Friday 8 August 2008
1980: Amos' Mystery Woman
Thursday 7 August 2008
1980: Annie's Agony...
Several years before I started the programme, my right knee became very arthritic.
In 1980, Sheila's problem became Annie's problem.
Bending to pick up an orphaned lamb in the farmhouse kitchen in the spring of 1980, Annie was gripped by a sudden pain in her knee which caused her to cry out.
Dolly immediately came to her aid, but Annie brushed off her concern: it was just a passing thing: "Bones get old," she said.
Wednesday 6 August 2008
1980: Mrs Peg Leg
... Dolly spotted something that horrified her: the skeleton of a sheep.
Mr Wilks examined it, and proclaimed it too old to be the remains of Mrs Peg Leg.
So the fate of Mrs Peg Leg remained a mystery, until one day...
... Matt and Dolly were delighted to see her...
... running across the field, minus limp but plus lamb, to rejoin the flock - returned from goodness knows where!
Dolly was thrilled to see Mrs Peg Leg again.
Matt pointed out that, as Mrs P was no longer limping, Dolly would have to think of a new name for her!
1984 Request...
Hi! I'm really enjoying your blog and the 1980 Month. I've been going through a really bad time recently and I've been really depressed. Emmerdale Farm in the 1980s contains so many fond memories.
It makes me smile to think of it, although sometimes it makes me cry even more. I wish we were back in those days because I was so much happier.
Please would you put on a picture of my two favourite Emmerdale characters, Alan and Caroline? I read in your blog that they first appeared in 1982 and 1984 respectively. It seems like yesterday!
Yes, it does, Izzy. Time flies! I'm sorry you're feeling down. I know it sounds like a cliché, but bear with it and the bad times will pass. I hope you like the pictures of Alan Turner and Mrs Bates from the mid-1980s, and thanks for writing.
Take care.
Dark Side Of 1980...
Tuesday 5 August 2008
1980: A Tale Of Three Marrows...
Amos was not happy. He hated phone calls of this nature, and he was ill at ease wondering what Seth wanted.
Amos was suspicious of Seth at the best of times: "Any man who spends as much time as he does in't Malt Shovel when he could drink good beer in't Woolpack... He needs watching."
The Malt Shovel was Seth's "local" at the time - although as 1980 wore on, he switched to The Woolpack, which didn't please Amos either.
Seth had invited Sam Pearson along to hear the news he had for Amos.
"What were you phoning me about this morning, Seth Armstrong?" asked Amos. "Mr Wilks said it were important. You can have folks worrying leaving that sort of message."
"It's about your allotment," said Seth. "It's come through sooner than expected." Amos had applied for an allotment some months before. "There's been one disused for awhile up near't Ramseys'..."
"Well, what's that got to do with me?"
"It's yours now. I know how disappointed you were when you didn't get one a few months back. So, me as Chairman and't allotments committee have moved heaven and earth to get you this one."
Amos was most unhappy. He confided in Mr Wilks: truth to tell, he'd gone off the idea of an allotment. But he didn't want to turn it down when so much trouble had been taken to secure him one.
"Anyway, Seth and Sam were waiting for me to back down - I could see it in their eyes."
And the Brearlys had their pride.
Amos made his way to the allotments and consulted a rough map Seth had drawn... where was his plot?
Amos had been allocated a shambles of an allotment. And he knew Seth Armstrong had done it on purpose.
"You'll sort that out in less than five minutes, Amos," said Seth later that day in The Woolpack. "Anyway, digging runs in't family, don't it?"
"Eh?" Amos was puzzled.
"Undertaking!"
"I hardly thinks that's the sort of comparison to go making in polite company," bristled Amos. "Anyway, techniques are quite different."
"How?" asked Seth.
"I've no intention of discussing that sort of thing over my bar!"
"Well, Amos, if you can't cope..." said Sam, impishly.
"Of course I can cope! Us Brearlys have always been noted for keeping a good garden - we've always had brown fingers!"
- So, fleet of foot and light of head, Amos made his way down to the allotments again to start work on transforming his patch the very next day.
Off with his duffle coat, out with his fork, dig in, and...
... immediate humiliation as the fork handle snapped in two. Of course, there were a couple of village worthies nearby to spread the news of Amos' glorious debut at the allotments all around Beckindale.
Of course, the physical toil took its toll on Amos and one afternoon Seth and Sam called on him and found him in a very undignified state...
... sleeping like a true allotment holder.
... a magnificent marrow - which he had planted but which had since grown with no help from him!