Archers thread #166: Choppy waters in Ambridge! Look out for the red flags and 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'd love to be married to Harrison, 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.)

Another thread started in great haste, mid-packing! Over to you.

This evening was very much "Why were any of them doing anything?" for me. But the moment Lynda starts organising some new nonsense and bullying others into getting involved, I mentally tune out.

Why is D-Day suddenly such a big thing? Is it National Let's All Hate The Germans Week, or something? What's wrong with hating the French and commemorating 1066 instead?

You’re not allowed to call the war time Germans Germans anymore - you have to call them Nazis (really pisses my mil off - and she’s German!)

it’s the 60th anniversary. You’ll have to wait 42 years for the big 1066 anniversary

It's the 80th anniversary.

Ha! Yes! Belying my age. I can’t really think of it as that long ago

I remember attending a big event at Battle in 1966 when I was a child. For some reason my father was dressed as a cowboy. My mother can't remember why. I fear I may not be around for the next celebration in 2066.

PS The Battle of Hastings was fought at Battle, not at Hastings.

Have the buses re-started? Someone said something about Chelsea bussing into college

@Godesstobe - I went to the bonfire night celebration at Battle some time back in the mid-70s. It was insane.

Oh, you mean after the bridge event, @MereDintofPandiculation? Must have.

I couldn’t help thinking, when Ben and Chelsea were awkwarding that meeting, that perhaps the SWs might give them another go when they’re a little older. An Archer Horrobin union would still be so … potent.

It was easier to sleep on the sofa than to move the ironing board out of the spare room, and all her boxes of upcycling stuff of the bed.

This. Plus this is likely to be the last "round number" anniversary when there are any of the soldiers who were involved in D Day actually still alive. So it's a very significant anniversary.

Roses lime marmalade is readily available. But I find it too sweet.

There is a bus to and from Ambridge when one is needed for plot purposes, but not at other times. For instance Pip missed an early bus to Hollerton Junction when she was going off (uninvited and unwelcome) to stay with Jude in Cornwall; Peggy caught a bus into Borchester in the late morning so she could get into a fight with a self-service supermarket till; Chelsea and Jake caught a bus into Borchester to go to the cinema in the evening. And there have always gone on being school buses to take the primary school children to Loxley Barrett and bring them back again, and to take secondary school children to Borchester and bring them back.

But the bus service to Ambridge was withdrawn, no matter how many buses may have been run there since. People like Jill took to giving others lifts to go shopping in Borchester, because there was no longer a bus.

No, I meant since they stopped completely and stimulated Walter Gabriel into running a coach service

By the way, why were Ben and Chelsea awkward together?

I have a feeling it's one of many UK products that have disappeared post Brexit.

Tiptree make lime marmalade. You can get it on Amazon.

My local Aldi had loads of roses lime and also lemon and lime marmalade just last week

@DeanElderberry - Dunnes stock Roses Lemon & Lime, which might be even better!

This evening was very much "Why were any of them doing anything?" for me. But the moment Lynda starts organising some new nonsense and bullying others into getting involved, I mentally tune out

Its horrible to see the Snells bullying (young) people with other things to do into giving up their time to keep them entertained. I have seen it before in villages where busybody retired people force others to take part in village activities when they are actually struggling to keep afloat with all the other demands on their time. People like Lynda thrive on exploiting politeness.

My friend has spent a lot of time avoiding an active 80-year-old with a clipboard who was always trying to rope her and her children into things - pantos, plays, music recitals etc. I would really struggle if the Snells lived anywhere near me.

Bread beer. It's a real thing.

My husband recently had some Yorkshire pudding beer.

By the way, why were Ben and Chelsea awkward together?
Something to do with a comfort shag in field.

I can no longer suspend my disbelief for the 14.5 mins to imagine a scenario in which the the generational divides are bridged so easily by Linda Snell’s birthday. The woman has been reinvented.
I get the D-Day device, but was trying to conjure up a similar situation where my own offspring would voluntarily spend their evening with an elderly neighbour, whimpering about a 60 year old letter, and cheering a Great Project. But maybe I’ve just brought them up wrong….

So they make the beer at the bull?

They had an ill advised fling leaving her pregnant which played a part in Ben and Beth and, also, Lily and Russ splitting up. Chelsea had a termination which made Jill throw her toys out of the pram and upset Ben who had a mental health crisis. Vince announced to all and sundry in the Bull that Chelsea had had the termination. I think Chelsea went missing for a while too.

Plenty of reasons to feel awkward. I'd actually like a story where they got together properly like adults.

The moment Fallon and baking was mentioned in a previous ep I knew it would be Woolton pie.

Finally caught up, was the marmalade cake a loaf or one with orange rounds on top? I've been googling recipes and would love a reccomendation.

Ben and Chelsea should be a thing.

Harrison has changed personality again yawn.

Not as much yawn as the D Day thing though.