Archers thread #202: How are you finding your visits to Ambridge? Fill in your feedback forms 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 think working as a hotel receptionist is a perfectly reasonable career choice for a graduate from a family with a stately home, 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-12-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.)

Over to you!

To use a rescue Doberman to illustrate that a beloved pet can do such things was stupid, had it been a cockapoo for example it would have been better by far. I think the story was not so much about the breed of dog, but about the type of owner - to show that this could happen to anyone. Lynda was chosen as the character who ticks the most boxes re responsible dog ownership, being an animal lover, pillar of the community etc etc. That was why no one suspected Monty until he was DNA tested, even when the dog was identified as a doberman from the outset. The PSA on this occasion is that ALL dog owners should be vigilant at all times in the vicinity of sheep. No one should be complacently thinking: "This could never happen to me!" If it can happen to Lynda Snell it can happen to anyone.

I think catching Brian out is interesting - he is the kind of person who thinks rules are for other people. I'm keen to see how this storyline plays out.

You mean catching Justin out?

there’s lots of casual snobbery on this thread when in reality the people who know exactly how HMRC works are those who are those doing two or three jobs, and those living more precariously than the Martyn/Justins of the world - Emma will be fully aware for a start and if Amber is a successful content creator plus her day job she’ll know exactly how it works. I’m hoping it’s a storyline device rather than another PSA because the latter would be really irritating.

The bit you miss is that it was a Dobermann Pinscher and not some other breed.
The storyline would have worked with any identifiable but not currently popular breed, e.g. Weimeraner or Vizsla.

The reason I say not currently popular is because he was identified as the only one in the village but there are probably a few cockerpoo type dogs or Labradors.

I feel that dog breeds are often given a bad reputation because of a few bad owners. Staffordshire bull terriers are one such breed. I know someone with a big softie of one but people are terrified of it because they think it's a 'bad' breed.
Dobermanns are loyal and not nasty dogs.

@MorningCoffeePlease , thanks. I'd forgotten it was Matt who gave Lilian Ruby.

Yes, and have those twins😊

Was I imagining things, or did Fallon have a 'moment' with Chris the farrier several weeks ago?

I haven't listened for a few days, so not sure exactly what is going on right now.

Can someone please bring me up to speed?

Much appreciated if so 👍🙂

Doh! Yes of course I meant Justin, sorry!

You're imagining it but they did seem comfortable as housemates.

Fallon did mention Chris showing off his "guns" at the county show competition and I felt there was a tiny (or perhaps not so tiny) spark of attraction there... at the time it occurred to me that the comment might be sowing some future seeds...

Yes, that's what I thought aswell.

Has nothing happened since?

They were Chekhov's guns.

What is meant by Chekhov's guns?

I've absolutely no idea what that reference means!

I've always worried about whether Chris managed to eventually wash off the fake tanning lotion.

I suppose he must have done, but we didn't get to hear about it!

@WheresThatCatGoneNow , Chekhov's gun - Wikipedia
It was a play on words. Chris's guns were his biceps.

Thankyou!

It all makes sense now.

You can actually legally receive sick pay while being paid to do another job if you are unable to do the first job but are capable of doing the second. This scenario is a classic example. George cannot do his manual job but there is nothing to stop him doing a sales job.

The only restriction is the hours worked. You cannot work at job 2 during contracted hours for job 1. Not sure what George’s contact with Esme was - zero hours? Morning and afternoon shifts? Did he even have a written contract? Is he being paid for the sales job or is it just work experience?

Obviously any decent employee would talk this through with the original employer - not least as the second job is likely to become widely known. But George is young and Esme is not an experienced employer.

I didn't hear yesterday's ep because thunder'n'lightning knocked my internet out for a while but a little old man in a purple velour tracksuit was not my mental image of Justin.

A PURPLE VELOUR TRACKSUIT

The English are different from us.

Unless he has decided that he liked it enough to buy another, he's a cheapskate: on Monday 15th June, 2020, Lilian had bought him a set of purple leisure wear, though she claimed it was burgundy, and a matching one for herself.

I have a feeling they got Ruby a matching jacket, too, and sent a Christmas card of them all three wearing them.

And The Curse of Khalil hits the vicar. He's a human, not an ordained robot. He's allowed to get angry.

Ooh! Why did Reverend Alan get so furiously angry about his broken window?

Is it sign pointing towards him having mental health issues?

What is supposed to be inappropriate about being a bit shouty when young adults damage property?

the description of Justin sounds accurate, They’re both well into their 70s I think?

But the velour tracksuits. Purple velour. Or burgundy. @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime's post was a revelation - I never knew. Ambridge is clearly a very tolerant society.

Possibly too tolerant.

It is quite funny that Khalil decided to start making rules for who could do what where and the very next day did the wrong things on the wrong place and damaged property. I suppose it's lucky they didn't hit the ball into someone's face.