Archers thread #203: It's Affair Cop! 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 would love to attend Pip's wedding with Natasha and the starry twins, 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.)

Starting the new thread a bit early as I'm not sure I'll have much internet access for the next few days. Fill up the old one first. And then - over to you!

(Credit for the thread title goes to @TripleSulko.)

Been there, had 2 sections, including one with pretty awful post birth consequences. However I'd take that over my friends suffering 10 years later. We can agree to disagree but I don't think comparison is helpful. Vaginal birth carries risks like prolapses, tears which can have long running consequences. Birth is traumatic however "well" it goes. Amber wasn't mentally prepared for it, she had a tear which required treatment and she's now suffering. She needs the support of those around her to hopefully work through it over time.

I wish people would stop going on about their awful childbirth experiences. Start a thread in AIBU or something to spare your squeamish Archers' comrades.

I was going to change the subject by asking if anyone was listening to BH this morning - life in the 1990s?

BBC - The Archers Blog: Six diamond decades - the 1990s

OK thread police. I thought it was kind of relevant to the discussion about Amber's reaction but that's me told.

Will we hear the party for Vince tonight or is that next weekend?

I don't disagree, but the fact is that she had a pretty uncomplicated birth, and her trauma is more down to her own unrealistic expectations - including expectations of herself, TBF.
I wonder where the SWs will go with this - I think it would be more realistic if she ended up having problems keeping up her influencer "career" rather than what I expect them to do which is to give her full-blown PTSD and/or PND from the birth. I hope they go for the former rather than the soap opera latter, but my hopes are low.

ETA: actual "suffering" ten years after an episiotomy? There's something else going on there - or else she was butchered at the time, which is not impossible. But in that case I would definitely not want to have had a C-S from that surgeon!

Also, if we're changing subjects - I actually came on here (only just discovered these threads, yay!) to see whether anyone else was annoyed at Fallon's, and now Jolene's, rather hypocritical reaction to Harrison moving on "so soon"? My recollection of the split was that Fallon was the one who really wanted to end it, albeit it was presented as a reasonable decision: It was Fallon who was behind it really (IMO)

So why should she get annoyed that Harrison isn't sitting at home weeping over her?

(Whether Lily Pargetter is a good match is a different question - my issue is just that surely Fallon has no right to dictate to her ex how long he should grieve their relationship for, nor whether he's allowed to react by getting out there into the dating pool straightaway. Much less her mother and stepfather.)

Probably more suffering from a vaginal birth than the episiotomy itself but one friends issue is definitely episiotomy related.

I was thinking that while I was catching up with domestic tasks this morning. Could be spelt Niall - I've known two spelled that way, one Neel and one Nile. Neil Joseph GG.

Hear, hear, @BeatriceBatchelor .

@muddyford , Niall is more Neeyull isn't it?
I can hear Susan saying it.
A few decades ago I lived next door to an Irish couple and they had a little Niall.

@Hercisback , Lily said 'on Sunday'.

@Emilesgran , I think Fallon might have been ok if Harrison had met someone on a dating app but Lily is Jolene's niece and a lot younger than Fallon.

A friend separated from her husband, her decision, and within weeks he was with someone she knew. It was just too close to home - like he'd hooked up with the nearest available woman. Friend and her STBXH had children and neither was planning any more, which is a bit different to Harrison. Lily is immature and doesn't have much experience.

Well, not necessarily. As I said, the two Nialls I know, one was Neel and the other Nile. How Susan will mangle the pronunciation is anybody's guess. I wince every time she says Christeefer.

I don't think Harrison has moved on really. If Fallon said, I made a mistake, let's get back together, he'd forget Lily in an instant, (except she and all her extended family are all neighbours, so he couldn't. He didn't go out looking for Lily, but she pretty much threw herself at him, and in the absence of Fallon doing it, she's giving him the promise of what he really wants, which is a wife and child, and takes the pain away a bit.

Of course, Lily is mostly doing it for a fling with a man who apparently looks hot, and isn't necessarily looking to settle down with Harrison, but the family are all prepared to accept him, so it's going to lose the excitement of being not quite forbidden, but nearly so, and she's risking getting trapped in a relationship she isn't quite sure about wanting, except the sex.

I think Lily is more into it than Harrison and will get hurt.

He’s not over Fallon as he said to Ed and offered to try again. Lily’s not run a mile at his weird intense gaffe early doors and is bringing him to Vince’s party.

@muddyford , that's now the NDN said it. Not like Susan quite but not 'Neel' more 'Nee-l'. Appreciate accents vary etc, and someone can within reason say their own name how they like.

@Geronimode , I think Lily is more into it than Harrison and will get hurt. I do hope so. She's horrid.
Team Freddie all the way here. Team Fallon with this one.

I think the Harrison/Fallon thing is all too realistic. She wanted to break up because she really doesn't want to be with him/doesn't want kids/was happier when he was in Leeds, but she doesn't want anyone else to have him. Harrison is an attractive bloke (I don't hear him like that, but apparently that is the case) who wants to be in a relationship, doesn't want to be on his own, would get back with Fallon in a heartbeat, but failing that will move on and will have no problem moving on and finding someone else (as has already been proved). I have seen this scenario in RL. Fallon really doesn't want Harrison, so she just needs to move on - and she needs to accept she will be poorer than him because he has the better career. I think she should get a move on and move onto Rex's houseboat and create an enviable lifestyle in a tiny home. I'm not sure where Lily fits in - I can't decide if she really wants to be with Harrison or not. She's not yet at the point of needing to rush into having children so I think it's all going to be too much too soon for her. Vince's party might be just what she needs to remind her she's not ready to slip into middle-aged acceptance quite just yet.

Oh - excellently excruciating episode.

Love that for you, Fallon! 🍸🍸🍸🍸

DH and I never snort, but we both snorted at the "babe" !!!

I hope all this is not one long elaborate dance to get Harrison and Fallon back into their awful relationship.

@Every1ElseInKnowsley What's NDN? And as I have said (twice), people pronounce names differently, even with the same spelling.

Well!

That wasn't awkward at all, was it? 😱

It's next-door neighbour to me.

But it didn't make sense so I discounted that!

@muddyford , Next Door Neighbour. I know you what you have said (twice) but that's how they (my Irish NDN) said their son Niall's name, and I posted because of how Susan says it.

Sorry, missed a crucial bit tonight. Who did Fallon invite back for what turned out to be a cringe inducing occasion?

If my having a next door neighbour makes no sense to you then ignore any post I make that refers to them.

@polyhymnia, Grant. He was something to do with Dross. I think he auditioned for the dead band member's vacated slot but they never re-formed.

Oh, many thanks. Can’t say I recall him!