We love Charlie. But we want Adam and Ian to get married. What will happen in Ambridge in the pre-Christmas thread?

[PseudoBadger]

Just listened to Friday - we are 2 weeks from Christmas and David didn't even ask whether Ruth will be back by then?

I noticed no money changed hands for the mistletoe and no price was discussed. The amount he still seems to owe for own-use wood will no doubt be added to what the shop owes Eddie. Eventually Eddie will ask to be paid and, with a bit of luck, it will be Pat he asks.

I noticed no money changed hands for the mistletoe and no price was discussed.

I noticed that, too. It was like listening to an episode of The Apprentice.
Why would Eddie give some of his margin to the shop; doesn't he normally sell direct. Perhaps they are getting soft now that they are lords of Grange Farm again.

Re money - could they have gone over entirely to joint accounts so that Rob can see everything Helen spends and she is simply too frightened to spend money on anything he hasn't sanctioned?

I expect it would take many hours to sell that much mistletoe so a quick sale of so many items to the shop would not be a bad thing so long as he gets paid but I doubt if Eddie bothers much about invoices so he could have difficulty dealing with Rob for payment. Explains Rob's cheeriness.
This might be how it is starting to unravel.

I would think it's almost certain they have joint accounts, created in the first flush of joyful togetherness. My refusal to have a joint account was a huge issue for my ExH, and I'm not sure why I jibbed, because I certainly gave way on everything else.

They explicitly got a joint account, just after the wedding. Pat queried it (before she became a bot) and Hellin told her not to be so old-fashioned.

Yes, I remember it exactly as Seek says.

Rob cleverly didn't make the refusal of a new dress primarily about money. She wanted a lift to the shops; he said he was too busy, that she probably had something nice already and that he "gave her some money for maternity clothes" so she should have sorted it out then.

Wonder when Helen last saw a bank statement.

They explicitly got a joint account, just after the wedding. Pat queried it (before she became a bot) and Hellin told her not to be so old-fashioned.

Oh, the irony!

I knew they had a joint account. What I wondered was whether Helen still has any money entirely under her own control. My impression is that a lot of couples set up a joint account but only for paying bills. They transfer money in from their own accounts so they still have the balance to spend as they choose. If Helen has closed her own bank account and now only has the joint account, she is even more of a fool than I'd thought. I don't imagine Rob has closed his own bank account.

Disclaimer: my husband and I only have a joint account. Neither of us has a bank account in a sole name. The difference is that we have been married for well over 30 years and we trust each other 100% in money matters.

I noticed Hellin skipped lunch again... She seemed terrible in last night's episode - unable to make a decision, not eating, having nothing to say to Elizabeth. Surely someone should notice!! Asking Elizabeth about whether she should accept Grundy mistletoe was just bizarre.

She doesn't want to make any decisions (even about mistletoe ffs) because she knows she will be blamed if it's the wrong decision. He really has done a number on her hasn't he?

You would think Elizabeth would notice that Helen wasn't quite right, particularly the asking her opinion on the mistletoe, which she'd never have done pre-Rob. And if she thinks about that and wonders why, maybe she'll remember Helen's "Well....." when Elizabeth said how wonderful Rob was. And maybe she'll draw the right conclusion.

But I don't think for a moment she will.

Can't help thinking that this rare sight of Helen and Elizabeth being so pally might draw a painful contrast with sometime next year when Rob steps up his campaign to become the new Mr Pargetter.

He's also stolen Christmas from her.
How restful it will be for her to spend the day entertaining an excited little boy and an over-bearing husband!

It's so bizarre - the Helen and Rob stuff is so good (when it's not too pantomimey) but the characters around them are just all wrong in relation to this SL.

To be charitable, they can see she's changed but will be putting it down to her massive recent change in circumstances. From single, competent businesswoman, mother of one, at heart of family business - to married, preggers, un(der)employed woman devoted to her new nuclear family. And the wall of I'M SO HAPPY she spent the last two years building up around her and Rob will have put off all but the most intrepid.

Plus, let's face it, it's not like there are many in the village who owe Helen much in terms of kindness or friendship is it?

...Not saying that means no-one should care, just that she hasn't had many mutually supportive relationships that she hasn't then massively let down (Kirsty and Ian for starters) which has meant there aren't a lot of people who would be good friends with her enough to PERSIST despite Rob.

And unfortunately, though we're hoping for K-to-the-rescue, they haven't written her as sounding terribly bright atm. If Hayley really thinks of her as a friend it's impossible that Kirsty wouldn't have found out the reason for the Tucker separation. If that was beyond her I don't see what use she'll be to Helen.

Very nice line from Lilian there!

Everyone seems to be excusing Helens behaviour with "baby brain", it's all very convenient for Knob. Maybe people will only take notice when things don't get better once SoK arrives. Surely he can't carry on preventing her from driving for a start, although I'm sure he'll find a way!

I'm a bit behind over here in Oz. I normally listen to the omnibus but as things were heating up about the wedding I relented and listened to most of this weeks daily episodes.

I have a few thoughts. When Rob was spilling the beans to Ian, secrets and small village were mentioned.
That's how he is going to be found out and I hope Ian will be the catalyst for it.
I would love to see him go all Miss Marple and start digging into Rob's dark and dingy past. Then start speaking to everyone in the small village that they inhabit and to see a pattern forming. Then they take down the dirty, rotten scoundrel.

I truly hope it won't be too long before someone sorts him out.

Also regarding Joe.
In my heart of hearts, I hope that once the Grundy's are settled at Grange Farm, if Joe is to leave this world, I hope it's in his own bed, happy in the knowledge that Grange Farm is theirs once more after Oliver and Caroline sign the farm over to Ed and Will.
Why they would do that, I'm not sure but it's what I want.

Just listening to last night's episode, fire hazard tabard! 😀

susimoo I like your thinking. That would be great, even if it takes ages, just knowing Ian's on to him would be great.

Setting aside the question of Will - just think how well Susan will have done if Caroline and Oliver make the right decision. With one of her children ensconced at Home Farm, the other at Grange Farm, she's likely to self combust with pride.

Isn't it a bit odd that Clarrie is wittering on about taking a kettle to grange farm. Surely it's full of Caroline and Olivier's stuff? There won't be any room for Grundy things. Totally unrealistic, unless I've missed that they've managed to organize someone to put all of their personal affects into storage for them. They can't have taken everything to Italy!