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.

I don't think Lee is a real outdoorsy type. He talked about a 3 mile walk as if it were akin to climbing Everest. I do parkrun most weeks - 5k on a far from flat course - when I walk it (most weeks these days) rather than walk/run it, it takes about 45 minutes. Calling a walk that length a hike is preposterous.

Good on him for doing it, though! Country walks are really good for the soul. I've just come in from one myself.

Helens Hobbies: cheese spotting, collecting misery memorabilia, counting the montbelliards.

It was quite a Compare and Contrast when Lee was prepared to move out immediately rather than hang around - Rob would have and indeed did deem that to be unmanly and would probably have dealt with it by the use of force and rape. So credit to Lee for that.

It really was grossly unfair of Helen not to be prepared to talk through the issues at all, and it's unimpressive that she doesn't seem to have any sort of conscience about that or the effects on her sons. But, knowing her, we may have some retrospective angst to come once he's safely out of the way.

Me neither. The concept of Will telling Oliver that he should just find £250K somewhere else is quite bizarre.

I have listened since I was young, but only properly sought it out since 17/18 - so don’t remember Helen and the pony.

It seems to provide an awful mirroring for someone who has developed an ED. I wonder if it would ever come out in therapy…

I felt really sorry for Lee.

Have we established her eating is under control? Is she pushing Lee away to avoid scrutiny and hide her disordered eating?

I felt he'd caught hike-itis in California. They'd call a walk a hike there.
I also actually felt that the short walk was more about making sure the boys enjoyed it. I have long experience of getting it wrong and making small children walk too far and thus ruining what might otherwise have been fun!

And on another note - Helen seems to have stopped the obsessive exercise?

I wonder why Adam and Ian are so loyal to Helen, she’s a fun sponge who cheats at cheese judging and doesn’t have much going on. Appreciate she’s been through trauma but her behaviour at bowling was awful!

I had an idle thought the other day - that Alice and Jakob are nicely suited. I know he’s with Kate but that doesn’t stop Archers scriptwriters.

I had an idle thought the other day - that Alice and Jakob are nicely suited. I know he’s with Kate but that doesn’t stop Archers scriptwriters.

We could have Alice and Jakob, and Kirsty and Lee. Really shake things up!

Yes. I do more than that every day with my dog.

Re. the term queer - surely that is the Q in LGBTQ, so a category of its own.

I too had thought Lee and Kirsty. I think he's find it a lot more fun!

Although I defend Helen's right to make bad decisions, I would like her to cook her goose with Lee. She's so bloody selfish. She will want him back but he will have moved on. (Though not with Kirsty - some uncomplicated OT I think)

Questioning, at least according to many. For those still exploring their sexuality.

@ArseMenagerie what a great user name

Questioning, at least according to many. For those still exploring their sexuality.

That must be relatively recent? I'm sure it's always stood for queer.

I believe in some versions of the acronym there are two Qs, one for queer and one for questioning.

I think she'll want him back and he'll have moved on - I hope so anyway! I am not a fan of Lee at all but she's behaving disgracefully towards him.

@echt, @WoollyBat more or less nailed my reasons for finding Lee madly irritating with
’he's just whiny and eager to please in a kind of childlike way. He should be a hunk given his job etc but his personality is the opposite, he just comes across as a bit helpless and milquetoast.’
I also find his accent grates, but there are very few in TA that don’t. Meer was particularly awful tonight, even before the stupidity of what she was saying Is taken into account.

Re the prospect of Kirsty and Lee…I’d quite like to hear Kirsty tell Helen that she generously let them live in the house as she wanted to help them feel settled as a family….if H is throwing Lee out why should she keep the place for herself?? I know that wont happen cos Kirsty is too nice but it would be good to hear…

Good point @Sidebeforeself . Given that Helen can always fins a home for herself and the boys at Bridge Farm, perhaps Lee should keep the house

Mia is annoying, but I love Will so much! He's so calm and wise, so unlike the rest of his family! It was right for him to gently challenge her for not being at college, he was kind to give in and sign the petition in order to support her, and then he was immediately supportive when she'd clearly been a plonker and was upset about it.
Who can we couple Will up with?! I don't think Dull Lee could possibly compete with sexy Jacob's brother for Kirsty. What about Will and Alice - that would cause some drama.

Will and Hannah? WE see a softer side of her?

I'd forgotten about Hannah! Yes that could work although I can't see her being interested in step-parenting and I think that'd be important for Will.
It's particularly fun dreaming up fun and interesting couples when the reality is Helen and Lee's break up...

BOOP for the worried line 'What if Harrison Burns comes after me?!'

Yes, the police are in the news once again for racial profiling and sexual exploitation of children, but the idea that there could be anyone in the entire world who finds Harrison scary is just funny. I wonder whether the wobble in Mia's voice was actually suppressed laughter.

I just came on to say the same. The worst thing Harrison is likely to do is lecture you boringly about the life cycle of the song thrush.

God I hope Lee and Helen don’t get back together for Christmas. Or ever. Yes, Lee is an irritating man child who collects action figures but Helen is an awful self-righteous, superior and cold-hearted snob - and before anyone points out what she’s been through, let’s not forget that she was a truly stuck up and unlikeable person way before the Rob storyline. Lee should escape while he can and leave her to her self pity while she furiously makes her unmarketable cheese that tastes of resentment and bitter tears. She could maybe get a side-hustle going weaving hair shirts too …