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Original poster

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

994 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 29/04/2021 10:53

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

Archers 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. Grin

Archers 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!

Archers 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. Sad

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!

OP posts:
theThreeofWeevils · 27/05/2021 21:41

And lead-based paint is altogether too much to hope for. Pah!

HaveringWavering · 27/05/2021 23:31

Nice subversion of stereotype with the straight bloke having to ask the gay couple for help with DIY.

Did I miss where Brian said Ruari could go and stay or has that not yet been revealed?

HaveringWavering · 27/05/2021 23:32

Also did we find out if the drum kit was a joke?

Prestissimo · 28/05/2021 05:35

Ruari’s moving in with Ian and Adam

  • we heard them talking about how it wouldn’t be so bad... haven’t yet heard Ruari’s opinion. Poor kid, what a punishment for being thoughtful - not sure I can think of anyone in Ambridge I’d like to live with less.
Prestissimo · 28/05/2021 05:37

No drum kit news yet - that excitement has carried over to next week

Original poster
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 28/05/2021 07:35

A relative of mine living in a terraced house had a child who took up drumming (and does it professionally now). Negotiations with the neighbours over practice times were delicate and protracted. Grin

Sorry to hear things are not so good between Neil and Susan.

OP posts:
MayIDestroyYou · 28/05/2021 07:50

One thing TA does really well is the wider ripples and repercussions of one person's disruptive action. Will shooting his mouth off at Ed within Adam's hearing; Philip bringing slave driving to Ambridge; now Alice setting Neil and Susan at loggerheads.

It's interesting - I always assumed Susan had most to lose from the Carter/Aldridge marriage breaking up, because she was so invested in being an Aldridge in-law. Did I miss all the signs that Neil was utterly devoted to his daughter in law and also heavily invested in the marriage being successful? Or have the SWs only now unearthed this compelling fact?

theThreeofWeevils · 28/05/2021 07:55

Sorry to hear things are not so good between Neil and Susan

She probably wants to bludgeon him to death, or at least to a bit of a bloody pulp: it's profoundly irritating to have a spouse who will insist on being fair-minded when one is feeling strongly partisan.
Not that I sympathise with her on any other front, you understand Smile

HaveringWavering · 28/05/2021 08:13

@theThreeofWeevils

Sorry to hear things are not so good between Neil and Susan

She probably wants to bludgeon him to death, or at least to a bit of a bloody pulp: it's profoundly irritating to have a spouse who will insist on being fair-minded when one is feeling strongly partisan.
Not that I sympathise with her on any other front, you understand Smile

Ha ha I am with you on that, my profoundly reasonable DH drives me up the wall sometimes with his unerring ability to see the other person’s point of view!

I thought Ruairi needed peace and quiet for his schoolwork? So they’ve sent him to live with a toddler- WTF?

HaveringWavering · 28/05/2021 08:14

@Prestissimo

Ruari’s moving in with Ian and Adam
  • we heard them talking about how it wouldn’t be so bad... haven’t yet heard Ruari’s opinion. Poor kid, what a punishment for being thoughtful - not sure I can think of anyone in Ambridge I’d like to live with less.
Thanks @Prestissimo, I must have got distracted at that bit.

I thought Ruairi needed peace and quiet for his schoolwork? So they’ve sent him to live with a toddler- WTF?

MereDintofPandiculation · 28/05/2021 08:24

I thought Ruairi needed peace and quiet for his schoolwork? So they’ve sent him to live with a toddler- WTF? I'd completely forgotten about the existence of the toddler. I wonder who picked up toddler care at short notice when the parents were playing rescue DIY?

