Archers thread #147: Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder how old Ambridge is. Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Many thanks to @PseudoBadger for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

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Title comes from this poem, with which I drive my family to distraction at this time of year.

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz
I wonder where the birdies is.
The bird is on the wing.
But that’s absurd, the wing is on the bird.
Or so I’ve heard.

Ogden Nash

Apologies to @TeenDivided for ignoring her good ideas for the thread title. Here they are to kickstart our ruminations:
'window on the world of cheesemaking'
'how long until the intercom is fatal'
'will Brian settle in new pastures'
'Springing towards Easter with Widowers, Windows, and wails'

Over to you!

Today's episode seemed to take for granted that a will can't be changed. It can - with a Deed of Variation. Though how that would work with Martha's bequest I don't know, as the person that inherited, but wants to change this, makes the Deed. (My DF was left a small bequest from his cousin; he changed it so that DB and I inherited it between us instead.)

I think it would be hard to do a deed of variation to disunherit a minor. It can't be in Martha's best interest.

Spent, in that she doesn’t have to disclose it, but the record is still there. And would be revealed in higher forms of vetting

I was convinced that Chris was going to suggest that Alice should be added to the people who could manage the trust for Martha (as a joint decision maker), as a show of trust/goodwill. Perhaps this will happen down the line...

I enjoyed Adil's 'posh car bingo' last night!

Even if it can be varied, that won't undo the hurt done to Alice's confidence though, as she explained to Chris.

I do feel for her.

Looks like you’re right A deed of variation can be entered into only by someone over 18. If the original beneficiary is under 18, it has to be done through the Court, who will agree only if it’s in their best interest

Forgive me if this has been mentioned at some point in the storyline but... How is Oliver the one who gets to choose if Brad and George get charged? Because he owns the bench? He doesn't own Grey Gables any more? Was there some kind of specification in the deeds that he will forever own the bench (and the 'damaged' tree) and therefore it's him that has been a victim of the damage?! It's so silly?! I know he will feel deep personal sadness and feel betrayed by Bradley and George, but surely him deciding whether to press charges or not is just not realistic?!

Also I feel like the storylines are all a bit all over the place at the moment, but maybe that's just me?! What's happened with Lily moving house / the slavery painting / the disgruntled volunteers / Adams dad search / Paul not moving vet practices / etc etc !

Just had a big catch up. Ugh I cannot stand Harrison. What even is the point of him? Surely
It would have been a crime reference number for insurance jobby.

Obviously Oliver should be pissed off about the whole thing but I found his moody reflexive, taking it so personally a bit much.

I don't suppose the organisers of the Borsetshire Business Angel of the Year Award would bother, though.

Plainly the questioning was to show that such things can be taken seriously, as well as an opportunity to show the different attitudes of the boys.

As for Oliver over-egging it, it's very realistic. Poeple whose homes burgled often feel personally got at. They're entitled to such feelings.

It also shows his magnanimity in not pressing charges in the following episode.

Oliver still part owns GG, I believe.

Was Susan in for that?

Ah yes Echt. I meant what was the point of Harrison full stop. I just really can't stand him.

Also re the questioning, I know it's always the way with drama vs real life but actual break in, damage to property and thefts in my area don't tend to get so thoroughly investigated. Even when you find your things for sale and easily traceable no one cares.

There was a period before lockdown when my street was being targeted quite intensely. It was horrid. The police agreed to do more patrols and a neighbourhood watch was set up but even when expensive items were stolen there was no searches for evidence etc. Like Ben's mental health support, it is an inaccurate reflection of Britain today. Although TBF that's probably why I like to visit Ambridge so much.

People whose homes burgled often feel personally got at. Thirty years ago, we had a sneak-thief. For about a fortnight, I wasn't happy walking alone - I felt he was watching me.

It also shows his magnanimity in not pressing charges in the following episode. And his sense in delaying the decision. In the aftermath of the sneak thief, I heard he'd tried breaking to a local leisure centre and had been thrown over the wall by a caretaker. I felt very pleased, Later, I just felt sorry for the guy - making a mess of his life before he was really old enough to understand what a mess he was making.

It would serve very little purpose dragging Brad through the courts. He's probably had enough of a scare to put him back on the "straight and narrow". And I guess that's what Oliver is thinking too.

Good point@PuppyPerson

I was remembering that she would have been writing Justin's "he was here and he worked" chit if Justin hadn't asked Jim to do it. I don't think her having a criminal record would have been even slightly relevant as far as the organisers were concerned; I don't even suppose Justin knows of its existence.

I was answering the general query of crime and women in Amvridge, and the comment that implied Susan didn't have a criminal record as it was "spent". I think the discussion sprang out of George and Brad's antics ratehr than the Angels discussion. Sometimes I look back fondly on usenet and proper threading.

My thoughts exactly!

Welcome to the thread @Putthetulipsthere . I hope you don’t relurk 😊

I thought that victims getting to decide about "pressing charges" was a myth?

Me too.

A couple of lads - white, rural lads being detained and grilled and threatened with prosecution over a bench, and bits of tree?

Like Ben's mental health support, it is an inaccurate reflection of Britain today.

Quite.

How many empty properties must there be in rural England right now? And how many bored teenagers? Surely to god climbing over a wall and scampering around a deserted building is standard behaviour? At no point did they have any intention to cause harm or distress to anyone or anything. Total waste of police time.

As for Oliver dangling ‘his’ decision in front of Tracy … This whole sl is complete rubbish.

I wonder if it's a precursor to Oliver deciding to sell his remaining stake in GG, or perhaps just move away and become silent. It's preposterous that a man as wealthy as he is lives in one room of his own house so he can let the rest of the house at a low rent to a family who haven't always treated him well. Perhaps he will sell Grange Farm and we can have another Grundy eviction storyline. At any rate he will surely not now give George £5k.

I can understand Oliver being extremely upset. He was treated atrociously by many in the village when he announced that GG was closing for refurbishment/reimagining. Now this. Go back to Italy, Oliver! You were happy there and it will remind you of Caroline.

I thought so too, but it's Soap Law that applies here.

I can understand Oliver being upset about the bench and the tree, if two boys I knew did that to me I would be furious and press charges no matter how nice one of them is. I dont like this story line where everyone feels sorry for Brad he should have known better.Im saying this because I have a bench in memory of my darling daughter and if that was damaged I would go mad. Also I noticed Alice didnt want to share the cash with the other grandchildren, she should get over her self, shes gone from being upset about her mum dying to being upset with her mum 🤷‍♀️.

I’m so sorry for your loss @Bubbylana.

looking at this bench thing through Brad is weird, much more interesting to know how it’s affecting things with George’s family ie Oliver’s housemates. They owe him everything and if I were the Grundys I’d be sending George off to join the army or something rather than threatening the whole family’s precarious living situation.