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...

Boops to Freddy and Brian.

I enjoyed the moment Kate asked something like "is this a delegation?" when they caught her yurt-cleaning, and J and B answered simultaneously:

Jennifer: "No" (ie I don't want to admit I'm an interfering grandparent, I'm trying to be tactful)

Brian: "Yes" (ie you need sorting out and we're here to do it, tact doesn't come into it).

I thought Jim and Robert had decided to bury the hatchet after their last round of bird-related rivalry? Or has it unburied itself subsequently?

I agree that I find it difficult to believe Robert would go out canvassing without having informed himself on local issues first.

Thanks Gasp I missed that bit Binky It's popular then!

I thought you’d all be pleased that Kate was cleaning the Yurts!
Nolithando is a fabulous teenager, and has so got her mother’s measure. A her and Lily clash could be fun, and Noli seems extremely intelligent.

I agree Bekabeech it's nice to hear a really typical teenager!

Mind you the yurts have been empty for while I bet they need it

Did anyone notice the erfreue? If Noluthando is 16, then education is not obligatory in any part of the UK. I agree too the idea of her just walking into a college place is absurd. Round here a college place mostly has to be applied for months before the course starts. I’m sure it is elsewhere too.

I find the Jim Robert rivalry irks me so much l tend to not listen. I mostly like both characters and the pettiness somehow grates.

AuldHeathen, the statutory school leaving age in the UK is the last Friday in June in the school year the child reaches the age of 16. So if Noluthando became 16 after the beginning of this term, she hasn't reached that age.

However, since 2013 it's also been the case that young people have to stay in education or training till their 18th birthday. That may not be in college, but if isn't they need to be doing work-based learning such as an apprenticeship, or be in part time education if they're working (including volunteering) for more than 20 hours a week. So staying at home and having a holiday aren't really available options.

Pressed Send too soon.

I agree, however, that the reality is that the authorities wouldn't ever find out, probably wouldn't particularly care if they did, and equally probably wouldn't get their act together in time to do anything about it before she's due to go home anyway.

That said, I bet she either decides she likes the college/college social life so much she doesn't want to leave, or finds a boyfriend and demands to stay on.

Didn't Noli say she was 17 to Freddie and Lily? Bit of a porky there then

... or finds a boyfriend and demands to stay on ... ... gets pregnant, stays till baby is born, (or returns to SA and gives birth,) decides to punish her father by depriving him of his grandchild - ultimately, hands her baby over to Kate to bring up. Then disappears from Ambridge for the next 20 years.

Or hands her baby to Jenny more like!

OOOH (waves hand in air) Or hands baby to Ian and Adam!!!!!

Yaay we've sorted it ! Gruach

I'm really surprised by the rivalry between Robert and Jim. I always thought they had a purely ornithological rivalry and were fine with each other apart from that. Where has this generalised sniping come from, or was it always there?

Adam and Ian are a complication ppeat, I admit. But the SWs could wring even more drama out of their story by producing an almost parentless baby that they, for whatever reason, are prevented from rescuing. (Sort of a reverse of Elizabeth/Fraser/Shula all those years ago.)

(Was it Fraser?)

I prefer to think of Noli hanging around, eventually pairing off with Freddie. Putting Lily’s nose out of joint for years. And being a wonderful addition to Lower Loxley.

Ceto, l stand corrected. Being in Scotland, that’s the system l know better and different rules apply. Not that l‘m sure xactly what they are any more. Though Brine was still talking bollocks to some degree, IMVHO!

Oh, that could happen too, Beka! Would be great. Just - later.

Holi and Freddie would make quite a naice couple. Possibly. We don’t really know N yet. Time will tell.

BTW l suspect the law around a 16 yo in England probably doesn’t apply to one who is visiting from abroad for only a few months. That does make Brine wrong then. Sorry if l sound like l’ve too much time on my hands this afternoon. I have.

And Freddie and Noli would put Lily's nasty little racist nose out of joint. Which would be brilliant!

Bert Just mentioning the word urban doesn't make her a racist, she's a snob, granted, but I heard nothing to made me think she was a racist.

Philip and Noli would offend her snobbishness!!

The way she said "........urban....." could only be racist.

I didn't hear it. Cities are lived in by everyone.

Yes of course. But "urban" in this context doesn't mean living in a city.