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?

Just heard Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti being interviewed (briefly) on R3. I held my breath as she was listing the million other pieces of drama she's involved in - but she definitely didn't say she's giving up writing for TA. Relief.

Yes, Ruth really didn't tell the whole truth did she?

"You've taken over everything else - don't think you're getting first dibs on Mum's money as well."

God Ruth's a brat.

I say that having lived with a mother doing exactly this. Really not enjoying reliving this storyline, from the viewpoint of having seen her continue to be a petulant, self-centred, divisive and exceptionally jealous brat for the 20 years subsequent.

Surely the answer to Ruth's triumphant 'we'll see how you get on without me for two weeks'

We managed for months on end and we will manage for two weeks but that doesn't mean we don't need you back to take us back to full strength

And she asked Jill to come back so why is she upset about that? Weird

Bet she bumps into Sam the cowman on her trip and they go further than the bypass this time

mmm... I like Rob-Hell story line, I suppose because TimW plays it so darn well & Helen is so loathsome that I can't actually get upset on her behalf so it's a fun car-crash story. Plus At least neither of them has had a personality transplant.

I also like Charlie-Adam-Ian storyL.

Ruth could be over-emotional but never such a paranoid delusional cow, I've never b4 wanted to shove her off a cliff but I do now.

Honestly Helen, you really should know by now that Rob knows best. Why on earth would you want Henry eating with you these days when Rob can look after him perfectly well by himself.

It would be no surprise to hear that Ruth no longer identifies as a farmer and is going off to run a nail bar in Felpersham.

You bet Knob's going to decide that going to the wedding will be too much for Helen, now darling you know you'll make yourself ill, you know what happened last time you refused to listen to me, you don't want to endanger SOK do you, no of course I won't drive you there, it's all for your own good. And I just hope she decides to call a taxi and go anyway.

Or, better still, nick Knob's car keys and triumphantly drive herself.

Banning her from driving could be his mistake if it means she is going to cadge lifts from friends and relatives, the very people he's trying to keep her away from.

She isn't eating. The MW is sure to notice a loss of weight.

Meanwhile back at Brookfield, did Bert stand idly by while the washing didn't get done and the whole family starved? He is still there, isn't he?

Actually. Was there a reason why Joe got Bert's ghosty gig at Lower Loxley? I'm surprised they didn't come to blows over it. Does Bert really prefer being slave-driven by Carol to telling tall tales at a stately home?

Yep - another forgotten character sl (rivalry between Bert and joe)

The sl's are starting to have more holes than a sieve. It's like they've paid all their money to the sw to write the robhel sl and got a rotation of first year creative writing undergrads to do the rest

She's not eating is she?

Would explain the lightheadedness

I'm hoping it's a miscarriage which would stop her from being tied to knob forever.

I used to get lightheaded near the shelves in shops when pregnant. Crouch down to get something off the bottom shelf couldn't get back up but that was late on. (Once I had to roll onto my side and launch myself)

But really Rob and Pat might have convinced themselves she cannot drive but she is what, 3 months pregnant? Not even showing yet wtf did she tell Pip?
Yeah Pip you know how pregnant women cannot drive?
Erm no Helen. Never heard that.
Well yeah but Rob says.... and you know how hard I work....
Really? I thought you just made the odd cheese. Isn't Henry at school.all day? And now Rob isn't working....

In a farming community where people work ALL day EVERY day I cannot imagine being such a special snowflake would go unremarked.

Yes I phrased that wrong - the lightheadedness could also indicate she's not eating!

If she miscarried he will be furious. His reaction may make the scales fall from pats eyes (if I am to believe it is actually pat)

Surely nobody is still Team Ruth after tonight?

I fear for Ruth's safety now - do you think there may be a cow related incident in nz and then it will be 'she died doing something she loved'

Although my money is still on cowman Sam

He's always on the scene,
Cowman Sam,
And his grass is oh so green,
Cowman Sam,
And they've been there before,
Ruth and the Cowman next door....

I find the Ruth-David thing irritating (no shit!). I used to like them as characters, but now it's as if they're still Mr & Mrs Nice so the writers have to keep coming up with fabricated and far-fetched ways of introducing conflict. Yeah, why does David never mention when his own father died?

Been reminiscing about Top Trumps. I wonder what'The Archers' top trumps categories would include: accent, acreage, age, length of marriage, extra marital affairs and number of livestock.

Or the archers machinery. Ed's tractor v Adam's combine, Will's landrover, Ruth's feed mixer, Pip's tobotic parloyr and Joe's trap.

I don't mind Ruth.
As I mentioned up thread, I'm hoping for a menopause SL and thought this might be it. I very much identify with the feeling of not knowing what the point of me was, once the DCs were grown.
I also have a backup plan in constant evolution which involves me flouncing off to another continent. It may yet happen.

CUP I did once flounce off to another continent a couple of years back when I had my heart broken. It helped immensely. So that part I can relate to as well.