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?

But Ruth's children aren't grown up. Josh is in the last year of school - college? Uni? What choices is he making? Presumably not applying to read PPE. Ben is only year 8, he is still little.

Yes I will admit it's a bit unfair on Ben. How old is yr8 - 13?
I've been waiting until my youngest was 18 to flounce. Turns out that's not an independent age at all in his case!

Why does no one ever think of the children!!! In situations like this I always ask myself 'what would Peter Andre do?'

No one ever thinks of the children because they have been virtually written out (only making a reappearance out of view (if that's not an oxymoron) to rearrange the cereal cupboard)

Have you seen the Radio 4 Rob Titchener Radio Relief Kit here? It's a cut-out-and-keep voodoo doll.

I think they get put in a box to appear once they are 16 or 18 depending on the needs of the story. In fact, Ben is probably living in the cereal cupboard and the rearranging was to give him more space

I think soc realised Jess had to leave because it would end up being a wicker man style sl once she found out the level of child neglect in the area.

In fact, the only child we do hear is the one with an abusive step father

Freddie was very lucky to be let out for a few months - plot device

Gruach 'But NZ. The home of frozen lamb competing for space in English supermarkets. Odd choice.' - made me laugh like a drain.

BTW, will look like total non sequitur given how out of date I am, but having just gone back to early posts on this thread wanted to say massive to LilianG. Impossible to get one's head around what is going on in the world and what human beings are capable of doing to one another. Absolutely agree that the narrow parameters of TA are strangely reassuring.

And yes - Hellin clearly having food ISHOOS again. Wonder if Knob will try to force feed her?

re Ruth, not sure what all the fuss is about really, it's only 2 weeks on an organised trip- kids will not go to pieces in that amount of time. You could easily mount up 2 weeks absence dealing with probate/house sale (she says bitterly)

Only a blind and deaf midwife could fail to spot how distressed she is now, not to mention the weight loss.

Of course Rob will be there putting his own gloss on it but I should think the entire Royal College of Midwives would rise up in protest if the abuse remains undetected.

I'm confused. Why has Jill moved back in? Is it to help Roof because she can't cope with the housework and shopping? But now Roof hasn't got anything to do? I think I am missing something here.
Also if Roof is only going away for 2 weeks then why is everyone making such a big fuss?
I wondered if Hellin was trying to abort the baby by sitting in hot baths?

Loving the voodoo kit.

Shalli To be fair this has not been presented, by the SWs, as a two week jolly which obviously would hardly merit any familial comment beyond "I'll lend you my sun hat, have a great time."

So if that's all they intend they've gone about it the wrong way. What they have written is the build up to Ruth being away for months and coming back a different woman (...) or never coming back at all.

Car crash?

....so maybe the intention is to show David et al over reacting?
they are overcompensating, maybe out of guilt,'no, no, we do need you really, really really we do'

Is this NZ trip imminent? If so, how come the Felpersham Farmers have a spare plane ticket and single room going to spare at such a late stage?

Anyone following the Ambridge Observer blog ?

I like the idea of a Geordie "way aye man" for the cows.

Gruntled - I think Pip was offered the place but of course Daveed can't manage without her
I think Roof leaves on Friday

And how is Roof going to deal with the 'mountain of paperwork' she said she had to do before she flounced off to see if Deevid and Pip needed a hand the other day?

But then again it's only two weeks... Maybe she's buying a spare plane ticket for Rex to accompany her on work experience?

I do but like the Plarchers some weeks are better than others.

The 10.45 R4 drama this week came out of an idea based on TA.

Is that ... Usha?

It does seem extraordinarily bad planning for the Felpersham Farmers to book places for an expensive trip in December without knowing whether they'll have enough takers. But then, as I keep reminding myself, it's a plot device, not reality.

Oh it does happen. Once, having missed the deadline, I phoned my professional body to enquire about the following year's week long European trip; someone dropped out while I was speaking to the organiser so I got a place at two days' notice.

Maybe she is doing a Kenton and splashing the cash before its banked (although it's more certain!) and flying out first class

If she's not, maybe we could have a deep vein thrombosis incident...

When I was pregnant, the bottles they gave me to do my wee samples in at my ante-natal appointment had domestic abuse info on them. I keep hoping Helen will get one of those.