uk.media.radio.archers Google Group

Archers update SPOILER f/c 20/12

2009-12-19T12:08:32Z

The Archers update, by Susan Jeffreys, from the Daily Mail's Weekend
magazine:
Not all Ambridgers will tuck into their Christmas dinners with a hearty
appetite. The pain of love will put Helen - always a picky eater - off
her scoff, and the pangs of guilt will have a similar effect on Annette.
Those who've decided to take their Christmas dinner at The Bull find

Leon again (spoiler Thurs)

2009-12-18T12:54:00Z

Could Kirsty really be that naive? We're all pretty sure Leon was lying,
but she was totally convinced by him. All they had to do was, when they
met Yolande or whatever her name was, drop a mention of Leon and his
present for his girlfriend Helen. Then they'd have put his claim to the
test.

Mini spoilerish Thursday 17th Dec - Robert

2009-12-18T12:29:04Z

Isn't Robert lovely?
Er, that's it, really.

Umrats on the air

2009-12-17T19:35:11Z

The BBC quiz program "Only Connect" will feature "A team of three civil
servants with a shared love of Radio 4's The Archers" at 20:30 on BBC 4
(/not/ Radio 4) on Monday 4 January.
[link]
Many Umrats will know a certain sniper rifle toting contestant, and a
few others may remember a cheerful toad. The third member has never

Sexist words (OT).

2009-12-17T17:22:03Z

Has any male ever been called feisty? The word seems to imply petulance and
an unwillingness to co-operate in a uniquly femminine manner. I think the
first time I can remember it being used was of the Spice Girls, who might
have been petulant at times, but had to co- operate with their creators in

Moonlighting on Rumpole

2009-12-17T15:15:18Z

I see from the RT that Oliver Sterling and Matt Crawford were earning a
little on the side by appearing in the Rumpole play on R 4
Mike Ruddock

2010 Calendars

2009-12-17T08:43:15Z

I'm torn between getting my 2010 calendar from:
- [link]
or from:
- [link]
What do umrats advise?

UMRA birthday info for 17 December 2009

2009-12-17T07:11:07Z

Birthday News for today, 17 December: Jack Archer.

OT: Ring-fencing

2009-12-16T20:15:06Z

This past week, I've heard the expression "ring-fence" used in several
contexts. I've not understood one of them. Can anyone explain, please?

OT: No more childhood?

2009-12-16T20:10:03Z

On the latest R4 news bulletin, one of the headlines is about two 10
year old boys who will be appearing in court accused of the rape of an 8
year old girl last October. The boys cannot be named because of their
youth. Am I the only one who is saying "WHAT?" I wasn't all that
innocent, was I, in that there was no way rape would have concerned me

Old Jewish man singing Christmas songs

2009-12-16T18:01:49Z

[link]
There is a whole cd. 15 songs. His share of profit goes to charity.
They reviews Must be Santa on R4 yesterday and that is on utube too.
I just found Winter Wonderland

who was first ?

2009-12-16T09:43:21Z

[link]

Flowers - spoilerish Tuesday 15 Dec

2009-12-15T19:20:53Z

Fallon tells Jazzer that girls like to be given plant genitalia.
What's the attraction?
They can't eat them - They don't heal wounds - They are of no help to
survival.

OT FAO Rosjh I hope I speak .............................

2009-12-15T16:26:33Z

I hope I speak for all umratters and hope that today went well
?............. we was thinking of you fingers crossed
best wishes

Spoiler - Mon 14/12

2009-12-15T14:42:46Z

It is about time Brian told the little brat that he is going too far!
We haven't had anyone made redundant in the village for some time.
What are the odds for moaning minnie getting the push. The only
trouble would be we would have Clarrie-luv lumbered with him, Nick and
the kids. That could be interesting. How many bedrooms are there in

Cabin crew strike

2009-12-15T06:38:19Z

So, BA cabin crew are to strike for twelve days over Christmas. I feel a
thread coming on.
On the first day of Christmas the airline sold to me
A small bag of dry roasted nuts...
Rosjh

Silly o'clock

2009-12-15T06:25:00Z

Rough as a badger's arse with a sore throat and muzzy head, but needs must.
I have an early train to catch.
Cue _La Marche au Supplice_
Rosjh

BoB without Robinson

2009-12-14T13:32:40Z

When did "Brian of Britain" stop knowing his own year number? He used
to be called "Brian of Britain 2002", or whatever. Is it more "modern"
to leave the year off?

