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!

Ooh I’m a corrie watcher.

He has gone deep.

Actually - was Brian just being consciously gentlemanly (with an undercurrent of sarcasm) in his response to Miranda’s climate reflections? He did rather need to keep her sweet at that moment, so she’d agree to his plans. (Can’t imagine how many in depth conversations on global warming and local farming conditions he must have had with his family over the years!)

Has Helen got a mind?

Yes. Orders will pick up in 6 months and they won’t be able to keep up and Helen will be moping around ‘I just don’t know what to do. How can we get all this work done?’

... and nobody will say "Well, Helen, you'll just have to do it yourself".

Pat and Tony will wring their hands ‘oh gosh, what if Helen takes on the extra work herself, she’s so doggedly independent but it’s just too much for her. Maybe you could help out before you get up for the cows Tony? A little less sleep won’t do you any harm’

@Bruisername 😂😂😂

Damning of the prison system if the only thing he has to do is work out

I hope he doesn’t come out a wrong un. The relationship between George and the others would be far better without added tension of him being a criminal. Hopefully he’s just going to be a bit of a wheeler dealer like Eddie.

do they really give a full tour to people they employ for packing? So she is an activist. The affair potential is a red herring

I’m not happy. Freddie is suffering from spidey senses, and he’s been through all that before, as a child, with his Mother and Roy. And Hayley. It’ll be so much worse if his mother has to be the wronged woman.

Is there any chance we’ll later discover that Vince is spending his evening engaging a private investigator to look into Rochelle? Nope? Didn’t think so …

I wondered if Rochelle was pregnant by goodness knows whom and was thinking, if she got her act together, she might claim it was Vince's. Can't believe she's started a job like that when the interview was only Friday. Freddie knows something is awry. And I wouldn't trust her with knives.

I’m sure there is more to do in prison than working out. I think what George meant was there isn’t anything else he is interested in doing. I can’t see him signing up for a creative writing workshop or studying for a qualification. The eco coffin business chat was quite random. He said his idea would enable him to help the family financially - how is he going to help whilst in prison? Eddie will not be able to get the business of the ground. I suppose Our Mia will be impressed with the idea.

I was a little concerned that the job offer seemed to come with no checks, no references … Find it hard to believe that abattoirs operate so casually - what with all the knives.

I’m now willing to bet Rochelle has been in prison, though she really doesn’t strike me as the Just Stop Oil type - I’d have assumed basic theft or scamming pensioners out of their savings …

George could set up a Zoom call with, I dunno, maybe Brian and Lynda and Jim, about the Green Burial Ground in the village …

No doubt that’s what the SW has in mind.

Can he, from prison? This is a serious question because I have no idea what is and is not allowed in the way of Zoom and the like. But I would have thought setting it up with his one phone call a day, or however many it is, might be a problem. Would he even have numbers for Brian, Lynda and Jim? (And do these wrinklies do Zoom, or are they a tad more security-conscious than that?)

Abattoirs don't employ someone like that, with no checking. I worked in one as a holiday job from university, 40+ years ago, and even then they checked up. They don't want nutters and maniacs loose on the premises. Rochelle could be bothered.

...both...🙄

I think prisoners have to pay for their phone calls, which are presumably monitored at random. I can't see them being allowed Zoom - even I (not yet a hardened criminal) could work out some sort of code involving winks and gestures to make nefarious plans.

So, is Rochelle's long absence a result of her having been in prison for violent activism? If so, does Joy know?

I must say I haven't taken to Rochelle, although (controversially, it seems) I have no strong feelings about Joy. Mick is just a dullard who appears to mean well.

Sounds like it. I hope Freddie noticed she was being very weird.

Is George doing steroids to bulk up like that?

Sorry - was being a bit facetious re Zoom calls from prison!

But I was serious about the green burial site in Ambridge - which the SWs haven’t mentioned for years.

The SWs haven't mentioned George's father for months.

Indeed! I'm rather hoping he was drowned in The Great Poonami and that nobody has noticed.

Ed mentioned Will on Sunday and said he was very ill (flu I think) which is why he couldn’t visit George or help with the emergency tree job.

Will having flu and so not being able to visit was the most believable part as the bruiser household has been sick with flu the past week

Oh. Of course. Here’s George worrying about his grandpa being at death’s door. But it’s his father who’s ill. And Ed said it was nothing, and Will would be fine.

That would be a sucker punch.

Early customer for a cardboard coffin, though …