Oh. Hello. I didn't know we'd invited another The Archers thread round darling. How nice to see you. Discuss Ambridge here.

[PseudoBadger]

As tribute to the best SL at the moment...

The whole business with Rob reminds me of a conversation I once had with a solicitor who was acting for former hunt saboteurs against whom a hunt was trying to get an injunction in respect of their activities in monitoring the hunt to check that it was obeying the current law. He said in many respects it was hilarious: the hunting types were entrenched in the view that saboteurs were criminals and worse, and they simply couldn't get their heads around the fact that the former saboteurs were now on the side of the angels and were doing no more than seeing that the law was obeyed. Their attitude in the litigation was incredibly arrogant and aggressive, and blatantly they were throwing money at it because they hated the thought of these jumped-up saboteurs getting the better of them, and they clearly hoped to bankrupt their opponents. Ultimately their case got thrown out of court with some choice comments from the judge and the Hunt was ordered to pay costs: the solicitor said he did seriously wonder whether those in court were going to have heart failure as their blood pressure was clearly going through the roof.

In many ways Rob's attitude last night reminded me of that sort of mindset. I remember Jeremy Hardy once saying that you can't help feeling with this type of person that the word "blighter" is never far from their lips.

It's interesting Petula and mummytime I remember the fuss about the law changing in Eng. It seemed to me as a complete neutral and a then townie that it was in part a class war.

They don't do it on horses much here but they really do it! There is a law banning anyone "Talking down" to anyone else! Meaning you can't talk to anyone on foot while on your horse ! Which is fascinating and goes back to the aristos and peasants in the Revolution. The popularity of hunting is also historic because only the aristos were allowed to hunt before the Revolution

Without getting into a big hunting debate, I agree with Petula , regarding hunting people. I spent a lot of time following the hunt on foot in my teens. I would say it coverd a wide range of classes and professions. Nurses, farmers, students, doctors, business people, retired people, firemen, land agents, solicitors. Some are more well spoken than others but generally everyone is treated the same, there is no class division within the hunting community.

With regard to farmersfarmers (and other landowners), some are very supportive, some aren't bothered either way and some don't want the hunt at all. It is the job of the Masters of the hunt to know the farmers in the patch and known where they are welcome. Even now, when they are only trail hunting, the Master comes to see us to make sure he will be allowed to cross our land, and if there are any places he needs to avoid. The 'acting as though they own the place' is a perception rather than reality in my experience. It is definitely not in the interest of the hunts to upset their hosts and they are generally very appreciative of the farmers.

Then would you say generally it was a townies v country people thing dairyfarmer?

The other thing to say is some farmers would, in the past, welcome the hunt because of the fox control service they provided (regardless of how efficient it was) even if they didn't hunt themselves.

Sorry ppeat , cross posted. No, not really, there are pro hunting townies just as there are anti hunting people in the country side. It probably comes down to perception of cruelty and understanding of the countryside.

It might be that Shula does tell the truth about Rob, which will be the start of him alienating her whole family. It won't be long before she's locked in the back bedroom.

And while we're on Rob (haven't been on this thread for a while), why is he SO convinced that he isn't the baby's father? He must know that he slept with her..??

But, I'm loving the new living arrangements at Home Farm.

The only time I was ever involved in a discussion about hunting IRL was in a lovely pub in Exmoor, but about stag hunting rather than fox. Leaving aside that you can eat venison, from their POV their pro stance wasn't about class at all - it was an integral part of the local rural economy. Not sure whether it applies quite so much to fox hunting, but it was interesting to hear about it from people who were affected by the matter.

Our organic poultry farmer laughed at me because I asked her to remove the head from the chicken we'd bought and said it was because I was a townie! Though we don't do that now, our local strays enjoy them.

squeaver i also haven't read through the full thread at this stage, so it may well be that it's been fully discussed. but IMO it's simply that he is FURIOUS that he is being challenged. i think he feels that if he can intimidate and shout that he isn't the father enough he will get his way

Yes, you're right I think, Petula, his monstrous ego won't allow anything that's not convenient to him to be true.

If he was actually convinced that he wasn't the father, he'd be rushing fir the paternity test. In fact he is avoiding it as hard as he possibly can and relying on bluff and bluster.

It would be amusing if he was eventually forced to test and came out as not the father.

Actually Rob is such a fabulous character because he is so Egotistical! Most other people in the Archers are pretty okay, and people you'd be happy chatting to in the pub. I'd happily chat to Oliver and even challenge his hunting. Rob on the other hand would be liable to start a fight.

BOOP for Brian's outrage that Jenny didn't even KNOW WHO THE COMMENTERS WERE. He'd lose it totally if he knew about us...

yes errol i think there was a certain amount of that - a "this is one of our traditional leisure activities" thing

there is a perception about horse ownership sometimes that it's something that only the very well-off do, and yes it's obviously not something that people who are really struggling for money will be able to do, but where i grew up there were lots of people on about or below average incomes who had a horse on a DIY livery and they scrimped and saved to afford it because it was so hugely important to them and they loved it so much

i was thinking how unlikely it was that there would be no trolls commenting on what is clearly an unmoderated blog

unmoderated comments i mean

Could he be court-ordered to have a DNA test, does anyone know?

Yes that was funny Elephants. Note how cosy Lil is getting. MY FIL used to say she's "getting her feet well under the table". Also note how Brine is nor so happy.

I don't think he can be forced to take the test, but he will have to pay. I think under the new system he will have to pay an extra amount on top if he doesn't sort out payments amicably with Jess (or have the test if it will be negative).

Of course, I keep forgetting that he's still married to her! Ask him about his divorce, Helen, FGS!!!

Lol at announcers "a glimpse into the heart of the lord of darkness".

Oh my word but he is nasty.

I delayed lunch till 2 so I could listen to it again (I need to be in the kitchen really, to listen properly) - DH phoned me at about 2:13. I really need to try to ingrain TA scheduling into his head - he has a distressing habit of talking over the radio and calling it 'background noise'.