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

[PseudoBadger]

I can't resist alliteration

Why is Ruth so hysterical about heather? It's so out of character!

Because she's feeling guilty and powerless, I'd imagine.

If the SL is realistic it could go on from crisis to crisis for years.

Assuming HP is compos mentis and not actually come to grief, she's been bloody inconsiderate not to realise how worried Ruth would be.

Is it cruel to hope HP is found face down in a pond?

It's all starting to drag....

Just think, the next Brookfield heir will probably be conceived there.

Didn't Bridge Farm have that storyline 17 years ago?

HP really is coming across a bit selfish after all her I don't want to be a burden.

I agree that the Ruth hysteria was somewhat over the top, particularly the nonsense about how it would never have happened if she'd phoned. You really do have to wonder how she would cope if she were in a job where she simply couldn't dash off to Mum's whenever she wanted, and I still don't understand why it's so essential for Ruth to be nearby when HP is happily ensconced at Marvin House.

The sw do seem to enjoy a bit of déjà vu. I'm finding it dull!!

Absolutely. Heather has become physically incapacitated but it would be a shame if they decided to imply she has suffered more brain disturbance than is actually the case. It's not as if she wandered out in the middle of the night in her pyjamas.

Didn't Ruth say she'd tried her DM's house phone? If, boringly, she had gone home there could be any number of annoying but insignificant reasons for not answering.

However, if I were writing tonight's episode Heather would be taking that taxi all the way to Brookfield. (With a flat battery in her phone.)

If Heatherpet is with it enough to organise a taxi for herself I would say there's no need for concern about her mental capacity. I assume she's had to wangle access to a phone unless she has a mobile with her, and call directory inquiries or something similar to find a cab company.

I have such a depressing feeling that this is the beginning of the end of Pip's Brazil ambitions. There's going to be lots of discussion about how they couldn't possibly have managed if she hadn't been there, so what are they going to do if there's another crisis. And no-one is going to mention the obvious solution of shipping HP down to Brookfield.

Ah. It all falls into place now ...

So with Heather on the loose Pip gets to be in charge as you say Watson - but she won't be guilt tripped into staying; she's going to discover she loves running the farm and nothing else could possibly compare. Particularly with free access to the Fairbrother of choice in a rickety love-shack.

(No doubt they'll find a toy robot down the back of the bench ...)

Well as I've said before, IMO people should do what they want to do in life regardless of their gender. What's so great about stressing in a boring company (even if it half way round the world)? Especially one that goes so far against nature.

I'm not that bothered about Pip's stress, to be honest, more my own stress in having to listen to her.

I'm sure Ruth said she'd tried H's MOBILE. That got me thinking if it was realistic for an oldie to have a mob. It's just me being out of touch. My mum has been dead since 1999 and I can't imagine her having a mob at nearly 86 (if she were alive now). But what do I know! I imagine H being a bit younger than that? I fully expect HP being found sitting in her own kitchen drinking tea. In the dark with the lights off so Mrs Watkins doesn't suspect she is there. She'll dig her heels in, literally, refuse to leave, and there will be lots more wailing from Ruth.

BTW Alice has been in my thoughts!! She is taking much fewer odd days here and there, I think. But taking some time off when her sisters are back from abroad, esp. as Debbie only had a long weekend, to go riding together seems okay to me. And she and Chris never seem to go away anywhere so maybe she's just taking her entitlement in dribs and drabs.

If the SWs have really thought about this (I know, I know) it would be realistic for Alice and Chris to take a holiday outside the summer months. I know nothing about horses but assume that school holidays is a busy time for everyone concerned with horses ridden by horse-mad youngsters. It's also a lot cheaper to go on holiday in term-time which of course they can do easily while they have no children.

Topaz IME it would be unusual for an elderly person (over 80 say) not to have endless i devices a mobile phone - assuming they are not too incapacitated to use it.

(Whether they make exactly the use of it that their offspring would think appropriate, or answer with alacrity when called, is an entirely different question. )

I knew you'd all say that . I am only 54 and I don't use my mob for anything but texting. My hearing is bad - like many actual elderly people - and I just can't be bothered struggling to hear on it, esp. in public places. And I like the clock, calendar and calculator!!

Point being that many elderly, I suspect, won't answer due to hearing problems. Not sure if that would be H's reason as Ruth is quite loud. I think she's doing her own thing really.

Topaz, I'm 54 too. I have a smart phone but must admit I really only use it for texts/calls if arrangements are going awry. I really only make sure it's switched on and charged if I'm expecting to use it. My parents are even worse and they're in their 80s.

On the other hand, I'm online via my PC/laptop all the time and they.... aren't. They have a PC and a tablet but they use them for very specific purposes and not otherwise.