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!

@C8H10N4O2 , Eddie works at the market, and it was under George Barfor's tutelage that Will learnt his trade.

Yes you are right - George not Tom Forest, confusing my generations!

Eddie's job at the market is casual a day a week isn't it? Its not a full time regular job with a contract from what he was saying, just some regular hours every week on a self employed basis (rather like Ed's farm work).

His problem has never been unwillingness to work, just insufficient education to ever get properly on top of anything. Inevitably I sympathise with him - he has his grandfather’s blood. There’s no shame in not wanting to become a nameless corporate cog

Oh I don't think Ed is a slacker at all, and I'd say he is less of a liar and cheat than Eddie. However there was presumably nothing stopping him or Eddie getting a regular job with a predictable income at the chicken factory or similar, like Emma did. I'm sure I remember a conversation with Ed on contract versus regular work when he turned down a regular job in the past (BICBW).

Nothing wrong with Clarrie's job at the dairy but at one time I'm sure I remember her doing a patch work of jobs including jobs around the dairy hours whilst also still running the house and providing ad hoc free childcare. Its just interesting to me that teh women are both doing the full "housewive" role and also see it as their responsibility to ensure some regular income whilst for Ed and Eddie, its optional.

Completely agree about pigs. They are the best land clearers/rotavators.

We kept some rare breed pigs and they cleared our ½acre of overgrown bramble Infested woodland. Wouldn't touch the rhododendron bushes but adored bramble bushes.

ANyone else note mention of a choir performance next week - what is it?

Presumably the great Battle of the Rival Choirs, with hilariously professional results. How long have they been rehearsing - a couple of weeks?

I've been in /helped out with tonnes of choirs. It should be OK if they are just singing carols but they better make some of their actors sing too or it will sound ridiculous!

We did hear one of the first rehearsals. I can't remember what they sang, but it was as though the Bach Choir was in the village hall.

The problem is that most actors are pretty decent singers too*, so they might have to draft in a few clunkers specially.

*with the notable exception, ironically enough, of the Jolene actor, who’s got a tin ear…

@Octothorpe , my thoughts too. Kirsty IIRC is a decent singer.

It's not so much making them sound like they can't sing, it's making them sound like they haven't practised and practised! peoplo need to come in late, sing the wrong verse, forget how long notes last for etc

George panting over Fallon reminds me of Kevin and Miss Baxter -

What is George’s end game re Fallon? He clearly has a bit of a crush but surely even he is not stupid enough to think it could go anywhere…

Quite glad to have a break last night from hearing about Ben’s breakdown. Happy for him to return to the cereal cupboard for a bit.

Is Harrison supposed to be really fit? I just find his voice really annoying, he always sounds so patronising.

Yeah really fit but he's certainly not the sharpest truncheon in the box is he.

Oh I think he is stupid enough....

Plus, haven't we all had that teenage crush on someone we were convinced was one day going to suddenly see us and reveal their undying love? At least in a daydream? Combine that with George's arrogance, and I think it's kind of believable.

Not sure where the plot's going to go with it though.

Fallon's about the same age as his mum. I'd be less surprised if the male/female ages were reversed, as I remember one of my schoolfriends having a massive crush on my dad, when we were about 17 and he was about 45. He thought it hilarious - my mother, not so much!

Really - I thought Tracey was something like 47(?) and I think of Fallon as early 30s?

Tracy (born 16/7/1975) is George's great-aunt; her sister Susan is his grandmother. She was born

George's mother Emma was born on 7/8/1984; Fallon was born on 19/6/1985.

Not sure how the unnecessary "She was born" didn't get deleted, but it didn't. Sigh.

Thanks for that @SnowlayRoundabout . Yes, that's George.

Sorry I have no idea why I made Tracy George's mum!

My view of Fallon is utterly utterly wrong: I am now very confused.

Fallon and Ed and Emma were all at school together, as far as I remember. Ed is also older than I think of him as being; forty in a couple of years.

I am now very confused.

@JanglyBeads - the scriptwriters' work is done, then!

Did you temporarily conflate George and Brad, @JanglyBeads ?