Archers thread #177: Will Bridge Farm get a PassiveAggressivHaus? 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 have a moribund camper van parked indefinitely outside your home, 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.)

Over to you!

It has to be said that Pat's uncle, Haydn Evans, couldn't have been more Welsh if he'd tried for a week with both hands. Pat's surname was Lewis, so he must have been her mother's brother, I suppose, but none the less Welsh for that.

Rob married an Archer and had one brother; how does that fit in?

One of the things my mother never factored into her obsession with ironing is that manufacturers have invested huge sums in changing the formulation of fabrics and the design of washing machines so that clothes emerge from the latter far less creased than in days of yore. I don't know if they do it now but for a long time some garments were sold as drip dry or non-iron and the washing instructions said not to iron them as it would shorten the life of the garment. I don't imagine my mother ever read the instructions. She certainly never paid them any heed.

It’s good at getting clothes dry for the generation who grew up before tumble dryers and central heating.

I’ve been separated from my iron for most of this year, (household goods in storage) and cannot tell you how overjoyed I was to be reunited with it recently. Despite being in my 60s I did grow up with both a tumble dryer and central heating - but for my entire adult life I’ve ironed pretty much every garment I’ve left the house in with any intention of looking presentable.

But MN has taught me that a large proportion of the population does now mostly wear fabrics that don’t demand ironing. It seems weird to me - I wouldn’t know I was getting ‘dressed’ if there wasn’t ironing to do.

And her brilliant organising only to palm it off on ian.

What has Joy palmed off onto Ian? When they were talking about him organising something, I thought it was the school fair in his capacity as PTA enthusiast.

the young 'uns at my work proudly don't iron anything and tell me there is no difference. But there is, and i (ex Army, and like ironing - also nicely ironed clothes hang better in the wardrobe and don't take up so much drawer space when folded, aside from looking neat) whenever they stand next to me there is often a bit of sheepish "oh, when we visit customers we need to make sure we're pressed and smart" type of chat.

I iron tea-towels especially (even though they get washed at 95°) for the sterilizing effect of hot steam. Just in case.

I was thinking along similar lines. Once upon a time David and Ruth were running the farm on their own in addition to wrangling three children, with some diminishing help from Phil. But now, despite having Pip and Josh. working there plus occasional help from Ben, they're constantly run off their feet and there's massive huffing and puffing at the thought of sparing a tiny bit of time to help Leonard.

My view these days is that the only thing that actually needs ironing is linen, and that's a complete waste of time as by the time you've had it on for 10 minutes it needs ironing again.

Isatis
What has Joy palmed off onto Ian?

Joy palmed off onto Ian the organising of the village trip to the panto in town, I think.

Isatis
Once upon a time David and Ruth were running the farm on their own in addition to wrangling three children, with some diminishing help from Phil.

They had Neil working there for much of that time, and Bert Fry until recently.

I feel sad if I have not ironed my pillowcase, but that's because I miss the lovely smell of ironed pillowcase on the first night that it is on the bed.

Funnily enough I really enjoy ironing while listening to the radio - a mindless task which enables me to really focus on what I am listening to. When engrossed in a good play or podcast - especially The Archers omnibus - I have been known to seek out more items to iron when I reach the bottom of the pile. My mum is the same. Presumably Jill doesn’t have that option (of listening to The Archers!)

When I was a teenager I used to do the family ironing while listening to Pick of the Pops. This was presented by my mother as her doing me an enormous favour, though nobody believed her.

When I was working I used to do the house and laundry at the weekend. I did the ironing Sunday morning listening to the Archers omnibus (hate the theme tune). Now Im retired I listern to the Archers everyday and listern to an audio book when I do ironing.

I'm with you @Brefugee re ironing. Two of my grandsons learned to iron and press uniforms in Air Cadets.

... and they were a lot younger. David is 65 now and Ruth is 56. The physical work and long hours on a medium-sized farm must surely take more toll on older farmers.

Properly ironed bed linen (especially if it’s actual linen) is one of the things we were put on this earth to relish. Like … the first page of a Patrick White novel, or taking small niblings to contemporary plays, or breakfasting on truffle flavoured crips and brown butter mince pies on Christmas morning - or The Archers when it’s good.

I now know shame as I had never heard of Patrick White and immediately thought of Patrick O'Brian (at which point my eyes may have rolled). I've just reserved Happy Valley at the library!

Growing up in the 50s, I remember when the first nylon shirts appeared, loved for their non-iron properties and hated for their tendency to go yellow. My school banned them, which is the main reason I and many of my friends wore them

I can also remember drip dry/non-iron - wasn’t That the first appearance of polyester-cotton?

people do slow up in their 60s. It starts to feel good to have a little sit down before the next job, and not to go out in the evening if you’ve already been out to som sort of an event in the morning and the afternoon.

My pillowcases smell of the bars of soap I store in the linen chest. But they’re ironed. Pillowcases, tablecloths and handkerchiefs are what I iron.

Isn’t Christmas morning breakfast the entire chocolate contents of your stocking?

I don't own a tablecloth and use tissues rather than cloth handkerchiefs, but I agree that those would be the other things I would iron if I used them.

(I tend to squirrel away any chocolate in case I feel the need for it over New Year.)

Now worrying that I have no memory at all of Happy Valley - but it may be good to begin with his early work. Voss would be a stellar escape from too much Christmas jollity, though …

And The Tree of Man the very best palate cleanser for a new year.

(I should warn they’re not all quite as genius as those.)

He was a wrong 'un, Brian, Nigel and Alistair have one sister.
Mark was an only child.
Can't remember if Auntie Chris's or Lil's husbands had siblings.
Justin and Toe B don't count as they didn't marry the Archer in question.

Aldridge husbands were all wrong 'uns apart from Kristiffur and Ian. Ian has brothers so might be a wrong 'un too.

Pat's uncle is dead, and I don't recall any progeny.

"Sausage and Kale stew"
🙀

FlyingFlapjack
Aldridge husbands were all wrong 'uns apart from Kristiffur and Ian. Ian has brothers so might be a wrong 'un too.

I dispute that Lucas (who was not an only child) was a wrong'un: Kate elected to sleep around, and eventually he'd had enough of her behaviour and threw her out, but he was definitely more sinned against than sinning, and put up with her for many years.

FlyingFlapjack
Pat's uncle is dead, and I don't recall any progeny.

Haydn Evans had children Gwyn, for whom Haydn had bought Willow Farm (but he eloped with Angela Cooper and went to live in Vancouver) and Dylan, who was a nogoodnik who came to Ambridge briefly, borrowed a lot of money and then went off owing it.

i inherited lots of white tablecloths with embroidery or lace edging. My kids won’t want them, so I’m using them, and they’re giving pleasure on a daily basis.

"Sausage and Kale stew"🙀 Yep. Roughly my feelings. Useful stuff to add greenery to a meal, but I can’t imagine saying “ooh, I’d love some kale for tea”

DH and I are completely puzzled. Kirsty doesn’t want to live in the Beechwood house because Philip. So she’s living in Roy’s house. But Roy has gone to join his lady love and is selling up. So Kirsty is looking to buy somewhere to live and is selling the Beechwood house. Helen is living in the Beechwood house but can’t afford to buy it.

Last thing we heard Natasha say was “how about me and Tom make you an offer?” An offer on what? Does Helen own another property and that’s what she’s selling? But isn’t it the Beechwood ”executive home” that Natasha wants? So why is she talking about making an offer to Helen when it’s Kirsty that’s selling it?