🐴 Archers thread 124: And they're off! Pip on a high horse, Kirsty champing at the bit to find the lost ‘horses’, Alice on the wagon (or is she riding for a fall?). 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 think Shula would make a brilliant vicar, 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/3853783--The-Archers-spoilers-thread-5-Cant-wait-for-7-02pm-Join-us-here, 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 @PoulePouletteEternellement for the equine theme to the new thread title. I wanted to work in Rex being a dark horse and lots of others too, but (you may feel fortunately) there's a character limit for the title.

I wonder if this thread will see us through to the end of February. The last one filled up in under a month, which was like old times. All depends on what delights are in store for us in the coming weeks, I suppose. I'm hoping that Gavin has spilled the beans on Victoria, she's also arrested, and the lads are found. Having said that, I'm not confident that in the real world they would get the support and care they need to turn their lives around and get proper jobs. It was good to hear on the last thread from @Trickyboy, who has professional experience of investigating this vile crime. Any comments on how things turn out in the long run for those rescued?

Pat's welsh. So was Reece (possibly written Rhys).

Not sure if Philip is welsh because he is a liar. Gavin is welsh, and speaks it. His mam's welsh, see.

The Gavin and Natasha actors are Welsh-speakers. I don't know if the Pat, Reece and Philip actors do.

As a mother-tongue Welsh-speaker, I see a clear distinction between the two types of welshness. The culture is different.

It would have been convenient for Philip and Gavin to speak in a language the 'horses' didn't understand.

My remarks were based on the sort of comments I get IRL.

Wales has 3 times the population of Surrey, and vastly bigger land area.

Wales has 20 times the land area (not at all surprising).

1/5 of Surrey is trees so about 332.6 kmsq
306,000 hectares of Wales are trees, which is 3060 kmsq. So even in terms of trees Wales seems to have more (although a lower density than Surrey).

@MollyButton

Wales has 3 times the population of Surrey, and vastly bigger land area.

I think it was a joke.

Not sure if Philip is welsh because he is a liar.

He spoke Welsh with Natasha once. It was only something like "Bore da" and something else.

Fluent then, obviously.

Glad to hear Jazzer has good taste in whisky! (I'm an Islay single malt fan, too.)

From which we conclude Tracy reeks of smoke (and well-rotted vegetation). Sounds about right.

Fluent then, obviously

There was the implication they could have a whole conversation. Can't really remember. There would have been complaints if there had been much more.

There would. I'd gladly offer my services for writing the dialogue or editing it, if they did.

There were complaints about Hidden (tv programme) because it was set in Bangor, but some of the characters had South Walian accents.

On another tack there is an academic archers conference coming up: www.tickettailor.com/events//academicarchers
It's online this year and cheaper, for your money you get Roy Tucker and Roifield Brown of DumTeeDum, Lucy V Freeman ex DumTeeDum now Ambridge on the Couch, and even Keri Davis on Sunday after the omnibus. And the goodie bag is very good this year - there is even a promise of cake and armchair Yoga.

And you get to sleep in your own bed and have the ideal catering for you.

I slept in my own bed last year, as it was only down the road.

@EBearhug as did I, as I preferred the drive to sleeping in a strange one. (and even with Petrol it was cheaper.)

Stupid episode. Tracey would have texted Jazza.

One of my university friends works on Pobl y Cwm, in which Mali Harries (Natasha) is a ‘series regular’. He said it can be an absolute nightmare as the Archers producers are very demanding!

@MollyButton, the link doesn't work?

Here’s the conference on a different link
cara-courage-zcr9.squarespace.com/2021-conference

@Prestissimo Thanks for that!

Nice to hear Johnny again. Grey Gables converted into luxury flats by Christmas?

I was thinking 'management buyout'(ish) - but they're all so scattered and disorganised.

Lynda and Robert could maybe sell Ambridge Hall and move into a suite to provide their share.

Ian has access to Aldridge money (if only we knew what remained!).

Maybe Kathy has quietly been amassing a fortune?? Or ... How much is Jamie's share of the Bull worth????

Ha! Freddie. Puts his foot down and demands the trustees come up with a financial scheme to enable him to buy a large slice of GG.

Was yesterday meant to deliver to Tracy the realisation that Oliver is a priority for her?

Maybe Kathy has quietly been amassing a fortune?? Or ... How much is Jamie's share of the Bull worth????

I caught myself trying to remember if Kathy had officially left GG. It seems weird that Oliver has all these conversations with Tracey as if Kathy is no longer there.

I can't see management buy out as an option. I'd have thought the only companies buying hotels at the moment are those in the business looking to expand post pandemic by snapping up bargains.

Turning Grey Gables into apartments would remove a handy source of stories with visitors and the restaurant although they could make them time share apartments I guess.

Its always sounded to me like the kind of place which ends up in one of chains which take country houses with modern additional room blocks and add the ubiquitous spa and the mandatory golf course. They generally have awful food and operate as business conferences during the wee, budget "spa weekends" and three star coach parties favoured by the long retired.

Was yesterday meant to deliver to Tracy the realisation that Oliver is a priority for her?
Or how much Tracey means to Jazzer. He's only threatening to turn to Jade out of spite and I doubt that will go anywhere. The path to true love ... etc. etc.

I agree IRL Tracey would have texted Jazzer and told him she'd be late.

Was yesterday meant to deliver to Tracy the realisation that Oliver is a priority for her? Oh yes. Jazzer was merely a diversion to try and throw those of us who believe they are destined to be together off the scent. She will get together with Oliver to save GG (or she will help Oliver save GG and they will get together in the process).

That's the thing ...

Neither luxury flats nor becoming a chain hotel would keep GG as a central point of the Archers story. (Just look at Home Farm house - completely removed from our hearing.) I find it hard to believe the creative team really feel they have some viable alternative as a meeting point for the community at times of celebration, and as an interchange amongst staff (particularly those who wouldn't be hanging out there socially.)

Maybe they do want to get rid of it as a focal point? But if not, it has to remain in the ownership or management of people we know, and has to remain as somewhere that everyone in Ambridge has reason to visit, for work or play.

I agree that Oliver and Tracy together could be a formidable team. (Though it didn't sound yesterday as if he has the energy for GG any more ...)