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.

I knew it!

I was right when I suggested it on Monday!

Haha! Told you so!!

Oh Jim. Superbly acted.

That was superbly done.

Well done Shula and Alistair.

Bit weird Jazzer being there but maybe Jim thought it would be altogether too intimate with just him and Al.

Oh goodness me :( poor Jim

I think it was good that Jazzer was there because he now understands, Jim's behaviour. Also satisfying for Al to be able to look after his old Dad .

Phew... Jim became that poor little eight-year old boy again, didn't he? No... you're crying

Oh gosh, well done to the Jim actor. That was heartbreaking. I was sitting in my car listening, totally gripped, tears streaming. The pain and vulnerability, so moving. So well done.

I think Jazzer is actually like a surrogate son to Jim- I think it was really good that he was there.

I wonder if Jazzer will act on his threat.

I knew that was coming. It really is way too close to my reality and found it very upsetting. It’s the shame that stops men from talking.

Very close to the bone for me too and I absolutely didn’t see it coming.

I am not Jazzers greatest fan but I am glad ( if that's the right word) that he was there.I thought his reaction was spot on for his character. Are we going to end up with a historical abuse trial.

Oh my, that was so well done.

How old is Harold? Jim was 8, and he said his parents became friends with Harold, so he must have been in his late teens/early 20s, which would make him knocking on for 100 now.

It was well acted though.

The Clarrie and Emma scene seemed like a tribute, as they were talking about Joe as if he'd died and they could imagine his spirit sitting in the chair, watching over them.

For those of you for whom that was too close to the bone.

My jaw is on the floor, I really didn't see that coming. I was knackered after work so listened while half dozing and the blurb on the iplayer and the start of the episode made me think it was going to be Joe finally popping off bless him... I woke bolt upright when I realised what Jim was saying. Very well acted, and a sad and dejected flat boop for a harrowing episode.

I hope Jazzer chucks him out of his wheelchair into a river or something. Utter vile character.

So - psychopath then, to turn up to the party like that.

Horrifying.

Gosh. That must have been hard to act.

What a despicable man. Even more so to invite himself back into Jim’s life after so many years. That is cruel in the extreme.

Looking back I see it was @Texelcowboy all the way back on 8th June who speculated that abuse was behind this, and then @StillDumDeDumming was the next to suggest it independently on 14th June.

Talking of predictions, despite my scepticism of Bore's crystal ball, I also found this on the last thread:

But the says it's likely to be St Smugula with her hitherto-unsuspected counselling skills who will get Jim to spill the whole story.

It's not sure on this point though.

I can see how the crystal ball was confused - it was indeed Shula who prompted the spilling but the laws of dramatic revelation required that spilling be to Alistair. But ten points to Bore!

SO who would have given Harold (who I reckon must be 90 +/-5 years old) a lift? Given that he was the only person that nobody seemed to know.

That was dreadful but superbly acted and written. 3 generations of men listening and supporting. So moving.

The abuse explains why Jim sent the children to boarding school after their mother died; the grandparents were offering to help, and were still friends with the Harold.

I retract my comment days ago about the SW making it up as they go along. This whole story must have been planned from the stage of the party being suggested.

Madcats Fri 28-Jun-19 21:24:25
SO who would have given Harold (who I reckon must be 90 +/-5 years old) a lift? Given that he was the only person that nobody seemed to know.

A lot of wheelchair users can drive, though Harold may be a bit too old.

Absolutely fabulously acted, so sad. And I've met more than one person who has spoken about abuse "back in the day" and no one knew at the time.