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.

I can only imagine that Miranda is so wealthy she has no fears at all of being left to do the actual work of caring for Brian if he deteriorates rapidly either cognitively or physically.

In her position I would want some pre-moving in written agreement on exactly what money he has available right now to pay for care.

I daresay his family would be kind while it’s still a charming joke - but they’ll back off sharpish, and / or be far too busy if things get serious.

Brian sounded terribly breathless, just walking from the kitchen 🙁

I would have thought Miranda would be the one backing off sharpish, and as they are not married she will have no need to pay for care for Brian unless she wants to.

I do wonder if the SWs understand what they’re writing. How many women (not in need of material support) would willingly move in with a man of Brian’s age? It’s so very different to care for someone in old age if you’ve known them since they were young (or even middle aged) and you’ve grown old together. But Brian and Miranda are still new as a couple …

Sympathy, @wizzler, that was my feeling 25 years ago (eek) when Jack Woolley and my father were both dropping out intermittently. In my father's case, often enough for me to notice while also presenting well enough that most people though I was making it up. I hope you manage to find some good times in the midst of it all.

Brian's behaviour does seem familiar, but maybe moving house and finding that his son has both prostitution and violent assault on his CV are enough to befuddle him.

They’re certainly ensuring he’s punished for Siobhan …

My previous neighbour married in her early 70s and within five years her husband had had a stroke and needed a lot of care, she promptly divorced him saying she married him to go dancing with, not to nurse.

So much for 'in sickness and in health'.

I think hope that Brian’s forgetfulness is induced by the stress of carrying (and covering for) Ruairi’s clonking of George. My prediction is that Kate and Alice will think he’s getting dementia and mention it to Ruairi, and this is what will prompt him to confess. He’ll get arrested, Brian will have a heart attack but survive and…. that’s all I’ve got 😂. When is Markie’s henchman up in court? Do we know?

Does anyone remember when Joy was house sitting with Mick and she wasn’t allowed to drink red wine? Did they find some secret safe room or something?

They broke the robot vacuum cleaner. Everyone emerged badly from that, the Gills for setting such strict rules for the way the house sitters conducted themselves, Joy and Mick for ignoring said rules.

Agree that Brian's behaviour is stress related. Ruairi is seeming a bit unhinged at the moment and Brian feels unable to control the situation to his satisfaction.

I just want to say how much I love Tracey for her ‘it is hard when we get so much less than we think we deserve’ comment to Helen. It’s still making me smile now.

and it’s a sad thing, but not at all uncommon for yacht crews members to disappear over board and very little be done to find them with answers never given. It’s absolutely heartbreaking for the families and I don’t wish to make light of it, but I do wonder if this has happened to Johnny and no one’s noticed (I do think they are quite a self absorbed family…). Would be quite a story line.

Miranda wanting to (a) purchase the home where her new boyfriend lived with his late wife and children and (b) move the ageing new boyfriend in to said house is too ridiculous.

It is certainly as unlikely as a woman taking her husband's bastard son into the home and rearing him as her own.

But when Woman's Hour tried to find examples of the latter, they didn't find any, and the only example generally cited is E Nesbit, who did exactly that. So the programme makers were able to say "See? it did happen!"

I expect they will find one example in the past couple of hundred years of a woman who behaved as Miranda is doing, and they will be triumphant about how well-researched the story is.

Ed! (blissful sigh)
If George has had his redemption I wonder if his 'gotcher!' tape will be forgotten?

I'd like to hear George delete his recording of the conversation with Brian, in Brian's presence. Of course this would have the (unfortunate?) consequence of letting Ruairi off the hook ...

I always love to hear Pat as well. The W.I is something I've never researched or known anyone who's been a member, must find out more.

Pat mentioning the WI! I only said the other day how it's a shame things like that never get a mention any more, that was so nice to hear! Wonder if Pat does a lot of the organising these days.

Been enjoying some the conversation lately, has felt more genuine and real. David and Tony chatting was great.

Both my Grandma's were founding members of the WIs in different villages, my Auntie now a member since her retirement. Feel it's something I would look at when DC have flown the nest (although WI stance on TWAW does put me off but let's not go there on this thread 😬). These sort of groups are so important for rural communities to help prevent isolation, although just as valid in towns and cities as well.

I can't understand how David dosnt realise what they have done to Josh.
They are so cold hearted towards that boy. I would have left also, I would have also seen a solicitor to see if, what David and Ruth has planned is legal as Josh has not said he didnt want part of the farm, they are just giving it to Pip.
I would be upset with my children too, if they asked me to get rid of my Montys. I can understand Tony being upset and being told what to do by his children before he is ready to retire. Helen is so bossy and ungrateful.
I like the way Tracy went quiet when Helen told her it looks like she will be moving next door. I would hate my boss or anyone like Helen moving next door to me. I expect she will be moaning about a lot of stuff that Tracy and her family do, I.e findly garden untidy, grandpa having the telly too load etc.
Can't see how Brian was out of breath carrying stuff from the kitchen, as in real life he is just standing by a microphone.

The Montys are Helen's, not Tony's, and therefore sacrosanct. It's the Anguses that they want to get rid of.

And you're not obliged to leave your children anything, unless they are for some reason dependent on you.

I can't understand how David dosnt realise what they have done to Josh. They are so cold hearted towards that boy.

They're a self righteous pair, David and Ruth, and they've raised Pip in their own image, hence their adoration of her. Placid Ben is their pet but they are perpetually irritated by Josh.

They said the farm can only support one family but it actually supports two families at the moment with 3 adults working full time. So why not give Pip and Josh the opportunity to make a go of it as a partnership instead of handing Pip (and Stella) £7 million of land. Because they adore their eldest and detest the middle child and dismiss their youngest.

Definitely Team Tony. It's not all about maximum profits.

The scenes with Helen and Tracy have been great. Helen is so oblivious. I really think she believes she's much closer to being on a similar level to people like Tracy. Maybe it's the single mum thing. But she's oblivious to the level of privilege she has in comparison and the comfort of always having something there to fall back on. Tracy has no back up.

'It's SO stressful buying a house isn't it?' 😄