempt

"Let me explain ... it was never my intention ... i don't want you to think I was somehow colluding ... Kenton was very upset ... drowning his sorrows"

Nigel won't let it go:

"something I think you should understand ... you know what he's like ... likes to pretend nothing affects him ... the worst that it gets the more he tries to run away ..."

And again:

"I'm just trying to say ... don't judge him too harshly ... he does care ...particularly about Jamie ... that boy means the world to him"

And tops it off with:

"He's his own worst enemy, but he's not a lost cause ... do give him another chance"

Oh for pity sake Nigel! You can also stop your nonsense. They're just not right for each other. And that's never going to make for a happy relationship, let alone a home for Jamie.

Leave them be. Let them both be stubborn, stay away from each other and move on.



"Bigger than an honour from the Queen"

Which is what Clarrie reckons Joe sees being asked to be a judge at the Flower and Produce Show.

Anything that gets Joe Grundy up early and into a suit is a good thing. Especially when it doesn't involve a court hearing.

(that isn't fair of me. He's hardly a Horrobin...)


So Veg judging means plenty of cakes and wine

Ah, you're a cheeky monkey Mr Joe Grundy.

Trying to 'help' Nigel out with the wine so that he doesn't get into trouble again (like last Friday), I love Joe for his inability to call Nigel by anything other than his full name:

"watch out with that there wine, Nigel Pargetter"

Joe also helped Ian with cakes, but, to be fair, he helped Edgar Titcombe with the flower judging. Joe gave away that the winner of the roses was someone whose honey cakes collapsed last year ...

As for his real job as veg judge, Joe was well ahead of himself. Done and dusted in time to sample the other delights of the Show, Joe reckoned that his judging was fair:

"even if makes some folks unhappy ... there's no going back now"

Sounds ominous!


Ad Victoriam

Quite right too, Jim. Nice to see that at least Bert and Jim can have a drink together, even though they're pitted in earnest against each other for the glory of the veg awards.

But, Ad Victoriam soon turned to ...


Ex Dolo Malo

And Bert wasn't to blame. It was purely Joe's pure adherence to the rules.

Jim's outraged to find that his onions have been disqualified for being "not to schedule". Which is because Jim used some twine to hold his onions together. Which isn't in the rules.

Of course, Jim can't quite believe that the judging wasn't just about the quality of the onions (seemingly poor Bob Pullen's were nothing to remark about, yet won third place).

"anyone with eyes can see mine are the best on the table"

"honestly - he can recognise excellence can't he - why on earth would he be so damn petty!"

Well, in the first place, Jim, that's what happens at these shows. Rules are rules, and they have to be stuck to.

In the second place, Joe later nearly admitted that Jim's disqualification might have had to do with Joe seeing Bert buy some twine in the shop.

Telling Jim:

"I hope you ain't casting aspersions"

Joe's quite simply gone and picked the wrong onions.

So not only is Jim livid with him, Joe also has to suffer a very smug Bert - who won onions, carrots, leeks and tomatoes.

"thank you. You've been very far minded ... that takes a big man!"

crowed Bert

"I ain't going to do it again. All this authority ain't what it's cracked up what it supposed to be. Folk just want to blame you for everything!"

Ah, that's a shame Joe. Especially as all your plans came to nothing, and it's a whole year until you can knock Bert back into his place.

If only Harold Asquith hadn't run off with Colin Carpenter ..


"the bounty of Ambridge - it never ceases to amaze!"

Which is why millions of us eavesdrop every night (apart from Saturday), and I spend a decent chunk of my evening blogging.

My other half wonders whether there's a support group for Ambridge-widowers. Any ideas?


A pint and a cake for your 89th birthday

Ah well. I guess that, along with the extra wine, made Joe a happy birthday boy indeed.


Even Jim is supporting We Love The Bull!

Jim on the We Love the Bull website:

"what i imagine what one might call virtual community ... designed to encourage people to pledge their affiliation to The Bull"

So if Jim is happy to "help in anyway", what will you be able to say you did for The Bull?

