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

Puremince Toby mentioned to Pip at Brookfield that his dad wants to open an account for their baby within earshot of Jill, who seemed much more pragmatic about the whole thing when Pip nervously talked to her about it.

Could Susan and Neil give the pig business to Ed and Emma - might be better for Keira than an expensive pony in a field.

I wondered, if there is a field going spare, if we might get another self-build.

Yes me too but I thought it they might sell it to Justin!

But what about the devilled kidneys being ruined?

Just dropping back in with an AA-based point (hi Ebear and puddock and great idea about the rendezvous - let's also do badges again?) I also wanted to say that Susan picked up on my presentation by saying that no "serious" mental health problems had been featured in Ambridge. I don't know about you but I have suffered from anorexia, so has my sister and a number of my friends and it is incredibly serious! That would be my main quarrel with her but otherwise she was fantastic!

PS: image should, I hope, show my moment of the conference...

I was going to say we've had depression, drug and alcohol dependencies, and anorexia, and all of them are serious. But in Ambridge, these tend not to have long lasting effects. Apart from Greg.

I tried also to cover that in my talk, but I only had a Quick Pitch's worth of words, sadly.

I did enjoy Jennifer's 'Ruined breakfast...it was devilled kidneys'. Only in the Aldridge household...

I am glad that Neil has taken the job and I really hope this is an unalloyed bit of good fortune for them. Also, yes, great idea about passing the pig business to Ed and Emma - isn't Ed often underemployed? Otherwise, wouldn't Neil sell the business? The pigs are Tom's though, aren't they, so not sure what assets the business actually comprises? If Ed is good with other stock, is pig-keeping/rearing easily picked up?

And I thought Susan was great at persuading Neil - reminded me of my dear mum who encouraged me to step up and take a job I was rather daunted by.

I think devilled kidneys is something of a SW trope- I seem to remember the insufferable James turn down Lilian’s offer of a sausage sandwich with something along the lines of “We’re not builders Ma, can’t you rustle up some devilled kidneys or something?”

I wouldn't have said 55k was unrealistic for a pig unit manager.

Often it would be less but include a tied cottage, council tax, electric and oil paid.

So as Neil wouldn't get those things I'd expect around there.

isn't Ed often underemployed

Hasn’t he just taken a full-time job with Adam (sacrificing his freedom yadda yadda....after some strong-arming from Emma - who also managed to guilt Johnny into giving up the opportunity)?

If anything happens to Nic so that we can hear more of the Ed/Will/Emma feud then I’ll be close to giving up. I like Will and Nic. Could live without Ed and Emma. And why did Ed have to accompany Emma the other night? She should sort her own mess out.

I am team Emma but I quite like nic and dont want her to die. I think she might though. Why did Fallon sound so weird in the vintage stall scene. It sounded nothing like her.

Mmm...I much prefer Ed and Emma. Will is - oh, I can't be bothered, everyone knows Will's faults - and Nic is increasingly being written as rather wet and limited. But I'm sure she won't be killed off. That's a bit grim. Will is mostly horrible ("It's nawt roight ter have woiminn in the cricket team, Oi'm goin' ter go where Oi'm appreesheeated,") but I don't think the story writers want to turn him into a Thomas Hardy character.

I'd forgotten about Ed's full time job. Good! maybe they'll get their house AND a prize ram.

Toby could take over the pigs. Or Rex.

I did worry about Nic tonight - we'll probably hear tomorrow if it's not just empty hints. But Nic was ill in bed which is why Eddie and Joe were looking after Poppy. ( Another child who is good at Art.)

At least Nic got to go to the nice Mexican before she got sick.

I wonder if she is ok it will lead to Will attempting to mollycoddle her with either it working or him finally realising her strengths and giving her more freedom.

I enjoyed Joe telling will to take nic dancing.

But will Shula's garlic mash and steak match up to Susan's chilli?

Good for Jenny Darling pushing back at Brine tonight - cheeky bugger going on and on at her like that. Does anyone else think we’re heading for a ‘IPSO complaint about local papers’ side SL too?

Bit worried about Neyuul's new job, didn't Brine say the board were going to vote to delay the pig unit?

Tbh if I was Alistair I’d rather have the curry that only took 30 mins then wait for her to herself up, defrost steaks and then cook.

Beka i hope they don't kill Nic off but she might have some sort of infection, septicaemia? that needs catching early (maybe from the scratch she got sorting out the old stuff with Joe)

Maybe she will have her arm amputated and we will get a so about dealing with disability

I agree that living with a disability would be a more interesting storyline than killing her off.

The falling out between Nic and Emma and Emma's failed attempt at reconciliation was a bit of a signpost though.

We'll have endless guilt and regret to look forward to.

Yes I wondered about a disability storyline. So either death, loss of a limb or a public service announcement about catching infections early.
I think I must be going soft in my old age, I found Helen's speech about how having children had made the colours of the world brighter, quite moving.