🌱 Archers thread #131: A time to plant, a time to reap. 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 also have a few millions lying around you're not sure how to invest, or other unusual things.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please. We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the week night 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.)

Thanks to @Roysnewshirt and @Edmontine for title suggestions, and apologies to anyone I’ve missed or forgotten. In the end, inspired by Edmontine's idea and a brief discussion at the end of the last thread, I remembered that it's autumn now and the Ambridge farmers are presumably sowing barley, winter wheat, potatoes etc, so I found myself recollecting Ecclesiastes 3 (King James version) - my Church of Scotland upbringing has a lot to answer for. This led me back to one of my favourite numbers by The Byrds (written by Pete Seeger):

Roysnewshirt suggested Prayer cards, rehab, a glass of scotch, a bowl of chilli or even a dish of lasagne…we offer a range of solutions here to help you solve any Ambridge problem - large or small etc etc, which is as good a point as any to start this thread. Do we think Neil and Susan are solid again? Will Alice relapse? Will Shula confess all to the Bishop?

Reflecting on last night's offering, Edmontine said I’m musing on Baby steps … - but we need the culmination of Alice’s story this week. We have a new nurse in training, a possibly resigning midwife settling in Ambridge, Xander, Martha, Alice somewhere trying to find her feet sans grog, Shula trying to find her saintly feet sans Neil …B(ill)eth & Ben. Lots and lots of newness. Stir in Three’s blood and jam …

The blood and jam made me laugh. A lot. Just as well, as the storyline that line inspired is pants.

Over to you!

Well! I was about to post about the ridiculous drive-in films chosen by CMR. So I will. Even the heavily-edited version of "The Exorcist" on Netflix makes it unsuitable for a wide audience. No doubt scandal will ensue.

I enjoyed Freddie baiting Lily about CMR's "form" for young girls.

Poor old Bert. Top poem, Gaspode.

Oh Gasp0de, that is perfect!

What Bore said.
♥️

Crikey two years since Joe fell asleep!

Applause, Bore and Gaspode. Very fitting.

I've never seen The Exorcist and am never likely to. Don't like horror films on the whole. I have seen The Omen, and it made me laugh. I was pleased to have seen it so I could enjoy Good Omens more. Are they proposing a double bill at LL on Sunday evening? With work and school the next morning?

Not, bad, Gasp0de. In fact, not bad enough

And, lest we forget, Knob Titchenor murdered Freda!
(Well, as good as)

I hope Bert and Freda go a-haunting together on Halloween.

RIP Bert

@23minutesfromTulseHill

Not, bad, Gasp0de. In fact, not bad enough

High praise!

Top poem @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

My effort, with apologies to E.J.Thribb

So Farewell Bert Fry, grower of courgettes,
Vegetables and Ambridge were your thing,
Now you and Joe can continue your grudge match
In an afterlife that doesn't exist, just like you, which is fitting.

It's usually sad when a character is killed off, but at least Bert went with a belly full of ale and a smile on his face having taught Ben the fine art of cribbage. A good death, I think they call it.

Thribb to the life, Dr2!

So, what will happen to the bungalow? Rex will be homeless if David chucks him out.

I don't suppose Rex earns enough to be able to afford proper rent.

The Ambridge Accomodation Fairy will provide.

Unless, of course, the powers that be have decided that the Fairbrethren are for the chop.

Ben has been given his destiny…

RIP Bert. He’d be delighted with all the versification in his honour. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

(But why did the CA say “Is he dead?”?)

His shuffling does potentially open up the story a bit. Toby’s movements are rather obscure atm, but I’ve been assuming that some forgotten and broken down old roof will be found for Rex at LL, since his pigs are already in residence. But yes, someone will acquire the bungalow … Oh. Stella - Ruth’s new best friend. Or Ben? Though I was hoping he’d move in with Evie. Fight to the death; survivor gets it?

@Darker

Ben has been given his destiny…

I can see it now, Ben sat across from some old biddy from Darrington duking it out for the World Cribbage Championship in a packed Bull, followed by a sell out world tour where Crib becomes the most popular pub game all over the world, and the world cup is renamed the Bert Fry Memorial Trophy, open only to residents of the world (Borsetshire).

As a relative new listener, approx six years, Bert hasn’t really registered on my radar. He’s occasionally referred to as part of the village furniture around the time of the flower and produce show, but I have to say I won’t miss him and am just relieved the SWs might be starting to get rid of some of the cast clutter.

Also I cannot think of a less likely plot twist than Ben finding a vocation in geriatric nursing.

@EdmontinaTiresofNameFlipping

RIP Bert. He’d be delighted with all the versification in his honour. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

(But why did the CA say “Is he dead?”?)

His shuffling does potentially open up the story a bit. Toby’s movements are rather obscure atm, but I’ve been assuming that some forgotten and broken down old roof will be found for Rex at LL, since his pigs are already in residence. But yes, someone will acquire the bungalow … Oh. Stella - Ruth’s new best friend. Or Ben? Though I was hoping he’d move in with Evie. Fight to the death; survivor gets it?

The Evie ship has sailed. It’s Beth now.

@Darker

So, what will happen to the bungalow? Rex will be homeless if David chucks him out.

I doubt that many of the SWs know who owns that bungalow!

On the plus side the BBC have put up a tribute "Bert", who is retiring.

Oohhh …

Surely we need cast clutter in the next thread title, Gasp0de?

Excellent wordery, Roysnewshirt (Though mean to poor Bert.

It’s true he has been very much sidelined lately, particularly since Freda died. And since there’s been no Joe for him to compete with in everything Ambridge-related. (Though I find that more true to life than having one’s 900 year old mother move back in to do all your cooking and housework …) He was quite fun years ago as a regular-ish fixture at Lower Loxley, during, or slightly after, the golden era when several ‘ordinary people’ from the village were employed there. I must admit my memories of him working at Brookfield during Phil and Jill’s reign have faded somewhat. But his death should be a huge thing for the Brookfield Archers, he’s been part of their lives forever.

The bungalow is part of the Brookfield estate (David and Ruth lived there for a long time). The real prize will be the garden. Where Bert grew all his prize veg.

Oh, I know, Havering! Was falling asleep and grabbed the nearest name in my head. (What usually happens after midnight is that I write a long, detailed post, fall asleep with the phone in my hand, and look in vain for my brilliant musings on the thread the next morning.)

Thanks for the alert that the BBC has put up a tribute. Here it is, with an actor photo at the very top. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/21QBp5NJ1XzQMCsKRYKQ8Bw/farewell-to-bert-fry

I see that the actor, Eric Allan, is 81 and has had a good career in the theatre and on TV. I hope he has a long and happy retirement from The Archers. Bert was one of my favourite characters, during the years when he was more prominent than he has been of late.