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Original poster

Archers thread #112: Quelle beau de lollox! And yet we stick with it. Discuss The Archers here.

978 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 18/11/2019 22:43

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

Archers 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 Alf to stay around, or other unusual views. Grin

Archers 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!

Archers 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 @DoctorTwo for the thread title! I was strongly tempted by R4's suggestion of Wildlife on Four: Jonneh is wild at Lily, Phoebe rewilds by Occam, Joy is in the wilderness and David is bewildered by a marriage proposal. Grin

So we did make it past Joe's funeral at last. Are we heading for a Christmas octogenarian wedding now?

OP posts:
ArgumentativeAardvaark · 07/12/2019 00:11

There was zero chemistry between them, Leanne does sound like a made- up name for a girlfriend but I don’t want them to get together, he’s too dull.

Fink · 07/12/2019 07:13

Clearly I'm on the edge of my seat waiting anxiously for the next instalment of this thrilling romance Hmm, but Lee's ignorance of anything vaguely 'cultural' or beyond his own limited sphere is getting really annoying. Like yesterday he'd never heard of the term 'shabby chic'. Why do the SWs keep doing this to him?

Also, H & L got all their awkward catching up chat done in exactly one minute ... What had they been doing for the rest of the ten minutes they'd been waiting for drinks, and the time before they ordered?!

LillianGish · 07/12/2019 07:54

I wish Lee had a better voice - I agree. Despite the script constantly hammering home how good looking he is that doesn't come across when he opens his mouth. The painfully forced misunderstanding between them is now compounded by the predictable talking over each other - now a regular occurence in feeble plotting. Will they get together in the end? Does anyone really care? Far more interesting last night was the cuckoo clock (cuckoo clock???!!!!) Pat is buying for Natasha - at some expense. Now that is a stroke of genius in terms of the most random present a MIL (or anyone in fact) might buy as a surprise for their DIL and must surely come top of the list of the present you would be least likely to want to receive (much harder to conceal a cuckoo clock than an unwanted bracelet).

Original poster
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 07/12/2019 08:22

I can see the AIBU now.

BorsetshireBusinessBabe, Wed 25-Dec19 15:00:00

AIBU to regift the weird gift my MIL gave me for Christmas? I'm a bit OCD Blush Grin about the decor in our tiny little rented flat (we're just here until we find the ideal forever home), and she knows that, but she's bought me (and I do mean me - not us) a .... wait for it ..... cuckoo clock. Who has a cuckoo clock? I don't even have a watch, I get the time from my phone like all normal people living in the 21st century. Which is probably the issue here, as my DH's folks seem to live in a weird bubble where most modern trends have completely passed them by. [continues for ten more paragraphs]

OP posts:
Beveren · 07/12/2019 08:29

I really hope Leanne is real, because the whole Helen/Lee thing is annoying. I hate the way she becomes like a simpering teenager at the concept of seeing him, and I find it quite satisfying that she has been proved wrong in her assumption that Lee has been moping around waiting for her since they split up. It's pretty obvious that they aren't really compatible anyway, so even if they got back together again they'd almost inevitably split up sooner or later.

BuckingFrolics · 07/12/2019 08:37

Has anyone said so far that Josh might be going Abroad with Bella? The bit about his mate sounded rather like bullshit to me.

Why is Tom being nice to Jonny?

I don't think I can take Tony and Pat having any kind of emotional experience together , whether a marriage affirming or marriage damaging moment, when she gives him his walking stick or whatever it is.

David Beckham has a voice that doesn't match his extraordinary good looks, perhaps Lee has the same combo.

I don't like Pat. I don't like anything whatsoever about her. Nothing. She's an incredibly irritating and horribly plausible character.

Chemenger · 07/12/2019 09:02

Someone said Lee was too dull for Helen. That could only be true if he was actually dead, surely?

CaptainMyCaptain · 07/12/2019 09:05

Has anyone said so far that Josh might be going Abroad with Bella? The bit about his mate sounded rather like bullshit to me.
I thought that, he sounded very cagey about the mate.

BertrandRussell · 07/12/2019 09:28

I can’t stand all these 40 year olds behaving like teenagers. Looking at you, Kate, Helen, Jazzer, Kirsty...And why would Johnny want to go out on the town with Tom, ffs? He’s old enough to be his dad!

