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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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.

Some of them are going on like it's half a million personal money - surely the money is to fund the winning project, not someone's pocket?

introduction of Beavers as a flood control measure - I was actually getting quite excited about this until I realised we wouldn't actually be able to see the beavers.

Some of them are going on like it's half a million personal money - surely the money is to fund the winning project, not someone's pocket?

Ominously, it's only the Grundys (first Emma and now Eddie) who have expressed the idea that it's a personal windfall. Which I suspect presages a 'comedy' scriptline around it. Sigh.

The issue for me is around the ownership of the improved assets. Will the Trust have a say on its future use and disposal? Eddie might be OK with his SSSI because its already protected.

LillianGish - you made me laugh!
Of course if they were really forward thinking it would be Wolves and Bears like the Bristol project! (I can see massive drama potential from that but either comedy or horror - not really the Archers.)

I made the same point a few weeks ago—how do we know what the money can be used for? Does it include labour and if so can you pay yourself from the funds to plant or whatever?

I've already huffed about the prize being nonsense, but I got even more confused last night. I thought Peggy had originally trailed it as being for an innovation that would address a (global?) environmental issue. When they were looking at the Echo, it was talking about something that would benefit the future of farming in Ambridge.

Obviously, the best projects could do both, but aren't they very different things?

I'm as confused as you are DDD. Also, how did it become a large feature in the Echo? Lillian was plotting to stick it in the small ads, so nobody outside the family would notice it.

And is Eddie now taking part in 2 bids (increasing his chances of getting some of the money) his own one, and Tom and Natasha's?

What's with Lillian trying to update the Bull? She was complaining about Peggy landing the trust fund admin on her, as she's so busy with everything else, yet she's finding time to design and arrange contractors at the Bull. And with no discussion beforehand with the other owners. I don't blame Kenton for being annoyed, and stopping Philip.

It's not Eddie's SSSI. It belongs to Oliver Sterling.

And if there is a hay-meadow full of flowers (which there has never been before this week) that too belongs to Oliver Sterling, not Eddie, though Ed may be leasing it to keep his sheep on it.

I am rather fed up with the Grundys carrying on as if they still owned the place and hadn't gone bankrupt and had to leave Grange Farm.

I thought it was Grundy's field? Happy to stand corrected - anyway the point stands that the land is protected by the SSSI. NOt sure Tom will have the same control over trees planted on non-Bridge Farm land, or when someone needs to build another bunch of houses.

I was worried there might still be chemicals stored nearby and Kirsty was about to discover them with Eddie. I assume they've been quietly moved by now but who knows.

Oh, I don't know, as I said, I'm confused about the whole thing! And only having been a listener for a couple of years, I don't know who owns what land!

Have I missed something? Does Shula know about Jim's abuse?

It certainly sounds like it tonight.

Alistair seems to have betrayed Jim's confidence and told her, doesn't he. What a nasty thing to have done.

No, he didn't. She put 2 and 2 together and was correct, but Alistair didn't actually confirm or deny it.

I thought Shula might say "If you find it so hard to ring a helpline, think how difficult it would be for Jim."

It’s all soooooo slooooow at the moment. I realise Jim’s storyline is a serious one but it hasn’t really moved on. Clarke’s constantly wailing about Poppy and Keira..The Peggy challenge is likely to drag on too. And yet so many other storylines left dangling. Sorry. To moan but they really have the balance wrong at the moment

Clarke...no idea who Clarke is but I wish he’d stop wailing too...

I did rather like Adam and Ian sneaking off from the club to watch a boxed set* and eat a bar of chocolate.

Am I the only non-driver on the thread? I did take my test once, failed and never got round to taking it again. As we live in London, it hasn't really been a problem. I feel the world is a better and a safer place for not having me behind the wheel. If only more abysmal drivers also removed themselves from the roads!

Re Shula and Alistair - yes, she worked it out. Alistair hasn't broken Jim's confidence because he hasn't told her in so many words what Jim said, but he hasn't denied it either. Shula is loving all this, I'm sorry to say.

Terrific post from @Arpafeelie: I also think that A and F are behaving realistically. This doesn't just affect Jim. Both A and F will be re-evaluating their childhoods and relationship with their father in light of what they have learned. Their whole sense of who they are - the children of a somewhat distant father - will change. I.e. a shift from "our father was undemonstrative" to "our father was unable to be demonstrative".

*Or is it box set? I think I use both.

Re Shula
Don't we all feel a frisson of pleasure when our offers of help seem to make a difference? Isn't it just human nature to do so?

Yes, but what I meant was that Shula is enjoying having a secret and is pleased with herself for working it out. Maybe I'm being harsh but I always feel she loves being in on something.

I h

.
I have a horrible feeling they are using this storyline to bring Shula and Alistair back together. Don't like it for all sorts of reasons. Feels manipulative.

I do think Shula gets an unfairly bad press. Lying about Rob and the sab is the only thing she’s ever done wrong. And she was a git to Usha. But apart from that she’s pretty sound.

Surely we can have ‘Godsent Shula’ in the next thread title? It doesn’t look as if there will be any escape for the Parish ...

I’m not at all happy about Alistair (almost) confiding in her. And why was she lurking when he was on the phone?

More to the point - who the jeff goes clubbing with their niece? Lovely idea, but ...