🏏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.)

@MereDintofPandiculation , you are twisting what I posted. They lived in a cottage without paying rent or mortgage

Justin Elliott, Managing Director of Damara Capital, getting eyeball to eyeball with a telesales rep from a little local kitchen manufacturer?

As. If.

His PA’s PA would be dealing with his interior designer, who would liaise with the most expensive and globally fashionable handmade kitchen firm.

How are the mighty fallen …

Kristiffur has been on the fiddle, hasn't he.

Such a persuasive sales pitch
And, as @TottersBlankly says, Justin is a hard-hearted-headed businessman.
Lillian designed the bathroom, if a new kitchen were required, she's the one who would do it.

Another one who feels I am only listening out of misplaced loyalty. It's painful.

Not twisting. Didn’t understand what you meant. Thought Alice owned the Nest, though I’m probably wrong about that

No, but it means that she was doing a bit more than just "tipping in". Chris seems to have a picture in his head of himself as the big hunter-gatherer providing for his womenfolk, and to make that work he has to minimise Alice's contribution. Hence being so put out to discover that another and better hunter-gatherer was actually providing the wherewithal to keep his business going.

It was chipping in, not tipping in, wasn't it?

Chris wasn't living rent free. He was living in his wife's house. If it was a female character in such circumstances it wouldn't;y be expressed in such terms. Not getting the hunter gatherer metaphor, and it certainly doesn't apply to Alice.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed the "kitchen journey" spiel.

The point is that the issue wouldn't arise but for the fact that Chris was making such a big issue about how dreadful it is that Brine's contribution spoilt his picture of himself as the great provider and a person who has built up his business all by himself. In order to do that he's massively belittling Alice's contribution to family finances, and ignoring the fact that building up his business cannot but have been helped by not having to contribute to rent or a mortgage. It's still baffling that apparently in his mind snaffling Alice's bonus to keep the business afloat still leaves it all his own work, but taking the same money from Brine doesn't.

Another one who feels I am only listening out of misplaced loyalty. It's painful. Me too. I'm finding the divorce more than a little contrived. Chris has a successful business (set up with not inconsiderable input from his in-laws - or am I remembering wrong). He was offered a nearby cottage which would have made shared custody as easy as it possibly could be. This is not a case of a partner being left homeless and without income or with the other partner wanting to move halfway across the country so I don't see how the battle for Home Farm has arisen. Every time I hear Chris ranting and raving he sounds like an actor in a soap opera reading his lines. I too am enjoying the lockdown dog story - Lucy Speed is a great piece of casting for Stella. Lovely actress and I'm not picturing her EE character at all when she speaks which is quite an achievement (I can't stop seeing Paddington every time Adil opens his mouth!)

Definitely. No way he would be in such a panic if he didn't have something to hide. Which makes him seriously thick opening the door to financial investigations. Did he really think it was purely a one way process?

Are double islands in kitchens a thing these days? IME single islands are already a pain in the neck - they take up disproportionate amounts of floor space and it's a nuisance having to walk round them all the time. Why would you double the pain?

Kitchen islands are naff. I can see the appeal if you have a huge kitchen but I don't like open plan.

I agree that the divorce is contrived.

I like how Stella is acted. No fake accent AFAIK, distinctive friendly voice, no comedy baddie moustache twirling

Just came on to say Chris is still being an absolute prize cockwomble, and seems to have lost sight of what this is about - dividing assets - so yes, his too!

I hope the investigation uncovers lots of dodgy deals.

I also love Stella’s character. She has been a really nice addition.

Surely if Home Farm needs to be examined by a forensic accountant to establish its worth then Chris's business does too? Does he think it's fair that he gets to fling accusations of dirty dealing at Brian without some of that getting reflected back at him? Is he really as stupid as he seems? Farriers in glass houses shouldn't throw horse shoes.

I'm just really sad about Chris & Alice.

If Chris hadn't tried to say he should get the 'greater' say in decisions around Martha then this all wouldn't have exploded.
I wish they could have got Nicola Walker's character from The Split (Hannah Stern?) in.

Brian has 5 children (including Debbie and Adam which I think he does). So Alice's share is max 1/5th? So Chris would be entitled to max 1/10th? But that could be offset against value of his own business and other assets?

Brian was obviously trying to pull a fast one downplaying the value of Home Farm, any off the books work by Chris would be tiny by comparison.

Just catching up; I'm on Fern's sales pitch to Justin and Lil. What is this total shit I'm listening to??!

Good grief. If they say the word ‘Barry’ one more time …

Neyull was out of character. Wonder what Ruairi is getting up to.

Looks like Denise has a crush on a rat-owning client.

Maybe Justin will have an affair with Furn

After Stella’s confusion yesterday, and Shula’s subsequent hypervigilance about Denise, I’m beginning to worry that the SWs - after years of failing to come up with any alternatives - are about to engineer a marital reconciliation between Vet and Aspiring Vicar.

🤯

If I was Neyull's employer, after that little performance, he'd be out on his arse Yes, I know, Brian's not technically his employer.

That would be interesting. I don't like Lillian.

Been listening since the 1980s. Neil would never behave like that. Never.

That is all.

Well if Alice hadn't been a drunk, perhaps Chris wouldn't have looked for this. Alice was sober for about a fortnight and apparently that gives her the right in her head to cut Chris' contact to whatever suits Alice.

The destruction of Home Farm storyline is utter nonsense. No one is coming out of this particularly well but I'd Brian top of the list of those causing damage.