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.

[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 people frequently miss their own weddings because of a morning quickie while in a plaster cast, 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. I basically took @OverArmour's excellent suggestion and managed to shoehorn in snivelling simpleton, gloriously coined by @Eastie77Returns to refer to Lee in the first instance.

@WitcheryDivine suggested Recharging, Red Kites and The Man They Call Ron, is Ambridge becoming an earthly paradise or a hell on earth? which seems as good a place as any to kick off our discussions! Ron = Rob, a fortuitous typo on a previous thread. It does feel a bit as if we're marking time before he turns up again. Odd to do what could be a high profile storyline over the summer holidays when a lot of people will be away, but depending on your point of view, maybe that's a blessing!

Whither George? Is he shaping up to be Andrew Tate mark 2?

Everybody looking forward to Ferret Fun at the Fête? Me neither.

Over to you!

Worrying storyline having the Consultant call Helen, I very much doubt that would happen and it sends a very poor message to those who have experienced domestic abuse. Likewise, Rob, who is terminally ill and experiencing seizures appears to be driving. Potential storylines about a family annhilator or a dreadful car accident or will Pat finish him off with her gun? Still mourning Nigel.

I’ve been wondering all along if the Consultant is real😂. Helen mentioned she ‘looked her up’ but it is possible to create an elaborate fake persona online. However it sounded as if they were in a hospital or some other medical setting. I suppose Helen will set up access to Jack now. Very upsetting for him to meet his father for the first time and then find out he’s going to die in a few weeks.

Fallon is both annoying and incredibly rude. I loathe Tom but glad he shot her down.

I wonder whether George will try to get his revenge on Hannah somehow. Ambush her alone somewhere then accuse her of sexual assault, for example.

I really hope Rob pisses off and dies within the 3 months and is quickly forgotten by all. But it's not going to happen, there's clearly going to be some dragged out storyline. For goodness' sake, even my preteen was shouting at Helen to walk away or Kirsty to come out and save her.

Oh dear. Helen is going to get back with Ron. He will last longer than three months though. She will do it for the sake of the boys and think it’s better they get to know their ‘father’ now - at huge personal cost - as he won’t be around forever. I want to criticise her and for Kirsty to intervene but, as we know, it’s not uncommon at all for abused women to return to their abuser. The silver lining is that the Simpering Simpleton will be kicked to the kerb. She really does have terrible taste in men.

The parking ticket was a nice touch.

Placemarking to catch up with a new thread.

I know two women, though at a distance, who returned to divorced husbands to nurse them though their final illnesses, though I know nothing of the divorce circumstances.

A dear colleague had glioblastoma, refused interventions after a while and was able to die at home.

I wonder how Ron's brother will figure in all this as he will undoubtedly have strong views. Will the SWs have Ron the rapist move in with Helen for his last days?

On thing that really annoyed me about the episode was that Helen never told the neurologist that the brother would be turning up in time, someone with a greater claim to be involved in Ron's care. She seems incapable of finishing a single sentence.

Yes he's somehow going to survive longer than three months isn't he?

I could believe an"average" abused woman ending up trying to comfort her abuser when he's given a terminal diagnosis but one that's served time for stabbing him.... seemed a touch unlikely.

The Archers is on Dead Ringers again. Very funny indeed. 24.31.

I've just realised Ron exhibited anger and denial all in one ep. Will we get the full Monty of Kubler-Ross on this?

Oh dear, last two episodes got me mad. Archers gone as my escapism for now as stupid Ron-Rob has got what my husband died of. And it’s all so unrealistic. For one thing, have been told in no uncertain terms not to drive the second he got the diagnosis. You have to give up your licence straight away. And surely Helen would realise this too. Humph. Someone PM me when he’s dead so I can start listening again.

Neuro-oncologist is what they were after, not neurologist anyway. Hmph.

It was very unrealistic Helen, Ron and the consultant but the most unrealistic thing was Kirsty getting a parking space in the hospital carpark!
And just before they found the sausage roll wrapper it sounded like George was eating something so he is guilty in my opinion

Oh @StJulian2023 I'm so sorry- it's crap to lose your escapism. My good friend lost her son to something similar. It's bloody tragic

Depressingly, Helen is behaving more credibly than practically any other Archers character at the moment...

Shades of " The Tenant of Wildfell Hall", when she returns to her abusive alcoholic to nurse him through his final illness. He continues to scorn her and gaslight her, even on his deathbed as far as I remember. That heroine was motivated, I assume, by a sense of Christian duty and the sanctity of marriage, but what's motivating Helen?

Abusive alcoholic husband

I'm so sorry. The lack of accuracy must be challenging.

Oh@StJulian2023 I'm so sorry.

The last two episodes have me so cross. Maddeningly predictable.

I'm another one really hoping "Ron" isn't gone (GoneRon?!) by Christmas, his continuing existence gives so much both in terms of drama and of explaining post separation abuse and effects on children.

Excellent episode.

Loved Rob's patronising assumptions about the female consultant.

DH was forced to listen too as we were on the way out to dinner in the car and he was riveted!

Lee The Feeble

😂

Helen said she and Lee had been up half the night discussing Ron. Why didn't the simpering simpleton convince her not to go!

Spectacular thread title!

@StJulian2023 I'm so sorry.

Thanks for the new thread. I want Helen to have nothing to do with Rob. I don't care that he is ill, he deserves nothing.

Yes, the kids and I loved it (although 14 year old was annoyed at how accurate the slang was 😂). I've especially laughed at Eddie's 'Stone the crows! Er, I mean, major feelz.' 😅

It makes some light relief from listening to TA at the moment. I really don't enjoy the depictions of domestic abuse and terminal illness, I just want a gentle escape from reality. I might take another break until Rob goes forever.