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Archers thread #184: It’s a shambles! And we don’t mean Casey Meats. Discuss The Archers here.

992 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/04/2025 12:03

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

Archers 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're looking forward to Morris dancing on the radio, or other unusual views. Grin

Archers 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!

Archers 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.)

Right, to business. I can't say I'm delighted that the focus is on Rochelle and Casey Meats at the moment, because I'm not. All far too peripheral to Ambridge and too new. As I say ad nauseam, more farming storylines please, and where are all the long-standing members of the cast? The discussion about inheritance tax in The Bull the other night was a bit clunky, but what a refreshing change to hear two familiar voices, both farmers, talking about farming-related stuff, even if BBC balance meant they had to be challenged by two non-farmers, and even if it is months after the Budget introduced these changes. Ah well.

I was tempted to put one of my Dad's terrible jokes into the thread title as an oblique reference to George's coffin-making idea, but it wouldn't have made sense to anyone else. He loved referring to the cemetery as the Dead Centre of the island, so I was pondering something about Grange Farm becoming the Dead Centre of Ambridge. It could happen yet. Emma and Ed could provide willow branches and Clarrie could sit in the kitchen weaving them. Surely it must be similar to knitting?

Finally, if the SWs are lurking and looking for new storylines, it's been very dry recently and there have been lots of wildfires in rural areas. There was a bad one on Gaspmother Island a few days ago. Many farmers are very worried about this at the moment, as reported on Farming Today last week. But what am I thinking! This is a story that only works in a rural setting, so in the current incarnation of TA, it's not soapy enough. Hmm

Over to you!

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NetballHoop · 02/05/2025 16:15

@Brefugee
"Joy can sell her house to Helen (who will HATE) the mismatched kitchen"

Helen would probably make TomNTash rent Joy's house while she rents theirs.

bloodredfeaturewall · 02/05/2025 16:39

rochelle deep undercover?

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/05/2025 16:43

bloodredfeaturewall · 02/05/2025 16:39

rochelle deep undercover?

That is a thought that has crossed my mind too.

OP posts:
Madcats · 02/05/2025 16:46

Excellent pictures. With it being a BH weekend the local shops are doing big promos on barbecue food down here, so I expect that meat sales are up.

Was Helen hoping to sell artisan cheese and yoghurt to a state school chain of academies? I wasn’t entirely sure why Rex was there, but no Neil/Hannah/Justin? I always envisage David to be of Jeremy Clarkson height/proportions and didn’t Rex used to be a professional rugby player; surely they could/would have had no hesitation in tackling the protesters?

Let’s hope that the VE Day celebrations give us some Horville respite!

MissMarplesNiece · 02/05/2025 16:52

PassivAggressivHaus · 02/05/2025 15:04

We've not got one of those. Lots of barbers and nail bars.
Lots of dodgy-looking eating places. Some eating places look good.
Takeaways are very cheap here, and the ones I've tried were inedible.

Edited

Maybe UK Fried Chicken, which seems to be on every High Street where I live, will be in the process of taking over one of the empty shops. And there must be a Bob Shop somewhere in Felpersham - open 24 hours, obvious from the other end of the street because of the flashing coloured lights and the mountains of plastc wrapped bottled water outside the door. Handy for illegal cigarettes, vapes and nitrous oxide cannisters. A Bob Shop near to me had its windows shot out in a Bob Shop related gang war.

TottersBlithely · 02/05/2025 17:00

So when Mike rang to say they were being shown around, I thought well, why not just tag along? is approximately what Rex said about his reason for being at the abattoir. I’m afraid that was incomprehensible to me (clearly not Mike Tucker, so I dunno,) but it’s surely enough that he rears (I think high grade?) pigs.

Bruisername · 02/05/2025 17:08

Given they were clearly unarmed (relying on breaking a bottle they found on the scene) - are we to assume they were there in such great numbers they couldn’t be overpowered!

and where were the abattoir security guards?

Madcats · 02/05/2025 17:13

My town demolished its shopping centre about 20 years ago; I feel that I am missing out!

If the culty loons have poisoned the meat, they can’t have done much damage. I’m not sure that they would get past too many butchers who were likely to be armed with meat cleavers and/or stun guns.

Please make Rochelle spend the weekend in the slammer.

Bruisername · 02/05/2025 17:23

The only way they could have done it is if they have someone else working on the inside

PassivAggressivHaus · 02/05/2025 17:43

@MissMarplesNiece , I can't think of a Bob Shop or a UK Fried Chicken here - not looked - but there used to be an offy where you could buy booze outside licensing hours.