Helen's flat

2009-12-14T00:28:20Z

Has Helen's flat got bigger since Annette moved in, or have I just
remembered things wrong? I seem to recall when she moved in there was just
one bedroom, and when Annette came she let her use the bedroom - or did
she? - while Helen bedded down in the living room. Or something of the sort.
It's a very small place anyway, and never seemed suitable for two separate

OT: Nearly old enough for a bass pass? I should be so lucky...

2009-12-13T23:11:08Z

One does not usually relish getting older but there are certain
advantages at the moment that are enjoyed by those who are 60 or older,
such as free bus passes (and trains in some areas), free prescriptions, etc.
But this weekend the Money Box programme on Radio 4 informed us that the
age is to start going up from April! They said that the age would

Ask EU Blogger

2009-12-13T14:17:24Z

I know there are other Blogger users on umra and maybe somerat can help
with a strange technical problem. I've been happily blogging using
Blogger for some months now but have suddenly encountered a problem with
signing in. I can sign in and access the dashboard but as soon as I
move away from the dashboard I am signed out again. So viewing my own

Sheep and Goats

2009-12-13T11:33:36Z

I spent couple of hours yesterday fundraising at a Samaritans stall in
Forum 28. At the same time, staff and pupils[1] of Dowdales school
were performing an assortment of vaguely[1] Christmassy music. And
very enjoyable they were.
Towards the end of their set, their leader said that the choir would

OT: "Outnumbered" Christmas special?

2009-12-13T10:37:23Z

Does anyone know if there will be an episode of this over Christmas and
the New Year? RT on line is no help, but my mother mentioned she's seen
something about it in her Christmas edition of the Radio Times, but then
couldn't find it..
TIA.

Ask EU - StreamBox and the BBC LA

2009-12-13T10:14:17Z

Are any other rats having problems using StreamBox and the Beebotron to
download material? It has recently stopped working for me, it just
stalls and sits there twiddling its hourglass. It could be my firewall
but perhaps it's time to ask Nick how to use MPlayer.

Sid on BH

2009-12-13T09:46:06Z

Sid (1) sent in a comment to Broadcasting House this morning neatly
defining the difference between contemporary music and modern jazz.
1. Possibly: the reason for my doubt is that he described himself as
"grumpy". I have never thought of him in that sense and indeed in view
of the problems he has had he could be thought of as the reverse of

Archers update SPOILER w/c 13/12

2009-12-12T15:16:47Z

The Archers update, probably by Susan Jeffreys, from the Daily Mail's
Weekend magazine:
Annette wanders the cold winter byways of Ambridge, too ashamed to look
Helen in the eye, and with only her guilt to keep her warm. Will boils
over with rage at a corporate shoot, which gets Brian pretty hot under

UMRA birthday info for 12 December 2009

2009-12-12T07:34:03Z

Birthday News for today, 12 December: Freddy Pargetter, Lily Pargetter
and Lucy Gemmell.

Forget 'A short history of Tractors...'

2009-12-11T20:00:08Z

I received a book today, as a gift in return for the use of one
of my images on Geograph (London Eye seeing's as how you asked). The
book 'British Society and Culture: from a Slovene perspective' by David
Limon. ISBN 978-961-237-307-8.
I am unable to read what is written on the fly leaf but, further

OT Stay away from Kent !!!!! That or weathermen drunk

2009-12-11T15:32:40Z

Just looked at weather for my area next week minus 20 and 273 mph winds lol
[link]

Trouble Up North

2009-12-11T13:44:35Z

What are the umratic implications of this portal opening up over
Norway:
- [link]
I reckon it's Lord Asriel stepping between worlds. He'll probably get
on OK with Joe Grundy.

Scarf colour

2009-12-11T11:16:19Z

So did any one else notice that the Snell woman has a scarf that
matches the colour of her bedroom wall?
Just me then.

