Discuss The Archers #107: Beware of the Dragon! Peggy's in her den awaiting bids - who gets the hoard and who gets flamed?

[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 @MrsGrindah for inspiration for the title of this thread. I was hoping to find a way to combine it with @C8H10N4O2's inspired suggestion of '"The Assumption of the Ambridge Angel' and @chemenger's comment 'I hope she gets kicked in the head by a horse and wakes up an atheist', but it all got a bit too lengthy.

Odds on Joe shuffling off this mortal coil before this thread ends? We've been marking/anticipating his passing for a while now.

I can't say I've ever been in Emma's position but I imagine that if I were, and needed a friend, my ex-ex husband/BIL wouldn't be top of the list.

I wonder if the Will/Em thing is just to get Ed jealous.

Worst case scenarion is Em has another Ed/Will who's-the-father mystery to resolve.

Did Freddie go to his interview on horseback?

Wow, that boy's got style!

Reminded me of when Bill (Wilhelmina) and her six brothers all rocked up at Malory Towers on their magnificent steeds

I LOVED Mallory Towers when I was little! Yet I don't remember a thing from it, just that it made me want to go to boarding school, because Mallory Towers, along with my mum's stories of mischief making when she was a boarder for a while (due to her mum dying) made it sound like so much fun!

Tonight's Emma and Will scene did seem to be hinting at a future relationship.

MrsGrindah, I also get confused about who's an Archer, and who's related to who, so you're not the only one!

When I was hoping that Emma would leave ed, I didn't mean she should end up with Will.

While I know the SL, for its own mysteries reasons has to have Will and Emma talking, it was irritating that Will didn't know stuff about chickenpox he could have googled.

Also, how has Emma been parenting for the last week, or explaining Ed's absence to the children?

I’ve decided this week I’m going to live my life as per the Archers episode descriptions on the Radio 4 schedule, which is full of things people never do in real life. So I will be Looking To The Future. I may even Come To The Rescue .

Emma is obviously going to "get close" to Will - but will then realise that she wants Ed and his love rather than Will and his "security".

I'm wondering who is going to catch Chicken Pox? I predict it will be an adult, maybe Clarrie? And Susan and Clarrie will reconcile when Clarrie is very ill.

Could someone tell her that the grundies are not the only men in the world. Is she aware of this? How young was she when she met Will, perhaps nobody explained the other options.

I think that chicken pox is going to do for poor old Joe Grundy -
foreshadowing tonight with Emma telling Will that it was best to get it young.

So, more misery and guilt throughout the Grundy family ...

Why does every other character get a break from time to time but Shula is always there droning on. As I predicted, each and every one of her enormous family will have it ponderously spelled out that she is becoming a vicar. Please tell me that she will have to go away for loooooong periods to learn to be holy? Or will we have to listen at great length to every stage of the process?

By the way, we're going to need a new thread in a day or two. Anyone got suggestions for thread titles?

Isn't announcing that you are going to live each day by the episode description a bit of a spoiler?
Don't know what I'm doing today but maybe it will be The Ultimate Sacrifice or something. Wonder when Joe will pass away, I'm convinced it will be at Grange Farm so it can't be long.

Oh no, don't let Joe catch chicken pox from Poppy. Then Will would feel responsible for his death as well as Nic's and would get even worse.

@chemenger We discussed clergy training options on a previous thread. It's unlikely that Shula will do a residential course, she'll most likely be on a part-time course from home with the occasional weekend away. I doubt we'll hear much of the details though - too much research for the SWs. We'll probably hear a bit about a selection conference and references then I expect it will tick along off air.

[posting from airport in foreign climes, hope this works]

Gosh yes wouldn't it be marvellous if Shula was shipped off to to a seminary for a bit, or the C of E equivalent ... .

Agreed R4 and Ebearhug!

Taswama I hope your ds enjoys his lessons! A numnah (Urdu word) is a foam saddle pad or quilted cloth pad (sometimes sheepskin) that goes under the saddle to protect the horses back. It absorbs sweat and prevents rubbing.

X post with Fink!

I like the idea of living my life by the teasers. From time to time I may, just may ..... Go Too Far.

(Available for threadstarting duties if nobody else wants to do it.)

Susan's been taking Keira out in the mornings before her shop duties, George is in the cereal cupboard, Will n' Emm don't mention him, they'll get the Social Services round if they're not careful.

I do hope this Shula storyline is going to go along the lines of, Shula tells everyone about her calling and how she is going to be a vicar then after several meetings with the director of ordinands she is told that it isn't an appropriate route for her at this time and she has yet another crisis of faith.

It is unrealistic to think that the church would spend 7 years funding and supporting the training of someone who would be past retirement age when they completed that training. Plus Shula doesn't realistically have either the time or the flexibility for full time study, doesn't have time for a fulltime job and won't be able to relocate for a suitable curacy.

Why the heck hasn't Alan at least raised the issue of what she intends to do with the stables with her? She has a busy riding school and livery yard to run and is a joint master of the local hunt she should be run off her feet not looking for another job!

I'm going against the tide here as I think the "Tracey, you're hired" storyline is utter bilge. No way would Oliver a) break every recruitment rule going b) think that someone who can deal with drunk hens be the right person to deal with the wealthy middle aged (they are at the club I go to!)'asking for some clean towels.

It's a load of phoey and done for dramatic effect. Plus I think Tracey will be bored rigid.

Illuminating info about running a stables [crosses of list of easy ways to make a living] and highlights the many simple ways TA could be made better.

Emma and Will? Do me a favour.

[Of course I mean I crossed it OFF my list]

MysticBore™️ predicts that Freddy will step into the breach at the stables, freeing Smugula to pursue her True Calling and simultaneously giving him a Purpose In Life and a reason to stay in Ambridge for ever and ever.

BuckingFrolics, I can't help wondering if Tracey and Ollie will get together. They marry, he eventually pops his clogs with a smile on his face, Tracey inherits everything and the Horrobins are elevated to the cream of Ambridge society.

I don't agree Bucking We qualify as your definition of GG users (certainly we use good quality hotels) and as long as the person can do their job we don't care what colour, gender, creed etc etc. the receptionists are.

Tracey is maturing , she could go on a course to help her (I'm not so sure about the generosity of Lynda's 'mentoring' ) , but she'd be fine. I LIKE Oliver throwing away the rule book

That IS a fun idea Bore