Archers thread #198: Josh sent to Patagonia, Pip stays put. Wrong way round! Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

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Not feeling greatly enthused about what's going on in Ambridge at the moment, tbh. I'm annoyed at Brian's hypocrisy about Ruairi given the furore over George's attempt to frame Alice as the cause of the accident. I do hope we don't have a slow drip drip drip now as one after another the members of the Aldridge/Archer clan find out what really happened and endlessly agonise over what to do. Frankly I don't care. There! I've said it.

Pip's OK. Well, good, but what was the point of that story, I wonder?

I suspect I'm in a minority of one in rather enjoying hearing (a) from Bert Horobin and (b) about Fletcher. I surmise Bert is here to stay for a while because the BBC has (amazingly) updated his character page: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1wQP3mKR6yr9LVs05jddxcY/bert-horrobin (prominent actor photo warning). Given how out of date a lot of the other character pages are, this seems odd, but there we are.

That's all I can be bothered to say! Over to you.

Did Azra say it was at least a year's wait for the test? My dad (not in the UK) has cancer and had genetic testing as quite a few family members died from a related cancer (RCC/BRCA). He knew within about 2-3 weeks, and they tested some other family members at the same time. Horrible to not know for a year.

My vote is for one of the pipistrelle species for Pip/Stel reasons, though I prefer the silly nose of a horseshoe, or a long-eared for the ridiculous ears.

I expect they're pips, too - though we had serotines as well, where I grew up.

I really like her. And she's not contrary; her delighted reaction to her daughter's possibly speaking at the WI, referencing those who'd helped her spoke much about her gratitude.
I think the spikiness comes out at initial offers of help, viz the plates on the table and the ham.
I remember my dear late MIL used to keep unopened tins of food in the fridge so they would keep longer and her saying some juice had gone "a bit fizzy".

For a paedo he has remarkably little, if any, SL time with children. Or is this something to be unearthed in the clear-out of his things after death? There's a thread about this at the moment.

Very well said there.

She was interesting - high powered, ran rings around Tom, secret spending issue.

They kind of ruined her.

I like Carol's spikiness too. I see it as a response to being patronised, however well-meaning. When my DF(92) is perceived as perhaps needing some help or an item that will improve his life, it's discussed with him. Over the last few years he's decided to have a gardener once a fortnight, ditto a cleaner, and a falls bracelet. But HE decided after discussion. People like Anna talk about older people and independence, but don't give them the space to decide for themselves.

And if Natasha can't be arsed to do a WI talk, she should inform them, not recruit someone herself without suggesting it to them. Bad manners.

Nice to have the WI back, though!

I like spiky scary Carol, an excellent role model. I also like bats. We have often had big maternity colonies of pipistrelles and sometimes one of the bigger ones. Smelly and noisy but charming.

When I was a new listener, some time in the early 70s, Carol had a 'shoplifting caused by menopause brain' storyline. Better than a lot of the guff we're getting now.

In my experience as a GP most people in their 90s are a ‘bit spiky’ - otherwise described as forthright/strong-willed/infuriating by their long-suffering/despairing/frustrated/something-must-be-done relatives. I don’t know whether you have to have this facet of personality to reach that age, or whether being very elderly brings it out in you. Maybe there’s a research project to be done. But either way, it’s rarely the shrinking violets who make it to a grand old age, I would say.

Carol is being extremely rude to lots of people (and it’s not helped by the fact that she sounds about 60 so it feels very uncomfortable to listen to) but she’s not unrepresentative of many of my patients (I work in an area with lots of elderly - many, like Leonard, are the 80-somethings who take care of their even-older friends and neighbours). Unfortunately lots of people bimble on refusing all help and being an obvious disaster-in-waiting until that disaster sadly does happen - often a fall, followed by a prolonged hospital stay, and nothing good comes from that.

Nothing wrong with Werther's Originals. I keep mine in the car. 😊

Many, like Leonard, are the 80-somethings who take care of their even-older friends and neighbours You exactly describe the setup of my mum and her friends @Prestissimo! And the difference between those in their early 80s and those in their 90s is clear to see - even the sprightliest start to lose vigour as reach 90 which is why I find the portrayal of Carol so unrealistic. My personal observation is that even the most selfless personalities become more demanding as they reach a great age simply because self preservation requires it. I can see with my own 89-year-old mum that someone who has always instinctively put others first now needs to assert herself and think of her own needs which might come across as being cantankerous to those who are used to her always just fitting in with everyone else's plans. I love Leonard and find him an extremely believable person and personality type. Carol sounded about the same age as Azra last night.

My late grandmother visited care homes when she was well into her 80s. The residents were mainly in their 70s. Gran called it "visiting the old people".

I wonder what Natasha’s talk to the WI would have been about?

“ How to raise twins in kitten heeled mules” or
” This old thing? I’ve had it ages. How to hide an expanding wardrobe “

Well I shall be very sorry not to have the opportunity of hearing either of those talks! Definitely my sort of thing. 😄

We will never get to hear her pearls of wisdom!

I volunteer in two branches of a foodbank. The more suburban one has several volunteers in their 80s who do a great job. The town centre one is a bit more 'interesting' and staffed mainly by youngsters in our 60s and early 70s.

During lockdown my mother and three nonagenarian friends continued playing bridge, driving to the house with the most hidden parking. It would have taken a brave police officer to confront them. My mother’s attitude was “they say we’re living too long, but then stop us from dying”. She’s now 100, in a care home but still sharp and very much the family matriarch.

I'm absolutely astounded that no-one has pounced upon the very obvious (sweary) joke that the SWs presented us all with when Leonard mentioned bat guano.

I love bats, by the way, and owls too.

I have both in the trees in my garden.

@WheresThatCatGoneNow , no batshit suggestions from you please

Ha - didn’t I say more and more people would be drawn into Ruairi’s secret? It’s getting ridiculous now …

It's a secret if one person knows it.

But Ruairi putting Brian into Adam's power like that was very, very wrong of him.

And tedious..,don’t forget tedious

It will be thrown at Brian by Adam when they have the Home Farm Partners meeting. He won't be able to restrain himself. "What were you thinking, Brian!?"

And then Debbie, Kate and Alice will also know. Might as well tell Susan and have done with it.

Okay. I have only just stopped listening and frankly have no memory of what Ruairi said to Adam (or vice versa), because almost everything involving Adam is immediately consigned to the waste-bin without even passing through short-term memory. I know, it's a real gift!