Don't be a Lonely Cow! Come and join in with The Archers chat

[PseudoBadger]

New thread!

On a positive note, Ian's back! I suspect because of the Helen/Rob saga but still, one nice character back in listening

cutting fantastic names, still make me laugh.

I find Ian irritating, I hate that laugh of his. I wonder what his advice to Helen will be. Sorry Giraffe I think I love to hate most characters, Brian and Kenton were my favourites until Kenton got together with Jolene, oh and Linda on a good day. They seem flawed and human instead of smug and sneery about anyone outside of Ambridge.

Hello to late arrivals from ML! (is that you, doodlysquat?)

If, like me, you've been avoiding Ambridge Extra, there is a superb synopsis thread so that we can keep up with Matt and Brendurr's adventures. I think it's fair to say that Bren is not exactly yearning for a Taaam Aaaaarcher sausage at the moment.

TallGiraffe, I'm certain that when Hellin turns up for dinner with Ian (Friday?), she will find that Rob has also been invited...

Oh for goodness sake! Why on earth would J/K be faffing about all over Borsetshire when they're obviously going to get married at Lower Loxley?

Yes, I've been expecting that for a long, long time. However, there's clearly something in the waters of the Am that makes the residents of Ambridge and environs completely unable to see what is in front of their noses.

Somethingyesterday I so agree. I was convinced that today Joleeeeeeeen would drop a heavy hint at el posho so she'd give her and Kenton the reception as a wedding gift, but as usual, my radar was off.

n.b. yet another example of the parallel world of finance that is Ambridge. The hotel is in so much trouble they've let the Uriah Heep wonderful Roy go as manager, yet they can afford to swan off on holiday at the drop of the hat.

Let alone blessed is the cheesemaker giving away an entire wheel of cheese for the auction.

Do the scriptwriters all live on private income that they think this is how troubled businesses operate?

Loma Sorry, were you thinking of Grey Gables? It's a possibilty I suppose, but Lower Loxley would make more sense. Kenton's only connection with GG is through his twin being best friends with the lovely Caroline; whereas he has a more direct connection with Lower Loxley. He was close to Nigel, is close to his sister and her Dcs, and lived there after he split up with Cathy. And LL pretty much runs on wedding fuel.

I'm not sure a few thousand pounds on a long delayed holiday would really make much of a dent in the potential salary of a GG manager. And they have saved money by not replacing Roy since Elizabeth stole him.

As regards the Bridge Farm cheese, I don't think they are quite so hard up that they can't spare one!

But I completely agree that the SWs cannot always be relied on to make the more obvious decision.

I always imagine they have to more or less give away Borchester Blue...

something you're right! My mistake in thinking that everyone's related in Ambridge...

I don't suppose I'm au fait with the price of cheese, but, as you say, it's more the easy come easy go way in which everyone's so willing to give away pricey goods at the drop of a hat. Remember Eddie's donation of a water feature for the ridiculous storyline on the flower display competition? Now they really are on the breadline and I couldn't conceive of the old (yes i realise its meant to be the same person!) Clarrie countenancing such waste.

LondonMother

[old gimmer emoticon] I am 60 and have been listening to TA for nearly all my life. my DGM listened from the very start of TA right to the end of her life...

Of course I was younger then, but I seem to recall there have always been annoyances in TA. For a start, in days of yore when there was no Sunday epi, Friday's epi would end with a cliffhanger - could be major, could be minor. eg. watch out, the bull's loose...dum de diddly dee

Then on Monday "dum de dum de dum de dum" end of last Friday's scene, usually ending with a whimper eg. thank goodness you came by, Dan.

And Walter Gabriel? Gave me the heeby-jeeebies, me ol' pal, me ol' beauty. The Grundys? Signposted get rich quick schemes that you knew would go wrong. From way way back. I remember Eddie and Jolene, blimey I even remember Lillian getting a pony for a birthday present in her teens, Jenny get preggers out of wedlock...

