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.

Adam sounds more and more like John Finnemore's "tired man in the Archers"

So are Freddie's drugs making the pickers ill?

Ooh interesting. Are we heading for the downfall of the house of Pargeter by the death of a picker by a "legal high" ?

But I thought the "tired man in the Archers" was based on Adam?

Is there any planet where selling the house is a sensible thing to do? I think I must be missing something..............

BertrandRussell - I'm not sure if I read it on here or elsewhere, I'm sorry, but I know I have recently seen remarks to the effect that farmers will far more willingly sell their own homes (farmhouses) than the land the house sits on. The land provides them with a continued livelihood, whereas the farmhouse doesn't.

Ah, thank you Lass. I did wonder as I typed it, but it is ten years since I read HS and no, I'm in no hurry to open it again. Very, very sad book.

farmers will far more willingly sell their own homes (farmhouses) than the land the house sits on

Yes I've come across that too. Unless the farmhouse is big enough and located to be a tourist business those period buildings, long houses etc can be sold off and the money put into the farm. The family then downsized to a modern house, often one they have built on the land.

I’m sure there’s an obvious explanation that I’ve missed - but why has Debbie’s cottage not been mentioned? She doesn’t need it, either for accommodation or holiday rental, so why couldn’t Jenny and Brian live there? Rather than expending even more money on something far away from Ambridge?

(I’m assuming it’s out of eyesight of the Home Farm house.)

Is there any planet where selling the house is a sensible thing to do? I think I must be missing something..............

Depends on the farm. Things like the size of the farm, the proximity of the farmhouse to farm buildings and ancillary cottages and outbuildings. It might be sold but equally selling land which has development potential would be a better option.

And forgive me if I am missing something obvious (I listen rather sporadically) but where will Kate live having happily gone along with her parents selling off her home too? Is she expecting to be accommodated in her parents' downsized home? Has this been mentioned at all? I don't know whether or not she has been living rent free or not, but this is not a minor detail; having to pay rent on the open market could really bite in to her profits.

Scoop - Kate would presumably move back into her own cottage on the farm (thereby losing the rental income). But, as we’ve heard, she doesn’t believe it will happen.

Oh thank you Gruach I had missed the rather important fact that Kate had her own cottage to rent out!

Perhaps Jenny and Brian should move in with her too?!

For some reason the conversation where Jenny and Brian agreed to provide each of the (then) girls with a guaranteed income, via a holiday cottage each, always struck me as very distinct. It seemed such an amazing thing to be given. And so indicative of the gap in life chances between the Home Farm children and the un-landed masses.

Kate doesn’t believe her parents will sell - I suspect this is what will halt the sale. Agree that selling Home Farm to buy something else that may need work on it sounds like it will raise some money, but then cost some money (of course with the ever expanding bedrooms etc it no doubt has an ever- expanding value) anyway it won’t be clear profit. It would make much more sense to downsize into an existing property or as pp suggested, sell land for development and answer Emma’s prayers at the same time. Not finding this story particularly believable so finding it hard to get over infested.

over infested?

Actually that's a very good way of describing the ins and outs of the Ambridgers. :o

Debbie doesn't have a cottage. She and Adam didn't get one.

Oh. Are you sure? (I was certain there were three and only Adam left to die hungry in the cold ...)

So Alice and Kate have cottages (which Jenny seems to do all the work for) Debbie might have a cottage....what did Adam and Ryanair get?

According to the Ambridge Reporter from 2017, there is a third cottage which may or may not be Debbie's.

It says:
"Home Farm
Owned by: Brian Aldridge
Living there: Brian Aldridge, Jennifer Aldridge, Kate Aldridge, Phoebe Aldridge, Lilian Bellamy, Ruairi Donovan

Home Farm Cottage — 1, The Rookeries, aka The Nest
Owned by: Alice Carter
Living there: Alice Carter, Christopher Carter

Home Farm Cottage — 2, The Rookeries
Owned by: Kate Madikane
Rented out, allegedly.

Home Farm Cottage — 3, The Rookeries
Owned by: debatable. Should be Jennifer Aldridge
Holiday cottage "

Ry sorry Ruairi got a roof over his head, not living with his granny and aunt in Ireland and the right to be called Myson by Brian.

Guess Adam could live under the hot tub if Ian ever turfs him out?

I've been looking at Lowfield. February/March 2008 was when Brian and Jennifer had a furious set to about Brian's plans for the children. They had already been talking about giving a cottage each to Kate and Alice before Siobhan died.

***

Here's the bit from Lowfield which I meant to put in the last post.

Wednesday 19th March
Brian's negotiating skills are put to the test.

Adam, Brian, Debbie, Jennifer

The much-heralded meeting at Home Farm is about to begin. Debbie and Adam swap notes beforehand; neither is expecting much and Adam confides that he might not stay in Ambridge - Debbie is thinking on similar lines. So into the meeting ...
... beginning with some critical comments about Brian's recent proposals. He acknowledges their anger and their importance to him, and not just to the farm. He proposes a division of responsibilities, not unlike it is now, but instead of just taking salaries they will be unit directors, rather than managers working to him. They will have autonomy and take a substantial share of the profits - 60%. As for the inheritance, there is no compromise on the three way split but Adam and Debbie will have a much larger share now. What do they think?
While Brian and Jennifer retire to make the coffee, Debbie and Adam discuss the rabbit Brian has pulled out of his hat. It sounds good. This way they might even be able to build up enough capital to buy Ruairidh out when the time comes. They are suspicious about why he is suddenly willing to give so much away. Where is the catch?
In the kitchen, Brian gets Jennifer's view. She is still sceptical about the inheritance but she does realise how important that is to Brian. And she is grateful that he has made a point of how much he values her children.
Meanwhile her offspring are considering the implications. It could be a minefield. So they have some questions to put but they are interested. Brian assures them that the digester will be unchanged and their salaries will come before profits. Although they have not discussed the percentage that Brian proposed, Debbie shoots the line that 60% is not enough - they want 75%! They agree on 66%; subject to the details, he has got himself a deal.
In the lambing shed, Debbie and Adam rejoice. Adam admits that he was amazed by the original 60% - and getting Brian off their backs. Indoors Jennifer also assures him that she is happy. He has given up a lot but it's worth it, to stay together. He suggests dinner out tonight - a taste of things to come.

All of which strongly suggests to me that of the three holiday cottages, one did indeed stay with Jennifer.