The Archers #96: Is that a rat I smell or the whiff of Snell? In Chaucer’s famous Tale of Two Torsos, Brian’s ‘still got it’ and Poldark is searching for scything opportunities in Susan’s kitchen.

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Welcome..... I'd concocted a longer title with all sorts of references to bitch stitching and pasta bakes, but was thwarted by the pesky character limit

I'm not sure of the back story of Hannah, how she's connected to the village other than her current job at Pig Central, but why does she think that she is so entitled to an affordable home? There must be many other young people in the village who would like the opportunity. Much as I dislike Emma whose behaviour in the past has been the cause of so much trouble but is now airbrushed out, she is probably far more deserving than Hannah.

Maybe Hannah will get one too and they can be neighbours. I don’t know much about the criteria for these things but I would have thought Ed and Emma tick more boxes - grew up in the village, family still there, worked there for longer.

Good point panic.

Well, I suppose Russ is now Hero Of The Hour, though rather like the way it instantly undercut by his whinging reference to being "useful". Still, he'll be teflon-coated against the sneers of the young 'guns.
On the other hand it was his idea to go to a crowded place to shop. Seriously, though, doubt he knows enough about Elizabeth to know of the possibility of a panic attack.

I was at Russ's line 'I can't make loads of money.' Surely that should have been 'I can't WON'T make loads of ANY money.'

Russ insisted on going to Felpersham because presumably he was worried he’d run into too many people from college in Borchester or possibly his ex.

Glad it's not just me R4

I thoroughly enjoyed how Russ said he knew a great parking spot and Lizzie later revealed they'd struggle to park for ages

No need to worry about spare rooms at Grange Farm. Half of Ambridge is looking for rented accommodation, and they can't all live at Willow Cottage.

(I did appreciate Kirsty pointing out to Roy that living next door to Tom wasn't her dream neighbour.)

Good point, Lillian.

The reason for Helen's love interest to be a judo instructor is so that one day, when Knob returns to Ambridge, Lee can FIGHT him

How are Ed and Emma going to find the deposit for a house if they can't pay the rent?

We are looking at the Elizabeth storyline developing into full blown agoraphobia, aren't we? She didn't want to go out shopping for the twin's birthdays, didn't want to go out to see Freddie, and hasn't done her Christmas shopping. After last night, she's not going to want to risk another panic attack.

I didn't get the impression that ed and Emma couldn't pay the rent rather that Clarrie and Eddie had offered it as a Christmas bonus type of thing. Emma had the money as she was now going to spend it on George.

Deepan didn’t Neil and Susan gift them money for, or towards, a deposit when Neil for his new job?

Yes I think Ed was giving it because they had a good year and Emma did a lot for the turkeys.

But I can’t see the house purchase going smoothly...

liliangish you are right of course!

Well, fingers crossed for the Grundies - EdNEmmur need that break. They get a house, Brian and Jenny lose theirs....why would Ed know about the reduction in offer? And why - sigh - must Eddie, yet again, cut corners and bodge and do the wrong thing.

I sincerely hope Lily kicks Russ to the kerb soon - his whining and self-pity is so unattractive, apart from anything else. I thought she was more robustly realistic than to succumb to his sulks and guilt-trippery, but not so sure.

He will have done a lot of 'work' on Lily whilst she was at college.

I sincerely hope Lily kicks Russ to the kerb soon
It's a difficult time of year to do that. Besides, I won't be deprived of my Brookfield Christmas cringe-fest!
She may see reason when we get nearer The Anniversary and realise that either (a) he is not a patch on Nigel or (b) that she shouldn't be trying to fill the void with a father-figure-boyfriend. Or both.
I fear that it may come down to a standoff as to who needs her most - Russ or Lizzie (or even Freddie). Meanwhile, Lily's future will wither and die due to putting other people first.

I wonder whether he might end up transferring his attentions to Lizzie? Kenton's reaction would be interesting.

Just listened- he genuinely was really good with Lizzie’s panic attack though!

He was good with Lizzie, dealing with panic attacks is part of the job for staff in colleges and universities, we’re the people you want around to deal with acute distresss. Well those of us that don’t run a mile at the sight of a student!

Anyone wonder if Natasha is the secret buyer of Brian and Jenny's house? She's the type who would ask for money off last minute.

So Tom marries her and the whole dynamic between "Rich" archer-Aldridge's and "poor" Archers is turned in its head.

So Tom marries her and the whole dynamic between "Rich" Archer-Aldridge's and "poor" Archers is turned in its head.
What, you mean after Peggy and her daughters being rich because they married money it will be the turn of one of the menfolk to marry money? That's a depressing thought. Does no one do well out of just hard work and perseverance in Ambridge?

Does no one do well out of just hard work and perseverance in Ambridge?

Indeed. I won't be happy if when things don't work out with Ed'n'Emmur's house

I admit I'm a bit stressed at the moment so having weird over-emotional reactions to things but I was actually shaking and a bit teary with RAGE at Eddie last night, I just knew Emma was going to end up covered in shit. And then annoyed because 'oh we've got our house so I'll just laugh at being covered in shit hahahahaaaaa'.

Eddie and Joe are just awful. Why on earth would Joe prefer to shit in a portaloo when there's probably several extremely nice loos in Grange Farm? And Eddie wonders why people don't help the Grundies out!