Archers thread #143: In the Bleak Midwinter, Ambridge Folk Make Moan. Best Christmas ever? Probably not! 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, 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'd love to be in Jolene's choir , 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.)

Well, we made it through Stir Up Sunday without bloodshed, but poor Ben is now in the grip of psychotic depression. Not going to be a happy Christmas at Brookfield, sadly. When will Jill swallow her pride and go and give him the abject apology he deserves? Would it be a good idea anyway for Ben to see his gran at the moment?

Will Jazzer say yes? I hope so. We could do with a Horrobin wedding to look forward to.

Will Emma and Ed end up in court if they go ahead with this idiotic scheme to nick the logs from Peggy's Folly?

Will the two choirs put on a joint concert at Christmas? I assume so, and also that the BBC will continue to fool nobody by using recordings of what is clearly a really good well-rehearsed established choir, not a scratch choir of half a dozen novices.

Over to you!

I think of Adil as being about 43 or even older. No 30-year-old would speak like that. They really laboured the diversity awareness training today with the refs to being thought of as a terrorist and labels. Typical BBC.

There's only one I can think of: Edmund and Fanny in Mansfield Park. I don't think there are any other marriages between relatives at all, are there? There's Emma and Mr Knightley, but they're only related by marriage (her sister is married to his brother); and Mr Collins is more distantly related to the Bennets (and obviously ends up not marrying any of them anyway), it's not explicit in text but most likely a second cousin. Mr Elliott wants to marry Anne in Persuasion, but again they don't, and again they're not first cousins, they're second cousins (they share a great grandfather). Are there others I've forgotten about?

I think you are right; it always just feels that way.

I think Darcy and Miss de Bourgh are first cousins. Weren’t Lady Catherine and his mother sisters who cut a deal over the cradles? Lady Catherine is definitely his aunt.

Thankfully the marriage never took place, of course, though I do feel sorry for poor Anne on many levels.

Oh yes, you're right, and Colonel Fitzwillam is a first cousin to both of them too, and Georgiana. But still no completed marriage. In fact, Darcy wants Georgiana marry Bingley, her social inferior, rather than her cousin whose father is an earl.

I forgot there's also Charles Hayter Henrietta Musgrove, they're first cousins. But it's still only two couples in the whole canon.

Anyway, I realise that @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime has already replied long ago and the question's closed. I'm not trying to be pedantic and annoying, that just comes naturally until I notice and rein it in. Sorry for the sidetrack. As you were with The Archers. ... I want to hear more about the Mary Poppins bag (or Terry Pratchett's Luggage) of the Aldridges' cottage which is simultaneously tiny yet able to accommodate everyone down to ex-inlaws for a Christmas lunch (not dinner!).

I do love the word hinterland.

I picture Adil somewhere 36-44 but probably looking young compared to the weatherbeaten men of Ambridge.

I am only coming on to say that Lily and Adil are more boring than even Helen and Lee. Why are we being subjected to this snooze fest - unless there some more interesting facet to be revealed

Thanks Asking, I love this link 😊

What I got from Adil's conversation with Bharj was 'Go away' and 'Goodbye'. Bharj is a sikh name, so it was an odd conversation.

If you scroll to the bottom and click on "More information from Ambridge" there are some random pages with stuff about aspects of Ambridge like who the vicars have been, and the dates of the Single Wicket competitions and who has won them over the years, and such-like. None of it important really, but amusing in places. It's just one more reference-place I can consult if I want a date or a name and don't want to hunt too much for it.

I re-listened and it was 'Go away'... 'Bad mannered', 'Goodbye'.

**My translations might be slightly dodgy.

Mystic Bore™️ predicts

(plinky plonky woo music
swirly mists swirl inside 🔮
eyes roll back in head)

intones:
Dooom. DOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The Grim Reaper stalks the bedecked halls of Ambridge this Yuletide.

A great matriarch falls during/just after (delete as appropriate) the Best Christmas Ever.

But which one of three will be struck down? And when?
Only 🔮 and Keri The Sage (plus The Intern) know

(plinky plonky woo music fades
swirly mists clear from 🔮
eyes roll back down
blinks)

Aaaaand I'm back in the room!

Thanks @mysticbore!

And to @DaNiYmaOHyd. Forgive me - is Adil Sikh too? So he was possibly having an argument with someone?

He hasn't mentioned his religion, as far as I remember, but his name is Muslim.

@Fink , he's almost certainly a muslim. Not sure if he's mentioned it, but he doesn't drink and his family is from Pakistan. He was speaking urdu not punjabi.

I know Hindu Shahs too, it can be either. Although if he’s speaking Urdu and is Pakistani Hindu becomes pretty unlikely.

My understanding is that Bhardwaj is typically Hindu - it’s a high caste name.

@RandomCatGenerator , Adil is a muslim name.

I'm sure he said Barj, and I thought it was either Bharj or maybe Barj short for Barjinder

Tell that to Amit Shah, India’s vehemently Hindu and vehemently anti-Muslim Home Minister.

What, like 'Hey Amit, are you aware that Adil is a muslim name?'

Oh sorry I misread and thought you said Shah was a Muslim name!

Aye, right.

Do we think they’re going to set up an unsuitable marriage / forbidden love kind of arrangement with Adil and Lily? Or just trying to bring some more diversity to Ambridge?