🐠 Archers thread #135: An Everyday Story of Fishy Folk. 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 would be delighted to be given a goldfish named after your ex, 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.)

Apologies for ignoring the various title suggestions on the last thread. However, here they are, plus a couple of other pithy observations, to kickstart the new thread. I think it's fair to say nobody is looking on this as a Golden Era! Goldfish Era, though ...

@Roysnewshirt: Everyone wants more! Chris wants more Amy; Jazzer wants more Tracey; Alice wants more time with Martha and Amy wants more space… Very true. And now we know Kirsty wants more farming expertise in the rewilding project, but not Pip (thank the lord) so does that mean approaching Adam? Currently under-employed.

@LillianGish: I tune in to hear birdsong and bleating in the English countryside not hammy acting and suggestive grunting.

@stilldumdedumming: Archers is good at the dynamics of family, farming, what it means to have your job, your home and your inheritance so closely aligned etc etc not this nonsense!

@DoctorTwo: Like fuck would Pheobe buy her parents a goldfish each. The Ambridge character transplant fairy has been working overtime this past few weeks, it's been absolutely fucking appalling bar a couple of exceptions.

Can't disagree with any of that. I want to hear more about the pigs and any other effects of Brexit. A topical insert about the war in Ukraine must surely be on the way.

Any happy listeners out there? Any disgruntled listeners with even more grumbles? Over to you!

@KimikosNightmare, Lisa Lancaster

Nigel Pargetter was Charlie Mycroft. He played a headteacher in Brookside, IIRC, maybe one episode, and a solicitor in Corrie, one episode

Quite enjoying Vince’s devilish new plan to put up David’s blood pressure.

(And Freddie will be furious!)

Has Chris actually looked after Martha for more than a week or two by himself (or Alice, for that matter)?

The grandparents seem to do most of the childcare.

Is the Vince investing in Josh's free range egg empire designed to piss off David? If so, that has to be a good thing.

@Taswama

Not listened to tonight's, my Sounds isn't working.

For people complaining about the lack of any reference to Ukraine, did you hear Brian mention 'the new divorce laws' when talking to Alice. Maybe they've been planning her divorce ever since they knew there was a change coming?

They had a scene previously when Alice was telling someone that she was glad she wasn't going to have to put together unreasonable. behaviour grounds any more. Mind you, Roisin must be pretty crap as a lawyer as she obviously didn't know about the imminent change in the law when Alice first went to see her.

Why aye man. Blake's our friend in the north

Forgot to say - @Taswama - I had a problem with Sounds recently, I suspect because of an update. I sorted it by deleting the app and reinstalling.

I too really enjoyed Mincey and Josh and egg chat and cricket. Agree that Freddie is going get jealous when Vince helps him rather than buying the heir of Lower Loxley a bubble machine.

Lovely to see someone taking an almost fatherly interest in Josh finally. (Although it's a business thing.)

So nice to have cricket and egg chat for a change.

Honestly Chris and Alice should just get back together, they're both so awful they fully deserve each other. I can't comprehend why shared parental responsibility and 50/50 custody is not on anyones agenda. Poor Martha, she needs someone to just advocate for her. Maybe St Fallon will step in at some point. She loves to be the village moral compass, although not maternally minded.

Lizzie was a bit frightful but I'd definitely want to give any risk assessment completed by Freddie careful scrutiny the once over. I don't know about his paperwork track record but historically he hasn't made particularly wise judgements when it comes to assessing the risks of say, dealing drugs at a policeman's stag do.

The Chris and Alice show is just tedious now. I was originally Team Carter but I hope Alice ends up with primary residence or whatever it’s called. She actually seems level headed and reasonable in comparison to Chris who is constantly ranting and running to Susan in a complete panic every time there’s a new ‘development’.

In reality it doesn’t seem as if either of them would be able to cope on their own without their parents propping them up either financially (Alice) or providing babysitting on tap (Chris) which is ridiculous as they are in their thirties, not teenaged parents.

Alice doesn't remotely sound reasonable or level- headed.

Her ranting to Roisin about how much Martha is thriving now she's with Alice was quite the opposite. She worked up quite a lather during that session.

Well I suppose Alice feels Martha is thriving when she’s with her so it seems reasonable (to her) to point this out. I didn’t buy into the “mother and baby bond is unbreakable” nonsense she spouted at the lawyer but she sounds far more balanced and calm of late and has acknowledged she has a disease that she will always live rather than pretending she is cured. I’ve never liked Alice but I think she’s redeemed herself a bit recently, particularly in the way she made up with dreadful Amy.

Chris just sounds borderline hysterical all the time.

I wish Alice had just let Kristiffur bring up Marthyr, and concentrated on having a career.

The SL is a bit of a bore

That's not how it sounded to me.

