Archers thread #113: Who’ll find some Magic Time this Christmas in Ambridge? Share the glad tidings (and bad writing) in The Archers! Election-free zone so far ...

[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 Hannah to stay around, 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 @SurpriseSparDay for the title. I haven't heard 12/12 yet so must catch up now, seeking relief from the outside world.

Happy New Year! New Archers calendar intro from Ag Ed attached.

I thought last nights episode was ok until the last few minutes. Good to hear that the intern has been passing on our comments about peacocks for any misunderstandings to be cleared up neatly!

Who the hell thinks listeners to the last episode of the year would be interested in an old man vomiting? Do the SWs really believe “ I think I’m going to be sick again!” should be the last line of THE DECADE?!

Who the hell thinks listeners to the last episode of the year would be interested in an old man vomiting

Jim's a character, and less of the old man thank you very much.

Every year is the end of a decade, and TA, to its very limited credit has made it the end of 2019, not some media construct.

I was quite amused that somebody as old and ostensibly wise as Jim was trying to get away with the old 'It must have been something I ate' line when he'd quite clearly been knocking back the whisky in a vain attempt to keep up with Robert, whose head is presumably a lot harder.

I simply found Jim getting spewking-drunk in a pub at pub prices absurd; he wouldn't. He lives next door but one, and if he wanted to get drunk (which he has never shown the least sign of doing) he could have been doing it in the comfort of his own home at a third or less the price.

Happy New Year all.

I listened to the tribute to Edward Kelsey, and I noticed someone (Ed?) mentioned deliberately leaving SL open ended. Whoever it was, said it was good to leave them open, so they can be brought back occasionally.

Didn't like Jim vomiting. Made me wonder if he's going to fall really ill and possibly die. The new extension wouldn't be needed then, but could be already halfway built. I hope not though, I like Jim.

I have been listening to the ghost stories. They're alright, but a bit predictable, and not as scary as Robert and co are making out. Having said that, the atmosphere of the attic would help. I'm guessing the portrait of Lynda is supposed to be like the portrait in the first story.

Speaking of the attic, someone asked about the size of the attic. I once had a friend, whose mum and step dad looked after a manor house, and we got a tour of the house. The attic was huge! There were several rooms in it, and the nanny and children had rooms up there. Another room had a model train set, set up on a purpose built table for it, that took up most of the room.

I'd love Hannah and Russ to leave, and Tom to find out the extent of Gnasher's debt.

I'd love Hannah and Russ to leave

Yes but with preference for Hannah if we can only get shot of one of them. She is just irredeemably unpleasant. I can't think of a single nice thing about her.

and Tom to find out the extent of Gnasher's debt

Well only if Gnasher gets to see the full extent of Tom's twattery. At least debts can be paid, twattishness is much harder to fix IME.

Happy New Year everyone and many thanks for such enjoyable posts. Just caught up with threads and relevant episodes. Still laughing at the earlier post referencing Bona Interiors, all Christmas episodes seem to have been peacock and Bull stories

My wish for the new year is that the intern becomes a full time SW.

Yes but with preference for Hannah if we can only get shot of one of them.

Yes, definitely. At least Russ has his moments of "comedy" with his pretentiousness.

Has Jim s extension been built yet? The cost of the extension may rocket if Philip needs the money for Gavin.

echtI know Jim’s a character? As in fictional so I don’t think he’ll be offended by me calling him an old man. And I’m puzzled by you saying TA isn’t a media construct ? What did you mean exactly? Either way it’s a very miserable way to end a significant episode.

Happy New Year all. Place marking - I'm still keeping up, but haven't posted for ages because there's just too much going on. My wish for 2020 is that TA slows down to leave more room for speculation. I would love the wedding to be Trolley because someone (I can't even remember who now) speculated on this possibility ages ago based on the tiniest, gradual hints. I can't wish death on Peggy because much as I hate the rewilding, I suspect June Spencer will have to be carried out in a box and I don't wish her any ill, so I would go for Alice from something drink related (another long brewing storyline) and I'd like Phoebe to leave and get a proper job.

HNY to all overinfested Ambridgeites.

Did anyone else see Justin (Simon Williams) suddenly popping up in the MR James TV adaptation at Christmas? It was a bit odd - the story itself was all in 17thc costume and suddenly there was Justin, in modern garb, sitting by a fire in an armchair being the narrator, but only quite briefly.

I don't think Jim set out to get drunk. As a non-habitual binge drinker, he overestimated his capacity and/or underestimated the amount he was drinking. He's not short of money and I expect they were buying rounds. If Alistair and Jazzer wanted to go to The Bull, he would have gone too, to be sociable. He isn't Scottish but lived in Scotland for many years and may have come to share the traditional Scottish view that Hogmanay is a more important celebration than Christmas, especially as he is a militant atheist.

Hannah is just nasty. She adds nothing other than poison, so she could go.
Hatch? A baby Trolley, a baby Kakob, maybe a baby Hellee.
Probably won't hatch -Kirsty, Alice.

Ambridge is known for fertile over-40s.

In the picture of Lower Loxley Hall that used to be on the BBC website there are no windows above the first floor ones, so I don't think there can be servants-quarter rooms in the LL attic.

kmflett.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/loxley.jpg

I don't think that Alistair would have been joining in so many rounds that Jim became stocious. And he sounded sober while Jim was puking.

Given that her first husband shot himself and she did a pretty good job of trying to murder her second, wasn't it just a tad tasteless for Helen to dress up as "the Black Widow" for NYE? Most of the village aren't known for their black humour, are they!

I hope she has a change of clothes at Lee's house otherwise she is going to feel a bit daft wandering around Ambridge in PVC on 1 January.

Happy New Year all...

There may not be rooms in the attic, but just the footprint of the house, will mean the attic is large.

Thanks, Asking, I've just learnt a new word. stocious = Scottish slang for (very) drunk.

I don’t think she was actually married to Greg was she ?

No, but they lived together. IIRC she had moved out temporarily not long before his demise. I wonder if she's told Lee that.

Given that her first husband shot himself and she did a pretty good job of trying to murder her second, wasn't it just a tad tasteless for Helen to dress up as "the Black Widow" for NYE?

Yes, I thought that too. I wondered if the thought significance of it crossed Lee's mind?

Most of the village aren't known for their black humour, are they!

No but the LSWs are known for their apparent inability to check character archives.