😱 Archers thread #130: The Fall of the House of Aldridge. 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 look forward to Shula's first sermon, or other unusual things.

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.)

I went for the obvious thread title this time. Poor Ruairi! We've had a good go on the last thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/a4289334--Archers-thread-129-Casey-Macy-Lily-Alice-Decent-types-or-full-of-malice-Discuss-The-Archers-here?msgid=109858475#109858475 at trying to work out where he's going and what he might be studying, as the SWs have not seen fit to tell us.

Whither now for Alice? Will Jennifer talk to Peggy soon? Good hint from Lilian the other day that at Peggy's age it's not wise to leave feuds bubbling on.

It's been a long time since we last heard from a certain Archer whose name I am not going to mention in case it acts as a summoning charm. Long may she remain unheard in the dairy or out in the fields, or better still somewhere near a sinkhole. That was a storyline that looked promising years ago and wasn't exploited as it could have been. Pah.

Over to you!

Bleurgh!

Did anyone else think Martha's cry sounded a bit odd at the end of the last episode? Bad sound effects or the beginning of the FAS storyline?

I've just caught up with the last 3 episodes. 2 things strike me.
Pip was really keen that Ben should dump his girlfriend. Her motivation seemed to be that she wanted him single and unsuccessful in his love life, just like her. Hence the annoyance when she realised he now has his sights set on another woman. Cannot bear her.

Understandable that Susan (and Neil to a lesser extent) want to go the extra mile helping out their son with child care problems but it sounds more like they're doing an extra marathon while Chris is taking a gentle stroll in a rose garden. Why is he still working FT when Susan has dropped her hours at the dairy? Why he is breezing in after work to put Martha to bed and graciously giving his parents the night off, when the default position for child care should be on him? Could it possibly be that TASWAMA who think that when a male is the single parent everyone (especially the women) have to step up to help, while female single parents are left to get on with it?

Yes.

It was the same after Nic died.

Good spot @Edmontine - it’s exactly the same. Although Will was totally broken whereas Chris just seems to be putting the burden on his parents more deliberately.

Re dropping hours to be fair it's easier for Susan as an older employee of a relatively sympathetic employer to cut her hours than Chris as a youngish self- employed person running their own business single- handedly to cut his hours.

But Susan is the child's grandmother not parent. Didn't Alice and Chris discuss the childcare burden before Martha was born, or did Chris always expect all the women around him to take on child care? All he seems to be doing is putting her to bed in the evening, he's not even getting up to her at night from what I can gather.

@WorriedWishingWell

But Susan is the child's grandmother not parent. Didn't Alice and Chris discuss the childcare burden before Martha was born, or did Chris always expect all the women around him to take on child care? All he seems to be doing is putting her to bed in the evening, he's not even getting up to her at night from what I can gather.

Who knows if Chris and Alice did discuss childcare- but if they did it was probably along the lines of Alice would have 12 month's maternity leave before they had to decide.

In the short term, much as it will no doubt offend Mumsnet's feminist sensibilities the realistic answer is the family member who can most easily afford, both in time and loss of earnings, is likely to step up for day care rather than see Chris' business founder.

It's also entirely in character for Susan.

I wonder if they’re sharing finances within the family. Susan’s pension will be hit…

I wonder how long Chris will be single for? I don’t think he’s in love with Alice any more (just his ideal of Alice) but they are clearly not properly separated. How much longer do you think they will limp on like this? I suppose we could be in for many more months of watching the marriage slowly die before he launches himself as a rival to Roy on Tinder… A lot of ladies might like the sound of a newly-single farrier - until they meet him.

The alternative is, of course, that Alice bounds out of rehab with a hop, skip and a jump, fully cured and ready to put this nasty business behind her. It’ll all hinge on how many job offers the actress’ agent is getting at the moment, I guess.

That's where Stella comes in.

@WhoppingBigBackside

That's where Stella comes in.

I think you're right.

I have posted my thoughts before

@WhoppingBigBackside

Stella is meant for Kristiffur

Told you.

All the Ambridge men seem to think the womenfolk should be prepared to drop everything to deal with childcare. Ian casually assumed JD would be willing to step in and look after Xander if Adam took the new job with a long commute. Heaven forbid the two of them actually organise themselves and make adequate arrangements to look after their own child.

Neil seemed alarmed at Susan’s expression the moment he mentioned Shula’s ordination so he must be subconsciously giving off some kind of ‘vibe’ when he talks about her.

I am belatedly grateful that Rooth didn’t drop the whole farming lark in order to look after baby Rosie.

How old is Rosie btw and has she eaten her father?

"feminist sensibilities'

Plenty of single parents, with businesses, full time, manage to look after their children as the main care-givers - invariably the female ones.

Susan was hugely proud of Christopher when he qualified as a farrier and she and Neil (and Alice?) went to London to some sort of posh do to see him getting his certificate - was there a celebrity, or even royalty, in attendance, to hand them out? Can't remember now. He's done better for himself than any Horrobin to date so it's no great surprise that she wants to help minimise risk to his business. I agree it's totally in character for her to offer to do all the night feeds.

There is also the fact that Christopher could be putting himself at great physical risk if he tried to carry on his business while knackered. He had a serious injury a while back when a horse kicked him. They'd all be up the creek if that happened again.

Re childcare, as I've said a million times before, the SWs missed a huge opportunity by not having Marjorie Antrobus leave Nightingale Farm to Hayley and Roy. If she had done, they could have converted it so they had a family home and a day nursery or base for childminding. Hayley was a qualified nursery nurse and Roy had a business degree and management/staff supervision experience. It would have been a little goldmine and a very useful focus for all sorts of storylines.

I miss Hayley.

Me too. She was a lovely foil to Kate. (And their power struggles over the soul of Phoebe would have continued to be hilarious or heartbreaking.)

Funny to think that generations to come will find Rex at LL to be the natural order of things.

That's where Stella comes in

I think Stella would find Martha to be a great inconvenience if she went out with Chris. She didn’t strike me as the maternal type so I’d be surprised if she was interested in a single dad.

Just me hoping that Harrison and Chris will get together then? He does want a kid...