🏏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.)

Freddie calls his sister Lils, IIRC
Pip, Josh and Ben are not called by their BC names, and AFAIK never have been, and neither has Freddie
Chris Carter was Kristiffur until adulthood
Jim is presumably James. Kenton calls Alistair Al.
Susan is never Sue
Auntie Chris, not Aunt Christine
Peggy not Margaret
Debbie not Deborah

Edward and William's names are not shortened by their mother

Does Eddie shorten them? I can't remember.

I don't think he does. William was named after the prince and Edward after his father.
Tom was Tommy as a little boy, and Dan was Daniel.

I find it strange that a parent would just switch to a new name, like Shula and Pat&Tony did.

Some people will shorten just about any name, and if they can't they'll make it longer, but others tend to use the name in full

At the child's request, maybe? My son is mostly known by a short form of his name, but his Dad and I have just ignored that and continued to use the full name. He's never objected, but if he had, we would have had to re-train ourselves. <gulp>

Ah, perhaps you're my old neighbour and the mother of Jonathan and Henrietta.

"Tom was Tommy as a little boy, and Dan was Daniel"
I'd forgotten Tommy! I still think of Dan as Daniel though.

I was at school with a Tommy who is now a Tom and a Jimmy who is now a Jim though, I think in teenage years maybe some boys get the piss taken for having a "babyish" name.

And I'm pretty sure Eddie calls his sons "Edward and William" and so did his dad.

Time for a new thread. I don't know about anyone else but I find since the upgrade that very long threads are very likely to freeze.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4582840-archers-thread-137-see-left-have-they-jumped-it-discuss-the-caseys-sorry-the-archers-here

Kenton calls Alistair Al.

He's also the only one which calls David Dave.

Back to the latest ep...is Lynda the final word about the fete? isn't there a committee? She's behaving so out of character.

The coq au vin blanc sounded tasty…until she mentioned the packet sauce. God knows why she needed a packet- it’s very easy…

Just listened to the episode with Vince (thick as shit) and Steph (one of the most unpleasant liars in the history of Ambridge).

How can he believe the tripe that comes out of her mouth? When's she been caught out numerous times in her lies?

And the way he addresses her as my princess - yuck!
And why does Beth believe Steph's version of the kiss incident when she knows that Steph is a compulsive liar.

The script writing in the archers is just so shite nowadays.

Steph and Beth are not convincing as sisters. Their voices are too different. Siblings talking to a parent would sound very similar unless brought up separately. Steph sounds like she's affecting an accent, whereas Beth has a black country accent.

"And why does Beth believe Steph's version of the kiss incident when she knows that Steph is a compulsive liar."

I get what you mean @SaffyRosie but I think she explained it quite well on the phone to Ben. It's not that she fully believes Steph but since her previous boyfriend cheated on her she doesn't feel she can completely trust Ben either. She said it was maybe a fault with her (Beth) rather than him.

Shiny new thread here btw:
🐑🐖🐄

www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4582840-archers-thread-137-see-left-have-they-jumped-it-discuss-the-caseys-sorry-the-archers-here