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!

For what it's worth I've changed my mind and am going with "cramped". Having listened for a second time what it sounds to me Brian is saying is more like "cramn" dropping the end of the word off, as a pp has suggested, in line with his more upper class accent.

The context and certainly to me the emotional turmoil poor old Brian was in suggested he might have used the mild expletive because what was tearing his heart apart was not only the tiny cottage but the rubbishy life he had inflicted on Jennifer in her final years plus what he thought of himself. Plus the shortness of the word as it sounded.

Oh dear - is it wrong that I’m LOL-ing at your deep and meaningful conversation, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g ?

I'm also surprised that someone as well-organised and down to earth as Jenny wouldn't have had her funeral wishes written down at the same time as her will, especially given that she was a churchgoer (IME generally ok with the idea of one's own mortality, which varies much more from person to person in the non-religious population). I would share Adam's shock that, even if she hadn't prepared it beforehand (out of character in itself), she didn't discuss it with Brian once she knew about the aortic stenosis.

I've had my funeral wishes written down for over a decade, since I first made a will in my late 20s. I check them every now and then to make sure it's still what I want. I wouldn't necessarily expect that from Jenny (although it would surprise me less than hearing that she had made no provision at all), it's because I work in the church and attend a lot of funerals that mine is so precise - I sometimes check them after a funeral to check that I've got particular hymns included. But even for my family, none of whom are still churchgoers, we've discussed the broad outline of what sort of service they want and a couple of bits of music they'd like. The only one I don't know for is my Dad, but he has huge hang ups about death and won't discuss his own future at all. Even my 12 year old will sometimes mention a song she'd like or we joke sometimes about things I might say at her euology, and I have no reason to think she'll predecease me or die anytime soon (obviously I really hope she does neither). Maybe that's slightly unusual, but the idea that Jenny left things completely unprepared is just ridiculous. They'd better find the paper soon or I'll be angry!

I would share Adam's shock that, even if she hadn't prepared it beforehand (out of character in itself), she didn't discuss it with Brian once she knew about the aortic stenosis

She only received the diagnosis in November and then further discussions around surgery to discover that the surgery would be risky. Then according to Brian they were told that even without surgery if she was careful she could have a decent span ahead.

I don't find it surprising in that situation that her focus would switch to Christmas, family, having time with people and maybe sort out the funeral arrangements and other life admin in the proverbial New Year - if at all.

Cinnamon as a strong flavour in soup just seems wrong to me. I like it in many other things, including the meat sauce in a moussaka. Pat had it in a stew not a soup. But it was a veggie soup, and I can’t offhand think of any vegetable that would be enhanced by cinnamon. Meat stew, one with a thick and rich gravy, might be a different matter.

but the idea that Jenny left things completely unprepared is just ridiculous I’ve done Will, PoA, listed my accounts, made a list of the things in the house which shouldn’t just be chucked in a skip without thought, marked in my address book which people need to be informed … but I haven’t written down funeral wishes nor have I any interest in doing so. I won’t know anything about it, will I?

I do a pork casserole with cinnamon and cloves and prunes and dried apricots. It sounds horrific, but it's delicious - the flavours blend into a rich sauce that doesn't really taste of any of the individual elements..

I won’t know anything about it, will I?

I think writing down or discussing wishes is not so much about the dead person, but actually to relieve the stress from the survivors of thinking 'what would they want', or worse still arguments within the family all claiming to know best.

So it's an act of kindness to your relatives rather than being directive.

Cinnamon is vile, so should not be used in anything.

Excellent points.

Going back to cinnamon, for me it works in savoury dishes as one flavour amongst many, which is how it's used in Indian spice mixes, isn't it?

It made things easier, having an idea of what my parents wanted for their funerals- thete can be so much to do at thst point, anything that makes it easier is a good thing.

I can’t offhand think of any vegetable that would be enhanced by cinnamon
Probably a fruit not a vegetable, but pumpkin and cinnamon is a common pairing

I'm not sure that the pumpkin would be enhanced by the cinnamon.

putting a Cinnamon stick into something while it's cooking produces a different effect from using powdered Cinnamon, a lot of which is Cassia, not Cinnamon at all. Mind you, I like the powder just fine, put it in my cocoa every day.

I'm not a fan of ground spices or dried herbs. I suppose I could try a cinnamon stick, but given I don't like the powder, it's probably not worth the risk.
I don't put cinnamon in a curry. I put elaichi cardamom, mustard seeds and coriander mainly then a little bit of a lot of other things. I find ready mixes tend to be too heavy-handed with cloves or cumin.

I don't think we will get through this without letters from Jenny to her family being found.

Parsnip and Apple sounded pretty good to me.

Er you spoke too soon....
This is a bit bleurgh

Nothing with apricots sounds horrific

Nearly right! I like the way the journal was done. I found this episode far more moving than last night's.
Parsnip and orange soup, with a touch of grated ginger root, is Absolutely Fabulous!

Wow …

That’ll be the best episode of the year, surely? (Weighed in tears blubbed.)

Lovely that Brian and Jenny both recalled the same significant moment.

The only thing wrong is that Debbie would be there by now. Her absence is so glaring.

But, on the whole, a million BOOPS.

And good that the BBC had the CA acknowledge Angela Piper.

Gosh, it’s sad.

Oh, ha! I haven’t listened to today, yet!

So sad about this. I know I'm projecting, but still

I found the scene in The Bull nowhere as bad as expected once Neeyull dropped the ghastly caring tones and the old photos came out.

The journal was far too soon for me and that - combined with Alice & Adam, two actors (ack-taaawz) who make me want to stick my fingers in my ears and scream "LALALALALA not listening!!!" until they stop - annoyed me. Fair enough - it's why I listen, I suppose. 😏 Kate was good, though.

Oh I missed the CA! And it won't be on Sounds. What did they say??

It is, but as you say, that’s when using pumpkin as a fruit.

We’ve just had pumpkin (savoury) for tea, but when I was throwing spices in, cinnamon wasn’t one that seemed right. Whereas when I was making miniature pumpkin tarts, cinnamon was absolutely right.

Going back to cinnamon, for me it works in savoury dishes as one flavour amongst many, which is how it's used in Indian spice mixes, isn't it? Does it work when there isn’t any meat in the recipe?

Is Shula qualified enough to take a funeral service? I hope not

Yea, please tell us!