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!

Yes, Kathy Perks rented April Cottage to them when she went away travelling or something

I don't understand where the Brian and Stella storyline is leading. What is being hinted at, other than " Brian is grumpy, distracted, and a little reactionary"? Someome else suggested Stella might leave to make way for Adam's return, but Adam sounded like he could barely keep his eyes open last night!

But Adam always sounds exhausted.

Absolutely!
Handy notes re Fairies etc could be included for each property.

I must emphasise I am not the person to create such a thread but would be hugely appreciative if someone did.

Great idea!

Not sure we need to re-invent the wheel - ambridgereporter.org.uk/Ambridge_Residences_and_Occupiers.html. I believe Asking has linked to this in the past, so it must be reliable.

This is probably out of date, and wasn't comprehensive to start with, but has illustrations. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00w47v9/p00vxs9c

Same for me, listened every morning for 6 years on the bus to work in Hong Kong.

I'm astounded some of you think it's OK for a parent to take their child thousands of miles away from their other parent for a shiny new job.

I'm not sure anyone is saying it's OK, are they? They are basically recognising that, nevertheless, it happens, it may not be the catastrophe that Lee thinks it is, but that he shouldn't assume he can just stop it by saying he doesn't agree.

Having now listened to Friday's, I'm a bit conflicted. My dp and I have had our various children live with us unexpectedly. I'm glad H is being honest and I wish more people would be. But also she's being incredibly selfish and downright weird.

When my dsd landed with us I was uneasy, but it did not cross my mind to say no. It turned out to be our best chance to bond (and then her dad, my dp was in a coma about 2 weeks after she'd moved our again- so it's a good job that happened!)

Gosh, sorry to hear that, @stilldumdedumming - hope all is well now.

In days of yore, moving to the other side of the world would have made it very difficult indeed to keep in touch. Like many Scottish families, my Mum's parents both had siblings who'd emigrated and they hardly ever saw them again. Nowadays, it must be a lot easier with WhatsApp, social media and so on, but nothing replaces time spent in each other's company face to face.

(Bit of a Thought for the Day vibe there - well, it is Sunday.)

To be honest I think that sometimes circumstances aren't right to take an opportunity that is offered, and I think this is one of those times. The oldest girl must be in GCSE time, so disrupting at this point isn't great. Moving half way across the world means one parent and the children will miss out on that regular day to day bond. Setting it all up without consultation with the other parent is awful.

Plus if Alicia (or however it is spelled) is going to be working all hours for this great life-transforming "tech company" (which presumably will want to get its money's worth out of her labours) when will the girls get to have realistic quality time with either of their parents?

Cue the old John Finnemore favourite.
soundcloud.com/btisdall/how-the-archers-sounds-to-be

Lee is a divorced father - with no idea of his rights as a non-resident parent?

Ick …

That doesn't sound unimaginable to me. If everything has been amicable up to now, he might never have needed to look into whether the other parent can unilaterally take the children abroad.

As someone who has been through this from the 'Helen' position (but very different view) I am listening to see if the SW actually get it right or just make 'law stuff up' for dramatic effect.

My DH's ex wife wanted to take their children to Hong Kong . For the 'lifestyle opportunities' an ex pat life could offer. As her DH had been offered an amazing job . (6 figure salary) At the time we had EOW contact under CAO for 7 years. They were 10,11 & 13.

We opposed the move which mean defending her specific steps order requesting an application to remove the children from the jurisdiction (England) without parental permission. ..

1. It's not a quick process.
2. Unless willing to devote serious research into the process - they will both need lawyers . (DH had me but his ex ran up a bill of 24k)

3 Three hearings.

1. Visit from social workers to children whilst they were at both homes. To gauge their thoughts .

Ultimately it is EXTREMELY unusual for these applications to be granted.
Our ruling . "The family courts hold sacrosanct the child's right to a 'close and effective' relationship with BOTH parents wherever possible. The non resident parent in this application is a very present person in their lives. The risk of the children's relationship with their father diminishing should the application be granted is too high. Therefore the application is denied.

During our research to defend the case it became apparent very early on that it is very rare for such applications to be granted .

One case that was - a woman wishing to relocate to NZ was only allowed because the resident mother had absolutely no family support in the UK and her ex would only agree to have his children every 6 weeks due to being busy with work and his new family commitments . She couldn't work in her career as a nurse without childcare - which her mother was happy to provide. As the NRP was not willing to provide more care - the application was granted.

It's a very extreme case where it does though.

As for Helen. Not for one moments is she thinking of all those opportunities for the girls !

Helen has ALWAYS been the most self absorbed character on TA.. she doesn't want Lees kids there because she doesn't want them. She has her happy little unit and doesn't want anything rocking that. She sees her set up as Her , Lee, Henwee & Jack.. not interested in Lees kids beyond having them visit for a few days when convenient for her ..

That's really interesting Hadtochange ...

As a family we coped quite well when DH went to work in SFO for 18 months. But of course it was a different situation because both parents were united, and it was only ever going to be a temporary arrangement.

Very interesting @Hadtochangeforthisone. I have friends where the ex-wife has just moved the child to the other end of this country and that's difficult enough for them maintaining a relationship with dad (four hour+ drive for weekend visits rather than simply pick up from school by Dad rather than Mum - hardly in the interests of the child you might think).

I don’t think most kids of that age would at all be jumping at the chance to leave their friends and dad behind and move to America for ever. For a visit or part of the year maybe. I think that’s a much more adult thing to want tbh.

Helen is an odious cow and it’s sickeningly obvious that she wants all of Lee’s parenting time and skills spent on her kids and little/none on his own.

I grew up with endless moves and changes of school - 3 x primary in 3 different countries. none of them the UK, and 4 x secondary in 4 different UK regions - and it did me no harm. (No, we weren't on the run - army family.) I remember shedding a few tears at 16, because we'd been there for an unprecedented 4 years, but nothing dramatic. The record in the other direction was half a term.

At that age I would have leapt at the chance to go to America, though ideally leaving my mother behind! 😉

I’d put a bet on Erik not being over Kirsty, rather than the other way round.

I thought that.

It's happened. I may have a tear in my eye.