Quelle surprise! Rob hasn't FOTTFSOF and is in fact hiding in the bushes at Henwee's school. Discuss the latest unlikely Archers events here.

[PseudoBadger]

What do we want?
Realistic storylines!
When do we want them?
As soon as the writers see this!

I know what's right. It's its, not it's. grr!

Horrid. I was looking forward to her having the baby and not being with Tom. Also a bit of a cliche given she is late thirties I think.

Eyes!

Yeah, I'm quite annoyed now. And I liked what I heard of Huge Canoe this morning too.

I think the miscarriage paves the way to Kirsty and Roy getting together now.

I like Kirsty. But I wasn't overjoyed with this storyline. Surprise babies can be tedious. Perhaps she could do something a bit more interesting now.,

I think Tom will give up the scholarship to be with Kirsty, which will be the turning point.

This was one of those episodes you listen to with all ears & hush any potential interruptions.

It made me very sad. Thinking of Ruth, & statistics, I was hoping it would be a false alarm

Could anyone who went last year possible reassure me about how scary it is going to be to speak at the conference to get their minds off this sad storyline? I'm dying of nerves here :(

It'll be fine. ... very warm audience! Good luck. Wish I was going this year.

Cecile You will be fine. It's a crazy mix of academic seriousness and British embarrassment at being earnest about anything. Kate Fox would have a field day.
The only time the audience turned ugly was when a certain Mr Titchener was mentioned.

People are very forgiving. The Anarchists get a bit "funny" if you show pictures of the cast (or act as if Ambridge is made up) but not in a scarey way. There was a lot of laughter, in he right places.

Thanks for the reassurance. Anyone else here going?

I'm not sure there are any right places in my presentation but any laugh is a good laugh I suppose

And what do you mean it isn't real mummy?

Although ... there was a certain relaxed casualness to last year's con. Just one day, didn't really cost anything ...

I can't go this year but I think if I were - my expectations might be slightly fiercer because it's so much more expensive and extended.

That said, I'm sure people will be lovely to speakers!

Was just about to iPlay tonight's ep for a gentle wind-down. Maybe not.

Eek.

On the other part of the episode, Miranda is nasty, the way she was upping the ante with Jenny. Glad Brine talked her down from it.

Miranda kept morphing into Jack Woolley's awful daughter in my head. Which is strange as Miranda is meant to be confidently upper middle class ( to use a slightly odious descriptor) and Hazel is a caricature social climber ( even more odious... sorry) . Julia pargetter was the daughter of a greengrocer so I don't suppose Miranda is going to be exposed as having been in the typing pool or working at Woolworths ... it was just an odd moment.

I'll be there, Cecile. I was there last year, too. You'll be fine.

The thing I found weirdest was listening to an episode en masse.

I'm going too - there's a thread over here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/2808682-Academic-Archers-Conference - I wasn't there last year but sure you'll be fine!

Pseudo, we may be requiring a new thread soon - I'm drawing a blank for title suggestions though.

Something about JD's party, I suppose - not poor Kirsty.

That was so sad, really well done. I had a little cry then totally lost it watching Call The Midwife on IPlayer. Poor Kirsty. Wish she'd had someone a bit less useless with her than Helen. I do hope the SWs let her go home to her mum or have her mum visit.