The future at Brookfield looks Rosie, and will Home Farm be home no more? Discuss The Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

And there’s some rubbish about an ex-stripper policeman?

Oh bore off Pip.

Oh and Toby -Grace is a lovely name.

"Rosie Ruth" sounds ridiculous. "Rosie Ruth" could be a harlot or a pick pocket in The Beggars Opera

I actually agree with Hill about Alasdair. Shula was incredibly loyal and supportive when he gambled away their financial security. In a way that in the real world without the Ambridge money fairy would have destroyed them. And the very icky way he carried on with the work experience person. He is pretty unpleasant.

On the assumption that Alistair is a similar age to Shula, so around 60, then Jim must be around 80.

Are we seeing the start of the fall of the golden child?

Shula was incredibly loyal and supportive when he gambled away their financial security.

Doesn't that depend rather on whether you accept addictions as an illness? Supposing the vet business had taken a massive hit due to Alastair being unable to work due to a physical illness. Would she be quite so saintly supporting a partner through that?

Shula has given Alastair plenty of causes to need forgiveness too over the years. Shagging Dr Locke, mooning over the vicar and the returning Doc Locke among them.

Yes and smouldering with dissatisfaction.

By the way, I didn't catch the Ambridge Extra which made him out to be a bit pervy so I don't have that perspective on him. I always think of him as a good vet with an unsupportive and critical dad, someone who could have been a lot happier without Shula and Jim in his life.

By the way, I didn't catch the Ambridge Extra which made him out to be a bit pervy so I don't have that perspective on him.

Actually I don't think I ever heard that either so I may be missing something.

Jill was in full holier than thou mode last night. When she has those bouts I can entirely see where Shula gets the smuggery from, although she has definitely refined it. I presume Jill's views on the importance of marriage vows don't apply in the case of mental health issues.

I liked Al sticking up for himself. When Jill got all sniffy he effectively said "am I bovvered?"
I suppose Toby was today's compare and contrast when he also effectively said "get over yourself, Jill"
Jill is not ageing well, is she. She's going to end up being the cantankerous person sat on a chair in the corner of the room, threatening to clobber anyone who gets too close with her walking stick.

Pip is spectacularly ridiculous in saying "Don't tell Gran" about the names. Unless they are going to make a principled stand against a christening, does it not occur to her that Jill will notice when the Alan comes out with three names instead of two?

I also sympathise with Josh about the ridiculousness of bringing a four week old baby to a supposedly important meeting. To say nothing of criticising him for making a decision supported by his experienced farmer parents that had the desired results. After all, as I understand it practically every farm in the country has had to supplement grass feeding in recent weeks - how does Pip imagine Brookfield would be immune?

Like Peggy, you mean? I like hearing women who don't hesitate to say it as it is. More scenes like that from Jill, please!

As for the physical illness parallel, if gambling addiction is an illness, it needs treatment like any other illness.

Suppose Alistair had been diagnosed with an illness that caused symptoms that affected his ability to work and pay his way but which could be treated, if not cured. At first he took the pills, did the exercises, whatever, but after a bit just stopped bothering and got ill again. Shula would have been justified in finding that disappointing, at best.

I know one of the big problems with mental illness is that the sufferer has limited insight into their condition and how it is affecting them and others. So it's not simple. Still very hard to live with, though.

Has fatherhood turned Toby into an upstanding loyal and responsible man ? The way this is going Toby will raise "grace" and pip will marry Rex.

Rex and pip will have a baby

In a zillion years, those babies will fall in love with watch other not knowing they are half siblings due to Toby having take grace to Brighton years ago.

But all will be good, as the children of Rex and Toby will save the archers from the White Walkers and and evil Queen Lily.

"By the way, I didn't catch the Ambridge Extra which made him out to be a bit pervy"
Ah. Once heard never forgotten! And not just a bit pervy.....

Everyone ages well in TA. Not a single family is nursing an elderly relative at home who is too sick in mind or body to help themselves at all. They all continue hale and hearty, getting around the village and enjoying a social life, until the day they die peacefully in a chair. No one gets ill unless they can afford the luxury old people’s home ...

Definitely something in the Am. Or some secret rite performed at the top of Lakey Hill.

(Sorry, slow typing! Was responding to R4’s comment on Jill.)

I wouldn't stay with a gambler. I don't think that makes me a bad person! Shula should have left him the first time. And it wasn't just gambling wasn't he contemplating criminal activity 're Matt and horses.

"By the way, I didn't catch the Ambridge Extra which made him out to be a bit pervy"
Ah. Once heard never forgotten! And not just abitpervy.....

It was the worst series of Amex, because it was the one where you heard all their inner thoughts being voiced. This just didn't work - in normal TA, you only hear what the characters actually say, or others say about them, so while we can speculate about what they think, we don't know. And that protects us from knowing just how pervy or mad or whatever others may be.

Many of us would have been sacked years ago if everyone else knew exactly what we were thinking.

I'd not just have been sacked, I'd probably be divorced, disinherited by my parents, disowned by my brother and children and utterly friendless! I'd be a hermit living in a hole in the ground somewhere, quite alone, with people backing off in horror as soon as they saw me and picked up the first of my inner thoughts.

The scriptwriters have quite cleverly changed the palace of sympathy from Alistair to Shula.

That's good planning & writing.

aargh. balance not palace FFS!

I quite like the idea of a palace of sympathy. It would come with attentive, silent staff tending to one's every need, beautiful gardens to mope about in and copious amounts of tea and cake, with good wine or gin in the evenings.

The Palace of Sympathy absolutely has to be a new Dr Who episode!

As for the physical illness parallel, if gambling addiction is an illness, it needs treatment like any other illness.

Try getting treatment for any addiction/mental health problem on the NHS. Even for socially acceptable help the wait is ridiculous. To go privately is very expensive.

Addictions are recognised as mental health illnesses. The treatment is rarely drugs (although it may be if the addiction is to a chemcal), its usually a recommendation to join exactly the kind of group Alastair joined.

Having followed to recommended treatment for many, many years then had his wife and partner both dump on him without warning and for no reason he had one slip and then called in help to avoid a future slip.

He also did try to explain to Shula what was happening but she was too busy being jealous of a non existent affair to listen. As for shouting about it across the pub - would it also be ok to throw her infertility problems or another medical problem in public?

I wouldn't stay with a gambler. I don't think that makes me a bad person!

I don't think any of us know until we are living with an ill person (mental or physical health) exactly how we will react. Living with mental health problems is particularly tough because of social attitudes which range from complete denial to "just pull yourself together". Relatives often enable behaviours which make progress more difficult because of this non acceptance. In the case of some addictions there can be massive social pressure to continue the behaviours (try avoiding alcohol, even without being an alcoholic).

Ending a relationship because it no longer works in that situation doesn't make anyone a bad person but nor does it mean the illness isn't real.

So, apparently Shula and Madonna are almost exactly the same age.

Who'd a thunk it?!!

I have never forgotten that 'so fresh' scene from AmEx. It will be with me til I die