Is that a ferret in your (Gr)undies or are you just pleased to see me? Discuss The Archers vermin (so many possibilities!) here.

[PseudoBadger]

I'm not sure that ferrets cannot through a thumb sized hole - rats can, and mice can fit through a pen sized hole. But I know the SWs will have researched such a statement carefully

Although Helen was smoothing things over, I'm hopeful that she was thinking 'it's not me, it's him'. While she was making excuses for his reaction, she didn't immediately back down over the shop; it was that she'd raised it at the wrong time when he was tired and stressed, not that he was right that it was a bad idea.

Indeed, Rob was chilling in his chillingness tonight. Unusually for that time on a weekday, DH and I were in the same room and we looked at each other in shock. Well written.

I wonder if Hazel is planning to move into the cottage. All that talk a few weeks ago about the hunt or the shoot or whateva too. Esp. as the Sock has been reading this thread, knows we don't like her silly voice, and he does like to annoy.

Maybe at Brookfield it's David who's for the chop? I think it was worded last night as if either he or Pip could have their days numbered. But I can't recall the detail of what was said.

I agree, Errol, but H is so sure she wants her relationship with Knob to work, so she will be tempted to compromise. I hope the support from her mother, brother, possibly Ian if he's back, and maybe even Kirsty will help her see the light.

Did anyone hear the continuity announcer just before 7pm? In previewing the upcoming episode, she said "and Rob is feeling the strain - excellent". So even the BBC staff can't hide how horrible he is!

Unless there is any land or farm buildings with Ed's house,it is unlikely to be an agricultural tenancy. I have only listened to a few episodes recently,so am using this thread to catch up. Twas me who said He'd was unlikely to be able to afford a tractor with the money from selling his dairy herd on a previous thread,but it seems he's got himself into debt to buy it? I'm a bit fed up with the poor chap always getting the shitty end of the stick,he deserves some good luck.

I can confirm that farm vets are on call 24/7. I had to take a pony to ours on Bank holiday Sunday (£££),and the on call vet was out on a difficult calving so they had to call in another vet for me.

Marking keep losing the thread

Thankyou Gasp0de I think that sounds like it might be worth a catch up listen.

Helen's rationalising of Rob's conduct is still in itself irrational. It is anyway a bit of a stretch to say that the whole DNA test business would have brought back nasty memories and old strains and stresses, which was more or less her explanation. However, if Rob were as sure of his innocence as he professes to be, he should now be looking forward to the results with quiet confidence, and in particular looking forward to rubbing them in Jess' face. Helen must know in her heart of hearts that Rob can only be having sleepless nights about it for one reason, but she still refuses to admit it to herself.

That puzzles me too, icimoi- why does Helen think Rob's worried?

Zero That's what came into my mind too. But isn't debt consolidation the thing to do? You know to pay off all your CC debts in small amounts per month.

Kenton's an ass. Lower interest rates (or a 0 interest balance transfer credit card) is not freaking PENNIES. Most cards charge ~20%, FGS.

Kenton certainly is an ass. Jolene's suggestion was very sensible, and it's not an either/or versus trying to up profits, they should do both.

My prediction is that Hazel will put the shop and the Grundy's house (and other houses she owns? Are there others?) up for sale. Jolene and Kenton will get into further debt and have to put the Bull on the market and Lillian will also have to sell the Dower House.

Justin Elliot will buy them all and install himself at the Dower House where all the peasants will then have to come to pay their tithes. He will then divorce his clothes-horse wife, marry Elizabeth, move into LL and demolish the Dower House to build a road, just because he can.

I think Hazel will keep the properties but after the refurbishment will want to maximize the rental income from them. Given that insurance is at best like-for-like, she must be putting some of her own money into the Grundies place if she's specified top-notch, that wouldn't make sense if she planned to sell. Apart from making financial sense, I'm sure the SWs want to keep Hazel in occasional villainous play.

I wish you were an SW, squeaver!

That bit of dialogue about the house! Can even Eddie be so naive as not to see there's a threat there? Hazel does not have a heart of gold. She won't spend money on tenants who are probably paying a pitifully small rent because Jack and Peggy felt sorry for them after they lost Grange Farm.

Eddie might be that naive, but I'd have though Clarrie would be suspicious.
I expect she'll chat to Susan and they'll realise what Hazel is likely to be up to, as Susan is already worried about the shop with, at this stage, less evidence.

No offence squeaver but I hate misery memoirs, it's be too bleedin' EE for me.

Today's CA/trail amused me, and it occurred to me that we should have a thread for good CAs, for the benefit of people listening at different times or podcasts. Here - please do contribute.

Another one who thinks Kenton is being petulant and irrational.

And why is Susan so pro Justin Elliot, re the comment in discussion with Usha the other day 'after all he's done for the village' what was that then? The chipping in a few quid for flood relief.
Not caught up on the latest stuff yet

Because she's a crashing snob and he's mega rich.

Kenton is being massively irrational but that's true to character for him. It's also not an unrealstic storyline in terms of people spending money in anticipation of getting it and then utterly failing to take any responsibility for the consequences. The trouble with this current storyline is we've had YEARS of cash-strapped misery from Ed and Emma and I really can't face another couple of years of it with Kenton and Jolene losing their home/income/etc (and that is of course without HWMNBN and his finances/homelessnes). More grinding misery would be just so very 'enders wouldn't it?

The Dr Locke thing is irritating me immensely, it feels again like the token gesture 'see we appreciate the Archers heritage, we've introduced another character from the past'. It's fine if done well, people do return to places but it felt very clunky and the whole way they've explained who he is was badly handled for those of us who weren't listening at the time...we were denied the 'shock' factor of him turning up and then his back story is only coming out piecemeal so half the audience know and half don't - that's crap story telling by any measure.

There's a whole thesis to be written on 'cuisine based sex analogies in Ambridge' I reckon - Jenny's friffy little amuse bouches (snigger), Susan's chilli and presumably even Frieda's pie/hot pot in terms of straightforward and satisfying (at least that's the kind of sex life her and Bert would have had if I force myself to think about it!)

In that vein, RocknRoll, I thought Jolene's appreciation of the taste and meatiness of Tom's sausages was hilarious last night.

Please stop it, RnR. I can't cope with visions of Bert & Freda's sex life. Especially after all the little references to her character since she SOTMC. I really didn't like her, and felt cheated of the opportunity to dislike her while she was alive.

The other thing about Dr Locke - GPs don't usually move round much, do they? Seems a bit odd for him to be moving in his ? mid/late fifties.