Archers thread #144: Window pains again! Light relief or dark times ahead for Ambridge in 2023? 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 volunteer in the shop with Susan, 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.)

New year, new thread. Many thanks to @LillianGish for the window pains pun! Hoping to hear a lot less from the Caseys this year and a good deal more about farming and how Ambridge is coping with Brexit, cost of living crisis, ageing population and all sorts of credible character-based storylines. Yes, I know, but one can only hope.

Over to you!

I would say Felissia but it could be Feleesha. I wouldn't say Felisha - there's no logic to it. I've never known anyone one of that name though.

Helen likes Lee helping look after her own children but clearly it has never occurred to her how annoying it would be if she had to do the same with his. The SWs have really nicely illustrated her selfishness and sense of entitlement with this scenario.

It was to hear her extolling his virtues as a step-dad - while simultaneously never having considered offering the same care herself to his daughters.

So maybe she’s not on MN after all - because every step parent thread reiterates the warning that you have to think of your home as your step childrens’ home too …

I've lived in SF for the last ten years and it's still the most beautiful city I've ever seen 😀

We do have a great deal of homelessness, but that is true of all West Coast cities with mild climates. There has been an uptick in non-violent crime since the pandemic, particularly shoplifting and burglaries, and we are sick to the back teeth of it, but it's in large part because the police can't be bothered to arrest anyone, which was part of an ongoing political fight with the DA who they claimed was not charging criminals. We now have a new DA and whoops, the police still aren't very interested in responding....

Sorry for the derail but I love this city and if anyone wants to come and visit you'll find it's like other cities - some parts are safer than others - but unlike all other cities, it's also ravishingly beautiful!

The Irish has a subtle two vowel sound in the middle, but a lot of English speakers can't hear it so it's mostly anglicised as Neev to rhyme with the new pronunciation of Kyiv. Purists and Irish speakers will stick with the two vowels, but I'd say it's more half way between Neev and Nee-uv.

@noodlezoodle it makes me happy to know that the strains of Barwick Green can be heard in San Francisco

Thanks, @noodlezoodle! More beautiful than Edinburgh? Hmm.

I work mostly from home now, but when I commuted downtown I used to love listening to it on the bus while we rattled through the streets, it was an excellent contrast 😀

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g I must confess I haven't been to Edinburgh, so I'm not sure - but I'm fairly certain our weather is nicer!

I've had a couple of Felicias in church (I guess it's quite a Catholic name). They're Feleesha, to rhyme with Alicia Keys. I have met a Fel - ee - see - ah, but her first language wasn't English so I don't know whether to count her! Also, the people called Alicia in church have the Alicia Keys pronunciation too. IM (limited)E there's a class and ethnicity divide. Alicia Keys' pronunciation is more common in the black and working class Alicias (like in the the London church I work in), Alicia Silverstone is more white and middle class. Just my observation, I might be wrong!

Yes, the weather in Edinburgh in winter is character-building! Still love it, though. I lived there as a little girl and was very sad when we moved away.

That would be consistent with my experience of Alicia/Aleishas I have known as a teacher.

More beautiful than Edinburgh? Hmm.

Meatloaf.

(“You took the words right outta …”)

Are we 💯 sure Lee and Rex aren't the same person?! They sound/ are SO similar!

Yes, this is very true. And even if she were earning a lot of money, it would not go far in SF. Also - guns. Constantly a threat and practice active shooter drills regardless.

Secondly, the ‘opportunity’ of having an involved dad / mum near you is always likely to trump the ‘opportunity’ of living abroad.

I think, unless they plan to address it later, it’s another example of the scriptwriters being a little slapdash with the detail.

In a way I was relieved to hear Helen be so, well, Helen about it all last night. As soon as Tony was talking to Lee I thought "Helen will go mad at him" and actually she was quite tempered with her Dad but she's just incredibly selfish isn't she?

Interesting to hear her reflections on teenage girls. As I remember the Annette episode it was Helen who was awful. I wonder what she thinks was the problem. It was ?15 years ago and she had no parenting experience at the time and was on her own, so I'd think she'd have a chance of doing a better job now, but she's still Helen . Anyway, can't see the relationship surviving this.

Glad to hear Kirsty resolutely un-heartbroken

I completely understand Helen's feelings. Lee needed to stop and say, "Hey, tell me how you feel about the idea Helen, and be honest."

Adam telling Kate Noli knows her mum's "there" for her: er...

Great to hear some proper characterisation - self-centered Helen, Tony the appeaser, Brian now butting heads with Stella in the same way he used to do with Adam. It’s believable drama. What do we know about Alicia/Alesha - is she a Kate figure who would off-load her daughters at the first opportunity and go to America regardless? I tend to think not since the girls are always with her and rarely with Lee and Helen.

As I remember the Annette episode it was Helen who was awful. I wonder what she thinks was the problem

Helen was the problem. First of all she nagged Annette about keeping the flat tidy, then, when she admitted she was pregnant, decided Annette needed to keep the baby and they’d all live together in a lovely little cosy dreamworld. She put more and more pressure on her until the girl was half-crazed. No wonder she just sloped off eventually to get away from Helen's relentless control.

Mind you, fragile-but-doggedly-independent Helen never found out that the baby’s father was her then-boyfriend, I don’t think….

Yes @Octothorpe that's how I remember it. I couldn't remember whether Leon (?) was two-timing Helen with Annette or vice versa. I do remember him telling Helen she had a neck like a swan 🤣🤣

Yes, it was Leon the creepy Aussie barman. He was definitely Helen's boyfriend and iirc he pursued Annette very underhandedly. He said Helen has a neck like a swan?? And can she break a man's arm with her wing? 😂😂

And can she break a man's arm with her wing?
No, but she can break a swan's wing with a blow of her nose. I think it was the late Peter Cook who came up with that.

@TottersBlankly , yes, and you must treat your DSC as your own child at all times, apart from when issuing discipline.

I'm quite surprised at a 15 yr old enjoying being on a farm. Helen offloaded the girls to the step-grandparents, no doubt.

@CaptainMyCaptainE , according to t'internet Felicia is Feleesha. I only know it as a type of car. If Alice is Aleesha, why is Alissia not Aleessia? I hadn't thought of it but Felix is probably a 'Catholic name' too.

I have never liked Helen, ever since she behaved so atrociously to Hayley (I think it was?) and Tom to a lesser extent, about John's sausage legacy after John's death. I still can't forgive her for her nastiness. Her character is why I stopped listening to TA during the extremely well-handled coercive control story-line with tuna bake man whose name currently escapes me. Titchener, that's the one. This present behaviour from her doesn't surprise me at all. I think she's just a selfish, nasty piece of work.