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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.

979 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 06/06/2023 08:28

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

Archers 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. Grin

Archers 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!

Archers 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. Grin

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. Hmm 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!

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OverArmour · 13/07/2023 07:19

Didn’t Susan realise about the postbox fire too? It was almost blackmail I thought - seems to have been forgotten.

Kiwano · 13/07/2023 07:49

What was that with Pip sniggering about making a profit from a boutique gin distillery, just ask Tobee? I thought he made quite a good profit out of it?

Ambridge · 13/07/2023 07:54

I'm sure Neil has had George's number for quite some time, although he’s had to keep it very quiet due to his wife and daughter insisting the sun shines out of…..er, well, you know.

All the more mystifying that he randomly decided to start decorating the spare room just as Brad came to stay. You’d think he’d have been well aware that putting them in together was a recipe for disaster. I did greatly enjoy his outburst of righteous rage yesterday.

TonightMatthewIamgoingtobecher · 13/07/2023 07:59

BeaLola · 12/07/2023 23:41

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

Yeah she was drinking like she was on a mission. I know Pip was childfree but they both had to work the next day, madness!

Agree setting the scene for drunken flirting etc very heavily signposted. What will Gill think?

TonightMatthewIamgoingtobecher · 13/07/2023 08:00

Oh I've done it again, it's Jill isn't it?

WilkinsonM · 13/07/2023 08:01

God George is a shit and Emma is a total twat. I get supporting your kids but she must know what George is like? I love my teenage DS with all my heart but I know perfectly well what his flaws are! And of course Neil wouldn't tell them about George's warnings, it's none of their business! I wish they would have fired him over his attitude rather than the sausage roll. I don't think the roll was his either.
Pip and Stella signposting all over. Fair dos to be honest. Would be nice to have a normal lesbian couple in ambridge.

BeatriceBatchelor · 13/07/2023 09:53

What is happening to Pip’s diction by the way?

It's always been weird and incredibly annoying.

Susan is so wet.

It's such a pleasure to hear Brian. I like that it's joie de vivre is helping him to cope with being a widower.

PedantScorner · 13/07/2023 10:08

Susan? Wet? Are we listening to the same show?

Iloveabaconbutty · 13/07/2023 10:23

Pip and Stella - if what seems to be suggested comes to pass - what I wonder will Ruth, big buddies with Stella - have to say? Accepting, delighted or horrified?

MereDintofPandiculation · 13/07/2023 11:05

Kiwano · 12/07/2023 23:19

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.

If the police officer on weekend duty gets Wednesday and Thursday off, and is then due in court, then it has to be accommodated. If you can make accommodations to give police officers two days a week off, then you can presumably make accommodations to give 3 or 4 days a week off. There’s nothing sacrosanct about working 5 days a week, or natural law saying that all areas of work fall into convenient 37 hours a week chunks.

MereDintofPandiculation · 13/07/2023 11:11

TonightMatthewIamgoingtobecher · 13/07/2023 08:00

Oh I've done it again, it's Jill isn't it?

Yeah, Jill is a name in its own right, Gill is short for Gillian … at least so it was in the days when there were standard names rather than whatever combination of letters you think will make your DC stand out from the rest. Grumpy old woman speaking.

TonightMatthewIamgoingtobecher · 13/07/2023 11:15

Yeah the only Jill I know is a Gillian.

PedantScorner · 13/07/2023 11:20

@TonightMatthewIamgoingtobecher , the Jills (3) I know hate being called Gill/Gillian/Jillian. I know several Gillians.
Stick to Jill as there are, allegedly, some people called Gill in Ambridge.

CurlewKate · 13/07/2023 12:48

Are people forgetting that Stella was enthusiastically messaging, egged on by Ruth, a woman she met in Italy? PLEASE can Stella and Pip just be friends? Women can be, you know!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/07/2023 12:53

FallonsNewCoat · 12/07/2023 20:03

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.

Flowers Very sorry for your loss, @FallonsNewCoat. Sounds like a tough time for you. Glad we've made it a touch easier.

Poor, poor Neil. He was on the verge of tears, wasn't he? It was always going to be tricky expecting him to supervise his own grandson. Sad

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PedantScorner · 13/07/2023 13:44

Sorry about your loss @FallonsNewCoat . Flowers

Minimammoth · 13/07/2023 14:09

Is that the same Pip actor, sounds different.

PedantScorner · 13/07/2023 14:12

No, she's now played by the Hannah/Stella/Natasha actor pretending she has a cold.

Kiwano · 13/07/2023 14:51

MereDintofPandiculation · 13/07/2023 11:05

If the police officer on weekend duty gets Wednesday and Thursday off, and is then due in court, then it has to be accommodated. If you can make accommodations to give police officers two days a week off, then you can presumably make accommodations to give 3 or 4 days a week off. There’s nothing sacrosanct about working 5 days a week, or natural law saying that all areas of work fall into convenient 37 hours a week chunks.

Courts tend to take the view that their timetable comes first, particularly given current horrendous court backlogs. If a trial has to be adjourned because the witness isn't available, that's an awful lot of wasted expense.

MereDintofPandiculation · 13/07/2023 18:08

Kiwano · 13/07/2023 14:51

Courts tend to take the view that their timetable comes first, particularly given current horrendous court backlogs. If a trial has to be adjourned because the witness isn't available, that's an awful lot of wasted expense.

Don’t know about Crown Court but the Magistrates Court cases I know about they’ve given out the dates quite early and checked everyone is available. So rotas can be arranged round that, even for part timers

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/07/2023 18:26

New thread here:

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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/07/2023 18:27

Here, even.* *https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4848471-archers-thread-150-for-whom-the-sausage-rolls-george-over-a-berrow-fallon-harrison-seek-new-lease-on-life-is-it-all-a-fete-accompli-discuss-the-snivelling-simpletons-sorry-the-archers-here

Archers thread #150: For whom the sausage rolls: George over a Berrow, Fallon & Harrison seek new lease on life, is it all a Fête Accompli? Discuss The Snivelling Simpletons, sorry, The Archers, here. | Mumsnet

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads. [archers] All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welco...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4848471-archers-thread-150-for-whom-the-sausage-rolls-george-over-a-berrow-fallon-harrison-seek-new-lease-on-life-is-it-all-a-fete-accompli-discuss-the-snivelling-simpletons-sorry-the-archers-here

OP posts:
BeatriceBatchelor · 13/07/2023 22:22

PedantScorner · 13/07/2023 10:08

Susan? Wet? Are we listening to the same show?

She was mithering about her feckless grandson and pandering to her bully of a daughter instead of supporting her husband.

Wet.

BeatriceBatchelor · 13/07/2023 22:27

Oops you've all gorn!

Brefugee · 14/07/2023 10:08

if you know Elton John: George can't twist but he can sausage roll? (title suggestion)

@FallonsNewCoat very sorry for your loss. Glad we can help a tiny bit to brighten your day