🐷 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!

Speaking of Russ I am still beyond yucked out that the "lesson" of that storyline is that if your teacher starts an affair with teenage you he really loves you and the two of you will become a reasonably happy and solid adult couple for years. In fact, move him in with your mum.

I found it disturbing that Russ was said by Freddie to be "old enough to be our father" and Lily didn't dispute it, which would mean he was probably twice her age when she was eighteen. (And to become senior enough to be appointed vice-principal of a college he would surely have needed to be at least mid-thirties and probably older.)

Beyond yuck, as you say. And why was he merely allowed to resign, rather than sacked?

Presumably the college didn't want any scandal.

Definitely a bad idea to have 'collectible figures' in a house with young boys. Have they ever been to his house?

Bit nonsensical to invent so much worry over 'where Ruairi might stay'. It's Ambridge - stuffed full of huge, barely populated houses, most of them owned by Aldridge/Archer relatives.

Auntie Niamh's?
Lower Poxley
Brookfield

Can't remember who Ruaiririri's godparents are. thought Lizard might be one.,

Aww, poor Ruari. His ploy to get his very own party-house / love-nest didn't work.

@ILoveShula

Thee drums will go in Joy's garage.

Why can’t they go in Helen and Lee’s garage?

Why can’t they go in Helen and Lee’s garage?
Because nothing would be too much trouble for Joy where Lee's concerned.

I'm not happy with the 'hilarious' decorating story. If I was Kirsty I'd be apoplectic at the lodgers destroying the house. Especially when they are on mates rates.

It did occur to that they should seek Kirsty's consent before redecorating and altering te walls with shelves. I thought there talk of Helen buying Beechwood at one point (before Philip was exposed as a slave master).

They should definitely have asked permission, but hey it's Ambridge,

Maybe Helen and Kirsty will have a mahoosive fallout.

Bacon, Bores and Booze. Elizabeth needs convincing, Helen needs some leeway and Alice is in crisis.

‘Chrisis’ I guess that doesn’t work very well.

And can someone please explain how this ridiculous pairing of Lizzie and Vince came about? They both run businesses and they share a sense of humour. I also think he must be more attractive than he sounds though I find it hard to picture him that way. I think them as the new Piggoi and Jick (though obviously a bit younger).

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

I found it disturbing that Russ was said by Freddie to be "old enough to be our father" and Lily didn't dispute it, which would mean he was probably twice her age when she was eighteen. (And to become senior enough to be appointed vice-principal of a college he would surely have needed to be at least mid-thirties and probably older.)

Beyond yuck, as you say. And why was he merely allowed to resign, rather than sacked?

Thinking about this I’m actually worried it will re-emerge at some point ie next time Russ comes into contact with a female teenager. Who’s around - Mia? Or is she too “common” for him.

@ThePawtriarchy

Bacon, Bores and Booze. Elizabeth needs convincing, Helen needs some leeway and Alice is in crisis.

That is great ThePawtriarchy 👏🏻👏🏻

Never tried this before but going to have a go:

Beechwood, Batman and Booze: Rex's pigs and Helen and Lee have new homes but will Lee's collection of action figures plant the apple of discord in their sylvan idyll? Alice's alcohol problems continue to cause friction between the Aldridges and Carters. Has anyone warned Borsetshire Children's Services what awaits them?

‘Nobody puts Captain America in the corner’

Adam and Ian could not be more obvious in their distaste of Lee could they? I keep imagining them both pulling this face 😬 behind his back.

All round good episode. Very happy! Even Adam hit the spot until he remembered he favours Shakespearean delivery and hissed ‘Are you out of your mind’.

Lee is so wet though...And I can’t believe Jenny dared to throw Brian’s Rioja down the sink - I thought she got off very lightly...

Ruari is turning into one of those little Victorian boys who was old and sage before their years. They usually ended up dying early (like Paul in Dombey and Son) but hopefully that won’t happen in this case...

It's quite telling that Ruari can see the Alice problem for what it is much better than her father. At some point he's going to have an awful shock when reality hits home.

Ruairi probably sees Alice as a sister, whereas Brine and JD see her as their little girl.

It will be quite an awakening when Alish is at Willpower Cottage

This is an honest question as I cannot cook at all, but would Jenny have been cooking with a good wine? I'm sure Brian has an extensive, expensive wine collection but wouldn't you cook with rubbish stuff, given it's just there to provide flavour and the alcohol would evaporate anyway?

The flavour of better wine would be better for cooking, though? But I think Jenny was also saying, as well as cooking with it, it's there to drink while you cook, and it's all unthinking habits.

Hello everyone, finally caught up. I was taught it's preferable to cook with the same wine you are serving.

The Lee storyline is a bit close to the bone for me. OH started buying Star Wars figures sometime after DC1 was born. Yes some of them are unopened. It's definitely not something I saw coming but at least they're not on display (any more.)
Tbf I've filled the house to bursting with books (and wool and tools) so I can't really complain. At least now they're not on the shelves.

I don't think Chris is entirely behaving in Martha's best interests tbh. Obviously Alish can't be left alone with her, and he's far from the ideal chaperone but when I listen to them I can't help but feel he's using Martha to punish her, even though on the surface he's doing the right thing and is entitled to his feelings.

I want to know where Lee (or Ian) got hold of paint which dries instantly. I would not dare let children loose in a room I had finished painting less than fifteen minutes earlier!