Who let the cows out? Moo, moo, moo moo! Will Pip be caught out, and will Matt or Justin bowl a maiden over? Discuss The Archers here

[PseudoBadger]

'Ello pusscat!
I am eagerly anticipating Pip's downfall.

I couldn't stand Mustardland. It felt quite snarky to me.

Some of it was - but there are bits of mumsnet I avoid!

George not only pops up-sounding unaccountably minor prep school-but stole 400 quid from the church!

We don't know that do we Bert? Only that he came into some money around that time - which he may have stolen from Clarrie's purse, or might have been given him by his great uncle? In fact, didn't the great uncle admit to the church theft, which Clarrie and Ed said they would pay back?

In fact, didn't the great uncle admit to the church theft

No. Alf never admitted to the theft. He said at the time that if that was what Clarrie believed, then it would be better if he left. And at the same time George had bought an expensive present for Emma out of his 'savings'.

I think he confessed to taking £20 from Clarrie's purse though!

Perhaps DFW could correct me, if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a livestock farmer make it his or her business to 'walk' the whole farm regularly to check the state of the fencing etc.? Making it squarely David and Ruth's fault that the cows escaped.

Unless Pip had been made responsible for them formally.

Hadn't Pip said the she would mend it? And she didn't.

Yes, but to Josh.

In fact Ruairi's accent being very Irish isn't so odd considering he grew up mostly in Germany where his first language would have been, I presume, English and his mother was his one constant in his life and she was very Irish-sounding. Then when Siobhan died he came to Ambridge - where of course there is no constant local accent cos nobody's real.

Maybe poor old Hugh just got tired of all the complaints!

Yes, quite likely, Vango!

Pip was responsible for mending the fence - she failed to do so because she has become irresponsible now she's with Toby, but only Jill has noticed. David and Ruth in particular still think she is the Pope of farming. It was Toby who persuaded her to compound the original sin by lying to cover it up and to continue lying even when the matter became more serious. Again Jill was the one to point out that this was exactly his style. Whatever error David (and Ruth) made by buying the uncertified cattle in the first place, the cross-contamination came about because of the broken fence. And Pip's failure to own up has made the situation much worse for David who wouldn't have been shouting the odds all over the county had he known. I thought yesterday was disappointing and a cop out. I like the idea that Ruth's silence is because she has failed to be honest with David about Pip giving all her profits to Toby. I can't believe that's an end to it. There has to be more.

Dunno about minor public school, AuldHeathen - Ruairi doesn't seem to be a weekly boarder so it must be one of a very few.

(Though I have once again lost track of whether or not he's progressed from prep to senior school yet. I had hoped they'd make a thing of choosing his next school. Admit to slight over-investment in his school career ...)

I love reading your posts Lillian.

Gruach, to be 'minor' it has to be a school I've never heard of, so if it's not Glenalmond, Fettes, Loretto or Eton then it is minor. I know other people might apply different rules. I'm amazed I've got this far in the world with knowing so little about public schools.

Won't Rurairi be at Sherborne like Brian and Adam? Is he 13 yet?

Usha has free time, so it is unlikely that she works in any capacity in a large solicitors' firm. Just saying :) she's always struck me more as the high street type.

Ruairi was born in Nov 2002 so he is 14 years old. He is already at Senior school, whichever one it is.

How incredibly mean of them not to let us share the fun of his entrance exams! Too much blinkin' custard.

Never mind custardgate, they probably thought entrance exams (even to St Custard's Senior ) at the same time as Oxford entry was too much for one family. Chiz

Thanks Vango