Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, please put a penny in Joe Grundy's hat. Discuss The Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

Ho ho ho! Will this thread last until Christmas?

I was distinctly confused about Brine taking the accountant's OK as a big point in favour of the idea. Surely few accountants are able to advise sensibly on the merits of a big purchase like that

Yes and no (good accountant's answer, eh?) I could do the sums to work out if it's a good investment or not, but it would depend heavily on data input from Brine - most of which is guesswork about the future. If the guesses were ridiculous I could probably spot it but a few percent on crop yields, a few percent on fertiliser inflation, a guess on the effects of Brexit ... lots of little assumptions can make a huge difference (which is why you do what-if analysis).
Brine can spin the data to get whatever answer he wants.

No need to worry about brine buying it for below MV. Hesclearlybeibg ripped off. As if Justin would sell it off cheap

R4 - yep I'd give some advice but the caveats/exclusions would be as long as the report itself. I would however have been capable of looking at the current value of his shares, rounding down a chunk for prudence natch, and giving him a rough figure as to how much he could probably raise from selling them.

I think Justin and Brine are assuming the rest of the board will go along with what they say which in itself sets my ex-auditor sense twitching (excessive management influence, dominant character etc). But that's before we even get into the fact that Lils is clearly being paid above market rate for her 'services' as a PA with a pretty limited remit and blithely spending all Damara's money sponsoring every last bloody envelope opening her family are involved in.

Ponders - d'you reckon we could have a side event at Academic Archers devoted to the finances, economy and ethics of doing business in Ambridge - possible session could include:

• SMEs and their rights and obligations regarding employment/payroll - don't pay your villainous son-in-law when you don't need to

• related party transactions in business today - keeping your mistress off the payroll and selling land to your cronies

• making the big decision - experiences of Ambridge farmers in recent years with sepecific reference to Brookfield and Home Farm and changing the course of your business on a whim/plot device

In RL, Brine wouldn't pay below MV. He's the next door neighbour, the one with closest access, the one who would get economies of scale etc. Brine is the one person who should be paying over MV.
It's no threat on Justin's part to go to open market. He would get a lower price at OMV and the costs of marketing.
I wish the SW would get a Business Advisor.

Lils is clearly being paid above market rate for her 'services' as a PA with a pretty limited remit and blithely spending all Damara's money sponsoring every last bloody envelope opening her family are involved in.
This is a bit unfair - Damara are sponsoring a fashion show at the local College - probably a few hundred quid at most, and lots of good publicity to locals. I'm sure its held at college, and done very cheaply (staging etc. will already be there - Damara will be paying for wine and a donation to college funds for the chance to have their name in big print on all publicity etc.

It's at lower loxley

If it's at Lower Loxley - well if it was a college around here - they would have persuaded Elizabeth to donate the venue for free (maybe with a Charity fund raising extra) - so Damara would be paying more for the drinks, but also getting its name linked to a good venue (old money).

No one has mentioned if this land will get planning permission or not? Surely Damara would have snapped it up first if there was a likelihood of it. From Brine's description it has a lovely woodland glade etc. Unlikely for him to get PP isn't it?

It's poor quality farmland isn't it?

As lily is organising the fashion show I'm sure she had no trouble persuading her mother to give the venue for free. Then her great auntie Lillian helped with other costs. It's great to have connections and her miming must be professional standard by now

I mean the bit without the glade

Maybe access is a problem so they wouldn't get pp for anything else

It went through my mind that Johnny and Lily might get together. That would save on the cast expenses wouldn't it?

I suppose they're not that closely related.

Wasn't it Lily's friend that Johnny seemed to like? Already forgotten her name.

Amber

Lily & Johnny are second cousins once removed - John (& Helen & Tom) & Lily (& Freddy) were (are) second cousins.

Here you are!
I just want to say, Pip is a massive knob and Toby is definitely a wrong un.

It would make for fun with Lizzie trying to remain 'open minded' about Johnny's down market mother.

It would make for fun with Lizzie trying to remain 'open minded' about Johnny's down market mother.
Especially as Julia (Nigel's mother) I believe started out as a Chorus girl?
Snobbery in the Archers is tricky as non of them except Caroline are really posh for many generations back.

Oh fgs more Roooof, Tube and Pipsqueak. I'm so bored of them.

I was distinctly confused about Brine taking the accountant's OK as a big point in favour of the idea. Surely few accountants are able to advise sensibly on the merits of a big purchase like that

No , it would involve a land agent for the valuation. The accountant would advise on tax implications- eg in whose name should it be bought.

And Justin as a director and shareholder should not be doing below OMV prices.

I'm wondering if Toby will have to make an emergency dash to Brighton on Christmas Eve, thus ruining Pip's Christmas day. Oh dear, what a shame.

Annie, I am sure that's how it's going too. Tobee sounded so lukewarm about Peep's plans for Xmas. She will get her heart broken, silly girl. I wonder if this is when we solve the great mystery of Tobe's life in Brighton.

Go on Toby, please take all my money, please. She's a joke. He sounded embarrassed tonight.

Go on Toby, please take all my money, please. She's a joke. He sounded embarrassed tonight.