Archers thread #169: Denise rocks the boat in more than one way! Will Chris find a message in a cider bottle? 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 have liked to have Harrison's behbe, 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/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.)

Thanks to @LikeTalkingToLassie and @BrightYellowDaffodil for title inspiration. Is this the end for Denise and John? It does seem odd to introduce John now if he's going to disappear. He has a lovely voice.

Over to you!

The funny thing is that Fallon was very careful indeed about the contract she signed with the Bridge Farm Archers concerning her employment at the tea room. There was a lot about it on Friday 22nd September, 2023, and it was clear that she intended to take Natasha's "standard" proposed contract and read through it carefully, as well as suggesting amendments. Surely she would have noticed a clause saying she was now an indentured servant and not allowed to do anything except work for the Archers?

Have to say I loved hearing Lily coming into bat for Freddie. I don’t know how Vince was planning to explain himself to Elizabeth should this all come out. Yes Freddie needs toughen up a bit as manager, but that also comes
with time and experience

All it takes is for Lily to open her gob for me to find myself squarely behind initiation rites, workplace bullying, and a pig snout in every orifice on Sundays.

But wouldn’t it be dull if we were all the same.

Makes me think of nappies

i remember having photos of the kids done and the photographer offered us a family group and me a pamper session (yuk) beforehand.

Took him up on neither but cringing too much at the thought to ask him if he was offering that because he thought I needed it.

You make an excellent point @Gonners but she could have made room for a few others Pip at the same time.

I think Pip is slowly coming to the realisation that her relationship is doomed. It was very awkward when she put Stella on the spot and asked her to describe her ideal Hen Party celebrations.

I think this is all to push Fallon to the brink and she will up and leave Natasha and Tom in the lurch, then start a competing business that wipes the floor with them. Well that's the dream, anyway!

Would be easier with a supportive husband

Vince looking at the bullying policy 🙄

Tom singing Natasha’s praises 🙄

Tom and Natasha not getting that people might have a budget 🙄

Pip asking ‘will that be ok?’ About reducing the budget. Why are they all so wet? 🙄

mini veg patch and boiler suits for the twins 🙄

will I ever get my eyeballs back

not sure I need to hear much more from
Roy tbh

at least someone’s finally mentioned HR

Vince mentioned HR to Freddie back on Wednesday.

Haven't heard tonight's episode yet, but currently watching Countryfile, and it seems to me the TA SWs could find interesting storylines in every single thing covered so far, especially the recent decision by the Tories to stop routine H&S inspections of farms. Farming is the most dangerous industry in the UK and farmers and farm workers are at a hugely increased risk of death and serious injury over the general population. Now talking to a farmer who has been left paralysed after a tree felling job. Hmm.

Missed that. I wonder how big HR is? I’m guessing one person and maybe someone who helps with payroll accounting

if Natasha is so scary that clients don’t feel they can say no then she’s going to struggle. And if Fallon is so weak that she lets herself be trampled on by the clicky heels then she shouldn’t start her own business because she will fail pretty quickly

Vince arrived as the owner of abattoirs, plural, who then bought the one which had gone bankrupt near Ambridge.

So not a small operation.

Interesting - makes more sense then to have a more centralised hr at one of his existing abattoirs with maybe one on site or in easy travel distance.

is Elizabeth going to be a hypocrite when she finds out Freddie is the victim berates Vince for not coming down like a ton of bricks

The idea that Vince would be unaware of his own business’s bullying policy is laughable.

He will have not a shred of skin left on his body when Elizabeth finds out who the bullying victim is.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g Every time I catch an episode of Countryfile I feel tempted to write a strongly worded letter to BBC Birmingham … The amount of stuff TA fails to cover - while wasting time on convoluted nonsense - is incredibly frustrating.

@Bruisername - is Elizabeth going to be a hypocrite? .... is one of those questions to which the answer will almost invariably be "Yes". Ghastly woman, even more po-faced and self-righteous than Jill and Shula!

Couldn't agree more! Same when I catch the odd moment of Farming Today and On Your Farm. There was a nice segment in Countryfile about an organic beef cattle farm having the cows grazing in a woodland pasture, which apparently reduces their stress levels a lot, not least because they stay cool.

Good grief but it was annoying tonight, as noted by PPs.

I was astounded to hear Elizabeth referring to 'vinaig-ar-ette'.

I'm glad you heard that too, I thought it couldn't be.

Yes! I thought I'd imagined that too!

Perhaps it's some kind of in-joke, like meecrowahvay.

I didn't think I had imagined it, after vye-karious from Lily on Friday. Nothing strange in TA in the way of pronounseeashun surprises me any longer.

What do you expect? She is of yeoman stock.

Does mediation work in a bullying situation? Seems a bit strange to sit down with your bully and say why are you picking on me? Elizabeth might be a bit miffed about Freddie being bullied but I dont think she cares that much about her boy to be honest, that she would have a go at Vince.
Clicky heels and Tom really are so full of themselves, I dislike them very very much, and what a crap birthday pressie for the twins, they will be interested for 2 mins then make mud pies, SW's obviously hav'nt got kids, but then the starry twins are very special.🙄

Mark my words:
so 'adorable' will be the pleasing tableau of mini-overalled twins investigating their mini organic vegetable empire, mini hoes aloft, Gnasher and TomSausage will revert to their child modelling moneyspinner.

Wholesome, ethical features and campaigns only, though. To which not even Auntie Helen could object.

"Wicked Leeks", digital platform for Riverford Organics. Or somesuch?