Archers thread #197: Runs, Ambridge, runs! 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 find it credible that Kate, who changed continents twice to get away from her own children, has now morphed into Grandmother of the Year, 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.)

Well, Finlay may have made good his escape, but we're all still stuck inside the Borsetshire forcefield. The cricket team is rising phoenix-like from the ashes but will now be The Bull's team, not Ambridge's. Will Alice and Rex make a go of things? Will George cope with a month off the booze? Will the real Brian Aldridge re-appear? Will we hear a bit more about farming? We did get a lambing scene the other night, which was good.

Over to you!

P. S. The pointless new AI title generator MN has introduced in spite of absolutely nobody ever asking for it wanted to call this thread something like Discuss The Archers here, no spoilers. I won't be following its suggestions.

One might go so far as to say it’s hugely disrespectful to listeners, who had the right to expect much, much better concerning the First Family of Ambridge.

Exactly.

When you think back to the months and months of debate, discussions, arguments and suggestions which took place when Phil and Jill were deciding what to do with the Brookfield inheritance, there's no comparison whatsoever.

"Pip's having the farm, you other two get a crumb or two, no we haven't taken any professional advice, tough shit, that's our decision, you don't have a say". Over in two minutes.

The Archers is meant to be about the Brookfield Archers or have I been misguided all these years?
When I started listening it was about Phil and Jill and their 4 children and the farm, their extended family, and a bit of village life.

Hear, hear to what @LillianGish just posted.

I don't want Rochelle, Markie, Amber, Esme (unless she becomes 1st Family)...

I want Archers**, more Archers, more Aldridges and more Pargetters. I want animals and vets (cos I ❤Jakob). I want silent vet nurses. I don't want checkbox ticking or people changing their sexuality overnight.
I want change counting and H&P shows.

** even though I can't stand Pip.

He was employing a manager, apparently. Someone else for Helen or Pip to shag.

Why was Justin going on about how glad he was to not have any children. Is one about to come out of the woodwork? (Stella?)

Is Miranda's solicitor the same one as Justin's?

He was employing a manager, apparently. Someone else for Helen or Pip to shag. It will probably be someone who ticks some checkboxes.

Lucky, lucky Tracy. 😆

George asking Amber to iron his shirt. A subtle detail about how he views women I thought. Good for Amber for making him do it himself.

What was Tony saying about the Aberdeen Anguses being part of the long history of the farm? There weren't any beef cattle there until 21st February 2014.

Tony got them so that he would still have some animals to look after, when Tom had decided to get rid of the dairy cows because he couldn't be bothered to milk them, thus getting rid of the whole reason for the dairy business, which was using their milk to make yoghurt, ice cream and cheese and adding value to it, rather than selling milk to the MMB or whoever was running the tankers at the end of last century.

Was it an Aberdeen Angus that nearly killed Tony?

Yes, but it was Helen's fault for leaving Henry at no notice with an unsuitable babysitter (Johnny) when Tony was unable (because he was moving the cattle that day) to drop everything and look after her child for her. Johnny let the toddler loose as the cows were coming into the yard, Henry did some running and screaming which startled the bull Otto, and Tony was trampled when he bravely distracted Otto from his original target. I think Otto crushed him against a wall, in fact; not having horns, he didn't gore him.

That was in November 2014. The surprising thing is that Rob, who immediately stepped in to take charge of the farm and dairy, only had Otto slaughtered while Tony was unconscious in hospital; on his later form he'd have sent the whole herd to the abattoir.

... on his later form he'd have sent the whole herd to the abattoir....

Plus Johnny and Henry.

Oh, I think they were useful idiots for him; they gave him the toehold to run the farm. And Pat thanked him!

Dare I say it ... I miss Rob. This is because since his demise, Helen has become really intolerable. I'm not suggesting that she was ever tolerable, but she has very much ramped it up. I wouldn't like to have the casting vote on the question of Helen vs. Pip ... which of them would you consign to the pit of eternally talking to La Snell?

Not heard tonight’s yet but I’ve been quite enjoying it recently! The self reflection on the part of the parents of Ambridge is somewhat overdue.

The worst thing about Pip is when she speaks, so sending her to Coventry forever would be best.

I like Helen. She's well-acted.

Nice swerve there Tracy!
Helen is wonderfully awful!😄

Hope Tony digs his heels in and keeps his Anguses. Helen is a bully but I don't want her gone.

Rob was a real loss to TA. Wish they'd kept him as a low key manipulator of Helen. I miss Russ too.

I love Helen. She is awful, but you can understand how events in her life have shaped her character and you can predict how she will behave. I thought she was completely in character today - it doesn’t occur to her that it might be awkward for a boss to buy a house next to her employee, it feels like a downsize to her after Beechwood but she just blunders on anyway, insensitive to the fact that Tracy is renting- going on and on about employing interior designers, distracting Tracy from her work and then ticking her off for not concentrating ! She’s a a total nightmare. She’s so sensitive herself and the family pussyfoot around her, not wanting to upset her or knock her off balance,but she’s oblivious to Tony’s sensitivities and the the fact that after working all day with her, the last thing Tracy might want to do is share a bottle of wine. Absolutely brilliant - and no contest with Pip. who has no personality whatsoever beyond being the Pope of farming and TWFL.

All very true!

Is Helen still glowing? Or are we fated to be disappointed in our long term plans for Finlay?

I sort of agree but the only thing that jars with me is it must be getting a huge cash injection from the Ambridge Money Fairy? How all those projects provide enough income for them all to live comfortably is a bit of a stretch. Ive never been convinced by Natasha’s fruit tree business .Although, I must admit I really want her overspending storyline to come back again!

But the Money Fairy sold a chunk of Bridge Farm to Justin’s company to develop Beechwood. Close to a million ££ (was it 8 or 9 hundred k after Tom ballsed up the negotiations?). It would appear that all the enterprises that money enabled have thrived - so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be generating income?

I'd forgotten about the glowing.

I feel really sad for Josh. No one should have an expectation of an inheritance but it is not wrong to have an expectation that your parents will treat you and your siblings equally when inheritance issues are raised.

I am still astounded Helen thinks it’s ok to even talk about getting rid of the Anguses. Admittedly my Dad was pretty authoritarian but no one would have ever even considered questioning whether something he wanted/enjoyed was necessary. Tony is being very tolerant of Helen’s behaviour- he really should have reminded her very quickly that this was not a time for the tail to try to wag the dog- whatever the structure of the family business says on paper.

Tony got the Anguses because Tom and Helen decided for no reason at all (except being too idle to milk them) to ditch the dairy herd that was the whole reason for the dairy business in the first place. If not for the dairy cows Helen wouldn't have had the milk for her wretched cheese. Buying milk in was crazy.

Tony has done so much for Helen and her kids. It does feel insensitive.
What does Helen think Tony will do when the Anguses are gone?