🐷 Archers thread #127: Discuss the boars and sows of Ambridge here - or should that be bores and soused? You decide.

[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 live opposite Joy, 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.)

These threads normally last around a month. When I started the last one, we were bracing ourselves for the Mystery Play, but that storyline, which had never exactly set the airwaves on fire, fizzled out and has (I hope) gone away, never to return.

@LillianGish proposed a new thread title which I'll use instead as a scene-setter for this thread. What a carry on - Nurse (Ben), Sergeant (Harrison), Camping (Kate), Jack (either one of them), Regardless (all of us for continuing to tune tune in)

What a carry on, indeed! Other storylines sputtering away:

• Alice, Chris, Martha - Have they split up, and if so where is Alice living? Will there be a christening and who will be godparents? When will the Aldridges and Carters find out about Alice's drinking? Too much to hope that Alice will get blind drunk at the christening party in full view of the entire village, I suppose. I'm still clinging to my hope that she lamps Alan after a suggestion that they pray together.

• Will Rex find a new home for his pigs? If Elizabeth weakens, will the pigs escape and disrupt the Lower Loxley life drawing event on Monday? Might they stampede, knock Ross out and devour him?

• Will Jazzer go to work for Neil? (This isn't exactly a cliffhanger. Of course he will.)

• Will Justin bury Lilian under the patio? Not a jury in the land would convict him, I feel, if they were played a recording of that appalling cackle and her gloating about the daffodil photograph.

• Will the life drawing event on Monday be a brilliantly amusing interlude, exemplifying how to write character-driven drama, with both comic and more serious moments? Answer: No, obviously. I may have to listen from behind a cushion.

There are more. I find myself struggling to care.

Oh, and one final mention - I've proposed a webchat with the Archers editor. @MayIDestroyYou's idea. You'll find it here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/4231475-Webchat-idea-The-Editor-of-The-Archers-Or-another-Archers-production-team-representative

Over to you!

Yes, I would have thought that the brick through the window was criminal damage and wouldn't be up to Susan and Jim to decide about. I mean, just throwing a brick at the village hall's door and doing no harm at all got Freddie arrested and taken to the police station to be cautioned, and he was about fourteen at the time. I don't think Charlie had pressed charges that time.

Oh, yes, I think you might be right about Jazzer making the call. He does seem to feel rather strongly about drunk mothers with "weans" who have to hide under the sink to stay out of their way.

@Chemenger

My money is on Kate trying to muscle in on looking after Martha pretty soon. If auntie Emma can why not auntie Kate? After all she is, as we know, very maternal, at least in her own opinion.

Blimey, I wouldn't let Kate look after my pet rock, let alone a young baby.

Excellent episode. Loved Jazzer’s ministrations to Jim

Brilliant episode. Two writers this week, that’s a new thing isn’t it? Very good.
Neil made me cry - “Sweetheart”

But would SS really have spoken to Jenny? wouldn't it be against their protocols?

Isn't it wonderful that whenever a brick needs to be thrown, there is always one handy?

Thinking about it, I don’t believe social services would have even said who was ringing if they were wanting to speak to Alice. Confidentiality.

Here’s an explanation of the interplay between witness decisions and the CPS
www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/criminal-offense/pressing-charges-a-criminal-act.htm

SO IT’s more “whether they’re prepared to give evidence” than “whether to press charges”

This is such an issue in domestic abuse cases that ways have been found of prosecuting without the victim’s involvement, I think.

When Neil was talking to Alice and telling her Susan and Jim had decided not to pursue it, you could almost hear the cogs whirring as she worked out she had got away with it. I generally feel very sympathetic towards Alice but the actress is doing a great job and testing us to the limit.

I agree there could be literally nothing worse for Jenny than having SS called in. It’s even worse than losing her hand-made kitchen and not having space in the cottage’s galley kitchen for her spare tagine dishes...

I am a Social Worker in child protection and would not leave a message with a grandparent without consent of the parent. Normally we ask the referring agency (I am guessing here, the Police in this instance?) to advise the parent that they are making a referral so it doesn’t come as a surprise to the parent.

Just listened and what a brilliant episode. I agree that it looks likely that Jazzer made the call, unless Chris made the call to get the ball rolling for custody, after hearing what Alice did to his Mum.

Are they back to 5 episodes this week or will we have to wait until next Monday, which will be pants.

Nothing tomorrow sadly, @ThePluckOfTheCoward

Chris should apply for a child arrangement order for Martha. That would be my advice to him, whilst also supporting Alice with access to services to get well. The problem is that Alice is the kind of person that falls between services and might struggle to get support- because she is drinking, a lot of mental health teams would not accept a referral to support her, but it is likely that the drinking is exacerbated by an underlying mental health need. Some areas do work really well with people in this situation but a lot don’t.

I hope that it was Jazzer who dobbed her in. I am beyond annoyed with Alice's repeated "you have to forgive me."

just wondering if there is any underlying childhood trauma with Alice?

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Gosh. Will have to make the effort to listen at 7.02 tonight!

I was very struck by what Jim said to Susan after Alice left. 'You do know she didn't mean that, don't you?' (or similar) I think one of the things I would find hardest if I had an alcoholic/problem drinker in my life is not dwelling on hurtful things said when in drink. Knowing that alcohol makes a person less inhibited I'd always be wondering if that was what they'd always truly felt, and had therefore been lying/dissimilating when sober. In vino veritas, after all.

Tough listening. My grandfather was an abusive drunk, and that left its mark on my grandmother, my aunt and my father, lifelong.

I meant to respond to this earlier, so sorry it is coming out of sequence in the thread, but that is absolutely the thing I found hardest and why I thought the scene in the shop was so very well done. Really good touch this evening from Neil too when he gently pointed out to Alice that the brick through the window was the least of it, really.

Absolutely go Jazzer. Far too many people in Ambridge and on here are all sympathy for poor Alice. It’s outrageous that the nasty little bitch isn’t facing charges. If Susan wants to make sure Alice can’t have unsupervised access to Martha, she’s missed a trick. Typical Brian thinking his wallet can solve everything, disappointing he was right.

Steady on @BeardieWeirdie. I can't stand Alice either (although she's brilliantly acted) but there's no need for that sort of misogynistic language.

Surely social services would have already been involved, the midwife would've made a referral during pregnancy?

@JanFebAnyMonth

Brilliant episode. Two writers this week, that’s a new thing isn’t it? Very good. Neil made me cry - “Sweetheart”

There have been two writers a week since the week beginning Monday 25th May, 2020.

She’s just thrown a brick through a window at people and is now smirking having gotten away with it. What would you call her?

I don't think Jazzer contacted SS.

I don't really see the point in the call though. Martha doesn't live with Alice and the Carters are not letting the baby her out of their sight or allowing Alice unsupervised visits so she isn't in any immediate danger. What is there to investigate at this point?

@BeardieWeirdie

She’s just thrown a brick through a window at people and is now smirking having gotten away with it. What would you call her?

I'd call her a nasty manipulative piece of work.

BoreOfWhabylon
I'd call her a nasty manipulative piece of work.

And not a very good one, at that; she's too transparent. People see straight through it, even Chris now he's been dealing with it for a few months.

@Chemenger

My money is on Kate trying to muscle in on looking after Martha pretty soon. If auntie Emma can why not auntie Kate? After all she is, as we know, very maternal, at least in her own opinion.

Poor Martha, an alcoholic mother and now Auntie Kate, what can go wrong next for her??

@R4

I hope that it was Jazzer who dobbed her in. I am beyond annoyed with Alice's repeated "you have to forgive me."

No-one shjould ever think about forgiving her, whiney brat.