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.

Glad it wasn't just me who found Tony vile towards hard working, entrepreneurial, independent and imo thoroughly nice son Josh.

Adam is becoming more like Brian everyday. How they both sneered at Kate in absentia was v unpleasant. But rather lovely for the listener to know she's actually got a rocker lined up and about to explode

Jennifer is lovely to phoebe.

I agree that David treated Josh horribly. I think Josh will up sticks soon. Maybe Ben could turn out to be very academic, get a law degree and sort his whole extended family out.

I know this has been covered before, but I agree with pp that Pip will give birth to baby girl, and she and Toby will not be able to agree on a name. Out of desperation they will agree to pick a name out of the suggestion box on the bar of The Bull. Hey presto, as a regular TA person (I am sorry but I can't remember who) predicted months ago the name "Grace" will be pulled out and Jill will explode.

A story line involving Phoebe is definitely brewing. I do not think she is pregnant, but there will be something.

Bang on Mootsie

Charging rent for a building your occupying is outrageous (as well as unsupportive.)
And Josh doesn't know Rex is leaving yet which feels me with dread. I want Josh to make a fortune while baby brained pip continues leaving gates open.

Thanks for the thread. I was quite speechless listening to Brian and David!

Why did David and Ruth bother having more than one child? They treat Josh as the inferior sibling and have forgotten about Ben.
Grace Archer or Grace Fairbrother? Grace Fairbrother-Archer?

Grace Fairbrother?

Surely even Pip wouldn't be that crass?

I don't know why the Dopeys had more than one child but I'm assuming the recent stories are building up to a major falling out with Josh over the constant preferred treatment of Pip.

Hmmm. A dilemma, perhaps Josh does need to be mindful that if it were anywhere else he would need to pay rent. But David should definitely NOT be using said space. In our area, many farmers let out barns, or a yard, but they are the business owners exclusively, locked and fenced.

Can someone who is up on TA history tell me what the arrangement is with Brookfield? Phil and Jill left it divided among all four of their children, but only David and Ruth work it and take an income from it. How can D&R simply pass it onto Pip? Won't their aunts/uncles and their assorted offspring/partners also have a claim on it? That's even before Ben and Josh have a share. I really don't understand how Pip seems to have this whole claim on the business, buildings and land.

It was passed to David and Ruth but if they sold up, Shula, Kenton and Elizabeth would get a share of the value.

Kenton and Jolene had a splurge on the back of David and Ruth's abandoned plans to sell up

So did the other 3 get no part (or only a small part) of their parents' assets? No wonder David thinks it's fine to treat one child so much better than their siblings! I wonder why Josh doesn't say "Well, you've always said that Pip will inherit the farm and I must make my own way, so that's what I'm doing. If you want me to pay rent on a commercial basis then allow me to use the barn exclusively. Or consider it a leg-up while I get my business off the ground - you know, the sort of leg-up you are giving Pip by foregoing the rental income on the cottage and allowing her to live there for free."

David really is thick as two short ones. Awful, horrible bloke.

I really can't remember the details but I seem to remember that there was some divvying up when Jill & Phil retired and moved to Glebe which was Shula's cottage (another bit of blatant favouritism I think) and Shula bought the stables from Auntie Chris.

No idea what will happen when D&R retire as I can't see Pip and Sprog going it alone and/or establishing a partnership with Josh and/or Ben.

It might all become clearer when Jill dies.

Which reminds me - where is Carol? Surely she would have been plying Pip with herbal remedies for the past several months?

(Makes no difference if the actress is busy - doesn’t stop the SWs throwing in the odd reference to her. If she’s supposed to be in Ambridge then she’d have been at Ruth’s party. If she’s supposed to be away - Jill must be missing her and they should say so.)

Tell you what’s going to come back any minute now...Lexi/Adam/Ian trying for a “behbeh” as Ian calls it. We will have to endure more references to eggs, vitamins, cycles etc. etc.

I don’t think Jennifer is lovely to Phiebe I think she smothers her.Wait till she finds out about Sir......

Hang on, that’s Lily...sorry it’s the heat!

Not impossible that Phoebe has a Sir too ...

Could be the same Sir.....

Thanks for the new thread, Pseudo!

Glebe Cottage was left to Doris Archer, mother of Phil, Jack and Christine, by the Squire or his widow, way back in the early days of TA, I believe. Doris had worked for them before she married and her brother Tom Forrest was their gamekeeper.

Doris and Dan retired there when they handed over the farm to Phil. Presumably it had been rented out previously.

Doris then left the cottage to Shula, who lived there with her first husband Mark, after his death with their son Dan and then with Alistair as well.

When Shula gave up being an estate agent she and Alistair bought the Stables from her aunt Christine, who retired. Shula sold Glebe Cottage to Jill and Phil.

Jill and Phil moved out of Brookfield, and David, Ruth and the children moved into Brookfield from the bungalow. Bert and Freda moved into the bungalow, thus freeing up a cottage in the village, which the Barfords bought. I think it was Woodbine Cottage but it might have been the old Police House. Something like that, anyway!

I wonder when the new Editor starts. It always seems to be months and months between the appointment being announced and the new person starting work.

Thanks Gaspode. Do you know why Shula got Glebe?

Do you know why Shula got Glebe?

I always understood it was because Shula was favoured by Doris. Possibly because she wasn't expected to benefit from the farm (although no similar legacy was left for Kenton or Elizabeth)

Playing favourites seems to be an Archer trait.

Thanks, Gasp0de, for the info. on Glebe Cottage. It's Carol who's supposed to be living there now, isn't it?

I'm still wondering about Nightingale. NorthernLurker suggests upthread that Lilian lived in it when she first got involved with Matt (thanks, NL!). But how did it become Lilian's? And does anyone know who lives there now?

Does anyone know how much capital Josh has tied up in his latest purchases?

Does he need a second person to assist? I.e. when Rex goes, could Josh rejig his business from being part time for him, and odd hours from Rex, to being full time for Josh?

Also, does Josh need any formal qualifications to do up machinery? I ask because our Big Issue seller worked in a garage fixing cars in Romania, and came here thinking he could easily find work. However, he needs a college qualification here before any garage will employ him. At what point do e.g. Health and Safety regulations kick in?

It was passed to David and Ruth but if they sold up, Shula, Kenton and Elizabeth would get a share of the value

Could anyone qualified in English law say if this is even possible?

There are various scenarios of how Brookfield could be owned under Scots law but none of them could involve a scenario where David has sole occupation of the farm, sole right to its income, no need to compensate what would seem to be other owners for allowing him to have sole occupancy and sole right to determine if and when it is sold.