@Madcats , our shopping centre will not be there much longer. I think they're going to replace it with stunning luxury apartments poky flats.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/05/2025 18:36

Gosh! Never heard of Bob shops before. SE London is awash with fried chicken shops, though. Our nearest shopping centre/High Street is not upmarket at all, and is due for redevelopment soon, but still has M&S, W. H. Smith's (for now - it has the Post Office these days so that's going to have to be sorted out), Boot's, TK Maxx, Primark, Iceland and Sainsbury's*, plus a thriving street market, a few bank and building society branches, school uniform shop, Clare's Accessories, Holland & Barrett, phone shops, piano showroom, big library, Italian deli, fabric remnant shop, big independent chemist's, various bars, restaurants and cafes, and the inevitable charity shops, all in the shadow of the largest police station in Europe (allegedly) and a very busy public transport hub. There's a remaindered book shop whose name escapes me and amazingly there is now also a Waterstone's. In the nearly 40 years we've lived locally there's never prevoiusly been a proper bookshop within several miles. Also a really lovely Italianate Catholic church and various more nondescript Victorian Protestant churches.

If anyone tried to stream footage of an abattoir people would probably assume it was a student project, given the extremely well known Fine Art department nearby

*Aldi and Lidl are within half a mile but not on the High Street. Nearest Waitrose a couple of miles away. Asda round the corner, Tesco up the hill. Morrison's in the next nearest shopping centre.

(To anyone who knows SE London, it must be perfectly obvious where I'm talking about now. Ah well.)

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 02/05/2025 18:37

No chicken shop in my town centre, semi deserted though it is, and I've never seen a Bob Shop.

bloodredfeaturewall · 02/05/2025 19:11

no idea what a bob shop is...
our highstreet is neatly cut in two. one side is neat, tree and benches, mix of restsurant, cafes, a supermarket, organic grocer and small shops. one unit empty where a chain went bust. other side no trees, no benches, young asuan men cruising in expensive cars, barber shops, vape shops, shisha bars, gold/pawn shop, asian grocer...

Bruisername · 02/05/2025 19:15

Reginald 🙄

at least today has been a bit more realistic in terms of the reaction.

Chelsea being sympathetic was a bit odd

big advert for the VE Day thingy

Rex has known her 5 mins but he’s giving her the time of day. Fall in love 🙄. What a shite sl this is.

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/05/2025 20:14

Why hasn't Rochelle been arrested? They know she let them in.

Mumblechum0 · 02/05/2025 20:26

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/05/2025 20:14

Why hasn't Rochelle been arrested? They know she let them in.

Sounds like she’s been lurking round the rewilding place. Please God make her go away for ever. “In love” ffs they barely knew each other

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 02/05/2025 20:32

Rochelle is deeply unhinged.

Pat sounded particularly wooden tonight. I'm not convinced by Chelsea's OTT enthusiasm for VE Day.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 02/05/2025 20:36

Mumblechum0 · 02/05/2025 20:26

Sounds like she’s been lurking round the rewilding place. Please God make her go away for ever. “In love” ffs they barely knew each other

Rochelle made a claim about being in love with Rex. I didn't hear Rex saying that he was in love with her; did he and I missed it?

Bruisername · 02/05/2025 20:49

he previously did

Gonners · 02/05/2025 20:50

Rochelle's claim to be in luuurve with Rex smacked of manipulation and desperation. He seemed to have jumped in at the deep end in declarations <okay, that's more than enough -ations!>, and is still being feeble. I have gone right off Rex, to the point that I hope Pip abandons her attempt to be a lesbian (and therefore Different) and seduces him into marriage. Stella would thank him for it.

Cantsleepdontsleep · 02/05/2025 21:07

I’m worried that Chelsea’s sympathy for the cause (or rather action taken) was signposting to her being the perpetrator of Martin’s flooded hallway. I really hope not, I’ve always thought Chelsea has her head screwed on fairly straight and isn’t afraid to speak up if people step out of line.

PassivAggressivHaus · 02/05/2025 21:33

Why the hesitation @Gonners ? We need inspiration and motivation to keep our inclination and fascination about what happened to the nation on VE Day. Maybe we'll hear about Peggy's ration book.
As long as we hear that Rochelle's infatuation ends in defenestration and a one-way trip to the police station there might be some salvation and resuscitation for The Archers, and an elevation for the storylines.

EBearhug · 02/05/2025 21:59

What's a Bob shop?

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 02/05/2025 22:04

Cantsleepdontsleep · 02/05/2025 21:07

I’m worried that Chelsea’s sympathy for the cause (or rather action taken) was signposting to her being the perpetrator of Martin’s flooded hallway. I really hope not, I’ve always thought Chelsea has her head screwed on fairly straight and isn’t afraid to speak up if people step out of line.

Chelsea has never expressed any interest in any cause. Her family weren't affected so I can't imagine she would have been the perpetrator.

echt · 02/05/2025 22:41

I just got an advert for a meat thermometer popping up on this thread.

I’m rather enjoying the stupidity of it all.