🌱 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!

Ah, my fondness for cinnamon is better represented by 'hint' than 'hit'!

Well Kate’s husband didn’t make any claims on her assets so perhaps Brian should calm down. Another Aldridge woman who relinquished custody of the children when it all got too much for her. I’m not sure she’s divorced? She’s the kind of person who’s let that sort of things drift along unresolved.

I’m certain Our Rochelle doesn’t exist.

When's Amy going back to work? Some of her lines make it sound as if she's no plans to go back to her old role.

I do not think it’s a spoiler to say she appears to have a fresh new photo on the Characters page of the BBC site.

Amy in The Archers

I’m definitely with @Gasp in the hit vs hint debate

She can't sod off back to Nottingham soon enough as far as I'm concerned. Satisfying, though, that her oh-so-thoughtful heads-up to Alice about STBXH having got wrecked and made a tit of himself in public didn't cause the recriminations she was hoping for. Nasty piece of work, is Amy.

@Eastie77Returns

Well Kate’s husband didn’t make any claims on her assets so perhaps Brian should calm down. Another Aldridge woman who relinquished custody of the children when it all got too much for her. I’m not sure she’s divorced? She’s the kind of person who’s let that sort of things drift along unresolved.

I’m certain Our Rochelle doesn’t exist.

I might have imagined this but didn't Kate's husband remarry?

The cinnamon buns I’ve seen are like a Chelsea bun, but the filling is almost entirely cinnamon. Not in the least bit suitable for those that use “light touch” and “cinnamon” in the same sentence

Cinnamon is vile, that's why it isn't used more widely. It's already in far too many things, thus rendering them inedible.

@MereDintofPandiculation

The cinnamon buns I’ve seen are like a Chelsea bun, but the filling is almost entirely cinnamon. Not in the least bit suitable for those that use “light touch” and “cinnamon” in the same sentence

Thanks, that''s good to know, MereDint! Pain aux raisins is my preferred pastry, anyway, followed by a really good croissant, preferably an almond one.

Roysnewshirt
Just wanted to mention the cinnamon content in Tony’s crumble as I share Pat’s lack of enthusiasm for the spice.

But Pat loves the stuff and uses it in stews. The person who wouldn't eat her cinnamon-flavoured stew was Natasha.

I agree that its being ubiquitous is a bore, and it's a fair old sample of hell for people who have a bad reaction to it: someone I know is sick and then has uncontrollable galloping trots for about two days if some has been put into a dish she is given and she doesn't notice it in time.

I thought Cinnamon buns were a Skandi import. I blame IKEA and the fixation with all things Hygge a couple of years ago.

Why did Jolene/Kenton carry on serving Chris when he was so obviously drunk BTW?

But Pat loves the stuff and uses it in stews. The person who wouldn't eat her cinnamon-flavoured stew was Natasha

Huge apologies to Three and Asking as Pat’s stew for Olwyn had completely slipped my mind. I do now remember Natasha finding it inedible chasing it around the plate and then leaving it. I think the only stew it’s acceptable in is a tagine and JD is the only person in Ambridge who we know for certain makes tagines. I can’t imagine they are part of Pat’s mid-week repertoire.

But, if she likes cinnamon so much, why was she so luke-warm about the flavouring of poor Tony’s crumble?

@Madcats

I thought Cinnamon buns were a Skandi import. I blame IKEA and the fixation with all things Hygge a couple of years ago.

Why did Jolene/Kenton carry on serving Chris when he was so obviously drunk BTW?

And 4th October is Cinnamon Bun Day!

The editorial team seem to be unaware of the law which says you are not to continue to serve alcohol to someone who is drunk, so Kenton and Jolene are also ignorant about the Licensing Act 2003, and that they are severally or jointly liable to a fine of £1,000 if they do it, not to mention losing their premises' licence to serve alcohol if they get reviewed as a result.

Most pub managers do know this, but the breweries on the whole seem not to be in favour of reducing profits by not serving the slarmy, so they have the jolly choice between losing their jobs because the brewery ceases to employ them, or losing their jobs because their licenses to sell alcohol have been removed.

@Madcats

I thought Cinnamon buns were a Skandi import. I blame IKEA and the fixation with all things Hygge a couple of years ago.

Why did Jolene/Kenton carry on serving Chris when he was so obviously drunk BTW?

A lot of Scandinavian buns are cardamom rather than cinnamon, just as delicious.

Cinnamon buns are better if made like hot cross bun shapes ie not rolled up, and raisins added to the mixture.The cinnamon should just complement the sweetness, not overpower it. They're delicious spread with butter.

I've never thought of Pat as having much interest in cooking; just endless yogurt, ice cream and cheese production.Well until Helen muscled in, though I'm never sure what exactly she does apart from precipitate general anxiety.

Good to hear from Pat at last.

@Madcats

I thought Cinnamon buns were a Skandi import. I blame IKEA and the fixation with all things Hygge a couple of years ago.

Why did Jolene/Kenton carry on serving Chris when he was so obviously drunk BTW?

I’ve come across them being sold in Ilkley market by a Russian lady who has now taken her business online

Like Gasp0de I put a little cinnamon in moussaka and sometimes in apple crumble. (Can't stand cloves though.)

I also have a recipe for an amazing cinnamon ice cream.

I think of cinnamon buns as American, they love cinnamon. The spiced bun probably originated in Scandinavia but they’ve taken it to new heights in the US.

I could eat a Chelsea Bun at any time of the day or night. I wouldn’t cross over the road for a cinnamon one though.

By the way the Cinnamon used often in the USA is different to that used in Europe (and possibly carcinogenic). paleofoundation.com/9-important-things-you-need-to-know-about-your-cinnamon/

I like Cinnamon danish pastries and cinnamon buns. But too much as in a lot of US stuff is not great. But I also think the more you use it the less you really taste it, so tend to go for a bigger kick.

Heaven.

Now even better! Pumpkin spice latte.

Two BOOPS already!

Stella.

& the lurker.

Oh my - this is superb!

Brian.

Stella!

Cannot remember when I last laughed so loud!

Is there an award I can nominate Katie Hims (SW) for?

That was the one episode every several years that makes up for all the dross. Outstanding.