We love Charlie. But we want Adam and Ian to get married. What will happen in Ambridge in the pre-Christmas thread?

[PseudoBadger]

Just listened to Friday - we are 2 weeks from Christmas and David didn't even ask whether Ruth will be back by then?

Interesting. But are there no non food possibilities?

I'm vaguely aware that dairy cattle won't continue to be bred if farmers aren't milking. If the costs are excessive in the UK perhaps David and Ruth should be moving the entire operation to a different continent (never mind Northumberland).

I find Jill intensely irritating. I think she is in the early stages of dementia with her constant verge of panic and shrieky voice.

No nude men, Lulu! Just the cast of Calendar Girls and their plucky director.

R4, "It's a bit of an insult to the intelligence of their audience really." This is why I stopped listening for nearly a year, after Nigel did his rendition of "The Scream", and have stopped listening, for the most part, since the Bridezilla and the Brookfield sell-up stories, closely followed by what I understand was an equally implausible flood story. "The Archers" has ceased being an everyday story of country-folk and has become a competition amongst the PTB to see how far they can force their long-suffering audience to suspend disbelief.

I agree Lulu, she runs the gamut of emotion from a to b

Here's a link to a Telegraph piece that reproduces the pictures - don't follow this if you don't like seeing cast pictures! You'd be seeing even more of them than normal, too.

I'm afraid I take issue with your description of Rivella, SunnySomer - but then I dislike drinking milk itself.

God, this all sounds unbearable!

I don't even look at the Lowfield summaries now. Totally reliant on MN now - you could say I was hanging onto TA by a thread

Mmm ... I guess my only complaint (setting aside all the others) is that it's a pity the Calendar Girls cast reinforces the idea that only one type of woman is allowed to live in an English village, or join the WI.

They should have thought harder and done better.

That's about the only thing in TA at the moment that is true to life (or, at least, true to any woman's group that I have been involved with).

What an unforgivably awful cow Pat has become!

christ alive

we are discussing the VAT returns of a ficitional farm?

We are indeed discussing VAT. I'm doing a VAT return at the moment. The lack of any business knowledge amongst the writers drives me wild.

Me too enoch. Considering that they lay such store by having an agricultural adviser you would think that they would want to get other facts vaguely right too - business and benefits claims being two that spring to mind immediately.

Is Pat on glue?

I have missed a WHOLE thread 600 posts to catch up on i am meant to be working, don't tell Justine

Olivia, obviously Justine is working you too hard if you're that far behind. Settle down with and and, if necessary, gin (we really need a gin icon) and fill yer boots.

Also you never hear of any characters beating their heads on a keyboard because the govt. gateway is busy.......

BTW, is Helen cut off from the internet as well?

Also, can Helen not send texts? Because waiting for Ian to call back doesn't make sense. Most people would text - ideally in this case an SOS! Or has Knob stolen her mobile?

ooh thanks enoch you've reminded me that I haven't RTI'd.

Helen probably hasn't got internet. It took TA aaaages before they caught up with mobile phones; the internet is probably a step too technological for them yet (except for Emmur who has got an NVQ in websites).

That's a point, actually, I bet Knob monitors Helen's emails. "You don't mind darling, do you, you haven't got anything to hide, it's only because I care so much about you."

But I wonder what he does to stop her coming onto MN? After all, if she's stuck at home all day what else is she going to do?

Helen- email? Texts? Twitter? Facebook? Im? Skype? A letter? A note through the door?

Nope- a Knob message.

Have looked at the picture- no idea who is who but they are all a good age and spruce up well. Very brave.

I BET BET BET rob and helen have
[email protected]

as ' they have nothing to hide'

And Rob has a secret email '[email protected]'

I don't understand why David and Ruth aren't skyping to discuss the future. Oh but it might spoil her Christmas mightn't it.
Helen is weaving in a tower and growing her hair, dreading Roblestiltskins visits. Perhaps she will shuffle off and leave the Bridge farmers to handle Rob.