💀 Archers thread #132: The Grim Reaper joined the cast; The Bard of Ambridge breathed his last. 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 think Shula will make an excellent vicar, 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.)

Thanks to many of you for title suggestions. @JanglyBeads said that this thread had to be a Bert tribute so needed a rhyming title. From an excellent field, I chose the suggestion from @BorsetshireBanality (who also has a cracking username).

Check out the last thread for the other suggestions and various poetic offerings inspired by Bert Fry's passing. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/4349822--Archers-thread-131-A-time-to-plant-a-time-to-reap-Discuss-The-Archers-here

So, who'll get the bungalow? Rex, Stella, Pip? If Rex has to move, will he doss down beside his pigs at Lower Loxley? Or will Rex be a resident at Her Majesty's pleasure, having bumped off Trevor for being the world's most boring man? Now Freddie's on the case, are Russ's days at LL numbered? Will we ever hear Jill again, or was Bert just the first of many older cast members to be dedded?

Over to you!

I always enjoyed soft play because we only went for birthdays, and it was so much better than the alternative of hosting it ourselves. (This was in the days when parents weren’t expected to stay at parties). We did manage once to send a boy home unfed - he was completely clueless as to whether he was at our party or even knew DS.

He might call her Granny Jenny if he also had, say, Granny Jane

Yes, but as we know (and the SWs may not) he has no other granny, because Ian's mother died a long time ago. Lexi's mother has no genetic connection with him. The egg donor is currently anonymous. So there's only one granny in the frame.

Have not yet heard tonight's offering. Any good?

Why Oh Why were we treated to Alan's drunken speech? It used up time which could have been put to much better use. I sat there thinking "Let this be over."

Nevertheless I confess to shedding a few tears at the end.

Yes I know but the 'Jenny' bit just seemed odd.

... end of the episode

Sorry, that was in reply to AskingQuestions

When dod Eddie or Clarrie last go abroad? I refuse to believe they would spend money on renewing passports on the off-chance.
A dire episode.

The Alan bit was daft - why go to the lengths of Oliver stepping in if we don't get to hear him?

@Changecountetextraordinaire

The Alan bit was daft - why go to the lengths of Oliver stepping in if we don't get to hear him?

Could have been worse. They could have called in Shula

I did say to DH 'They're gonna get Shula'. His face -

TheSilveryPussycat
Nevertheless I confess to shedding a few tears at the end.

At the thought of Eddie leaving Inkberrow (or thereabouts) at say 2:45 to drive to St Pancras and catch a Eurostar departing at 7, including having to be there to check in at 5? Having first organised getting Clarrie a passport without her knowledge (she last went abroad in 1990) and doing the covid testing and paperwork also without her knowledge?

That would certainly end in tears.

I'm listening on catch up and so far this is dire.

@KimikosNightmare

I'm listening on catch up and so far this is dire.

Me too and it does not improve. It was like an old farce show and very badly done at that.

Why are they driving to St. Pancras?

Is there long stay parking at St Pancras? Presumably it costs a fortune.

KimikosNightmare
Why are they driving to St. Pancras?

Because they can't catch the Eurostar anywhere else, and that was what they were going off to do?

(The real answer is "because the scriptwriter wasn't thinking at all when she wrote this evening's episode.")

@KimikosNightmare

Why are they driving to St. Pancras?

Is there long stay parking at St Pancras? Presumably it costs a fortune.

I also wondered where they were going to park the limo.

Simultaneously I found myself thinking Alan is surely far too worldly to get stupid drunk on three glasses of cider and … enjoying his drunken merriment. (Shoot me.)

The covid admin mystery has rather spoilt the event. Maybe Eddie has a London friend with a garage to house the car while they’re away?

The covid admin mystery has rather spoilt the event. Maybe Eddie has a London friend with a garage to house the car while they’re away?

Don't be so ridiculous! They wouldn't know people in London! They only know someone in Birmingham because that's where Mike Tucker went. Even Felpersham is pushing it.

Know someone in London! As if!

I thought that the more fitting going away in the limo (driven by a son again) would be either the Honeymoon Suite at Grey Gables or Lower Loxley

Maybe genius child Xander calls Grandad Brian and Grandad whatever Ian's dads nabe us and therefore follows with Granny Jenny ?

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

KimikosNightmare Why are they driving to St. Pancras?

Because they can't catch the Eurostar anywhere else, and that was what they were going off to do?

(The real answer is "because the scriptwriter wasn't thinking at all when she wrote this evening's episode.")

To be clear, I meant why are they driving to St. Pancras?

Because Grundy, ergo shit for brains, or because unjoined-up sw-ing. You, the listener, get to decide.

So much there to ruin what could have otherwise been a tear-jerking moment. I loved the scaled-down cider shed ceremony and was picturing the foliage and fairy lights, I loved the boys remembering mementos of Joe and Nic and a couple of nights in Paris for Francophile Clarrie was the perfect second honeymoon. But Eddie unplugging the generator - totally unnecessary. Alan getting drunk, laugh - I thought I'd never start. And driving to St Pancras in the limo when they could have got the train to Euston was just too ridiculous (I'm happy to assume they have passports and all the Covid testing nonsense is on the way back, not the way out). They might as well have gone the whole hog and taken the limo on Eurotunnel. Drivel.

paris has many expensive-but-shit hotels.

our most memorable one (unexpected layover and nothing else had room) had a shared bathroom with one of those squatting hole-in-the-ground toilets.