Archers thread #148: Unseasonably, it's panto time in Ambridge. He's behind you, Pat! BANG. 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. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you think George Grundy isn't a psychopath, 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.)

Will Rob return, or are they playing with us? Will Pat run amok with her shotgun and wipe out half the village? (We can but hope ...) Will Oliver come to his senses and turf the Grundy clan out of Grange Farm? So many questions, so much time.

Over to you!

Ben is no longer under the same stresses he was, is he? Yes, different stresses - the B&B, The Laurels - but he seems to be rising to the challenges.

IME there is an underlying and insidious assumption in MH provision that one can never get truly better, but can be "in recovery."

Ben had a full blown psychotic episode. Then after a bit of rest and (luckily for him) meds which worked first time round. I get what you say. But we have two examples - Lizzie and Ben - of apparent super quick recoveries. Which ime isn't very representative. Helen's ED is also odd. EDs have a habit of resurfacing in times of stress. And no one even seems worried about this. Unless I've missed a line or two.

I think Lizzie took some time to recover, certainly nowhere near as fast as Ben.

We did speculate on here recently re Helen's ED, I can't remember why, she refused a meal or something?

Agree re general speed though. It's been 3 years since my teen DD's MH collapsed and she is very much still a work in progress.

Helen seemed overly worried about BF's reaction to her eating one of the biscuits Pat had made for him, that was what occasioned our discussion.

Sorry to hear that @TeenDivided, I hope her recovery continues.

I like Stella but she was obviously being way too pushy with the drill thing. She should honestly have just shut up about it at that time - if it cost the farm extra money in future, well, it's their money not hers.

But Adam is a snake as he did give a tacit go ahead (or at least said things that could easily be interpreted as a go ahead. He could have as easily said "sorry Stella neither dad nor I are up to talking about farm stuff at the moment so please hold off."

I can believe - but am a bit bamboozled by - no one seeming to compute that Adam has a very good reason for wanting her sacked!

Sorry here's the closing bracket I forgot

)

But I think the main point is that Adam has now lost his mum, solved the mystery of and lost (it seems) his biological dad - Brian is his only remaining parental figure and the tying up of those loose ends has brought them closer together.

Ah yes. So not so much ED reoccurrence as b

Yes, then I agree people/Helen should be worried re ED coming back.

On the drill thing - you would think in a set up like the partnership there would have to be discussion and/or sign off with partners for expenses over a certain level.

I also think Stella was being very pushy about the drill,at the time I thought the way she was going on about it she was on commission.
Susan was really horrible about the glasses I could have slapped her ! but it did seem as though the whole village / town was talking about them I mean it was only important really to the prof and yet it was big news. At least Helen and Pat weren't around for the last couple of episodes.

Tbh I thought he did. But without actually listening to it it's hard to remember.

Who in their right mind would want to stay and work for a family farm, where the key shareholder does not want you there?
How do you get around that?
By all means go for compensation if you are entitled to - but staying? How would that work in real life?
(Will we see a Stella Brian liaison for her to pull this off? I mean, there is always Ruari? )
Stella is very single minded - an oral ok (if Brian has come round to the idea) outside a house is not authorisation (and what power does Adam have to ok this?)
Clearly no one is reading quarterly updates - what else is hidden there?

may be a bit sad but I've found all the old Archers episodes on Youtube so you can listen to the conversation about the drill between Adam and Stella [[here 6 at 54min. Archers]]

I may be a bit sad but you can listen to the conversation between Adam and Stella here at 54min

Sorry it's posted weirdly I couldn't find a way to stop it.

Sorry @LittleOwl22 but I can't cope with the phrase "an oral ok" in the context of you talking about a Brian and Stella liaison

And the link doesn't work 🤗. It's on Youtube - Archers Omnibus week ending 29th January - the channel is Ambridge 51 and the relevant part is at 54min.

We all know George is a Grade A Andrew Tate misogynist bastard, but how is Emma so thick to still fall for his spiel?! She really needs to wake up to what she's raised.

Can’t believe they’ve made me almost feel sorry for Hannah. Looks as if the SWs have a world of trouble heading towards her - probably including being alone in a car with her subordinate.

Interesting compare and contrast between the invisible, historic abuser and the up and coming dangerous misogynist.

I don’t remember the original glasses incident that got Susan upset in the first place 🤔

The Bridge Farm stuff was good, if worrying!

I'm imagining George emptying pigsties in polyester dressing gown. Before we know it he'll be arrested in Romania for pig trafficking...we can only hope.

I guess the Ambridge version is ‘what colour’s your tractor?’ 😂

I agree the episode was a compare and contrast so beloved of the SWs. Knob was described as whining and playing the victim by Tony, and what did George do when pulled up about the bantz? whined and played the victim. It's like a lesson in Q. How do men get like this? A. By starting early.

George is so repugnant.

Whoops, I see great minds think alike, @TottersBlankly

I really hope George gets what he deserves and Emma is an idiot no matter how much you love your child you cant be
that blind.
Kirsty seems to know more than the Karate kid about Helens movements. Surely if she texted Kirsty she could have texted her live in lover at the same time. Sorry just nit picking.

I've heard a voice identical to Freddie's making recorded announcements on various lines around London - Overground? Can't remember now. Anyway, after the first time it happened I looked up the actor's Twitter account and found that somebody else had already asked him if it was him and he said no. Make of this what you will.