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.

Thank you for the kind weather wishes, Madcats. I'm a long way away from the fires, though there's been lot of haze, i.e.smoke which is horrible and seeps into the house.

I say long way, but in the well-treed suburb I live in there have been three bushfires while I've been here, all set deliberately, and all took hours to get under control. All you need is the dry, high wind and a moron.

Remembered my question from earlier in the week - what is the relationship between Kenton and Jolene re the pub. Who is landlord /landlady?

Jolene owns just under half the shares in the pub (Lilian has 51% and Jamie "a few shares") and holds the premises licence: she has been the licensee since she came back from New Zealand after Sid's death. Kenton is her husband and works in the bar and as the cellarman. He has an individual licence to serve alcohol, which he got when running Jaxx and presumably renews every so often, I'm not sure what the rules are about that.

It was quite interesting listening to Kate's effective sales techniques. I've vaguely wondered occasionally how the hell Spiritual Home keeps going, and that's obviously part of the secret.

Thanks AskingQuestions - so although Kenton has an opinion it is ultimately Jolene and Lillian’s decision. (As Jamie has gone mute).

Ultimately it seems to be Justin's, and he has no actual interest in The Bull at all.

I’ve just done a catch-up of episodes but not the thread. Doesn’t Jolene realise that ‘The Bull’ is the iconic symbol of ambridge on a significant social media platform?

I'm afraid the significance of that had passed me by, Errol!

The BBC Archers messageboard of yore ('Mustardland') had several off topic areas. One was called The Bull and another was The Bull Upstairs. (There was also The Village Hall.) If it still existed, I expect they'd have been re-branding ...

It was quite interesting listening to Kate's effective sales techniques. I've vaguely wondered occasionally how the hell Spiritual Home keeps going, and that's obviously part of the secret.

I was quite surprised to hear that January was their down season. Surely they should be able to capitalise on health-fad New Year's resolutions, veganuary devotees etc. If any business should do well in January, it's Spiritual Home.

I agree fink I thought that was utter nonsense. But it was among a lot of even worse nonsense so I let it slide

I don't understand why Alistair and Jazzed are trying to put Jim off going to the funeral. I'don't have thought it was a good idea, to give him closure.

Trying to persuade Jim not to go wil just make him more determined.

And Tom telling Kirsty about how she will have to work at her marriage and then going to flutter roung Natasha wasn't weird at all.

Joy doesn't stand a bloody chance in cliquey Ambridge, does she?

She's gone to the trouble and expense of sending flowers, as a sincere gesture of goodwill and neighbourliness, to wish Phil and Kirsty happiness - and bloody Kirsty can't even talk about them without an insinuating tone of mockery and ridicule. I'm furious, truly l am

And Alistair is annoying me aswell. He should just leave Jim alone, and stop assuming that he knows what's best for his Dad. Jim knows his own mind well enough, and Alistair is being an insufferable git. 🤬

So there😝

Small boop for Phil and kirsty.

Gah, bloomin' auto correct! Should have said "I'd have thought" and it just tried to change it again. What's correct about "I'don't"?

So who do we all think is in line to be Gnasher's new Office Manager then?

This is the first time I've considered that Gnasher had work base. I thought she worked form home. Has it ever been mentioned or is just now so as to provide work for someone in TA.

Phoebles does bugger all. She'll do.

I was quite surprised to hear that January was their down season

Yoga retreat season seems to be March to November. December is party season, and no one in their right mind would volunteer to stay in a yurt in January and February.

Pretty sure Natasha's lack of office manager has been mentioned before, and she has certainly met Tom from other work locations for things, but I mostly assumed (if I thought that much at all) that it was seeing clients at their sites or in a pub or somewhere.

Meant to add, I hope Kirsty appreciated the relationship advice from Tom.

I’m amazed Kirsty managed to keep a straight face at getting relationship advice from Tom! What an idiot!

Yes, the office manager situation for Natasha has definitely been mentioned before.

Where is Natasha’s office? It’s not in the village which rules out anyone local (because no one travels any distance to work in Ambridge).She’ll probably employ a man and a Welsh speaker to boot so Tom can get jealous and not be able to fully understand anything that’s being said.

Why has no one mentioned cover at Grey Gables? All the staff can take a day off at short notice?

Something I realise annoys me. Just been listening to Friday's episode and hear Jim say "I suppose" (rather than "I suppose so". Not the first time that the phrase has been used by older Ambridge members. It's not something I've ever heard any of my older friends and colleagues use, although we recognise it normal younger people's usage. Why do the SWs think that , just because language is changing and new ways of saying things are taking over, that this change will necessarily be adopted by older people? Why can't they write older people sounding like older people and not sounding as if they're trying to sound like a younger person? Jim in particular is unlikely to adopt a usage that will seem ungrammatical to him.

Goodness.

Any bets on what’s going to prevent Kirsty’s next wedding?