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!

Ooh I haven't heard last night's yet - could there be a wedding on the cards? I think they said a while ago they didn't want to get married again, but people do change their minds.

My suspicion for a while has been that Leonard is the "replacement grandparent" for when Jill finally hops the twig/retires. Hence the big age gap.

But does Brookfield need a ‘replacement grandparent’? It’s an interesting idea but the Archer clan already has so many people racing towards ‘elder’ status - Lilian, Jenny, Tony, Kenton (Shula) and they all have more or less loved and respected partners. (Elizabeth also!) If Leonard were to hang around post-Jill, wouldn’t he become as superfluous as Lewis?

I’ve always assumed he exists purely to enable Mrs Archer Snr to have an ongoing conversation with someone outside her family. (Carol having proved all too fleeting.)

But then I always thought Jill would die sitting by the Brookfield Aga. Maybe she will marry and sail off into the sunset instead!

How old is Leonard? I thought he was a bit older than the actor.

Well re superfluity I was thinking that's why he's doing decorating etc, being a sounding board for the other family members. An all round Treasure.

I miss JennyDarling

But also why were they struggling so much if he's a well known enough artist to have a fan who likes collecting his work and has apparently pioneered the 'Russell Jones Technique.' That whole selling of the painting was frankly batshit, and totally at odds with the cocklodger of Manchester/ LL we know.

The idea of the very frail Jill we heard a couple of weeks ago baking two apple cakes for greedy Pip to eat this week is hard to believe.

No wonder Rosie is fat if her mother can eat two slabs of apple cake without batting an eyelid…

The problem is that Pip does a physical job so will burn off those extra calories, whereas Rosie, until recently at least, seems to have been quite sedentary especially for a farmer's child.

I thought she said slice not slab. I could eat two slices of cake without batting an eyelid. I'm not fat, but I rarely eat cake anyway, so if the cake was delicious I'd probably have seconds.

Fat Rosie was eating cake snuggled on the sofa watching tv (BBC, no doubt) with her GGM, and doing so regularly.

Have you all seen this? I’ve applied, so you might hear me on TA some day 😂

I was thrilled to hear Rex! Thought he’d gone. Noted his stealth paean to Pip … Are the SWs planning to make that happen now Toby’s out of the picture?

But it’s only to ‘make a sound effect’, @TherapistInATabard. I’d want to be in a stand up fight with Lynda!

Haha. I’m more than happy to appear as a squeaky gate! Ooh or someone slapping Pip 🤔

The indications were that the gallery was a goer. The last exhibition involved some artist which was a feather in his cap. Private destination galleries are a genuine thing.

I miss Russ. I found his interactions with Chelsea genuine and genuinely helpful. There wasn't anything untoward.

On the other hand, Jazzer banging on about Chelsea and him being "mates" and his taking a "sickie" to have a morning on the sofa watching television with her make my skin crawl.

On the other hand, Jazzer banging on about Chelsea and him being "mates" and his taking a "sickie" to have a morning on the sofa watching television with her make my skin crawl.

I thought I was projecting somewhat because I felt the same. It reminded me of my stepfather who made me feel uncomfortable.

Though Jazzer's character went downhill for me after the shenanigans at Grey Gables.

I didn't see anything like that.
I saw him being quietly supportive of her in a no pressure way.
Just being 'present'.

His "it's not too late to change your mind" comment was unasked for, bang out of order and none of his business.

Jazzer's interactions with Chelsea have, for me, been creepy for a while now. I think throwing a "sickie" to stay at home with her goes well beyond being "quietly supportive"

I disagree @TeenDivided

Jazzer's behaviour has been a bit off since Grey Gables, for me, as I said. But taking time off work sick to spend the morning on the sofa with Chelsea didn't feel quite right. Possibly should have mentioned to Tracy first.

See, I still disagree. Maybe I just see the best in people.
I don't see why his comment was out of order. He was saying we support you, and if you change your mind, that's OK too.

Whereas poor Ben has no support, no say. He knows that's 'right' but it leaves him at sea.

Chelsea hadn't given the slightest suggestion she was thinking about changing her mind. It was leading by him and none of his business.

His sex pest behaviour at Grey Gables was revolting- imagine an AIBU- "I'm a hotel receptionist and my boyfriend wants me to let us use a hotel room for sex during our lunch hour. Should I agree?"

I thought the GG stuff was grim at the time as well but isn't it time everyone got over it? They're both adults and in a relationship, if she'd tried to get him to go and have sex at his workplace would you still be mentioning it every time?

Having said that I do think the skiving off work to spend time with your SD, while kind, is open to misinterpretation

On the other hand, Jazzer banging on about Chelsea and him being "mates" and his taking a "sickie" to have a morning on the sofa watching television with her make my skin crawl

I had mixed feelings on this one and agree with both @TeenDivided and @petalroses. In the end I decided it was ok as Jazzer probably didn’t just throw a straightforward sickie- in my head, when he texted Neil he was more truthful and said he had decided to stay at home to sit with Chelsea for a bit as he was worried about her and he would make up the time later. Neil knows about C’s situation because of Susan so I decided that would be acceptable.

Otherwise, I agree, it was a strange thing for a grown man to do on a Monday morning.

I see Jazzer's behaviour towards Chelsea and his efforts to be her friend rather than a pseudo step-father figure as indicators of his general immaturity. He is (to use a favoured MN expression) a bit of a man-child. I do think he is intelligent but his some of his behaviour (inability to handle basic finances, keeping a pet tarantula as if he was 13 years old) mark him as someone who just hasn't fully grown up. Saying that, I don't actually know how old he is supposed to be - the same age as Ed?

I think same age as Ed. Jazzer may still have some side effect from his Ketamine overdose? (though the SW have forgotten all about that I think.)

He isn't really a 'step father', he hasn't been around long enough. Anyway how often is it made clear on MN that step parents shouldn't 'parent'?
However he is maybe the closest 'father figure' Chelsea has.

I'm fairly sure Jazzer is supposed to be the same age as Ed, born 1984. Tracy was born in 1975. So he's now 38 and she's 47. He's 20 years older than Chelsea. I think he doesn't see himself as a step-father figure, more like an older brother, witness the teaching to ride a motorbike debacle. He definitely has kept well out of Tracy's parenting decisions.