Archers thread #156: Fireworks in Ambridge! Helen gave Lee a rocket, but Grey Gables is a damp squib. Is the writing on the (church) wall?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're irresistibly attracted to George Grundy, 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 the title suggestion, which I have tweaked a bit. I was strongly tempted by Less GGP (Grey Gables Peril) More GPP (Guinea Pig Plot), which was a plaintive cry from @PuppyPerson some days ago, but if Poppy has found new homes for the baby guinea pigs that may be the last we hear of them for some time, sadly.

Surely in the life of the next thread we must hear more from or of Rob, or Ron as some on this thread prefer to call him? <taps foot> Will Kirsty snap and tell Helen a few home truths? Will Pat's shotgun finally be brought into play? We can only hope ...

Also, will we ever find out who owns the other 60% of Grey Gables? Why is Adil AWOL (to use the other bit of OverArmour's title idea!)? Why aren't we hearing from Roy? Will GG ever re-open and will Emma get her Big Chance at last?

So many questions! Over to you.

Oliver could reasonably beat the partners down, though, on the basis that the whole débacle was down to the person they employed and foisted on him. Not if he’s now welcomed him back.

Helen always reminds me of that social worker in that comedy, Claire Barker?

I was right about Adil’s sister. Lots of “Ardil” then, when she answered the phone to him, she went over to “Addil”. He did sound very Paddington Bear in that call

I’d be surprised if Brian wasn’t a baptised member of the CoE. It was mainstream for people from his background and age. Absolutely! In rural Borsetshire in the 60s it was still quite shocking not to have a Christening.

Yes, I was amused when Denise said before her husband spent a lot of time since retirement going out on long cycle rides.

(a) It's a staple of the Relationships board that unhappy or irritated women talk about their partner's/husband's 'hobby', which means he spends a lot of time away from home and family at the weekends. The default assumption is it's cycling and the husband is a MAMIL (middle-aged man in lycra).

(b) When my own husband got early retirement, he needed something to do to fill up his days, and he decided on running, which is a hobby, and which does take him out of the house for long periods, often at weekends. No lycra involved, though, and it hasn't created any rift Chez Gasp, I'm pleased to report!

Definitely agree, I was just pointing out that he could have been a sponsor for Rob even if not.

We know that he's not Catholic (which, for me, would have been the only other plausible option) because of the stuff around Ruairi's school. Brian went to Sherborne (as did the actor who plays him).

There's an Archers/Clare in the Community link. Andrew Wincott who plays Adam also played Simon, friend of Clare's partner Brian. That took me by surprise as he sounds so different in that role.

Paul comes across as so sanctimonious. And then moves his mum in 🤷‍♀️

He did seem to get unnecessarily tetchy and then a bit control freaky by saying he would organise the party. And then decided they owed him one? Very my way or the highway.

Yes, he’s usually the party / birthday bully as well.

I think Brine would have more of a social conscience if he’d been raised a Quaker!

I can’t see why Ron wants him as a sponsor. Is it that he thinks a stalwart of village life will give him validation? Or is he just fomenting division, as usual?

Some of the people I was at school with had the social conscience of the average scatter-cushion, as far as one could tell.

I too don't kow why Ron would have wanted Brian to be his sponsor, but the dreadful thing is that I really don't care. It is less and less easy to giveadamn about any of the convoluted nonsense going on in Ambridge, I find.

I remember someone telling me that and my mind kind of imploding.

Just had a mass catch up of episodes and thread. Ugh my least favourite Archers writer trope - one character not letting another one say what they want to bloody well say. First Tony wittering on when Brian was trying to tell him about Rob, then Paul wittering to Denise. At least she told him to shut up! It’s incredibly frustrating to listen to.

Absolutely, it's bloody infuriating

Oliver could reasonably beat the partners down, though, on the basis that the whole débacle was down to the person they employed and foisted on him.
Not if he’s now welcomed him back.

But he arranged the one third/two thirds split well before Adil reappeared.

I thought Denise’s husband rode a motorbike, rather than a bicycle.

Oh and was that more subtle signposting of Tony’s impending decline into dementia with all the talk to Brian about how he forgets things/leaves things behind all the time

I totally agree with @TherapistInATabard the wittering on of Tony and Paul was very annoying.
I dont think anyone really talks like that unless they àre really ignorant. Grrrr!

gosh how annoying was Tony?

It was so nice to hear Brian, Lily, Freddie (no mention of how he's going at the abattoir though - we must presume it's going well otherwise we'd know if it hadn't worked out?)
I agree Denise has/will leave the MAMIL husband, move to Abridge, and be Alistair's new love. I think that would be nice.

Yes, I thought so.

Did we hear Freddie last night?

(Surely I didn’t fall asleep mid-broadcast?)

I don’t understand why these things are always set up to be so complicated (presumably for “comedic” effect?!)
eg why has Denise told husband she is going on a course in Bradford(?) rather than just going to stay with her son for a visit.. ? So she’ll have to lay low and not risk being seen by anyone else around? Weird.

I think Lily has just redirected her sniping at Freddie on to Josh instead.

I think she’s left her husband and doesn’t want to tell Paul. Hence stopping him calling home

is she always so irritating?

I'm pretty sure it was a bicycle.

I hadn't thought of that. All the wittering on and not letting Brian speak was annoying but if that's what is happening it makes sense.