Disaster in Ambridge



For 15 minutes this morning, I wandered around Trelawnyd in a bit of a daze. I didn't notice Gay Gordon's Welsh Flag still flying in front of his and Big Mary's bungalow ( a sign that he's still in residence) and I only took my earphones off when Barbara Parry bellowed a lusty " congratulations for the wedding" from her front doorstep in Bron Haul.
The reason for my preoccupation was a rather exciting podcast episode of last night's edition of The Archers!
Now, for those not in the know, The Archers is a famous BBC radio soap Opera which has been running most nights since the 1950s. It tells the tale of a small farming community in the fictional village of Ambridge and has entertained generations of  gentle folk when they are doing the washing up after supper!
The soap has gone off the boil somewhat recently, but has come back with a bang when disaster reared its ugly head and the river Am burst it's banks!
I loved it.
Old Jill and the other village grey hairs found themselves trapped in the Church with the vicar and I found myself giggling in delight on High Street when Neil Tucker started to ring the St Stephen bells to encourage the villagers to head to high ground! Shula, Alistair and Auntie Caroline battled the flood waters at the Stables while Clarrie and Lynda Snell saved a coffee table and the ever silent Freda Fry went all hysterical and tried to rescue husband Bert in a futile mercy dash across the village bridge!
And all this on the radio in just 15 minutes
Wonderful stuff!

Shit.....ive just remembered I ve just run out of furniture polish and the vicar's coming for supper


53 comments:

  1. I didn't realize the Archers were still on, it must be the longest running soap opera in the world do you think?

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  2. Its been running since 1951!

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  3. Anonymous2:05 pm

    How bad was the blow to the head Rob received? (we can only hope it was fatal), can Linda's one remaining Llama swim? will The Bull Flood? Will Eddie have to stick his head back down Brookfield's main drain, will Ruth have made it north safely or will her car have been washed away - ooooooooo nooooooooo (again, we can only hope) - last couple of days have been great!

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    1. I know!...i wassure Eddie was going to be a gonner dien that drain......and i did wonder if Alan was going to be washed away saving freda!...and what about poor Pip..all alone at Brookfield!............

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    2. Anonymous5:28 pm

      Poor Pip all alone, not so much as a robotic milker to help her out because, as PC Burns, pointed out at the end of Monday night's episode, 'David, Ambridge needs YOU!'

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  4. Radio is such a beautiful thing. It forces the mind to envision.

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  5. Anonymous2:54 pm

    I was with it from the start. It was entitled an "an every day story of country folk", telling of life and seasons in the country. Not any more. I no longer listen, if I wanted dramatic crap I would watch eastenders.
    Sorry John,!

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    1. Oh irene.......jill archer still makes cakes, tends her bees and

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  6. This sounds like pure fun !
    Great way to clean up after dinner.

    cheers, parsnip
    spoiler...
    the bad ones rarely get washed away no matter what.

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  7. Your vicar eats furniture polish John?

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  8. I listen to the omnibus on Sunday morning, while doing the ironing and cleaning the fish tank! Exciting it will be this Sunday then! It is time that Rob got found out, and I could never understand why Ruth and David were upping sticks to go to Northunberland to apparently look after Heather, when she is an old lady, with presumably not long to go!! At least Usha did bring that up last week! Hope the vicar enjoys his well polished supper.

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  9. Are you intending to polish the vicar then?

    I have never got hooked on to the Archers but I have a friend who has never missed a single episode (tapes it when he goes on holiday) I think he regards them as his family.

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  10. In a pinch, John, use some cooking oil!!
    The Archers sounds right up my alley.....I have a bit of catching up to do!!

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  11. Never missed an episode, but now that we are here.....suppose I could find it if I really looked into it?

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    1. PS
      I have seen the wife use coconut oil in a pinch.

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  12. spray fabreeze in the air and ignore the dust.

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  13. Sounds like Garrison Keilor's Lake Woebegone in the States.

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  14. Sunday night was the end of the season for Downton Abbey here, we are always a new months behind.

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  15. As I said to a friend last night, it's the first time Jill's minge has been wet for 50 years. Of course, you know the real reason that it has taken a year for the floods to rise from Somerset to Borchester, don't you? It's so that the road scheme will be condemned as a flood-risk. Not in their back yard.

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    1. I shall ignore the jill/ minge comment....but i agree the flood will save the village...........as well as get adam and charley together

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    2. I liked the minge bit.

