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[PseudoBadger]

Hides in laundry rooms

Yes, l agree, R4. It was such a weird response from them.

I agree with imbroglio too.

I don't enjoy the James and Leonie argument as comedy. Some of the things he said to her were as vile as things that came out of Rob Titchener's mouth yet we're mean to to find it funny. Inconsistent.

The selling the fields storyline is ridiculously badly written. No none doing a deal for the sale of development land, either buyer or seller behaves like that.

With all Justin's huffing and puffing about young whippersnappers and being outraged that Tom should dare to question him, I must admit I'm with Tom. I look forward to hearing the reaction if Tom does come up with a better offer and Justin sees his profits disappearing from under him.

Tom was more believable than Justin. Actually it just made Justin seem less whiley than Matt.
In the same circumstances Matt would have offered a good margin under market rate, but then when challenged would have suggested they both get it valued and then discuss a mutually beneficial deal. Justin just got angry and ridiculous.
The thing with James and Leonie is that they were both saying nasty things (as people do in arguments) but pretty much any of them could have been swapped the other way around and be just as applicable.

Yes ... The James v Leonie situation does seem different. And not just because they each give as good as they get.

It's more that it's all out in the open. One would imagine Leonie uninhibitedly bitching to her friends about James and getting lots of moral support. (Not certain who he'd be complaining to. Male or female friends or just relatives?) And James isn't deliberately setting out to fool everyone she's connected to and get them to side with him against her. And when he rails against sushi acupuncture or whatever - he's frustrated because it's inconceivable to him that he might ever have her 'under control'. Whereas Rob went about his business of undermining and destroying Helen's independence much more quietly and insidiously.

There's nothing sinister in James and Leonie's relationship - no-one has the upper hand and their separate motivations are plain for all to see.

Isn't Tom a brilliant negotiator?

Yes its farcical. People do undersell but Tom is supposed to have started more than one business and worked with people like Brian. He is also involved in farm finances. I'm struggling to see a farmer of Tom's mentality being so stupid about land values or land valuation.

Then jumping into bed with Matt who hasn't even made any kind of commitment is ridiculous. Justin's reaction was also hard to comprehend - the puffery in the meeting was part of the game but the idea that he is emotionally engaged with it seems hard to believe.

Justin really is the most pathetic spoilt man child isn't he? Apart from the vast wads of cash, what does she see in him? His petulant stropping when he doesn't get his own way is deeply unattractive.

Yes I'm kind of hoping that things will go spectacularly tits up for him in due course. And I hope Lillian gets her just deserts at the same time.

Please, SWs, give us a scene where a lightbulb comes on at Bridge Farm and someone says "I know! Let's go and consult an expert independent valuer, that way we'll all know where we are!"

Was TA on yesterday? I tuned in and Radio 4 was broadcasting a CBBC drama featuring a dastardly businessman (I could hear him twirling his moustache) and a young boy who I think had been told to go and sell the family cow (I think it was a cow, didn't catch everything) but made a mess of it and didn't sell it. It couldn't have been TA because a grown -up drama for grown ups surely wouldn't have made the story line so simple - no mention of independent land values, for example.

I know the programme you mean Rolf. Is it that one where nothing bad happens. Sometimes sad things happen but then the fairy godmother waves her wand and makes it better. And six months later, it's like it never happened. Ta dah!

rolf

Please, SWs, give us a scene where a lightbulb comes on at Bridge Farm and someone says "I know! Let's go and consult an expert independent valuer, that way we'll all know where we are!"

It's so annoying. In real life the Bridge Farm Archers are the sort of people who have solicitors, land agents, valuers as part of their normal business advisors /contacts and would have phoned them long before now,

I don't enjoy the James and Leonie argument as comedy. Some of the things he said to her were as vile as things that came out of Rob Titchener's mouth yet we're mean to to find it funny. Inconsistent

I don't think it is, Leonie gives as good (or as bad) as she gets, and as Gruach says it is all out in the open. There's no element of control or underhandedness.

'Don't worry, it'll all be fine, Helen'. Ha ha, bloody ha.

Though I do now like Tom more than I like Justin. Marginally!

In tonight's episode of Tommy's Farm Tom's mother in sheer disgust throws the bean and lentil stew she had cooked in anticipation of the family's new riches into the garden. Overnight a huge bean stalk grows. They send plucky little Jack to climb it - at the top he discovers Rob the Ogre guarding the spoils he stole from Helen and her family (including s freezer cabinet full of Tom's sausages). He slays Rob and takes back all their belongings. No longer are the Bridge Farm Archers in thrall to the dastardly Justin, and the field can remain as nsture intended - a local meadow for local people. Everyone on the village lives happily ever after.

The only good thing about the Tom actor is that he does sound like he might be Tony's son.

The only good thing about the Tom actor is that he does sound like he might be Tony's son.

You'd bloody hope so wouldn't you!

Bravo rolf

Oh Rolf! Oh Mike!

Stupendous.

I had to laugh tonight at the world's second worst parent asking the world's worst parent for parenting advice.

I heard Tom's negotiations again at lunchtime today. As so often, you pick up things in the repeat that you miss in the original broadcast. I hadn't appreciated that both battling stags reported events to a gullible female and gave wildly differing versions of what went down (neither of which was true, of course).