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 would like Rauri and Alice to find the man who Julianne had buisness with and tell him about how Julianne treated Rauri and hopefully ruin the buisness deal as Julianne herself said they were upset that Rauri wasnt there. Also what is Julianne's lawyers going to do? If I were Alice I wouldn't let anyone treat my brother like that.

I think Julianne was just blustering, what on earth could a lawyer do? And who has been paying Ruauri? The company or Julianne? So much nonsense.

I’m guessing that if R kept calling J or turned up unannounced on a regular basis then the lawyer could threaten him with a non-molestation order if the behaviour (which potentially could be classed as pestering/harassment if it gets out of hand) continued, but it’s certainly a bit of a stretch at this stage and a threat is a far as it could go.

I think threatening to put your lawyer on speed-dial is just the sort of thing the SWs think Julianne should say- not what she would actually say. IRL, she would just be more cruel (I think she would go down the ‘why would I want a snivelling, whining boy etc etc…’ route) as she reminded him that for her it was always strictly business.

Right- really must stop overthinking this…

I think Julianne was just blustering, what on earth could a lawyer do? And who has been paying Ruauri? The company or Julianne? So much nonsense.

I think harassment or stalking? We heard that Julianne booked Ruauri via an agency, which presumably has legit books. If they sleep together that's presumably not part of the contract (just a mutual side arrangement?), and since his father sends him plenty of cash the idea that she's grooming/financially abusing him would be hard to prove.

I really really don't know how the others aren't constantly on at Kate for losing them their home though. I know i would. (but i am petty and i have a long and vindictive memory)

If I was a casual listener I would have no idea Adam’s mother has just died based on his behaviour over the last couple of weeks. He sounds as tired and slightly exasperated as he usually does but I haven’t really detected a hint of grief. Of course everyone deals with bereavement differently but it just seems a bit odd to me.

Ditto Tom - not an ounce of sympathy for his father or cousins, just completely wrapped up in this ridiculous baby modelling nonsense. How Pat and Tony managed to raise such a selfish, entitled child is beyond me.

How Pat and Tony managed to raise such a selfish, entitled child is beyond me no mystery there - they have managed to raise two (almost certainly as a result of losing one). I agree Adam does not seem to be showing much grief - especially having heard the description of life with Jenny before Brian came along. I would have expected him to be much more distraught. She always stood by him and took his side - he must be feeling pretty bereft. We’ve heard him wanting to organise the funeral which I thought was in keeping - I could even understand him feeling quite proprietorial when Brian refused to discuss it in the sense that he was there first. Maybe he just finds showing grief too exhausting.

Ditto Tom - not an ounce of sympathy for his father or cousins, just completely wrapped up in this ridiculous baby modelling nonsense. How Pat and Tony managed to raise such a selfish, entitled child is beyond me.

And he's lost his own aunt. My aunts and uncles are older than Jenny, and we don't live close enough to see each other frequently, but I'll still be sad when they go, even though they're not even in the same village so I see them about often.

He is quite tired

If calling someone a groomer is slander (which it would be, reputational damage) then a lawyer would be the person to deal with the action at law, I suppose.

What company?

I have never before yearned for a pair of high tops. But would cheerfully make an exception for THESE gems...

Even Sunny Ormonde approves.

Spotted on Ambridge on the Couch
twitter.com/OnAmbridge/status/1619747639511367681

It's only slander if it's publicised to other people - just saying it to Julianne wouldn't count.

Even if you can get over that difficulty, any decent lawyer would advise Julianne to tread very carefully because taking it to court guarantees maximum publicity.

Well there is Adam's grief. His numbness was quite fitting. The exploration of the different ways of grieving is really rather touching. Such a huge loss. It sharpens the pain of the loss of Home Farm greatly too.

Young Ruairi is very good at cringeworthy drunk acting.

I supposevi was a bit like that when my Dad died. I was completely practical - did probate myself, cleared the house etc then broke down completely in the cinema watching Dunkirk. He wasn't there it's just that he was a young man when they were young men and it triggered me.

Do you feel more satisfied after this episode, @Eastie77Returns ?

I thought it was quite well done - Adam somehow sounded more animated than he generally does.

Painful to hear Ruairi lurching from one trouble to another. Doesn’t look as if Paul will be keen on a rescuing role.

Great episode. I really enjoyed that Paul did not respond to Ruari’s advances. He’s a good one.

Didn’t Ian lose his mother at a young age? Has that been mentioned?

I love Paul's self respect and boundaries.

Both at the hunt hall and today. Especially when he firmly but politely didn't agree to keep an eye on him.

A Ben and Ruairi chat is long overdue. It's been mentioned they've hung out since JD passed, but then again Ruairi did lie about seeing Ben tonight.

If Paul had been a young woman trying to reject drunken Ruaruariii's advances, I wouldn't give much for her chances.

I didn't think he did lie. I thought the implication was that Ben had been there initially but had left to walk Bess, while Ruairi stayed behind to prop up the bar. And Paul had been there whilst Ben was still there.

That last scene with Ruairi coming on to Paul reminded me very much of an evening as an undergraduate when a friend got very drunk and started flirting with someone who wasn't at all interested. Her killer line was 'of course, you're out of my league: your dad's the Home Secretary and my dad's dead!' It was toe-curlingly embarrassing to witness, but nevertheless quite funny (which she agreed once she sobered up).

Her dad hadn't died recently, by the way, it was several years before.

Ah thanks for clearing that up Fink. Is pictured it as a phone call and Ben not coming at all, but that makes much more sense.

I don’t remember Ian calling Adam “darling” before, it was quite touching esp when talking about Jenny Darling.

I like how lovely Alice is being with Ruiari.

I never believe in Adam and Ian as a couple. And Ian is such a pointless character.

Liked the way Paul didn't agree to look out for Ruiari- the friendship is too new for that commitment.

I enjoyed how Alice asked Ian how the pizza van is going and then immediately cut off his boring reply to say what’s up with Adam. That’s exactly how I feel when Ian opens his mouth.

Presumably Adam and Ian are still living off Ian’s redundancy money. Adam won’t be earning much as a farmhand on Bridge Farm and the pizza van can’t be making the equivalent to a Head Chef’s salary. We know they don’t have a lot of savings because Adam dipped into Home Farm funds to pay the electrician’s bill not long ago. May be Adam will end up down the food bank.

Are we really supposed to believe that Xander (how old is he? 3?) wrote 'Granny loves roses' on his picture, and that her 'big heart was full of roses'.

Agree that Adam's grief is believable though, and pleased the SWs obviously had a plan for this rather than him just being weird.

And more BOOPs for Alice and Paul.

I enjoyed how Alice asked Ian how the pizza van is going and then immediately cut off his boring reply to say what’s up with Adam. That’s exactly how I feel when Ian opens his mouth.

made me laugh @FallonsNewCoat

@Prestissimo , those of us who listen to all the episode know full well that Dander is gifted.