Archers thread #140: Changing rooms at Brookfield with Leonard Llewellyn-Bowen, or saving souls with St Smugula in the heathen wastelands of the North? 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 think a stained glass window marking the birth of newborn twins is just what Ambridge needs, 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/4636789-the-archers-spoilers-thread-7-cant-wait-for-702pm-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.)

Title composed in haste, making use of @Octothorpe's lovely coinage of Leonard Llewellyn-Bowen and @TheLassWiADelicateAir's terrific description of St. Smugula's mission to the heathen wasteland of far flung Sunderland, both from the last thread

I've abandoned the use of an emoji in the title, having been alerted by another thread recently to the fact that it makes it difficult for people with visual problems to use assistive software.

I won't say much more about The Archers, as I'm still feeling extremely jaundiced about the programme at the moment. Fingers crossed it takes a turn for the better over the next few days. It was good to hear Helen, Lee and Joy again tonight. Less delighted to hear the loathsome George. What a numpty not to recognise pheasant chicks! His Dad would be far from impressed.

Over to you!

Listened to the link and it was well-acted. I like the Alice actor.

Oh fgs deciding on the turn of cards.

About bloody time and what a relief

And boop, boop, boop for Alastair.

No she didn't. Her response to the cards told her what she really wanted

Phew for Chelsea.

And Alastair - I have literally had a conversation like that with the husband of a friend about gay people being too 'in your face' and he will never be invited to my house again.

Let's hope she sticks to her decision.

Where are we now ? Week 18?

Ho hum …

All a bit anti-climactic. No imminent addition to the Brookfield clan. I’m sure Rosie would have loved a little cousin!

"Let's not do anything about it today, eh?"

Thus losing 3 days because it's the weekend.

I am finding the Chelsea situation very hard to listen to, having been in a similar situation myself. Surely a termination at this stage involves an induced labour? There will be a limited number of private clinics who will be able to perform this procedure and its going to cost.
Its just not that easy as taking a pill or having a D&C as a day patient.
I really cant see how the script writers will handle this sensitively or realistically and I will probably have to switch off for a while.

I think NHS will still pay but it's not going to be pleasant and will take 2 visits and possibly an overnight stay. According to BPAS it will be done under a general anaesthetic.

If she goes to 22 weeks it might involve a feticide.

Surely a termination at this stage involves an induced labour? Googling suggests not necessarily.

Googling gets a bit vague here

www.bpas.org/abortion-care/abortion-treatments/surgical-abortion/

www.msichoices.org.uk/abortion-services/surgical-abortion/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2a3e74ny-gIVJO_tCh1o9AVCEAAYASADEgIFK_D_BwE

acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:7fb29a33-9ae7-3ee9-a4b2-602af411d483

Imperial College London would seem to use induced labour after 18 weeks.

So you can't afford garlic mushrooms but you can afford to throw away an apparently perfectly serviceable set of playing cards?! So not ready to have a baby on a tight budget! That bairn you're probably still going to end up having (I'm not convinced this SL has yet run its course) would love to play cards in a few years' time.

That bairn you're probably still going to end up having (I'm not convinced this SL has yet run its course) would love to play cards in a few years' time

I definitely think she will go on to have the baby.

They are going to need around at least £200 for this and 2 days holiday leave. The NHS will pay for the procedure but Chelsea will probably have to travel to Birmingham and will have 2 days at the clinic.

I’m finding it all too awful to listen to.

I predict when she finds out the procedure involved she opts for adoption.

I’m struggling a bit with this clinic scenario you’re all talking about. When I was a student (different century admittedly) surgical abortions could be routinely carried out through the NHS, in hospital. Medical abortions didn’t seem to exist. Since then I’ve vaguely assumed ‘clinics’ existed mainly in soap-land. (And required several bags of stolen cash.)

So I’d assumed Chelsea would be going to Borchester General. But if she has to travel anywhere I guess Ben will pay?

Off-topic, but @TottersBlankly , I loved Halt and Catch Fire but nobody has ever seen it!

BPAS carry out NHS terminations for the Birmingham area. According to their website it is likely to be a surgical termination under GA for 17+ weeks.
www.bpas.org/contact-us/bpas-birmingham-and-solihull/
www.bpas.org/abortion-care/abortion-treatments/surgical-abortion/

17+ - 24 weeks, should have made clear.

The Chelsea SL will run and run:

1. Changes mind when possible termination method made clear.
2. Goes to clinic for above and changes mind at door.
3. Has termination then feels guilt. For ever, a la pro-life "arguments" as to lasting effects of abortion on women.
4. Goes through with pregnancy and has child adopted. Looooong procedure with much to-ing and fro-ing.
5. Goes through with pregnancy intending to adopt then changes mind at birth.
6. Has the baby then endless ishoos between her/Ben/Beth and horrified Archers.

If adopted, then long lost child returns in their early 20s.
(I may not be around to hear about it though !)

I get it that everyone's relieved Chelsea's finally made a decision, but does she really have to be treated as some sort of heroine as a result? She got herself into that situation through basic carelessness, she made it a whole lot worse by refusing even to contemplate taking a decision, and now we're probably going to be subjected to weeks of her angsting about how awful it was having to go through a totally avoidable late termination.