The Archers: Tally-Ho for the Hunt Ball! Will Justin return from Scotland with the Gay Gordons? Will Adam feel a right Charlie? Discussion #81

[DadDadDad]

Thanks, R4, for the title (again!).

I'm your temporary host while PseudoBadger is on her sabbatical / prison term / secret mission.

Old hands and complete newbies all welcome.

Spoilers (eg Radio Times descriptions of future programmes) not welcome.

When will Matt reappear? Before / during / after the wedding?

The floor is yours...

I am trying to think about which character I am most like- but I am preoccupied with people using the expression "out of wedlock". Please tell me it was used ironically.......?

Are you implying there's something wrong with that phrase Bertrand? Isn't the dictionary definition simply 'born of parents not legally married'?

"out of wedlock" has a clearly understood meaning: "Born of parents who were not married at the time of birth."

Would you have preferred it if I had described it as having an illegitimate child?

But yes, there was a slight tinge of irony in my use of the phrase ... it's really not something I ever, ever think about.

"Are you implying there's something wrong with that phrase Bertrand? Isn't the dictionary definition simply 'born of parents not legally married'?"

No, nothing wrong with the phrase. Just a bit old fashioned. And I didn't think it was something that crossed people's minds these days.

I like to think I am like Kirsty but I fear that in reality I am like Lillian.

I don't think it does particularly cross people's minds these days. But when posters are identifying things in common with characters then 'children born out of wedlock' is just a fact.

What character are you most like? I suspect you might be a Robert.

I'm not sure - but I'll take that - bit in the background, but quietly supportive of his wife's projects, dependable, intelligent.

I would say Kate having a child out of wedlock is one of the first defining character moments for her in a way

In real life I don't know who's married or not as its not really very interesting!

I fear I may be a mix of Lynda and Kate Obviously only taking the pleasanter parts of each

I didn't think it was something that crossed people's minds these days.

It doesn't. Only in the context of an Archers' thread where I am looking for parallels between my life and the fictional character Kate - and it's an expression which I'd imagine some of the older Archers characters might use.

Definitely how Peggy would regard it. Though she was very sweet with Kirsty when Kirsty was pregnant and miscarried.

PPfruit.... accept that Lynda has her softer moments but absolutely nothing pleasant about Kate!

I think I might be closest to Pat. Not during her inexplicable Rob induced fudge state, but all the rest of the time.

Fugue, not fudge!

Only some of Kate's new agey aspects (but I don't look like a hippy) , I am not mainstream in my way of eating either! Certainly not the selfishness or lack of mothering skills.

Ppeat, I've been reading a fair bit on sustainable food production and the role of organic production within that (and GM crops, and local production) on and off over the last few years, as I worked within the industry for a while. My sources are, I think, reasonably respected academics and well-informed - Andrew Balmford, Robert Paalberg and others, can't think of them off the top of my head - and they are sceptical about the capacity of organic production to feed the world sustainably. The arguments are lengthy and not for a forum on a radio soap, and I've no doubt there are others who could argue compellingly the opposite case. So, feel free to disagree with me, but...'must pull you up'??? Am I a horse? are you my rider and superior?? Dear, dear, I don't think you really meant to say that, did you??

Relax, Bertrand, I used the phrase 'out of wedlock' in a knowing, ironic, 'aren't we all in on the little joke against a middle England that doesn't really exist except in corners of Ambridge' manner. Perhaps I am too subtle?

I found wedlock extremely useful when my first husband died and his rapacious brother was sniffing around the house for a slice of the estate. So, I do think about it when I see people having kids without making watertight arrangements should the worst happen.

I think Rob induced a fudge-like state in many people. Bertrand. A heavy, sticky cloyingness.

Cromwell bit of a weird expression it's true! Sorry This is my dream ;

If every country were (or were helped) to be self sufficient in food production (obviously not completely) growing what was right for their environment. Then organics could be the saviour of our world (resulting in a great reduction of air miles, huge tankers etc.) The populations could actually have work to do on the farms . Organics involves a lot of manpower. No need for gas guzzling hugely expensive machines.

At the moment it seems as if global agriculture is being run by massive conglomerates ; gm and pesticide producers who are totally effing everything up. Witness the demise of the bees.

One word, ppeat: Trade. There are many, many more (but it is a forum on a radio soap!) but the wealth generated by trade alone is an argument against 'self-sufficiency'. Never mind the poor sods who have to eat yams/lingonberries/barley and sod all else depending on what their environment will sustain without pesticides, fertilisers, mechanisation, irrigation. GM can reduce hunger through reducing risks from disease, and make crops less water-intensive. I have a feeling we would discuss and disagree on a great deal AFK. But this isn't the place!

I'm pretty sure we could feed the world organically if everyone became vegan.

There I go, channelling Kate again.

Actually I have turned into Brian following that statement, grumpy

Having just done a massive catch up, I found Helen's strop about the yoghurt very amusing. When was she last associated with her actual business in TA? Years I would think.

Helen was away from the business when in prison but prior to that she kept working despite Rob making it difficult in late pregnancy. She was talking about cheese and the plans for the farm pretty soon after returning to live at the farm.

The cheese/dairy business has always been her baby, I remember her going of to college to study cheese-ology and being the creative force behind it - she is the creator of the cheeses. Pat was always supportive and involved but the cheese was Helen's baby as much as the sausages were Tom's,

I like to think I am like Kirsty but I fear that in reality I am like Lillian

Heh, I suspect that whoever most of us identify with our friends would map us onto someone else we regard as less desirable :)

I don't think I've ever identified consistently with any of the characters but I do certainly empathise or have periods of identification with some much more than others.