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.)

I’m sure it’s been said but Harrison sounds just like Shaun Keaveney. Also Harrison calling Lily sweetheart is making me cringe. I am enjoying the Harrison/ Fallon split storyline situation as it’s been brewing for years…

I thought it was pretty realistic, especially given the time constraints. It can be frightening and distressing, especially to someone like Amber who had certain preconceived ideas of how she would give birth, plus the feeling of being out of control. I thought her scream when the head came out was very realistic, often when an actor is pretending to give birth they don't do that bit.

I liked the amber birth, nice n quick, no huge drama, didnt think she was overdoing the screaming.

Robert's granada's velour never being the same again made me genuinely laugh which i'm not sure the archers has ever achieved before 🤣

Robert was hilarious in the labour episode!

It made me shudder when the midwife said let’s get you sewn up.

Credit where credit is due, I thought this week’s omnibus was well-written.

Why doesn’t Brad just get a scooter for Uni (he must have been getting himself around somehow for the past few years, so he must have some roadsense)!

Yes, but again I thought that was realistic. That's mostly not mentioned when births are depicted in dramas.

Brad always used to have a bicycle, and I don't think you yet have to have a licence to ride an electric bicycle.

Following

Yes I think it was meant as a contrast to Amber's vision of an Instagrammable birth.

Checking in briefly from an extremely wet island. Thanks for all your kind words. Up here for a few days for the memorial service. We had already sold the house, so it's been very odd being here and not staying there, but it simplifies the admin now. All went well. Good attendance. Very happy with the way the service went. Back home soon, I hope.

Anyway, back to TA - I thought Amber's birth was pretty realistic. I suspect we're in for a post-natal depression storyline now, though. The gap between what she expected and what she experienced was enormous. I remember meeting a woman nearly 35 years ago who couldn't get over the fact that she'd had an emergency CS and was really low about it. She felt she'd failed in some way. I found this baffling as I had one too and all I felt was enormous relief that my daughter and I were both safe, but we're all different. Hers was because labour failed to progress and mine was because my daughter (never in her life one to do the obvious thing, and a big baby) was in a particularly difficult breech position. I hope my acquaintance came to terms with it, sooner rather than later, and I hope the same for Amber, as a prolonged mental health story is not really my cup of tea.

Well if they do a PND story we can rest assured that, based on their previous treatment of mental health issues, it won't last long.
Amber will cry in public, but then have a quick chat with the multi-talented Joy and she'll be right as rain, the whole thing never to be mentioned again.

Good to hear that @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

I hope because Ambers birth was quite straightforward that it doesn’t mean there’ll be drama for Kirsty

I hope so too and agree with your post.
But I also hope no-one ever tries to tell Amber her birth was quite straightforward because I don't think she'd take it well.

She's definitely going to have PND, isn't she?
Just hope she doesn't sign up to Mumsnet or she'll discover umpteen other problems either she or the baby (Joe?) could have.

I know I shouldn’t expect any better but FFS Eddie, taking George away from the mother of his day-old baby had me raging. And never mind the baby blues, I’d be depressed living with the Grundys even without a newborn.

I kept asking, where are the family?
Susan stepped in, thank goodness, but Emmur, Ed, Will, Clarrie and then also Amber's parents, where were they in these first few days?

I meant quite straightforward by soap opera standards

They've all read the MN threads on how mothers and babies have to be kept in isolation for six months to 'bond'. [Sounds of incipient vomiting.]

Affair Cop lol, very good. Bit behind the curve but I found the Carol plotline from JAM to a fall and then infirm and facing wheelchair and "nappies", to death, whilst jarringly and somewhat improbably sudden, was actually informative 😥.

Oh, absolutely.
I agree with you.
I just think Amber would go ballistic if it was suggested it wasn't the most traumatic birth ever.
She had far too many Disney ideas about it beforehand.

I just had to look up JAM - and now Google is trying to offer me sources of support.

I tried Googling and al it gave me was sweet fruit preserve to spread on bread and butter, so no idea what it means.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g - I’m glad everything went well. And hope you’re ok.

I got jam as in sessions and jam as in block.

Jam and butter? Why?