Aldridges Assemble! Await the return of the prodigal daughter to Ambridge with the rest of The Archers audience

[PseudoBadger]

I can't resist alliteration

A lot of people put in hard work and aren't lucky enough to inherit the land when their boss dies!!

Like all family businesses there are some different politics but it is still a business. Perhaps Brian will decide its easier to sell up to JE!

As for HP - I don't really know what's going on and what exactly she needs. I'm hoping they are going to put her (and us) out of our misery and kill her off.

Icimoi I keep screaming at the radio mentioninng "JUST BRING HER TO BROOKFIELD FFS!" at the radio. It's just ridiculous that Roooth would see the idea of selling the family farm and uprooting a whole family as an ideal solution just a few months ago, yet now, bringing HP down to Brookfield now is just so hard to fathom!

I really didn't like the way that Ruth was comparing the two grandmothers. She was very sneery about Jill being happy in the bosom of her family, as opposed to HP being on her own. Since the problem is an outcome of Ruth's decision to move away thirty-odd years ago it's a bit rich. I hope it was a case of being distraught and overemotional at her mum's plight rather than a deep-seated feeling.
They have offered for HP to come to Brookfield but apparently she wants to stay with local friends (where are they at visiting times? they never get mentioned).

I think it is a deep-seated feeling - the guilt people (women probably most) get from not being able to make everyone happy all the time. The comparison between Jill's position and her mum's would be bound to be something that Ruth would find hard - that seemed like a very honest admission of reality - not 'sneery', just very unhappy.

Having had a variety of ends for my parents and ILs, I find Ruth's angst and the difficulty of the situation very realistic. HP is a compos mentis adult who doesn't want to be translocated to Ambridge, and who hasn't accepted that she is in decline - partly because at this stage the professionals will probably be talking about rehab and making positive noises about her going home - but without necessarily delivering much to help this. Not blaming them - its not a joined-up system, and unfortunately steps forward can then be followed by steps back as in this case with HP falling again. It can take quite a while for an independently-minded person to make the mental adjustment that they need a significant level of care. Of course no-one ever spells out the reality - that while she might get somewhat better, for a while, the general trajectory is almost inevitably downwards.

Errol - I agree. Great post. The comparison is inevitable even if not entirely fair. The guilt and the angst and degree of helplessness in the decision making is realistic in my experience. HP needs to accept that she must make a longer term decision and R will have to accept that even if it's hard for her.

My parents have set themselves up with all they need for declining health (moving to a house that can be adapted and is v close to good services - they even paid for their funeral with coop and spent the dividend on champagne!). They say I am not to try to care for them or move nearer or move them. My mum bloody knows that wild horses couldnt drag me away and when nursing her MIL she herself said 'resent it if you do, and regret it if you don't. I know R is annoying and the whole move thing was crass but the current part of this SL is well done I think.

I don't think it's realistic at all. Well the angst might be - but not the way she's considering practicalities.

She prepared to sell HP's house from under her without even mentioning it. And put her in a care homes against her wishes while she recuperates. Yet she's not prepared to even suggest a short stint at Brookfield while she recovers at least. It's just odd

Ruth was getting a valuation, not actually planning to sell it - seems like a very sensible thing to do, so that if and when HP bites the bullet, she can make an informed decision rather than having to wait. And frankly, a care home while she (hopefully) recuperates may be the only practical solution. HP doesn't want to go into one, but she doesn't want to go to Brookfield either.

Apart from the fact that Brookfield must currently be full, with Bert as well as everyone else, the brutal reality is that if HP was taken there, she'd probably try to do too much, fall again (or have another stroke) and end up in hospital in Borsetshire.

It's not Ruth's decision though and that is where the problem lies with her consideration of the practicalities. HP has capacity and can decide to do whatever she likes more or less. In that situation I think as a daughter you feel quite paralysed (if that's the right word) and your thinking goes round in circles. She can't sell the house, put HP in a home or force get to come to Brookfield.

Force her I mean.

I thought Clare in the community had turned up when Helen showed up!!

Nice to hear the sisters getting on 'normally'

I feel sorry for Brian!! Glad Alice made it!!

Big cast tonight.

Poor phoebe - kate blabbing to anyone who will listen about her sex life!!

Great episode.
Although Kate is such an utter cow. Imagi e telling Peggy

Life lesson phoebe has learnt in the last month

If your mother is Kate don't tell her anything or she will blab your business to everyone - including great granny

Great episode, Jenny did so well.

Would Brian retire?? I can see a stepping down into a smaller role, but I can't imagine him retiring.

After tonight, I can see Brine saying "sod the lot of you" to the DC and selling up. To JE if necessary, as said upthread.

Yes - I don't think they have been very respectful of him

Nice to hear from Ian and not rob!

Anyone else think this is Debbie's last hurrah and she's going to be in Hungary for good now (or maybe until tamsin stops getting other work- she will be back at 60).

Yes, good episode. I enjoyed Debbie telling off Charlie, and JD standing up to Piggoi and Kate. Though I was yelling at Piggoi to butt out - JD was right, it really wasn't fair on Phoebe to be discussing her sex life behind her back.

I know I pair Charlie off with every new face - but their was definite chemistry between him and Debbie.

Perhaps he'll follow her back to Hungary.

(Where was Stefan from? They could seek him out and being down Rob from afar.)

bring Rob down ...

Loved that episode.

I'm realising that Adam is a right twat to Ian though. He's having an EA with Charlie, has put off their wedding...LTB!

Phone still illiterate ... there may have been chemistry but agree Charlie is very busy chasing Adam.

Agree it was a great episode - bit like a West End farce.
The exchange between Debbie and Charlie was excellent - she managed to be both catty and steamy - really shows what a good actor TG is.

Icimoi: Biscuit, did you see that NBS has stolen your comparison with Edina and Saffy?
YES!!!

The four generational fight over Phoebe's contraception is a thing of beauty.

The SW should be bursting with pride over Jenny's outburst at her DM's attempted interference.

BOOPs for that - the arguing ambridge aldridges' altercations.