Archers thread #157: How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless clan! Discuss The Grundys here. Bicker about The Archers as well if you like.

[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, 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 idea of making it clear in the title many of us are inveterate bickerers!

Now over to you, as we are about to eat and I won't hear tonight's offering till later ....

I would hate Kate in real life but I love her as a character. I think the actor plays her so well.

I bet they’re the only two in fancy dress.

@SequentialAnalyst I think you meant to write herself/her children or her children/herself.

No, she really does put them first sometimes. Especially if it suits her!
<does double take>
Yes, @Gonners you are right. I stand corrected.

She’s very thoughtful towards her children! She would have made a wonderful Beyoncé if it hadn’t been for her concern that Noli wouldn’t approve

this is often said in our house, usually after-
'is this the right room for an argument?'

Checking in to the new thread, but I have nothing to say as I’m not listening at the moment (but listening vicariously through you all).

Thank you @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g! Neil Kinnock would have been proud.

I’m puzzled about Shiv. In my memory he was an icily superior being, hedge fund-ish, and someone Usha was anxious to please. So I don’t recognise this lighthearted, jolly chap. But it may be that I invented the other one.

I'd forgotten that first line! Thank you

Thanks for the new thread.

I agree with @Bruisername that Kate is emotionally manipulative. I hated the second scene where she and Jakob made up: he wanted some nuance and for her to admit that he was actually decent and tried to support her; she was only interested in getting him to agree to coming to the party. Once she had that, she didn't even bother to fake listening to him, she just completely shut him down. How long is he going to put up with such a one-sided relationship? I'd have thought his eyes would have been opened long ago.

Thanks for Fred, Gasp0de

In case it wasn't clear, I agree with the comment about her being emotionally manipulative, absolutely not with the comment about her being thoughtful towards her children.

Ha ha! I wasn’t being serious

the only person Kate thinks about is Kate!

what are Noli and her brother up to?

After the thing about the Ramayana do you think they’re going to do another nativity in Ambridge

Kate was putting her foot down over Jakob never wanting to do anything. I was married to one of these, and it is a real downer. Unlike me and my Ex, Kate and Jakob seem to have resolved this, at least for the time being. Note: Ex, thanks be to MN.

Boop for Alan and Usha having all sorts of positive ideas for using the church for the benefit of the community and making up the financial deficit. I do hope it works really well and effectively puts two fingers up to Peggy and her manipulative use of money to try to control the church and the vicar.

But Kate only wants to do the things she wants to do. It gets quite tiring when you are constantly told you never want to do anything but anything you want to do is dismissed.

as for the church, it makes total sense to monetise the asset and try and reduce reliance on individuals

Keri Davies has tweeted/Xd on the wife/fiancée confusion around Adil:

The fatal accident was shortly before their planned wedding, so Adil thinks of her as his wife, but in reality, she was still his fiancée

From the previous thread:

”Latter day Steptoe and Son.”

That is exactly how I see Jo and Eddie.

What a cop out! I would have more respect for a ‘oops, our bad’

Joe and Eddie were the comedy bad farmers. My heart sank every time a light bulb lit up above Joe's head.

In fact, what they were doing, as best they could, was trying to diversify. They had the first music festival. I can't remember the details, but I'm sure they were hilarious

Then that jumped up Archer girl goes and does it at that there Loxley Barrett. And everyone's impressed now, Oh yes. Where's my baccy? I think my farmer's lung must be playing up...

I think if you end up with someone like a vet, you should expect them being on call etc.

So you work round it. And you prioritise family, IMHO, where possible. Including that of your partner.

Ex was not a vet. He often baled out of family events on my side (there were barely any on his, but we all went when there was one), and off I would go with the DC down South.

Actually, by this point in our marriage, that was fine by me!

The fatal accident was shortly before their planned wedding, so Adil thinks of her as his wife, but in reality, she was still his fiancée

I rule!

Can’t believe they were all running around the Mailbox screaming in panic - and then read my solution to the narrative crisis … Some small note of gratitude would have been nice, but I won’t hold my breath!

@SomethingMustBeScaringThemAway
But I called Jazzer and the pigs and the manager job. That must count for something.
We rule!

You can borrow my medal on the days I don’t need it, @SequentialAnalyst. Since it’s Christmas.