The Archers: Discussion #84. New Year and some of us are still listening even if we don't know why.

[DadDadDad]

New posters welcome - with your fresh views and burning questions.

Old posters welcome - with your jaded views and knowledgeable answers.

But new posters feel free to be jaded, and old posters feel free to ask questions!

How is the Pip storyline going to play out and do you care?

As usual, if you want to mention the advertised storylines for future episodes, there's a separate thread for that - no spoilers here, please.

Just imagine we're all sitting round a table at The Bull -->

Perhaps this is asking a level of realism from TA that it just can't deliver but...WHY did Brian, a lifelong farmer, landowner and 'top business man' (to channel Bridget Jones) not get appropriate reports before buying? (indignation stumbles on townie's lack of knowledge of what might be involved in buying land - but I assume that the equivalent of a survey might be expected to establish contamination? Can any country dweller enlighten me? Help!)

I think Justin made quite a good point actually, the land adjoins Home Farm and Brian and Adam have been farming it as contractors all the time Justin has been in Ambridge - you would expect them to know more about it than Justin who is after all a relative newcomer. I wouldn’t have expected Brian to have a survey or whatever in that situation - he probably thinks he knows the land better than anyone. Any farming bods who can suggest what it might be contaminated with?

Either something that deoxygenates the water or heavy metals.

Brian was a big part of Borchester Land so thinks he knows everyone and everything.

Brian and Adam know about the farming land but was this part of the decommissioned mega-dairy? I suspect that we will never know, the SW do tend to get hazy about detail like this.

I liked that conversation between Kenton and Toby.

I'm finding Toby really irritating. Didn't he tell Peep that he didn't want to be involved with the baby? He doesn't mention that when he's doing all that self-pitying "it's all about meee, they're all being horrid and leaving me out" sulking and whinging to Rex and Kenton. FFS, Toby, if you've changed your mind, say so. If not, then accept that they've taken you at your word and shut up about it. How old is he supposed to be - 15?

I'm wandering if JD has got her facts wrong ? Whilst I think that Justin is a ruthless businessman - he must be to have done so welll in TA world even I'm unsure he would sell dodgy land to Brian - Brian who was to be his brother-in--law , a bit too close to home ?

I think in reality JD's thoughts would more likely have been Brian's with JD believing that Justin could do no wrong. I'm thinking Shen may have just really, pout her foot in it,

As an aside i was half listening when Kirsty was going for her swim an having read the radio Times blurb thought it was Matt she was going to find .....

OMG. Have so much catching up to do having been on holiday where there is no interweb and you have to boil the tapwater. Oddly, I saw several wombat holes at my campsite, and copious amounts of their weird cuboid turds, but no Justin's legs poking out of the holes.

Several dead ones on the side of the road, though

For BertrandRussell the kimchi recipe I've used this time. Napa cabbage not needed, wombok fine. Not wombat - does not make good kimchi I would think.:o

www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/traditional-kimchi

Justin stuffed Bridge Farm to teach Tom a lesson. Not my idea of the ideal in-law.

Tom behaved appallingly in that deal, if I had been Justin I would have refused any deal with Tom on account of the fact that hes an idiot.

But Justin punished all of Tom's family for his impetuousness, and knew he'd been got at by Matt. I think some leeway would be decent where your fiances brother's family is involved.

Then you could say the same for Tom, Justin was almost family so Tom shouldn't have tried to do a separate deal with Matt because "family". I have no idea how either bridge farm or home farm stay afloat, they all seem to run around doing "deals" with no diligence whatsover. Useless the lot of them

Hmm, paying rent? How much do Pip, Josh, Helen, Tom, Kate or Alice pay?

I understood the environment agency had blocked the culvert to stop whatever it was continuing to pour into the river - not that the culvert was already blocked.

That's what I understood Brian to mean.

It wasn't very clear was it? Not only did he sort of mutter it but the SWs must know that the word "culvert" is rather loaded for listeners!

Maybe Charlie will come back? I liked Charlie

Toby has changed his mind but is obviously too frightened of Dave to tell anyone. He works at the Bull too and probably gets a few bob from their Dad, Francis I think he's a true to life character

Toby was told of the pregnancy and was expected, within a nano-second, to have his response off pat. Because he didn't give the 'proper' answer, Pip has turned against him. The Archer clan have definitely portrayed Toby to the village as the deserting 'baddie' in this, when a lot of it is Pip cutting him out. It was 'my way or the highway'.

I might point out that, given thinking time, Pip herself changed her mind. And Jill.

It was a bit like that with David as well wasn't it? Pip pestering him to 'be OK' with it all, and Ruth on his case for being unhappy. No-one is allowed to feel what they feel in that family! Especially if it goes against what Pip wants you to feel!

Yes R4 Pip seemed to be expecting Toby's initial negative reaction, But lately she senses that he has changed his mind. Dopey Dave isn't helping.

Perhaps there'll be a cosy menage a` trois ; Rex ,Toby ,Pip avec le bebe

Yes but sometimes hard luck stories are successful . He's selling Scruff Gin though isn't he?

Pip is totally self-centred. Her main concern was how her family would react and actually they’ve been fine about it. She has a guaranteed job and home for life and “a basket of Archers”queueing up to help her - Toby is completely incidental. If she decides she wants him to be involved she’ll expect him to jump to it. David’s reaction is based on total relief that Pip doesn’t want him involved - he’s hoping he’ll sling his hook before Pip can change her mind. I thought the scene with Kenton and Toby was brilliant. I actually feel really sorry for Toby now - he is desperately trying to say and do the right thing - when Pip wanted to abort that was OK with him, when she changed her mind that was OK too, he’ll basically do whatever she says - he realises he’s completely outnumbered by Archers.

Did you hear the CA saying it’s going to be a dramatic episode? My money is on Brine being arrested,