😱 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!

I thought at one point she did the necessary training to be able to be an advocate her clients in court.

I distinctly remember her saying she was “from Hounslow” but Archers continuity being what it is, she’ll be from “Handsworth” next time she mentions her origins!

For her clients

@theThreeofWeevils

making things happen in the village for years Women in the cricket team and other such vital social justice initiatives?

That was an absolutely shocking sl. She didn't want to be in the cricket team, but demanded her right to be in it even though she was no good at playing cricket and then claimed she'd been turned down because she was a woman rather than because she could neither bat, bowl nor catch a ball. I was surprised she didn't also claim it was because she is not white, to be honest; that would have been at least as accurate.

@Gh0stontoast

I thought at one point she did the necessary training to be able to be an advocate her clients in court.

I distinctly remember her saying she was “from Hounslow” but Archers continuity being what it is, she’ll be from “Handsworth” next time she mentions her origins!

Usha did her training in London so that's probably where her family took refuge when they were dispossessed and forced to flee from Uganda by Idi Amin.

I too thought that she did some training as an advocate, but apparently that doesn't really work outside a courtroom, or something, judging by her inability to get Hilary Noakes to listen to her.

@LizziesTwin

Apologies for posting a link to the Jackie Weaver interview. When it was published, sometime ago, there was no indication that she would be appearing at the Village Fete, only that she had a secret part.

Don't worry, @LizziesTwin, it's happened now and the BBC quite often trails celeb appearances well in advance anyway. Sheer chance if they didn't do it here.

I certainly didn't think Usha was a criminal lawyer. Why on earth did that Felpersham firm buy up the practice if all she was doing was Legal Aid work? No money in that, as far as I'm aware (IANAL disclaimer applies, though).

Ah, was it Felpersham? I took a chance on Borchester but wasn’t entirely sure ... I don’t remember the details of what happened after Mark died.

I’m glad someone else doesn’t recall any criminal law vibe to Usha’s professional life, though. The SWs are lying, aren’t they?

From memory, Mark established a practice in Borchester, and then took Usha into partnership. After he died, she ran the practice single-handed, but then accepted a merger offer from the big firm, whose name escapes me, and I'm fairly certain it was based in Felpersham.

[Awaits Asking to give chapter and verse - I expect several bits of that are inaccurate ...]

(What I do remember in excruciating, if vague, detail is the first time Mark invited Usha home to meet Shula - who was appalled and outraged that he should have taken on a ... woman.

Didn’t they live in a flat in Borchester at the time?)

Nope, all spot-on as far as I can tell/remember. I think that the firm she is now with has offices in both Felpersham and Borchester, the latter having been hers and Mark's while he was alive.

At one point we had "Usha, spurred on by her problems on last weekend's walk, is cycling to work in Felpersham and, when she's working in the Borchester office, she's walking!" in Lowfield. (Felpersham is twenty miles from ambridge, Borchester a mere six.) She was working in Borchester when she was dealing with Kathy's divorce and with Tommy's crop-trashing case, and Elizabeth went to see her about Freddie's case at the office in Borchester, as well as Ruth several times lunching with her in Borchester during Usha's lunch-break, so i think she's there more often than not.

@Edmontine

(What I do remember in excruciating, if vague, detail is the first time Mark invited Usha home to meet Shula - who was appalled and outraged that he should have taken on a ... woman.

Didn’t they live in a flat in Borchester at the time?)

Shula is basically the Daily Mail in jodhpurs.

Well I am pleased Alice has hit enough of a rock bottom to take herself to rehab, though I can't help wishing it hadn't been facilitated by Shula (about to note it in her prayer journal no doubt).

Who's been paying for Banjo's livery?

about to note it in her prayer journal
' Miracles What I Wraught' ?

Wrought, even.

And I don't think it's Banjo's liver we need worry about.

Ohhhhhh, liverY.. as you were

True to my username, I for one applaud @theThreeofWeevils's liver punning.

I suppose Alice had to pluck up the courage to sell Banjo and change her tune about rehab, but it's good she's gone there of her own ac- chord.

I'll stop now.

No horse-play this time, she took off at a gallop straight back to rehab. Hope she doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths and refuse the first hurdle!

Although she is saddled with a bit of debt to Shula, which might stirr-up bad feeling later.

Do we know who won the Scarecrow competition? Not sure if I missed it or if we just weren’t told?

If you missed it, @SycamoreGap, I did too.

The equine punners have really got the bit between their teeth, I see. Some people bridle at puns, but I won't rein on their parade.

(Apols)

Appalling whiff of burning martyr coming off Shula. Theology training is a closed book to me, but is there no check for sanctimoniousness?

So now Alice going back to rehab is suddenly all about Shula. Why do the SWs indulge her? The reference to how her garden is going to rack and ruin made me smile. Has Neil stopped using that as an excuse to see her gardening for her? I don’t think we know that if he has. It must be all of about a week since she broke her wrist and I can’t imagine he has dropped her so quickly after all that fussing about lightbulbs.

@SycamoreGap

Do we know who won the Scarecrow competition? Not sure if I missed it or if we just weren’t told?

I think it was Phoebe's family of happy campers.

I know, ridiculous - no one has got a more gardened garden than Shula.

I DID enjoy the fact that the scriptwriters actually explained something that had happened in the past though, something we didn’t know about. That rarely happens in the eternal present of Ambridge.

I think the “camping family” won the scarecrow competition, done by Rex and Phoebe?! Sounds shit quite frankly.

I enjoyed Jackie Weaver's appearance. I always thought it took off was not because it was exceptional but because so many people have experienced similar meetings.

Completely agree with Roysnewshirt about Shula's garden. I've missed a few episodes but has The Stables turned into some sort of rain forest? Neil was spending all his time helping Shula.

I wonder if going back into rehab is going to help Alice.

I didn't think Usha was a criminal lawyer either. I was once having lunch with some work colleagues and Usha was at the next table. Her voice (which I like) was the same - which is how we recognised her. We said hello as we left. She appeared much more often in those days. That was when she was being a friend to Ruth, long before the silly cricket team story which was very out of character.

I certainly didn't think Usha was a criminal lawyer. Why on earth did that Felpersham firm buy up the practice if all she was doing was Legal Aid work? No money in that, as far as I'm aware (IANAL disclaimer applies, though)
At one time, up to the mid/late 90's legal aid was - or could be - quite a cash cow, but that changed initially with the Blair government, and then was all but eradicated under the Tories. I imagine at the time of the sale Usha was doing a bit of everything, criminal, family, property, and in theory (real life) would have started to specialise once she became part of a larger outfit.

I imagine at the time of the sale Usha was doing a bit of everything, criminal, family, property, and in theory (real life) would have started to specialise once she became part of a larger outfit

That scenario in the mid late 90s is highly implausible.