to find Bianca's storyline on Eastenders really distressing.

[headfairy]

I'm being soft of course because it's not real, but it's scary how many people are in the same position.

also agree that it's real life 'writ large'

i dont know a single person in RL who doesn't have a hangover from issues past or present in their lives. everyone has troubles and they affeect us all in one way or another for the rest of our days. i used to watch all the soaps (corrie, emmerdale and EE) but thsi past couple of months i have completely ignored corrie and emmerdale as i just dont find them 'real' enough. yes yes i get that phil mitchell's reign of terror on the square isn't exactly how life happens or that whole extended families of 17 dont suddenly move into 2bedroomed terraces and all have lovely bedrooms each but the emotions and issues seem far more closer to real life than what i see in emmerdale or corrie.

boohoohoo now that brought a tear to my eye.

wow. that is so brave of you to share that boohoo. and i personally want to thank you for doing so and hopefully shedding a bit more light on just how desperate some people get when faced with bianca's situation (or similar), for those that maybe struggle to see her as anything other than a criminal or stupid.

((((hugs)))) for you

No-one in Walford could claim Housing Benefit! They're all related to each-other somehow.

Okay. Slight exaggeration.

Shadows - ab-so-bloody-lutely you can

Boohoohoo - that did bring a tear to my eye... you must have been so very desperate :( and what a lovely woman, you got lucky there, but you deserved to... if you know what I mean :)

Thank you, boohoohoo. I hope somebody does read it and understand just how awful things can get (and how bad luck rolls up to crisis point, with all the anxiety). So glad your boss turned out to be human!

.. a good human being, I meant.

Thank you all for being so kind, i did wonder whether i should write it but i hope maybe someone in the same position will talk to someone. I did get lucky there Chipping, I know it and i would now do the same for someone else. I could write a book on financial desperation, it's sadly rife, but the worse thing is that many people like me keep quiet out of shame.

Someone made a valid point further up the thread about people in shit positions not doing things properly, hence why these loan sharks and ridiculously high interest loans as so dangerous, I've been there, thousands as people have and are. I hate eastenders, but I think they portrayed her desperation well last night.

I'm lucky, it's in the past for me, but if anyone is in my position and wants, please pm me and we'll talk it through together, just telling someone helps - believe me x

"from birdsgotafly that i was wondering about, although reading back i think she meant mandy and ricky lost a baby but he kept it from bianca"

Ricky and Mandy had a baby, Ricky knew nothing about it, Mandy left the square before telling anyone that she was pregnant, the baby died shortly after birth from complex medical conditions. When Mandy returned to the square, she told Ricky about their daughter. Ricky and Mandy slept together, Ricky confessed this to Bianca.

Bianca forgave him. Then during an argument Mandy told Bianca about the baby. Carol said that it was lie after lie from Ricky and persuaded Bianca to finish things with him.

When Ricky returned to the square he didn't know that Tiff was his, on finding out it brought up memories for Bianca about their still born baby Natasha, so she felt more betrayed because Ricky knew she was struggling.

thanks birds. i had no tv or internet for ages so missed loads of what happened. still catching up. e.g why is kat away and where is she?

boohoo that really made me feel that there is kind people in ythis world doing what you did out of desperation must have been horrible your boss was so kind to you ,

why is kat away and where is she

Looking after dad Charlie apparently. They must be in Spain, surely? They always are

the actress who plays Kat got time off after her fiancee did something horrible something about a text or picture or something , so she cancelled her wedding went back to work then got time off .

ah, thank you. i've got a soft spot for Kat.