🏏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.)

Wow! I love that series. Uniformly excellent cast. I hadn't made the connection.

Can’t believe we had to listen to Tom boringly relay to Tony the details about Gnasher’s lungs again.

I enjoyed being whisked off to the Mediterranean by Susan and sad for Hannah who has been strangely touched by the wand of the PT Fairy. Ambridge isn’t usually troubled by the realities of serious long-term illness so it’s good to see the cruel disease that is dementia being discussed. Not all pensioners live to 100 and set up charitable foundations or die in their beds (Joe).

I like Tom even less after his declaration of one of each being perfect

I was hoping for identical twins. Or at least same sex.

Ben who must be all of 20 saying "And how!" Works at the other end of the age range - David and Ruth saying “whatever” long before it had percolated to anyone above 30 outside London. And there was another glaring example the other day, which of course I can’t now remember, which certainly wouldn’t be said by an older rural person in “the provinces”.

Blimey that was dull. Neil, Hannah and Susan were nice but I'm so bored with Gnasher, Sausage Boy and Pinky and Perky.

Yes and you’re lucky if you get even that with a midwife!

This. With knobs on.

The sonographer definitely talked me through things in a similar manner during my last pregnancy, so it seemed realistic to me...

I did wonder why they didn't involve a chat with the consultant and/or spell out why the extra scan was needed in the first place (twin pregnancy being higher risk, etc).

I wonder whether Natasha is going to get PND (which might trigger out of control spending, etc.).

For some reason (the whirlwind romance?) I cant stop thinking of Natasha as being a temporary addition to The Archers... in the back of my mind I wonder whether there will be a death/break up... will Kirsty somehow end up being a step mother in the long run?

I would imagine having twins (or even a single baby) could trigger a spending spree in anyone - with or without PND - especially when they've just moved into a new house. We haven't heard anything about her spending or credit card bills for a while - I think things could spiral while she's employing someone else to look after Summer Orchard (and therefore not making much money herself).

I'm enjoying this baby-centred talk. Pretty realistic towards the end of a first pregnancy, as far as I can recall, except of course that we'd expect to hear a bit from Helen.

As I recall, umpteen years ago when Hannah was briefly in Ambridge at Bridge Farm (I think), she was lovely. It was a nasty shock when she returned with a very different and much less attractive personality. Maybe we are supposed to think she's been under great strain for many years worrying about her mum but not confiding in anyone and going to great efforts to hide her emotions. Now it's all out in the open she's less defensive and much more likeable as a result. (I'm being charitable, of course.) I liked the scene with Neil and Susan.

Just listening on catch up - liked the Cyrano storyline with Alistair advising Jakob what to write about Denise

I listened to that too. Really good. It made me want to reread some of her earlier work (funnily enough I'm not a fan of The Prime of).

Thought so! That was Peggy on Soul Music just now

Just heard that too @MereDintofPandiculation !

Oh, look!

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jun/18/how-a-young-couple-turned-a-crap-caravan-into-a-luxury-family-home?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

This is making me so happy! Now I can picture ‘Little Grange’ (or whatever it’s called). 😆

June Spencer is incredible. 103 and still totally on the ball. Lovely to hear her just now. Soul Music always makes me very emotional.

That's a gorgeous revamp, Totters, but I'd be surprised to learn that Little Grange looks like that.

So Martin's plans? Will they include binning Hannah? Especially if there's a whiff she has her attention on her mum.

Love that link @TottersBlankly Well spotted. I really hope Little Grange is just like that.

I don't imagine Little Grange has a luxury composting toilet, I don't think Emma would go for that. I'm not sure what they do though.

I really can't see Little Grange looking like that. Clean, yes. Tidy, sometimes. Luxury free-standing bath and hot water tap.... no!!

Just catching up- is Alistair's Cyrano moment as described by PP meant to show us him falling in love with Denise?

I think so.

I can't stand Soul Music. Could someone give me a precis of what she said please?