😱 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!

Is it normal to pop a 6 month (premature) baby in a toddler swing? Still at least Chris has finally twigged that he ought to be doing some parenting.

Beth is a welcome addition to the Archers crowd (she doesn't sound as if she is reading from a script and she is bound to annoy David).

@shallIswim

Sorry if it's already been asked but Amy's voice is bugging me. Is it a new actor playing her? She sounds different

Amy has had three actors: Natalia Cappuchini (under a different one of her names, Natalia Fisher-Keely, at first) until 2007, Vinette Robinson from 2008-September 2011, and Jennifer Daley since March 2012. She was Jennifer Daley this week.

Beth and Ben were a STARK contrast to script by numbers Chris and Amy last night weren’t they? Sounded like they were written by different writers and shows what a difference the actors really make. Also made me realise that Chris is usually in scenes with better actors like his parents or Alice to balance things out.

Oh thanks @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

She still sounds different to me. Mind you my brain and ears can't sort out the difference between many of the male characters who all sound the same so my judgment is dodgy to say the least!

Chilli is back on the menu.

Susan made the mistake of telling Neil that Shula is in love with HIM.
It'll take a while to sink in, but surely he will eventually rekindle his 40 year-old crush.

@CaptainMyCaptain

Chilli is back on the menu.

It’s nonsense - that chilli would have been eaten the evening we last heard from them …

maybe they've been eating chilli for a couple of days.

Is Brian going to get rat week every time he has a scotch? If JD wants to play along with the letter-writing bollox, that's her affair. How dare she nag and coerce Brian into it? It seems very poor practice to let an addict think they can keep family dancing to their tune (Alice wants us to be completely honest). Alice shouldn't get to demand anything.
Also, the attributes JD was ascribing to 'sober Alice', such as 'vibrant' and 'funny', were traits she had previously realised were actually 'Alice + a drink or two'. Probably different writers, but can't be arsed to check.
Oh, and JD's querulous warble was seriously getting on my tits. Will she and Christyffur drive up together? If so, one can hope for a fatal collision. At least Brian could then enjoy his whiskies in peace.

Amy sounded like the health visitor, or was it midwife that Alice and Chris spoke to. It maybe I’m getting her confused with Alice’s previous recovery buddy. Either way she has ‘patronising healthcare worker’ tones.

I must say, my first thought when I heard about the letter-writing project was that I couldn't think of anything more likely to drive me to drink than listening to people reading out letters telling me how awful I was.

Is the letter writing thing a usual part of rehab practice?

Aside from the weird mirroring of Kate’s 40th (?) birthday farrago, it does seem strange, as theThreeofWeevils says, to create a structure where having the rehab patient make demands of their family is posited as crucial to recovery. Brian’s initial storming off in disgust was one of the most realistic things I’ve heard on TA in a long time.

I thought the same as @theThreeofWeevils about JD's description of sober Alice (that's a first). It jumped out at me when she said it.

Very pleased at the way Susan put Shula back in her box. Talk about taking back control.

@Roysnewshirt

Very pleased at the way Susan put Shula back in her box. Talk about taking back control.

I thought it was a shame Susan felt that she had to lie to Shula in order to put her in her place -- she invented the "people have been gossiping" business out of the whole cloth, just in order to frighten Shula.

Until then she had the moral high ground, but telling a pack of lies loses you that instantly. If she can only get control by lying, she isn't much cop.

Chris and Amy. I'm calling it now. It will be an emotional affair that Chris will wonder into obliviously. Talk about a chip of the old block. I can't imagine why else Amy is around. Her voice/draining drawl make me feel sleepy.

I also thought I remembered JD saying that the she finally realized that 'vibrant, funny' Alice was actually 'drunk Alice' so I was surprised she was listing them as the positives traits of sober Alice.

I think Brian's right. The letters seem like a very bad idea. It might be cathartic for JD and Christopher to write it all out and then burn them.

Chris and Amy. I'm calling it now. It will be an emotional affair that Chris will wonder into obliviously. Talk about a chip of the old block. I can't imagine why else Amy is around. Her voice/draining drawl make me feel sleepy.
I called it first! I think you are right, why else is she around?

Chris & Amy could well be an EA.
She expressed surprise when Kristiffur suggested that his marriage might have a future. She will stay on at the Vicarage a while and spend time cooing over baby Marthyr and before you know it baby Amiffur will be on the way.

The letters sound a bonkers idea, unless it is as a write it but don't post it exercise.

Oh god - there isn’t an ‘Amelia’ in the village at the moment, is there?

I dunno … I’m not mad about Chris or Amy as currently presented - but a Carter-Franks baby would be excellent. Alan’s been in Ambridge forever, now - but he’s not properly part of the village until he becomes part of a dynasty. So it wouldn’t be enough for Amy to simply ‘mother’ Martha, she and Chris would need to procreate themselves.

(Amy’s mother’s grandchild having a proper stake in Ambridge would make me very happy.)

But if Amy returns to Ambridge and becomes the second Mrs Chris Carter, we will have the usual Archers storyline of a woman giving up her career (or education as in Lily and Debbie’s case) because of a man.

@ILoveShula

. I want an I Love Neil box.

And you can have one for just £3.47.

I don't think it would be big enough for Shula's mementoes though.

Oops, forgot the link to where you can buy it. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221499346667

Amy’s mother’s grandchild having a proper stake in Ambridge would make me very happy
Why?
She's dead, and always has been.

@NetballHoop, thank you - that is most thoughtful of you, but I was thinking of something the size of an Ifor Williams horse box.

[quote ILoveShula]@NetballHoop, thank you - that is most thoughtful of you, but I was thinking of something the size of an Ifor Williams horse box.[/quote]
Does it have to be a full sized one? This one would be easier to hide from your congregation.