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 still think someone else took the paternity test.
Helen didn't go, I remember Rob saying that he didn't need his hand holding.

Perhaps he went along with whoever it was though to be sure, and that's how Richard recognises him.

I don't think Rob is even aware that he's abusive. He has so little self awareness

Rob took the test. We heard him go in and have the consultation

Reposting just for you SisterM

Keri Davies ( Archers scriptwriter ) on Twitter yesterday:

Call off #thearchers conspiracy theories re Rob and Richard. The paternity test was kosher.

mini may be on to something. There have been a lot of last-minutes changes to Christmas Day. The Knobs are staying at home instead of going to Bridge Farm. Ruth is staying in NZ. Jill has invited the Pargetters to Brookfield.
It's all a bit strange. Do people normally do this? I made my three line whip invitations at least three months ago.

In the world of soaps, and nowhere else, everyone makes their arrangements for Christmas a few days beforehand. In RL Elizabeth would already have organised the turkey/goose and everything else, and probably invited other friends and relatives (presumably Nigel had more rellies than just his mother?) or indeed would have accepted an invitation somewhere else. Jill likewise would have organised catering that doesn't easily expand to cover another three people (or two if you knock Ruth off the list). But in TA Lizzie will no doubt happily ditch all her previous plans to jump at Jill's request, whilst Jill has found a magic expanding turkey.

Christmas certainties? Take nothing for granted.
We have had to re-think our Christmas plans since the host couple have separated in the past week.

JD is probably hoping she can find a nice girl for Charlie at Christmas.

Perhaps Debbie will be home ...

If you're single, you can expect several last minute invitations, as people suddenly start worrying about you being alone - mostly after you've either accepted from someone else, or you've just bought food for yourself. IME.

Bit different from taking in a whole family, though.

He does seem to get on well with Debbie. Kate has tried flirting with him.

I find myself worrying about Caroline and Oliver's house, particularly after Roy speaking about getting specialist cleaners into Joe's room at Grey Gables!

have not caught up on thread but just listened to (most of) the podcast of the Fri/Sun episodes, and have to say WHAT a load of old SH!TE. Ruth not home for xmas / David just sighing and being a doormat about it. Both totally ridiculous. BAH

I find myself worrying about Caroline and Oliver's house, particularly after Roy speaking about getting specialist cleaners into Joe's room at Grey Gables!"

Yes I wondered about that. Pretty offensive, I thought. Another example of yokel--bashing?

Didn't Joe keep his ferret in his room ? That would smell bad !

The ferrets went to stay with Roy.

It kind of annoys me that the sl gets done in such a way that Rob gets to say I told you so you silly billy.

Pat, oh Pat. Please stop sleepwalking & wake up.

I can sense the grim reaper hovering over someone's kitchen, especially as all the oldies are coming round for chat.

Just imagine. Uninvited not just for this year but forever.

Do think the Brookfield Archers are being greedy, they had their crisis last year. And what's the rush, they surely don't need to sort everything out this very minute?

it does seem to be calamity after calamity

ruth is probably wondering wtf he didn't tell her when they spoke a few days ago - starting to think Deevid is a giant drama queen and ruth will come back and sort it all out

Jill is annoying me with her echoes of Pat: going on and on, doing the nostalgic guilt trip, about how there have always been dairy cows at Cold Comfort Farm although they personally don't lift a finger in connection with actually running the herd.

I think that Ruth meant something else entirely when she said there were big decisions to be made.
I think she is going to say Brokefueld doesn't feel like her farm anymore and she doesn't feel like an Archer and she is off.

Thus meaning Pip can/has to stay.

So are they going to Pat and Tony's at all?

Nope. She's trapped.

I keep hoping that Helen will do some manipulation herself, like she used to early in the relationship. I would love to think that she will decide to stay in bed all over Christmas, leaving Rob to do all the shopping and cooking. And he would have no grown-up company, only Henry to supervise and entertain. That would serve him right!

I think it's distinctly possible that Ruth will say that if there is no dairy herd at Brookfield then there's no place for her there, given that her supposed expertise is allegedly solely in that area.

I don't mind David and Ruth but I like them in short bursts. There's been too much if them.
I was thinking today that there's hardly any quirky extra young characters. Like friends of Jonny. Didn't Pip once have a naughty school pal? Izzy maybe?