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Original poster

Right. I have two practical Archers questions that are really bothering me...

79 replies

seeker · 27/05/2013 08:12

  1. Why do Pat and Helen never do the milking at Bridge Farm? Never? Even when it was a real problem after Tony's heart attack?
  1. How on earth can Hayley and Mike's egg business be worth £4000? What is Josh actually buying?
OP posts:
CuttedUpPear · 27/05/2013 08:13

Good Q's.

Original poster
seeker · 27/05/2013 08:19

Because I hate Tom with a passion, but I just can't understand why he never said to his mother "You love those bloody cows so much, you dairy farmer to your core woman you, so you get up at 5.00 and milk them then"

OP posts:
lucjam · 27/05/2013 22:20

You certainly have a point Seeker, why didn't/do Helen and Pat milk the cows. Also where are Amy and Usher (how do you spell it? Ooosher like Ooglies?) they've not been on for ages...and also is Pavel coming back for the strawberry picking (with an STI to tell Adam about)? Which reminds me where are Adam and Ian?

Ponders · 27/05/2013 22:23

Usha, lucjam Grin

continuity was never one of the SWs' strong points. & as for unanswered questions...

lucjam · 27/05/2013 22:48

ahhh yeah Usha, doh!

MNHQ
OliviaMMumsnet · 27/05/2013 22:52

1 Helen's probably too fragile and Pat's too lazy

2 Feck knows how they've valued it?
Free range eggs are what £3.20 a dzn? But how much are they paying Phoebe for labour?

snigger · 27/05/2013 23:03

Hey, in a world where Pip gets off scot-free with her feckless work-dodging tractor-bashing ways, I'm happy to accept an ower pricey egg in the mix.

Original poster
seeker · 27/05/2013 23:12

Actually, Pat never weeds, or trims leeks or anything. All she does is make soup and supervise Clarrie and Susan in the dairy. What does she actually do?

I've never really though about this before. She doesn't even visit Jack or look after the obnoxious Henry.

OP posts:
snice · 27/05/2013 23:18

And where is whatshername who used to be with Kenton?

snice · 27/05/2013 23:19

Kathy! It's just come to me

Startail · 27/05/2013 23:24

I live pretty close to Archers land and free range eggs are £1.20-1.80 at the farm gate. No good valuing the business at London prices

Original poster
seeker · 27/05/2013 23:25

Kathy! I had forgetten her. The odious whatshisname's mother! Who went off to train to be a forester. Why isn't she rallying round Pat in her hour of need?

Maybe the hens lay golden eggs?

OP posts:
snigger · 27/05/2013 23:26

I thought Jack was dead? Don't tell me I'm losing the thread, it's only the Archers and the Afternoon Play that keep me anchored !

snice · 27/05/2013 23:30

Yes surely Kathy is Pat 's best friend in the village but she doesn't appear to have spoken to her about as ny of her recent t worries

See also Ruth/usha

snice · 27/05/2013 23:32

Another thing that I can't remember ever being resolved is Oliver a nd Caroline s great fostering plans-what happened there?

LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops · 27/05/2013 23:40

Jack isn't dead, he's still in the home...isn't he doubting myself now, although the actor who plays him died a few days ago. We haven't heard him for ages, just that Peggy visits him.

lottiegarbanzo · 27/05/2013 23:55

I guess Helen and Pat are not up to date on milking practice, so probably can't. Pat runs the dairy. Helen runs the shop, which is more obviously a full time job, though I think the dairy is too really.

Businesses are valued on profitability, not just assets, unless they're bankrupt. There must be figures for turnover and profit, so they can say it will generate a certain amount over five or ten years. If I was buying a business I'd want to know how long until I expected to make my money back and go into profit (like on Dragons' Den!).

Original poster
seeker · 28/05/2013 08:05

And Pat and Helen can't learn something Eddie can do???Grin

OP posts:
lottiegarbanzo · 28/05/2013 08:52

Helen does have Henry to deal with, probably some early mornings of her own. I thought there might be certificates you have to keep up to date for milking but, good point, it can't be that skilled or complicated!

CuttedUpPear · 28/05/2013 09:15

Yes Kathy spent many hours moping at Pat's kitchen table and had virtually moved in (much to Tony's chagrin) when she was having troubles.
What kind of fair weather friend is she?

TOTALLY agree about Pat not lifting a finger around the farm.

lottiegarbanzo · 28/05/2013 10:12

Doesn't Pat put all the veg boxes together though? That's one of her things. She was defending their seasonality recently after Tom tried to make them more 'interesting'.

Original poster
seeker · 28/05/2013 10:14

Does she? I thought Tom did that.

OP posts:
lottiegarbanzo · 28/05/2013 10:17

I'm sure she used to (and may have trimmed and prepared veg too) but it may be something Tom and Helen have taken over. It was certainly her idea and enough of her thing that she just said no to Tom outright.

MNHQ
OliviaMMumsnet · 28/05/2013 11:26

Startail is that not for 6 though?!?

Lots of fair weather friends in ambridge
It's to do with the unique way the BBC is funded and that they only pay x actors a month

lottiegarbanzo · 28/05/2013 11:55

Ooh, insight Olivia. I thought they must pay them all retainer, then piece-work. I'd assumed the rotation between characters was just a natural consequence of focusing on a few story lines at a time. You mean Usha is 'resting'? Wonders if there is a drop-in job club for resting Ambridge actors...