🎲 Archers thread #134: Ambridge as human board game. We’ve had Pandemic. What now - Game of Life or Trivial Pursuit? Go! 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 warm to Hazel Woolley, or other unusual views.

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 @LiterallyKnowsBest for the thread title idea. I also liked @LillianGish's suggestion which was Conversions abound and it’s not just Harrison - Lily’s kitchens, Hazel’s flat, Jazzer’s finances, Bert’s bungalow...come and discuss The Archers - are you a convert or could you be converted? and that seems like a good place to kick off this thread.

Who'll get the bungalow? Pip, Josh or A. N. Other?

Will Lily leave the cold calling behind and launch a bid to run LL when Elizabeth hangs up her clipboard?

Will Jazzer become a financial whiz after mastering Tracy's state of the art budgeting techniques, viz, writing it all down in a little notebook with a kitten on the front?

Over to you!

I think this will all backfire massively.

When has Susan Carter EVER kept her mouth shut?

Not at all convinced that all that gossip would have been shared on a first outing. Or that Adam would have arranged this in the first place.

The episode was still fun, though.

@KimikosNightmare

I assumed Susan was being invited for a meal.

Yes. If I was Susan I would have assumed that. Didn't Adam say 'supper'?

6 o’clock though? Where was Xander? That would have been peak-pre-bed chaos when mine were that age.

Bit harsh making Chris give his shingles to Martha I thought. And Y definitely sounds more and more like a professional with Alice rather than a friend I wonder if things will rebalance over time. Hope Alice doesn’t end up sleep-deprived and drunk in charge of the pox.

Y? Amy, obviously

*I think this will all backfire massively.

When has Susan Carter EVER kept her mouth shut?*

I agree that this will totally backfire but I don’t think it will be Susan who lets the cat out of the bag. It will be either Ian or Adam who is indiscreet and suddenly things will become very awkward for Susan when David pops into the shop.

Alternatively, this could become one of those strange, lasting friendships that works between apparently unsuited individuals. It would be rather nice if Susan and the boys develop an informal supper club, meeting from time to time for a totally off-the-record gossip. Not sure Neil would fit in, but he probably doesn’t have to. Susan will probably also need to leave Tracey at home as two Horrobin sisters might be a bridge too far for A and I…

The "boys", Roysnewshirt? These are men in their fifties!

My mother refers to women of her own age as girls, and she's 89!

Rather a nice episode, I thought.

I have too often heard fully adult male homosexuals referred to as "boys" in a dismissive way to find it anything but bit edgy. Not quite as bad as the Southern States use of "boy", but in the same sort of area. I am sure Roysnewshirt will not have intended it that way, but unless an adult is a very close relation or friend I would not dream of using either "boy" or "girl" when speaking of them, and it gives me a grue.

Oh lighten up @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime. You really don’t have to jump down my throat every time I post. Give it a break - for my sake as well as everyone else.

I totally agree @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g. The term ‘girls’ and ‘boys’ are used very loosely these days.

When Helen gets to hear that her best mate Ian fancies the pants off her well -toned boyfriend Lee then I think sparks will surely fly.

Gasp0de and I are the same age, and it seems our mothers are twins too! My mother still occasionally utters a mischievous “Good girl!” if I do something less disappointing than usual. I rather treasure it now …

(Oh, yeah - name change. 💃🏾)

As an undergraduate I had a boyfriend who used to call me “Old girl”. Kind of delicious when you’re 21 …

@Tulipomania

When Helen gets to hear that her best mate Ian fancies the pants off her well -toned boyfriend Lee then I think sparks will surely fly.

Really? I’ve had gay friends say that my male partner is hot or they want a boyfriend like him or other things that imply they fancy him a bit. I would hardly kick off about it as they’re my friends so aren’t about to try it on with him - and he’s straight so wouldn’t notice if they did

Isn't JD in her 70s? A bit much of Alice to expect her to look after Marthyr full time.

@WhoppingBigBackside

Isn't JD in her 70s? A bit much of Alice to expect her to look after Marthyr full time.

Jennifer was born on the 7th of January, 1945, so she is 77. Definitely a bit much to ask!

I do feel sorry for Jenny. She’s such a caring mum, step-mum and grandmother but has someone managed to raise two daughters who are dreadful mothers.

I think it was me who first referred to a and I as the boys. It probably is a bit partronising but I find them so hard to "age". Adam is my age but I cannot picture him as such.

Likewise Jenny as a 77 year old actually.

Kate thinks she's a good mother, and by having not done much parenting, she's probably done her children a favour.

Phoebe has taken everyone's advice and got a new job far away from Ambridge, hasn't she?

Alice had an unplanned pregnancy and other issues so it's not her fault that she's not a good mother.

I can see a few of the characters as roughly my age but I forget how old I am.

@JanglyBeads

Phoebe has taken everyone's advice and got a new job far away from Ambridge, hasn't she?

I think so too. I don't think that Solil (?) is her beau.

@Prestissimo
Bit harsh making Chris give his shingles to Martha I thought

Bit odd that they both have it together I thought as there's an incubation period of about 2 weeks after exposure to the virus. Chris would have had to have developed the blisters to pass the virus on to Martha etc etc. Has he had it for the past fortnight and not noticed?
Was Amy reading from the first aid book? Sounded like it.

They looked it up on t'internet

Chris said his symptoms started last week

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

My mother refers to women of her own age as girls, and she's 89!

Rather a nice episode, I thought.

Someone who worked at Hampton Court told me that one of the old ladies in Grace and Favour accommodation used to let them know in advance when the girls were coming round. She meant the Queen (then 92) and Princess Anne.