Archers thread #181: Panto Week's behind you! Was that the nadir? Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

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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.)

Will it be onwards and upwards for TA now, or do we fear even more of these special weeks (Martin and a Christmas Carol, Scam Week, Panto Week) and sudden reinventions of long-established characters (Neil)? I for one have had enough of all that. I want a quiet period of change counting in the village shop, farming talk with suitable sound effects and village gossip over coffee at Terum or a pint in The Bull. Slowly developing storylines featuring the full cast, not a subset for a few weeks with no mention of the others, and all behaving in character. Not holding my breath we'll get any of that, though!

Over to you.

I'm bored now.

The only thing mildly interesting is how Zainab will next deploy her superhuman manipulative skills. Is this the same Zainab who went to pieces over the sewage-damaged photos?

Different writer this week. That was Keri Davies' Zainab, this is Avin Shah's.

Controversially (or so it appears on MN) I have no problem with Zainab or her brother. They are both extremely UnAmbridgian, which is to be expected what with having come from so far away (was it, shock horror, Solihull?) where not everyone is a close blood relative. This is very much Not A Bad Thing. I laughed at Zainab's interaction with Natasha and also thought she handled making friends with Brad (after Chelsea's interference) rather well.

She just needs to leave home. One could say that this is a problem for all teenagers in Ambridge, apart from Pirate Johnny.

Fgs I'm being forced to agree with Lilian. You don't speak to customers like that.

I didn't get what Fallon and Natasha found so funny - it wasn't like Fallon had dished out a scathing or witty put down to the customers.

And a pancake eating competition. Really?

The pancake eating competition is just silly. No one wants to participate and now they only person who does needs it to take place after normal closing hours to comply with Ramadan. Surely the tearoom needs something to win back customers in the day? Now they’ll be up against The Bulll’s pancake menu. In addition Zainab is going to clash with her mum and Lynda who are making careful preparations for them all at Ambridge Hall. Natasha had it right last night when the penny finally dropped that Fallon actually was the tearoom and now she’s at The Bull she’s taken her following with her. The sewage spill is just the final nail in the coffin.

What will we do this evening? I know you're giving up drink for Lent so we could go to the Bull for a last glass or two, and see what their fantastic new chef does with pancakes, and enjoy the pleasant country pub ambience, or we could go to that farm place that has been going downhill lately and then had the sewage inundation?

Do we need to toss a coin? No? okay

Given those options, I'd take into account that The Bull would involve listening to the less-than-dulcet tones of Kenton, Jolene and Fagash and would stay at home with a decent bottle of wine and make my own pancakes.

For goodness sake - yet again I had to catch up, only to rack up another list of annoyances. How on earth does top businesswoman Natasha think it’s even remotely reasonable to fly into a tantrum over a rival business doing exactly what a rival business does? And yes, the giggling with Fallon (before she started getting annoyed with her) was just bizarre - not funny in the least.

Ah well. I suppose Natasha might have met her match in the awful Zainab. Perhaps the SWs could pit her against Justin next. He needs taking down several pegs and I’m sure Zainab would be well able to do it, judging by her success rate so far.

I think Natasha wouldn't give a flying fig if the boot was on the other foot.

Oh, of course she wouldn’t. And she’d say something smug like 'all's fair in love and business'.

I expect the idiotic Fallon will now be telling people how bad she feels for kicking 'poor Natasha' when she’s down, though.

I also found Zainab getting Brad to tell N no very refreshing! Ambridge needs more straight talking.

Pancake eating competition sounds revolting to behold.

Natasha is such a CF but in a very believable way.

Did I miss the discussion of whether a survey of drains is a real thing? Is it?

IMO Kirsty needs to tell them all to fuck off and put her house back up for sale.

I agree and I hope (but doubt) that Brad will see that he can be assertive and focus on himself rather than be a pushover for others.

If Kirsty loses Willow Farm she’ll surely have to move into her own house?

There are always single residents or couples needing lodgings in the village - money and company combined for her.

But it’s going to mean a ferocious scramble for possession of the Bridge Farm house!

On the Beechpoo estate.

i bucked my trend of not listening. hahahahahaha Natasha expecting loyalty from an "ex employee" rather than the ex-owner she shafted out of her own business. hahahahahahaha

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g - we're filling the thread!

IMO Kirsty needs to tell them all to fuck off and put her house back up for sale. She's after a super-quick sale, so tell the buyers to fuck off and put the now poo-flood damaged dwelling back on the market.

Thanks for the heads up. Hoping new thread won't be needed until tonight at the earliest, but will keep checking.

Hope you’re doing ok @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g.

Thanks, @Abra1t. Tricky times here but I'm going home soon, which I'm looking forward to.

Did I miss the discussion of whether a survey of drains is a real thing? Is it?

It certainly is in the sense that you can put cameras down and work out where things feed into the various ’arms’ (legs?) of your drainage system. We had to have that done because of invasive tree roots.

Ultimately it’s not a problem with the drains but further up the system surely? Don’t they need the water company to resolve etc

How is a pancake-eating competition on-brand for the teerum?

Given the state of the place, "Get them down before you gag" would be a great slogan.