HaveringWavering · 28/05/2021 08:29

@MereDintofPandiculation

I thought Ruairi needed peace and quiet for his schoolwork? So they’ve sent him to live with a toddler- WTF? I'd completely forgotten about the existence of the toddler. I wonder who picked up toddler care at short notice when the parents were playing rescue DIY?
I wondered that too, Kate or Jenny I guess.. I think the other day Ian might have said that they were graciously allowing Jenny to spend time with Xander because she missed Martha so much, lucky Jenny.
MayIDestroyYou · 28/05/2021 08:33

I'm very annoyed at this hiving off of Ruairi at just this point. Jenny and Brian had one job - to be fully committed to being his parents, at least until the end of his education. It's not on to de-prioritise him like this. I don't care if it was his idea - how's he going to feel about it when he's 40 or 50? I can tell you, if you like.

JanFebAnyMonth · 28/05/2021 08:50

Goodness: If this evening’s episode has raised any issues for you, please —call the BBC Helpline— post on this MN thread for details of organisations which might help you.... 😂

LillianGish · 28/05/2021 09:53

One thing TA does really well is the wider ripples and repercussions of one person's disruptive action. I agree. Wasn't it Ruairi who announced he was bi-sexual (though has not yet announced this fact to Brian and Jenny). I think that's why he's moving in with Adam and Ian - so Brian's homophobia can raise its ugly head again when he blames Ian and Adam for it.

LizziesTwin · 28/05/2021 10:03

Isn't Ruairi doing his A levels at the moment? He's one year below Ben isn't he? So he's virtually finished, poor boy, COVID/remote learning and then half sister collapsing during his exams. Hope Brian doesn't regret pulling him out of boarding school if he doesn't do as well as predicted.

MereDintofPandiculation · 28/05/2021 11:03

I think the other day Ian might have said that they were graciously allowing Jenny to spend time with Xander because she missed Martha so much, lucky Jenny. So very young children are interchangeable?

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 28/05/2021 12:58

@LizziesTwin

Isn't Ruairi doing his A levels at the moment? He's one year below Ben isn't he? So he's virtually finished, poor boy, COVID/remote learning and then half sister collapsing during his exams. Hope Brian doesn't regret pulling him out of boarding school if he doesn't do as well as predicted.
He said something about starting university in the autumn, so presumably he plans to get some A-levels first.

It would be interesting to know what he is taking for A-level, how many subjects he is doing, what he is planning to read, which universities he has applied to -- anything at all about his educational plans, in fact. At least with Ben we were told the strange combination he had opted for, and ditto with Lily.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 28/05/2021 13:41

Incidentally, poor Brian. Not only is he going to have to put up with Alice living in his house and Jennifer spending her whole time wittering at and about her, he is no longer going to be allowed to have a drink to help cushion the horror, and if Jennifer pours all his expensive booze down the sink he will be out of pocket too.

I think it's time he begged Jolene to let him store it at her pub.

CaptainMyCaptain · 28/05/2021 14:45

There aren't any A level or GCSE exams this year. There will have been in-school tests and teacher assessments. My grandsons are y11 and have pretty much finished school now. They're only going back for a week after half term. I amagine A levels are the same as the teachers have to mark and moderate it all and establish grades.

Ruari will be looking for a job before going to university in all likelihood .

Madcats · 28/05/2021 15:52

The year 11's and 13's at DD's school have finished their exams this week (set by and marked by staff but done under the usual exam conditions). I'm fairly certain the year 13's have finished school now. What a duff six form experience that's turned out to be for them.

TherapistInATabard · 28/05/2021 17:43

DD’s in year 11 and it was her last day today. She’s had 6 weeks of assessments (past papers completed in exam conditions spread over 2 or 3 normal lessons). It’s been pretty full on, but they were able to do rather more targeted revision than normal, let’s say. We are in Wales, no idea if England had the same system.

Tulipomania · 28/05/2021 18:36

If Alice goes to live with Brian and Jennifer, he's going to have to padlock the wine cellar isn't he? Or what will they do about that?

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 28/05/2021 19:40

I doubt they have a cellar in the two-bed cottage annexe, on the whole. If Willow Farm had a cellar, that probably stayed with the main house when it was divided up.

HaveringWavering · 28/05/2021 19:46

I think that “cellar” was being used to denote a wine collection rather than an actual subterranean storage area…Brine probably has a rack of some description somewhere.