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.

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. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you'd like to have the general public watching you work and asking questions, 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.)

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!

I think if Brad were to confide in Chelsea, that's exactly what she would do ... even if he asked her not to.

If someone is going to shoot Rob, could they please just get on with it? Then we can all move on!

Sorry, I was thinking about something and worded it badly. It’s more how we have repeated stories of how good Oliver is to offer the ‘poor people’ a helping hand and see their potential and then how they always then do something bad to show how they were not worthy after all (Tracy having sex in the GG room / Brad with the bench etc).

It’s not that it’s not reasonable for him to have those reactions (apart from not seeing how obviously awful Brad is) but more that they repeat the same unsatisfying storyline. They also break the rules that make a story satisfying - like Tracy at GG - it would have been so much more gratifying for her to have excelled and continued to do so. Instead another storyline railroads that one after they throw in some bizarre bad behaviour from her for good measure.

Wrong username, sorry!

That’s exactly how I feel about Oliver’s generosity.

Although Grundys at Grange Farm was scriptwriters, not him. I understand why they did it - but as we’ve seen, actual Oliver would have judiciously evicted them the first time someone spilt a cup of coffee …

Also I meant George is awful, not Brad - ugh!

Yes exactly. As they would literally have been pouring coffee over the memories of Caroline’s perfection. Those forever, benefactor disappointing, poor people!

I think it’s also really obvious that someone like Brad would be led by someone like George. Even if you don’t know the extent of George’s Georgeness, the dynamic is pretty evident.

Susan sort of knew didn’t she, with the postbox? But then went all doting grandma again.

Or is Oliver cleverly playing the long game and waiting for George to trip himself up?

Hopefully, that would be good.

If so though, you’d have thought he would have rescinded his agreement to let George work on the bench, given it was agreed to prior to George being forced to confess by the police. So he had that whole conversation commiserating with Oliver while knowing he was responsible. Anyway, clearly I’ve given this too much thought!

@OverArmour you really haven't! George put on a stunning performance of oh-who-would-be-so-awful. You'd think that would have cooked his goose with Oliver.

I know people (my father - born 1940's, close relatives, good friends...) with similar accents, some of whom are in their thirties. I don't think they sound out of kilter (but perhaps that's because I'm used to it)?! For what it's worth, I'm from an area (and now live in another area) that were both recently described as 'stuck up' on MN... 🤣 However Ambridge would probably be described as 'stuck up' in the same manner, so I think it's in keeping!

It is an accent that seems to be dying out, however... even Queen Elizabeth's accent became less 'upper class' and softened during her reign.

🤞 That would be an excellent storyline!

@Poppins2016 I know people (my father - born 1940's, close relatives, good friends...) with similar accents, some of whom are in their thirties.

Oh, I don't doubt it - loads of people have similar accents - I probably do myself! I just think Oliver & Justanidiot sound more like people I used to know who retired in the 1970s. Jim doesn't.

I agree
I thought there were a few moments in that conversation when he was expressing doubt to George that hinted he wasn't convinced

I was just thinking that too - I'd have thought Oliver would be infuriated by that previous conversation with George given what then emerged about his responsibility.

Am really hoping George trips himself up and that Brad doesn't get in any more of a mess.

I think there were a few moments where it sounded like Oliver wasn't totally believing George. And Oliver knows that Brad wouldn't have broken in to GG without being lead... by George. I think Oliver has a plan.

Let’s hope so!

UK Government trialling "immediate danger to life nearby" Emergency Alerts is clearly of prophetic significance. And a mighty coincidence.

Rob bloody Titchener at large.

<nods sagely>

I found it telling that he offered to shake Brad's hand; I didn't hear him make that offer to George, though I suppose he might have done at the interview we didn't hear earlier in the week.

I don't know about having a plan, but I don't believe anyone could take the way George was trying to blame Brad for everything without actually saying it was all Brad's fault as being honest. "He said ... Oh, no, I don't want to say what he said, it wouldn't be fair, he probably didn't mean it ... he's just a kid, they all get up themselves at his age ... he's needy ... I only asked him out because I was sorry for him and I really regret that now ..."

But who is Rylan?

Those posts weren’t there two minutes ago! I was laughing at wot @BerylBillings said.

Is the govt in league with The Archers, re the Security Alert?!?!
This changes everything!