Archers thread #173: The Fall of the House of Grundy? 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 wish we were hearing more of Pip, 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.)

I chose the thread title to echo one I used three years ago, which is here if anyone fancies a trip down Memory Lane: www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4320618--Archers-thread-130-The-Fall-of-the-House-of-Aldridge-Discuss-The-Archers-here. That was the thread where I caused all sorts of confusion at the start by not starting it before the old thread filled up, but others stepped in, fortunately.

At that point I see Ruairi was heading off to London to start his degree, which he has now finished, with none of us any the wiser about what he studied or where. Perhaps this will finally be mentioned now he's graduating.

And now, over to you!

Did anyone else get the feeling that when Emma declined to listen to him and rushed away, Ian was about to demonstrate his usual level of loyalty to Adam by telling her that he sympathised with her position and Adam is being hysterical about Will? He certainly didn't sound hostile while he was talking with her. She just assumed that what he wanted to say would be an attack on her.

Well done, Tom. You're all stretched as tight as a piano wire so sure, this is absolutely the time to pile on additional activities in the name of "business opportunities" <slow hand clap>

He is such a knob.

Completely agree. And what does the Sausage King actually do all day? He's happy to have his septuagenarian father up at 4am to do the milking and his wife try to run part of his family's business with two toddlers in tow as well as a job of her own. Maybe he could work at being a bit more efficient at packing vegetables and he might have time to step up and help run his own farm.

Let's not forget this is the man who rolled over and went back to sleep when it was his turn to get up with the kids.

FFS Tom, you were paying George (and Emma) anyway, so it's not like a contract milker is a huge extra expense that you've never had before. Yes, contract will be more expensive than employee, but even so ...

And what does the Sausage King actually do all day? He's happy to have his septuagenarian father up at 4am to do the milking and his wife try to run part of his family's business with two toddlers in tow as well as a job of her own. Maybe he could work at being a bit more efficient at packing vegetables and he might have time to step up and help run his own farm

I can't believe there are so many vegetables etc to be picked and packed that it takes him all day every day. Less polytunnel carrot fondling and more doing something useful, sunshine.

He didn't say the other day that there was some work he needed to do in the polytunnels; he said there was some work he needed to look at!

I should imagine that's par for the course for the Sausage Botherer. Stand around watching other people getting things done, then complain about how he he works harder than everyone else

He's utterly ludicrous and, much as Natasha annoys me, i can't imagine why she ever married him (obviously for the farm, but is it worth it?) let alone bred with the idiot. I'm still idly hoping that the Chemical Weapon Twins will turn out to have a blood group that proves Tom isn't the father.

Yes! By me 😂

One of the last time he spoke he said something typically beautiful and poetic but I can’t blinking remember.

Googling says it means “trouser leg”

And just as you say this, it features in tonight's episode...

@MereDintofPandiculation , trust me, it's a calorie zone.

That made me laugh too. I am now confident that the scriptwriters are reading my comments and - in a panic - rewriting and calling in cast members to re-record.

I look forward to the discovery of whoever's body it was that someone (I forget who) possibly shoved into the culvert. You will note that I'm not making it so easy for them this time.

Wasn't it Stefan?

Maybe the SW have played an extremely long game and it’s actually Rochelle?

Raw apple and cheddar together is a great combination, but I agree that the concept of cooked melted cheese dripping through the cooked apple doesn't sound tempting. I don't understand why, if The Bull wants to maximise its chances of winning, they're submitting two pies with the same contents. Surely it would make sense to have two different pies? After all, if the judge hates apple and cheese, having two apple and cheese pies there is hardly likely to help.

I don't understand why the Grundy/Horrobin clan are the only sources of casual labour in the whole of Ambridge, particularly since the housing estate was built. Surely there must be a Button sister or two available to help out on Bridge Farm?

Cream cheese or mascarpone would be all right.

Yes, I thought Ian was trying to be sympathetic. Ian is deeply irritating but i don't think he's actively unkind.

They could ask Joy to help out in the farm shop- although Joy might be as surprised as the rest of us to find out there is a farm shop.

So then I googled cheese and apple pie recipes. There are quite a few.

Apple (unpeeled) and strong cheddar grated and mixed together and then toasted on white bread is wonderful. You can add a dash of Worcester sauce or a small amout of Branston pickle.

I had a pizza with apple and prosciutto recently and it was great, so I can see the combo working.

I’m taken back to my 70s school days and can see a market for a George Grundy Bin.

IMHO, whatever cheese you put in an apple pie would make the filling - er - I think the word I'm looking for is "claggy". Also, wouldn't you have to serve it straight out of the oven, or at least reheated? Otherwise the cheese would re-solidify into lumps.

Sorry - as a relatively junior listener can someone explain the Maurice thing?

haven’t even listened to the episode and agree with you all about how much of a plum Tom is. Ugh.