Archers thread #183: The Scorekeeper's Apprentice. 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 share 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.)

Credit for the title goes to @TottersBlankly who suggested it and @BeatriceBatchelor who coined this lovely phrase. (It's led me to take a look at the Wikipedia page for The Sorcerer's Apprentice. I had not known before that the animation in Fantasia that goes with the Dukas symphonic tone poem is more or less unadulterated Goethe, and the story goes back to ancient times. You learn something every day.)

At the end of the last thread, there was an apocalyptic tone as we were all bemoaning the lack of continuity and farming storylines (especially lambing, which used to be a big theme at this time of year). Are there any reasons to be cheerful? (Not just Part 3 - another reference for the older listeners here. ) Over to you!

Wrong quote

Where do you get 45 from? She was 15 in the late 90s. That's 97,98 and 99. That makes her between 41 to 43

I googled heatwaves and the only one in the 90s was 1995 (yes I was bored and unconvinced there had been a heatwave tbh)

Also i’m sure she said mid 90s

No, definitely late 90s.

Hmm, well if poor old elvis died in a heatwave it had to be 1995

so given Rex has forgotten joys warning is there going to be a rapprochement?

I doubt very much that whether or not there was an actual heatwave in the late 1990s has any relevance. I doubt the SWs checked.

Well in my mind she will always be 45…

although in archer land I find you have to halve their actual age and add 10 to get to the age they act

This is what's so unrealistic. People would comment on it. No one even seems that bothered about Rochelle not attending her own "wellness event". But then when joy turned up a few years ago no one also asked her anything about why she'd moved to ambridge or even made any comment about another Geordie moving there, which is a bit odd considering she has no connection with Ambridge and it's rather a long way from the north east. It just doesn't work well with random blow ins turning up for no reason.

I thought Rochelle said she was 15 mid-90s, but I don't care enough to listen again.

Rex has been in TA for 10 years, and he's the older of the 2 brothers. I think they were about mid-20s when they arrived, which would mean mid-30s now.

I listened - she definitely said late 90s.

Someone posted a calculation of Rex's age from a reference to a birthday scene. He's coming up 38.

Talking of age I'm about the same age as Clarrie and I wouldn't want to work packing in a meat factory or help out in a kitchen. I've worked in catering and it's not for the faint hearted or a 70+ year old. Why isn't Eddie packing in Caseys meats anyway. What does he do all day.

Yes! They're both of state pension age and getting a huge house at well below market rent. Wouldn't they be eligible for pension credit if they have no other pension income or savings? Actually, Clarrie should have some sort of pension through her Bridge Farm job, shouldn't she? Unless they're too small to have to have a workplace pension, I suppose.

I'm puzzled by the reference to the lambs being separated from their mothers. That's not my experience. They can make quite a racket when they're separated temporarily for check ups etc.

I think he was odd, we never got to know him, and his personality changed halfway through. One minute he was ruthlessly efficient, and the next he had caused a massive problem by fully dropping the ball. I think it must’ve been due to storylines changing with short notice due to Roy’s actor, sadly.

I was wondering why Eddie isn’t taking the nasty chicken factory job rather than Clarrie.

well Gossip is bad and no one should do it so I guess the sw are saving us from negative traits

although interesting that Joy is always described as being a gossip but has never said anything interesting

isnt Eddie still laying patios all day?

bridge farm will have had to make contribution of 8% or maybe more now (half can come from employee) to a government pension scheme called NEST. I had to do it for my nanny so can’t see how they could get away with not doing it?

on clarrie working - I go back to my age point - everyone acts younger - half the age add 10 would make clarrie late 40s!

I find it odd that say Susan isn’t challenging Rochelle more. I feel like Kate would prod her more (no standing on ceremony there) but I suppose their paths need to cross.

Ruth might, if she heard she was back, as they’ve interacted about the barn so know each other.

Ambridge is weirdly gossip-free. Way back when Helen and Rob were in their early days of adulterous lust no-one noticed cars parked in odd places at odd hours. That just isn't how small rural communities work. For good or ill, there are lots of people out there who know who owns which car and will spot if it turns up somewhere unexpected.

Previously unknown adult offspring with vague and inconsistent backstories would be a great challenge to the community theorists.

Which reminds me, I must check the RIP website before I head off to the coffee morning layer so I know what people will be using as the kick-off points for conversation.

Gossip gets a bad rap as it can be quite nasty but it is also a way for people to learn about each other and build relationships

plus the shame element used to be an effective way of getting people to police their own behaviour

the sw don’t seem to want to give us negative personality traits

eg Zainab is extremely annoying but I think they think she is a strong and confident woman only

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g I’ve never understood why money continued to be such an issue for Clarke and Eddie. As you say two state pensions, a horse on a peppercorn rent and jobs as well.

The 'gossip' arising out of the death notices is all about tracing connections - where people lived, who they were related to, which of their connections various of us would have been to school with or worked with or shopped with (small market town, coffee morning group includes retired teachers, local government workers, nurses) - all interesting in a not-very-exciting way and helping keep the glue that holds society together strong.

Also insert periodic grumble about the shortage of teachers, local government workers and nurses in Ambridge. People who grow up on farms and want to stay living in the general area they grew up in take all sorts of easy-commute jobs in nearby market towns, it isn't all the chicken factory and the slaughterhouse.

Also, Clarrie has a pension, why does the poor woman also have to have a job?

No, I didn't mean where is the gossip in the malicious sense. More the general chit chat and interest. Rochelle is new to the village, strange circumstances and seems to be getting herself involved and known to everyone. Yet no one has anything to say. Even Susan. It's what her character is known for!

i meant all gossip too - there isn’t any of it at all - good or bad!!

Joy and Ruth may well be related but no one knows because they show no curiosity at all!!

Also, does Rochelle know about the on the spot story Mick made up about Joy going to see an Aunt? Was she there when he said that? As SURELY by the second day in the shop, Susan would ask Rochelle about that as just a polite "how is your Aunt doing?". They must have so time where the shop is quiet.

Re the sandwiches: I'm sure we heard Susan telling Rochelle to check the dates on perishable products and put the oldest at the front of the display. So it's really difficult to understand how she managed to put out a whole boxful of over date sandwiches without noticing.

I'm hoping Clarrie is using her notice period at the dairy by noting down all Helen's recipes and techniques, ready to take them to her business rivals. It would be hilarious if she walked into a job with that woman whose cheeses Helen slagged off when she was cheese judge.