Discuss The Archers - yes, this really is Thread 103. Are you going to vote for feet, stations of the cross, or a hologram? Will Natasha ever return? Will Russ ever leave?

[DadDadDad]

Exciting times - this thread will witness our 100,000th post in this long-running unbroken chain of threads.

New and old posters welcome. Don't spoil with any future plotlines.

And if you need a beginners' guide see here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have

Carry on...

To be fair to CMR the gallery idea might take off.

However I can't believe Elizabeth is just going to write off the rent.

Kenton is a first rate hypocrite. He's going on about CMR's financial situation but seems to have forgotten that he (Kenton) still owes Dave that money from four years ago. Actually, he hasn't forgotten; he is acutely aware because he cowardly quickly makes himself scarce every time David comes into view.

I have some catching up to do.

I'm just here to placemark and check whether the 100,000 thread has occurred, really

Natasha can't have just left...for ever! What if her ex has kidnapped/murdered her and has commandeered her phone.......

But Kenton isn't a cocklodger is he?

Madcats - sadly the 100,000th thread is about 5 millennia away on current rates . The 100,000th post will probably be early evening tomorrow. (I'm being coy to stop anyone trying to game it - and I promise I'm not going to grab it myself).

You're right Helen. You really aren't an expert in relationships.

Exactly what I was going to say after her "You and Natasha are made for each other."

But Kenton isn't a cocklodger is he?
The Bull is/was the property of Jolene. I'm not sure what Kenton contributes to the set-up to make them prosper - they seem to be perpetually in financial crisis - but he is good at spending what little money there is.

Thinking of the art gallery, the "lick of paint" needed. I doubt CMR did it himself, and even white paint, when done by the professionals, as it should be for an art gallery, costs money.

I find Elizabeth's complacency about CMR and the bailiff staggering. Presumably the scales will eventually fall from her eyes with an audible clang. His protective attitude towards her was very plausible, very creepy.

I'm guessing the ordure will hit the ventilation when his divorce gets underway, if it ever does.

Tom will go to Wales, and find out Tasha isn't there. He'll then track her down to Trev's .. who might actually be Rob in disguise.

chat :o. And I was just thinking how the SWs could morph CMR into a version of Rob.

Someone on here suggested that the whole Tom 'n' Tash thing was dreamt up by Rob as a way of ruining Helen's family. You never know...

I'm still annoyed with Kenton for stopping Jolene getting headshots after spunking a load of money on decks and vinyl. It's right that should be careful with money, it is an unnecessary expenditure at this point but the hypocrisy rifles me.

Feel for Tom. 11 days is too long. What is Natasha playing at? Alistair and Jim should ditch Shula for her much yearned for single life of adventure.

I want to know what else was in those unusual beetroot canapés.

It's a jolly good thing Will has Tracey in his life. Someone needs to tell him straight. Why did Clarrie feel the need to repeatedly tell him the Mia situation wasn't his fault? Of course it is. I hope he lives to regret firing whatshisname. He was determined to keep the kids close but doesn't actually want to spend any time with them or be a parent.

Has Pete (? not sure that’s right) been sacked already? I knew he wanted to but it’s not a great managerial decision so surely what’s his face (Martyn with a y?) didn’t agree to it.

I felt sorry for Tom tonight. I know he’s a dick but Nutella’s a bad yin.

I’ve quite liked the last few episodes- some of the writing and acting’s been good. Of course some of the stories are hugely implausible and some are full of holes but I’m in a forgiving mood. But for tonight only.

He in the earlier of my posts referring to Will of course.

“'m still annoyed with Kenton for stopping Jolene getting headshots after spunking a load of money on decks and vinyl.”

As I said earlier- I don’t think this is about money. I think Kenton knows that Jolene is heading for some sort of humiliation, and he’s trying to protect her. Something about the gig he went to see and hasn’t talked about.

Inky I'm now thinking that perhaps Tracey is intended for Will, not Jazzer. After a decent interval.

I was puzzled by the art gallery event - or perhaps I missed something? There seemed to be two exhibits in different rooms - gaffer tape floor, and video installation. But who was the artist? I've been to a fair few small artists' exhibition previews over the years, and the artist was always there (plus wine and (beetrootless) nibbles). In all cases there were works to sell, and get a little red sticker to show they'd been sold. I imagine in the past Lower Loxley would have taken a commission on each work sold. But this time there wasn't any work to buy, was there?

CMR seems to have curated something that sounds like a miniature Tate Modern or Gateshead Baltic exhibition.

Jazzer he's working his notice. It was mentioned the other day when Will was speaking to Clarrie.

A belated boo hiss to Tom for saying Jazzer picked his time to "bail out".

I'm so cross with Lizzie about the rent thing and how she's just forgiven and accepted CMR.

Not heard last night yet and I dislike Will, but he wouldn’t be the first person to retreat into work to the exclusion of everyone else because of grief. Part of him probably thinks Mia wants to keep relentlessly busy too. And in forcing her to ‘be like Nic’ he’s got another way to keep Nic alive.

He's grooming Elizabeth isn't he? This is what I think. I'm thinking now of the whole relationship between CMR and LL. His ears first pricked up right at the start when Lily mentioned the Gwen John, his eyes were on stalks when she first invited him to LL and he met Elizabeth, virtually since that moment he stopped earning any money of his own and started to live off Lily and by extension LL. He has capitalised on Elizabeth's demise to worm his way into her affections, her breakdown was a golden opportunity for him to get his feet under the table at LL. What she needs to know is that Freddie would probably never have gone to prison in the first place if Lily had spoken up from the start and the reason she kept quiet was because of CMR. Both Freddie and Lily know this - I've been waiting for Freddie to reveal the price of his silence, now I'm wondering what it might take for Lily to reveal it. CMR making a move on Elizabeth possibly? He's biding his time, but think that will be the next step. Lily is now gradually being sidelined at the call centre and collecting the coats or whatever she was doing last night - I think we won't have to wait long.

Maybe CMR was the "artist".

CMR didn't get the tea room to do the snacks (I know there's a posh word for snacks at an art gallery but I have temporarily lost it). What more proof that he's a bad un?

Lily doing the coats? As if. She'd be far too proud of CMR to be anywhere other than by his side.

And how did all those very important people - one from as far away as Bristol!!- get told about the event?

Was there once not a couple, very wealthy and networked up to the hilt, called, oh let me see, aha! Lilian and ... nope, it's gone. Anyway, CMR would surely have sought out and emoliated this couple and pressed them to come along plus pals?

I know it’s not real life- but he’s only been managing the gallery for a week-maybe two surely? How did he stage a proper exhibition in a week??