Discuss The Archers #108: Has Ed & Emma’s ship sailed? Will Alice stick her oar into Kate's love life? Can Shula walk on water? Come and discuss whatever floats your boat in The Archers.

[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 @QuaterMiss for the title of this thread. For reasons of space had to cut out the bit speculating about Oliver and Tracy pairing off. Surely not!

Off now to give blood, something nobody in Ambridge ever does. See you all later.

how amazing that horses were bred specifically to have feet that suited a certain soil I came across a book that was discussing the use of different breeds of animal to graze land where people have access, eg upland NNRs. For example, certain breeds of sheep it was suggested were better kept away from the popular routes as, although hardy, they tended to look scraggy, leading to lots of worried enquiries from the general public to their health. That put a new perspective on things for me!

Good lord. The ripples are spreading painfully far now.

Oh my gosh Neil! What a moment

What did I miss?!

I was called away by a child at the beginning of Shula's interview thing, and when I came back Neil was shouting and then it was the music!

Three cheers for Neil.

Shula was told to find another church, and write an autobiography, and Neil, well, Neil was fantastic! Susan was about to go out and broadcast to anyone who might give Ed a job, about his criminal activities. Neil gave Susan some home truths, finishing with her being a spiteful gossip, and that's why she's always the last person to know anything, and why Emma talks to Tracy instead of her mum.

It was brilliant! Go and listen to it on i-player.

Oh Neil! BOOP BOOP BOOP!!

I've just had a look at the tweetalong, and everyone is rejoicing that Neil's finally stood up to Susan.

And also hoping that Shula going to another church means we won't have to listen to her angst anymore.

She was good with Jazzer though, I'll give her that. I wondered, hearing his anger and tears, if he was abused as a child too, because of how he's reacted to Jim's SL. It seems to have affected him far too much, as if it's personal. And I saw someone else wondering that too, on Twitter.

Shula's going off to find an inner-city church full of poor, young, immigrants, a conservative clergyman, and a gospel choir ...

Ooo, I hope she comes to mine. I can impress her with my new-found equine knowledge (and ask her how she has time to travel to my church with all the hunt and livery stuff going on). She might even give me some cast-off cardies. .

That was mind-blowing stuff from Neil. I don't think I've every heard him be angry at anyone, but he certainly told Susan some home truths. The way he finished by showing exactly why she isn't the first person to go to is something she'll find it very hard to get over. Interesting how the ripples of a marital row can spread a long way.

Agreed, devastating stuff from normally placid Neil.

Wow what a poem Quater I didn't know it. Very powerful and sad.

OMG Neil It's no more than insensitive Susan deserves. (remember what I said about marriages?)

Shula was very good with Jazzer

I wonder what sort of drink they had together? Did she turn up at her Important Meeting with booze on her breath?

Go Neil !!
It's been a long time coming....

I was a bit disappointed with Feedback; it was all about how hard it is for lower paid people to get a mortgage, high housing prices, especially in the countryside.

Nothing about how the story did not make sense with the exchange, completion dates etc. and why didn't they just fib a bit. Especially as Ed now had another job.

Nice compare and contrast - two people having to be restrained from setting off to let slip the dogs of war. One prompted by love and loyalty, the other - Susan. Who wasn’t even doing it ‘for’ Emma but to get back at Clarrie.

I don't want Susan to change as I love her (somewhat awful character - so beautifully played) but good for Neil, it has been a long time coming.

I agree, Neil deserves all the BOOPs for having a pop at Susan.

I think by "a drink", Shula meant a cup of tea or coffee. It's a rare usage, but I have come across people who do.

Go Neil! I have always liked him, and now like him even more.

It's a rare usage, Really? It's what I say. I don't feel right with the alternative round these parts "would you like a brew?" Especially when referring to instant coffee.

Such a packed episode. I don’t think I’ve heard Neil being angry with Susan before. If Tracy was visiting in Emmur’s room upstairs, then presumably they both heard Neil? Ambridge View isn’t that big.

What did the church person mean by autobiography? I assume he meant she should write a reflective essay on her life and experiences, not an actual autobiographical work! I thought it was a strange way to put it.

Blimey. That’s a big old home truth from Neil 😱

Neil was amazing! I was cheering him on!

Unholy - I'm not sure what your distinction is: "a reflective essay on her life and experiences" would surely fall under the heading of an autobiographical work? It doesn't have to be a published book - just a private piece of writing to get some perspective on the journey she's been on. Although I do think it was used by the SW to try a bit of humour with the "autobiography" / "reading" / "no, writing" exchange.

I think for once on this storyline, the conversation felt plausible. We didn't get someone from the Church of England who was hopelessly wishy-washy or instantly dismissive, but came across as experienced in encouraging applicants to think and find a way to decide for themselves if ordination is the right course.