The dog days of summer are approaching Ambridge. Freddy’s being hounded and Brian is in the dog house - can Jenny take the ruff with the smooth?

[PseudoBadger]

Thanks to all for the dog ideas, and special mention to Ppeatfruit.

Discuss the Archers here!

Bibesia - I thought exactly that this morning...

Me too.

Re the UTI - my grandma used to get very confused with these but it was acute confusion, not occasional absent-mindedness and confusing a vivid dream with reality. Was that explanation for Christine forgetting about the boiler in any way credible? I'd have thought old age was perfectly sufficient for something like that. I'm nearly 57 and my memory is getting more erratic with every week that passes.

Shula really is an idiot

I really think she might combust with self-pity, while her behaviour to Alistair is bordering on emotional abuse.

It was pretty dishonest of Shula to make out that the misunderstanding was all Alistair's fault when if anything it was 100% generated by her. He really ought to follow her suggestion and get straight back to Lavinia.

I think Alastair is deluding himself that he's "all over Shula" and Shula is being more honest.
And I still don't like Philip.

I'm annoyed with Shula for continually trying to draw Alistair into the 'break-up' angst when she didn't give him a chance at the time.

But I think the conversation with Philip flagged that Alistair is still at the beginning of what will be a long and painful process for the listeners.

Oh ha ha- Shula hoist by her own petard. She is getting everything she asked for.

With you on Philip, Bekabeech.
And agree Kirsty would not accept a boyfriend who hunts, without a hoo haa.

This is a bit off topic, apologies, but can someone tells me if Anisha ever speaks?? I only got into TA in November and since then I haven't missed an ep, but I have NEVER heard Anisha speak in all that time - is she a real character??

We used to hear a lot from Anisha, they seemed to placing her as long-term fixture what with getting together with Rex and all, and then she disappeared.

An episode where neither Shula nor Pip have things going their way - most satisfying!

Oh, Alistair, move on to Lavinia
Don't trust Phillip
You're an eligible man (sort of) - start afresh without the baggage that is Shula

Think I'm gettting over-infested

I think the actor who plays Anisha is currently working elsewhere.

I don’t like Philip much either. A bit too meddle y, faux sincere.

If I wasn’t sure before I feel pretty certain after that episode that Shula and Philip are going to get together. Philip the listener now has all the information he needs from Alistair to press the right buttons with Shula and be very understanding, Alistair has as good as given him the all clear (though no doubt his reaction will be exactly as Shula’s was with him when he spent the night with Lavinia). Shula has already signalled that what prompted her to break up with Alistair was the feelings she had for Philip. The seeds of discord have been sown between him and Kirsty ready fo them to break up so he can become a sympathetic ear for Shula and a shoulder to cry on. Watch this space.

I think you might be right Lillian. I realise I'm in the minority here, but I like Philip . Even if I didn't, I wouldn't wish Smugs on anyone.

The funny thing is I don't even particularly remember Philip and Alistair being friends before - it I saw almost as if this has been manufactured to add to the drama.

Agree with LillianGish, that heart-to-heart between the men rang true in terms of content but not between those characters.

that heart-to-heart between the men rang true in terms of content but not between those characters.

Who else is there that Alistair can talk to, that isn't one of Shula's relatives? And there aren't many in the village with experience of divorce.
They had to parachute in Philip.

FFS does Kirsty only exist to be messed around by men and have unhappy events happen to her? If they were planning for Shugs and Philip to become an item why bother with the Philip/Kirsty relationship at all? And since there is also clear signalling re Tom and Hannah (despite her knocking him back) are we going to see K single again while Teflon Tom gets all loved up? Yuck.

Why on earth would Philip drop fun, passionate, fit, young Kirsty for mopey old Shula? Bar her money, I don't see any attraction whatsoever.

Hannah and Kirsty should get together

(the 🔮 doesn't think this is going to happen, though)

Is it just me or did anyone else sense slight 'trouble ahead' signalling for Pip's pregnancy? All this being far more tired than anyone else in her NCT class etc.

Pip is probably just working up to a massive 'Josh needs to pull his weight' rant.

I wonder why Shula sees her feelings for Philip as the start of the break-up whilst ignoring the way she was hankering after DocLocke?