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.

Ah well, it was a kite worth flying just in case. (Round here I am often accused of hedging my bets.)

Lottie and Azra were discussing Lottie's date and the Page of Wands was mentioned. For those who are into tarot it's a sign that a passionate whirlwind romance is on the cards.

Can't be Chris then. Pedestrian is an understatement for Chris. He is very nearly as boring as Rex, and that is saying something.

In fact he's pretty much the opposite of one set of possible interpretations for the PoW that I have just located:
"Good news, swift news, letters, phone calls, word of mouth, fresh, cheerful, childlike, fun, playful, active, optimistic, full of energy, bright ideas, new exciting plans, creativity, lovable rogue, charismatic, free-thinking, confident, intelligent, extroverted, fearless, rushing into things, finding your passion"

I offer also "Inspiration, ideas, discovery, limitless potential, free spirit" and "adventure, excitement, fresh ideas, cheerfulness, energetic, fearless, extroverted".

Doesn't seem much like Chris to me.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime Doesn't seem much like Chris to me.

You're right ... it's obviously Clive! 😅

I like both Chris and Rex. Better than most of the options in Ambridge.

It's got to be Den.

My interpretation was based on Lottie having done the reading specifically about her date.

Does Alice know Lottie? I hope there won’t be any cringy double-dates before Alice and Chris inevitably get back together.

I’m surprised Alice didn’t message Fallon at least once before the meal “we’re looking forward to dinner/can we bring anything?” which would have cleared up the whole ridiculous misunderstanding.

Maddie is at the same school as Martha but the same age as Fat Rosie, I think.

Weren't Alice and Lottie friends at primary and then met up again when their own children were at Loxley Barrett?

Oh so it was Lottie that Azra was speaking to? Is she a dastardly receptionist at the practice? I couldn't work out where that conversation was happening or to whom she was speaking, Azra had a surgical removal of all charisma. Likewise Bert seems to be both written and acted to be a focus of dislike but one can't be gleeful about it, like disliking George or Rob, Bert is beneath contempt, just unpleasant and without nuance. Edited to add: oh and I thought Lottie was gay?

Hmm I think that was pip not Alice?

You are right, it was Pip.

It's not the first time I've confused Alice and Pip.

Chris is being such an arse to Rex.

And don't get me started on people calling their evening meal "supper."

I wish everyone would realise that if Alice is going out with Rex its nothing to do with Chris, or if Chris is going out with whoever its nothing to do with Alice, so when Fallon said to Alice is Chris ok with you going out with Rex its nothing to do with Chris only if it affects Martha. Move on everyone one pleeeease.

@BeatriceBatchelor , It is supper. It's a light evening meal when you've ad your main meal at lunchtime. I cringe when people use supper to mean something like a cup of cocoa and a biscuit before going to bed.

Simplest ever suppers - BBC Food

A biscuits and cocoa before bed is what I grew up understanding supper to mean. I've never used it in the way you mean although I know people do.

If you are really posh it means dinner. I once got invited for supper and it was a full blown dinner party.

I always think of supper as an unfussy meal, perhaps a bowl of soup or leftover stew served up with some comforting mash, to recharge after a long day.

@CaptainMyCaptain , Breakfast, dinner, tea, supper here, with the main meal at around 12 noon - 1 pm (dinner time not lunchtime). Tea would be something like a cuppa and a cake, about 4pm.

If the lunchtime meal was something like a pasty or a sandwich, tea would be a proper meal around 5 pm. Wouldn't even think of eating before going to bed, that's just weird.

If you invited someone to supper it would probably be a two or three course meal.

(If it's relevant, I'm from a rural background.)

It's a sliver of roast chicken and a massive salad. Keep me going for a week that would.

I find the supper thing so strange. Isn't it just regional?
Is it like arguing that a teacake doesn't have spices and currants in?

That episode a few days ago, when Lynda was trying to tell Khalil that Fletcher the Budgie wasn't exactly a welcome present, was painful to listen to!

So stupidly awkward, and just badly written.

Don't know who the scriptwiter was, but Carole Boyd must have hated playing that scene.

I'm quite old. My Dad used to come home for his dinner at mid-day. We used to have tea, also hot food, when he got home at about 5 ish (office/laboratory job). I didn't actually have anything to eat before bed but that was what I understood supper to mean. I'm not alone in that my husband thinks the same and grew up in a different part of the country. It's not a matter of right or wrong just different usage suiting different life styles.

Quite possibly. I just find the "And don't get me started on people calling their evening meal "supper."" comments baffling.

@WheresThatCatGoneNow , it was Nick Warburton that week. He seems to use his creative licence or something.

It's regional!

Up here, in the North of England, tea means the evening meal - eaten at five or six pm.

Dinner means whatever we eat at midday.

Hence Dinnerladies at school.

We don't really use the word lunch around here!