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.

Madcats
Has Miranda completed on Home Farm(house), or just exchanged?

Exchanged. Too late to back out without forfeiting her deposit, which is why Brian ought to have told her sooner.

Only I don't see the problem. She moves in, and he spends time there but lives at BHC until the end of his (year?) rental, which would be up in just under a year's time since he moved in there in the middle of March 2023. Usha is relying on that rent!

Lilian is 78. Miranda's actress is 78. Maybe the Miranda character is meant to be in her early 70s.

Is there a more unconvincing relationship than that of Brian and Miranda?
Pip & Stella, Paul & Ruairi, Azra & Akram

Are the BBC afraid of being accused of stereotyping farmers as rich landowners? Particularly with recent controversy re inheritance.
No. Other than on Farming Today farmers on the Beeb seem to have unlimited wealth.

Helen and her sons moving out will free up 2 bedrooms. Tomntash could take in lodgers. Tom's step-cousin Ruairi? Would be interesting when his sex worker past and violent assault on George were revealed.

Bloody Helen, strong-arming her old father. The Anguses are his to decide if and when they go.

Yes, she's a truly awful person.

I hope they trample her. (I should perhaps have added "terminally" there.)

It was an Angus that knelt on Tony and very nearly killed him; let's hear it for the Angus Knees and Helen having a close encounter.

Ok two questions from tonight.

1. what was that phrase Carol muttered about dogs lying easy and what did she mean by it? That ole Pippi should watch her back?

2. who in her past is likely to lie buried in the overgrown corner of the garden where Mr Hedgehog is living?

I had exactly the same questions!

Joy is: realising I didn’t listen to last weeks omnibus so now I have TWO to listen to.

Carol's ramblings to Pip makes me think Stella is going to have an encounter with Anna Tergorran.

Nothing on earth would cause Stella to give up the Brookfield Farm, surely?

text from Carol to Shula:

Guess what?! Your niece called round, pushed into 'good works' by your brother and dropped a suggestion that I'm renting the cottage 'from Brookfield'. I think it's time for your move south - maybe I should have let them do some garden clearance after all. Your bedroom, bathroom and sitting room are ready for you any time, and we can fight for the dining room as and if. Alan Franks was here as well, and I get the impression his use-by date has expired, so there might even be work for a God-botherer in the village.

No offence ;)

Oh, and swat up on your Estate Agent law, Anna may need to consult.

Email from Shula to Elizabeth and Carol

Well spotted Elizabeth on the rumbles from the farm. Carol has been getting some hints of proposed territorial expansion, so I'm going to move down after Easter. E, do you still feel happy about living in LL with any probable changes in management there? I don't want to do a DARTHIP on you!

I attach some of Josh's penguin pictures in case you haven't seen them. And some green rock rabbits! and those little llama-a-likes!!

He seems to be enjoying himself, which makes a nice change.

See you soon in Ambridge - we'll have gran round for a subversive old lady tea party once I've settled.

PS, obviously don't tell the darthips I'm coming, but I'll warn Kenton a day or two before I land.

Best S XXXXXXXX

Translation of DARTHIP, please?

DAvidRuTH and pIP, the devil's triad.

I saw that three-letter word beginning with 'J' and for a moment...

"When the dog lies easy, best to watch the door."

The phrase "when the dog lies easy, best you watch the door" suggests that when a situation appears peaceful, calm, or deceptively quiet, that is precisely when you should be most vigilant or alert to potential danger.
(copied from farcebook)

Why does Helen think it’s her job to initiate sake of the Anguses, without mentioning anything to Tony? They are Tony’s project and responsibility. Any sensible person might offer to make the call, out of respect, but also for clarity, making sure affected parties know what’s happening.

She’s insufferable.

She is. And entitled. Tony needs to stand up to his children and disinherit the lot.

What is it with the Archers and how they brought up their children?

In Helen's defence, the way Tony said to her that he understood they needed to go did imply he was ready for it and I can see why Helen would think it was okay to get in touch with the auctioneer - and could even think she was being kind by not making him call them.

I don't believe for a moment that Helen cares about "being kind" to anyone. I hope her new house falls down with her under the rubble.

So she can maintain maximum insufferability. It’s a life long quest. Levels of insufferability must be constantly topped up.

Tom is also very adept at this.

The message of this week, in a particularly florid scriptiform all over tonight's episode, was "old people should just stop doing anything they enjoy or that involves the least exertion, and go away and sit alone in a chair by the fire and do simple crossword puzzles or sudoku."

Meanwhile the one who ought to stop being active, Lynda, shows no sign of s(ing)tfu and being less all-over-the-village.

God I just can’t imagine disrespecting my dad enough to bully him into selling his beloved animals unless we were in financial trouble and they were a massive drain on resources. Helen and Tom are just like Peggy in that they think Tony is weaker and pick on him accordingly.