🐠 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!

[BoreOfWhabylon]

They need a new version of Barwick Green that goes

Doof Doof
Doof doof doof doof doof doofdoofdoofdoof
Dumdi dumdi dumdi dum...

[SparklingLime]

Alice will now decide she wants Chris back, he won’t want her back. Carnage.

[BeaLola]

@SparklingLime

Listening to an old omnibus by mistake… on the night of his housewarming, when Rex tells Amy he was in love with someone who was focussed on someone else no good for her, was he talking about Pip?

Yes - he was in love with Pip

But he is wasted on Pip - maybe he & Kirsty will eventually get together ? Just about the sane time that Roy realises he had feelings for her ....

[KimikosNightmare]

Well I enjoyed that.

[SparklingLime]

Thanks, @BeaLola. Wondered if they were trying to add some mysterious depth to his character. Would have been a big ask.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

@SparklingLime

Alice will now decide she wants Chris back, he won’t want her back. Carnage.

Or they decide to reconcile but then Amy reveals her upduffedness

[KimikosNightmare]

I don't think Amy is upduffed.

[echt]

Well, as ridiculous as I thought it was that Amy told Alice everything, it does cut to the chase and prevent tedious drip-feeding.

What I loved was Alice's Aaarrghhh at the end. Well done that actor.

I'm not sure Alice will want Chris back, but the knives will be out on the divorce, for a certainty.

[suzyscat]

Sorry been awol for a bit

"I don't think that 50/50 custody for such young children is recommended – attachment to a primary carer is so important at that age. I would have thought that, given Alice's track record and Chris's role in Martha's first year, it would be hard to argue that Alice should now get primary responsibility."

But surely that would mean Susan would get custody? Chris didn't do night feeds due to the nature of his work and needing to be on the ball and worked full time.

That's what's so mental about this. Alice has been coping well up till now. (We'll see what tomorrow brings ) How is it better for Martha to be in childcare and a flat than with a mother who wants her.

Honestly I never thought I'd be team Alice about anything, but I don't think she did sound entitled or like she was an accessory with Susan.

She was trying to not to get into detail, which is a shame as Chris has omitted to mention his pushing somewhat aggressively (needing to be told to sit down by the mediator) for full control of all decisions, which is what has brought about the custody battle. Susan believes Alice started this.

Also it's not a coincidence or entitled that Alice chose the shop to work in, she's trying to make amends.

If Chris can't be with Martha in the day as he works, and can't be up with her at night because he works, how is this even an issue? Like what's his plan? Just because she doesn't need 3 hourly feeds there'll be sleep regressions, teething, all the bugs and fevers. Seeing Alice & Martha had really thrived whilst he was poorly you think he'd appreciate that it's in Martha's and his interests.

I still haven't forgiven him for saying to Amy "we've done nothing wrong." So sleazy and pathetic. It's one thing to do it, but don't try and pretend it's okay.

Still we'll see how she handles tonight. Really hoping she's angry enough to stay sober as if she drinks she's scuppered her chances in the custody negotiations.

Would like to know what Adam's up to, though I could do without hearing Ian. Definitely more Kirsty absolutely nailing rewilding and being really happy. Haven't heard Russ sliming about in ages either. How are he and Lily still a thing?

[suzyscat]

Sorry that was painfully long kept putting my phone down to do jobs and picking it up with a new train of thought.

[KimikosNightmare]

Also it's not a coincidence or entitled that Alice chose the shop to work in, she's trying to make amends

How is it making amends? It's all about making Alice feel good about Alice. If you were Susan would you want to work alongside someone who very recently could have done you serious physical harm?

[suzyscat]

Yeah but by that token there's no such thing as true altruism, and there probably isn't.

At least she tried, Susan has every right to decline but honestly damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Roysnewshirt]

I am surprised Alan covered for Amy, gamely breaking one of the 10 Commandments. It was naughty of her to expect him to.

[Scarydinosaurs]

If Amy is decent she will warn Brian and Jenny that Alice is alone and has received awful news.

I completely agree RE Chris’ working patterns. Alice should have more time with Martha and in this set of circumstances 50/50 works perfectly well.

