Badly done Helen, badly done - you're as stuffed as a Grundy turkey. Discuss The Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

New thread in time for Friday's episode...

I really have to keep reminding myself that it is fiction!!

Yes Helen did a great job of wiping away Pat's doubts, in effect painting herself in a corner and not being able to talk to Pat about it.

Another aspect contributing to a woman not leaving an abusive man is the time she has already invested in the relationship. It seems like such a waste of your life to give up. Hellin admittedly hasn't put years into it, but she has given Henry the father he never had, and that's vrry hard to undo. I hope the end comes soon, tho that would be very unrealistic, but as others have said, it's incredibly painful to listen to.

She's been living with him for nearly two years now and it must have been at least a year before that when they first took up together. So it has been years now.

But he really only began to show his true colours once they were married.

He has reeled her in very cleverly and slowly, but is moving faster now she is trapped.

I agree he's moving faster now, but the signs have been there from very early on. Obviously the SWs have often shown us a side of Rob which we have to assume he has kept from Helen, but there have been worrying scenes between the two of them. There was that time not long after she moved in they invited Adam and Ian round and he pooh poohed what she was going to cook and insisted they should have steak instead. Then during the meal he stopped her having another glass of wine because 'you know what you're like, you get tiddly' or something like that.

There was the time she'd cooked tuna and he said he couldn't eat it, and clearly she was meant to think that was all her fault for not telepathically knowing that he couldn't eat tuna.

Then there was a chilling scene - the details are a bit vague in my memory, but I think it was something like this- that started with her re-doing her hair or make-up or possibly changing her dress. She was apologising to him for not having got it right the first time and he was telling her not to worry about it but with a clear subtext - get it right next time, better still always ask me first to make sure.

I saw Sleeping With The Enemy on TV recently for the first time. I suspect the SWs have lifted some scenes straight from it.

I think it is very clever, the way the listeners have a bit more information than Helen. It has the effect of making you want to shout at the radio.

I also think that there was a bit of indecision on behalf of the SW as to how to develop the character and the plot in the beginning. Now they have come down firmly on the side of a really sinister, abusive relationship.

Didn't the tuna episode happen after Helen told Rob precisely what she was planning to cook and he said absolutely nothing about his alleged inability to eat it?

I can't remember now, but that does ring a bell.

I think he wants her nicely covered up and pregnant as he thinks that will make her unattractive to other men.

I also thought that something is definitely going to be wrong with the baby as Rob is just far too certain that everything will be fine.

And that is when Helen will need to be very very scared.

I can't imagine they'll want to arrange any problem with the baby - not after they've so recently sent Bethany to Coventry Birmingham. It would look a little opportunistic.

Just caught up & I like the pizzled expression used (I was pissing by the one -doh (window) is one of my favourite 'Allo 'Allo lines)

Sadly this friendly thread took a rather worrying turn for the worst later on

Let's hope we can reconcile & not have anyone throwing in the towel at Trowel .

I liked the ruffling of DadDadDad 's hair by the way

Caught a bit of the film this morning, and found myself annoyed by Ed and Emma's pronunciation of "c'ntracting". Surely c'ntracting is what a muscle does, and they actually mean con tracting, as in fulfilling a contract? We certainly call them con tractors around here...

How do any of us know whether DDD has the kind of hair one can ruffle?

At risk of reeking of overinfestment, one possibility is that Kirsty will meet Amy (no doubt in Underwood's)and mention her concerns over Helen. Amy will then drop a word or two in the ear of the named midwife, who will taske oit fropm there, arrange a woman only group or meeting or something (midwives do have training in this these days, so -ahem - over-attentive partners don't obstruct the opportunity to talk about EA - though soem really cowed women just don't attend such appointments). Another option - if there is still a point in Amy - is home for xmas with her father, mentions Kirsty's concerns - or goes on a 'fishing trip', as both would ahve to be careful over professional confidentiality issues - and Alan recalls Shula had concerns about the hunt sab incident. I am right in thinking Shula confided in Alan over the lying to police??

Whatever, Kirsty has to be the catalyst. Having now caught up on Friday, I agree she knows Helen well enough - and has concerns about KNob anyway - to realise something is up.

Topaz I have my own mental image of D3 in the same way I do the Ambridge characters. And in my mind's eye his hair is eminently rufflable

Amy! I'd forgotten Amy - apart from in my A-Z lists where she is with Adam and Alan at the Am

I was going to do a , but was worried you might think it showed an accurate portrayal of my hair. I have plenty to ruffle but I'm not this thread's pet (just its pet statistician ).

One thing we have been overlooking is the rift that occurred 18 months ago between K and H. Didn't K basically think H had betrayed her? Are they just going to sweep that all under the carpet - a brief awkwardness when the met, and now K is H's best buddy that she will trust with her darkest secrets?

I think Kirsty just went over the top at Helen but I don't think Helen had any notion Kirsty would be left at the alter. Did anyone but Peggy have any idea about Tom's doubts? Don't think he confided in Helen.

Either way Kirsty certainly realised she had just taken her upset out on Helen for no reason and probably apologised at some point. Adults can luckily fall out and realise they've been dicks and move on

I didn't find it odd that Kirsty was showing concern for Helen - I can't speak for all women but female intuition & sympathy would come into play for me.

DDD I'm not criticising your comment, just giving a different POV

I think Kirsty found out Helen had known for a few weeks before the wedding that wasn't about Tom's doubts. That was why she was so angry with her. Maybe she's just had time to reflect and realises it's not Helen who was at fault really. After all she ahd a few polite words with Tom a few weeks ago too. I don't suppose she could come back to Ambridge if she wasn't going to talk to one of the families of the villages. And we already ahve the Shula-Usha rift . Now off to do a Ruth in the kitchen. Ooh noooo.

I agree that adults can make up over these things and I'm sure K realises she overreacted towards H in the heat of a traumatic time. My question is that so far no such reconciliation has taken place has it? Surely, they need to clear the air?

Helen and Kirsty have net since the wedding before this week.I think.

Re. The tuna incident, I think she did say something but he claimed she hadn't and she believed him. It seemed like first gaslight.

But there was also the really, really unpleasant scene in the shop before that. Where he hissed at her and called her names. I think Kirsty might have overheard...she certainly told her about it afterwards and that is why Kirsty didn't want to be near him for rehearsals.

Hellin admittedly hasn't put years into it, but she has given Henry the father he never had, and that's vrry hard to undo.

But she has put years of her life into unsucessful rs and presumably thought this is the one. It is hard having to admit you have failed. Again.

And she 'took him' from another woman which increases the incentive to class the relationship as special and destined.

told and topaz - I agree with points you are making. (Although if I were in K's position I'd have to make do with male intuition and sympathy - it does exist ).

My point still is that surely at some point K and H need to talk about it if only a hug with H saying "I know I let you down by not telling you about Tom's doubts" and K saying "I was upset and I said some unkind things"