👑 Archers thread #139: Who’s the Daddy? No ceremonial required to join us – 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 like the sound of Lilian’s Cinnamon Chicken, 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.)

I'm often struck by the time a thread ends how irrelevant the previous title has become to what's currently going on in The Archers. The Queen's death has only been mentioned very briefly in TA, of course, but I suppose that was to be expected in a time of budget constraints. In a few weeks when this thread fills up I wonder if we will still be thinking that, and about Chelsea and her pregnancy. That depends on what she decides to do, which at the time of writing is still up in the air.

As usual, I asked for title ideas and for various reasons then didn't use them. Sorry. Lillian Gish's was very witty - Will Chelsea stay mum about dad? Muddler made a more controversial one - Horrobins thread #139. As a new Great House of Ambridge emerges, come swear your allegiance here.

That's about all I can face saying about TA at the moment. I am expecting to have to travel north soon as my Dad is in hospital and I have to be with my Mum. (They're the same sort of age as Jill Archer, and up to now have been like her and Peggy, very active, managing very well with no help, but this may all be about to change ). So apologies if I'm more absent than present for a while. Will pop in when I can.

One of the many reasons I hope the SWs wrap up the Chelsea story in short order is that it's having a bad effect on our normal mostly amicable discourse on this thread.

So glad I don't live in Sunderland at the moment. Shula is so sanctimonious. Imagine the horror of being down on your luck and she turns up to proffer advice, which of course would not be grounded in personal experience.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g , you know how you don't like the 'Aw, me too' type end of threads, it has crossed my mind that it woukd be preferrably to the arguing on this thread. Anyway, how are you, and how are the Gasp0Parents?

I've never been to Sunderland AFAIK. I looked up the climate and it doesn't look like it's the frozen north or anything. Maybe the wind comes off the sea and feels cold, so glad that Shula managed to squeeze in that sweater in her bag.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g I know! I am not sure why Shula (or anyone else) thinks she will be good at it. And why nobody has mentioned what a mismatch there will be.

I too hope they wrap it up with Chelsea soon. I am in a bad mood and I have realised it's because I don't know who the father of Chelsea's baby is!! Just mentioned it to my dp and he had no idea who I was talking about! That did not improve my mood!

Thanks, @ILoveShula, the Gasp0Parents (nice) are now having to manage on their own as I had to get home. Bit nerve-wracking, but my Dad was a lot better (relatively) by the time I left. One big issue now will be how he gets on over the next few weeks, and another will be whether my Mum can cope, as she is hovering over him (very understandably), and also doing everything around the house, including things he'd normally do. Two months off 90 and still ironing everything except socks! (Actually, I wouldn't put it past her to press the socks to get the last vestige of dampness out of them ...) They've never had a cleaner and one reason, as we all acknowledged when I was there and laughed about it, rather ruefully, is that Mum would go round cleaning and tidying before the cleaner was due, as obviously the cleaner would otherwise be horrified by finding the odd speck of dust. (I know this makes no sense. A lot of it is projection from my Mum, who is one of the most judgemental people who's ever walked the earth. I love her very much, but ...)

And breathe!

I had them in my mind as GaspParents, but put the 0 in as a formality. Better to be safe than sorry. I think that the Gasp0Mother irons the socks too, but that's just a hunch. Tough time for you all, but especially your father.

But have it your own way- you're right Chelsea will be pointed at and criticised in the village for ever and a day. Since I have never expressed an opinion on this one way or the other, would you like to tell me any other opinions I hold and don’t know about?

stilldumdedumming me too! I spend the episodes in a low-level simmering rage.

I am ashamed to admit I had to google the whereabouts of Sunderland. It's only 15 miles from central Newcastle (and perhaps Rochelle?)! Is that just a coincidence?

Freshers Week starts next week at our local Unis (though Felpersham is probably a law unto itself). I hope Lily sticks with it.

I have relatives a few miles south of Sunderland who reckon the difference between Sunderland and Manchester is “one overcoat”

Was there any significance in the precise location that Joy gave as to where she was from?
Maybe Shula will come across Rochelle, although I'm not sure if geordies go to Sunderland. Maybe it would be a good place for one to hide. Did Rochelle have elocution lessons?

Shula would be as useless in this situation as I would be. My saving grace is I'm aware of total unsuitability (and have never lied to the police about a violent thug)

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/conceptionandfertilityrates/bulletins/conceptionstatistics/2020

The percentage of conceptions leading to legal abortions remained around a quarter, at 25.3% in 2020.

I suppose you could quibble on whether it's "pregnancies" or "conceptions" but it is the case that over 1 in 4 women who become pregnant every year in the UK seek an abortion.

Your figures are for England & Wales not the UK

So anyway ...

Aye, I hope Shula has some Vera-like adventures up in the North East, even though she won't be in Northumberland. Beautiful county.

Scotland's rate in 2019 was over 21% of conceptions . The rates of abortion rose in 2020 and 2021 whilst birth rates in Scotland continue to fall.

I don't have the figures for NI but the figures for mainland UK are over 21% and rising in Scotland and over 25% in England and Wales.- by any reckoning a significant number of pregnancies end in a termination.

A week ago I said this about Johnny:

I seem to recall some Ambridge maiden showed a fleeting interest in him a long time ago … Who was that?

Does anyone remember? In my head it was something to do with a bike or car he was repairing - and said maiden had to bring something for it. He was a bit dismissive and she went away disappointed. Who was it? Oh, have I jogged my own memory? Didn’t he have a girlfriend whose voice we only heard on the occasion of her dumping or being dumped? Maybe that’s who I was thinking of.

Wasn't that Chelsea? Can't remember much but it rings a bell. Wasn't it something to do with Johnny having a car, and Jake having a motorbike?

Sorry, been a bit distracted by the electrics and fluffy blanket thread.

Oh hang on, no. Wasn't it possibly to do with dyslexia. Chelsea thought it was a date and arrived at Fridge Farm in high heels and helmet hair. Where's Asking?

Aha! Yes! Dyslexia - that was it! He had said something like “I get it, cos I’m dyslexic too” and she’d added that up to make 5 …

What happened next, though?

I can't remember Mudd, but I think she felt humiliated and then there was the non-date with Mere's Brother Jake (capitalised for earworm)

I'm hoping that Asking or someone will come along and remind us. In the meantime, as you, Muddler are a bit of a fashionisTA, can you suggest a suitable set of clothes for a week in the Borders. I'm not going there (too far) but I can take a stroll through the neighbourhood looking stylish.

I have an ecru cardigan, jeans, jodhpur boots, a hacking jacket, my trusty barbour etc. Would that do? Would a nice kilt and brogues be useful?

You’ll need a dancing frock for all the ceilidhs!

What is a dancing frock? Could Chelsea lend me one, or Tracey? or Jennifer?