Ambridge is in the doldrums. When will Pip pop? Does anybody even care? And Anisha’s off, leaving Rex in the (pig) trough? Discuss the Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

Sorry about the title, nothing particularly inspiring in the storylines currently

No spoilers please, there’s a thread for that.

It's pretty unconvincing that Anisha is effectively saying she's always wanted a job like the Newmarket one. That's the sort of thing you think very carefully about when you accept a partnership, knowing that normally a partnership means you commit yourself pretty fully to the business and therefore can't move on easily. It's just another inadequate excuse for getting rid of her.

Didn't Lilian live at nightingale when she first reappeared with tiger in tow?

What a terrible display of fatherhood tonight was.

It would be nice if Brian could sound less like he was thoroughly enjoying the destruction of spiritual home. Why is he too busy to talk to Kate anyway? Adam I understand, but isn't Brian basically retired now?

Meanwhile David sounds so desperately disappointed every time Josh displays forethought or business savvy. It always sounds like he's hoping he'll fail and he wouldn't be any comfort if he did. Imagine if it was pip's business?

I think David's rent rant, out of the blue though it was, is a cue to his requiring Josh to do farm work in lieu of the said rent when Pip is up on the blocks post-baby.

By the way, did Pip the Perfect, patron saint of avoidance tactics, ever tell her parents about her letting the cows out?

Ta PseudoI think the way David patronises Josh is awful...and trying to drag Adam into it. If Pip had done that it would have been “ Oh thats brilliant!”

Also, has anyone else noticed how characters. - espTom and Helen and Ruth find everything “ fascinating “ and “ really interesting”? Like Tom had really interesting ideas about kefir and pork marketing, Helen has great ideas about cheese, and Pip always had great ideas about Brookfield according to Ruth. We never get to find out what these revolutionary ideas are ( even though they have often required a trip abroad ofsome kind) .

Sorry - I’m That Way Out tonight!

Thanks for new thread pseudo and for keeping count Dadx3

I won't bore you with the law of partnership but the Anisha (and for that matter Kate) storyline is pants.

Why do they get so much of the legal stuff wrong? It's a soap opera on Radio 4 for goodness sake- the audience will be awash with solicitors and accountants.

And as for David tonight what a horrible, horrible, spiteful little man.

I'm listening on catch up to David and Adam- just bog off the pair of you.

“I won't bore you with the law of partnership”

Oh, Lass, please do! I’ve been hoping you would. What does Anisha have to do and can Alasdair sue the ass off her?

I was appalled by the way David spoke to and about Josh. He only seems to care about 1 of his 3 children!

I agree that the Anisha's storyline is completely unrealistic - she knows that she has obligations and liabilities as a partner and that she can't just hand her notice in as an employee.

I suppose it is possible Alastair failed to get Anisha to sign a partnership agreement but she was taken on as a partner, not an employee. Even without a written partnership agreement they would be operating as a partnership at will.

Partners are usually required to put capital into a business. When you resign you get your capital back but it could be over 12 months or even longer.

I don't know what she means about Alastair having "first option" in the context here. The idea that she could sell her interest to someone on the open market would be utterly bizarre. Some partnerships such as farming partnerships where land is involved will have a provision that on the death of a partner the surviving partners can buy the deceased 's share from whoever inherited it or that if a partner wants out they have to give the others first option to buy their share but the outgoing partner can't just introduce a new partner. If the remaining partners couldn't buy the exiting partner out the partnership would have to be dissolved and assets sold off.

I can't sell my interest in the partnership I'm in but they would have to repay my capital if I leave. The law is different in Scotland but a partner can't just swan off the way she has done with no notice, no accounting and no repercussions. He could sue her.

I'm listening on catch up to David and Adam- just bog off the pair of you.

And Brian - the three of them can bog off.

I am becoming more convinced we are leading up to a Josh departing scenario. The favouring of Pip over Josh in every possible aspect of farm and family life is going to blow up. I just hope we get Josh making that point before he departs to some imaginary job elsewhere.

Brian does at least have the excuse that Kate is a spoilt child who has been freeloading off him for a considerable part of her adult life. He's still horrible but not as horrible as David.

Asking for rent from Josh was just vile, especially as Rickyard Cottage is being given over to Pip and pup, thus losing an income stream.

And Brian has a bit of self awareness that he isn't an especially nice person whereas David thinks he's a good guy.

Kate is a spoilt child

Yes I agree with every word you say there except for Brian's excuse - he is Kate's father.

I just hated all three of them tonight and I'm sure its leading up to Josh going and Dopeys sucking up even more to the loathsome GoldenPips

This could all be me trying to derive some potential from the mind numbing storylines.

I just hated all three of them tonight and I'm sure its leading up to Josh going and Dopeys sucking up even more to the loathsome GoldenPips

I think you're right.

before he departs to some imaginary job elsewhere.

Wasn’t Josh supposed to be applying to start university this year - having declined to do so last year? Didn’t he make a deal / have an agreement with his parents? No-one at Brookfield has mentioned this at all. (Unless I’ve missed a crucial episode?)

I stopped listeningto the Archers when Rob was on the scene, don't miss it at all now and not anchored to the radio at 2 pm, freedom.

BOOP for Neil cutting himself when Susan announces their generous donation!

Gruach - that was last year and we got David's reaction then.

freedom

Not entirely, else you'd not be posting on this thread.

As far as I can see, Josh seems to be doing okay with his business. I can't see why he's not getting more support for successfully diversifying.

There are things where they probably need to communicate more, like any plans for use of the barn (who gets priority, especially as harvest is about to start and there will be new bales to store.) But communication rather than just putting him down all the time would be the way forward.

Likewise with Kate. Brian had a bloody nerve, saying she can't expect to get her own way all the time, when that is exactly what he does. She has got as much right as the others to call a meeting - they don't even know what she is going to say (as they don't expect her to have gone and got legal advice, which I assume is what she's been doing.)

Mind you, I believe it's this sort of thing that meant neither my father nor his brother carried on working on their father's farm, so in that sense, they have got the dynamics of agricultural families right.

Bekabeech

Really? Was a bit busy last year. Though ostensibly listening.

Yes at some point when David said something about "when you go to Uni in the Autumn...".
And Josh said he'd given up his place and wouldn't be going.
I'm pretty sure it's 2 years ago he was supposed to go first time - same as Phoebe, and she's just finished 2 nd year at Oxford.

I don't see how David can reasonably charge rent for a barn he intends to carry on using. Maybe if/when Rex leaves Joss could move to Hollowtree.

Josh doesn't know about Rex leaving yet does he?