Archers thread #186: Eavesdropping on a home for the terminally confused. 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 swipe right on Dane, the new Grey Gables manager, 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/radioaddicts/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/radioaddicts/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.)

Thanks to @WitcheryDivine for the title inspiration. Over to you!

TeenToTwenties
However, if (big if) he had any bouncing in and out of care (eg going back to birth mum or other relatives) then if the carer moved around a child could end up with different authorities. Not convinced this happened in this case however.

Big "if" indeed, since according to Sarah McDonald Hughes', Liz John's and Katie Hims' fairytale he was found on a doorstep at the age of two days or so, and never knew who his family were.

Clearly not then!

I am 60 (so a teeny bit younger than Neil) and from a what was a smallish town with a single secondary school within 7 or 8 miles (not many people had 2 cars). The entire neighbourhood used to know who was adopted/had divorced parents (the horror)/ had feral kids.

noooo! No dogs in the village shop please, I loathe the fact that they’re bloody everywhere now

This is very ‘city’ - I won’t tie my dogs up outside but I wouldn’t worry in a small village (I leave them at home though - I don’t expect them to be allowed in!!)

and isn’t the shop more for essentials so why would dog ice lollies be necessary? It seems so absurd that they are trying to compete with a commercial shop and not remembering why they are there. So maybe light bulbs does make sense

(My dog had brain freeze when he tried doggy ice cream so never again)

shame we had to hear from Joy again. I really couldn’t care less how she feels or her relationship with Rochelle

Alice is annoying. What gp surgery can you call to make an appointment on a Sunday - especially for the next day

I love dogs, but not in food shops, please.

I'm surprised Alice hasn't been round to Azra's.

This. Definitely.

DH and I were outside a deli deciding who should wait outside with doggo and the lady said ‘oh he can come in if you carry him’

how bizarre is that - why would you want dogs being held at counter height. And my dog would have been very puzzled to be carried around like that anyway!

Not a Great Dane, then!

Ha ha! Can you imagine someone coming in giving their Great Dane a piggy back

i have a mini schnauzer and he would be quite put out at being carried! (One is not a handbag)

Imagine being an innocent fellow customer browsing along the biscuit shelf and turning round to see (and probably hear) an outraged mini schnauzer at elbow height. Don't get me wrong, lovely dogs, but not canine people I'd go out of my way to offend.

I don't know any small local shops that allow dogs, apart from working guide dogs and one very tiny, quiet but friendly dog with impeccable manners who is allowed in tucked under her owner's arm. They just pretend not to see her!

Alice making it all about Alice, as usual ... no particular concern for Marrfurr, just "Woe is me, it's all my fault!" If I were Christopher, there might be a tragic accident involving a horseshoe-skull interface.

I suppose when we are out and about the dogs are treated like dogs (at home they are babies of course) and I don’t take them in shops (maybe a book shop or pet shop)

I wouldn’t like to find dog hair all over the clothes I want to buy

i live in a very dog heavy area and the only cafe that doesn’t allow dogs closed down!

If I were Chris I'm afraid I would be saying, "yes, it is all your fault"

He’s obsessed with her though

Bruisername
Ha ha! Can you imagine someone coming in giving their Great Dane a piggy back

No, but I once had to carry an adult Dalmatian on an escalator down to the Bakerloo Line at Baker Street. It's a very long escalator, or so I had decided by the time we reached the platforms: he absolutely disapproved of the whole idea and made no secret of his wish to escape.

I quite like Alice (even if I might find her tiresome to be around IRL), and found her obsessive thoughts about the possibility of FAS/self-blame very realistic and relatable. I wouldn't be surprised if this storyline is heading for an adult-woman-ADHD-diagnosis kind of thing. I do hope it's not going to be actual FAS, although it might be that, too.

The shop-survey storyline is a bit irritating to me: are people actually as oblivious as Susan? Experience suggests they are, but I'd still say, 'no thanks!' to the survey. Regarding village shops, that particular community model doesn't seem to be a thing around here (villages far too close together, and far too close to bigger towns with supermarkets), but farm shops seem to do very well. My favourite one has tonnes of local produce, a butcher counter, much game, and a wee eatery which is open over lunch with a dish of the day. The service stops around 6pm in the shop, but it's open until 10pm for self-service with debit cards.

I can't believe they don't have light bulbs!

Are you located in Echt (NE Scotland), or are you real, in German?

I'm in Australia, and the echt is German - a rather poncey reference on my part to being genuine.

I can in this day and,age. Light bulb buying is far more complicated than when it was just screw or bayonet, 60W or 100W...

But my corner shop has batteries (at least AAA & AA), fuses, painkillers, and various other useful things. Including caster sugar, fortunately. How did I run out of caster sugar?

Yes, lightbulbs are v complicated these days! I now go to John Lewis with a dead lightbulb and ask an assistant to find a replacement (and of course buy loads so it’s hopefully not too much of a pain for them)

Being ancient has its advantages

Thanks for the light bulb update. 💡 When we came to Australia in the early 2000s we were surprised, and not in a good way, by the plethora of different light bulbs compared with the admirable simplicity of the UK models. I see the UK has caught up. Sadly.

UK electrical plugs are the gold standard too.

Years ago you could go into Woolworths and buy a light bulb or batteries and they would test them before you handed over your cash.
Alice is a selfish madam and Chris is an idiot.
Oh and it's official, it's is now called The Joy and friends show. An everyday story of a Northern Lass, who finds herself drawn into everybody's lives,( and story line).