Archers thread #179: Beavers, livestock, ferrets, but nododo! 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 be happy sharing a hot tub with Mucky Mick, 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.)

The title started life with @JanglyBeads, whose autocorrect turned 'Oh no, nor do I!' into 'Oh no, nododo I!' on the last thread. For reasons of cowardice/prudence/lack of inspiration and the character limit, I haven't included @BeaLola's even more mysterious autocorrect - her phone had her asking Abdul if he'd always wanted children instead of Neil. Perhaps one of the mooted beavers can be Abdul.

For the first time ever I've added a poll to the OP. Over to you!

😂

Is Ruth going to charge Rochelle for the barn hire?

What is the "movement" thing Chelsea is going to do?

Rochelle is not my favorite. I think her and Kirsty are going to go head to head over Rex, not that kirsty fancys Rex, but being just a good friend.
Rochelle is her Mother's daughter that's for sure.
I hope that Fallon and Kirsty start going out together on the pull.
Hope Kahil and his sister go permanently to stay with their dad.

I think Harrison will have a one or two night stand and she will get pregnant.

He will have his baby.

Also - picking Yorkshire , a force that recently moved a big case etc - the grooming gangs?

She’ll be his Baby-Ma’ama

Rochelle is clearly here for a while if she’s booking an event in Feb. I don’t know if I really care about the back story but wonder if she’s just really full on.

Agreed. Nobody does that (except Lynda maybe). And look out Rex!

The grooming gangs was my thought but nobody else agreed with me.

I think they put him in Yorkshire because they forgot he’s from Lancashire? And he’ll realise how homesick he’s been and want to stay

rochelle is as annoying as her mother and I’d rather she hadn’t shown up but Rex is being pretty rude.

I don’t think Rex is being rude. He has been warned that Rochelle is not what she seems and that, combined with the persistent calling, is enough for him to want to leave well alone. He knows lots of people in the village so he really doesn’t need a new needy/demanding acquaintance.

Tonight will see Brian having a crash course in learning to play contract Bridge. I’m looking forward to it- I wonder who he will enlist to help. Who else in the village plays? May be the Snells? He’s got 2 days to learn how to bid properly - I am sure M will be a stickler for making the right calls. Poor Brian…

I don't think Rex is being rude to Rochelle either. He was just being friendly at his party and she took it to mean more. He didn't realise until he was told and now he's trying to distance himself and not lead her on.

Tbf he was going to ask her out until joy warned him off. So he has sent mixed messages. Wasn’t that the point of the barge party?

i just don’t think he has to completely ignore her - he could give her a gentle brush off.

Rochelle is intense (like her mother) so is going to make for a very irritating character

how many people are going to pitch up at her taster session? Most people in the village are surely aware of all of these businesses

Last night felt like a revision course on Ambridge - Is that Brookfield I can see from Lakey Hill? With beef and dairy cows (300+ dairy and let's throw in an explanation of silage for good measure). Don't forget the events barn and also that some of the rewilding land is Brookfield land. And can you just outline some of the activities on offer in the village and remind us what Kate does at Spiritual Home.
Rex has clearly heeded Joy's warning to steer clear of Rochelle - I'm rapidly losing interest in why that might be. I much preferred the Schrodinger's cat version of Rochelle (not sure if that's entirely the right use of the term, but I preferred the possibilities she offered than the reality of her). I can't bear Miranda and I can't believe that Brian would be interested in her - she doesn't strike me as his type at all. I've never heard of him playing Bridge (@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime I'm prepared to be be corrected on this) so I'm not sure how he's going to swot up on it before Wednesday or indeed why he would want to. If the SWs are so keen to introduce new characters then I don't understand for the life of me why they didn't bring the Gills into play when they bought Home Farm.

Oh I dunno - Brian may surprise us with his Bridge skills! It seems very much the sort of thing the Borchester Life set would have engaged in as a regular social pastime in the 70s / 80s - so something Jenny might have dragged him to, or even hosted. I bet he’s just a bit rusty …

Lilian is probably an expert Bridge player. What else would she have been doing during all those tax exile years?

Love the idea of the Schrödinger's cat version of Rochelle and agree with @LillianGish that I prefer that version to the reality. I'd like Rochelle to get back in her box but I think we are stuck with her for a while.

I assume we will find out her (or Joy's) dirty secret eventually. Perhaps the event she is planning will provide the opportunity for the big reveal but I just wish it was sooner than February. I think the SWs believe they have struck gold with the whole Rochelle mystery and are going to drag it out as long as possible.

On the assumption that the SWs read what people write about their carp on SM, maybe we should stop mentioning the R-name character in the (probably vain) hope that they take the hint and put her back in the box of failed ideas from whence she came.

Given how long they’ve had to think about it I feel we have a right to expect at least a Custardgate level of slow burn spectacularity.

Don’t encourage them!

Question on my mind.. will Harrison meet someone else when on secondment up North?! If he wants kids so much he shouldn't be married to someone who doesn't..

Fingers crossed, @SnowFrogJelly, fingers crossed …

😂

Maybe something about Boiling Beavers in next thread title?!
I agree I think Rochelle is giving stalkerish vibes. Too friendly way too soon.

That’s Joy as well

LillianGish
I've never heard of [Brian] playing Bridge so I'm not sure how he's going to swot up on it before Wednesday or indeed why he would want to.

I have never heard Brian mention Bridge. Come to think of it, I don't remember Bridge ever being mentioned at all, though surely it must have been!

(After checking: yes, it has! Coo.)
Friday 31st October, 2014
Jill returns to Brookfield and tells Ruth and David of her Bridge lesson with Carol.

Wednesday 23rd September, 2015
Jennifer is unconvinced and insists on giving Peggy a lift to her Bridge session at Carol's, where she is sure to encounter Hester.

So Carol had a bridge school at one point, but Jennifer was not involved in it, which to me suggests she didn't play. And if she didn't I'd bet Brian didn't either, because she was the sort of wife that if he did, she would.

I would normally have described Joy and Rochelle as "over sharers" - except, clearly, they aren't.