Is that a CHICKEN roasting in the oven Rob, or are you just pleased to see me? Oh and Hayley, LTB. Discuss The Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

How about we immortalise Schrodinger's Baby in the opening paragraph?

How long will this thread last DadDadDad?

not all SW. Just some. It is possible is all I mean. Abusive ppl often put on a very good public front.

I agree that you can't tell what someone is like from how hey behave at work. Abusers are often Jekyll and Hyde.

Mimsy I was incredibly late to the CP party but have tried to make up for it since, even teaching Yellow Car to my son and trying to play Travelling Lemon with my colleagues, neither with much success.

There are some scary fan sites around, I think I saw the dates on one. John Finnemore has a blog too.

It was lovely to hear Robert again, being the voice of reason.

John finnemore should write an Archers/CP mash, shouldn't he? It would be a somewhat implausible cross-section of Ambridge worthies (Joe and Lynda obv, who else?) for some equally implausible reason all going somewhere (Twin town in Slovenia?) and chartering the MJN plane. Maybe he could have a second go round the alphabet ...Ambridge, Borchester....

haha errol - lynda vs. carolyn

Panzee you neither confirm nor deny the insider allegation?! Don't worry, your son will pick up yellow car- it's a real game!! Unless my dd and friends made it up and JF has been stalking us?

Allmimsy THat's a shame. I must listen to some of the early episodes.

I wasn't saying that social workers can't be abussive. But I think it would be harder to get a false allegation of abuse or unfitness to stick. I don't think Jess is mad or bad, well unless the SW want to do a sudden total change of story line. (Please don't!)

I don't think she is mad or bad - just a bad actress as he comes across as slightly deranged

The rob abuse storyline is much better than a psycho ex storyline IMO. I was actually disappointed with the pregnancy because, whilst dramatic, it takes the emphasis away from the Helen/rob story

i agree with you BYOS - i don't think it needs the drama of the pregnancy. though i admit i enjoyed it in a SIOB OMG dramatic twist kind of way

I really feel for Phoebe. Her dad is awful, her step mum really drippy and her birth mum is thousands of miles away and as much use as a chocolate fireguard in any case. She would be best off living with Jenny.

Are you sure? Imagine the scene: "Of course you can stay with us! You can have half-uncle Ruffhifhgjgh's room whilst we have him shipped off to boarding school ... What's that? Oh, those are my antiquarian books that I was given by a Special Friend."

... Except that Phoebe should have her pick of at least three if not four empty bedrooms at Home Farm. (Assuming at least one proper guest room.)

And if she doesn't like any of them no doubt she could have her mother's holiday cottage?

Brilliant R4, love "half-uncle Ruffhifhgjgh".

hang on - is he at boarding school? I thought he'd just gone quiet. Isn't he about 9?!

Ruairi will be 12 in November.

As he appears to be a full boarder (rather than weekly) he probably goes home every two to three weekends. So he will need his room!

He's been at prep school for about three years, Elephants! He's now around 12.

It occurs to me that if the SW's wanted to add a little excitement they might move him to a day school for year 9.

All the rest of the gentry will be practically finished with The Cathedral School by then surely? (Although if Rob is still around that's probably where Henry would go.)

Can we have some due dates for Jess's baby please?

Considering the conception was Feb 14.

early-mid november?

14 November!

does it depend on LMP? or something? (i have never TTC)

Due date is calculated on first day of your lmp (or dating scans)

So I revise my estimate to 1 November. Or a Halloween baby.

Could be interesting her giving birth in the middle of a Halloween party for Henry!!

Halloween demon child with Rob's face.

Rob will expect Pat and Tony to pay for the Cathedral School ('can't you have a word with your parents, darling? After all, I'm sure they'll want Henry to have all the same chances as you and Tom and John had! which facilitated your careers in cheese, pigs and Tractors of Death respectively).I'm sure they'd love the chance to really get involved with his schooling, and it's tax deductible!'.

But then he would get a bee in his bonnet about the larger public schools, because a) status (see also: Hunting) and b) Henry off the scene (see also: Uncle Ruffhifhgjgh). Hellin sighs and says Oh But.... and then gives in.

How are school fees tax deductible?

Did Helen and Tom go to private school? I would have thought that would go totally against tony and pats beliefs!!!