Archers thread #152: The Dog Days of Summer in Ambridge! Rabid rants, tearoom dogfight, Bully Dog George gets it all on camera. Is Lone wolf Rob waiting in the woods? 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'd love a son like George, 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.)

Starting this new thread a bit early, as we're near the end of the last thread and I'm out all day today. As last night's episode was a banger, I thought I'd better ensure discussion can continue seamlessly!

The original idea for a dog theme for this thread came from the death of poor Weaver. RIP. The Dog Days of summer are associated with storms and the silly season, so quite appropriate for The Archers at the moment! They may technically be over now, as it's all to do with the heliacal rising of the Dog Star, Sirius (no, me neither), but apparently the Anglo-Saxons considered they lasted into September (thank you, Wikipedia), so that will do for me.

So - what next for Helen, Henry and Jack? Surely even the Bridge Farm Archers will see that she needs professional help? After her outburst the other night they might finally grasp that Henry could do with some too. All very grim.

On the lighter side (perhaps), whither Pip and Stella?

Over to you!

Did the Hunt Ball used to take place at GG? It's my understanding that Hunt Balls are vair posh, and end in a piss-up. I think this is purely based on my Archers listening...

Total and absolute rubbish and yet I keep on listening hoping for better things.

It’s the hope that kills you!

So true.

[makes thread title note]

I remain astounded that a woman of 30, a mother herself, is ready and willing (after some token initial resistance) to air all the details of her attraction to somebody, and her agonising over the fact that it’s a woman, to her own father. A close friend, maybe, but her father?

Maybe I’m just a hopeless emotionally-stunted stick-in-the-mud but Pip seems wildly over-enmeshed with both her parents, even if she does live and work on the family farm.

was it GG or LL? or was it LL last year because GG is out of action?

In any case i am not regretting my decision to stop listening to TA at least for a while, I'm staying on the thread because i love it and you're all very entertaining.

I've been to hunt balls in the past. I don't support hunting but where i lived the only entertainment was that and young farmers (really raucous parties) and it meant i got to make a long frock and wear it.

Particularly odd when it all arises from one drunken snog.

No, I too cringed, @Ambridge. Radio + creative refusal to provide characters with friends makes for some odd conversations.

I’m realising it’s September and, apart from Stella’s dog at the vet, we have little or no idea how the gilded youth at the Stables spent their Summer. Not a word about Lily; whether she went away on holiday, whether she’s embarked on a new relationship, whether she’s doing anything specific related to her degree outside of LL … Josh? Nothing. Paul was mostly working, but he strikes me as the sort of fun loving person who would surely have saved for and organised a holiday.

The SWs are such fun-suckers …

Just caught up. I can't decide if I'm repelled by Pip's behaviour because of the script writing or the acting.

Wouldn't a newly revamped country hotel trying to encourage a younger, foodie, non-establishment clientele be unlikely to open with a ball, rather than say a chef's demonstration/ well-being event/ tour of their kitchen gardens/ corporate retreat/ almost anything? I find it as unlikely as Adil living for a year in a local bed and breakfast.

I think Stella would have bolted out of the back door on her own steam rather than allow Ruth to see her enjoying a post-coital slice of toast.

The Saturday break from episodes gives Pip time to think it over, at least.

Bang on @WombatCowgirl
I'm a bit behind the times with destination hotels but would have thought they should be modelling on Babbington Hoise or the Newt, not an old style country house hotel. And Lynda (love her tho i do) is not part of that tribe

I’m searching for a post I could swear I saw last night about the possible parlous state of the new GG owners’ finances … Did I dream it?

Can’t find my response, either. But if the GG transfer of ownership is about to go tits up, that would explain why the SWs have declined to install Adil in a permanent home.

Yay!

Village buyout?

I agree the plan for a grand ball is wholly wrong. It would automatically exclude about 80% of their potential clientele.

Either we haven’t understood the words the SWs have put into peoples’ mouths, or the SWs haven’t understood the hospitality model they’re trying to convince us of.

Isn’t that typical of most dramas though - written by people who have no experience outside the entertainment industry and rely on stereotypes and superficial understanding. It’s fine when it’s an area you yourself don’t know much about (like farming in my case!) but when you do it is deeply irritating

FFS Pip! Grow up! Hiding someone- that's ridiculous. You are an adult and you are allowed to sleep with who you want.

I have had same sex and opposite sex relationships. I was in and out of the closet. So I get that, but I was very young and it took me a matter of minutes to realise that people may or may not say anything, but mostly it's fine and nobody cares too much.

I can see her wanting to be private and that's understandable. And to not confuse Rosie with a new partner of course. But to actually kick someone out to hide from your own mother!!

I suppose it is to underline the age difference.

But then when you consider Ruth's immaturity as already mentioned...it rings true.

I cringed through the whole episode.

So what would happen if GG has run out of readys?
I still would like to know how Adil got an allotment when he is only staying in a bed and breakfast all be it for a year.
Pip is really annoying and I hope Stella really has no more to do with her.
The Archers is getting a bit rubbish at the moment.
I liked it when Susan was in her radio show and Jazzer and Tracy were having a knee trembler in the cricket pavilion. Also the fire at GG when lyndy was hurt and Phillip and his son were really horrible. That wasnt so long ago but the quality in story lines are so different now.

I still would like to know how Adil got an allotment when he is only staying in a bed and breakfast all be it for a year. In my area there isn't a long wait for an allotment, three of my friends (separately) got allotments straight away. In a city with many flat dwellers there might be long lists, in my suburban area most people have gardens so there would be less demand. In Ambridge I expect most people have gardens (or farms).

I've just started a catch-up after my Rob-induced break - started in after the appalling murder of that poor dog.

What is the back story of David's toy farm? Tony's toy railway was bad enough. Why can't they collect giant tractors like normal rural men?

Yes, I do remember the little grey Fergie and the ultimate tragic outcome, but that was then, and Dopey getting obsessed seems weird.

I totally agree and thought the same. I would never have discussed anything like that with my parents, that's what my friends were for. Surely the SWs could have found someone like Madison's mum or even Ian and Adam for Pip to discuss it with, even though after one kiss most people in real life would just have waited to see how things pan out before talking about it with anyone.

Here we are:

I don’t know the background to who has invested in GG (I see who but not what else they do) but the way it is being run is very amateur and it makes no sense at all. They will have an idea of their target market and adil will have done plenty of market research. Having a ‘community’ opening makes no sense as the community is hardly going to keep the place going. I understand Oliver has a say in things but it’s also odd that he and adil aren’t clearer with each other. Who has the controlling stake?