Archers thread #185: Some farming would be nice. 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, 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.)

Over to you!

Two different groups - Flock Together (mostly around London) have about 300 members, not sure about Black Scottish Adventurers, the article doesn't specify.

I'm more familiar with Flock's work, their booking limit varies by location. They mostly stick to London parks, so overcrowding isn't much of a problem, the birds have seen worse! Some groups are about 50 people, some much smaller.
From a quick glance at their Instagram, looks like BSA take a similar 'it varies' approach, and also takes well established touristy trails (e.g. Glencoe) and use local guides.

It's not exactly 300 Spartans on your land ;)

Joy can fuck off. How much airtime did she even have with Peggy? At least she admitted she was gatecrashing.

Go Hilda, can't go wrong with scratching.

We don't see anything like those sorts of numbers but I disagree with rather flippant comment. If it were 50 people walking through the fields on my brother's farm I think he'd be quite entitled not to be thrilled about it.

Why is Joy in every bloody episode?

It's very odd- especially given the numbers missing from the roll call.

I liked the ending tonight- could it have been plausibly recorded by some one who wasn't a newcomer ? [ not that was particularly plausible]

Regarding Joy. I think all the other usual actors are so fed up with the rubbish scripts they are given that they have said don't call me until you write something decent for me. So only The Joy actor is the only one who doesn't mind so is on call 24/7. It's Helen all over again.

On the whole racism thing - it is alive and well in the UK. A lot is unconscious but bloody obvious if you apply a bit of critical thinking - and of course certain discourse in the public eye is encouraging all the out loud stuff.

its a bit different to a hush as an outsider enters the pub because it is happening day in day out to an individual in lots of ways. I think a lot of decent white people would be shocked at how racist this country is and to be honest how racist they are under the surface. It’s not a criticism really it’s more that people generally don’t see it because it’s woven into every day life.

Every country has racists, the British just like to beat themselves up about it. You think there aren't black and brown racists? I'd say the UK is one of the most tolerant countries in the world.

My family would be pretty horrified if an interloper like Joy inveigled her way in as we were clearing my Nana’s bedroom. And we would have considered it far too soon to be listening to sentimental recordings in the same room she had died in 24 hours before.

Even Emma overstepped with her offer of her car- how many children/grandchildren did Peggy have with access to a vehicle?

I liked Lilian’s defiance over the care home’s deadline, but otherwise it was all a bit tone deaf. Another unsatisfactory bathtime!

My family would be pretty horrified if an interloper like Joy inveigled her way in as we were clearing my Nana’s bedroom.

To be fair, didn't Joy call round to Brian's first and presumably it was Brian's decision to take her to the home.

I've no idea why Emma is so invested in this. Peggy was horrible to Emma. She sacked her as a cleaner when Kate moved in.

Bravo for Fallon's pies. I greatly enjoyed the sizzle of Natasha's fireworks being piddled upon.

We still have to sort out the Tea War. I confidently predict the teams will love Fallon's mini pies and will instantly vote Ambridge to the top of the tea league table, leaving Laurence thoroughly discomfited.

Just re-listened to Gnasher and Lynda. They're both ghastly [Lynda criticising others for being pretentious] but Gnasher is an idiot, .

"Simple sketches of Hors d'oeuvres platters with a high concept design"

Really Natasha? I've had more than enough of these over the years. Total faff, miniscule things you have to eat in one bite, you'd need the whole platter to make the slightest difference and almost invariably consisting of something messy which drips or disintegrates. Home made pies or sausage rolls are what's needed here.

So go Lynda, on this occasion

I’m not a huge fan of mini pies tbh as the pastry/filling ratio tends to be off for me (although I prefer mini mince pies!)

I really can’t get excited about the cricket teas sl. ATM it feels like it’s a load of boring sl

Bloody Joy, I am sick of hearing, I couldn’t stand her when she started and nothing has changed my mind. Could the announcer issue a warning before each episode so listeners, such as me, don’t need to listen?

She did that by having him living in her house for a couple of years and cooking him his restricted diet, didn't she?

Care home rooms always have to be cleared quickly as there will be someone waiting to move in. I cleared my mother's room the day after she died but I am someone who needs to do something active at times like that.

She was horrible to start with, very short with him, ticked him off for singning in the shower. I vaguely recall she wanted to turf him out when Rylan visited

Yes, she treated him exactly as she would have treated anyone! Racist old cow, as Lawrence might say.

Was there a joyful Joyless episode 2 weeks ago or so?

I actually like Joy but agree it’s a bit much. Shoehorning her into Peggy’s departure was a step too far.

And speaking of Peggy, I thought it was fairly obvious where Hilda had gone. I don’t enjoy the dragging on of the inevitable, but touching nonetheless.

@BeatriceBatchelor of course! I don’t think I said it was UK only!

I thought it was fairly obvious where Hilda had gone. I don’t enjoy the dragging on of the inevitable, but touching nonetheless. Me too. Sad to see her ago, but it's about time and I thought they tried to capture the sense of it being both a shock and yet at the same time not entirely unexpected (it would have worked better for me if we had not already known the actress has been dead for quite such a long time, but there you go). I also thought having to speedily empty the room was probably fairly realistic as was Emma offering to help - sort of an extension of her old cleaning duties at The Lodge. I'm not sure what it had to do with Joy, I felt the absence of Jill who I think would have been involved (and also with all the VE day stuff).

I don’t mind Joy either but she’s in every storyline, it’s very noticeable now. I wonder if the other actors get frustrated by it.

I liked the Emma reminiscences. I had forgotten the times it was tense and Peggy was kind and sensible.

Missed this from midweek:

Ambridge’s origin story missed a trick by glossing over the impact of the war effort on farming.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/254bff66f0f1f3dd