Rogered by a hobbit in the LL undergrowth, buried in a raised bed with Bert or harassed behind the arras with Adam? Pick your Ambridge fate here.

[PseudoBadger]

A big showdown tonight I hope.

Thanks to Zero (I think?) for the great title.

There's strong minded and there's stubborn!

Helen will do the opposite of any good advice that comes her way and that's where Rob is so clever in making her think it was her idea. Now she's backed herself into a corner and will stick to it even if she's bored rigid doing the housework and keeping Henry entertained.

She'll be taking 'mother's little helpers' within months.

yy, he's very clever at planting the seed, watering it carefully, then when she makes the decision he turns it round with "are you sure" under the guise of caring for her welfare, so she has to convince him

I have no particular stance on staying at home or working when you have a pre-school child. Circumstances dictate.

I compromised on part-time work and DD went to nursery in the mornings which was good for her as an only child.

But Helen's shown so often how little patience she has with Henry so I don't think she'll find it easy when he hasn't got the stimulus of nursery to mop up the excess energy. She's got no friends so he'll have little opportunity to play with other children.

Totally agree - she flakes so easily with him. Not every mother has the patience to stay at home (I know I would struggle!). I can see pat picking up the slack.

I enjoyed Pat and Moany this evening :o

Also a huge thank you to whoever it was up there ^ who mentioned the "Roy didn't have his fingers in the till, he had them in Elizabeth"
I casually slipped that little one liner into conversation with DH this afternoon while explaining what had happened with Hayley and Vicky in yesterday's episode. The effect on him was quite profound and he has just left to go to a shoot meeting, muttering about what radio4 is coming to and chuckling to himself :)

I can see pat picking up the slack.

I can see Pat thinking you've made your bed now lie in it, you traitor to the cause that she won't have spare time. Maybe Moany will do the free childcare!

I don't think Pat would let Henry suffer for her principles when Helen can't cope.

yes it could backfire on rob and mean more involvement from pat

except helen would be contrary about that as she will know her mum doesn't think she's made the best decision, so she'll have to prove her wrong by not needing her help

Mindful wife is coming our way....

a mindful wife eh... dp would think i'd been abducted by aliens

Am speechless at how outrageous and self-entitled Helen is being. Her and Tom persuaded P&T to take on a hideously massive mortgage at a time of life when they should be sitting back, taking it easier and enjoying life. How on earth can she just calmly announce that she's QUITTING WORK FFS!

How can she possibly think it is fair for P&T to slave away while she (as a partner) potters around in her and Knobs cosy home reaping the benefits. Indignant with fury here.

Hope she gets disinherited and Rich becomes The Chosen One.

As ever, I am bemused by Bridge Farm finances. Who owns Ambridge Organics? Who decides that Helen can stop working and pay an employee to do her job instead? At what price does the Farm sell veg to the shop - at cost or with a mark-up? Does the Farm charge Helen for milk, rent, equipment, etc for cheesemaking? Who actually makes the cheese: Helen as a sole trader, is it part of Organics, part of the Dairy?

Both P&T and Jill have been done over by their children moving the goalposts.

except helen would be contrary about that as she will know her mum doesn't think she's made the best decision, so she'll have to prove her wrong by not needing her help

Yes, but she's tried that before and she never follows through, does she? She went into a massive strop with them when she moved out to live with Rob, but was soon graciously allowing them to babysit for her when the need arose.

That's a good question about Bridge Farm finances and set-up.

Rob/Helen have decreed that a full time shop manager is taken on and that Helen should give up work yet the other partners haven't been consulted, or their opinions have just been ignored. The cost of hiring a manager is a major decision for any family business.

If the shop is a separate entity then it's doing extraordinarily well if the owner can withdraw her labour at the drop of a hat.
I can only assume that The Paragon they hired is doing the books, paying bills, serving in the shop, making up veg boxes, haring about in the van making deliveries, ordering stock and running round with mops tied to the soles of her shoes.
Even on minimum wage she must be costing about £14,000 a year and you can't pay a 'manager' minimum wage so it's probably nearer £20k. And what's going to happen when she takes her statutory holiday?

Another unrealistic storyline.

I actually thought Pat was quite offensive; wanting to look after your small children instead of paying strangers is a perfectly valid choice that is not inconsistent with being feminist. However, I totally take that this isn't Helen's choice, she just thinks it is.

Agree that the ambridge organics makes no sense and that her announcing this has far wider impacts than the feminist issue!

They are mortgaged to the hilt with no child at home to help with the jobs.

So this is what happens behind the scenes when staff disappear? If I were an Ambridge Organics customer I'd be somewhere between bemused and pissed off when both Kirsty and Helen have abandoned ship. And if Anya's still there she can't be happy either.

There used to be a fabulous little deli near to where my DM lives - where I oten spent a fortune on my way to visiting her. The staff were interesting and interested, always ready to chat about the provenance of the food, or local restaurants or what to drink while watching Dr Who... They asked after ones family, gave news of interesting trips or events... Gradually these original staff became invisible, (I don't know if they were jilted at the altar or came under the malign influence of a controlling partner....) New people appeared who served with brisk efficiency and couldn't care less about providing a pleasurable experience. The shop's closed now.

Pat and Tony should think carefully about their customer service if they want to sustain that part of the business. The shop is probably less of an oasis in the desert than it was when it opened - and if even the owner Isn't interested any more....

Helen is such a selfish person this is something I could see her coming up with herself anyway. La la la I want to do something and don't care about the consequences.

So I think we can add to our list of implausible storylines

Pat and tony not mentioning the toll it will take on them of being abandoned by their last child. But pat railing at her daughters lack of feminist principles (I think the depression reference was a precursor to it actually happening - because being stupid us listeners need this signposted to us)

No one thinking about the money

Having a child with mild chicken pox is the most stressful exhausting experience ever

Deciding not to take paid employment to look after your DC is a perfectly valid feminist position. Quitting because you've been manipulated into thinking you should be the Little Woman at home, and using your child as an excuse for that isn't. Well - Henry is 3 and a half. So next year he'll be off to school - anyone going to make a forward bet whether Helen does return to work at that point? Has she mentioned applying for a school yet? - I guess she's intending to send him to the local primary, wonder whether Rob she will decide to send Henry somewhere inconvenient.

This is such an amazing,interesting and fast informative thread (marking my place while I wrestle with my newish laptop to Catch Up with last nights').

We're a third of the way through this thread after three episodes!

YY. The question of Henry's schooling is going to come up fairly soon.

Where the hell is Ian? I keep asking that! DH & I were discussing when was the last time he appeared. Yes, DH has become infested too....

My DS is just a month younger than DHenry. He is already out of the house at preschool 4 afternoons and 1 full day. Strange timing Helen. Of course, you'll need to be at home when you have your next sprog.

By the way time does fly - it was DD's first birthday yesterday! You were all so kind with your well wishes last year

happy birthday to your dd! how lovely