It came across as if Martha were thriving now, now that Alice is involved. Her monologue at the solicitors sounded demented- all that guff about the bond. There was nothing balanced in deciding she would give up work.

Chris has to react to whatever nonsense Alice comes up with. No wonder he sounds frazzled.

I also don't think she does think it's a disease she will always live with. In Alice's head it's all over and done with. Susan and Ruari for example are supposed to just forgive her appalling behaviour.

Boop Ruari !

If they turn the story line into Ruari being dodgy and Alish coming out smelling of roses , I swear I'll stop listening.

Oh double boop Ruari.

And with every episode Alish becomes more loathsome. Can we some Pip please.

Have to say I am enjoying zero F's given Alice atm. Contrasted to Porridge's endless hand wringing it's a breath of fresh air. Though the polite and proper thing to do would have been to make her excuses and leave.

She definitely can't expect or demand forgiveness but at least she's not moping around when she's not getting it.

Grey by name, grey by nature. It's an absolute riot over at GG chat I want more egg chat.

Grey Gables is obviously up for sale.

I am still trying to get my head round why a solicitor would suggest she be a stay at home mum. I don’t get how she is supposed to support herself, nothing mentioned on that front.

She’s going to have a major cash flow problem - and that’s before any topical inserts are made on energy bills and food prices going up.

She didn’t have to work very hard to find a few flaws in Ruarhi’s story though - I thought he was brighter - and generally a better liar - than he appeared to be yesterday.

I don’t get the love for Ruari. He can do whatever dodgy stuff he likes privately, but flashing cash and luxury stays around is just weird. Just get on with being a student.

And more excruciating ‘comedy’… Pat getting all excited about an illicit Eater egg after telling Tony secret sweet stuff was not allowed . And the hotel room larks. Freddie introducing himself at work as “my family owns the stately home” cringe

Sorry for all the moans.

So whatever Ruari’s dodgy dealings are will presumably become apparent when Brian and Jennifer stay at the apartment in Bath. It’s pure R4 Extra stuff - I wonder if we will have to witness it or if it will all play out of camera over a weekend and we will be treated to the aftermath? I wish it wasn’t quite so obvious - Ruairi has only been at university for about six months, I feel this plot is being fast-tracked through. Also Brian and Jenny could easily afford a weekend in Bath if that’s what they wanted - I find the idea that they are unquestioningly grabbing a mysterious freebie from Ruairi slightly unbelievable. Speaking as someone with a son of Ruari’s age who is in his first year at university I just think they’d be asking more about it - as Alice is.
It does sound as if Oliver is thinking of selling Grey Gables - there have been hints dropped along the way. It feels as though the pandemic has somehow sidestepped Ambridge - no mention of how a lack of visitors, conferences, weddings and events has affected business. Members of a hotel health club near my mum recently got a letter saying their memberships were being stopped as off that week because the hotel had been taken over by the Home Office to accommodate asylum seekers. I’m not suggesting that should happen to GG, just that it indicates how rough business has been for hotels.

The hotel room farce was surely put to bed with Tracey and Jazza's escapade, and definitely did not need resurrecting.

And such fun with the Easter egg ....................

@LillianGish

So whatever Ruari’s dodgy dealings are will presumably become apparent when Brian and Jennifer stay at the apartment in Bath. It’s pure R4 Extra stuff - I wonder if we will have to witness it or if it will all play out of camera over a weekend and we will be treated to the aftermath? I wish it wasn’t quite so obvious - Ruairi has only been at university for about six months, I feel this plot is being fast-tracked through. Also Brian and Jenny could easily afford a weekend in Bath if that’s what they wanted - I find the idea that they are unquestioningly grabbing a mysterious freebie from Ruairi slightly unbelievable. Speaking as someone with a son of Ruari’s age who is in his first year at university I just think they’d be asking more about it - as Alice is. It does sound as if Oliver is thinking of selling Grey Gables - there have been hints dropped along the way. It feels as though the pandemic has somehow sidestepped Ambridge - no mention of how a lack of visitors, conferences, weddings and events has affected business. Members of a hotel health club near my mum recently got a letter saying their memberships were being stopped as off that week because the hotel had been taken over by the Home Office to accommodate asylum seekers. I’m not suggesting that should happen to GG, just that it indicates how rough business has been for hotels.

I agree it’s weird that Brian was so impressed and excited about an overnight stay in Bath. I was half expecting Ruari to make a barbed comment about Alice pretending to stay there during her ill fated attempt at rehab.

I also think it’s odd that Ruari returns so frequently. He made a point of saying he had to get away from Ambridge after Alicegate and I didn’t think we’d hear from him again for a good few years when he left for London.

I also think it’s odd that Ruari returns so frequently. He made a point of saying he had to get away from Ambridge after Alicegate and I didn’t think we’d hear from him again for a good few years when he left for London. Don’t knock it. He’s more listenable-to than a good many other characters.

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