Archers thread #176: In which Ian puts the I in PTA. 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 like to hear more from Wesley the ashtray collector, 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 @DeanElderberry for the pithy phrase in the thread title and @CaptainMyCaptain for suggesting it should go in there. At least we've got the spooky disco out of the way for now. Plenty of wooden dialogue in the last few episodes that could go on the village bonfire next week. It's all been too dispiriting to discuss in greater depth. I'll just say that I don't hold out any great hopes that the production team will make a good job of reflecting concern in the farming community about the changes announced in the Budget to inheritance tax for farms. So often they get an expert to talk them through stuff like this but instead of ending up with a realistic storyline they pick out the bits they like the sound of and cobble them together in a totally unrealistic way. Maybe I'll be proved wrong this time. I hope so.

Over to you!

What has Helen got against Rex that he would be such a ridiculous love interest? He always seems perfectly nice to me.

Apart from being in love with Pip for a long time

I know it’s a couple of days ago but I found the episode with Emma offering Fallon the job she’d just accepted quite moving. You know the Grundys, they’re always looking for work especially Emma and she’s been desperate to be a manager and she was willing to give that away because of the way her son had hurt and traumatised Fallon. I thought it was noble and I thought the whole exchange between them was well done.

BOOP for Kirsty actually calling Helen out for once.

And for remembering the existence of Brenda and Peggy.

Both Helen and Tom showing their usual lack of empathy or concern for anyone but their own immediate family.

But what on earth was going on with the cost of the buck?! I'm not married so might be out of the loop, but isn't checking joint account or (as this most likely was) business account statements an entirely normal and sensible way to behave?

Bruisername

(No idea what happened there: sorry)
Bruisername
amazed there is so much demand for willow cottage

There might be if it were on the market, but it isn't. Roy is selling Willow Farm.

We all make mistakes.

But Brenda is selling it for him and has put it on the market, so Kirsty said

Yes sounds like Brenda will drive a hard deal! I just wonder how likely it is that Roy would allow that and how much demand there would really be

Brenda is in charge of selling Willow FARM.
Not Willow Cottage.
Willow Cottage does not belong to Roy, and Brenda could not sell it for him.

Willow Farm and Willow Cottage are two separate dwellings; the first belongs to Roy and Hayley, the other to a couple called Ralph and Alison Kemp.

Ah, I'm with you now. Sorry!

Ah, who could forget Ralph and Alison - the life and soul of Ambridge, with their wonderfully talented children and their charming Bichon Frisé, FrouFrou?

Being a silent is one thing. Being unmentioned is just tragic.

They went silently away for six months at Christmas 2018, and have never come back. Brussels ATE them.

Who's been living there since Brian & Jenny?

Glad Kirsty told Helen whats what. Helen is so selfish and I would think any damage to the house Helen and her brood did it because Phillip was a builder and he would have repaired anything in the house.
Dont think Pat will want to live in Tony's dream home, and surprised they hadn't discussed the price of the Buck, they are in business together. Tom is an arse. Just saying....

I thought Tim was remarkably understanding and calm last night!!

given Helen has told Tony she doesn’t really want to buy the house I thought she was actually quite unfair to Kirsty who should be putting it on the market pronto.

very surprised Kirsty can get a decent mortgage though!

Dont think Pat will want to live in Tony's dream home

I would. Passive houses are huge here, my friend built one about 15 years ago and it's brilliant. One really really good aspect is because you have no radiators, you're not restricted in where you put your furniture. Pat is pretty eco conscious, why wouldn't she be interested?

I was at a meeting yesterday evening so I've only just listened, but what a bitch Helen is. Not just about 'oh I have to get the house cheap because I'm wonderful me' but her sudden obsession with sexy Rexy (and that needed a trigger warning) - sounded very like her deciding to want something she never wanted before just because Kirsty has (or could have) it.

Tony's quite right about the buck goat, a straw of top quality semen would have been a better buy, and by next year they'll a choice of bucks of their own.

Good to hear about Peggy and Brenda.

Yes I thought it was odd that they were buying a buck and the fact they hid the price suggests they also knew it was odd but they have to indulge Helens children I suppose

I'm going to assume Kirsty doesn’t even have a deposit to keep for any damage Helen has done

on the housing situation - if they buy Kirsty’s house for Tom and Natasha that would probably be better. I can imagine the farmhouse isn’t very modern.

I thought it interesting that Tony had already identified that it may make Tom feel less loved - I’m not sure we’ve seen that acknowledged before? I tend to sympathise with Tom because it does feel like he is the lesser sibling in his parents eyes and ‘fiercely independent’ Helen sucks up all the help and attention

We never kept goats (although I would love to, they're one of my favorite animals), but on my family's farm the AI man would just come round to inseminate the cows. The only times we had a bull were if we leant a field to a neighbour. I don't remember with sheep, but we definitely didn't have a ram so I'm guessing similar.

I hope we don't have a SL where Tony is proved right because the buck can't perform.

Is 750 going to be a premium goat or an old man goat? Do they already have female goats then?

I thought it interesting that Tony had already identified that it may make Tom feel less loved - I’m not sure we’ve seen that acknowledged before? I tend to sympathise with Tom because it does feel like he is the lesser sibling in his parents eyes and ‘fiercely independent’ Helen sucks up all the help and attention

Tony's been through it all with Peggy changing her will, so he is aware of how it can feel.

What on earth has Helen done to Kirsty's house that necessitates extensive repairs? She only moved in about 3 years ago and presumably it has an NHBC warranty to cover anything serious (disclaimer - I'm not sure I've every lived in a house younger than pre-war). Come back Brenda; she was great and I bet she'd see right through Justin!

I do seem to remember that Pat bought some goats a few years ago (so would have presumably bred from them every year). Odd, but not as odd as when they magic'd up the orchard behind the tearooms.

I get the feeling they forgot about Peggy's birthday and recorded those conversations later. It seems odd to be baking a cake ON the birthday, not a couple of days in advance.

Justin - who will have reverted to type by then - will have them all turned into hats.

I do seem to remember that Pat bought some goats a few years ago (so would have presumably bred from them every year). Odd, but not as odd as when they magic'd up the orchard behind the tearooms.

I believe the thing about goats is that they carry on giving milk forever, without having to give birth.