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Archers thread #158: Te Rum? You numpty, numpty, Tom! Empty tearoom follows. Christmas coming, farmers’ stand up, will it make us LOL? No! Discuss The Archers here.

975 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 01/12/2023 10:07

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

Archers 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 think Tom Archer is a great businessman, or other unusual views. Grin

Archers 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!

Archers 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 @LillianGish for the title idea, which may plant an earworm if my scansion just about holds up. @BeatriceBatchelor wanted 'plebby coffee' inserted in reference to my Bolivian coffee anecdote on the last thread, so I'll mention it here instead. Grin Here's hoping Fallon and Emma decamp to the charging station or Grey Gables, or both, to run the type of coffee shop/tearoom people actually enjoy spending time in. Tom's cauliflower eclairs and kale criossants approach sounds more likely to drive the casual trade away from the farm shop and cheese window as well as the Google Translate-named Te Rum.

Feeling very uninspired by TA at the moment, so I have nothing more to say for now. Over to you!

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Original poster
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/12/2023 13:56

I've no idea if Iain is having a moment, as they say, in baby naming circles outside Scotland. When I was growing up in Scotland in the 1960s it was common enough not to cause any remark, but Ian was even then probably used more often.

It seems to me that people on here struggle with delayed gratification.

Guilty as charged! I am very impatient, as my family frequently remind me. I do like a complicated storyline that plays out over a very long period, having said that, although you need a lot of confidence in the writer(s) for suspension of belief to persist. In the case of Joy, I'm happy to wait for more to be revealed at some point - or not, as the case may be. Some unresolved plotlines are OK. In the case of the land purchase, it's seven days since the auction. Surely Oliver knows by now who's bought the land? Or perhaps not. It will emerge at some point, I suppose.

I can't remember who first suggested Joy might be in witness protection, but I still love this idea. Bit of a failure for the police to put her in a place as much under the spotlight as Ambridge, though ...

[Nurse, the screens! Gasp0de's off again ...]

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 15/12/2023 14:19

I'm a bit surprised by how abrupt the ending to the Ron storyline has been... is that really it? death, fishfinger sandwiches and a hurled wedding ring?

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 14:35

There will be repercussions from the Rob & Helen story line for a long, long time. Jack is both an Archer and a Titchener.

Given how good the Rob actor was, it wouldn't surprise me if they brought him back to Ambridge as some distantly-related monied Titchener. A Helen Archer in possession of singleton status must be in need of a partner.

Grimchmas · 15/12/2023 14:36

You're definitely not the only one to have noticed that, @harriethoyle.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g I too love the idea of Joy in witness protection.

Lillian and Justin will be back together by Christmas, it stinks of a perfect festive cheesy plotline!

Original poster
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/12/2023 14:40

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 14:35

There will be repercussions from the Rob & Helen story line for a long, long time. Jack is both an Archer and a Titchener.

Given how good the Rob actor was, it wouldn't surprise me if they brought him back to Ambridge as some distantly-related monied Titchener. A Helen Archer in possession of singleton status must be in need of a partner.

Now there's an idea. They could also bring back Graham Seed as a distant Pargetter cousin with an uncanny resemblance to Nigel.

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 15/12/2023 14:41

Hahaha that would be amazing @ILoveShula 😆

bakedpotatoforlunch · 15/12/2023 14:45

They could also bring back Graham Seed as a distant Pargetter cousin with an uncanny resemblance to Nigel.

Now that would be fantastic. If there are any SWs reading this please, please take note! 😀

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 14:47

They could bring GS back as Nigel and I'd be overjoyed. Get in that shower Lizzie.

Passepartoute · 15/12/2023 14:47

I don't understand why Ian is insisting that he's only working at GG till they find a replacement. He presumably wanted the job when he took it, he resigned in a huff because of the kitchen mess-up, they sorted the mess-up and begged him to come back and he duly did. So why is it only temporary? Surely whatever made him want the job before is still there, plus a spiffy new kitchen as a bonus?

MereDintofPandiculation · 15/12/2023 14:54

Chemenger · 15/12/2023 10:39

I’m in my 60’s and Iain was the more common spelling when I was at school. I am Scottish though. I don’t think Iain is a new fangled fad.
It seems to me that people on here struggle with delayed gratification. I think it would be quite dull if every story line was fully played out as quickly as possible. I don’t have a problem with things lying dormant for a time then reappearing later, that’s surely how things work in real life? I find out things that I didn’t know about people all the time, it seems perfectly plausible that Joy has a backstory hidden from these relatively new friends and acquaintances. There are things about me that almost nobody in my current circle knows.
Unlike most of you I listen to the Archers because it’s a bit of harmless, unchallenging entertainment, not to pick endless tedious holes in it. These threads used to be fun.

