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.

Yes, that’s true, Brefugee, of course, but Eddie and Ed's entitlement and their vile attitude towards Oliver is inexcusable given all he’s done for them. The summary upthread recently was even more gobsmacking than I remembered actually.

I’d be interested to know what kind of tenancy agreement the Grundies have. Given that Oliver
lives there, in the absence of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement, they are lodgers and can be evicted without notice.

Oliver is an idiot not to have done anything about planning permission for Little Grange.

I doubt they are playing anywhere near market rent

does Oliver have children?

The point about them being lodgers is a good one as it means they don't have the same rights as normal tenants. I doubt if Oliver planned it that way but it could work to his advantage (if the sw have even thought of that).

It reminded me of student days when Oliver went straight to his room to avoid a hostile environment in the kitchen. It’s as if Oliver
lives in an HMO. Crazy.

He should, very nicely, give them notice and say it’s time for them to move on. Or, if that’s a bridge too far, then he could suggest they get another static (E and C will need to rent one rather than buy one) and pitch it next door to Little Grange, while regularising the planning situation for both. He will then just need to charge a low ground rent.

Helen was a bit crass musing to Emma on whether Bridge Farm should buy Oliver’s land…

completely agree - but i see that attitude a lot on MN and i challenge it. Just because you don't own the place you live, if you see it as your home, that's what it is.

I'm interested now though, did Oliver mean that the piece of land where the old barn is can be developed?

Also meant to circle back to the partners only now going to a shoot to invistigate what the area is like. That is part of the due dilligance that is required BEFORE puchace, surely?

Yes I'm sure they said the barn had planning permission for development.... a planning permission (unless work has started) lapses after 5 years so someone must have submitted something relitvley recently...

Also I'm shocked the Council haven't done anything about little Grange.... I now services are stretched in planning enforcement but a new un-authrised dwelling would be a priority

I'm sure some busy body (hillary nokes?) Would have reported it

(This always annoys me as i work in planning for a council)

I can't believe it's passed me by the Oliver and the Grundys cohabit.
I knew he'd done them a huge housing favour but somehow and erroneously assumed he lived elsewhere

Does Oliver have children? If he does I'd have thought they'd be fuming at the corner he's painted himself into

Oliver has a daughter, I think?

I still don't understand why Fallon didn't apply to run a cafe at the EV station. And tell Bridge Farm to go and take a running jump.

Was it mentioned at all? Did anybody suggest she move to the EV station? And has café now been transferred fully to Tom and Natasha? Has Fallon been paid for all her equipment and the, is it called good will,?

I hate Tom & Natasha.

I was under the impression Oliver had two adult daughters living in the US?

The BBC Archers character profile mentions a ‘favourite daughter’ - surely suggesting more than one? (Actor photo!)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5j04jSPWCs3Yd5frYsR70fr/oliver-sterling

No doubt Oliver’s daughter will be conveniently forgotten and he will leave Ed grange farm thus fulfilling the unwarranted destiny of the ungrateful scrotes

Just because you don't own the place you live, if you see it as your home, that's what it is.

Well yes, but when you rent you always know that there's at least an element of insecurity. The Grundy's claims that this is their "ancestral home" is bollocks, or should Brian go and squat at Home Farm claiming it's his rightful residence?!

And for Ed and Eddie to be so vile to the person who is doing them an enormous favour is just so horrible for poor Oliver. Emma is - for once - quite right, where is their forward planning? Where is their effort for alternative options? But no, they think they can stamp their feet and demand. Quite how Oliver hasn't told them to eff off completely - off the land and out of the house - is beyond me.

And are people who rent who see it as their home happy to stump up when major repair costs come along? Obviously not. Renting has some upsides as well as downsides.

Was that someone else playing Tracy? She sounded completely different until she said goodbye.

that doesn't make it not their home.

I think when Eddie says home he means it with a sense of ownership. The man has no shame. Also followed Emma’s point that none of the grundys ever plan for possible future events and expect others to solve their problems

But generally home is just where you live regardless of ownership status

Oliver said the other day that they were paying well below the going rate. And the fact that Ed is pretty sure he won't be able to get the same rates for grazing his sheep elsewhere indicates he's paying pretty cheaply for that too. Who knows if he and Emma are paying anything at all for the land their mobile home is on.

It’s the fact that the Grundys have no respect. Remember when they were put up in luxury at GG and they caused havoc? I think I’ve blotted out the details but I have some vague, terrible memory of Joe in his grubby long-johns, roaming the corridors….knowing the house was being fully and lavishly renovated for them to move back into?

I'm also wondering about the barn full of stuff that Eddie thinks will make a fortune if he sells it. Is he making any attempt to clean it up and sell it? Why doesn't he talk to Fallon about her upcycling business, I'm sure she knows all the hipster places looking for rusty ol ploughs and so on.

I'm wondering what we're working up to here with George. Is he going to forget to lock up the shop and something will happen?

And ferrets on the loose everywhere. The Grundys made absolutely no effort to minimise the effect of them staying at GG, instead they swanked around like they were paying guests.

that doesn't make it not their home.

No, but you always know that you don't own it. As someone who has moved around a lot, home is where you make it.

A lot of the ‘comedy’ grundy sl were anything but

What is 'clarity of mind'? Is that a therapy thing?
It's not a phrase I've come across before.

What is wrong with Kirsty? She should just keep eating the cheese and say, well you have clearly made up your mind to take Jack to see Ron so just do it. Don’t ask for my blessing.

What time of day was it? Kirsty was eating cheese and George and Eddie were drinking cider? Yet Martin Gibson was doing a site visit. Hard to tell…may be late-afternoon?

usually lurk, but had appear to say how annoying Helen is! Yes, you’ll have doubts about your decision, but that doesn’t mean you should put your son through something as traumatic and utterly pointless as spending time with an estranged, dying, abusive father! He’ll harbour resentment and question you anyway when he’s older, you won’t prevent that, so what’s the point?! She’s so ridiculous- poor Kirsty bravely attempting the voice of reason!