Archers thread #188: New Order, please! 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 love to spend time with Martyn Gibson, 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.)

In some haste as we are going out for the day. I was asked weeks ago to put I've Killed the Vicar in as the new title but I agree with more recent comments that Peggy's funeral feels like old news now. Great line, though. Sorry not to have used Markie Malarkey, though. I've settled on something that will only make sense to people who were also youngish in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Here's a clue. If a certain person appears in tomorrow's episode the title will be relevant.

Over to you!

Agree - I know rural crime should be covered but everything is a little bit too much tbh

Yes, but rural crime I think of as burglaries, sheep rustling, quad bike theft, more than gang warfare. I know Ed had uninsured livestock theft in the past, and wasn't there dog fighting at some point, which is probably something that happens, but... yes, this is too Eastendersish.

(Caveat: it's many years since I watched EE, so they could all be sitting round in the caff having genteel conversation these days, for all I know.)

I've obviously missed quite a few episodes because I spent half the evening wondering where on earth Kenton had got a tortoise from, why it was wandering round the pub and how Alistair could tell it was feeling a bit rough because of the way it was holding its head!

We've had a fair few cats over the years, including one many years ago who would bring home food from the pub nextdoor. Until a vet nurse gave us a pill syringe thingy it was always a bit fraught trying to get any of them to consume a pill.

Now that Amber is talking to Clarrie (and I did enjoy the Clarrie and Neil/Susan scenes), at least it isn't as obvious that she's in her 30's.

I caught a bit of the latest Archers skit on Dead Ringers but ... Linda Snell was riding a horse and Jazzer had his own combine harvester... I don't think they are real Archers listeners at all.

About the same grasp as some of the scriptwriters then

I've just noticed the spelling of Lynda and assure you it was the fault of auto correct.

Ive not listened for ages cos Im too cross so rely on you lot .But come on..if there was any poisoning to be had, surely now is the time for Joy to be dispatched!!

My two cats are impossible to handle and very knowing. Thankfully they are young at the moment but I dread the day that I need to get them to take medication. My old cat got cancer and we lived in America at the time so he was put on chemo- getting the pills inside him took a great deal of creative trickery and a wide variety of very fancy treats. We had his oncologist on speed-dial and it was a very expensive experience but it did extend his life by about a year.

Actually, don’t get me started on vets bills. Tortoise’s brush with a poisoned Dreamie would have been a very good moment to highlight this scandal. IRL Kenton would almost certainly have questioned Alistair’s immediate suggestion that she be taken in to the surgery. Her short course of treatment inc a drip and overnight stay will have easily cost him the best part of £1k if Alistair charges anything like the vets here in Oxfordshire.

I expect Kenton gets twin-of-ex-wife's discount ... though I'd probably charge him double for that.

Would Kenton immediately question it? I think that would be very out of character. Kenton and Jolene are annoying idiots most of the time but they're not unkind. I don't think Kenton would have had a moment's hesitation in agreeing that.

I've missed no episodes and was convinced they were talking about a real tortoise, probably because I was reading a lovely thread on here a few days about what you feed tortoises (foraged herbs, apparently - Blue Peter's advice is now old hat, who knew?). I am not a cat person so Tortoise's arrival went in one ear and out the other. Cannot be bothered to look up the back story.

I tend to tune out whatever Kenton and Jolene are wittering on about. See also most of the other characters! 🙄

It is not within Alistair's power, as an employee of Lovell James, to give a discount to one of his ex-relations.

Coming back to these threads after having got rather behind with my Archers listening.

I thought that too about Susan, she's still struggling so much with the fallout. IS George still angry with them though? I didn't get that from his conversation with Amber (who I find quite funny, have absolutely met a few Ambers in my time!)

On the farming front, I wish they'd cover the current weather situation more. Everyone I know is panicking about hay yields being dismal so far, combined with the lack of grass meaning we're feeding some of it now rather than storing for the Winter. and the inevitable price-hikes. Mind you, that stuff about the sudden rain rings true - outside of the heatwaves, we do get sudden and unforecast downpours. Or they say there'll be a downpour and it's half a dozen drops!

Would Kenton immediately question it? I think that would be very out of character. Kenton and Jolene are annoying idiots most of the time but they're not unkind. I don't think Kenton would have had a moment's hesitation in agreeing that.

Kenton is often trying to keep costs down and worrying about the Bull’s profit margins. I would have expected him to ask Alistair pretty quickly how much it was going to cost him.

From personal experience you just say do it and worry afterwards. I think Kenton's reaction was believable.

Old Archers obsessive who caught the omnibus today and has been sucked back in! And yes, Tortoise is a confusing name for a cat…

Lettuce and herbs.

Sorry- that's all I got from Justin's and Martyn's tedious conversation.

Lettuce is not what I'd be inclined to feel essential for the nourishment of the nation, and nor are herbs.

It's amazing how easy it is to tune-out Martyn-with-the-absurd-y and The Repulsive Phlegmeister. I have no memory of their conversation. But I did admire Kenton's master plan to bring in some bloke to single-handedly deal with security against a group of violent criminals.

If anyone is hoping that Joy and Kenton's [aside should that be Joy's and Kenton's?] conversation is foreshadowing the demise of Joy at the hands of Markie - no, SWs please don't. Neither Joy nor Kenton deserve that.

The demise of Kenton, on the other hand ...

I know there's a lot of complaint about The Archers no longer being about the actual Archers, but I view this as a mostly-positive move. I'd keep Kate, and mostly-silent Josh, and Freddie, and Henwy, and perhaps Helen (for sheer ghastliness value) but I have little patience with the rest of them.

The demise of Joy at anyone’s hands would be exceedingly welcome. I would cheerfully throttle her myself. No need for implausible Black Country Baddies.

I think Joy has now achieved the status of being the only character I actually enjoy!

The Repulsive Phlegmeister

Justin always does sound like he needs to clear his throat, it's quite annoying to listen to.