The Archers - What’s your poison? Alice is legless, the fish are lifeless and Pip is clueless (Discussion #85)

[DadDadDad]

Even if you don't have a leg(?), a life or a clue, Welcome to the first ever 85th Archers thread!

Wild speculation and sensible questions always welcome - especially any newcomers.

A little game for the weekend, inspired by Timetogetup0630 and Gruach on the last thread:

Invent an explanation for how your username was the inspiration for an Archers storyline, character, etc - be creative!

My username is telling the story of Toby, Adam and Ian, although it probably needs some punctuation: Dad! Dad/Dad?

dairyfarmerswife - bit too easy for you, but as professional country folk maybe you could judge the winner?

Credit to MrsGrindah for the clever thread title

Bekabeech - that struck a chord!1 that first baby bit, where you imagine yourself working away rocking the baby softly next to you...

I agree that Neil's illness will be waste related - indeed I raised that very point on the previous thread the moment the script started making heavy weather of his flu.

Nope. This is the NZ PM's first baby. I wish her all the luck in the world as there are a lot of expectations on her shoulders

Can anyone tell me what Emma actually did say to Nic? I missed it!

I thought I was listening and i still couldn't tell you!

I think the NZ PM is also sensible in planning to taking 4 weeks off after the birth. I hope she can manage it all.

I‘m not sure what Emma‘s contribution to the cat fight was. It seemed to be mostly Will and Nic taunting her. I was wondering though if Susan will do or say anything when she hears, as l‘m sure she will. She doesn’t seem to be involved in that part of Emma‘s life. Possibly Emma knows what she‘s like. I wonder what Jolene will do. That‘s the second stupid thing Nic has done at work in less than a fortnight.

I‘ve heard it twice and still can‘t say. I cannot bear a 3rd but am now curious .....

Emma stole nics idea for Valentine's Day? Was a bit tenuous

Yes, I hope the NZ PM can manage it too. (I was also being a bit tongue in cheek likening her to Pip...)

Wasn‘t it Kenton‘s idea?Anyway, it wasn‘t a very original concept, was it?

What l do remember was Nic trying to avoid serving Emma and Emma being a bit impatient about her pork scratching. Was it only Nic that started crying?

Their falling out seems very contrived and Nic’s reaction was out of all proportion not to mention out of character.

We had All Aboard - our favourites were the Boomerang Song and Right Said Fred. And I’m looking it up I have discovered that it can be found on Spotify!

“In looking it up”

olene complains to Emma about taking the Valentine's Day idea after Kenton had spent money on publicity. When Jolene steps away, Emma is spiteful to Nic over the incident. Will comes in and Emma lays into him, too. Nic argues back for once but takes it too far and there is a public slanging match. Jolene tells Nic to leave before her shift is over and she runs out in tears.

Lowfields take.

Emma was, as usual, at her absolute spiteful worst. I doubt she could care less about the fact that Nic was ‘told off’ by Jolene for giving away the Valentine’s Day idea.

Emma’s been ‘off’ with Nic since Will had a go at her (Emma) for approaching Brian at the recent shoot. She doesn’t seem to be able to separate her relationships with the two - when she falls out with Will, she takes it out on Nic. When Nic asked her to babysit so that she and Will could go out for Will’s birthday it was very clear that there was no way on earth Emma would do anything to allow them a nice night out. She’s a mean-spirited, miserable, unpleasant woman and I think there’s mostly truth in what Nic and Will had to say to her tonight.

Nic is completely blameless as far as I’m concerned. She’s the only one who goes out of her way to keep the peace. Without her help, I don’t think Emma would have managed to win the Parish Council election. Nic’s been a great friend to Emma. Emma doesn’t deserve her.

William is stirring it up around Emma. He was rude and belittling to her when she spoke to Brian and is encouraging Nic to blame Emma for the Valentine thing. And he was horrible about being able to afford a nice meal.

And why do they always expect Emma to babysit?

William is utterly awful. Nic is utterly wet.

And I still wasn’t to know who is going to look after Adam and Ian’s baby. If Ian’s going to have a career break then shouldn’t he have at least flagged it up to Grey Gables, seeing as how they seem to be setting him up as a celebrity chef?

Ian has no obligation to tell his employer yet - Lexie isn't even pregnant!

Actually, since Grey Gables start their Christmas plannng in late November there’ll be loads of time to replace him........

I heard it as:

Emma and Will fell atgyedcabout Brian (no clear right or wrong but I’m a new listener but know their history)

Emma wouldn’t babysit

Emma used the Valentine’s Day idea

Will and Nic taunted Emma about money (both definitely had a part to play) and Nic wouldn’t give Emma her paid for pork scratchings.

I think whilst they all did stuff wrong, what Will and Nic said to Emma was awful and in public. And you really can’t be surprised if you got reprimanded or even the boot for shouting at a customer about having more money than them in front of the whole pub no matter what the situation.

You know upthread I mentioned not complaining But really all this acrimony and bleedin' DRAMA. I knew it when the programme synopsis writer began calling TA a DRAMA. fgs The sooner a good permanent editor begins the better.

How long has Nic worked in the pub? I'd have thought deliberately charging a customer for alcohol she didn't receive is an immediate sackable offence. And she was definitely very much a player in last night's shenanigans.

*atgyedcabout out about 🤦🏽‍♀️

Belated thanks to DDD for the life expectancy info. Very interesting.

I came back after a good few days to his post, immediately followed by MrsArthurShappey's post about enthusiastic lovers and airlines. I was extremely confused, not least because I am in the middle of one of my frequent forays through Cabin Pressure (just about to listen to Ottery St Mary) and felt I had dropped into an alternative universe.

Thank you all, mud and gnus included.

Who needs TA?

Can't stand Will.