Hard Times come to Ambridge; will Pip or the Ambridge Fairy save the day? Discuss The Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

Enjoy!

Can I just give a huge BOOP to "Things can't get any worse" "Shall I read you my poem?"

You certainly can. That had me laugh out loud.

I'd have thought it would be more in character for Toby to make out he doesn't care, he was about to dump Pip anyway, and charge out to find the first available alternative to show her what she's losing.

Tom going on about not being able to meet the right partner. Err, clearly Kirsty was the right partner, only he screwed if up.

Not necessarily right for Kirsty, though.

Talking about Tom and nepotism in TA perhaps he was the chosen actor to be his father's son! Voices are often similar within families.

Oh and well done Pip for admitting her mistake with the cattle to Tom. Must have taken a lot of nerve she's not THAT bad.

Interesting about cricket , which is a sport I used to be proudly ignorant about, I'm now asking dh the details of the game (it is a bit strange though!). He was asking why I want to know!

I have to request a tutorial on cricket every so often too. But DH being a listener means I don't have to explain why! I find it quite baffling too.

Yes Auld I didn't realise that bowlers can be changed any time and that there are 2 batsmen\women at the same time it seems, to me, that rounders is easier is more rational!

It would be great to have some characters that were not employed in Ambridge. Like Amber, or do we remember Davids girlfriend Sophie? No wonder Brenda scarpered.

"Supposedly a druggie ex girlfriend in hospital"

Yeah, that's what he said- do we think it's the truth?

Beautifully put Francis! I don't believe that story for a minute although I expect Huge Canoe to have forgotten about it (along with every other drug encounter in Ambridge - remember when Jazzer had brain damage after ODing on ketamine and him and Ed had a bad weed habit)

How much did Kenton "invest" in Toby and how long for?

Some people never grow up Francis according to the latest research women become adults at 37 and men at 39\40 .

I do think that one of the most dangerous and widespread drug, alcohol, is generally viewed with rose tinted spectacles by the script writers. Oh and btw I am and never was into alcohol or illegal drugs.

ppeatfruit I'm not sure that you can change a bowler in the middle of an over.

Interesting to see that the heaviest drinkers are now the older generation. Lilian would be a prime candidate IRL for cirrhosis of the liver or fatty liver or a heart attack. Of course she still has the other oldie vice of smoking too. I have a close relation reaching the end of life now who has also overindulged in both those things so I'm not finding either very amusing at the moment.

I fear, going on recent past performance, the SWs would find a liver cirrhosis story very difficult to run realistically. Because I have autoimmune liver disease (yes, I'm a rare bird who has drunk very little alcohol ever and still has liver disease ), l know a lot of people with liver disease, online mostly, and I conclude some people are just very unlucky (and others very lucky). An awful lot of people seem to drink/smoke for decades and get away with it. Lilian is I hope one of the latter.

On the nepotism point ppeat- it's exactly that attitude that perpetuates it! the acting industry is rife with it. I can't name many actors who don't have a relation who got them their 'in'

Anyone else got a terrible sense of foreboding?

Phew!

Oh FFS. Now Lily thinks Pip is luvverly. Why can't anyone see her as we all seem to?
Trying to decide if I hate Pip as much as I do because she's an awful character or just because she's so horribly acted. Same with Annoying Alice with her fake poshery and long, drawn out artificial-sounding vowels at the end of every senteeeeeeeeeeence. Like a shires version of .
I find myself almost cheering when the old guard make an appearance - Brine (my fave), Lilian, Sooooosan and Neeyul but, increasingly, we are being subjected to these grab-the-storyline-and-make-it-all-about-ME younger actors with their over-enunciation and odd inflections. Wish they'd all take a back seat for a bit or be recast

Sorry. Rant over.

Sorry - x post with Francis and now I feel like I've come across all glib after that post. In the true spirit of The Archers, I will offer you this slice of as a gesture of friendship.