The Archers - It's not about the money, money, money, think about Jill's honey, honey, honey, Justin wants to farm by satnav, forget about the prize tag.

[PseudoBadger]

Will The Dopeys have buggered off by the end of this thread?
Will Tom finally reach home, after weeks of trekking through the tundra?

So what news did Shula and Liz have for David?

They both told D&R, on the same day, that they wanted the money out to invest in their own businesses, that they are not interested in investing in some farm oop north.

Why is Helen discussing Tony with Charlie. Oh, wait a minute. It's Tom with the idendi-accent isn't it?

So does this mean that they can't buy the place ooop north?

I thought that too, R4. The unfortunate thing is that the Charlie actor is better than the NewTom actor so far.

Anyone else frustrated by the lack of figures. If all three take their share will David and Ruth have less money than if they had been able to roll 5 million into a new farm? ( tee hee is my unsympathetic comment, while I might not have agreed with the original shares for non farming family it was always clearly intended to be cashed in if the farm were ever sold)

Yes, NewTom sounds like Charlie without the energy and thrust.

They can easily still buy the new place Cutted.

D&R can't complain about his siblings taking money out. After all, this whole thing has come about because they have prioritised Ruth's family over David's family. They can hardly play the 'family loyalty' card.

so why does it matter that ...

You are making the mistake of thinking that anything the SW write makes any sense any more.

Oh. I forgot to say say LOL @ pseudo channeling Lady Bracknell.

I still don't believe they will move so letting the siblings mentally spend all their money before they get their hands on it will lead to massive discontentment rather than relief when it all falls through. If Heather died would that make Ruth less likely to want to move up North? Or will a sink hole swallow up a bit of Brookfield so the road will be re routed? Just wondering what could happen to put a spanner in the works.

Can the siblings force a sale even if the Dopeys change their mind?

Oh how I'd laugh if they could, Damara pulled out and they are left selling for 5 rather than 7 million. Minus they siblings share and D&R would be left with peanuts.

I think the move is on regardless of heather. I guess te so I hole will lead to the sale falling through

I think it's totally reasonable for the siblings to want their share out now. Why would they want to just have a share in a random farm so their kids can in future have a smaller share of a random farm. The whole pint if Phil divvying it up like that was surely to take into account the farm being sold and thus the inheritance crystallising

Thanks PseudoBadger I wanted to post a thick emoticon (directed at myself) as I didn't quite understand the prize reference.

I have spent years being confused by Bridge Farm finances. I am now getting confuzzled by Brookfield.
It has been valued at £4.5m, £5.5m and now £7.5m. If we assume a return on capital of a modest 2% that means it should be generating £90k, £110k or £150k per annum. Is that what D&R are getting? because their lifestyle (mortgage free) doesn't seem to indicate it. If they are not getting that sort of money then why don't they get out of farming and invest their capital in something more profitable.
Do they get all the income or do they have to share with the siblings? If it is the former then I'd be cashing in, too, if I was a sibling!

R4 they could be getting that kind of return.... But may not be, depending on how good a job they are doing. As to why they don't invest elsewhere, I suspect like most farmers the answer would be 'because we are farmers, what else would we do?'

Plus, though they might not be making oodles of money, there are upsides to the lifestyle. The ability to take days off at a moments notice, having a proportion of your household outgoings (elec, water, phone, fuel) paid for by the business. Work days out such as the market or agricultural shows are also social occasions. Living in big, albeit draughty and cold house, in the countryside. It is very much a way of life for the majority of farmers. Being able to shop midweek instead of busy Saturdays has always been a perk for me!
Am I selling it? (Because written down I'm not sure it sounds that great!)

Can the siblings force a sale even if the Dopeys change their mind?

Yes. If you own property jointly with someone else you can't be forced to continue to own it forever if you don't want to. You can apply to the court to order it be placed on the open market. The owner who doesn't want to sell can bid for it in competition with anyone else who is interested.

I'm not sure I like that Pat/Helen/Tom are keeping info about Tony from Peggy. I'd be furious.

Also - love classic Smugula "who appointed me moral guardian of this family" (paraphrase, can't remember exact wording)

Oh and I enjoyed the episode, if only for how increasingly sick the Dopeys sounded with each visit

I don't think it can be the case David has a liferent interest in it. If that were the case it would be up to the life - rent trustees to decide if they agreed with David and Ruth to sell and use the sale proceeds to provide another life-rent property. The fact Lizzie and Shula have the right, apparently , to ask for their share now makes a life-rent sound unlikely.

I despair at the drive-by scriptwriting we've seen lately. However, about the only change I'm happy with is seeing Piggoi return to her rather poisonous incarnation from years ago. I could never get along with the more recent cuddly little old lady version.

You're doing sterling work dairyfarmerswife. That's the kind of stuff I want the scriptwriters to be living and breathing.

I don't think it can be a joint ownership arrangement, because Phil would have wanted to protect the farm from a forced sale. I would have thought some sort of trust would be more likely.

I was thinking how unpopular David's siblings are going to be in Ambridge if D&R sell to Damara, who then build some huge monstrosity to go along with the new road. Kenton might protest that no-one will drink in his pub any more if he's seen to have profited from something that's blighted the village. Maybe that will be his angle.