Archers thread #165: Bridge over troubled waters! 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 believe Rochelle exists, 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 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5071889-the-archers-spoilers-thread-9-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.)

This thread may well fill up as fast as the last one, so let's just get stuck in!

@harriethoyle - it's "hear" which makes sense when you consider it's origin, as explained on the Parliament website:

It is a short form of 'hear them, hear them' and is a way of saying, 'listen to what is being said—it's important!' The saying has a long history in the UK Parliament. It goes back to the 1600s and developed as a form of cheering.

On the other hand a prison sentence and his return to Ambridge as a confirmed 'bad Grundy' will be a great storyline.

So long as this doesn't mess with Brad's a levels. I have a massive soft spot for Brad.

Anyone who messes with Brad’s smooth progress to a Nobel Prize will have me to deal with …

You’ve just made me think of the stupid episode where they made Brad the Manuel of GG. Grrr

I agree with @DadDadDad, it’s “Hear, hear” and its origins are parliamentary.

🤣

Yes, the SWs need to leave Brad alone to crack on with his A levels! I still haven't forgiven them for Phoebe being made to run a campsite and woodland. Kate has also done nothing worthy of her Felpersham Masters(?).

I rarely agree with George, but Koppaberg fruit cider is unpleasant (the non-alcoholic version, doubly so)! It must be even worse at room temperature.

Poor old Alice, she was ready to admit to drunk driving or, even worse, drinking fruit cider.

But that was not about self realisation, it was about accepting and being willing to face responsibility for the (fitted up) facts. A good beating by the police to force her to admit to something she had not done would be more honest than George’s cruelty and mind games.

I am imagining certain posters sat (burning torches at their side) enjoying a picnic whilst she is hung.

what matter guilt, that will definitely cure her alcoholism.

hope none of you rough “justice” supporters are magistrates or worse

Although fair enough she was cringingly rude about music tastes when she was desperate to get out of the shop and wrap her gob around the vodka bottle.

p.s. isn’t Apple a fruit - just asking

She might well pull a parasuicide. She might even think she means it. I don’t think she would be competent enough to make a proper job of a serious attempt, the surer methods being too aesthetically unappealing for an Alice.
But if she did, ad did succeed, I suspect George’s predominant emotion would be relief.

Poor old Alice, she was ready to admit to drunk driving or, even worse, drinking fruit cider.

Apple is a fruit but so often "cider" is merely apple-flavoured. Most "fruit cider" is even worse, it's so synthetic you might as well lick the plastic label.

PROPER fruit cider is bloody lovely, particularly if it's the Somerset stuff you buy from a farm (and which you definitely don't sample before completing your journey home if you value your driving licence). Ditto a sour fruit beer.

He annoys me a lot. The unsophisticated yokel who is someone a genius just because he can do mental arithmetic schtick is grating.

Thanks @DadDadDad @BrightYellowDaffodil - much appreciated!

Although fair enough she was cringingly rude about music tastes

Ironic if it's Joy, who comes to the brat's rescue.

IRL I would want the truth to out asap

but for this I would love it if she serves a bit of time, gets sober and back with Chris etc etc and then in about 10 years it all comes out

but I suspect the sw are working to a shorter time scale!

Only not funny! Unforgivable. Roll on the 4 A star A levels he must surely be about to get.

I wondered when George was reluctantly buying the fruit cider how Koppaberg felt about about the negative advertising: "Fruit cider - you don't have to be poor, desperate and seriously uncool to drink it, but it helps."

@VoxPop 😂

My brother caught Bilharzia once.

The accident happened at Heydon Bridge (not sure if that's how it's spelled). Does anyone know if that's the bridge near St Stephen's? I can't quite get my head around the Ambridge geography.

Her hair here

Hear hear (as in "listen to this").

The map in The Archers Encyclopedia shows two bridges. I'll assume north is at the top. The river in shown running more or less east-west, with the village core to the north of it.

The bridge to the west is between St Stephens (on the south) and the village shop etc. Beyond Stephens are Grange Farm and Glebe Cottage.

The bridge to the east is between the Stables (on the edge of the village centre) and Brookfield, with Heydon Wood and Heydon farm beyond Brookfield - it adjoins Brookfield land, hence young David's easy access during his bottle-collecting phase.

That road continues north west towards grey gables on the far side of the village. The Heydon brook enters the Am further east again, and beyond that is an unbridged ford, suggesting the Am isn't all that deep. There are three bridges shown crossing Heydon Brook - probably barely noticeable to drivers.

or possibly west-east, I'm not sure whether anyone has ever dared commit

Is Ambrisge near Holby