Follow the subtle trail towards the Christmas storyline climaxes in Ambridge - discuss The Archers here

[PseudoBadger]

So many possibilities.... A visit from the Titcheners Snr? Baby of the wrong gender? A ruined wedding? Re-housed Grundys? RuthRex?

Actually, given that Fonterra is by itself some single-digit % of the NZ economy, NZ is the totally obvious holiday choice for a dairy farmer busman's holiday isn't it? The place is bloody covered in cowpats - sheep farming is a far smaller proportion of what goes on here than dairy. The "100% Pure New Zealand" tourism ads should actually read "30% not very pure formerly logged national park, 70% ecologically destroyed dairy farms, some sheep and gorse. And a burnt couch by the side of the road"

I find the re-personalization of Pat and Ruth incredibly annoying, but assuming Ruth had a character transplant and became a bit of a loon round about the time of the (non-)move, actually now she's almost a verbatim characterization of my mother just after her mother died, 20 years ago. The Pip and David thing, is, unfortunately, an almost verbatim characterization of my relationship with my father at that time - and sadly the relationship has never recovered with my mother.

Goodness, are you actually in NZ magnificatAnimaMea? You're quite right to say the tourism blurb is probably misleading - my entire understanding of the place is "sheep".

Your second paragraph is incredibly sad.

Oh ...

It's taken the Plarchers for me to understand this week's compare and contrast; Phoebe at the start of her joyful, independent driving life, getting everyone at Home Farm involved in Highway Code testing and the other story.

Why did it take me so long?

I was musing on Rob not wanting to go to Ian and Adam's wedding, his dislike of Ian (if I recall correctly Ian punched him in front of Sir Bradley Wiggins, can't see Rob ever getting over that humiliation) and him wanting to make life hard for Charlie.

Do you think he'll let it slip that Helen saw the Adam/Charlie New Year kiss? That would really hurt Ian and cast Charlie in "the other man" role, and scupper the wedding?

And drive a wedge between Hellin and Ian. It's a win win win for knob. And he can say but darling you know I just couldn't stand by I had to do the right thing. despite my own infidelity

The New Year Kiss might disappear into the ether like The Sinkhole but I think it won't. It's being saved up for the wedding.

Once again a friend of Helen's is going to berate her for not revealing pertinent information in time to avoid a wedding day humiliation and she'll go into complete collapse.

Kirsty and Ian might compare notes though. It's time someone did.

Not sure how Rob's going to do it if he's not going to the wedding. Is there going to be a stag night?

He'll be dashing to the wedding venue at the last moment to drag Helen out. (After Kirsty has spirited her away.)

It's a bit too eastenders to have massive drama at every wedding (Tom running away, brotherly reconciliation at the grundys and potentially infidelity revealed at Ian's).

NZ is the totally obvious holiday choice for a dairy farmer busman's holiday

Totally. Been there done that, as a family. But alone? It's more gap year than midlife crisis for a lone traveller isn't it? Mid life crisis is more likely to be Italy, a la Maeve Binchy novels, isn't it?

I've just thought who they could cast for Knob's mother Glenda Jackson My DH was quite surprised when he heard me shouting at the radio and it wasn't at Rob. Pat really I am very disappointed

Massive BOOP for Tony standing up to knob. I loved the fake subtitled sketch about this

I thought the Neil & Susan scene was handled well & could imagine that they do talk to each other like that.

Please please please can pip go!!!

Are we going to end up with loads of Helen chats in cars with random characters!

She's learning how to pacify him

God Ruth is unbearably self centred

'And I can afford it' - tell the bitch she's not entitled to any of your farm David!!

Helen chatting in cars with random characters might be just what she needs.

Why isn't David having a tantrum about how Ruth never consults him on anything?

That's true enoch

Ruth is such a petulant little cow. I feel a little uneasy at the character shift.

When a child says to you 'but mum we love you, we need you' surely you listen (even if it is pip)

Oh Gawd!!! Someone PLEEEEESE slap Ruth!!!

... and how bizarre to think that your own daughter is pushing you out!!! How bizarre and icky... to be jealous of your own daughter and husband against you!!!!

Extra hot baths?

Bit Dark Ages.

... and PURLEESE end this rob storyline... it's just getting absolutely ridiculous! wtf was Pat thinking .... Dont drive???? what???? so unlike pat!