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!

And I’ve always found the R and J thing utterly preposterous. What sort of self-respecting Successful Businesswoman would spend money to hang around with some spotty student?

My Dad had a valve replaced at 83 but had to have tests on his arteries to see if he would benefit from it. My friend's mum had a similar problem at the same age but, as a lifelong smoker, her arteries weren't up to it. I don't see Jenny as a smoker and imagined her having a healthy lifestyle but who knows.

I'm returning to my initial comment on learning of Jenny's death : She was the glue holding the Aldridge family together. Her death has truly SATTC. Interesting to hear them all blaming each other - Kate as usual unable to acknowledge that she might have done anything wrong. With the additional dramatic irony that Ruairi's own shocking secret has yet to be revealed (it didn't trouble Jenny while she was alive, but it might have finished her off had she found out and his previous run in with Alice certainly can't have helped). Mr Gish's ears pricked up at the mention of aortas having had open heart surgery to replace his over the summer. He allowed himself a moment of smug schadenfreude that he hadn't eschewed surgery, but he is considerably younger than Jenny.

I'd be surprised if Jennifer was a smoker more recently than 1980, but maybe I've just forgotten any mention of smoking/giving up. Did Lilian finally manage to kick the habit in recent times?

A lot of this is bad luck and genetics.

I thought this was an awful and implausible episode 😡

I think the SW are playing fast & loose with convention, introducing a whole new storyline post-death; an illness she knew of, that could kill her in 'months or years' and she told Tony but not Lillian, and kept her children in the dark.

No. It's rubbish.

And also, it makes no sense to have ghostly Peggy in the background but never heard of. They should have handled this better. Much, much better.

It's funny because I'd always thought of Jenny as Queen Elizabeth to Lillian's Princess Margaret.

My FIL had the choice of open heart surgery or a less invasive but less long lasting surgery. He was 75 and the surgeon said that was pretty much the cut off for that type of open heart surgery. Of course women may be different to men in terms of an age cut off.

Ruairi’s coming across as pretty horrible. I know he’s had sad things happen, but in general he’s had a pretty nice life since, my sympathy for his character is wearing a bit thin. I can see why he’d be wary of Alice, but at this point he’s said far worse sober, than her drunken ramble ever was.

Ruairi is totally Harry.

Returning to the fold after listening to three episodes back to back this afternoon. Wasn't expecting that at all and just realised my mum is the same age as Jenny 😞.

Has anyone seen the very excellent Mike Leigh film Secrets and Lies? Tonight's scene was very reminiscent of that. A family in a tailspin over their 'secrets and lies' . One of Timothy Spall's and Brenda Blethyn's finest roles.

Alternatively took me back to my schooldays with An Inspector Calls. That's been on your, wondering if a writer was ok inspired?

I've been impressed by the recent storylines so much better than the outdoor frolics and logs incident. I'm in no hurry to hear more of Helen and Lee. Am enjoying Kate and Jakob.

On tour I should say, maybe the intern can confirm?

Just popping by to say how sad I am about Jenny's death.

I thought it was very realistic, having been through the sudden death of my Dad. Especially today, with Lillian saying she should have done something... The words and delivery were almost word for word what my Mum said.

It was painfully raw and brilliantly written and acted.

With regard to the believability of Jenny confiding only in Tony: I thought Tony explained the circumstances. Jenny had gone to tell him first because she thought he would be less distressed than the others so was a good “trial run”. However, Tony was so upset it caused her to reconsider her plan and she decided not to tell anyone else.

Have we ever had this situation before - something suddenly revealed about a character which we didn't know but just one or two of their confidants knew already?

Remember a few years ago when ?Keri Davies told an audience that the storylines re Ruari and the fate of the Aldridges had been worked out decades in advance?

Tony and Pat sounded remarkably chipper given the circumstances.

The closest thing I can remember is the revelation that Caroline and Brian were having an affair. It had been going on for a while before the listeners were let in on the secret. Can't remember if anyone else knew.

Tony and Pat have had the worst death imaginable happen to them. Yes, losing Jenny is sad, but perhaps they have a bit more perspective than the others in the family. Plus they had the advantage of being able to prepare themselves a bit more.

Bereavement takes everyone differently though, doesn't it? Some people just get on with their normal life and then the grief hits at a later moment. Some people are just generally more or less introspective than others. Some people don't really seem to be affected but then they'll have a huge meltdown when they see the mug that she used to drink from, or even over something unrelated like they break a piece of crockery. Some people potter along being down and a bit quieter than usual, but never have a massive sobbing moment. Everyone's different.

Personally I don't see where Ruairi's reaction came from this evening. It would have been different if he'd overheard himself being blamed along with all the other mid slinging, but they were keeping in between the people who were there and none of them even mentioned Ruairi. So why did he act like he'd caught them bitching about him?

Parsnip and apple soup….bleugh…surely that’s far too sweet?!? Do you think Pat’s terrible cooking is a standing joke between the SWs and they each try to dream up more and more disgusting flavour combinations for her. I’m still getting over the cinnamon stew…

Parsnip and apple soup….bleugh…surely that’s far too sweet

My instant reaction.

I did think that there are probably a large proportion of listeners approaching or over Jenny’s age, that may have winced at the line about her age.

I was thinking just that, especially when he was sneering at his dysfunctional family.

I don't think they were "introducing" a whole new storyline. It's been obvious for some time that something was up with Jenny - not just her absence, but the fact that Brian would interrupt important discussions whenever she called, and the concern he showed for her each time.