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.

In the olden days they could have brought June Spence on to give us a few memories, and it would have seemed okay since she actually did live through it all - the nearest they have now is Patricia Green who is a bit young.

Are you suggesting they re-enact the D-Day landings on the banks of the Am?
It could be the width of La Manche by this time next week.
Just don't tell Ali-stare.

Lynda said yesterday that Jim will be involved, and Pat. I suppose Jim was just about alive during WWII, but clearly not in the forces. It was his 80th birthday about 4-5 years ago, meaning he would have been a pre-school child for D-Day. I think Robert is about the same age? There's quite a few who might just about have been born during the War - Justin? Brian? Oliver? Leonard might be older (do we know his age? I have the impression he's younger than Jill but I don't know if this has been confirmed on air). Bert (I don't even know if he is still voiced, haven't heard him in years)?

I don't think there are any speaking characters left who were adults during WWII.

Brian was a baby on D-Day, he was 80 a few months ago.
Jill, Christine and Peggy might remember D-Day.

Jill and Christine, born 1930 and 1931, would have some memories. Peggy, born 1924, would have many more, but isn't going to feature for obvious reasons.

I was more thinking of characters where the actor hasn't retired so they might be back. I know all three of those were around in WWII, but it doesn't sound as though Jill is coming back on air. I don't think she's been on since the thing with Chelsea's pregnancy, has she? We haven't heard from Chris in years. And Peggy has officially retired.

I suppose they can be mentioned along the lines of ‘it was greeting hearing Jill talk about xyz’, Peggy sent over her recipe for abc’ etc

Bert died some years ago now. Stella now rents the Bungalow and has Hannah there as a lodger. Rex got the narrowboat to replace his room there.

I meant Bert Horrobin, not Fry. Sorry, I realise in hindsight that 'Bert' by itself would probably refer to Fry.

I'd forgotten there were two Berts! Bert H is still going strong. There was the tedious contest with ?Neville Booth recently about who was The Bull's longest standing customer.

(A silent contest, of course. Still managed to be annoying. Quite a feat.)

Marmalade cake recipe from my 80s Dairy Diary cookbook.

I'd love romance between Chelsea and Ben. She'd be the making of him!!

I'd like to see 'R Chels as the chatelaine of Lower Loxley.

Both Brookfield and Lower Loxley badly need new blood right now - the former in particular seems awfully stagnant and outside the main stream of the Ambridge story.

As I may have said before, the Brookfield silence on the major event of the season is deafeningly disappointing.

Chelsea is too good for Ben but would be excellent for Freddie and would neither take crap from Lizzie and Lily herself nor let them abuse him.

Quite, and Fallon's had her coil removed I believe? If I was her, I'd be going for a coil, the Pill and possibly a zip-up-to-the-neck wet suit to make sure there wasn't a repeat of recent events.

I'd be wrapped up in barbed wire!

For the MN TA D-Day party, I'm volunteering @iratepirate to make a pulsey Woolton Pie, Dean to make the Lime Marmalade Cake, anyone who wants to to make a Marmalade cake and Gasp to bring me a huge slice of Dundee cake, please (Flapjack doesn't share). A victoria sponge and some scones would be most welcome.

If someone would like to bring a mahoosive MN salad home-grown dig for victory style, we can tuck into some Sterling Gold and Borsetshire Brie with it.

We can wash it down with earl grey tea (lemon optional), Lower Loxley plonk or a pint of Shires.

There may be Bridge Farm ices or Summer Orchard juices and smoothies to purchase from the farm shop or Te Rum.

I made a victoria sponge for cricket tea a couple of weeks ago @FlyingFlapjack , I'll knock a couple up for you

Yes please!

Crikey! Just scroll on by if you find a quick mention of Brexit so triggering. I'm finding all this cake recipes talk tedious but don't want to silence people 🙄

I personally prefer cheese talk to cake talk

I do a good wartime recipe butterless spongecake.

Also "Lovely Nourishing Soup", whose recipe, from my grandmother, starts "borrow a dog and go to beg a bone for him from the butcher. When you have left the shop, remove the bone from the dog, take it home and wash it. Boil for stock" and involves adding all the vegetables you can get hold of except sprouts.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime , brilliant, bring it along. Thanks.