What a wide-ranging and well read lot you are!

I think the whole Rob & Helen storyline has echoes of Tess of the D'Urbervilles - the rape, the pregnancy, works in a dairy ...

... but thankfully it won't end the same way.

And Rob is certainly no Angel!

Oooh yes, he might call her all sorts of homophobic things (although one of my lesbian colleagues finds some of the offensive terms highly amusing, she especially likes "todger-dodger"), and get done for contempt of court.

I am not sure about Bovril as such but hot water can work wonders. Either run it under the hot tap or put some hot water in a shallow dish and stand the jar lid end down in the hot water.
Its to do with the relative rates at which heat expands different materials I believe (i.e. metal expands and glass doesn't) and in the case of Bovril may soften up sticky stuff. It works very well to get the welded on lid off hair removal wax.

Lol, that would be fab.

How many tents can you fit in your garden, Welsh-Lad?

Perhaps we could each pick the name of an Ambridge resident out of a hat, and stay in character throughout.

Bags I Lillian daahling - hic! *wanders off cackling"

Or
1) release the vacuum by twisting a knife under the lid (the lid goes pop), if still tight...
2) don rubber gloves. Hasn't failed me yet.

I barely register as a feminist except in defiantly rejecting all offers of male help with jars.

We better go easy on the jar opening tips or we will get relocated to General Discussion - Advice!

I suggest any future tips are prefaced with "Jill Archer does XXXX to open her jars" or Jennifer's new kitchen has an electronic jar opening robot" or similar.

Metal lid on glass jar? Pour some hot water on the lid to make it expand slightly.

War and Peace is another.

Now that one really is a puzzle

More like Alec D'Urberville.

I managed that one and Anna Karenina. I think the problem with those two though isn't so much the narrative is difficult but one of trying to keep all the characters in one's head when you can't even pronounce some of the names.

Madam Bovery is one that has defied me. Its supposed to be the best novel ever written and I really want to read it, but it just doesn't hold my attention. Its one of those where I read a page and realise I have read the words but not actually engaged with them such that I have to read it again, and again and again.

I've read War and Peace about five times - though the first time I did skip most of the War bits

I love Madame Bovary too - but it's so sad.

I preferred Alec to Angel

Never heard that before.
Brilliant.

I can relate to that. I wasn't very keen on the battle scenes either. I was the same with Top Gun. I really like the film except for the flying bits.

Owwww diddums Elizabeth.
The school is not what Fweddie is used to, it's so big and 'intimidating' and he won't get 'the individual attention' he got at the cathedral school.'
Ah yes, the school where he failed all his core subjects, eh Liz

Between that and Caroline moaning about her Tuscan villa dream swirling down the pipes, I feel as if I've had enough bourgeois to give me a bilious attack!

Sounds like you need an evening in the Grundy's cider shed. Nothng bourgeois there.

Hmmm. Wouldn't mind a good pheasant roast though... if Clarrie hasn't confiscated them!

Will might just feel aggrieved enough to renege on his offer of a house for Clarrie, Eddie and Joe. Bit daft to poach from your own game-keeper son!

Will should have known enough about his family traits; he runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds!

Or is a sad comment on the shows it was up against.

Strictly speaking then, you've read War 4 times and Peace 5 times!

Especially when he's going to be your landlord!

I think St Shula is really miffed by Lizzie's developing relationship with Richard. He so obviously has the hots for her.