He's not a pheasant poacher, he's a pheasant poacher's grandson. Join us for trials, tribulations and tipsy tractor trips in Ambridge.

[PseudoBadger]

Will this thread see the end of The Trial? And SOC?

[Gruach]

The Shula thing was odd. She's been queen of the cricket pitch for decades; how would she not know exactly where to leave her sandwiches?

And I don't believe she's so unsophisticated (or so ahead of the curve!) as to allow such a thing into her kitchen.

[R4]

The sandwiches thing was odd. I am the same age as Shula and it wouldn't occur to me in a month of Sundays to serve meat paste sandwiches.
But I probably would do a sandwich of some variety - chicken pieces sound an expensive item for mass catering. Are PC Plot and Fallon going to bankrupt the cricket club with their fancy ways.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

Gruach, Mystic Bore predicted on the last thread that the non-pronouned Max was the lead-in to the Hells and Anna finding true lurve together s/l that SOC has mapped out.

[nippiesweetie]

I haven't listened for ages and that was pretty good. We heard more about Helen's case, Pat actually sounded like Pat and Ian gave Knob what for. More like this, please.
Knob being so indignant that Helen's nephew and cousin wouldn't give him the time of day. Knobbish.

[Binkybix]

I often but don't often post on the Archers threads - but I feel the need to say that Nigel was not dim (certainly no dimmer than many of the other characters including David and Kenton) but he was a lovely, gentle man and Elizabeth did not deserve him

How come? I didn't listen back then.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

Now you're talking Minimammoth

Sunday tea - Shippams potted beef or pilchard and tomato paste sandwiches, tinned fruit and evaporated milk.

Food of the gods

[drspouse]

I tried to get meat paste for Guide camp (keeps well) and it's pretty much impossible to find now.

[drspouse]

I missed the first five minutes - had Kaz attempted suicide?

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

It's a very valid point that David is as thick as a plank and Kenton, while having a bit more grey matter, has made very poor use of it. Elizabeth has never been a gentle soul and 'lovely' isn't an adjective that has ever come to mind when describing her either. She was absolutely vile to David after Nigel died and had her moments (many of them) earlier, perhaps especially after the Great Brookfield Inheritance Dispute around the millennium.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

Yes, but Hells found her in the nick of time. She's in hospital and will then be going to an ordinary prison so won't be able to keep baby Jayden with her

[PerspicaciaTick]

Elizabeth has always been a spoilt brat who is prepared to walk roughshod over other people. Nigel wanted only to be happy and to be able to live at Lower Loxley. He adored Elizabeth and she was what? Slightly patronising? I always felt it was a very unequal relationship.

[Minimammoth]

I ha e only one more word Bore ........Soreen

[PseudoBadger]

"Oh I hope Kaz won't be written out. I'd have thought all the bird spotting chat was a precursor to her relocating to Ambridge (or the surrounding area) with her children."

Like Nic - that other commoner who has been permitted access to the hallowed village.

[Binkybix]

Aaah ok. Thanks!

[Gruach]

I knew someone had MysticBore! But I dismissed it at the time.

Now it seems more worth considering.

I dunno. They're both so tetchy it would hardly be a restful relationship. But Anna might bring exactly the broader horizons (21st C street smartness) that Helen lacks - so it would be a well balanced household for Henry and Jack.

[Gruach]

Nic?

Who dat?



Actors truly must have the patience of saints. I'd have flounced by now.

[JudyCoolibar]

I wasn't entirely clear whether they were saying Kaz attempted suicide or whether it was over-the-top self harm? They talked about her having cuts, I think, which isn't quite the term you'd use for someone who'd tried to slit her wrists or her throat.

One of the last things she said to Helen was something along the lines of men like her ex never stopping and always going on to the next person, and Helen said something about it sounding terribly familiar. I think that's more or less what she and Jess talked about, wasn't it? So let's hope that prompts more useful memories.

BOOP point for Johnny being totally immune to Rob's spell these days after being a bit star struck by his cricketing prowess last year, and major BOOP point for Ian. How stupid of Rob to try to pressurise him in the same way as he did with Jess. I suspect he thinks Ian could be undermined in cross-examination by some awkward questions about Adam, but (providing that SOC actually listens to any legal advice they're getting) he'll have a nasty shock when he realises that the prosecuting barrister isn't there to follow his instructions.

[JudyCoolibar]

Re the sandwiches - why on earth would Shula think they were needed anyway? She must have heard from Alastair that Fallon was managing fine without her help.

[selsigfach]

Meat paste? I'm a only a veggie but that sounds revolting. Yes, go Ian! Wish he'd record Rob on his phone threatening a witness, or whatever it is Ian is.

[OhTheRoses]

I think I recall, circa 1982 Shula having first dibs on Nigel. I think Nigel was much keener than Shula. Also, did not Nigel mop up Elizabeth's broken heart?

This lot are my generation when the City was still full of Harrovians, et al, with two or three O'Levels. The qualification business took off at the beginning of the 80s. Farming communities were behind and daughters were doing corporate lunches and flower and rode push bikes from South Ken to St James to do a stint on the front counter at Christies where they exclaimed that the view in the Haywain was similar to mummy and daddy's in Suffolk and swooned at a glance from a minor aristo in pictures.

I digress but escaped.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Ian was great. My only concern is in case he might not be allowed to testify for Helen if he's visited her in prison. Please can a lawyer put me out of my misery here?

[JudyCoolibar]

There's no reason why Ian shouldn't see Helen. It's only prosecution witnesses she shouldn't have contact with.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Yes, I'm sure Nigel was typical. He went to Rugby (like Daddy) and then had various jobs, including a stint in the city and another one in Africa (Zimbabwe?) just like colonial times. I suppose it all seems odd to me because I'm Scottish and for centuries in Scotland education has always been the way up and out. If given an opportunity to get an education, you didn't mess about in gorilla suits instead. However, it's probably always been different for the heirs to land.

[OhTheRoses]

Would he be disallowed if appearing for the prosecution but not the defence? I think that's why Pat and Kirsty can't visit but may be wrong.

[JudyCoolibar]

Just remembered - Ian made some comment suggesting he was astonished that Rob is asserting that Henry is afraid of Helen, which suggested that the subtext was "... when the reality is he was afraid of Rob". I'm hoping it might trigger memories of that time he and Adam went round and weren't impressed by Rob's treatment of Henry.