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!

If Joy and Mick then thought that Tom's request was unreasonable they should have said so and worked out a compromise

I didn’t really clock this as being a serious request from Tom. If someone said it to me, I would just say ‘sure, of course’ and not take any notice/change anything. I’m not noisy and if I want to listen to my Springsteen vinyls at a decent volume in the evening then I will. Not late into the night, not every night and not at party level but Tom would struggle to prevent me from enjoying normal, everyday life in my own home.

Agree that getting kids used to sleeping with noise is important but I also know the irrationality of those terrorised by bad sleepers!!

perhaps Tom had the hot tub in mind because Helen must have complained about that a lot at the time and seeing mick in his hand towel may have jogged that memory. But it’s certainly an odd thing to bring up before finding out if there’s even an issue.

I thought the houses were detached - not that it stops loud noises but it certainly reduces things like the TV etc spreading

also, how many outhouses would you have in the garden of an executive home?

there’s clearly going to be a falling out and Helen will hightail it to the farmhouse on a ‘temporary’ basis but will end up staying forever

how is she expecting to meet a new fella?

I suspect that any noise nuisance between those two houses will be going in the other direction, what with three adults and four children including a pair of two-year-olds and Natasha!

Why can't Helen move into the house Tomtit and Gnasher are moving out of?

Apparently it’s tiny

Quite. Her clicky heels alone ...

Oh please. Oh please ...

Didn't Tom initially offer that as a potential solution but Helen refused and was offended, because it was too small for Tom and family so would be far too small for her and the boys?
Not quite sure why she now thinks them all living together will work...
I assumed the houses were detached with at least 5 bedrooms because Natasha referred to it as an executive home, I don't get why Tom is worried about noise, maybe he means outside DIY after 7 pm?

It was perfect when the ghastly pair moved in.

Likeable and not on above list: Jim, Neil, Jakob, Chris, Hannah (ish)

Not Susan - fabulous character, but not likeable
Nobody at Brookfield
Nobody at Lower Loxley
Nobody at Bridge Farm
None of the Home Farm bunch and their partners except Jakob and Chris
Nobody at Grange Farm
Nobody at The Bull
I don't warm to Alan - wishy washy character - and Usha is not my cup of tea either (not that we hear from her much now)
Not Alistair, not Denise, not Paul
Nobody unmentioned as yet who lives in Beechwood

Many of the above are fabulously unlikeable, and some are neither likeable nor enjoyable to listen to.

Forgot Stella (as the SWs seem to have done - months since we last heard her). I quite like her.

I think they're detached. Joy wouldn't have complained about the sound of children- although that might change.

How many rooms does Kirsty’s new house have? I suspect Helen will end up there…

... and if it's not big enough for Helen and the two boys to have a room each, Kirsty will just have to move into the shed.

It will be the hot tub at dusk noise! I am looking forward to it even though I really don't like Joy or Tom and Tasha. Or Mick.

Yes likeable is the wrong word really. Those I want to hear more of maybe. Tom and Helen are consistently written I think. (When Joy referred to toddler tantrums was she actually referring to that pair - she may as well have been).

I have always liked Paul and don't blame him for his upset at his mum and Alistair.

You see Helen is pompous (so she ended up with knob Titchener) and she is really dull (see Lee).

Tom is outrageously delusional and self-centred. See Natasha.

The only way Joy and Mick make sense is if we don't really know Joy's character. Maybe we don't.

I think Joy is a big fake tbh. Can’t bear her

I hope Joy finishes her 100 piece jigsaw of the Ponte Vecchio and travels off to Italy with Mick permanently.

Revenge is a dish best eaten cold, it is said. Joy only has to wait a little until the rows and shouting start, which sets of the screaming babies……………

The ‘Joy and Mick’ show last night eft me wondering if the whole point of them all being drafted into Ambridge is for a big story line which we are just coming into now.

Why can’t Joy go to Tuscany? She seems affluent enough to afford a holiday and Camper Mick seems the type to not worry about budgeting for travel - he seems to plead poverty but must be on a sensible salary as ‘head of security’ with no real out goings… I wonder if she’s not allowed to leave the country…

Although the hot tub must cost a fortune if they are only heating it everyone they want to use it. Maybe that’s why they can’t afford Tuscany.

I would hate to live next to a hot tub

yes that was odd - what sort of things would stop her being able to travel abroad? Maybe she’s on the FBIs most wanted list. Or a terrorist watch list. Maybe she used to be in an OCG and is now on the run

Well it's taken me a long time to start to warm to Mick but after his inspired observation last night I don't think he's all bad. "Bit of a prat, Helen's brother." Never a truer word spoken, Mick.

I'm really confused about the key.... which key was it? Was it a spare for the Helen/Kirsty/Tom house? I'm so confused 😆

Agree about hot tubs, they are such a noise nuisance. TBF to Tom I expect Helen has mentioned it a few times, didn't she used to overhear them having a....nice time in it?🤮

The key was Helen's spare in case the boys were locked out. Presumably Henry comes home on the bus on his own. I'm not sure how old Jack is.