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.

Here are some memory prompts for you Gasp0de:

Aberystwth, goldenballs, birthplan, carrots, Nuffield, uncle

Also, it was good to hear Tony again.

Was it? Were you listening to a different episode?

Nice bit of intertextually about Bruges. SWs having a giggle, I think:

I'll tell you one thing, Bruges is a lot easier to spell than Aberysthwythwth (voice of recent experience).

I usually listen on catch up so I can fast forward Pip and the Dopeys but I think I must have missed something.

Did Lily tell her mother she was in Bruges with Meredith but was really in Aberystwyth with Russ?

Do people go to Aberystwyth? I'm sure it's lovely- just never heard anyone saying they were off to Aberystwyth for a city break.

There's a whole bunch of Aberystwyth noir novels by Malcolm Pryce:
Aberystwyth Mon Amour,
Last Tango in Aberystwyth,
The Unbearable Lightness of Being in Aberystwyth,
Don't Cry For me Aberystwyth
From Aberystwyth with Love,
The Day Aberystwyth Stood Still

Though I rather think they trade on the dissonance between the expected B&B expectations of this world, and the weirdness of the other universe Aberystwyth, the setting for the novels.

On the other hand there's this:

www.aberystwyth.org.uk/attractions/

Has anyone already predicted this? Pip goes into labour. Toby nowhere to be found. Rex saves the day. Delivers baby?! Rex and Pip live happily ever after.

echt - were you going for some record for the number of times you could type Aberystwyth in one post?

Actually, I've just found my phone auto-completes Aberystwyth, so making spelling Aberystwyth easy.

Possibly, Pseudo! The happy ending, certainly.

(Not by me though.) What puzzles me is that there has never been any indication that Toby and Kate actually like each other at all. He couldn’t wait to escape after their first ... encounter. And she just wanted someone to talk at.

So if Rex gets Pip, Kate and Toby would be an inconvenient loose end to tie up.

Do people go to Aberystwyth?

DS went for a few days, with a group of lads on a post-A Level jolly!
Lots of WestMidlanders go to Wales so I'm not sure of this idea of walking freely, hand-in-hand, and not expecting to bump into someone they know.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g An old friend of mine is a colour therapist.

Her facebook posts are absolutely bonkers. Perhaps she could work for Kate?

echt - were you going for some record for the number of times you could type Aberystwyth in one post?

No, but once I saw that list of books I realise it looked that way. Thank God for autocorrect.

Now all I have to do is actually read "Last Tango in Aberystwyth" which has been on my bookshelf for a while. : o

What was the point of Toby and Kate? Was it to illustrate that he is as unreliable and untrustworthy as ever despite efforts to present himself as the perfect father. I agree with Gruach, there’s never been any suggestion Toby likes Kate - I can see that she might have pursued him, but surely Toby-the-father-to-be would have rebuffed her, however drunk he was (and he wasn’t even drunk at the start of the episode). I did wonder if it was going to a clumsy way of making Pip realise she wanted to be with him after all, but clearly not. I don’t believe in either of the Fairbrethren - is it just me? The whole Rex/Anisha thing feels entirely unconvincing as well. Perhaps I should just listen and stop trying to second guess - but then I’d have to leave the thread.

Rex & Pip 4Eva

What was the point of Toby and Kate?

If Kate turns out to be pregnant, he will struggle to bea dedicated father to two babies at once, when not living with either. That could be very interesting, especially as Kate doesn't have a good track record as a dedicated and present parent herself.

Thanks, DDD! All still a bit hazy. Really not greatly engaged by TA at the moment, which is unlike me.

Extinctspecies, I have to say I was relieved to read the second sentence of your post, as I was worried I'd caused offence by my mockery of colour therapy.

I would struggle to cope with Toby as non-resident father to two Ambridge babies. Please no.

I would struggle to cope with Toby as non-resident father to two Ambridge babies. Please no.

EBear - I cant help feeling you’d be their sole listener! It would be The Worst Story Eva.

I'm not greatly engaged either. The Home Farm waste dumping doesn't ring true, I am not a fan of Pip or Toby, and Shula divorcing Alastair is out of character. I like Freddie and Lily. I still don't like the new Tom.

No problem, Gasp0de, although my list makes it sound like the episode is one of those improv sketches where the audience shout out suggestions. Maybe that's how the SWs do it?

Im only half listening these days, but the whole story about Kate's business is to me a nonsense.

She will not have any full time staff, as there is no chance such a business would support her, never mind any one else. She may have a service that takes bookings and messages, but it would make no sense to do that, rather than have bookings on line. I agree with a PP that the therapists/yoga teacher are being paid for the treatments /classes they do, at the very most. As for building up interest in such a business, we have not heard Kate do any of the things someone in that position would need to do, such as hand out leaflets, provide talks and demonstrations to local groups, all to raise awareness.

Without the land provided, I am sure, for free, there would be no business. I don't believe for one moment that she is paying anything like a commercial rent.

For this to break apart home farm, likewise makes no sense whatsoever. I would give a lot to read the Agreement they will all have signed.

I don't believe for one moment that she is paying anything like a commercial rent

Does Adam pay a commercial rent for his polytunnels? Kate is a shareholder in the land owning business, albeit a smaller partner than Adam.

I'm finding it all fairly mind numbing at the moment. I'm assuming the LSWs brains have melted and hoping for something more interesting soon.

I agree Finally but I bet the real issue will be that Brian has royally screwed up the situation by taking all of the next generation for granted, except possibly Debbie, and Kate's legal action will throw up some more discrepancies.

Has he already sold the interest in Hungary?

I bet all of Brian's 'partnership' decisions to date have been made to avoid tax, and keep the family in line.

Helen seems to be trying harderat promoting her cheese-making courses than Kate is at promoting Spiritual Home. Neither is very successful though.

Both businesses though are not representative of what really goes on in the countryside.

We have a notorious YouTuber who drives some very flashy cars living on a local housing estate.

Martin Gibson was on the take at the GC - that felt like a REALLY long story line at the time : "put it on my taaaaab, Kathy" Ugh
Glad that Kathy is silent now though - she was SO annoying.