Archers thread #189: Brian reaps what he sows, in spite of himself. 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 want to hear more from Markey, 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!

Ah. I thought there had to be marriage involved somewhere, not just the offspring of women your father cocklodged with until evicted.

Now I am confused, as those meanings seem the same. Possibly I am just being dense about a mn joke!

There does, but not on MN.
Read a few threads in Step-parenting to get the gist.

On MN, Fat Rosie would be Stella's step-daughter.

@SlenderRations , legally, your parent would be married to, or had been married to the step-child's parent.

Pip and Stella aren't married, so legally, Fat Rosie is not Stella's step-daughter.

The only difference I can see is that the MN definition means you're stuck with step-siblings for life, even if your parent and their parent split up after 6 months. Goodness, that's harsh!

<on edit> Ah! So by MN standards my partner's two sons - men in their 50s - would be my stepsons and the grandson would be my step-grandson? Well, fark that for a game of soldiers! What happens if you then split up? Would I still be stuck with my ex's children as stepchildren-for life? Oh, the horror.

And your parents, no relation whatsoever to the 'stepchildren' would be expected to treat them as if they were their own grandchildren, even if they'd never met them.

Why so much airtime for a character(s) we didn’t know (or barely)?

I bet we did at some point have tinned salmon, salad and chips when I was growing up. I still like tinned salmon once in a way, but usually in a sandwich.

Do you eat the bones in tinned salmon? There are so many of them and people seem to crunch through them which I find both baffling and revolting. I know it’s fashionable to say one likes high-end tinned tuna but is it the same for tinned salmon? I have no idea.

Been wondering about salmon and chips all day now. I just don’t think Tracey would cook it though still can’t put my finger on why. And would she be going for steaks or fillets. Am guessing she uses an air fryer - rather than little foil parcels for the oven - so that might partly explain things.

First episode I’ve heard for about three weeks: is the faint prospect of that dopey broad drowning enough to bring me back to the fold? I feel that the ghastly slurry singsong diction she deploys when being ‘positive’ could only be improved by a few desperate gurgles as she goes down the third time. If she could take Ed with her, so much the merrier.

I am somewhat surprised that new-look Sensitive Aware Ed didn't seem to think it possible that someone who nearly drowned a little over a year ago might not be that enraptured by the idea of swimming.

Indeed.

Lake water is at its warmest around now.

I do eat the bones in tinned salmon - very soft and a good source of calcium. But I do pick out all the skin and icky looking bits.

Other than unlikely drownage I can’t see where the celebratory swim gathering is leading - none of the middle aged rock gods is single and looking to mingle …

Maybe Fallon will have her head turned? Given that even she’s beginning to notice her marriage is dead.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g oh yes the Shirley Valentine "chips and egg" still annoys me too.

I really fancy some chips too.

@TottersBlankly , Fallon has a panic attack, Ed saves her, and ...
Probably a behbeh 9 months later.

Was Ash a speaking character? I've no recollection of him.

What an odd episode.

My condolences, @BabyCatFace. I’ve been listening to The Archers since before I was born, and apart from reading it’s probably the most constant thing I’ve inherited from my parents.

I’m sorry to say most of the past year in Ambridge has been the unspeakable Joy and her hangers on. But things have picked up in recent weeks.

Wot I reckon is that the talk of Ash's children being such a comfort and Fallon's subsequent maundering on will lead to the deliberate conception of Harrispawn and (with luck) him coming to a grisly end. On air, please!

Is 'chips and egg' a Scouse way of saying it? I seem to recall 'chips and fish' from my earlier years but can't remember where it was said.

@Gonners , it won't be a Harrispawn, it will be Edward Grundy III.

Ash didn't speak as far as I know. He took over as singer for Dross in 2002-3 when Jazzer wrecked his memory with ketamine and couldn't be their singer any more. Then in 2003 Ed threw him and Fallon out of Dross and that was the end of that.

@TheCrasher don’t … No one is allowed to disrupt the conjugal peace of Little Grange. It was too hard won.

Is that so, @TottersBlankly ?

I can never see a tin of John West salmon without thinking of the botulism incident in the 70s when some people died.
Tinned salmon was for Sunday teatime, mixed with breadcrumbs and butter to eke it out.

Don't you have to be a really strong swimmer to tackle open water swimming? Idiotic for Jazzer to have a go at this in a few weeks' time if he can scarcely swim now, and when did we ever hear of Ed going swimming? Through parkrun we know a few keen amateur triathletes and there's a lot of training involved. And kit. I don't imagine those suits come cheap.

However, at least we are still happily Joyless.

I know it would break Totters' heart but if I were an Ambridge SW casting around for a vaguely plausible storyline involving established characters, a marriage break up or two following an affair between old flames/friends would be just the thing. The ramifications of Ed'n'Em breaking up would be massive - the implications for their very new business, financed by Will; what would happen to their assorted offspring; Eddie and Clarrie once again finding their friendship with Neil and Susan under strain; Susan very vocally ashamed to show her face around the village because of the shame of Emma's affair; Jolene defending Fallon to the hilt (as she would have to do, given her own affair with Sid Perks ended his marriage); etc etc. Best of all, Harrison would probably never return. Bring it on!

Peeps is awful cruel round these parts …