🦈 Archers thread #137: See left - have they jumped it? Discuss The Caseys - sorry, 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 think Steph Casey is a wonderful addition to the programme, or similar odd 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.)

Too dispirited to add much else. Have we reached a new low?

I suppose the Archer twins will be born before we need a new thread. 👶👶
Any thoughts on names? Patrick and Antonia were suggested before - inspired! Peggy has to be a strong contender.

Over to you!

The rhubarb in my garden grows ferociously for months. Picking it now won't stop it growing- and taking up quite a lot of space. It's been doing this for years.

Chelsea has become ghastly.

I've only just listened to Monday's, but as a PP said upthread, has Nastasha got a section or induction booked for Friday? Are twins actually ever induced? If not she can't imagine babies arrive on their due date, if she's " read all the books"?

I also would have enjoyed her overspending on an expensive pram etc, in order to develop that characteristic she certainly had before! It will be interesting to meet her mother at least, who will undoubtedly clash with Pat. Does she have other family? In fact, wasn't there a grandfather with a personality disorder mentioned once?

I think she's having a C Section.

I think it was her father, @FlosCampi, and I think it was bipolar.

Ah thanks @WhoppingBigBackside , I remember now, and there was some interesting speculation on here!

I’m surprised Susan didn’t gently guide Chelsea in a different direction. IMO, ‘spa days’ are over-rated.

Adam has settled in nicely as the farm-hand. I like him better now he’s got time for gossiping, is not so tired and has stopped trying to be important and agriculturally-innovative every five minutes. Definitely a PT that has benefited the listeners for once….

I'm surprised that Susan didn't discourage Chelsea too, but sometimes those close to us can be really clueless when it comes to presents.

I'd think of what sorts of things Tracey likes to do or what would be really useful for her. Something cricket-related or a tankful of petrol would be my thoughts.

If Chelsea wants to spoil her Mum then something that would add a touch of luxury on an ongoing basis would be good eg nice pyjamas, a cashmere sweater, even some decent underwear. Something she would appreciate but never buy herself- not a one-off experience that is done and dusted on the day.

A tank of petrol would be v practical - and would prob make T cry - but I think she would need the bunch of flowers as well in that case, to take the edge off it.

I'm practical, me.
I've also had my fair share of completely shit presents. You know the ones, cut out the middleman and just bung it in the charity shop bag, sweet FA would have been better, leave me out of it. I've never been given a spa day though.

The nearest I have come to a spa day was when I had started seeing someone new, and I had a voucher for an experience (I think it was Red Letter Days or similar). Suggested to Beau (not his real name) that he could pick something for us to do together adding 'anything as long as it doesn't involve a spa'. His response was 'Ooh I'd love a spa day'. I withdrew the offer. We weren't compatible.

If anyone is wondering about treating me to anything, I could really do with a new ecru cardigan just in case the evenings get chilly. Actually, sod that, a tankful of petrol would be better.

** The £100 spa day seems expensive in comparison

as people have said, the cliché of spa day, especially when you're skint, is really aggravating to listen to (though I appreciate that's the intention). What I don't appreciate is the overused trope of people not listening to each other. Why didn't Susan steer Chelsea and Brad into something more affordable? Having been on my beam ends too many times in younger days, I would have absolutely hated the waste, and would spend the day (even if I liked spa days) thinking of what I could do with the money, especially knowing what a sacrifice this is for Brad.

Yes, but Jim or Oliver will come to Bra's rescue

Brad!

They do generally induce you for twins (or at least they did when I had mine a decade ago) they like to get them out early - think it was 38 weeks. Still ended up with a section after failed induction though.

My daughter had her twins nearly 18 years ago and had to wait to go into labour. They were delivered more or less naturally at 38 weeks.

Aha! Every day's a school day. Do you need much sun for rhubarb? I keep planning to do something with our garden but my excuse is (a) it doesn't get much sun and (b) our neighbour puts food in the garden for wildlife and they all pass through our garden on the way to the 24 hour buffet next door, often pausing to excrete .

If anyone ever bought me a spa day, I'd cry, and it wouldn't be tears of joy. I can't think of many worse presents. Scented candle would run it close (another MN favourite gift suggestion).

A scented candle. Probably regifted a few times already.
I think flowers are a rubbish present, although would be fine from a 16-yr old. Cut flowers die very quickly.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g , I don't understand why the birds would stop you eating the rhubarb. I have cats going in my veg beds and I still eat the veg.

@ILoveShula, it's not birds as in cute bluetits, robins, sparrows etc, it's cats, foxes and any other passing mammal (grey squirrels mostly but I'd be surprised if there aren't rats and mice taking advantage), plus magpies and crows. It's not the avian visitors that bother me from the point of view of eating hypothetical garden produce, it's the mammals. Maybe I'm being squeamish.

I love cut flowers, but they're not a gift for everyone. I've seen lots of people on MN express the same sentiment as you.

Same here on cats in veg patch. Garden does get a lot of sun (or as much as you'll get in Scotland)

I would weep at the thought of the money wasted on a "spa day". Scented candles however useful for masking cat pee.

Cut flowers are lovely, but not as a birthday present without something else, unless from a young DC with not much money.

A relative recently gave his/her DGM flowers for her birthday recently. I kept my mouth shut but his/her DGM doesn't particularly care for cut flowers. She accepted them graciously, but I did wonder if I should have said something. The relative's parents are hopeless at presents.

Flowers, lovely.
Now just let me find a bucket vase for them, wrestle with scissors to free them from their cellophane, then strip leaves off stems, cut off bottoms of stalks, open flower long life stuff, put in bucket vase, top up with water.
And now where shall I put the bucket vase?

I'm at the limit of my patience with Lynda. She's being rude and stupid.

Why on earth would anyone complain about some one singing in the shower? Assuming it's not before 7 or 8? Normal people would just find it funny. And are the walls of Casa Lynda, or whatever the stupid name is, paper thin?

I remember wanting to cry when my husband came back from the shop with two bunches of flowers - one from him, one from his mother - when I had a two-day-old. I know it was ungrateful but all I could think was despite being shattered, breastfeeding around the clock and with a vagina torn to threads, that I now had to look after flowers as well as a new baby. Why could he not have come home with an Indian if he wanted to buy me something nice?

Just listened on catch up. Alice will end up managing the stables in Shula's absence.

I think the spa day is lazy writing )& I have been to bc a couple of spa days so I don't hate them) / on the grounds Chelsea can do hair and make overs I would think either filling up the car or something cricket related would have been more likely - also Tracy on her own at the spa , really ?

I personally wasn't struggling at all with the idea of Shula vicaring in a cosy, middle-class, rural setting.