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.

Gavin's funeral, hopefully.

The 🔮 no longer thinks there will be a double wedding in Bali

Mmm ...

That was actually quite disturbing. How much worse would he have been if she were alone in the house?

Really hope they’re not planning a variation on the Simon Pemberton theme.

I bet Kelly turns out to be cheating on Gavin...

Oh great. Another nasty character. So Gavin'so apology was insincere. I don't suppose Kirsty will mention the row to Philip. Also, why should Philip tell his ex wife he's getting married? It's none of her business!

I’m puzzled though. There was no reason whatsoever for Gavin to let himself into their house. It’s not as if they were away on holiday or there was some emergency.

And just imagine having him there, bad-mouthing you in your own bedroom. Poor, poor Kirsty - he’s probably ruined that house for her.

BOOP to the SW for actually shocking me.

Well Natasha should run for the hills if Toms going on a charm offensive

How rude was Alastair asking for a bath??

Oh sorry, it was just a plot device. Silly me.

What a strange house with the only bath in the master en-suite.

Ridiculous plot device.

I have (as usual) a question:

Natasha left her bag, with everything in it (phone and so on) in a caff.

Then she drove half-way home before realising and driving back again to try to find it.

She must be the only female with a bag whom I know who doesn't keep her car keys in her bag. If I am jeans it will be in my pocket, but in that case I won't be carrying a bag.

Why does she not keep her keys in her bag?

Oh, and another question:

Why does Philip not take his laptop with him when he goes to work, but apparently leave it in the wardrobe? Is this usual behaviour?

I don't think having only one bath in a house for two people (or in the case of this house, as many as seven if we had double beds all over the place) is all that unusual, so I am not worried about it being in the master bedroom en suite.

I have a question:

If pruning fruit trees is an arboricultural or silvilcultural requirement for healthy trees, which I'm assuming it is, would you not either

(a) damn well make time to do it? or

(b) get someone in to do it?

I don't think having only one bath in a house for two people is all that unusual

It is if the house has more than 1bedroom and the only bathroom is accessed via the en- suite.

I've come across one bedroom flats with only an en-suite (and a separate w.c) but never 2 or more bedrooms where only 1 bedroom has access to a bathroom.

It was clear that there was also a shower room, which was where it was first planned for Alistair to have a shower until he asked if he could have a bath instead.

It's still a very odd layout for a large new build house.

Presumably each bedroom (how many?) has its own en suite, but only the master bedroom has a bath as well?

I still recall a Grand Design house years ago that was enormous, and enormously expensive - but in order to meet all the couples’ design wishes they had to forego any bath at all (and iirc pretty tight shower room spaces).

We have two shower rooms, each with a wash basin and lavatory in it as well as the shower (one is in the Granny Annexe), one lavatory downstairs, and one bathroom with a bath, shower and lavatory in it. Ok, that isn't en suite, but it might be.

I don't find having a bath only in the en suite bathroom off the master bedroom, and a shower room separately, in the least odd.

And it may well not be a large new build: it was bought by Philip for two people, and with no expectation of children.

Dear gods, did the LSWs take delivery of a batch of twirling moustaches before Christmas? They seem to feel the need to slap them on every other character at the moment.

Well it was interesting. Obviously Gavin can't make Philip suspicious as it was him who told Alistair to use their bathroom. In addition Kirsty went out whilst Alistair had the bath and was seen by other people.
And Gavin has shown how unpleasant he is, and there was a witness - albeit reluctant one.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was a heart attack or similar - with Kirsty inheriting more than she expects. Maybe with some death bed home truths for Gavin.

Oh and what about Joy for the new office manager? Unless Justin skedaddles - then it could be Anthea.

I thought it was Phillips laptop that Gavin had ? Obviously he was going to hack into Phils bank account and check the balance...or even transfers himself some cash.

I dread to imagine what went on in tonight's episode.

DH spent part of his gap year on an orchard. He reckons there are still a couple of months in which to get the pruning done - sap wouldn't be rising until mid March (though he was doing this in the 80's, so I suppose it might be a bit earlier these days).

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

Funnily enough, I did precisely that stupid thing today. Ended up on the wrong side of the college security gate, with car and keys and nothing else. In my defense, the parking had run out, and the traffic warden was hovering, so DS took the last teetering load on his own. pretty much as the gate clicked shut, I realised.
It was like a Benny Hill sketch with me driving round from gate to gate, and DS peering out of the original gate with no way of knowing which one I was at.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3794891-Archers-thread-114-Bull-banished-Bali-beaches-beckon-bickering-bullshitters-burgeon?watched=1

Bit early, but I have a busy day in prospect tomorrow so thought I'd get this done tonight.