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 have a feeling psycopath is inbuilt rather than caused by external forces, like narcissist. Is the right phrase a personality type?

"Psycho" usually means "psychopath".

I was using it in the old-fashioned colloquial sense, which covered pretty much anything from what might now be called "anger-management issues" via strangling the neighbour's cat to full-on Hitchcock.

Snap!

I also appear to have something in my eye. And I loved the fact it was a New Year party in The Bull - the kind of village set piece I’ve been missing. An excellent end to the old year and a good start to 2023. Happy New Year 🥂

Yup

Me too.

Oh it made my cringe! I loathe public declarations like that. But it was good to hear The Bull in full swing for NYE.

Oh it brought a tear to my eye too. Elizabeth still liking Vince well we hadnt heard from her side for ages and if it was me, and I was going out with Vince and he had hurt my family I would have dumped him, even though I understand he was upset at the way Ben treated his daughter he went a bit to far. He was horrible from the begining anyway to David, didnt know what Elizabeth saw in him.

Yes, cringy but sweet at the same time. Did anyone else notice the exchange a couple of episodes ago with the Dopeys saying the sale of the land hadn't quite gone through? And then yesterday Kenton saying how much of a toll the sale was taking on "Dave"? I think that might be setting the scene for Elizabeth to tell Vincent that his penance is to drop his threats about the loan.

But then I'm not in charge of the crystal ball, so who knows ?

I was thinking that last night. Elizabeth will talk Vince round.

Has Elizabeth been without a partner (let's try to forget the romp with Roy) since Nigel's death? I wonder if she is reluctant to dump Vince because she doesn't want to be alone again?

If Vince is staying then I think Beth will be back. Maybe not for a while though.

Yes @BeatriceBatchelor . There was a date with Iftikar the cricket coach /Maths tutor, that's all.

Yes she has mainly been without a partner.
Apart from the ill fated liaison with Roy, she started getting close to the cricketing chap tutoring Freddie but she pulled back as it was too soon.

I think behind his brashness and use of money, Vince is fiercely loyal and protective and has a sense of fun.

xpost

There was the doctor chap, too, who was involved with Shula many years back, and whose name has totally gone from my memory, and like Ifty, she almost, but didn't quite go there.

Either would have been better than Vince.

Richard Locke I think @EBearhug
Didn't he move back into the village, but has since apparently been swallowed by the sink hole (or his post-it is behind the sofa...).

I enjoyed last night. Good to hear some normal village life, and I was pleased that Chelsea and Brad fixed their mess without yet more machinations. Brought a tear to my eye too.

Happy new year everyone.

I cried! And was really lovely to hear the bull having a proper knees up!

Oh yes, maybe de Locke will come out from behind the sterilising unit?

*Dr

It reminded me how Ambridge itself is so integral to my enjoyment as well as the the characters - almost a character in its own right. I feel like a lot of the drama has somehow been taking place in isolation - like we've lost that sense of place. I really feel the loss of Home Farm and Grey Gables - two places that I felt I knew very well. I used to love a trip to Underwoods too. In the Bull last night I felt I was properly in the village - long may it continue.

So true, @LillianGish

Very well put @LillianGish, I feel the same.

I really feel the loss of Home Farm and Grey Gables

Yup! I imagine the creative team think they’ve replaced them with the Tea Room - and will be patting themselves on the back because it’s more ‘inclusive’. But that’s exactly why it can’t provide the drama of the inbuilt class tension we used to get with Carters or Grundys in the Home Farm kitchen, or the high octane tension of family gatherings at GG. Drama comes from people feeling excluded or uncomfortable - the opposite of what the Tea Room exists for.

That's exactly it @TottersBlankly. Though I don't dislike the tearoom - you instantly know you are there with the background music and I can totally picture it, but it doesn't replace what's been lost and for exactly the reasons you describe. I'm wondering what the rebranded GG will look like. I was also pondering why we haven't been to church over Christmas - the school nativity with spiders didn't really work for me. We had all the hoo ha over the new window, the ludicrous window smashing scene and then nothing. It's almost as if Shula has left and taken St Stephen's with her.