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!

Can anyone remember what happened in Jennifer’s last spoken scene last year? Was it Alice drama?

According to Mustardland's very excellent daily summary, Jenny appeared on 15th February 2022 when she and Brian discussed the ins-and-outs of the Chris/Alice divorce settlement. I couldn't find any mention of her in the cast-lists after that.

Thank you!

Exactly this! He just sounded like Adam 😅

That episode of ‘Conversations From a Long Marriage’ (R4 just finished) was rather apposite. All about eulogies for people you’ve loved or known for a long time.

Oh wow the Aldridges and Bridge Farmiens disintegrate.

It's like a Shakespeare play.

That explains Brian's concerned phone calls with Jenny.

Ruairi channelling Richard III …

Yes. And yay for Ruairi!

I don't believe she would have told Tony and not Lilian, although she might not have wanted Justin to know so maybe that's enough of a reason. Do you think Jenny told Tony-and-Pat, or gave Tony permission to share with Pat? Or...not?

See I was thinking that Julianne would be in her 40s ? To be honest I'm sure she could find someone more appropriate to have as her eye candy than Ruari - he just seems too young and too spoilt brat like .

I think Jenny would have confided in Lilian more than Tony out of her siblings - she and Lilian were very close and supportive of each other

I'm still wanting to know when we find out how Stella knows Justin from before

Eurgh! On the one hand this seems like the creative team squeezing every last drop of drama out of something that would be dramatic anyway; on the other - well, I can’t be the only person here who has discovered a relative’s serious illness was kept from them until far too late.

I do hate it when you can see them ramping up the outrage, though.

And Arthur Hughes seems to be auditioning for - hmm, I was going to say Hollywood, but he’s rather more theatrical in his delivery. (I was so sad not to be able to see ‘his’ Richard III.) He might act himself out of TA …

Can you clarify please?

Justin knows Stella but we don't know how, yes?
Are people also saying he know Julieanne or have I confused myself?

Justin saw Ruairi at some business do and it was clear he (Ruairi) was with Julianne.

Justin and Stella knew each other before she got the Home Farm job and there was a suggestion when they had lunch together not long after she started that he had suggested to her that she should apply. I'm pretty sure he didn't openly suggest her to Brian. I have the impression that Brian doesn't know about this connection, but I could be wrong.

Justin doesn't know Julianne, but he saw Ruairi with Julianne at some business do and put two and two together.

J and J didn't know each other.

Thank you both. I must have missed that installment

Wow, that was quite an episode. I've been pondering what's the highest age I might be when I would still be prepared to accept the risk of having a major operation under general anaesthetic, with a long recovery period. I think a bit older than 78 (I'm in my early 60s now), but we're all different, and it would depend a lot on what I was told about the likelihood of the operation being successful.

I can't imagine not telling my children, though.

Very theatrical intervention from Ruairi there. I could visualise him standing on the stairs listening, biding his time. What a family he finds himself in.

Top international businessman (and latterly shop assistant) Justin had heard of Julianne when they had their chance - and very uncomfortable - meeting in the bar of the posh hotel. He said something typically pompous along the lines of 'ah, yes, Julianne Wright of Bodgit & Scarper Asset Management, I presume? I’m greatly impressed by your excellent investment record…' etc etc.

Then, when she was out of the way, he leered and chortled to Ruairi about him having nabbed an experienced older woman to take him under her wing, nudge nudge, wink wink. Bleurgh.

Me too @ReindeerBelieve.

Oh had for gotten about the j&j encounter. Hmm.

Yes I want to wallow in the grief not suddenly have all out family warfare really.

Top episode.

I thought Brine was particularly good. Like Gasp0de I wonder about the decision of 78 being too old for such surgery -in general not true for otherwise healthy late 70s- but I think in SL terms it raises the issue of self determination and a free will on the part of the patient, respect for their decisions.

It also of course allows for lots of affronted feelings on the part of those who feel they should have been in on it, as we have seen.

They'll cool their jets about that aspect eventually, but a timely reminder about all the simmering resentments in the families.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g I've been pondering what's the highest age I might be when I would still be prepared to accept the risk of having a major operation under general anaesthetic, with a long recovery period. I think a bit older than 78 (I'm in my early 60s now), but we're all different, and it would depend a lot on what I was told about the likelihood of the operation being successful.

MrGon had a valve replacement at 69. It was hereditary - a valve that should have been tricuspid was bicuspid and eventually "silted up". (I believe that is very much not the technical term.) His mum, from whom he inherited the problem, had it done twice - the second time in her 80s. She died at 95.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g my FIL89 has aortic stenosis and advanced dementia and MIL has very sensibly decided with his cardiac surgeon not to put him through any procedures. There is a less invasive treatment than open heart surgery done through the artery called TAVI which even 90 year olds can cope with but I think Brian said Jenny wasn't suitable for that.
I like the way the SW use an event to explore how each part of the family deals with the same information. They did it with Ben and now with Jenny. It's very clever and very like life. The ripples go on moving out for days with unexpected consequences. That was a cracking episode!

I’m finding Roooooaaaaaari very creepy these days.