Archers thread #175: Crime, punishment and kittens. 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 your current highlight is the kitten naming, 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.)

As I am posting this on Sunday morning at a point where some omnibus listeners won't have caught up with this week's events, I've kept the title less spoilerish than I might have done. Below this point, everything broadcast to date is of course fair game, so be warned!

Of course the main interest for most us at the moment is indeed the kitten naming competition. Isn't it? No?

Oh well, since you insist ...

How do we think George is going to cope now? Whither the Grundy and Horrobin clan? Will Lilian choke on her G&T (please)? Will Kenton get septicaemia from a kitten scratch? Will Alice die of sanctimoniousness? Will Fallon spend the rest of her life with the appalling Harrison and his unfulfulled longing for a behbeh? Will Adam and Will come to blows in the Bridge Farm packing shed?

Over to you!

I do hope Chelsea goes to help Fallon and is tempted by that nice empty hairdressing unit. If it is still empty, of course.

Possibly really pushing the meat and dairy products in direct opposition to Fallons plans

I think that's already started: I mean, they couldn't have said the word cream more times if they'd tried last night! I actually thought the SW might have had a bet on it.

I don’t understand how they could spare Adam for the cafe given how busy they were. And why did he have to be there if both Fallon and Chelsea were there

I really don’t think you could say what Emma reads - working class characters are more likely to be left wing surely?

I think we could fairly confidently say that Tracey and Jazzer are the left of centre WC characters, the Carters are right of centre, and the Grundys are the least politically engaged. No idea whether any of them would read a paper or follow a news channel though. I'd say they're all more likely than not to have no time for that.

I really really wanted to hear the conversation between Natasha and Fallon when she handed in her notice. I feel cheated!

@TopOfTheCliff

Me too.

I'm wondering if Natasha has a clause in the contract that prevents Fallon competing within X miles. You'd think Fallon would have read it carefully, though, given how fraught that whole business was. But Natasha being Natasha...

Me too!

I could imagine Natasha putting a non-competition clause in, but equally I could imagine that it wouldn’t have crossed her mind because she thinks she was doing Fallon a favour in taking over her business and making her an employee. Fallon would have seen this is for the best, right?!

I think non-competition clauses are quite difficult to enforce, particularly in a business like catering where any high street will have a number of cafés and restaurants. Fallon would have a good case for arguing that a veggie café in a service area for a charging station is not really competing with the Terum, and the simple fact is that there is going to be a café there anyway whether it's run by Fallon or someone else. Some customers may follow her just because she's a good baker, but that's not something that Bridge Farm can prevent.

Yeah in my historic experience of non-competition clauses, the less specific the role, the more difficult they are to enforce. So specific legal role or consultancy job maybe. Cafe owner in a different place with a total different USP when Fallon is only an employee: very tricky to enforce.

I think all of the "ooooh look at Fallon's delicious cakes" was intended to emphasise how irreplaceable she is as a baker. Will Jill be pulled out of retirement to whip up her (inferior to Fallon at the flower and produce show) victoria sponge?!

I agree. It definitely felt as if someone was making a point.

I don’t understand how they could spare Adam for the cafe given how busy they were. And why did he have to be there if both Fallon and Chelsea were there? - he had to be there to demonstrate two things: 1. that he’s capable of running the cafe (though liable to eat the proceeds) 2. Chelsea can’t stand working with him so will likely follow Fallon.

Natasha could turn to Kenton to supply Terum with his "award winning" apple pie. No conflict of interest there at all.

I found that quite unsatisfactory (listened live for once). No one seems to have taken on board that Fallon might be a bit p*** off at having her business snatched from under her! Unusually it was only Helen who was self aware enough to note that it’s actually quite nice working for yourself. Nor does it seem to have dawned on anyone that Fallon won’t just be opening a new cafe, but quite likely going back to private catering. Are they really that dim?

Natasha’s arrogance really is something isn’t it?

So glad we didn’t have to hear Tom as well 😂

One of the small recent mercies has been that we've tended to get Tom or Natasha, but not both.

Natasha was fabulously Natashoid, wasn't she? Good to hear her back on form!

God, Gnasher's insufferable, isn't she?

On a different tack, where's the goat meat SL going? Apart from Tom making goat and cheese muffins, of course.

Goat and banana, surely?

On a different tack, where's the goat meat SL going? Yes - why is Henry so keen on eating goat?

Because it tastes good? Mind you, I'm not sure where he would have found this out.

Pat and Henry were great tonight.

I enjoyed the Pat and Henry scene.

My first thought was - if Henry shows a flair for farming and it’s his younger brother who is going to inherit the land.

Did Harrison ever get his request to go full time ( thus facilitating Fallon’s cafe) get approved? Will something happen that makes Fallon rescind her notice and go with Natasha’s entreaties to stay?

I do feel sorry for Fallon having to work her notice with Natasha hounding her to stay. We know from experience that Natasha just doesn't know when to give up.