To point out there's a Sunday episode of The Archers tonight for the first time in nearly 18 months?

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

I know I'm not being unreasonable, btw! This is just to alert any Archers listener who's missed it that for the first time since last spring there's a Sunday episode of The Archers tonight (obviously will be available on catch up if you can't listen live, and omnibus will be a bit longer next Sunday). Episodes now going out on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. No word yet on when we might get our Friday episode back.

Having said all of that, it's the summer fete tonight, with Dunk the Vicar, a scarecrow competition and a celebrity appearance , so likely to be a bit toecurling, unless Drunk Alice commandeers the megaphone and broadcasts a few inconvenient truths to the assembled villagers. Sadly, not likely.

Feel free to join us on our long-running Archers discussion threads over in Radio Addicts any time. Lots of people dip in and out, and we believe there are a lot of you out there lurking but not posting. All welcome!

Link here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/4320618--Archers-thread-130-The-Fall-of-the-House-of-Aldridge-Discuss-The-Archers-here?watched=1&msgid=109954809#109954809

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We all know who you mean, Thyme! He'll be back for Christmas, surely, if not before.

YANBU. I'm actively avoiding listening live to TA because I'm way behind - binging on the omnibus on wet weekends doing ironing (which is what I should be doing now probably).
My iPod failed to download a couple in July but I don't seem to have missed anything crucial.

The only downside to being behind is that I have to also avoid the TA threads.

Thanks for the reminder @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g . I had Friday off and currently think today is Monday!

That is lovely @VaguelyInteresting . You must be very proud.

She had authority there!

I listen to the Omnibus. I couldn't listen to the monologues - boring. As a consequence I'm confused as to what's going on. I need to find a quick summary somewhere.

In brief, @CounsellorTroi, Alice has descended into alcoholism and won't/can't accept any help. Along the way she found out she was pregnant (unplanned). Chris was delighted but eventually she had to admit to Chris she had drunk a lot in the early stages of the pregnancy and was struggling not to to drink in the middle stages. She went to detox for a couple of weeks and gave birth to an apparently healthy baby girl called Martha. Unfortunately she then relapsed and it's been one long nightmare ever since. Chris and Martha are living with Neil and Susan and Alice has gone to rehab, checked out, come home and caused havoc by saying some dreadful things to her loved ones, and has now disappeared.

They decided not to do a foetal alcohol syndrome SL then.....

I was so excited that we’re back to five episodes a week. We just need Friday Archers and the free Waitrose coffee, and normal service will have entirely resumed.

I was wondering if Alice was going to make an appearance following the sight of her caricature scarecrow, which would have knocked any protest Hilary Noakes could have made into a cocked hat, but The Mystery Guest was a stroke of genius (and it wasn’t Lynda - much as I think she’s marvellous, her unveiling herself as her own celebrity would have been a bit much).

They decided not to do a foetal alcohol syndrome SL then.....

It was very much part of Alice’s pregnancy as she was terrified she’d done something to harm her unborn baby. The scenes where she tried to get clean by making Chris lock her in the bathroom until her alcohol withdrawal passed were particularly harrowing.

@CounsellorTroi

In brief, @CounsellorTroi, Alice has descended into alcoholism and won't/can't accept any help. Along the way she found out she was pregnant (unplanned). Chris was delighted but eventually she had to admit to Chris she had drunk a lot in the early stages of the pregnancy and was struggling not to to drink in the middle stages. She went to detox for a couple of weeks and gave birth to an apparently healthy baby girl called Martha. Unfortunately she then relapsed and it's been one long nightmare ever since. Chris and Martha are living with Neil and Susan and Alice has gone to rehab, checked out, come home and caused havoc by saying some dreadful things to her loved ones, and has now disappeared.

They decided not to do a foetal alcohol syndrome SL then.....

There's still time for Martha to show learning difficulties- might be a SL in the future. Given how much Alice was drinking (way in excess of the odd glass of wine with dinner here & there) I can't believe Martha could be entirely healthy (& it may be irresponsible for the writers to allow her to be as it may be seen as "condoning" heavy drinking in pregnancy?).

Sometimes symptoms of FAS and other learning difficulties do not become apparent until children start school especially if parents are unaware of (or in denial of) the usual milestones.

captain that had me in gits. Reminds me of when DS2 was small and wanted to listen to Waiting For Mingo. Took us ages to work out he wanted Pretty Flamingo.

I listened to the omnibus yesterday for the first time since The Terrible Monologues when I abandoned ship.

It does feel rather like my life has returned to a more normal normal as a result

The storyline was daft but Jackie Weaver really was fab

@ThymeafterThyme

The storyline was daft but Jackie Weaver really was fab

Agree. And quite a big part too - not like some special guests who have very short speaking bits.

I had also stopped listening and only came back in time for Martha's birth.

I can't work out what happened to Kirsty and her beau. And how did Vince Casey end up romancing Elizabeth??

Kirsty - Philip got done for using slave labour in hud building business. Kirsty has rented out their house to Helen and Lee.

Vince and Elizabeth met at a Borsetshire chamber of commerce seminar or something similar.

For hud, read hud.

Autoincorrect is a pile of dung.

HIS! Not bloody hud!

Thank you @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g! I’m a long time lurker on the archers threads and a pretty long time archers listener but have only been brave enough to post once . I’m a bit behind since going on holiday a couple of weeks back but will listen on catch up now - I’ve been very keen for the return of more episodes.

Come on over to the Archers thread to discuss all things Ambridge in a safe(ish) space hidden away in the Fun & Games section of Mumsnet

@EBearhug

Kirsty - Philip got done for using slave labour in hud building business. Kirsty has rented out their house to Helen and Lee.

Vince and Elizabeth met at a Borsetshire chamber of commerce seminar or something similar.

Thank you! Gosh poor Kirsty - again. Has she left?

She should have known those hud-builders are always up to no good...

No, Kirsty hasn't left because implausibly Philip handed over the house to her, possibly free of mortgage, and she is renting it to Helen, Lee and the boys, while she lodges with Roy. She is still working at Grey Gables, which is presumably very busy this summer when so many UK citizens are staying here for their holidays.

Please do join us on the main thread!

Good grief. Those Archers and Aldridges pop out sprogs easier than your average Herdwick.

Was thrilled to realise today that there was a Sunday episode to listen to.

It really feels like normal life is returning.

Now heading to the Archers thread to get the views on Jackie Weaver's guest appearance (I loved it!).