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    3. I am surprised that Adam didn't take advantage of the situation by ravishing him when he was half dead through drowning. I don't suppose he would resist when conscious though, so maybe not.

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  16. Back to earth with a thud :)

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  17. I remember the Archers from when I was a kid in the UK. Do you still have Mrs. Dale's diary? I'm not a big radio listener but I don't think they have any stories/series like those on here. We make do with Corrie!!

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  18. Trapped with the vicar, I would have wasted no time in finding the vestibule.

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  19. Hey, John, there's an Ambridge here in the States of which I am aware. It's a suburb of the city of Pittsburgh in the state of Pennsylvania. Unlike the rural Ambridge in England, though, our Ambridge was a company town hosting the headquarters of the AMerican BRIDGE Company.

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    1. I have a 1930s map of a part of Pittsburgh with Ambridge on it!
      It hangs in our hall
      How strange is that

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  20. I've never listened to the Archers. I hope you managed to get your wood buffed up enough to impress the vicar!

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  21. Used to regularly listen to The Archers, and indeed could have been classed as an addict of the programme, but that was back in my UK days. Since living in France I have managed to wean myself off the programme.....but a flood you say! Methinks I had better get on to the BBC channel and hear for myself what has happened! Hope you are well....am looking forward to the wedding........and check your blog regularly for updates......hope the new underwear does everything it should, hope your day is filled with smiles, hope many treasured memories are laid down for the future, and sending you the hugest of hugs, blessings, and best wishes for your special day. Vx

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    1. Thank you v......i havent had too much time to comment on blogs i follow, but i have been over to yours xxx

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  22. My claim to fame - I have a friend in Chester who wrote scripts for the Archers for many years. It's always slightly embarrassing that I can't stand the Archers and have only listened to it once in my entire life.

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  23. I remember it from my childhood days before tv.
    I did not know it was still on.
    Let us know what you fed the vicar on your freshly polished table!

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  24. the vicar isn't going to rub his white-gloved fingers across the furniture; don't worry so much, darling!

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  25. "Shit.....ive just remembered I ve just run out of furniture polish and the vicar's coming for supper"

    They eat furniture polish? I always notice there is something mad about vicars and this may explain it.

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  26. Anonymous12:55 am

    nice post
    very interesting

    http://goo.gl/2RwVn0

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  27. It's been running since the 1950s??? That must be the longest running television show in the history of the world.

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  28. This comment made me think of Meet the Wife.

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  29. Thank gawd we don't have a vicar.... unpolished tables are de rigeur here.

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    1. Should I be listening to The Archers? I last heard it when Walter Gabriel was getting drunk at The Bull.

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  30. Nothing to do with the Archers but wanted to say HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY TOMORROW.... XXX

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  31. I have a sinking feeling I'll be dealing with floodwaters once the spring thaw comes around. We're expecting more snow later today.

    Radio drama is pretty much extinct here in the 'States. There are some Public Radio shows, such as Prairie Home Companion, that mix drama, comedy, and live musical performance, but soap operas? I can't think of one.

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  32. Thanks for your daily posts. Have a great day tomorrow.

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  33. Twas the night before the wedding and all through the house
    Not a creature was stirring except for a mouse.
    He snuffled past kitty and climbed over John
    When he reached the dogs he knew the time had come.
    He whistled in Chris’s ear and said “what a treat
    You’re about to marry a man with Crocs on his feet.
    Love him, protect him and listen with glee
    Whenever he tells you of adventures times three.
    The birds will sit singing and crowing their best
    When dressed to the nines in your wedding vest
    You take the man of your dreams and make all legal.
    Just raise a sly eyebrow when he adopts the next eagle!! “

    I’m sure I join with all your Blog readers from near and far as we wish you and Chris all the very best for your future together. Good luck and best wishes for tomorrow.

    Sue, Alan and all the motley crew here in Maenan. xx

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  34. Have a wonderful day. I wish you all the happiness in the world and may you always continue to care and love each other. Love Andie xxx

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  35. Just dropping by to scatter confetti and good wishes over the Doc and your very good self for tomorrow. All the very best for a beautiful day. Love and light xxxx

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  36. I'm glad you gave the backstory on this because I definitely would NOT have known what you were talking about! Maybe I should check this podcast out one of these days...like I don't have enough to keep track of already. :)

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  37. Best wishes and congratulations for tomorrow, I hope you have a wonderful day

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  38. Anonymous6:11 pm

    Have a wonderful wedding and marriage! x

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