Archers thread #149: This is not a drill, it’s a plot device. Here’s hoping for Stella-r rows in Ambridge. 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's bantz make him a great laugh and totally harmless to women, 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.)

Thanks for title suggestions - @FallonsNewCoat started us off with Drilling down OR What’s the drill?: So many jobs hanging in the balance - what’s planned for Adam, Stella, Freddie and horrible George?, @OverArmour's suggestion was ‘Drilling down on less than Stella-r performances and who will be a pig in muck’ and @TeenDivided contributed the laserdrill focussed Lets drill into plot holes and hope George gets his comeuppance. I went for a bit of all of that. The phrase at the back of my head, which I am very pleased to have tracked down, was from one of my favourite film franchises where the character Conklin says in Jason Bourne's memory This is not a drill, soldier. We clear on that? This is a live project. You are go. Training is over. Training is over. Well, that's us, troops. Training is over, discussing The Archers is a live project, and it's our job to drill down into all aspects of what we hear.

On the last thread, people were discussing how unrealistic the portrayal of mental health problems is on TA. I wholeheartedly agree, but I suppose they don't feel they can tackle long-running slow burn storylines that often. They made a great effort with Jack Woolley's Alzheimer's. Other than that, I don't recall anybody having a recurring illness that's been portrayed realistically (and actually that goes for physical conditions as well). Most things clear up and are hardly mentioned again. Sticking just to mental illness, Pat had depression after John died, Mike Tucker had a bad bout of depression, so did Elizabeth. Helen's ED may or may not be about to re-appear, but nobody's mentioning it. Ben's rapid-onset depresssion recently led to a psychotic episode but now he's fine, not least because he got prompt, skilled and appropriate treatment on the NHS, unlike most of the UK. This is one area where I feel they shouldn't even attempt it if they can't do it in a way that reflects the reality of what most of us experience, for ourselves and our loved ones.

Anyway, with that off my chest - over to you!

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g way back on this thread or the last some clever person (not me) described Lee as a ‘snivelling simpleton’. I thought it very excellent and would love to see it immortalised in a thread title. Maybe opposed to some juicy epithet for George?

[makes another note, underlines it]

It would have given me even more satisfaction if he'd said "your sacked"! (I'd imagine Neil would avoid Americanisms.)

"You're" obviously ...

And I agree George I'd innocent of the bio-hazardry, but should've been sacked for his insubordination.

Not many Red Kites in Borsetshire according to the map on this page

I think Shula would probably understand poor Neil.

What is happening to Pip’s diction by the way? Impor’ed strawberries, shu’up and late without a t. Clearly mirroring Stella’s way of speaking. Where is that third bottle of wine going to lead? Oh and she said she wants a partner, not a man, leaving things deliberately ambiguous.

This thread is an absolute tonic at the moment btw. Am clearing out recently deceased father’s home and after taking many many bags to the charity shop/recycling today the outrage and speculation about George is a welcome balm. Thank you all.

@MereDintofPandiculation oh I had no idea! I am in the veritable heartland!

https://www.college.police.uk/support-forces/health-safety-welfare/flexible-working-police-service

But if you follow that logic, there’d be no police on duty at weekends because you wouldn’t be able to give them time off in lieu during the week. No police at night either.

Really!! I was going to ask someone to give me a synopsis of the last 4 days, but that gives me enough of a temptation to listen for myself

MNHQ was once kind enough to change an it’s to an its for me. Very decent of them, I thought

Wishing you strength, @FallonsNewCoat.

Made sense to me!

@MereDintofPandiculation indeed, MNHQ once allowed me to correct a thread title, for which I'm forever grateful.

Tonight's episode also filled me with glee: Neil finally losing his temper was a complete joy.

He should have done it seventeen years ago, though. Or twenty.

But he was so upset …

‘For whom the sausage rolls - George is over a Berrow and Fallon and Harrison want a new lease on life, is it all a Fete Accompli?’

Brilliant!

I love the way Neil gets blamed for George's not mentioning his verbal warnings.

Huh? That's standard shift patterns which full time workers expect. Presumably if the police officer on weekend duty is due in court then he does indeed get time off in lieu. However, if the part time officer is never available on a Thursday because that's his day for caring for a child or disabled relative, or because that's his day for volunteering. that's is more problematic.

Part time isn't necessarily set days though, he will just do less shifts.

So say the full time rota was three days on three days off part time might be two days on four days off. If officers are required to work at times they aren't on rota they will get paid in lieu or given time off in lieu

I thought it really unlikely in tonight's episode that Pip would be suggesting 2 bottles of Malbec to follow the bottle they were already drinking from - I'm not saying it's not doable but having hardly ever heard of Pip drinking more than a pint or a glass of wine seemed excessive

I wondered if they’ll suggest afterwards that something happened due to the amount of drink.

regarding the warnings - have they not heard of gdpr?

George sounded remarkably like some of the teens I teach when accused of doing something I've witnessed them do. I'm glad Neil's finally fired him. Perhaps Emma will realise what a brat he is. I quite enjoyed the last two episodes.