Follow the subtle trail towards the Christmas storyline climaxes in Ambridge - discuss The Archers here

[PseudoBadger]

So many possibilities.... A visit from the Titcheners Snr? Baby of the wrong gender? A ruined wedding? Re-housed Grundys? RuthRex?

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Bets please on which ageing celebs will be corralled in to play the senior Titcheners? I know we heard Ursula before but we know SOC doesn't feel bound to stand by earlier casting decisions.

My money's on Judi Dench and Michael Gambon.

Thanks for the new thread, Pseudo!

[dairyfarmerswife]

Talking of the gender of SOK, wasn't that the most bizarre line ever from Pat to Helen, 'so have you decided yet, whether you would prefer a girl or a boy?' As if she is actually able to choose ??? It seems so incongruous from someone like Pat, and was followed by the 'one of each' comment. I have one of each, and people sometimes treat it as some kind of achievement, but really, Pat, saying that???? The rest of the conversation was intended to show how Helen is trying to convince herself that all is going well, but I couldn't get over the ridiculous beginning.

Could Maggie Smith be Ursula?

[dairyfarmerswife]

And thanks Pseudo,new thread seems to have come round quickly this time.

[trevortrevorslatterfry]

I can't remember who asked on the prev thread but Johnny was trying to avoid Susan not Rob - she has been hanging around him trying to perfect her Leeds accent for the play.

YY why don't the Grundies go to the new cottage until their notice is up???

I hope the Titcheners have got wind of Helen's pregnancy and are coming to stage an intervention against their wicked son.

Also - are Adam / Ian really having a wedding at 1 month's notice? Why would they set such an early date rather than wait a bit and organise a nice big do. Especially as Ian is bound to be so busy with Xmas party cooking at work.

Thanks for the new thread pseudo BTW

[squeaver]

This new wedding date makes me even more convinced/devastated that Charlie's going to get the sack because of Justin taking Knob's side/getting the blame for the botulism/some plot that can only be uncovered by someone who speaks Polish. Then Charlie's going to want to leave the village and run away with Adam. Adam will realise that he truly loves Charlie, but does he love him enough to leave his herbal ley?? Surely not.

In the meantime, quite surprised that Helen was allowed to go out for lunch with Ian.

Also - PAT!!! Wake up woman!!!

[FloraDiesEarly]

When did Adam and Ian decide to get married? Was it when the law came in? I feel like it was mentioned a while ago, forgotten about and then reintroduced to fit the plot as PPs have said.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

Thanks Pseudo

Can't help wondering what Dark Secret will be revealed by Knobmother and Knobfather.

[PseudoBadger]

"In the meantime, quite surprised that Helen was allowed to go out for lunch with Ian."

Darling shouldn't work too hard. But that was a very long lunch wasn't it Darling.

[DadDadDad]

Actually, DFWife, last thread was on the slow side, lasting 3 weeks, where previous couple were more like just over 2 weeks. We haven't quite returned to the glory days of about this time last year when the thread was over in 10 days when we had a busy discussion about our ages.

[DadDadDad]

(And yes, I do still maintain my spreadshit, and yes, there probably is something wrong with me )

[songbird]

DDD I'd be disappointed to hear your spreadshit had been abandoned!

Speaking of which, does anyone else find themselves saying 'spreadshit' at work and then having to embarrassedly mumble 'private joke....' when they realise they're not here.

Cos I don't. Nope.

[choccyp1g]

The very last poster on the old thread (sorry can't remember who) mentioned the magical Marnie's. I just cannot get over there being a SPARE HOUSE on the farm all this time. OK the roof needs a bit of work, but FFS who just forgets they have a house? Apart from the scriptwriters of course.

[DadDadDad]

songbird - I say "spreadsheet" so much at work, that the "shit" alternative hasn't taken over fortunately. But now I'm worried that you have put the thought in my subconscious, and one day I'll be doing some presentation to top management (does happen) and then...

[PseudoBadger]

Sorry for the rubbish title but due to 2 friends passing away in the last 3 weeks my heart hasn't been in TA.

[DadDadDad]

Even more reason to say thank you, Pseudo, for creating this thread - your 38th in this series .

And I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I think the correct MN response is

[trevortrevorslatterfry]

pseudo

DDD - on another (unconnected) forum I am on, someone has used the past tense "spreadshat" to describe the action of having put something on a spreadsheet. I like this A LOT.

[outputgap]

Pseudo, I don't post much here but lurk happily. Just wanted to offer my commiserations.

And while I'm here, Flora, I do remember Ian announcing their plans to wed to Helen, I think, a long time ago. Was it when Helen was worried about Rob having fathered Whatshispus?

[DadDadDad]

It seems "spreadshat" is popular with a few people. It even has an Urban Dictionary entry.

[squeaver]

Oh, pseudo, I'm sorry to hear your news.

Adam and Ian decided to get married when they went to Florida (? I think) in January, immediately after Adam snogged Charlie at the New Year's Eve party.

[Toomuchtea]

So sorry to hear that Pseudo.

Absolutely agree about the asinine nature of Pat's question - have you decided whether you want a boy or a girl? As if what you decide has anything to do about it whatsoever.

People did make the oh, you've got a set remark to me when I had DD, and it always gave me the rage as I was a recurrent miscarrier and frankly was beyond thankful for the fact DD had survived, which was the only thing that mattered. Could not have cared less if she had been a DS. Or even a kitten. Did in fact dream she was a kitten before she was born - did anyone else ever have that sort of dream no it's only me.

[BYOSnowman]

Best wishes pseudo.

[Tickory]

Yes, daft remark from Pat. And when Knob said to Neil 'little fellow on the way', it would normally be replied with 'oh, do you know it's a boy then?'....

So Hellin must have been in touch with Ursula recently then on phone, or how would the Knobils know about the baby? And if she had then wouldn't she say 'sorry you couldn't make it to our dinner, what happened???'
Can't wait to hear Knobils side of things.

[squeaver]

I think they just had to bring up the boy/girl thing again as it obviously is going to be a girl. Is it the 20 week scan when you can find out the sex? When will that be? Round about Christmas?

[enochroot]

It seems like a perfectly good thread title to me! Thank you, Pseudo, for taking the time to do it.

I must have missed the announcement of the wedding. Let's hope it isn't another doomed wedding day. Another would be too awful so perhaps it means all will go well for them. The harsh words from Justin also sound like a red herring to me. He can't be such a fool as to ignore a man of proven worth such as Charlie and favour a knob he doesn't know.
But Charlie is managing the dairy temporarily. I don't think Justin was hinting that Charlie's actual job is on the line.

Pat's comment about baby gender sounded forced to me, as though she's pussy-footing round a touchy daughter, is afraid of saying the wrong thing and is therefore saying the wrong thing. (Been there, done that.....)

[LillianGish]

Of course there's a 50 percent chance it could be a boy and then Knob would infuriatingly be right again (even about something he couldn't possibly know!) He always somehow seems to get his own way and come up smelling of roses.