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Linda Finds a new Buddhist Leader at the end of her Garden

Now I do know the difference between the Dalai Lama and the furry South American creatures much beloved of Mrs Snell. But just for a microsecond I thought the Tibetan religious leader in exile had died and his successor had been found in Ambridge. It would almost be as believable as no one noticing that one of Linda's pets had been pregnant for almost a year (let nobody say the Archers is not education - the gestation period of the llama is in fact 345 days - give or take a week or so).

Now as Doris used to often remark 'As one door opens, another closes' and as the new baby Salieri joins the inhabitants of Ambridge poor Siobahn's life is drawing to its close. Jennifer is going to take in the lovechild - but how is she going to explain it to Alice? (Let alone Debbie!)

Peggy Corners Jennifer over the lupins

Jenny is beginning to weaken in the face of the decline of Siobhan and is facing the 'reality' of having to take on Brian's lovechild. In Dublin Tim (Siobhan's ex-husband) has rushed to her deathbed, consigning Brian to the zoo with the offspring.

Peggy's version of concern and support is to berate Jennifer for her acceptance of her fate - the prospect of Brian arriving and parading the product of his infidelity in front of the County is just too much for Peggy (who has clearly forgotten her cockney roots). Her idea of making up for her sharpness is to suggest a fun day out together at the Chelsea Flower Show. That'll make everything better!

Meanwhile, Caroline is obsessed with promoting Oliver's cheese, Linda Snell's plans to open a guesthouse is causing ripples - will she be competition for Grey Gables, Lower Loxley and the Borchester Hilton? And Fallon, Kirsty and Emma are on a girls' night out - there will be trouble ahead!

Light Relief

I always enjoy the Archers when certain characters come back into the limelight - and Lillian

is one of those (linda Snell falls into the same category). I'm especially grateful that Lillian is back with a vengeance - this time conning Mike Tucker to give her dancing lessons - largely as a result of Matt running a mile at a recent Grey Gables Dinner Dance. He labelled her a very bad dancer. Tonight we discovered one of the causes - Lillian thinks of herself as a man - when it comes to dancing. No wonder she treads on so many toes! This interlude meant we could put events in Dublin into the background, although Tom kept making comments to Adam about Brian's continuing absence. Lillian, of course, has overheard plenty of conversations between Jennifer and Brian or Adam to have her suspicions about what is going on with Brian. It is only a matter of time!

It's all going to hit the fan

I have to apologise for the picture attached - but it does come off the BBC Radio 4 website connected to the Archers. I also, should apologise for the 'bluntness' of my previous postings (to quote one reader of this blog). I had anticpated that the love triangle (or should it be rectangle, including Jennifer perhaps) would be dragged out for months, going through all the possible treatments for Siobhan and ending happily with her recovery. Unfortunately we are rushing emotionally and tragically towards a terrible conclusion. Brian has just become guardian for the offspring, and Jennifer is going to have to make some difficult decisions pretty fast. Brian is not thinking logically (hardly surprising really) and Jenny isn't going to find life easy either. I thought Peggy's intervention earlier last week fabulous - and I dread to think what Debbie will say. I still think Ian and Adam are the best options. I have stocked up on tissues for Tuesday or Wednesday's episodes. No wonder the BBC are issuing details of support groups and helplines for those distressed by the scenes. Hold your breath........

Fancy Dress? Nigel goes mad (again!)

So Ambridge was going through (yet another) example of wierd community events. This time it was a charity bike ride in aid of ..... the cricket club? church bells? removing the ivy? dredging the duck pond? Who knows? Who cares? Ruth and David rejected the dressing up as cattle option in favour of togas and Roman goddess outfits. Meanwhile Nigel has lost his marbles totally and dressed Elizabeth in one of Julia's outfits from her theatrical days - Burlington Bertie no less. Nigel was paying tribute to conscientious objector uncle Rupert by donning a boater. How exactly did anyone ride a bike in those outfits. As far as Ruth & David are concerned no one seems to recal the events of only a few months ago when Ruth and Sam were trysting in the cowshed. Oh - and yes Jenny is beginning to crumble - that lovechild will ensconced in Home Farm within weeks I reckon.

Will this never end?

Lets face it Jennifer's arrival in Ireland means that this 'lovechild' story is going to run and run. Now she has seen how important the brat is to Brian (and vice versa) is the appalling brat going to be given Debbie's old bedroom at Home Farm (which must be at least the size of South Fork the old Ewing Mansion in Dallas)? Are we really to believe that 62 year old Jennifer will clasp the boy and drag him into the family. I don't think so. My bets are still on Adam and Ian.
Can I also say I am not interested in the fancy dress selections of the current residents of Brookfield - and the wise words of St Jill (the perfect matriarch) are making me sick.

Oh Jennifer - What are You Doing?

Lets face it everyone in Ambridge has gone totally mad. Linda Snell is bribing small children with chocolate cake to get them to dance around a maypole. Bert Fry is talikng Japanese at Lower Loxley in a desperate bid to become the champion guide, Fallon has fallen for a cricket obsessed silent man who gives up a date with the delightful barmaid in favour of cricket practice with Alastair. She turns to Ed instead - how mad is that? Adam becomes advisor to his mother in matters of relationship and now Jennifer is winging her way to Dublin to walk in on Brian playing happy families with Siobahn. Thankfully darling Alice is not topping herself prior to sitting her exams as she realises that Jennifer's attempts to project a stable and solid marriage is purely a facade. And what are Ruth and David doing amongst all this havoc - getting their children dressed up as cattle for some bike ride to advertise the wonders of milk production. Totally barking mad.