Archers thread #141: The nights are drawing in. Can we turn the clocks back to a time when The Archers was fun? Cackle or carp about 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, although we do mostly try to be civil about it. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you're hoping Ambridge has a pantomime again this year, 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.)

Many thanks to @TottersBlankly and @GoldenCupidon for the title suggestions.

Too much to hope, I suppose, that by the time we get to the end of this thread Chelsea's pregnancy is a distant memory and the Horrobins can gear up for a cheap and cheerful Christmas. I really, really hope she doesn't change her mind about the termination. It's a horrible and unrealistic storyline, as most of us have agreed over the past few weeks, but now I just want it to end and be forgotten about.

I do like the idea of Lilian taking on the role of witch in the woods. Much more fun to listen to than Mia sabotaging the Hunt Ball, which is surely bound to go horribly wrong, or the odd wrangling over the stained glass window which we know Peggy won't be contributing to on air , given June Spencer's retirement.

Not a peep out of anybody in Ambridge about all the recent political shenanigans, but that's hardly surprising. Nobody fretting about fuel bills or rampant inflation either.

Also, where's Jenny? I hope Angela Piper's OK.

Over to you!

400 posts already!

I liked that … Another all female episode. And Chelsea and Natasha were lovely together. Would be good if they go on to be sort-of-friends.

I thought it was going to be Tony as soon as they said about parents arguing

Great start to Front Row tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed TA, even though I didn't get a pink wafer.

There was such a scheme but I think it ended some time back in the summer.

Having some Filipino characters would be great, most of those I have known (I lived in Asia for years) are the loveliest people, with a fantastic accent that would work well on the radio.

I think Rafa, who worked at Berrow when it was a dairy-unit, was Filipino.

The visa scheme referred to will be the one announced last year I assume, to allow 800 abattoir workers into the UK on temporary visas. It addresses the labour shortage around pork butchers and pork abattoir workers. Brexit U turn, like the ones around foreign lorry drivers and foreign fruit pickers…

The visas are for six months. So could introduce some really interesting limited-period characters and storylines. I don’t know if the visas are transferable to eg a skilled worker visa over time.

Close up magic really made me laugh 😂 So true!

Did we hear anything this summer about Stella using the seasonal worker pilot to employ pickers? I don’t think we did? Seemed weird given that Home Farm used to rely on European workers (Lexi et al) for harvesting their fruit.

Agree!

Ah yes, odd they never made much of him!

Didn't the strawberries in the poly tunnels get replaced by aquaponics (fish in water to give nutrients to grow something or other) overseen by Jazzer? I think he worked there until Adam nicked the money to pay the (unnecessary because it had just been refurbed after the flood) electrician's bill and twice flounced before working for Tony and pizza vanning.

Alice wanted to demo a strawberry picker machine there a few years ago.

I felt sure there was a cherry orchard somewhere too, which had a mention for a couple of years. Opportunity missed for a Chekov play there, Lynda!

Ah yes the acquaponics. Felt like a bit of a damp squib.

Why why why does Chelsea sniff so much! It's so annoying to listen to.

Er where on(/under) earth did the bottle come from, didn't think I'd missed anything recently??

I think Lillian tripped over it while they were doing the Halloween walk through.

I have to say I really enjoyed last night’s episode.

Was it only me that was reminded of the 3 witches in Macbeth as they sat around the glass bottle plotting how to get the message out and then work out who wrote it?

And Tony's childhood sadness.... ? Toy farmgate much!

Yes, it's no wonder he is always so pessimistic.
He's the youngest isn't he? As his Dad's drinking got worse and his parents' marriage deteriorated, he might well have been worst affected by the arguments.

Why why why does Chelsea sniff so much! It's so annoying to listen to.
Cos she's on glue?

Toy farmgate much! Indeed!

Does anyone really keep old Christmas cards, and would Tony have written them?

Was it only me …?

Nope!

(I assumed that was what the SW intended to suggest!)

Keeping Christmas cards not uncommon for a certain generation, I'd say.

Nice interaction there between Chelsea and Natasha. With luck/SWs' sense it's the start of a good friendship.

Nice interaction there between Chelsea and Natasha. With luck/SWs' sense it's the start of a good friendship

Unlikely. Gnasher is more likely to be counting her lipsticks after C leaves to make sure she hasn’t nicked any…