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.

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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%.

That sounds too sensible.

Paul didn't witness The Crash, did he? Shame, he could have used that as an excuse.

In agreement with the carbon monoxide poisoning. Lining up nicely with Shula coming back & perhaps a Xmas tradegy. Hope you don’t mind me joining your thread !

Roll up your trouser leg and swear allegiance to the Great Bull, @NavigatingMyLife…

@TottersBlankly I’ve found my people, pigs, sheep, cows & under water sea creatures & aliens.

Lily and Josh sounded post-coital which was weird, even by Ambridge standards.

Is it just me thinking that a tenant farmer died recently. So we may end up with the first Asian farming family. They take over the tenancy.

I thought the same and had to re-wind that bit. Yikes.

I agree with @Merlin23 that the Maliks could well take on the tenancy. I hope so. I like the way that their perceptions of being accepted in Ambridge came up.

I think that's been the whole point of the dead farmer storyline, and Pa Malik's sudden passion for milking. Zainab hasn't been in the country for three years has she? So even if she has a British passport (does she?) she wouldn't qualify for a student loan, they'd be paying international student fees plus maintenance.

They lived in Solihull for however long; Zainab may or may not have been born but certainly was educated here.

Akram has mentioned loving farming since long before he moved to Ambridge, so while I'd like him to farm, I do want Josh to take over the tenancy (and get Esme). Maybe Akram could take Adam's old job.

Can't WAIT for David and Ruth to accuse Josh of killing Jill with norovirus. Leonard is an idiot.

I think you got your loans confused @WombatCowgirl. Akram said she might be eligible for a scholarship in Pakistan "and I bet she would end up with a smaller student loan than she would here". This wouldn't be a UK student loan if all of her course is in Pakistan. Pakistan has its own student loan system.
As far as we know Zainab has always lived in the UK - in Solihull. She's only been to Pakistan to visit family. I doubt Grey Gables would sponsor a visa for a reception job, so I expect she has UK citizenship.

The highest ranking university in Pakistan (according to the Times) is just below Northumbria University - in the 400-500 rank. There's a reason affluent Pakistanis study abroad.

Every so often I’m reminded that other people are hearing a very different story to the one I’m listening to …

Could a doctor tell a wrist wasn’t broken without an X-ray?

Thanks @Agapornis you're right I had forgotten about their life in Solihull and was thinking they'd come from Pakistan to Abridge!

I reckon the cauliflower cheese is to blame for the food poisoning - didn't Lily say something at the time about had he (Josh or Paul , cant recall) washed the knife properly .

Wouldn't you go to A and E with a suspected broken wrist , not your GP.
Why did Leonard put himself at risk and why did they let him?
Im a big Leonard fan but sometimes he is an idiot.
Why does it matter what colour skin is Lottie? Who cares ?

I agree about post-coital Lily and Josh. It was very odd as despite her illness it sounded like she was flirting with him. I think it must just be that the actress got her tone wrong while trying to sound at death’s door.

I thought it was Shula banging at the door rather than Leonard. They all seem to have forgotten about the forthcoming inspection.

I wish the Maliks would go to Pakistan- or anywhere really outside the Ring Road…

No, a doctor couldn’t tell if a wrist is broken without an X-ray (although it’s usually very obvious when they are). I’d say it’s also a very unusual break if he’s still able to do day to day activities (never mind lift/hold/use a chainsaw) after this amount of time.

Pa Malik has mentioned a family farm, but I don’t recall him ever having mentioned any practical experience of farming (possibly helping as a kid?). He didn’t seem to have a clue about animals or milking when working with David…. Farming is also a lot of legislation and grant/subsidy applications. I wouldn’t fancy starting one in a country where I had no knowledge of the rules/regulations and available help…. If he took over esmes farm, we could have a lovely
rolling PSA about actual farming and pitfalls, but the scriptwriters would need to actually speak to the farming advisor (who would in turn need some actual knowledge on the subject).

I can only assume it was mentioned this week because it might become relevant in time. Does the vile Lawrence use that surgery I wonder?

I agree about post-coital Lily and Josh. It was very odd as despite her illness it sounded like she was flirting with him. I think it must just be that the actress got her tone wrong while trying to sound at death’s door. I got that vibe too and couldn't quite work out what was going on for a while.

Could a doctor tell a wrist wasn’t broken without an X-ray? I think if Ed had mentioned that he hurt it falling down the stairs she might have been more inclined to send him for an X-Ray. Once again he’s trying not to make a fuss to protect George.

Urgh. If i were Azra and Zayneb i would be categorically - despite earlier promises - refusing to go to live in Pakistan.
But also agree the farmer with no first name was dedded to facilitate Akram becoming a farmer.
As for the Dreaded Lurgy - wtf is Leonard on? he's a lunatic.

Baffling that Lily is flying to Australia on the 17th, flights are eye wateringly expensive at that time. And how odd to leave your family just a week or so before Christmas.

I’m surprised Azra didn’t put two and two together about Ed’s wrist and George’s anger issues. The fact that Ed mentioned it as part of his consultation would set safeguarding alarm bells ringing in my head about potential domestic abuse and I would have done a casual ‘how did this happen again?’ Or maybe they’re setting up a ‘distracted dr missed the signs’ storyline.

@Maggiebell , Wouldn't you go to A and E with a suspected broken wrist, not your GP.
Because Ed had to tell her about George's anger issues. If someone in Ambridge was a hospital doctor or nurse, he'd have gone to A&E.
Why does it matter what colour skin is Lottie?
It will be relevant in due course.
Who cares ?
You.

@Cantsleepdontsleep , I thought it was Adil (Akram's BIL) who mentioned a family farm. Both families could be farmers, of course.