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.

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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 ....

The second half of yesterday's episode seemed like pure filler. It was just repetitions of Ian catastrophising and Adil saying "Trust me, I've got plans". Are they really that hard up for storyiines?

Yes, he did. I assumed he was working his notice?

I fell asleep listening last night but am sure Ian said something like "I may have resigned but I still work here."

Or did I dream that?

That roused me from my Tom-induced rage too

Unlike the rest of soap world the sw have at least decided to be realistic on that side - he may have resigned but he will have a notice period to work of at least a month

i dont think Ian sounds psycho - he has been put in a really difficult position and adil is twirling around saying ‘wait and see’ ‘I have a surprise!’ It’s all so unprofessional

I’m wondering whether Fallon may end up at GG along with her shabby chic furniture.

Yes, I think he said something about working his notice. It's unusual that someone realises they have to do this....

@Passepartoute

Aren't Tom and Natasha supposed to be terribly busy all the time?

Yes but I've always assumed it's that privilaged sort of "Terribly Busy" that actually mean they act like directors of a board while their labourers get on and actually run the place.

I've completely lost sight of what Adil's supposed to be doing with GG. It's now been closed for nearly four years after the explosion. Some of the refurb has clearly been done - didn't Oliver authorise an illicit party for someone in the refurbished cocktail bar? - so why would Adil want Fallon's up-cycled furniture ? It feels like the scene is rather clumsily being set for Fallon to jump ship to GG - the amazing cheese biscuits and hints at her speedy patisserie skills.

It makes zero sense - the cock ups for why it couldn’t open were quite fundamental. And now it’s suddenly all go with a second hand kitchen and some second hand furniture?

i’m also unsure why they are buying so much pre-made food in when they seem to have a fully staffed kitchen.

Can anyone remind me on what Adil's background is. Ie has he ever organised a piss up in a brewery? He has ordered food so unless he is cooking it himself, Iain's team will be doing this. Although he did mention some key people know. Iain isn't key? And his head chef or similar is keeping it from him so Iain can have a nice surprise?!!! If I was Iain I'd be hoping it was getting let go on full pay without having to work my notice!

what do you mean "sounds like bilingual"?

My kids are bilingual - in neither language do they sound anything other than a native speaker (in English they get called "posh" because apparently my accent, which they also have, is "posh". It's not.)

is it shabby chic or properly upcycled. Because i don't know what some of you are looking at, but the upcycled furniture i see on Instagram and YouTube are restored properly with all the sanding, varnishing and re-upholstering that requires.

and imo very in keeping with a country hotel (not that i think Fallon is actually doing that)

I don't think he sounds like anything other than a native English speaker, but his diction is very precise. I like it, actually.

New thread:

ah got it.

I know a lot of Germans who were university educated here and are mistaken for English a lot but there’s something about the diction and preciseness of the language they use that makes it obvious to me they are not native speakers. Their English is almost too perfect!! Jakob reminds me very much of them.

I would love it if he goes to the cafe and he makes a comment on the decor that makes it clear he doesn’t think it’s scandi

@Brefugee , that's restoring not upcycling.

I think @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g meant he sounds like he's bilingual but with English his second language.

is it shabby chic or properly upcycled. Because i don't know what some of you are looking at, but the upcycled furniture i see on Instagram and YouTube are restored properly with all the sanding, varnishing and re-upholstering that requires

Natasha and Tom are particularly sneery about Fallon’s furniture, aren’t they? But some people are strange about anything old/secondhand and won’t entertain anything that isn’t brand new - or vice versa. For example, I’ve always lived in old houses and I’d never, ever buy a modern one.

It’s perfectly possible that the tea-room furniture has been very attractively up-cycled by Fallon and it’s a warm, welcoming, slightly old-fashioned place. T and N, in their zeal to be cutting edge, want clean lines and natural wood. Maybe it’s something like these 2 styles?

I know which one probably fits better in a small rural village….

Wasn't the tea room planned to have benches?
Your photo looks shabby chic and upcycled to me, and the vintage effect looks far more cosy for somewhere you'd go to for a hot chocolate and croissant, or a pot of tea and a scone.

I think Fallon will either set up a tea room at the EV charging station or be poached as a patisserie chef by GG.

Which photo - the first or second?

The upcycled/vintage one! The second one doesn't look upcycled or vintage.

No, the second one is the Scandi type - to me, that’s the sort of ‘vision’ Tom and Natasha are aiming for. I imagine the first being closer to what the tearoom looked like under Fallon’s reign. Tbh it’s the approximate look of 99.9% of all the tearooms/cafes in my area, give or take some minor variations.

@Ambridge , it was quite obvious which one was which. I can't remember when I last went into a tea room, but I'd expect a vintage or rustic interior, not a scandinavian look.

I imagine Tomtasha going for something like Notting Hill (daylesford.com)

@Grimchmas Agree completely. She supposedly had a very successful business - something to do with organic fruit which NOBODY has ever done before - but seems to spend hardly any time on it. A few BF veg boxes and seem to generate enough income for them all, and now they have time and money to spare to faff about in the team room.

poached as a patisserie chef by GG

Blind-baked, surely?