Archers thread #151: A Fête worse than death or a reverse ferret? Helen’s got the Borsetshire Blues, Tom’s talking shiitake, George is a rotten apple. 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 Helen and Tom would do well on Dragons' Den, 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 to @OverArmour for various title ideas! I would have liked to incorporate the suggestion from @Fleetress, which was

‘Do do one Ron, Ron, do do one Ron’

(Rob is Ron for many on this thread now)

Possibly a bit obscure for newer posters, though!

Anyway: we got through that last thread in no time at all. Combined effect of Rob and George, I suspect. I wonder if Rob will have made it to Ambridge by the time we need a new thread. I'm still waiting for Pat's shotgun to feature. That can't have been mentioned for the first time ever for no reason at all.

Over to you!

You know the answer @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime , it's "When it suits her, dear"

So it is! How could I have forgotten!

Pip's lonely. I do wonder what appeal the life of a dairy farmer has for a young women like Pip. It seems rather tedious and like she's just going through the motions. The other week when sacked Stella was waxing lyrical about Home Farm there was passion for the land and longing in her voice.

Pip should have made a go of things with Toby - at least she'd have a laugh.

You were just living up to your name.
Only Asking has the answers,.

@PedantScorner your post made me laugh out loud! I live in a small, rural village and a gay male couple run the pub. Confusingly, they both have the same first name.

Good grief, a punctuation error!
It was a typo, honest.

Pip's had it too easy, hasn't she. Job, home and childcare given to her on a plate.

I'm sure there are loads of other Ambridge lesbians, though the only ones I can think of are Anna T, the couple who were immune to Jazzer's early morning charms and Lady Hylberow who swept Christine away back in the early days before being seen off by Dan.

The village I'm from has a pub run by a gay couple. It's probably a stereotype.

The village where my daughter used to live had a pub run by a gay couple.

C'mon Fallon, get out and into the charging station. And leave Bridge Farm to it.

This is from before my time but Ambridge's former second pub, the Cat & Fiddle, used to be run by a gay couple, Sean & Peter (or so the internet tells me).

As a bi woman, I'd like this storyline to be drama free - but then again it is Pip, and her romantic relationships have never been straightforward.

Re any age difference issues - I suppose there is a very small pool of potential candidates available to Pip, of either sex.

I think she likes farming, but would love to be more in charge of things, not in a ?partnership with her parents and sibling(?s)

Did anyne happen to see some TV programmes a while back about farmers looking for partners? With some of the candidates, I was reminded of Hayley's earliest appearances in rather unsuitable footwear! The farmers (mostly, if not all, male) made it quite clear that the partner they were looking for would be, first and foremost, someone who could pull their weight on the farm

Agapornis
it is Pip, and her romantic relationships have never been straightforward.

Shortly after the Jude melodramatics there was the lad from Young Farmers with whom she was in a relationship: Spencer. She went out with him from May 2011, and quietly and with no drama whatever stopped going out with him shortly after New Year 2015, and was not in the least upset when he got a new girlfriend three months or so later. So there were three and a half years of straightforwardness then.

Toe-beee. Ugh. I dont miss that relationship simply for how she said his name with the emphasis on the second syllable. Like how Boris used to say vac-CINE. Super irritating.

Re any age difference issues - I suppose there is a very small pool of potential candidates available to Pip, of either sex.
She's related to many of the men within about 10 years older or younger.
She could meet someone completely different, who might whisk her away to somewhere a long way from Borsetshire.
It would make for an interesting storyline if Pip met someone who wanted to get control of the farm. Should that person be female, Jill might have some words to say about it.

@AttractiveAlpaca , it's a lovely pub. Thatched roof, open fires, decent food, scenic views, beer garden, and a car park. I'd add a link but it might out me.
The pub at the next village isn't great. Mainly because the landlady (still married to her childhood sweetheart) would make Susan Carter seem discreet.

I found Pips comment about being lonely quite accurate. She's surrounded by people but has few true friendships, and little time to develop them. Parents of young children often feel like this. I won't knock her for that, it's a realistic portrayal especially as she's parenting alone.

Fallon's going to borrow Linda's money.... But not sure what for yet. Possibly a deposit on a charging station cafe?

Just caught up on this week. Well for a minute I thought maybe we all had it wrong and the SW were planning an Ed/Stella affair!

Pip and Stella relationship definitely has potential. They would be great at running the farm one day. Maybe another child together. Can't figure out how old Stella is meant to be though? When I hear Ruth and Stella talking I imagine them being about the same age.

Reminds me of the lonely hearts ad, 'farmer seeks wife with tractor, please send photo of tractor'.

Who'd want to be friends with Pip?

Ah good point - clearly Spencer was so undramatic that I forgot all about him

How could you forget Spencer’s pants? Seared onto my eardrums, those are.

Was Lynda offering Fallon a loan for the business or a holiday?

I thought the loan was for a holiday unless Lynda has stacks of cash that she could go into partnership with Fallon for a cafe/tearoom at the new charging station. I think Lynda would be a great asset to Fallons business. Lynda could be a background partner and advisor, notice I didnt say silent partner because I dont hink Lyndy could be that ha ha.
Also hasnt Fallon explained to Harrison about her worries so that he could stop going part time at the moment, he seems a bit selfish. Surely he could get a desk job or be a custody sergeant.
Its lucky that Fallon loves her job not many can say that, and why did she say she would go on holiday with her mum and not her hubby.
Still think the Pip and Stella story isnt finished.

I got the impression Stella didn't mind the kiss and was quite keen.

Pip is conflicted for sure. It was a strange goodbye after they had sorted it all out. Although that could just be her delivery!