The Archers

Fair comment, merlot but is Ed a paid employee, or a subcontractor?

He's a paid employee. He dithered about accepting the job because of his contracting work but decided a regular wage was a better option as they were hoping to get a mortgage.

They could hang on to their savings and hopefully still be able to afford to buy somewhere in the future.

See? I've got it all worked out.

Well done! (numpty brain here totally scrambled by trying to VAT return for work! Nearly had to take my socks off as well in order to do all the counting)

Olwen sounds a complete nightmare. Maybe her cough would improve if she took the chip off her shoulder.

How hypocritical to suggest Tom's books should go in the bin but deliberately allow herself to become so ill that instead of going to the doc she has to take herself off to A&E.

I haven't heard this evening's episode but I won't let that stop me joining in.
merlotgran - if Olwen has a cough, whose betting she has TB? That would fit with the emphasis on homelessness. She was bound to be a nightmare. Has she moved in with Pat and co yet? Sorry I'll listen on catch up and be quite till I have.

Yes, moved in with St Pat, Helen already expressing concerns!

Well said, Alice.

Nice that at last one of the entitled of Ambridge admits where the buttered bread has come from.

Well said Alice indeed. It's time Adam was recognised for the insufferable prig that he is.

What’s going on with Shula? Why would she care whether Alistair saw her in a sports car?

I thought the same, Gerispringer. After all she was only with her brother, not 'another man'.

I dislike the Shula-Allistair story line. I can't fit current Shula with the character we've known for so long.

Anyone one else annoyed with the Will custody battle story? Why shouldn’t Jake and Mia live with their biological father? Will is spending so much time treating Jake he seems to have forgotten George. Meanwhile Mia is being used for childcare to help look after Poppy. Somethings got to give.
Loving Olwen though....

I need to check the back story but, Jake and Mia haven't lived with their biological father for years. They have lived with Will, their mother and younger sister. It's an interesting story line because it's something that does happen in RL. It's so tough for everyone in the family, especially the children. When children are bereaved, it has to be least worst outcomes - or "best interests of the child". It means the adults acting like grown ups and putting their own feelings aside to focus on what is truly best for the children.
You're right in saying something's got to give. It usually does when life throws such unexpected shocks and horrors at you.

Actually, I can fit the Shula story with the character we know. IMHO Shula has always been quite self-centred and rigid in her beliefs. She has applied them in different ways over the years, but she has rarely been happy to seriously consider other points of view. She has talked more easily to God than to her husband, slips easily into 'martyr' mode; and I think this is where she is sitting now.

Go Alastair! What did Shula expect?

Shula is unbelievable. I laughed out loud at her outrage when it dawned on her he'd had a one night stand with a member of the hunt.

Lavinia Rafferty. What a great new character she could be.

Lavinia Rafferty - yes I agree, she could be a great new character. She certainly has a great name. Is it possible we could finally have a substitute posh person to help replace Nigel and Marjorie Antrobus. I do hope so. Go Alistair! Will this lead to Shula having a change of mine - what a crazy story line. At least it's making me laugh a bit, unlike the Will story (though well done Susan)

Serves Shula right ... and I hope Lavinia gave Alasdair a good time!

The Archers is getting more like a Jilly Cooper novel. (She’d be a good scriptwriter )

I am absolutely loving these new storylines. Sensible Alice falling for the old married bloke. Gold!

Oops I mean Lily !!!

But very much in character - she has always seen herself as too sophisticated for the teens.

Didn't St Shula at one time finesse both Alistair and Dr Locke in what in my day was called 'two timing'? She then got very excited when Docky Locky turned up again only to have her (extramarital?) hopes dashed when he showed more interest in Elizabeth.
I so agreed with Fag Ash Lil when she strongly advised Shula not to tell Alistair about her New Year Snog with Philip. Watch out Kirsty!

“Finesse” trying to guess what that should be!
Good to hear Alistair turning the tables on St Shula - why is she dithering? Does the woman know what she wants?
Lily and her Older Man - will she use Elizabeth’s suspicions about a gay relationship as cover? When will the sh*t hit the fan?
Tom in a standoff with Phillip
Yes - a few more interesting storylines emerging.
Not sure about Ruth’s birthday party though. Yawn.