Join Us:

twitter

Hashtags:
#welovethebull
#savethebull
#archers
#TheArchers

Profiles:
@welovethebull (154 followers and counting)
@thearchersfan
There is a @savethebull, but there’s no tweets under that account as yet

Facebook causes:

We Love The Bull : http://www.causes.com/causes/526294



(and by-the-by, the @welovethebull isn't me on Twitter (I#m @thearchersfan), and the Facebook cause isn't about raising money. Just a bit of fun for the sake of The Bull).

The Archers Wed 15th Sept 2010: Harry unveils the We Love The Bull website

Tweet

The Archers: Brian tries to tackle Matt ... Fallon is overwhelmed by the "community support" ... Nic's working more shifts

• Will can't keep track of his birds
• I want to know how much
• Cremated steak
• Is that Harry being butch?
• www.welovethebull.???
• Come on Nic, he's a nutter!
• Sid was great at arranging guest spirits?

Will can't keep track of his birds

Which is odd, considering Nic can't even pass wind without him thinking it's a sign she wants another bloke.

Do we detect the supremo gamekeeper is starting to slip a bit?

That'd be just typical. Nic will run off with Harry. Emma has her baby. Will loses his job and goes utterly ballistic at Ed for having a nice tidy life.

I think we should lock him up now, just to be on the safe side.



I want to know how much

So Brian puts only a financial offer on the table to Matt, but we didn't get to hear a price. What, are we talking hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands?

Anyway, Matt had a grand old time using a good old-time villain sneer.

Brian tried to argue that Lilian being on the board was a conflict of interest. Which is true enough. Even if Amside is tiny at the moment, it could use her insider knowledge to steal the march on BL.

But then again, Matt seems quite capable of doing that without a mole.

At his old tricks again, Matt's now saying that this is all Lilian's idea. That she wants to "play a part".

Funny. I could have sworn she doesn't have a clue.

Especially since Matt's bought the land outside of Amside. Lilian probably doesn't even know he has it, let alone knowing anything about him pushing to be on the board of BL.

So here we go again. Matt's lying. To Brian. Who will tell Jennifer all. Who, in turn, will side with Brian. And shout at Lilian. Who is completely oblivious!

Despite Brian trying to play the 'you're a de facto director', which could put Matt back in jail, Matt's not budging.

Claiming "money's not the issue", and happy to sit on the land even if Brian's mart has to go elsewhere, Matt obviously thinks he's onto a winner.

"it's a cheap enough punt"

and a perfect way to get back at all those BL directors who vanished when Matt was caught by the law, and are still snubbing him.

You know - I can't help but admire Matt sometimes ...



Cremated steak

Jazzer actually helped Harry move into his new flat, but obviously charged him, and get a free lunch/pint at The Bull.

And of course, he prefers his meat done extremely well. What a stereotypical Scot that man is.


Is that Harry being butch?

It was a wee bit subtle, but Harry did sound quite irritated by Jazzer.

Finally!

I couldn't work out whether Harry has managed to master the fine art of turning the other cheek, or whether he's naive and oblivious to Jazzer's jests.

And I'm still not sure about Harry. He didn't make that much of a fuss about Jazzer having a dig, but why is he reacting now? Jazzer's said and done far worse before.

To Jazzer's:

"you don't need to weasel your way into every part of the village"

Harry came back with:

"You always say kind things"

But Harry did snap at Jazzer when, after poo-pooing the website, he then tried to get involved to also get in Fallon's good books:

"if there's something you'd be good at, we'd ask"

Oh steady there Harry! It's almost as if you have cajones.


www.welovethebull.???

Well, I'm not sure what Harry was unveiling to Fallon, but I can't find his website.

Whatever it actually was, Fallon was over the moon.

Harry asked Ed and Mike to put up messages of support:

Ed

"if mum didn't have somewhere to send dad and grandad, she'd have killed them years ago"

Mike

"Always been thee with a kind word and a smile"

Aw. Fallon was chocked up.

Of course, Jazzer reckoned it was all a waster of time at first (until he realised Fallon was impressed). He reckoned:

"I show my support every time I plonk my backside on one of these stools"

Which is a fair point.

The Bull is quiet, so where have all the loyal punters gone?

It might be "like a morgue", but money where mouth is methinks. They'll soon all be complaining if it shuts for good.

Anyway, Fallon now feels supported, and is also asking for practical support.

All seems very positive indeed:

"for the first time in ages, i feel like The Bull might finally have a future"

Excellent.

