🏏Archers thread #136: Howzat! Oliver’s bowled a googly, Kathy’s out, Grey Gables left with nightwatchman. Tracy knocked for six. Is Ambridge on a sticky wicket? 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 are entranced by new character Adil, 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 if anybody made a thread title suggestion and I missed it. I decided to mark the start of the cricket season in the hope that things will take a turn for the better for poor Tracy.

It feels like months since the last new thread, which was just after Phoebe departed for Scotland. Has she been mentioned since? I can't recall. Not greatly missed, by me, at any rate. Her fish gifts didn't last long.

I can't shake off the feeling that The Archers is going through a long dull patch. I don't feel greatly engaged by anything that's happening at the moment other than Tracy's plight. Such a good actor, which helps, of course.

What's keeping you listening? Habit? Genuinely enjoying it? Over to you!

(PS In the process of starting this thread, I've discovered that our custom-made Archers emoji has gone. You used to get it by typing . Not any more.)

It wasn't unreasonable to ask if the cheese was vegan and Chelsea should have known. One of my grandson had a job as a waiter in a pub/restaurant and had all that kind of training including allergies.

Absolutely. Surely every reputable establishment takes waiting staff through every menu, so they can explain it accurately to customers.

Between this and Fallon’s ‘secret ingredient’ the producers really, really need to upgrade writers’ catering knowledge. The scripts are nonsensical.

When Chelsea was banging on about how her brother was going to do better in GCSEs, I don't know why Mere didn't just ask about Chelsea's results.

The Chelsea/Mia stuff was dreadful. There's really no excuse for this dross.

Did Chelsea ever do her resits that Lily was helping her with?

I'm losing track of time but I would have thought that she ought to be sitting them now (or was it last Summer)? What happened to her promising hair dressing career? If she was as good as we were led to believe she would have earned far more in tips cutting hair than serving in a teashop.

Mia is a ridiculous caricature and ought to move back to live with Andrew.

Mia is a ridiculous caricature and ought to move back to live with Andrew

I don't understand the antipathy towards Mia. Matt, Fag Ash Lil and Kate are far more caricatures than Mia. And poor Chelsea who has been so touched by the character transplant fairy it's just a miracle she hasn't said "do I look bovvered"?

Oh tonight’s finale made me very happy! Chris being paid cash in hand…oh dear!

The vendetta against Roy is ridiculous and vile and extremely stupid.

That was a very unpleasant episode apart from Will and Mia.

Do we know why Mia isn't with her father? I thought that was her main home?

I suspect there's going to turn out to be some boringly innocent explanation for Chris taking cash and Brine's hopes of being able to use it against him will be dashed.

Just because Chris took cash is no proof that he would not declare it to HMRC, but what matters is whether Jakob will tell him Brine is on his trail so Chris can cover up, and whether Brine will tip off HMRC. Brine will deffo do this.

Farriers will keep a diary of appointments that presumably their ‘accountant’ which will match up with payments.

I’m sure many cash transactions aren’t declared but it doesn’t mean it’s cut and dried.

The cash will be for some charity donation, or … something, not related to his own income or expenses.

I've heard of NRPs using 'cash in hand' to avoid paying much child maintenance.
Quite likely that Kristiffur will be making his income look as small as possible.

I used to like Lilian many many years ago.

Mia is with her father but often stays at Grange Farm

Just because Chris took cash is no proof that he would not declare it to HMRC

Exactly.

More likely, he's doing it to minimise his earnings.

I hope Jakob tells Chris and there is a boringly genuine explanation.

Feedback (R4) on now: ‘Do young farmers find the Archers storylines credible?’.

I turned on at 16.40 and it seemed to be just getting started.

... and incredibly, the answer appeared to be yes! Goodness me. Maybe they are listening with less attention than me, given they're busy farmers and I'm an overinvested retiree.

Not sure what would happen, but...devels avocado.. if Chris was taking backhanders and Brian reported him to hmrc, (and assuming Chris got a massive fine) would Alice too be liable for the fine if she were part owner etc at the time?
Not really sure how theses things work

Not many people are using cash these days unless they specifically know someone has a preference for being paid with it.

Chris should have a mobile card reader, really, like taxi drivers, market stall-holders and hairdressers.

My husband still likes using cash in the pub or for taxis. I don't even take money out with me.

Not sure what would happen, but...devels avocado.. if Chris was taking backhanders and Brian reported him to hmrc, (and assuming Chris got a massive fine) would Alice too be liable for the fine if she were part owner etc at the time?

The company would be liable but I don’t think Alice would be personally, even if she were a joint director. More likely, Chris is probably trading as a sole trader and not actually as a registered limited company, in which case he will be personally liable for any fine but I don’t think Alice could be. It’s been a while since I did my tax module…I am sure others will know far more than me on this.

I think Chris taking cash is entirely credible. Mobile reception is notoriously poor in some rural areas (nothing in my village), and many horsey types have very little money, they spend it all on their horse and are more than happy to “forget to transfer” anything owing. Large yard owners, racing stables etc are totally different but I certainly wouldn’t want to do work for many individual owners without being paid immediately.

I sincerely hope that Jakob will not be reporting back to Chris given how passionate he is about not getting involved.

I'll be irate if Kate is in any way tolerant of Jakob staying chummy with Chris beyond a professional working relationship. That would be too out of character to bear.

Hopefully his last attempt to reason with Chris will put paid to that.

He says he's doing everything for Martha but fails to see that depriving her of a loving mother isn't actually in her best interests.