I have dipped into Mustardland. Long ago I was on usenet: uk.media.radio.archers - surely there must be an umrat or two on MN?

*ie Monday's began with the last half-finished scene of Friday, and finished the scene. Then went on as usual.

Oh and anyone remember The Doom Music?

Was there Doom Music when Grace died? (I've only heard anniversary recaps.) I envy you those memories Soothsayer. I've been listening almost all my life, but missed out on the earliest days.

The Friday cliffhangers are generally a damp squib now; inevitably because the Sunday episodes are always so uneventful. (Though not necessarily dull.)

Thinking of Dan and Walter etc makes me dreadfully nostalgic.....

Don't know I'm afraid, Something -even then they might have used the thing more doomy than the Doom Music for that i.e. silence. That's what they did when John died, but don't know if it was after they'd stopped using the DM. I should imagine that for things like Uncle Tom getting potted by a poacher (didn't consciously hear that one, though) it would be "Tom!" "Tom!" DUM DUM DUM DUM DIDDLE IDDLE IDDLE IDDLE

They didn't go in for long falls accompanied by long screams in those days... though didn't Jethro fall out of a tree to his death or something?

Ooh ooh Soothsayer, can you explain the Grace Archer thing, I've only been listening since the early 80's. Who was she married to? Was it Phil? If it was how did he meet Gill?

and

Eddy and Jolene? I vaguely remember Clary not being too happy about her being on the scene but I had a life back then so probably missed episodes.

Phil developed Hollowtree pig unit at Brookfield (his father, Dan's, farm) to make good enough to marry Grace, who was a bit of posh. This was to get the nation riveted by pig farming because success would lead to true love finding a way.

Then came the opening night of ITV the fire in which Grace died. Jill was a farm secretary I think - these would travel round farms to do their books for them.

Eddie and Clarrie had their ups and downs and break ups. I think the song "Jolene" echoes what happened, somewhat, and J and E had the country music in common. It was also known (somehow it must have emerged in the subtext? or maybe she even dieted at one point?) that Clarrie was a very well upholstered girl (fat) as opposed to Jolene, who I think was known for her bust. So I've always thought of Clarrie as more than plump though there are no references to this these days.

I vaguely remember when Clarrie finally brought Eddie up to scratch, and he at last popped the question. And I think it was on Mustardland on a thread speculating on Ambridge sex-lives that someone suggested Eddie and Clarrie are at it like rabbits. Seems plausible.

I think there was doom music when Mark Hebden died and John Archer (can't remember whether there was when Jill found Phil). It is the Archers music, but in a minor key (?)

Deffo silence when Tony found John

it may be in a minor key but the Doom Music is kind of loud and...doomy. (and doesn't go "dum de dum de dum de dum" (except at the end, when it goes back to the main theme) it goes DUM DUM DUM DUM DIDDLE IDDLE IDDLE IDDLE... I'm going to have to find a link, aren't I?

Vanessa Whitburn didn't like the Doom Music and wouldn't allow it to be used, apparently. I hope the new chap feels differently. When I feel the occasion warrants, I sing along to the closing music and just carry on till I get to the doom bit. How the rest of the family love that!

I cried when Phil Archer died - was there silence or some music?

It was a sad death but not a shocking one. Probably only Soothsayer and I remember Polly's death. And the deaths of John and Mark were heartbreaking.

(Nigel's death does not count. It wasn't part of the story. Just... wrongness. )

Boreof whabylon...it is indeed I, Who is you?

Should I start to listen again (I was a devoted fan for over 40 years 'til the idiocy of the last 6 months did for me).

What of Helen of the near virgin birth and her accursed offspring? And St Shula of the Stableyard? Is Sid still dead? Has Jack died...and would anyone notice anyway?

Is Cathy crazy - honestly - she seems to want to get the sack. I'd be getting pissed off at her constant personal phonecalls.