Archers thread #145: The glue that held the Aldridges together is gone. Will they fall apart? 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, and of course we are always delighted to welcome back former or occasional listeners/posters. We don't all agree on all points, although we do mostly try to be civil about it.

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.)

Lillian and I both made the glue observation, so I thought that would be as good a way as any to kick off this new thread. We raced through the last one, for obvious reasons. This one may last until the funeral. Will Tamsin Greig find time to attend? I do hope so.

The poem Jennifer quoted in her journal is here: www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43775/rabbi-ben-ezra It's doubtful whether the last of Jennifer's life was the best, but she had plenty to contend with all the way through.

Over to you!

I've entered this thread just to say bravo for this.

Following now, with my Tribe

You would think that if Natasha had been taking advice from other mums whose children had done modelling that one of them would have told her you that you don't need to pay for a portfolio. I thought Pat might make the point too. Better if she'd just been researching where she could get a portfolio done rather than talking to others who have been there and done that. A bit depressing that we are straight back into signalling the approaching plot with huge flashing lights. There must be better plots for Bridge Farm. Where is Johnny?

I also came on to say hooray for a good solid “hello you two!”

One thing I’ll say in praise of the bridge farm lot is that Tom and Helen are both similarly self centred, smug and completely obsessed with their children’s marvellousness. You just know any of their children will be “that child” that no one is allowed to tell off even as they bounce another kid’s head off the carpet/spit at the teacher. Why did that other child/the teacher upset them? We all know how sensitive they are…

Pat always tiptoes around her children

I clocked that.

Pat always tiptoes around her children
Very much so, but that might be because John died.

Totopoly is a board game, and does have pieces that are horses with jockeys, but Escalado is the one you move with a handle.

And also Helen's various issues.

Also the fact that Natasha has proven herself to be the opposite of a pushover. If Pat and Natasha cross swords I fear Natasha would win and take the twins to Wales, Tom meekly following.

To me, Pat seemed more concerned about the ethics of modelling rather than whether it was a scam.

To me, Pat seemed more concerned about the ethics of modelling rather than whether it was a scam definitely. But hopefully she'll go off and do a bit of research and might flag this up - after Tom and Natasha have spent the £800.

Yep I dont like Tom and Natasha. I love Linda I used to think she was a terrible snob but she is just eccentric and would love her as an aunt. I was thinking about Lilian and I sympathise with her as I lost my sister to cancer and even though we knew, it was still a shock when she died and did sends ripples through the family. Instead of pushing everyone away like Lilian has we all clung together, but I think its because she didnt know and Tony did is whats upsetting her more than anything and she has lost her best friend as well as her sister.
Also where did the name nollytando come from? I wasnt around then.

I was thrilled to hear Natasha’s credit card is going to make an appearance…

Buby Kate's other 2 children were born when she was married to a South African so I assume they are South African names, Correct spelling Noluthando.

Just came on to say my hairdresser friend has done so much for people from her side of the chair. Right to helping women escape from abusive partners with no fanfare or need for thanks. She's incredible and runs campaigns about what to look for and how to support people.

Also Tom, your parent has just lost a sibling!! You utter nob. Losing a sibling is massive, not least because it's very close to your own mortality. But no, Tom just carries on with his own sense of importance.

Hmm … I hope the SWs have been listening to this R4 series on psychiatry:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001h3y5?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Presented by Horatio Clare - who seems to have suffered a similar episode of delusion to Ben’s. Today’s episode is on diagnosis - but I may go back and listen to the previous broadcasts.

Also where did the name nollytando come from? I wasnt around then.

Here!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3xTPRGQ5zCQHDxbXNCgMMnq/noluthando-madikane

Though that BBC biog is pretty appalling and leaves out all the important detail.

Found new thread! Just came on to say what a pair of self centred idiots Tom and Natasha are! I'll go back to lurking now 😆

I haven't posted on these threads for a long time, mostly because I've been behind in listening to episodes, but now I've nearly caught up and thought I'd add to the effort to reach thread 150 in time for the 10th anniversary.
I'll come back to read the whole thing when I've listened to this week's episodes. But sadly I find it almost impossible to load long threads, which is a shame as these on the Archers are always an entertaining read.

Just adding my BOOP for the "hello you two!" - it was a good one!

I thought it a bit suspicious that this amazing, top-notch high-price photographer happened to have a spot free for £800 at only three working days' notice. Just me?

This has scam written all over it. Maybe Tom and Natasha think it'll improve the chances of a church window if the girls are celebrities 😂

Oh, also another BOOP for Chelsea and Lynda. That haircut was just what Lillian needed.

Chelsea is so lovely. I really hope good things come her way one day.

It's got to be a scam with the photoshoot. Tom with his ego is the perfect victim.

Just adding my BOOP for the "hello you two!" - it was a good one!

All we needed to make it perfect was a change-counting scene… <wistful>

@LillianGish
Most interesting for me was that it reminded me of the age gaps between the various Aldridge children - three years between Adam and Debbie, seven years between Debbie and Kate, 11 years between Kate and Alice and then Ruairi 14 years later. I find it's harder to keep these gaps in mind when you can't actually see the characters.

Crikey, when you see their ages written like that it really is the whole gamut of potential conflict points!

Yes … one can sort of see why they don’t always ‘gel’ as a sibling group.

There are about five years between me and my younger sibling - and even on the cusp of my own old age I still remember the (perceived) perfection of those first five years when I was queen of all I surveyed - parents to myself and no obligation to ‘share nicely’.

Less so with Adam perhaps, but the other Aldridge children would each have had a long experience of being essentially an only child. It’s no wonder there’s little sense of compromise or give and take between them - each must feel like the most important person in the family, with the rest just peasant interlopers.

Apart from Rory who knows he's the last and perceives himself to be the least-loved.

I didn't realise Brian's children (including adoptive) had QUITE such a wide age range, more than 30 years?

There are 35 years between Adam (June 1967) and Ruairi (November 2002). Around where I live, that makes Adam old enough to be Ruairi's grandfather.