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!

Ah, but remember that Kate did that all-important task of giving Phoebe her name, something which she is pre-eminently skilled at according to Kate.

Kate’s recitation of baby names did seem to be foreshadowing the requirement to name another one. Which would be gross. Not because she should be celibate - of course not - just because it would be so tediously soap-y and un-Ambridge. (Though that hasn’t stopped all kinds of previous nonsense.)

Oh dear. I don’t relish the thought of Pip and Kate fishwifeing in the street.

Kate was at her most "Kate", a totally self absorbed horror.

My heart sank as I foresaw the bill for the bouncy castle, Toblertwo on the horizon, months of soapy angst. First option was realised last night. I do hope I'm wrong about the other two.

Isn't Phoebe a good child, worrying about her mother. Do you think that the SW are going to get Phoebe running SH when she graduates and whilst Kate is busy with Toblertwo? It's one way to keep them both in the village.

Please don't let the SW waste Phoebe's degree... We've already got clever Alice yearning to work at Home Farm.

Is Phoebe self-harming?

Is Phoebe self-harming?
Why would you say this? Did I miss something?

I had to think about that, Stacey.

Or she's got an awkward tattoo.

SH is Spiritual Home as well as Self Harm.

I thought tattoo. But wouldn't Kate be cool about that?

Oh, I see what you mean. I thought she just wasn't interested in Kate's massage. Completely missed the inference.

Sorry, yes, because of the reluctance to have a massage. I agree Kate would be fine with, and impressed by, a tattoo.

I think Phoebe just couldn't stand the idea of her mother giving her a massage. I can't blame her.

It depends on the tattoo, surely? Though I can't imagine Phoebe getting anything offensive done.

Just catching up.

Was at the suggestion that Kate might be upduffed, but love the idea of Toblerone and Toblertwo.

In soaps, a one night stand will often result in a baby. Said baby will usually appear on Christmas Eve/Day, Boxing Day or NYE/NYD.

This one should be good for St Patrick's Day.

Conceived in a bouncy castle.

Would she actually have it though? Or raise it? Surely not.

I know I'm being ridiculous but I will be very jealous if Kate gets to have another baby at 40 from a ONS. Surely an infertility/struggle to conceive storyline would be more realistic than Kirsty and Pip falling pregnant accidentally.

There have been infertility SLs. Hayley and Roy had problems, but Lord Winston sorted that out. Shula and Mark - Daniel was born through IVF. Aunty Chris couldn't have children.

And Lynda.

As regards actually giving birth - Kate likes babies - at least, the process of having one. And her idea of bringing up a child is to leave it with the nearest susceptible family member - doubt there’d be any difference there.

Can’t believe we’re contemplating this though. As I get older I’ve rather expected increasingly mature, original and well thought out storylines.

And her idea of bringing up a child is to leave it with the nearest susceptible family member - doubt there’d be any difference there.

Poor Jenny. Just as Ruari is old enough to look after himself when he's not away at school.

We appear to have forgotten Ian and Adam....there would be nothing weird about them bringing up the child of Adam’s half sister and sort of cousin in the same village where the sort of cousin is having a baby with another sort of cousin......Nothing weird about that at all........