But still don't forget to sign up to the Facebook cause page (click here) to show your support, and keep an eye on #welovethebull if you're on Twitter.


Come on Nic, he's a nutter!

Why on earth can't Nic see that Will isn't just being 'nice', He's trying to control her.

Maybe he hides it well at home.

Will didn't sound too enamoured of Nic offering to do more shifts at The Bull to help Fallon out.

So when is he going to finally blow?

More importantly, when is Nic going to run off with Harry?!?


Sid was great at arranging guest spirits?

I know Fallon also said Ales, but did she actually mention spirits?

Maybe it's just me. I have been chatting away with @sidperksghost on twitter.

News 15th September 2010: Save The Bull on Facebook

Tweet

Twitter’s buzzing with efforts to show our support for The Bull.

I’ve also created a Facebook cause page – join now to show your support and Save The Bull!

Life will never be the same again if we can no longer eavesdrop on Ambridge residents having a pint of Shires …

More information: clikc here for the We Love The Bull page on this blog

Save The Bull! 

Join Us:

twitter

Hashtags:
#welovethebull
#savethebull
#archers
#TheArchers

Profiles:
@welovethebull (154 followers and counting)
@thearchersfan
There is a @savethebull, but there’s no tweets under that account as yet

Facebook causes:

We Love The Bull : http://www.causes.com/causes/526294

News 14th September 2010: We Love The Bull!

While I’m still not sure if Harry Mason is a force for good or evil, he’s single-handedly started a worldwide campaign to show Jolene how much The Bull means to everyone.

We Love The Bull was the URL of the website Harry was showing Nic how to create the other day (click this link for my blog on that episode)

And #welovethebull is now being used by Twitterers to join together to show their support – headed up by @welovethebull

Talk of t-shirts ahoy, and I can imagine flash mobs, sit ins, YouTube videos, facebook pages etc etc are to follow soon.

Watch this space!

(and apologies for the interruption to normal service. I might get round to making a proper ‘news’ page one of these days).

The Archers 12th September 2010: Jolene goes to a cricket match

Tweet

The Archers: Jamie’s first full team cricket match … Kathy and Jolene find comfort ... Harry starts a website .. Jamie's back to shouting

• Fallon gets Jolene out of the house
• Roy lost his wicket
• Group hug?
• I know him so well
• I really do hope Jamie’s shoulders are that broad

Fallon gets Jolene out of the house

And along to a cricket match.

This could have gone either way – it could have sent her into a deeper depression (memories of Sid playing cricket, and that it is a cricket match … oh how dull!), or made her realise that life does strive on.

Has Fallon actually tried a good hard slap? I don’t advocate violence, but needs must …


Roy lost his wicket

And then Fallon mentioned the score. But I only have to take her word for it that they weren’t playing too badly.

It’s all cricket to me …


Group hug?

Was Harry a youth worker in his previous life?

I know he means well, and he’s right in that The Bull’s punters should try and show Jolene how much she (well … the pub actually) means to them.

But a group hug? Even as a metaphor, it sends shivers.

Ever on the ball with new media, Harry decides that they need to create a website for everyone to show how much the pub means to them. He also made mention of a Facebook profile of a Twitter account. But, I wonder if this will all go the same way as Harry’s blog (which has been quiet for some time now).

Poor Nic sounded a bit perplexed at getting roped in, and goodness knows what Will will say when he hears Harry’s been teaching her new skills.


I know him so well

Probably just me, but I had Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson playing in my head as I listened to Jolene and Kathy reminiscing about Sid.

Despite Kathy’s clarification that she doesn’t miss Sid “like that”, I think Jolene knows that they’re both mourning for a man they loved.


I really do hope Jamie’s shoulders are that broad

Jolene thinks Jamie’s got the same broad shoulders as Sid had.

I hope so.

As well as coping with him mum’s over protectiveness, and her arguments with Kenton, and his dad dying … Jamie’s might now have to also be a beacon of hope for Jolene.

Seeing so much of Sid in Jamie doesn’t bode well.

And right on cue, Jamie starts shouting at Kathy again.

Damn it! With Kenton gone to Lower Loxley, I thought we’d have far less shouting from that corner of Ambridge. Especially as Kathy and Jamie seemed to be getting on.