Bringing Home the Bacon

A fascinating study of business life in Ambridge - Brian is turning over Tom's business to the greed of the Supermarkets (and we all know where that will lead) and Matt (the property tycoon) is heading towards bankruptcy. A whole lot of chickens are coming home to roost (mixed metaphors I know) and Lillian and her sister Jennifer are going to feel the fallout in the not too distant future. Now why did Michael Ball & his reviewer on Sunday's programme suggest that the Archers was dull and boring?

Gambling - in all senses

Several characters are gambling with their futures just now. The appalling Alastair (husband of the equally appalling Shula) has become involved with fellow gambler Ryan - and is keeping this quiet from his wife (Don't ask me why). Trouble is blabbermouth brother of Shula, Kenton, knows all about it - and will definitely spill the beans. Shula, meanwhile is clearly planning something to do with the Church to spoil the fun for newly weds Usha and Vicar Alan. Then of course cuckolded Will has become involved again with child beater Nik (again don't ask me why) and has as a result turned into mushroom destroyer - he reversed into a stone fake saddle stone put on the grass verge by newcome Mrs Noakes - she will certainly find out about it - with disastrous results for all concerned.

Pigs & Lambs

The Archers is obviously returning to its original remit of 'the life and times of countryfolk. Tonight we were given a brief lecture about pig keeping

followed by an analysis of lambing and the problems of keeping (or losing) good farm workers. Eddie of course as the resident 'jack of all trades' featured largely throughout. So did Tom, who bizarrely was the good employer in contrast to Brian's bad employer portrait.

I Can't Take Much More

OK so I know they have to keep writing in some 'love interest' but do we really have to put up with endless sweet nothings from Will & the appalling child smacker Nik? Last night's episode made me so quickly want to grab the sick bucket! Shula, meanwhile, is looking for allies in her campaign to prove Vicar Alan wrong in his marriage to Usha the Hindu. She got the knock back from Peggy the reactionary, but she'll keep looking. What is she hoping to achieve though?

New Year Blues

One of the things that shows Ambridge is in some kind of time warp is the obsession with 'village activities'. Everywhere else in the UK Church attendance is a rarity or strange unlikely activity - in Ambridge the entire village (and how vast Ambridge seems to be) goes to every service and meeting - and everyone is part of ancilliary activities - like bellringing. Now Usha is going to take it up - 'to show an involvement with the Church' - more likely to put the appalling Shula's nose out of joint. Shula has never been a fan of Usha, her choice of partners, nor her religion. Now Usha is getting her own back. Excellent I say!