I'm one of this boards many lurkers forced out from under my rock because I need to pick the brains of all you Ambridge gurus. Despite listening since 1964 - I must have missed some episodes over the last few weeks due to family illness and also missed the omnibus because I cannot for the life of me understand the current Home Farm storyline.
Have I got this right ?
Kate - the spoilt and indulged daughter of B&J returns from S. Africa , having abandoned her children after being dumped by her husband for having an affair.
With nothing to do and notoriously flakey , she finally sets up a 'health retreat' on some land her parents give her ? . They also give her the capital to set it up - along with her elder sister who 'invests' in the business.
This business is in its infancy (2 yrs ?) it is doing very poorly at the moment due to the issues of land contamination. 'Bookings' are virtually non existent .
This business is based on a family farm with a large family farmhouse where this daughter lives with the parents who gave her the money and land to set up the business. (The same parents who until recently- still gave her an allowance!. ) All paid for by the business in which her 'retreat' sits.
Her father allowed the land to be contaminated 40 yes ago. This will probably result in a very large fine. Too big to pay from the business. The best solution is to sell some land.
Because the land the father wants to sell abuts the - (one can assume - as yet unprofitable or very low income) retreat - and would damage the said business . the spoilt brat has threatened to sue the hand that has fed and indulged her for 40 yrs. !
To add to the incredulity. The rest of the family AND Ruth Archer as minor child's attorney.. all think that selling the family home that houses the Brats parents, brats child and the minor child - should be sold as a preference to 'upsetting ' the fledgling business of the Brat. With all but Brian and Alice finding this the 'right thing to do'.
What have I missed that makes this storyline believable. ? How many children would want their incredibly generous parents chucked out of their home , that their mother has cherished for 40 years, so that their flaky sister is not upset. ?
Why would you WANT to run a retreat on land that has surely been irretrievably damaged by the links to land contamination. Why wouldn't you take the compensation offered and the opportunity to physically remove that association with your business ?
Where will your daughter live once her home is sold.
Why would your half brother and sister take your side against your ageing parents - knowing as they do, that the chances of you sticking with your 'project' are ridiculously slim.
The entire storyline makes no business sense, economic sense or moral sense.
Have I missed some essential key episode that explains why Kate holds all this power over everything?