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!

They did. The boys said they'd pay for it, but Alan went off on one - to be fair, paying for it is the least of it. As he pointed out, it's the organising and taking time off, on top of everything else.

@TottersBlankly Justin would have a regular barber - probably in London. He might frequent the health facilities at Grey Gables, simply because they’re there, but otherwise I’d imagine there’s somewhere exclusive in Borchester.

I have always imagined Borchester as something like 1960s Darlington.

Ah, ok! I only know it from photographs - presumably it had an ‘Underwoods’? And an Ambridge Organics?

To me, at the moment Borchester appears like a mash up of Abingdon (quaint and cosy with hidden corners) and the nicer parts of Sheffield (because there’s always some cool new restaurant or bar opening). Some tension between glass plated office blocks and a gradually collapsing High St. But Underwoods would have died once and for all during the lockdowns. (So I have trouble believing in the recharging station off-shoot.)

Hmm … Would it have an expensive club? Borchester Land would surely have favourable terms for its members at ‘all the best places’?

Pat would have insisted on paying the bill for the window in any normal neighborhood, town or village. That is really silly.

And going to bat for Henry, rather than have Henry go and apologise, and somehow make amends.

And Justin? He is just a fool now. It is very silly.

Well done Alan. Pat thinks she's the queen ofAmbridge.
She didn't even say send me a bill for the window.
If Kahil and Henry are the future of TA then god help us all.
Kahil reminds me of a someone. When they were 15 they were a little know it all with no respect for thier elders and never pulled up by thier parents. As they got older they turned into a lovely person, but now they have little ones they have reverted back to type.
I enjoyed Justin and Lillian especially when lillian said about Salmon sperm. Or did I imagine it.

Where are Helen and Azra/Akram?

I hope Alan is ok, and not about to move over to make space for a new St Shula.

But he just went on to say “and will you arrange the repair and stay in all day etc”. He didn’t actually decline the offer of payment. Ridiculous nobody followed it up with a cheque.

I did initially think the diocese would arrange the repair but ChatGPT seems to think it would only step in for major structural work/repairs and not this level of maintenance which is the responsibility of the vicar. Pat’s offer of a glazier was actually quite helpful although she didn’t do it in a very neighbourly way. Of course Alan should send the invoice to Helen and Azra.

I agree the idea that Justin is only now starting to care about his appearance is laughable. The old Justin would have a discreet Harley St plastic surgeon on speed dial. And he has always been more of a tweed man than velour…

But Underwoods would have died once and for all during the lockdowns. I'm not sure this is necessarily true @TottersBlankly - I'm thinking of the independents Daniels in Windsor or Smith and Bradbeer in Romsey (not that I think Borchester is like either of those two places). Neither of those shops has a food hall of course. I remember the old Welwyn Department Stores in Welwyn Garden City had a food hall, but that went when the shop was taken over by John Lewis in the early 80s. Does such a shop exist anywhere outside London? One thing's for sure, Borchester still appears to be thriving - it has not been killed off to be colonised by nail bars, phone shops and charity shops.
Don't get me started on Justin, he is currently in his buffoon phase, for plot purposes. Is there a more inconsistently written character? He is one of the most unbelievable for me for this reason which is a shame because he is well acted in any of his guises.

Ridiculous Pat didn't say 'I've spoken to Joanne the glazier, she'll come and repair the window any time that suits you, she knows to send the invoice to me. Can the boys do a couple of hours work in the garden over the next few week?'

Oh, and 'do you need help boarding over the hole in the short term, and cleaning the damage indoors?'

A small hamper of Bridge Farm produce would have been a gracious gesture as well.

“Joanne the glazier” - I don’t know why but it always makes me smile when people add made up names to scenarios, never see it anywhere but here

Joanne the glazier - she sounds just right for Will.

I was going to say 'Joe the handyman' then copped myself on.

I've never come across a female glazier, which I think is one of the (many) things that just goes to show that women have more sense than men. Plumbers, electricians, yes. But up a ladder with something sharp? Nah!

Wouldn’t Justin look younger with longer (if grey) hair than a buzz cut which would make him look like he was avoiding balding…. Lilian’s reaction indicated he normally has quite full locks 🤷🏻‍♀️. She have been delighted if he’d shaved off a comb over….

Can't handle the whiplash writing of Justin. He's a retired business executive. People like that do not behave the way he does.

Agree on Alan's reaction being out of character. Unless that's part of a storyline about stress or something medical, it's just lazy writing.

And I'm not Pat's biggest fan but her reaction was bonkers given Henry is 15 or so!

Great plot line 👏

I dont know. My Dad, who despised long hair in the 1970s, grew his thinning hair long in his late 80s/90s to detract from the bald patch no matter how much we told him it didn’t work.

I’m still not listening at the moment, but when I saw the recent comments on here I thought it was the stained glass window that had been smashed. And then that reminded me of what a ridiculous storyline that was…and then that reminded me of why I’m not listening at the moment.

What happened with the stained glass window in the end? For all I know, it's still boarded over and waiting for a decision.

Somebody (Alan, I think, or possibly the bishop - honestly, the nerve of them!) blocked the vanity project to commemorate the Stellar Twins - even though Peggoi was involved. So I imagine it's been boarded up and forgotten.

See I told you it’s ages since I listened!! Is Nigel okay up on the roof?

Yes. The idea of Justin wearing purple velour is preposterous. He's a tweed or Barbour wearer.

I don't think he'd care that much about his appearance, either. I could see him being a little self pitying about appearing elderly, but the desire for an edgy haircut and colour has taken it too far.

I'm getting 'Ambridge's answer to Nicky Haslam' vibes. I don't think that is a good or a credible thing.