Thread 99 (yes, 99!): Join us for spirited discussions of The Archers and its Top Blokes, whether you're Team Elizabeth (low spirits), Team Kate (Spiritual Home) or Team Toby (spirits =gin)

[Bittermints]

Thanks due to @PseudoBadger for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads and to @DadDadDad for being our resident statistician and keeping the ball rolling when Pseudo stepped back a bit. Thanks also to all those who contributed to the thread title.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed. We don't all agree on all points and most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you'd like to be Susan's best friend or other odd unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please. We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3439443-keep-it-to-yourself-the-archers-spoilers-thread-4, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

So, to business. What a fantastic two-hander. Massive BOOP points to Alison Dowling, the scriptwriter and director (and the therapist). I had more than a small tear in my eye listening to that.

I'm another one with a vote of thanks to chemenger for all that information on the last thread about distilling. I should know some of that because I went on a tour of the whisky distillery near where my parents live but I've forgotten most of it except how delicious the end product is.

I don't think Alan's idea is about young carers, because he, like everyone else, hasn't noticed that going on yet. I thought it was going to be something like the Nic Grundy Memorial Children's Liturgy Plaque/Box of Crayons. To get the parish to fundraise for it during Lent and then the Holy Week children's Passion play could mark the grand unveiling.

But a sepsis awareness thing would also make sense.

Early 70s, I was in the last year in my area to do the 11+ and the primary school did plenty of IQ test preparation. I assumed that was the norm.

Re Shula - I'm sure I've read on here re her A levels and vet ambitions, but that's not mentioned in this history I found

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thearchers/2010/12/sixdiamondddecades--the_1970.html

However, that does say that both Kenton and Shula did well in their O levels and that she began A levels.

I'm not sure I believe that history though, I've not read much of it but my eyes chanced on Tony being described as a 'young buck' really?

Shula is only a little bit older than me. I'm sure I remember when I was in the sixth form, eavesdropping on conversations between my science A level peers, hearing that applying for veterinary college was regarded as an even tougher option than medical school (as it still is now, I believe). You had to be doing the right subjects and on track to get excellent grades. No idea how much work experience was expected. If Shula wasn't doing the right subjects that may show a lack of initiative on her part as it was all set out in the UCCA guide, which my school had in the careers room. We were advised to consult it well before choosing our A level subjects.

Having said that, I was exceptionally lucky with my school. Maybe Borchester Grammar wasn't as good.

[any progress with that overinfested emoticon?]

TTT, Quater, and Fink, thanks for the explanations.
🦗

Tom!

Why was Jill worried about what Peggy thought about her relationship with Leonard. Is there some history going on that was before my time?

And what do we think that phone call to Elizabeth's answering machine is all about?

IRRC Peggy formed a firm friendship with the husband of another Laurels resident when she was visting Jack during the latter stages of his dementia. And felt conflicted as she was still a married woman.

Also Peggy knows all about the latent ‘ jealousy’ Jill feels about the first Mrs Phil Archer. ( Rosie’s great grandma? ) Indeed, wasn’t there some desire to vandalise the stained glass window together as a show of their mutual understanding?
I recall that as being a lovely scene about friends who have known each other for an entire lifetime

So what I meant was, Jill may not want to judged as a hypocrite, in that the widowed can find happiness, and now she understands that Phil loved her, and also loved Grace.

Got there in the end, first post too
I may not be back, ‘tis stressful

Have some indoorvoice!

And Welcome!

Shula had hopes of being a show jumper, didn't she - though perhaps not as a living. Ì seem to recall someone from the Real Life show jumping scene coming to evaluate her. But I also seem to remember the verdict was that she was good, but not that good.

Grace Archer was Toby's great-aunt.

And what do we think that phone call to Elizabeth's answering machine is all about? Wasn't it simply that it's now dawned on Jill that all may not be well at LL? Mind, I was only half listening because I was cooking at the time.

Pip's still bloody annoying, isn't she?

Wow, indoorvoice! Thanks for that info!

Please - stay with us

Mia's not a young carer though, is she? Will's not disabled or ill. She's just being put upon because she's a girl.

I'd like her involvement in the Sunday school to inspire her to become a teacher or something. Then she can bugger off to uni and leave Will to step up and organise the housework. Like most single parents do.

I thought Johnny had a good point about not investing in the land. Tom is going to bear a grudge. He does not like not getting his own way. I thought that was why he brought it up whilst Helen wasn't there. To present her with a fait accompli.

Well, Tom was snide to Johnny about the packing, wasn't he?

Was Tony and Pat's bliss about how well the family was doing, all farmers, a moment that activates the machinery of dramatic irony so that the said happy family will soon be at each others' throats?

Tom is such an arsehole!

I wonder if Tom's worried about having to tell Natasha that Pat and Tony poured cold water on her land purchase idea?

Tom is weird. It seems that he only speaks to his parents when he wants to make an appointment to have A High Level Meeting (agenda: one item, being whatever is top in Tom's brain at that moment).
Helen is just as bad - how come she decides to get super-busy with cows in half term week, of all weeks!

Helen is just as bad - how come she decides to get super-busy with cows in half term week, of all weeks! Yep, and "we've been told not to bring them back before nightfall".

It’s amusing that the much-derided Sharon brought up a nicer child than Pat and Tony

Thank you for the Quater and the great aunt clarification Mike.
I’ve been a listener for years and years, grew up on a small mixed farm, and still have very close family and wider family farming.now live very urban
I can often be found arguing with the radio and shouting at the ridiculous and annoying storylines and people.

My dc and dh love to hate the programme but strangely know all the plot lines.
I personally loathe Eddie and Joe Grundy, and would like to rescue sainted Clarrie, and marry her off to a suave boules playing French twinned village visitor.
My favourite characters have to be big bad Brian, as he’s always credible and so well acted, and also perceptive Peggy.
But whatever happened to the cash she gave to Kirsty when she was expecting that twat’s child? I quite like Kirsty, but she needs to get herself sorted, follow her dreams etc.
Don’t get me started on Pip!