We never thought we’d feel sorry for Will. Although of course it should have been Pip! Discuss The Archers here (Titled edited by MNHQ)

[PseudoBadger]

Welcome all! I was really touched by the potential for Ed and Will to reconcile. But wonder if Will can accept Ed’s support.

As ever, no spoilers here (there’s a thread for that) - discussion permitted as soon as the pm episode is broadcast.

Brian's wealth, you mean

No it really isn't. Jennifer has been Brian's partner and a company wife for over 40 years.

She has run parts of his business and ran the whole thing when he had is epilepsy year. All in addition to running his home, his family and his corporate entertaining requirements.

She may be a bit silly and snobby at times and forget her roots but she has never been a passenger in that marriage.

It's not a matter of Ruth spreading gossip - but she takes her responsibilities seriously and will inevitably want to discuss the situation with people like Adam and Debbie and, realistically, David.

I don't understand the situation with the Home Farm contract? Surely a contract is a contract, not something that one of the parties can keep threatening to pull out of whenever it feels like it? I can see that if or when BL discover that Brian knew about the waste all along they could do so due to misrepresentation or breach of contract, but that isn't the case yet. And they can hardly claim that the mere presence of the waste and the fact that Home Farm is losing other business justifies it, particularly when they have already ratified the contract knowing about the waste.

Surely a contract is a contract

Normal business rules do not apply in Borsetshire, they live in a parallel universe.

Ruth won't gossip she will inform the authorities unless she has a character transplant. I think it's a bit different to the great move north in that we knew for certain that was going to come to nothing as Ruth and David were never going to leave. Bryan and Jenny may split up, Brian may go to prison, they could become bankrupt, or it could all fizzle out. I actually don't mind this sl because it's not as cut and dried as the move to Prudhoe.

CH8 we get the idea that Pat is probably a WORTHY, unimaginative, veggie type cook because when Jazzer was staying with them (during the flood I think) he continually complained about her cooking; preferring to eat a high calorie greasy spoon type meal anywhere than at Bridge Farm.

I'm not sure what the SWs were meaning to say with that SL apart from the fact that Jazzer (and his type of philistine single youngish men) are ripe for heart attacks) or that all healthy food is boring , which is an ignorant but common attitude among most people.

Jazzer is Scottish. Heart attack capital of the world. Vegetables a rarity for many poorer Scots. It would have been implausible for a young man reared on mutton pies, macaroni pies, fish suppers, Irn Bru, sliced sausage and mince to be delighted by Pat's menu of vegetable stew, parsnip lasagne and so on.

Parsnip lasagne? < Not envy.

It's just a bit tedious, the humourless boring vegetarian (although she isn't) feminist stereotype who must cook boring tasteless food..........

I agree with you, Bertrand. I'm an omnivore (and a Scot) and I love vegetables and vegetarian food (actually, scrub that, I just love food, as my waistline attests). I had the good fortune to be the granddaughter of a gardener, so my mum grew up with lots of lovely fresh vegetables and she cooked that way for us too. However, not all vegetarian dishes are good, just as not all meat or fish dishes are good.

I don't think I'm inventing the parsnip lasagne. I seem to recall either Pat or Helen making it many years ago. Parsnips great, lasagne fantastic, the two together? I doubt it works, never been tempted to try it.

I reckon that Elizabeth David improved most english cooking, my mum's became hugely better under her influence. Mil's remained soggy and horribly overcooked (despite their veg. garden) Veggie or omnivore; It's the use of onions, garlic and herbs and condiments with room for trial and error that makes the difference, tasting and watching the stove too!

MemoriesofAnotherFuture, 24-March 12.24
DH and I have been wondering about Alice’s ‘colleague’, Aaron, I think his name is. My theory is she’ll get legless on a work night out, sleep with him and either Chris will find out or she’ll have to tell him because she’ll feel bad and have to unburden herself.

Agreed about Elizabeth David Ppeat. I remember my father coming back from London with a treasured bottle of olive oil from an Italian deli - must have been in the very early 1970s - prior to that we had only bought olive oil in tiny bottles at the chemist to cure earache!

To he person who asked arable land is often farmed either by tenancy or by a contract farming agreement. It's a joint venture rather than a complete let.

Often used as if you let out your land you used to be ineligible for IHT.

After not listening for ages, I caught up with the Omnibus.

Is Alice being punished for daring to have a job outside the enclave, after all, look what happened when she tried to emigrate. I suppose all will come right if she accepts job with daddy.

While a contract is not just something you can pull out of, in a big commercial contract there is likely to be a break clause dealing with exactly this kind of situation (the same reason that sponsorship deals can be withdrawn for example when a sporting personality brings the brand into disrepute). I'm not sure why they aren't talking about it in those terms though.

And the plan to divorce Brian and take half his money would probably not work like that. Let's say after an acrimonious court hearing - they could both sign a consent order but it doesn't sound likely, Brian would fight her every step of the way - the courts decide 50/50. It takes quite some time for a divorce to go through - six weeks after the decree nisi has been granted (not applied for) you can apply for a decree absolute . Who knows what other costs will have been incurred by then, and there would be significant lawyers' fees to pay. Then there's the problem of a putative fine - I can't see any regulatory authority happy to see money given away to a spouse before a fine and the costs of remedying the situation have been paid. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

Re Alice's job, I think the SWs are gradually bringing her back into the fold, she didn't go abroad, but started with a job further afield (can't remember where exactly), then moved to Price Bowman down the road and is about to leave there for a job with Daddy - so on the spot to be available for all plot developments whether she is at work or not. Actually I can accept that for dramatic purposes characters have to stay close to home - while that might not be what happens in RL if all the characters were having lives elsewhere the script would be very thin. We know Debbie's in Hungary, but have no idea (or interest in) what she's up to, likewise Phoebe at Oxford now out of Ambridge, out of mind. We don't really know what is going on with Alice at work, could be interesting, but won't be explored because it is happening out of the village. That's why she's coming to work for Dad.

What's with Welsh Philip taking Alistair out for a drink? Is he (Welsh Philip) having an affair with Shula? That's what I want to know.

It's just a bit tedious, the humourless boring vegetarian (although she isn't) feminist stereotype who must cook boring tasteless food..........

Isn't it just. And again tonight Tony talking about "feminists" as if they were a disease and how Pat came to her senses.

Is Alice being punished for daring to have a job outside the enclave, after all, look what happened when she tried to emigrate. I suppose all will come right if she accepts job with daddy.

Being punished for being female, successful, outgoing and in possession of a brain. Oh and probably having the temerity to do a Man Job.

Women on TA have to be defective or unlucky or have awful partners. Or all three.

divorce Brian and take half his money

Its not his money. Jennifer has been his partner for over 40 yrs.

This is all so tedious when it should be exciting. I'm listening because I am an addict, not because I want to. Oh, and because otherwise i won't understand what Lucy and Roifield are going on about on the podcast......

Has anyone read The Silmarillion?

Enjoyed this analysis!

Women on TA have to be defective or unlucky or have awful partners. Or all three.

Out of interest do you think Elizabeth is?

I tried to read the Silmarillion (and before I had low thyroid) and it made me fall asleep. I've read LOTR several times.
The Toxic contamination is a good story. Real rural issues. I believe Brian will end in Jail (Ford or similar), will Jenny wait for him or divorce him? He will be ousted from the family business, and the rest will have to work together to rebuild the business, pay off debts etc. Almost certainly selling that land they bought last year, at a loss.