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...

Charlie is on thin ice with the Rob situation because he was delving as a result of an unsubstantiated allegation.

Was he? I thought he was looking at things more closely because the fertility figures and so on were down. Though there was all that stuff about interviewing each of the staff - can't remember why that was. I don't think Charlie was on that dodgy ground, but Rob was making non-blatant threats about it being discrimination because he (Rob) is a proper chap, unlike Charlie. But I may have forgotten something.

Charlie interviewed everyone about the culvert but did not accuse Rob, so Rob has nothing to complain about there.

The other investigation was fertility and massahing the figures. Charlie had e ery right, in fact a duty to look into that. He dudn't sack Rob, Rob walked so Charlie is fine apart from Justin being annoyed about the consultant. little does he know Charlue consults Adam about EVERYTHING.

he may have a point Charlue does not seem to be as self assured/co fident of hisown opinion these days.

Sorry a lot of rogue 'u's amongst my 'i's there.

Was it Charlie who initially employed Rob? That is likely to affect your confidence - "How come I couldn't see he was a lazy, lying, manipulative, abusive bastard?" And something major like the botulism outbreak, even if it's not your fault, that's going to hit hard, too. I think maybe Charlie's realising he can't always control everything. Plus lack of sleep means you can't think straight anyway.

Charlie's a stickler for doing things by the book and he has quite rightly investigated the culvert thing as well as the drop in yields. He could defend his actions easily but obviously Rob's heavy hints about homosexuality have really rattled him because he knows Justin's attitude.

I would think the staff at Berrow have learned to respect Charlie lately and would not welcome a return of Rob. There's also a chance that one or two are in touch with Stefan.

However, Stefan was alive and well after the flood waters had receded. His body might be festering in a later silage clamp than the one Scruff was in.
Will they have checked them all?

Predictions:

Joe and Eddie confront Justin about the botulism at Grey Gables. Joe dressed in a leopard-skin onesie, natch.

Charlie gets fired and - I hate to say it - leaves Ambridge. Adam forever pines for him.

Pip gets Charlie's job (not Rob, he wants Bridge Farm for his own and will be shipping Tom back to Canada before we know it)

Justin buys Grange Farm, after Caroline and Oliver - traumatised by the burglary - decide to stay in Tuscany.

Was it Charlie who initially employed Rob?

I don't think so, wasn't Rob employed by BL prior to the Damara takeover? He had a lot of contact with Brian in the early days didn't he? I find it weird that Charlie has suddenly become manager of Berrow by default - surely they would have taken on a temp manager while they recruited?

Ah, could be - I have rather forgotten the Damara/BL time line.

I'm wondering if the time might be approaching when Knob blows Adam and Charlie's cover and if that might be a deal breaker for Hellin.

Justin buys Grange Farm ooh now there's a possibility. After all he was recently looking to move to the area wasn't he!

I hope not BTW

I've just had another thought: Charlie could go and work with Debbie in Hungary. Thereby torturing Adam via Skype for ever more.

Rob was given the job by Brian back in the pre Justin days when the mega dairy was being built.

I don't think Helen will stand up to Rob for Adam's sake, Lillian. Especially not if outing Charlie gets Rob his job back at Berrow.

In fact I think the risk of being offered a job just when he's got his talons into Bridge Farm will be a major deterrent for Rob using that bit of info.

Was that the first time we've heard Justin. He sounds like a real Boo Hiss baddy.

No Justin's been on before. He pops in for the shoot now and again.

I hope he hangs around. He's like the Uber-Brian.

This is shaping up for a terribly Eastenders style Christmas isn't it:

• Adam and Ian's wedding complete with the frisson of Charlie and Adam's willtheywon't they and Rob possibly spilling the beans at the 'forever hold your peace'

• presumed visit of Rob's parents

• Helen's scan revealing SOK as shock horror a girl perhaps?

• Homeless Grundys and possibly very poorly if not dedded Joe

Oh flipping heck! Grundys are totally going to humiliate themselves/GG in front of Justin et al. Oh lord. It's ferret central for sure.

Why did Johnny veer off to the cow shed? Is he avoiding Knob?

Right, am completely confused about the Grundys. hazel gave them 2 months' notice, so she has to accommodate them for those 2 months at the usual rent. If her insurance won't pay for agh any more because the renovation of Keeper's is finished then H is legally obliged to let them move back in or find them alternative accommodation until the notice period expires, isn't she?

Won't pay for GG.

Paging Usha Franks! It's time for your annual pro bono legal consultation with an Ambridge resident!

Jessie you're right about the notice thing but the whole Grundys at GG has been twaddle from the start; no insurance company would pay those kind of costs (presumably including meals as I don't believe there is any kind of motel/self-catering option at GG) for months on end. They'd have let them stay there temporarily and then found them a rental property to stay in.

Good point, RnR. I did somehow manage to suspend disbelief over that as it was for comedy value, but this eviction nonsense is going too far, since they could easily still have written an eviction storyline that made sense by just waiting till the notice was up to have them out on the street. Why bother with careful research of some stories and not of others?