Thread #106: Jim’s in a jam, Peggy’s made a pickle and Lexi is blooming - sounds like the entries are lining up for this year’s flower and produce show, but who will be on the organising committee?

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads and @DadDadDad for being our resident statistician and keeping the ball rolling when Pseudo stepped back a bit.

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Thanks to LillianGish for the title of this thread.

Holding episode tonight, I thought - not much progress on any current storyline. I was a touch surprised Natasha wasn't offended by the postnup idea but I suspect she's biding her time.

A very odd episode. Alice wittering on about having to give a presentation when that is effectively her job - I thought Jazzer was spot on. I didn’t really understand the unpicked cherries drama - I thought Alice was going to ride to the rescue with a robot or Ruari and Jazzer would have to get in and pick them, but instead the story seemed to turn on a sunken soufflé. Thank goodness for Jim getting back to normal - otherwise I felt the SWs had quite literally lost the plot.

Thank goodness for Jim getting back to normal - otherwise I felt the SWs had quite literally lost the plot.

I'm still not convinced by his going from so broken and dazed to apparently having recovered his equanimity. He's a bit too polite, not his usual slightly acerbic self.
And meanwhile Jazzer is raging - venting his righteous indignation on his bosses' sister isn't a good move. At this rate he's going to leak Jim's secret or at least have people asking awkward questions.

If I were those farming scholarship people - Nuffield? - who spent last year forking money at Tom and Natasha to develop their businesses, I’d be pretty peeved at them ignoring them and bent double over veg boxes.
The whole point was Tom thought Natasha was cool and professional and successful... or was that just pretend until he got into her pants?

Alice has always been portrayed as a bit narc.,lacking in confidence, and dreading doing 'presentations' it's about time someone underlined to her that there are many more urgent problems in the world. Though Jazzer probably overdid it!

Ref. the party at the Bull it was in the Flood Bar upstairs of course!

I don't get the designer gins, from the promotions in the media anyone would think they were alcohol free!! At least Lilian made it obvious that they aren't!

Just had a dreadful thought. Him isn’t going to top himself is he ? A period of “ normality “ can occur when the decision has been made I understand

Helen Oh dear, you could be right, A few days ago, Alastair and Jazzer mentioned he had been up at night so not completely better, which he denied.

I don’t think they will let him kill himself, much more likely A or J would find something that indicates his intentions.

I really don’t think the Archers should be giving the impression that people who are sexually assaulted always try to kill either themselves or others though (Helen and Jim). Not v responsible! So maybe he’s planning something totally different, I’m surprised he hasn’t just let/marketed the house and moved away.

I’m surprised he hasn’t just let/marketed the house and moved away.

The nice chat he had with Alistair a few days ago mentioned how he'd settled into Ambridge. He'd be a fool to move, what would that achieve?

Don't know about Jim, but it could be the reason he's insisted on going round and apologising to people. Tidying up loose ends, so to speak.

But then again, he has been talking about looking forward, rather than back.

Errol - I was thinking more of how he’s been over the past few weeks. I expected him to up sticks and go somewhere where no-one knew.

@ErrolTheDragon, I too thought Jazzer was going to end up spilling the beans.

I was also irritated by Alice and the panic. It is indeed her job to do that kind of presentation, even if that was bigger than usual it wouldn’t warrant tizzy stressing. Added to which, Adam promised that data days and days ago so if she hadn’t chased it up prior to two hours before the presentation, then more fool her.

I loved Jazzer telling Shula to keep her nose out. Not that she'll listen.

I did too Beardie!

Emma's starting to sound like a stuck record. She's never satisfied. Instead of being happy that they're finally getting a house of their own, and she's having fun planning the décor, and shopping for it, it's not enough, she wants more.

Women with postgrad or professional qualifications in Ambridge:

Usha - silent

Kate (was it a diploma or masters in patronising the natives that she took from Felpersham Uni?) - invariably made to sound ridiculous.

Alice - whining, moaning Minnie, bordering on hysteria every time we hear her preparing or actually doing her job. Majorly reliant on support of male members of her family.

(I acknowledge that the women farmers / producers have undertaken training for their roles.)

I'm concerned that the stage is being set for Ed's showdown now he has the evidence in his barn. He's not going to get away with it is he?

Half a mill. Why not a proper mill milling wheat etc into flour.
Or totally energy self-sufficient housing.

Helenluvsrob
Just had a dreadful thought. Him isn’t going to top himself is he ?

Is the Archers team stupid enough to throw away one of their best actors by having his character commit suicide?

Is the Archers team stupid enough to throw away one of their best actors by having his character commit suicide?

Well, they threw one of its nicest characters off a roof so who knows?

Is the Archers team stupid enough to throw away one of their best actors by having his character commit suicide?

We already know the answer. I guess sometimes, actors decide to retire rather than go on forever (though retirement does seem a rare choice.) I guess that has to be handled somehow. I have no idea if that's part of any of this particular storyline, though.

I wouldn’t appreciate a storyline where the Harold character was seen to triumph.

Jim needs to live to be able, sometime soon, to dance on that man’s grave.

Last night was weird - all foreshadowing. Is Shula ‘wise’ or just desperately needing to be needed? And Kirsty ... Who was it who raised the possibility of Philip dying and leaving her in sole possession of the new build? I don’t think that would be a bad option at all. Since the jilting she’s been more effective as a solo character (and somewhat diminished by being in a relationship). I quite like to think of her immersed in the Wildlife Trust, with no money worries (thanks to Philip’s life insurance) growing into her role as a village stalwart. (Lots of godchildren, many Patricks.)

That sounds a perfect life for kirsty. It will never happen.

Oh, I dunno! Worked for Caroline. Brief marriage, huge inheritance. Winner.

It does seem a shame though, that everything Caroline worked for is absorbed into Oliver’s estate and looks set to disappear. I know she left tiny legacies but I’d have liked a much more significant benefit to fall upon someone for whom it would make a difference. Not William. Maybe George? (So of benefit to Mianed too.) Perhaps a share in Grey Gables. Will be a pity if that all goes to his American daughters.

I said ages ago that I thought Philip might be going to die (a safe prediction since everyone dies eventually )

Strange isn’t it? I just cannot get behind Philty / Killip (?) as a couple ...

They have no chemistry thats why. Lots of couples in TA don't but at least they are long term couples not those in the honeymoon period of their relationship.