❓ Archers thread #126: It’s a mystery why we’re all still listening.

[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 love to be on the Parish Council, 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/4197199--The-Archers-spoilers-thread-6-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 @LillianGish and @Taswama for thread title ideas, but I felt most in sympathy with @R4's suggestion. Is it me, or is the programme in the doldrums at the moment?

Haven't heard the 31/3 episode yet. Perhaps it's a gem.

I don't know if it's a paid job or a volunteer role, but Mr Button (father of Molly and Tilly) is the Country Fungal Recorder, or similar. Don't ask me why I should remember this odd detail.

Button mushrooms? oh dear...

💡 Can't believe I hadn't made that connection before!

Is he really? That's a voluntary thing. I wonder what his job is?

Academic at the famed University of Felpersham? All its other departments are excellent so I'd expect it to have a marvellous Biology department with a world class research group looking into Mycology.

Re Kate's course - I was fit to be tied when there was no mention of her being classified as an overseas student, which she unquestionably would have been, as a resident of South Africa for many years before she came back to do this specific course. It would have bumped the fees up from a few thousand pounds to around £20k (where I used to work, anyway). As Brian and Jennifer were paying, IIRC, I'd have expected some mention of this. Of course, it would have been entirely in character for Kate to lie and say she was a Home student, but she'd have needed documentation to support that.

Didn't Molly Button go to a fancy dress competition dressed up as a mushroom (or toadstool)?

Bluebells in early April? There are some just peeking out but, really, May is the bluebell month.
None round here, and we are further south than Ambridge.
I'm in North Derbyshire and the bluebells are starting to come out here. I thought of this thread when I was walking in the woods today.

My lilac is out.

Sussex here, our bluebells are already unfurling. They'll be in full bloom by next week, I reckon.

When did we learn that Lee was NHS? Hadn’t realised that at all.

Oh dear Alice...

Oh dear indeed
Harrison being very forbearing

I'm fighting the tears.

Silly ending

OMG, what did she just try to do to him???!!!

groped him I reckon
He was wasting his time talking to her, suprised he didn't realise that

I wonder whether that’s a common thing, for an alcoholic to latch onto a sympathetic non-partner and make a pass at them? Poor Alice. Poor Chris, poor Martha.

OK so the SW obviously knew I was going to ask this thread when we found out Lee was NHS, when there were busy 6 weeks ago! Not only NHS but been working with Covid patients and generally being an “NHS hero” which requires being Fed By Others. Surely we’ve had NO mention of this until now?

She's stuck a rocket up her marriage, hasn't she.

So this will lead to everyone finding out, do we think? Chris will stay at his parents and will have to explain why he’s not letting Alice have Martha AT ALL.

@JanFebAnyMonth

When did we learn that Lee was NHS? Hadn’t realised that at all.

Bwahahahaha. Try getting an actual hands-on NHS physio appointment. Still, st least Helen is now marrying shacking up with her daddy. Ugh.

Also that proved we were right about her regretting her lack of career/direction.

Awks ...

Her daddy? Shared interest in model trains is hardly ‘twinsies’.

Poor Alice. Poor Chris. Very plausible that Alice would try to get Harrison into something sexual - alcohol is disinhibiting and she's desperate for some comfort/wanting to feel something other than self-hatred. It ramps up the shame/self-loathing and draws Harrison into the drama of either telling Chris or becoming complicit in the lies and cover-ups. He's already professionally compromised by not arresting her.

Alcoholism is a bastard.

patients and generally being an “NHS hero” which requires being Fed By Others. Surely we’ve had NO mention of this until now?

The time I remember Lee's NHS job came up was when Lynda and Blake were in Borchester General. I think Robert met him in the corridor and Lee went to see Lynda. What is weird is that Lee is the only person who can't get a full time NHS physio job. He has also visited people in The Elms which would be more likely to be what a physio from a community trust would do. I also think he wouldn't have been up to giving Neil and Susan private sessions if he'd been working with covid patients.

Was glad to have read the discussions here about Alice's job after hearing tonight's episode. I also thought the bit about making a pass at Harrison was very credible.