It’s exasperating to hear how Chris’ perception of Alice’s recovery totally changes depending on what HE wants. When he wanted reconciliation - she was totally better. Now he wants to move on - she will never recover.

He was talking about school choices - they’re three years off that - why should he get the final say? That isn’t even what the resident parent is - he wants power.

I always found his push push push for children totally deaf to what Alice wanted anyway. He is incredibly selfish.

[LillianGish]

@BoreOfWhabylon

They need a new version of Barwick Green that goes

Doof Doof
Doof doof doof doof doof doofdoofdoofdoof
Dumdi dumdi dumdi dum...

Just finished listening and those are my feelings exactly. It just gets more EE with every episode...

[Madcats]

Until Chris caught shingles, I thought that Martha was mostly raised by whichever grandparent was available.

That might be my selective memory though.

[EthelTheAardvark]

*If Amy is decent she will warn Brian and Jenny that Alice is alone and has received awful news8

Or maybe Fallon?

It's a bit ridiculous that she and Chris spent so much time begging Fallon to keep quiet because of the danger to Alice, when she must have known that she couldn't realistically maintain any sort of relationship with Alice whilst keeping quiet.

[Kendrickspenguin]

I am very glad to see you back DadDadDad. I had been missing your contributions.

I feel quite team Alice, but I am not sure if that is just being a woman of a similar age with children. Objectively I can see that Chris has been the stable, committed parent that Martha needs. However, the mum in me, who could not bear to be away from my babies makes me sympathetic with Alice. Also, she is right that although Chris has lived in the same house as Martha all of her life, I am not sure how much childcare he has actually done. 50/50 might not always be in a child's best interests, but to have anything else would involve one parent agreeing to having less time, or a court ordering it.

Amy sounded like a petulant teenager having her Dad telling her to go and sort out a petty squabble with another teenager.

[HellynaHandcart]

Quite shocked to hear Alan lying to cover for Amy. I honestly don’t think he would have done.

[Scarydinosaurs]

Ethel yes Fallon - anyone who can go and sit with her while she takes it onboard.

Anyone who has recently split with a partner will find it hard to hear they’ve moved on - let alone find out it was your friend.

And Chris had stopped Jenny from seeing Martha (for no good reason) and helped Alice hide her alcoholism from her family instead of pushing for her to tell them so they could support her - not continue to push drink her way.

I hope the advice Alice gets now is to ask for 50/50. I don’t get the impression Chris even thinks Alice has a right to be upset about him sleeping with Amy - which just tells you everything you need to know about his empathy levels.

[Madcats]

On the basis that Phoebe had a hitherto unmentioned car to get her up to Scotland, isn't it likely that Amy's car would have been parked at the vicarage?

[TottersBlankly]

Oh. You’ve reminded me. I have had a bitter little struggle with myself over Phoebe’s car. Because surely, surely the tiny bit of ‘research’ she did for Damara wouldn’t have put her in car purchasing territory. And I can’t think of any other significant paid work she’s done since graduation. So I can only conclude it must have been a ‘big’ birthday present from her Home Farm grandparents. (Or, conceivably, her Birmingham grandfather - but he’s not generally part of the show, so …) If it was a gift from Home Farm then why haven’t I heard about it? If it was a gift from Roy, ditto. Did I miss the relevant episode?

I hate the fact that this has been making me pointlessly …

[TottersBlankly]

(I have always assumed the Conservation Trust work does not pay any direct salary.)

[Roysnewshirt]

I have always assumed the Conservation Trust work does not pay any direct salary

I’m not sure this is correct. I think it would have to pay a salary, rather than be a voluntary position. And this seemed to be confirmed when Kirsty and Kate were scrapping for the role. Rex and Phoeble’s (now Kirsty’s) salaries would have been built-into the grant. Which means P would have had the means to buy a car herself. But would she have had the inclination?

She is supposed to be an environmentally-aware and rarely left the village when she returned from Oxford so I can’t imagine she had a need for a car - a bicycle would have been adequate for dashing from Roy’s to the rewilding site. Or is it very hilly in Ambridge? I have no idea…

[SparklingLime]

I agree with Alice, it has become convenient for Chris to see her as a fuck up. Plus the way he took he baby in order to ‘snap her out of it’ if necessary was hideous. Amy is going to find herself dropped by C, A and F.