MissBarbary · 07/12/2019 09:55

Lee's ignorance of anything vaguely 'cultural' or beyond his own limited sphere is getting really annoying. Like yesterday he'd never heard of the term 'shabby chic'

That's a little unfair as an example. My husband's interest in and knowledge of arts and culture is probably on the same level as Jim's , Lynda's or Russ'. I still doubt he'd be au fait with a lifestyle magazine made up term for interior decorators.

But otherwise I agree - there's no spark between them.

MissBarbary · 07/12/2019 09:56

I thought that, he sounded very cagey about the mate

Agreed.

R4 · 07/12/2019 10:22

Has anyone said so far that Josh might be going Abroad with Bella?
Would you plan a four-week holiday with someone you have kissed once!? Or is it that they have only been caught-on-camera the once.Hmm
Considering that (a) the whole village/family is judging him and (b) he is cavalier about the fact, it sounds like a probable future storyline.

R4 · 07/12/2019 10:25

I thought that, he sounded very cagey about the mate
Talking of which, did anyone else get the rage when Helen lied - for the umpteenth time - to Pat about Lee?

DoctorTwo · 07/12/2019 10:29

I keep trying to care about Helen and Lee but I really can't be arsed.

Fink · 07/12/2019 10:35

That's a little unfair as an example

It was only the latest example, though. The last time they were dating there were plenty of other instances, it's just that I can't remember the exact details. Didn't he turn out never to have heard of some major modern literature which Helen recommended as holiday reading? And then there was the whole fiasco over the unbelievable fact that someone who lives in Borsershire (albeit in the town) didn't have a clue about suitable clothes to wear for a country walk.

What annoys me is that none of that is necessary. They could easily paint a similar character without having to constantly make a point about how uncultured he is. It's not as though Helen is ever seen as a great intellectual or anything, she should get on fine with someone like Lee.

R4 · 07/12/2019 11:01

I keep trying to care about Helen and Lee but I really can't be arsed.
I don't care about Heleen™ either but after the misery caused by Helen not telling her family about the Rob situation why is the silly bint* continuing the same behaviour with the next man.

  • hope that this is considered an acceptable form of condemnation and 'bint' doesn't mean something stronger than I am aware of! Grin
SurpriseSparDay · 07/12/2019 11:02

Would you plan a four-week holiday with someone you have kissed once!?

Would depend on the quality of the kissing. Crown Wink

BertrandRussell · 07/12/2019 11:08

Bint is best avoided. Word to the wise!

Fink · 07/12/2019 11:16

hope that this is considered an acceptable form of condemnation and 'bint' doesn't mean something stronger than I am aware of!

Yeah, I wouldn't use 'bint'. It is sexist and condemnatory of women's sexuality. I would class it with 'tart' or 'slag'. Not an appropriate term.

R4 · 07/12/2019 11:16

Bint is best avoided. Word to the wise!
Have a word with Wikitonary then; they seem to think it's fairly harmless, too.

R4 · 07/12/2019 11:19

It is sexist and condemnatory of women's sexuality.
Not round here it's not. It's just another word for an XX but usually of the daft variety.

EBearhug · 07/12/2019 11:22

Didn't he turn out never to have heard of some major modern literature which Helen recommended as holiday reading?

Wasn't it the Da Vinci Code or something?

WheresThatCatGoneNow · 07/12/2019 11:45

What's an XX, R4? Hmm

plushiesbay · 07/12/2019 11:53

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Motoko · 07/12/2019 12:11

Urgh, Helen gives me the rage. I hope Lee is seeing someone else. Until she has therapy, Helen's not in a place to be in a mature, adult relationship. I don't understand why she keeps hiding the fact that she's seeing Lee, from her mum, either.

I was so glad Kirsty pushed her out of the car. I'd have lost my rag with her by now, if I was Kirsty.

I loved that AIBU about the cuckoo clock! I could so see that being posted. Such an odd gift. The only time you'd buy someone a cuckoo clock, is if you knew they would love one, possibly had actually asked for one. If Pat doesn't know what to get for Gnasher, she could always, you know, ask Tom for some ideas.