I thought Iain was Scottish. I remember in the 60s having to write "short story" at school, and I called one of my main characters Iain (largely out of perversity) - so several mentions a page for a good 20 pages. English teacher went through and crossed out every one of them and replaced by Ian. Hmm

EBearhug · 15/12/2023 15:25

harriethoyle · 15/12/2023 14:19

I'm a bit surprised by how abrupt the ending to the Ron storyline has been... is that really it? death, fishfinger sandwiches and a hurled wedding ring?

Doubt it. There's his will, there's Miles. There's potential for all sorts of Rob-related storylines over the years ad the boys become more independent and get to speak more. But I'm okay with Rob-related break.

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 15:26

I had a teacher do that to me with an irish surname, @MereDintofPandiculation . Each occurrence was changed to a similar but more well-known surname.

Ian's role at GG seems in limbo. Wonder how the pizza van design-your-own-pizza children's parties would work out.

EBearhug · 15/12/2023 15:28

WitcheryDivine · 15/12/2023 08:28

Sorry it’s irritating but quite frankly this is supposed to be fun so I’m not ALWAYS going to check my reference material first and I don’t expect anyone else to either 😁

Fun? Tsk! Some of you are not taking this seriously enough.

(I'm okay with them not having too much fun in TA, as it often manifests as jolly Grundy shenanigans when they do.)

TherapistInATabard · 15/12/2023 15:31

‘I can't remember who first suggested Joy might be in witness protection’

That was me, I still chuckle to myself when l think of the possibility.

Fartooold · 15/12/2023 15:36

I think when Joy's story is revealed, it will be tragic - Rochelle and grandchildren died in a house fire in Hebburn, hence Joy moving to Ambridge, but she can't let them go.

Merry Christmas😅

Oh, and I have an Ian. My Scottish best friend married an Iain and a swimming companion is Eoin.
I'm a well rounded person who cares not about spelling😁

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 15:39

@Fartooold , does Eoin say his name as Ian?

WhatapityWapiti · 15/12/2023 15:41

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 15:26

I had a teacher do that to me with an irish surname, @MereDintofPandiculation . Each occurrence was changed to a similar but more well-known surname.

Ian's role at GG seems in limbo. Wonder how the pizza van design-your-own-pizza children's parties would work out.

Aha- the root of your trauma, leading to sensitivity around name spellings?

Fartooold · 15/12/2023 15:46

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 15:39

@Fartooold , does Eoin say his name as Ian?

He pronounces it more like Owen tbf, but it has become a bit mangled, it sounds more like Oi - in, hence a lot of people calling him something between Ian and Owen 🤣

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 15:51

No, I just thought it was weird that it got changed, @WhatapityWapiti . It was a Harris/Harries type correction. No trauma.

Words don't just have a look, they evoke smells too.

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 15:52

Is he scottish @fart?

TherapistInATabard · 15/12/2023 15:55

@ILoveShula

Words don't just have a look, they evoke smells too.

This, followed by your next post made me laugh 😆

Fartooold · 15/12/2023 16:23

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 15:52

Is he scottish @fart?

Bugger me, at least find a better nickname🤣🤣🤣

No, he is Irish 🙂 Why?

MereDintofPandiculation · 15/12/2023 16:38

ILoveShula · 15/12/2023 11:08

@MereDintofPandiculation , Maybe americans say Megan as Meegun. I know it's not a school essay but on one soap there was a Jackie and a Jacqui, and on TA there are two characters called Chris.

Spaghetti is italian, so the h is there for italian reasons. Wiki says: Spaghetti is the plural form of the Italian word spaghetto, which is a diminutive of spago, meaning 'thin string' or 'twine'.[1], which is a vague agricultural connection. AFAIK there aren't any spaghetti orchards in Ambridge, unless the mystery buyer of the Grange Farm land has plans, or Adil has some trees on his allotment.

I'm just here for talking about TA too. I find the relentless slagging off of characters disheartening.

The h is there because of the rule through the Mediterranean languages (and also carried across to English words that are derived from Latin or Mediterranean languages) that c and g have different pronunciations before e and i than before a,o and u. You say it's derived from spago, so hard g, so needs an h if you change the following vowel from an a to an e in order to retain that pronunciation. I don't know of an analogous rule that would mean you needed an h in Megan.

harriethoyle · 15/12/2023 16:39

Oh God @Fartooold 🤣🤣🙈🙈

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fartooold · 15/12/2023 16:41

Oh, hang on - are you trying to trip me up here with the questions Shula????
In that case, I'll go back to lurking😁

Really not interested in pedantry.