🦈 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!

Adding cream to mashed potato? The mind boggles. Do two wrongs make a right?

Butter and crème fraiche also good!

It's nice to be back. How lovely to see you all again. Chelsea was pretty appalling to her brother yesterday.

@Abra1d1 , I'll take your word for it.

I wish they wouldn't make new characters so full-on. It's more interesting if they let the character develop.

Stella is intriguing because she seems nice, and even Hannah who was nice then truly horrid might have some depth, but we had Steth or is that Beph shoved down our throats and they are barely 2-D never mind 3-D.

I thought yesterday that the hay making would obviously take less time.
Why would Justin change his mind about the horse therapy on Alice's say so?

Mash - butter and hot milk, whisk like mad to get it fluffy.

*must whisk with a fork

I use a potato ricer for mash. Game changing.

I do like that Chelsea and Brad actually sound like siblings, they have a very similar way of speech.

whereas Stiph and Deth don't

I use a potato ricer for mash. Game changing.
The potato is cold by the time you've done it though. It's OK for fish pie or shepherd's pie.

New or newish potatoes /baby potatoes with skin left on, smashed, not mashed with lots of black pepper and butter. Chopped wild garlic when in season. No cream, hot milk or whipping (unless it's potato flavour Angel Delight you're aiming for)

Tinned butter beans mashed with olive oil, a squirt of lemon and coriander are a tasty alternative to mash. And great with sausages.

The end of tonight's episode was, I don't know, words fail me.

I hope we're not heading for Chelsea and George ganging up on Oliver or Brad

Potato starch is probably an ingredient of Angel Delight

But that’s a different dish you’re describing. It’s not mashed potatoes. More like Portuguese Batatas ao murro.

No it isn't. It's still boiled potatoes, broken up. I like it still to have some texture rather than the overly puréed, reduced to a smooth paste stuff.

Shula (or may be just the SWs) seems to have forgotten she is training to become a vicar. Big plans for the cross country course and now saving addicts through equine therapy- isn’t that a very specialist field by the way?

Shes not going to have much time to be drafting sermons and visiting the dying…

Shula vicaring was a stupid storyline as she's not had anything to do after leaving Alistair. I think I dislike her more than Pip and always remember her covering for Rob over the fox hunt sab drama.

I must be weird. Butter with new potatoes is delicious but the other stuff on here - I mean why bugger about with something good.

Not only that, but I think Shula is great even if the vicaring story is ridiculous

Young children are growing fast and need the essential fatty acids from full-fat versions of food for healthy brain growth, I believe, hence the recommendation not to give them skimmed milk or fat-free yogurts etc. One large or two small sausages, a dollop of mash and some broccoli sounds like a decent meal for an active healthy 3yo to me, but it's quarter of a century since mine were that age, so maybe I'm out of date. I wonder what they feed Rosie on at nursery. Jill is the most likely culprit, though, with all that baking. David, Ruth, Josh, Pip and Ben are all very active and will be working the calories off.

Chelsea is a pain in the neck but still better than Steph, who had no redeeming features at all. Poor Brad. I suspect Eddie has more than an inkling that George is not all he seems.

If you’re going for that argument, then an omelette is simply a low carb pancake

I’ve pretty much given up listening now as it’s just so dire. However I did want to share with you that I went to Longleat yesterday and the lady who scanned our tickets at the gate had the name “Shula” on her badge.

She was maybe mid forties or so. My husband was simply fascinated when I explained that she could only have been named after the Archers character because the Archers invented the name…

I had a guinea pig my daughter called Shula. Had no idea it wasn't a name. She'll be cross when I tell. She hates the Archers.

Oh except the internet has just told me that it's a version of a Hebrew name meaning peace and related to Sula (which I've defo heard before)

Shulamith/Shulamit/Shulamite is a Hebrew name, I assumed Shula was a shortened version. My phone automatically capitalises it so it must be a name!

Sorry if this is beyond belated - I’ve detached for a bit because the Casey love triangle bored me silly - but is there a new actor playing Tracey Horribin? She seems to have lost a bit of spark.

Well the scenes in which Phil and Jill chose the names of the twins involved them throwing scrabble tiles in the air and making names with what landed. That is my source for saying the name is made up because we literally heard it being made up on air!