🎲 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!

@KimikosNightmare

What did Joy do for a living? If we've ever heard, I've forgotten

Well I've told this forum several times. Joy is in deep, undercover, lifetime witness protection.

It's the only plausible reason for a woman of Joy's age, who has no connections with Ambridge, never receives visits from friends or family, has almost no past history (beyond talking about a daughter whom no- one has ever met) no employment history or obvious source of wealth would move to a large new build house in Ambridge.

Good call! Alternatively, she's been planted there to keep an eye on the mysterious Gills, who must surely be organised crime gang bosses.

@BowerOfBramble

no one who has been listening to The Archers for even a relatively short time can have failed to notice that there’s a question mark over who will take over at Brookfield

Did this happen last time or was it just assumed it would be deevid?

It could never have been any of the others as he was the only one of the four who became a farmer. He was made a partner in the farm before Phil retired and later insisted (I think) that Ruth became a partner too. When Phil and Jill did finally retire and leave Brookfield farmhouse to David and Ruth, there was a terrific family bust up about ownership of the farm, resolved by creating B shares (or something like that) which were given to Kenton, Shula and Elizabeth. They are worth nothing unless the farm is sold in which case they would get a share of the proceeds.

Given their ages and the fact that all three Brookfield offspring are now adults, it's long overdue for David and Ruth to be making wills and discussing succession.

FWR. Feminism and Women's Rights. One of the most active boards on Mumsnet, apparently, but also (in the current climate) a headache for the MN moderators as there are people actively monitoring everything that's posted there looking for things to report with a view to getting certain posters banned and making certain topics difficult to discuss in plain English. I'm very sorry indeed to hear that Weevils fell foul of all of this and I'm annoyed with myself for not noticing it had happened. I usually assume a namechange when someone appears not to be around any more, that or some sort of life event getting in the way of posting.

As for last night, I'd like to think that the fabled sinkhole has finally opened up and swallowed up most of the residents of Brookfield, but we won't be fortunate enough for that to have happened. I expect we'll find out tonight and it will all turn out to be a damp squib. 'Phew! That was a near thing, Pip. There was a moment there when I thought we were both a goner, but it was just your Mum squealing when a bit of cold water splashed her in the face! Ha ha ha ...'

Thank you for the new thread @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g.

Gosh. The first time David and Ruth leave the farm together for a non-Ambridge social event (if not in my entire lifetime, certainly for a Very Long Time) and Ruth is dedded?

Surely not?

I don’t like excessive trailering but it would be a poor show to shove out such a long-standing character with no fanfare, not even a hint. And on a Sunday.

So I’m hoping that isn’t what’s happened. Though all the surrounding Brookfield chatter suggests it.

I expect we'll find out tonight and it will all turn out to be a damp squib Damp being the operative word - it sounded like they were reusing the sounds effects from the Great Flood - I was waiting for Pip to be swept away as she tried to clear a blocked culvert, but killing off the heir apparent would be too much like the death of poor John at Bridge Farm. I’m sure David and Ruth will live to tell the tale and will then feel an urgent need to put their affairs in order.

They’re at Vince’s flash place aren’t they and I thought I heard they were going to try out the hot tub - maybe I imagined it! Perhaps the SW plan is that R&D end up in hospital leaving the junior Archers to sink/swim/stop bickering and cooperate.

@LiterallyKnowsBest

Gosh. The first time David and Ruth leave the farm together for a non-Ambridge social event (if not in my entire lifetime, certainly for a Very Long Time) and Ruth is dedded?

Surely not?

I don’t like excessive trailering but it would be a poor show to shove out such a long-standing character with no fanfare, not even a hint. And on a Sunday.

So I’m hoping that isn’t what’s happened. Though all the surrounding Brookfield chatter suggests it.

I guess this is the vortex that prevents the adult kids from leaving home…

I really have no idea what those sound effects were supposed to be depicting.

Were they back at Brookfield?

I hope Weevils/Tulsa Hill finds a way to return.

I remember when Dan (n’ Doris) died and no such angst - Phil was the natural inheritor. Can’t remember with David.

It wasn't a good episode unless it dedded Pip.
I dislike the portrayal of the Caseys as working class brummies. The 'bab' references made me think of whatshername who was played by Frances Barber.

Have I ever mentiioned that I can't stand Pip.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

As for last night, I'd like to think that the fabled sinkhole has finally opened up and swallowed up most of the residents of Brookfield, but we won't be fortunate enough for that to have happened. I expect we'll find out tonight and it will all turn out to be a damp squib. 'Phew! That was a near thing, Pip. There was a moment there when I thought we were both a goner, but it was just your Mum squealing when a bit of cold water splashed her in the face! Ha ha ha ...'

I wondered if Josh and Pip were going to find something nasty blocking the drain.

@maltravers

They’re at Vince’s flash place aren’t they and I thought I heard they were going to try out the hot tub - maybe I imagined it! Perhaps the SW plan is that R&D end up in hospital leaving the junior Archers to sink/swim/stop bickering and cooperate.

Yes so did I.

I don't think anyone has been dedded (unfortunately)

I am about to listen to this bit for the fourth time. Not even nigel’s slip warranted that. Bewildered.

I think I’ll try writing to MN and suggest they implement the possibility of being banned from selected boards. It’s one thing if someone is being all round nasty, but someone can fall foul of one board while still giving valued input to another

Do they tell you that you are being banned?

@CaptainMyCaptain

I'm sure they were driving home. I never, at any point, imagined a hot tub. Were pp joking about that?

I think that there being a hot-tub at Vince's gaff had been mentioned by either Ruth or David at some point.

Listened again and I would have made the youngsters re-record. They really did sound as if they were just reading aloud/remotely.

I seem to remember that nearly everybody was in uproar when they thought that Lynda was going to be dreaded. Social media seems remarkably unconcerned about Ruth's fate.

Was it supposed to be a car crash?

@KirstenBlest

Do they tell you that you are being banned?

Yes. Generally it doesn't happen for a first offence; for that you'll be warned that you have broken the unwritten law, which really amounts to "don't offend people, or they will report your posts for being Nasty". You get an email telling you that you are being given a First Warning for a post of yours that has been removed, and then presumably a second or third. I don't know how many strike you get before you are out; I think they stop being counted towards a total after six weeks.

@KimikosNightmare no spoilers on this thread, it’s stated clearly in the OP.

Damn, nobody is dead.

Car crash -so dull! Ruth being sucked into the hot tub drain would have been far more exciting.

Thanks @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime. I think that there might be an unwritten law about what opinions you can't post, and if I dared step over the line unwittingly I might find myself locked out permanently

Looks like Pip and Josh might need to step up