Call #111 for Archers advice: Is Hilda breathing? Should Joy be breathing? Could Nelson Gabriel be in cryogenic suspension? Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

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 Joy'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 for all the input on title suggestions. I'd missed the significance of 111, but @R4 and DDD, our resident numerologist, were right on to it. Strongly tempted by Bore's suggestion but couldn't resist the chance to mention my favourite ever Archers character, Nelson Gabriel. Have not managed to incorporate a cricket reference, so you'll have to read up on that for yourselves. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_(cricket)

I wonder if this thread will last till Joe's funeral.

“ Or she might have just fancied a shag and needed to make up a reason because David is sooo weird”

Oh come on. I challenge anyone not to be a bit weird when confronted with their 89 year old mother’s sex life!

Imagine Susan's reaction to one of her children moving 50 miles away! Jennifer probably wouldn't cope too well either. I hope it happens, though. Utterly ridiculous to keep all the younger generation in Ambridge.

I felt slightly sorry for Joy. Stands out a mile there's something going on there, which of course nobody in Ambridge has spotted. I hope it turns out to be worth waiting for.

Mind you Mere driving along small bendy , unpaved and unlit country roads at any time is hair raising (especially when careless couples with dogs are strolling along them).

I worry constantly about dsis who drives too fast along them, not to mention the other road users.

JennyDarling would be fine about it, she has Baby Dander now.

Jennifer probably wouldn't cope too well either

Jenny has supported Adam working long term in Africa, Debbie living long term in Hungary and Kate moving to South Africa. I don't think she will struggle with Alice in Chris moving for better career prospects in the way Susan might.

But people have been querying Joy’s choice of new residence, so far from home in a place she has no particular reason to be ... Indeed I was just coming on to do exactly that after her comments to Tony about being lucky having family nearby. I was hoping he’d take the opportunity to ask why she chose to move to Ambridge - still not clear and a random choice (unless you are an Archers fan - which Joy is clearly not since she needed to have everyone pointed out by name and their circumstances explained 😂). I’m not entirely clear why Chris would want to move from Ambridge - he owns his own business in premises paid for by Brian, he’s his own boss, all his mates are there. It’s not as if he’s a poor blacksmith’s apprentice with no chance of ever having his own business. His staying in Ambridge (as a blacksmith) makes far more sense than Phoebe or even Alice herself (before she was married to Chris).

I think the whole "goodness, Anisha's husband is ugly" was to portray her as a nasty money-grabber (so Rex had a lucky escape). She left Ambridge less than 2 years ago yet had the time to find a husband and plan a huge wedding.

If Alice and Chris do disappear to Newmarket I feel that Ambridge will be skewed between pensioners, many of whom are in their 70s and 80s, and generation Z. The cast list is going to get a bit thin in 3 or 4 years' time unless somebody wedges open that cereal cupboard door.

They'll parachute in a new family with some tenuous connection, or someone from Beechwood.

They'll parachute in a new family with some tenuous connection, or someone from Beechwood

Innit. So true.

I am very much younger than Leonard and driving on dark country roads with potholes with the glare of some cars’ excessively over-bright lights really hurts my eyes The increased traffic doesn't help either. Tim was when you drove along on full headlights, occasionally dipping when a car appeared in the other direction. Now even on a country road you spend 75% of your time driving on dipped headlights looking at the side of the road rather than straight ahead to avoid being dazzled by the steady stream of headlights in the other direction.

They wouldn't need to parachute anyone in if they remembered that Home Farm has a ready made family (whether the Gills or their tenants who are called The Wards).

The intern has obviously not looked at the files\records.

The increased traffic doesn't help either

Indeed!

I think modern headlights are much more dazzling, too. I don't think it's an age thong, either, though age can add to issues with night driving. I just find it almost impossible to drive only in daytime at this time of year. I suppose Leonard doesn't have to go to the office each day, but he and Jill seem to go out and about, and they must do some evening events.

Yes that's true about the headlights. Ebear.

I’m very concerned about this interview with Piggoi. Is it bona fide or is it someone coming to stake out the joint??

(Am posting without having listened to tonight’s episode so sorry if that comment doesn’t make sense.)

I thought the driving issue was explained because Leonard was tired after hospital and was struggling to stay awake and alert on the return trip.

David is a funny bunny. It's Jill's home too.

I thought the same pasbeaucoup, the sterling silver statue of Jack and Captain and Mrs P’s Meissen collection are going to be flogged off on the cheap at Felpersham Antiques Fair in no time.

Listening to Jim read the ghost story, I recognised it instantly as EF Benson. I have the collection of them and they are distinctly unsettling.

On other matters, I agree David is being odd about Leonard and Jill. I forget the set-up though, is the house Jill's?

Ah! I missed the name of the ghost story author.

Is the house Jill’s?

No, it’s not. Google The Brookfield Inheritance for the full story ...

As I said earlier- I think it would be very difficult not to be odd when faced with your 89 year old mother’s sex life!

But people have been querying Joy’s choice of new residence, so far from home in a place she has no particular reason to be ...

I don't find this odd in itself. Its not uncommon for people retiring to "escape to the country".

If Joy lived in Newcastle area and Rochelle is Leeds based, but moving around then the Midlands could even be closer to Rochelle depending on specific locations with the promise of country holidays for the children (if they want them). Or at least I think I remember Rochelle being Leeds based but possibly moving around - I struggle to pay attention properly to Joy.

I agree David is being odd about Leonard and Jill

I think he is just being David. One eye on the inheritance, one eye old fashioned sexism.

What is there for him to inherit? Jill is a cost to the farm as its income provides her ‘pension’. She owns Glebe Cottage but his share of that (after it’s split between her children, grandchildren and great grandchild) is hardly going to change his life (remembering how little they seem to have to show from the Heather inheritance).

And Leonard is the same generation as Jill - it’s vanishingly unlikely that she would change her Will in favour of him.

Its not uncommon for people retiring to "escape to the country" True, but it would have been far more realistic if Joy had been a Brummie - moving to nearby countryside. We have no idea of her financial situation, but it seems unlikely to me that a move from Shieldfield to Ambridge would have been a downsize in any sense of the word. And if she’s so keen on being near family then why not move somewhere more rural near Leeds - there’s no shortage of rural spots in Yorkshire. I just find it very hard to believe that a retired person, living on their own would move somewhere they know nothing about and where they have no links whatsoever.

I am losing interest in The Archers, the Russ/Lily/Lizzie thing seems more far fetched, what about Tom & Natasha? Jenny & Brian house hunting, so many plots started and then abandoned.