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!

I thought Jennifer was awful, getting the wobbly voice about her party- arranging keeping her sane. No pressure, David. Soo self-indulgent.

They are both in the wrong.
JD asked David for a brief but he didn't supply one.
She then took the matter into her own (very capable and experienced) hands but has gone over the top.
But TA has to have its 'comedy' moments so on we go.

Pip said the other night that she was eight months pregnant, which made me think 36 weeks. The SWs have form for not keeping track of due dates. Wasn't Hayley's supposedly very premature birth actually around the due date, or something like that?

Pip or someone else said at some point in the last fortnight that she had 8 weeks to go.

Continuity fairy on holiday, I suppose!

Does last night's episode mean Freddy has been dealing drugs all along, while claiming to Lily he was just taking the odd smart drug?

Or have I missed something really obvious?

Freddy was selling shrooms to Ellis, then was dealing for Ellis, then said he wouldn't do it any more but then was buying "smart drugs" and selling a few to friends. Ellis has lost a lot of his network and wants to draw Freddie back in - or (if it was the Bill/Hollyoaks has struck a deal with the cops and is trying to land Freddie in it).

Freddie's not like any teenage boy I've ever known - up for breakfast at the same time as his mum!

Kate's in the yurt, isn't she?

Freddy has been dealing drugs all along

Yes, but if you didn't realise, it's no surprise - I don't think Freddie's realised he's a drug dealer yet.

Was confused why Freddy and Ellis now appeared to be on good terms given last I heard Ellis was threatening Freddy because he thought he was dealing on his patch.

I can't see why Jennifer is getting so worried about Kate. She's manage to look after herself for years, and has coped in another country. Why assume the worst just because she's gone off in a huff now?

I liked Jill’s little hoot when Elizabeth told her that “Lily... well, she’s gay.”

It’s awful of Elizabeth to tell Jill without Lily’s permission, but she’s being so ridiculous about it that I can’t take it seriously. Is it meant to be ‘comedy’ moment?

Was confused why Freddy and Ellis now appeared to be on good terms

When I first heard it, it sounded as though Ellis was offering Freddie a job in his drugs empire. However, it sounded different on second listening: Freddie (in post-exam happy fugg so he would talk to anyone, including Ellis) was agreeing with the cryptic comments about 'new openings' but Freddie wasn't hearing 'drugs', he was hearing 'GAP YAH!'

It’s awful of Elizabeth to tell Jill without Lily’s permission, but she’s being so ridiculous about it that I can’t take it seriously. Is it meant to be ‘comedy’ moment?

It was a mother&daughter moment. Lizzie said that she would love Lily, no matter what. The penny dropped and next minute, Jill was hot-footing it round to Shula's and there were hugs and cathartic sobs.

I agree R4 but I also agree AuntyElle - my DD would never speak to me again if I told someone something like she was gay without her consent (or anything of a personal nature or sometimes even which cereal she prefers for breakfast).

Was confused why Freddy and Ellis now appeared to be on good terms

I was confused by how utterly dim Johnny was being as Freddie was clearly so nervous around the police and he knows at least part of F's history with drugs. Surely anyone with half a brain cell would have worked out that it wasn't a sudden onset dog phobia!

I read it that both were relieved that they hadn't been caught and possibly both relieved that the other hadn't been caught because of what they know. I think Ellis is going to tempt Freddie to a more lucrative summer job than fruit picking.

The penny dropped and next minute, Jill was hot-footing it round to Shula's and there were hugs and cathartic sobs.

I entirely missed this connection, R4. Reading this thread makes me realise how much subtext (or bleeding-bloody-obvious-text) that I miss. And I was really good at practical criticism in English at school

I miss loads, too. These threads are great for spotting what I haven't.
And I love the expert insights.

And I love the expert insights.

I'm still waiting for the chance to impart some wisdom. Looking at maps of Ambridge I see there are (unsurprisingly) archaeological sites in the area, but they're never mentioned. Oh how I wish Brian had 'accidentally' destroyed some ancient burial ground or other. I guess the consequences aren't very far-reaching though. Maybe Justin could do something hideous to the Dower House without Listed Building Consent and get fine squillions *siiiiigh

Wasn't there a story about the deserted village at Grange Farm, when the Grundys were tenant farmers (have you noticed that the church is on the other side of the river to most of the current-day village). And a civil war cannonball. I'm sure JD must have written a book.
I want to know about the Roman Road.
Have you seen this map?

Ah no that was before my time. I have seen that map, and there's another that shows Bronze Age barrows on Lakey Hill I think. They've got a bit of everything!! Didn't Carenza Lewis have a cameo once?

Jenny and John Tregorran (with some others) did a lot of research and wrote a book.
I know Cadenza would love to go and do some Citizen archaeology in Ambridge (and is a very interesting person in RL).

I am so looking forward to the village fete. It will be carnage[ grin]