Archers thread #192: Village of the Dammed. Discuss the beavers here. Throw in the odd word about the Archers if you must.

[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 have Kate present as you give birth, 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.)

I'm more excited about the arrival of the beavers than anything else going on in Ambridge at the moment. I hope there will be a webcam.

Bets on how much of next week is set in the castle or on the way there/back? I'm bracing myself for at least 50%.

Perhaps Meg (Bartleby's rescuer) could offer George a job and a place to stay.

I think it was deliberate @Linzloopy and Brad - who was as good as a witness - knows it. Ed knows it too (and his wrist is almost certainly broken), but he doesn’t want to admit it because he’s still trying to protect George and by extension Emma. George also knows it, but has now gone on a charm offensive to try and cover his tracks - this is his modus operandi: do something terrible (eg crash Alice’s car) then try to pretend it never happened. Good to get a mention of Clive last night - Susan went to prison trying to cover for him - it seems to be the Horrobin way. Amber’s had a little false alarm with the missing money so she won’t dare doubt George again… it feels as though the scene is being set and I’m very worried for both Brad and Amber. The fact is, there are reasons to feel sorry for George and it’s being well demonstrated how difficult it is for ex-offenders, but the incident with Ed made it crystal clear that George has a nasty streak - even with those who are trying to help him. It will not end well.

Thank you! I might have to start listening regularly again (but Joy is sooooo irritating….)

Thanks!

Clive … Susan … the Horrobin way - so well observed.

I sincerely hope Ed’s wrist isn’t broken. A relative of mine broke her wrist, declined reconstructive surgery because of the general anaesthetic, ten years later she can scarcely use that hand at all.

Regarding George escaping Ambridge - way back in time when I was shuttling to and from magistrates’ courts doing bail applications there was always an uncle who would promise the miscreant work in his car repair shop or painting and decorating business. (I remember nothing about restrictions on distance, but really, it would be sensible for George not to be amongst the people he’s damaged.)

but really, it would be sensible for George not to be amongst the people he’s damaged. This is really the nub of the problem. It’s not just that he’s committed a crime, it’s that all the people he’s harmed whether in the crash, in the river, or by trying to pin the blame on Alice (so not just Alice herself, but all those who have tried to support her through her alcoholism) live in the village and were friends and family. Emma isn’t helping him, stoking his indignation by saying he’s paid his price he’s been to prison. She would do better to remind George of how he is going to have to work hard to win back people’s trust and that this will take time. I’m not quite sure where George would go if he left Ambridge - this is his tragedy - he won’t be sailing round the world, moving to South Africa, studying in London or visiting Australia. His options are the turkey shed or picking up branches for Ed and Em (and either of those options could have villagers boycotting said businesses).

The thought of a turkey whizzing round a washing machine drum makes me feel a bit queasy.

Not half as queasy as the turkey

the turkey is dead by then

I'm not sure Uncle Clive or Uncle Keith would be great options 🤔

Though Keith did used to be in the motor trade

He shoved Ed during an argument, to get away from him. Ed fell down the stairs.

George didn't mean to push Ed down the stairs but he did mean to push him.

It's another grey area like the crash. I love the way they aren't going all out evil with George.

I was thinking more of extended family connected to Great Aunt Rosie.

Thanks

He was entirely reckless as to whether it was safe to push someone standing at the top of a flight of stairs!

Well, the washer wasn't broken and Clarrie required him to put it back together immediately, but yes, apparently it really is possible to make a turkey plucking machine out of an old washing machine. Whether Eddie will manage it is a whole different question.

My prediction is that George will get offered a job by Amber's dad just before Amber and Brad become an item. Then we can have strife between George and Brad and Amber and her father.

Sadly I don't have a crystal ball so none of the above may happen.

Have I missed anyone urging him to take a course/go to evening classes/distance learning to get some kind of qualification or increase his A level or equivalent passes?

Absolutely, I am not defending him but he didn't intend to seriously hurt Ed. Same as he didn't intend to hurt Joy, Fallon and Mick.

Here’s how you make a turkey plucking machine. It is quite graphic, so if you would rather not know don’t read too much of it. But appears to be almost magical - when working.

https://makezine.com/article/home/food-beverage/pluck-your-turkey-with-a-washing-machine-and-old-truck/

I salute your dedication to the cause of information dissemination, @Molecule!

Oh, he only means harm some of the time! And only to people he dislikes, such as Hannah, or Neil, or Brad.

No, hang on, he doesn't dislike Brad. So shopping Brad to the cops was a bit gratuitous.

Nobody has urged him to do anything outside Ambridge, work or training.

I've been listening to last weeks Archers podcast and got a little bit annoyed that all the guests were very much on George's side and see him as entirely innocent and misunderstood!

I did Raleigh International a million years ago, and there were some guys around George's age on the expedition who had been in prison. I don't know what other criteria there were - I don't think they had to raise the funds the rest of us did before going. But anyway, George needs something like that, right out of his comfort zone, away from anyone he knows, doing dome work.

Bloody Joy