OT: printer recommendation

2009-12-11T10:52:59Z

The recent discussions about printers included a reminder that you
should run your printer at regular intervals to make sure the nozzles
don't clog up and left me with a worry at the back of my mind about my
mistreatment of my little printer.
My main printer is A3 size but this year I took it down to France as I

Facebook Phish

2009-12-11T09:44:37Z

Warning to any Facebookers around here. This
Dear Facebook user,
is a phish. But I'm sure you knew that.

System Problem

2009-12-10T13:32:56Z

This morning a breatless messenger (48 steps to the top of each close
and mine is by no means the first) called with a brown envelope marked
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL.
I had a routine boob scan last week, and this brown envelope contained a
summons to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary next Tuesday for further tests.

UMRA birthday info for 10 December 2009

2009-12-10T07:31:11Z

Birthday News for today, 10 December: Alan Craig.

Leon (poss. soiler for 9th Dec.).

2009-12-09T20:38:32Z

I am absolutely gob-smacked at his, frankly, psychotic behaviour.

Spoiler 9th December

2009-12-09T16:15:39Z

Played, Robert.

OT When people ask computer questions here

2009-12-09T15:30:19Z

When people ask computer questions here
is this happening at home ?
[link]

OT - Blue Peter snowman to make

2009-12-09T14:59:50Z

[link]

Was somerat going to buy a camera?

2009-12-09T14:48:10Z

This from twitter
Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR Digital Camera. WAS £249, NOW £169! Free 2yr
guarantee plus £30 cashback. Today only! [link]

(epsolrette Tues) "from their elbow"

2009-12-09T08:12:50Z

Joe to Vicky: "don't know their armpit from their elbow" - is this some
quaint country variation I've just not encountered before, or someone's
attempt at bowdlerisation? I certainly don't think Vicky would balk at
the word "arse" - she might well use it, if she hasn't already! And if
it was Joe being coy in the presence of a female regardless - which he

More culture

2009-12-08T17:56:19Z

Cambridge rats and those interested in Terry Pratchett books might
like to see Nation as a theatrical production but on screen
[link]
We decided to go to this rather than travel into London for the stage
production.

OT and shockingly blatant publicity

2009-12-08T11:36:22Z

If any umrats are at a loose end next Tuesday, and fancy a dose of
seriously abstruse meanderings, they are cordially invited to:
To Act A Passion Well
Experiments in baroque acting after the best dramatick principles
or, how 17th and 18th century singers might have approached
the dramatic music of Monteverdi, Purcell and Handel.

Quick techy question re XP

2009-12-08T09:12:25Z

My desktop has suddenly started showing all temp files in all folders
and I can't find where to turn that off. Can anyone else remember?
<swerve>
I have ordered a new laptop with Windows 7. A few days after ordering,
Kimbo told me a friend of hers had had nothing but trouble with it and
Dell agreed to help him install XP instead :((( Watch this space. Or not!

2009-12-08T09:59:46Z

wang wrote:
That's easy for you to say.

Radio 4 at its fin^H^H^H funniest

2009-12-07T21:58:15Z

"Today" this morning:
[link]
'A singing toy mouse has been recalled after complaints that it sings
the words "paedophile, paedophile", the Sun reports. Listen to the song
played on the Today programme.'
By 'eck, that made me laugh.

Spolier & thought for the day

2009-12-07T19:00:08Z

Are we going to end up with a young un married mother with a joey ?

OT Miranda.

2009-12-07T16:00:31Z

Has anyotherat seen this little gem on BBC2 of a Monday evening? It makes me
laugh out loud, which is unusual for a TV program. And am I the only person
on earth who doesn't find Eddy Izzard funny?
Steve Hague

OT: £5 notes in cash machines

2009-12-07T08:54:43Z

I got a couple of £5 notes included when I used a cash machine last
week. The first time in, er, a decade? Quite made my day.
Heard in the business section of Nude-briefing this morning that the
BofE had requested banks to get more of these notes back into
circulation.

Joe's 'phone

2009-12-07T08:28:28Z

When (Sunday 6) Joe hung up, slightly crossly, after speaking to an
answering machine (or whatever), I thought it sounded like quite an old
instrument - sort of banging the receiver onto the cradle. Now I'd
certainly expect the Grundys to have an old 'phone, other than that they
had to forcibly move not that long ago, and wouldn't have taken with