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.

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 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!

For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, DadDadDad has created this useful thread: 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 BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

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 child or a death would be difficult to hide - someone would know about it. This is something very secret and hidden.

Nononononononononononononononononono, DDD and Lilian - what have I done

Something just between Howard Harold and Jim.

We know that Al's mum died young but we don't know the reason.

Hi everyone

Just checking in to the new thread after a mega catch up.

I think Alistair is about to find out Jim is not his father. It was what Jim was saying about the keyboard that it was "tainted" and the "because it's MINE!" suggests Harold took something from him.

Harold possibly tunes up uninvited to the party to have a chance of meeting his son (or daughter)

We know Harold is in a wheelchair but we didn't have any indication of how old he is.

Yes we did Painting Shula said he was "elderly" which of course could mean anything. from 70ish to 100ish. Shula would have know if Harold had asked Al or Fiona who they are wouldn't she?

Harold came with old neighbours of Jim's, so that's how he knew about the party. They must have mentioned it to him, and either invited him, or he suggested accompanying them.

Of course, Alistair has Jim on his birth certificate, not another man's name, or even a blank space if his mother wasn't married when she registered him. He couldn't have gone through 57 years of life without seeing his BC.
So, Jim either officially adopted him, and the BC was changed, or he simply raised Alistair as his own child.

Assuming Jim is NOT his bio father.

Presumably Alistair has a passport and/or a need to produce his birth certificate as an adult. Wouldn't he have noticed if Jim wasn't listed as his father?
The child of a married woman is automatically assumed to be her husband's unless otherwise specified so Jim would most likely be down as his father.

I agree the post-nup is also about protecting Helen & Johnny's stakes in the farm, not just Tom's, and also protecting Natasha's, whatever they may be (not quite sure - there's the juice business, but how big and thriving is that? What else?)

But from Pat and Tony's perspective wouldn't protecting the future of Bridge Farm be better done through their wills?

I don't know, and if I were in their position, I would be speaking to a lawyer in the relevant field before broaching the subject with any of their children, but I don't think they have mentioned seeking legal advice at all, have they?

So Batasha’s gone all reasonable again.

Are such agreements enforceable in UK law?
Will St Shula and Alistair get back together?

Are such agreements enforceable in UK law?

Dunno. That’s why they need legal advice.

Nobody in the archers ever seems to consult a lawyer. Except that crap one that gave Will crap advice about the children.

Nobody in the archers ever seems to consult a lawyer. Except that crap one that gave Will crap advice about the children.

At one point, I remember people complaining that Usha was the Only Lawyer in the Village and people would consult her on anything from boundary walls to conveyncing to divorce to manslaughter. I wonder if she'll be found under Alan's patio at some point?

protecting Natasha's, whatever they may be (not quite sure - there's the juice business, but how big and thriving is that? What else?)
Isn't she the only child of a (proper) farmer?

Hang on, I haven't listened for a while - do we still not know why Jim was so upset?

I didn't think this one would be so drawn out (silly of me) - as pp said, in real life there would be a lot more speculating and picking over events from Al and Fiona, not just 'oh he didn't want a party'.

The post nup thing isn't going to work as presumably it would have to apply to any future spouse of Helen and Johnny's as well. What if the future spouse won't sign one? Pat can't insist they don't get married.

R4
Isn't she [Natasha] the only child of a (proper) farmer?

Her parents have just moved house from one end of Wales to the other or something, so if she is they are no longer on their farm.

Thanks for the new thread Gasp

Presumably it would be a pre-nip for any future spouses of Helen and Johnny? It’s only post because they’ve only just thought of it (and they only had a weeks notice on the wedding).

Pre nip!

OMG Ben sounds exactly like the family teen. Same intonation, everything.

Shocking!

Can I join?
Listening to the Archers is my guilty secret....
I got hooked a few years ago when the Helen and Rob story was big.

Listening to the Archers is my guilty secret....

Me too, and my other guilty secret is Mumsnet, so I've diligently combined the two.

So another episode in which we didn't find out the truth about Harold.

Hi ICE and welcome. The more the merrier.

Shula told Jim that he had to talk to Al because he's your son.
He isn't, is he?

He isn't, is he?

It’s not looking good ... But poor Alistair, if so. He will have lost his business partner, his wife, his home, a shedload of money, his professional independence and his father in quick succession.

But that really doesn’t tie in with the ‘evil’ they’ve been preparing us for - so perhaps they’re just peppering the script with red herrings.