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?

Coriander...

Mention of Methodists reminded me of when I researched some family history and found the same names recurring for generations. We tracked the wrong woman as my GGGM for a long time because her cousin of the same name lived in the same household for two censuses. Every man for 200 years in that family was named either James or Edmund, each naming a daughter Elizabeth. An entire town seems to have picked first names from a very narrow range!
Joe is doing the thing that everyone must have done which is to fix someone in his mind with both both first and second name and her married name for a woman.

I think it is meant to be a country yokel thing. It reminds me of how in Cold Comfort Farm the Starkadders refer to Flora Poste as "Robert Poste's choild". I sometimes wind up DD by referring to her as "DH Deepankrispaneven's choild".

So irritated that Ian didn't just say Rob told me everything! I don't have much confidence on Helen figuring out what's gone on!

I think the Knob household Christmas will start off with everything being perfect, Knob in charge of dinner etc. But he will control precisely when Henry is allowed to open any presents after queens speech and Henry will get bored and hyper and Knob will snap and be really nasty to him and finally show Helen his deep down contempt for her inconveinient baggage.

Helen will be all "fuck this, I'm off to my parents", leaving Knob all seething and alone.

Ok, the second bit is never going to happen in a million years but I can dream!

(Inconsequential post)

I love how this thread always comes up in Active threads at the moment, saving me the navigation till they sort the bloomin' android app out.

Gozo, if you posted sooner, it would have already been in your Discussions. And we'd be filling up the thread faster.

We're doing quite well with filling up the thread EBear.

another inconsequential post

Do none of you get that the reason Joe Grundy namechecks everyone is to keep the listener informed as to who is speaking at any time?

It's a radio theatre convention, and much needed even by long term listeners -especially since Dr Locke sounds just like Alan the Vicar--

When he SOHMC, I don't know what the scriptwriters will do to keep us in the loop. Give one of the Fairbrethren old fashioned rural airs and graces?

We are, actually - I just noticed we're over 800.

When Dr Locke started talking to Shula the other night, I was a bit confused about why Harrison was there for a minute. So name-checking people is jolly important.

But it's only Joe that does it. If the SW wanted their audience to be informed then all the characters would be doing it.

What are the Fairbretheren doing for Christmas? Are they still at Hollowtree (Marneys? wherever?) or going back to the bosom of the family.

I thought Dr Locke was Alan Vicar, EBear

Yes CUP. Obviously. But as Joe does it with more "personality" than other characters it's fun to construct some deep socio-psychological imperative.

It's better than "Is that what you're having Helen?"

The thing I really hate is where a parent, speaking to their child, refers to the other parent as Ruth or Tony or whatever. In half a century on earth I've never, ever heard this in RL speech. I wish they'd stop it.

Meant to ask - VegetablEsoup - how are you finding it so far? Surely you have some questions? Entertain me. I was sleeping over Masterchef and now I'm wide awake worrying about presents I failed to buy.

Oh! I had no real idea what accent Elizabeth was aiming at - just that it managed to be completely and consistently different to her own, which would be impressive for a complete amateur.

Toby's Cockney on the other hand ...

Helen will be all "fuck this, I'm off to my parents", leaving Knob all seething and alone.

She might though. And then go back when he promises to let her do stuff. Like breathing. Then she'll leave again. Go back again.

I know they don't often do this in drama be ause it infyriates the audience but in rl that's what happens. Abd actually one of the few dramas to do it properly was EE. It was PA rather than EA. But Little Mo went back to her apalling husband over and over again and had that resigned fear perfectly. And I think round about when I stopped watching it there was another portrayal of similar dynamic in same sex couple.

What is good about TA portrayal is that EA and FA are not often portrayed as part of domestic abuse. (In fact on tv /film pepple often do things that are abuse or stalking or sexual assault and it is portrayed as romantic)

Infuriates. (I can spell, honestly, just cannot type)

Why hasn't Helen told Rob about Ian? She's so utterly pathetic I can't stand it. I have been where she is and I do not recognise this portrayal of EA any more. It was good to start with but now it's crap.

SmallLegs, exactly so. I was gobsmacked to learn that some people choose Every Breath You Take as a wedding song. Do they not listen to the words at all? It's the stalkers' anthem!

Sorry if I came over as a bit bossy there. I am in RL but try to hide it here.

Very much like being on this thread with most of you lot.

I get it that the characters namecheck for a reason, but Joe is the only one who gives first name and surname. If he called someone "Roy" instead of "Roy Tucker" I think we'd still be able to work out who he was talking to.

But was not why Joe does it. All the characters use first names when you and I wouldn't bother, to help us poor listeners recognise the identikit men.
I think he just does it as a quirk of Joe-ness although sometimes I hear a hint of sarcasm attached to it.

I really hope they don't do the DV at Christmas . I know it's a key time for it in RL but I'm sure we had Kathy's rape around the same time and that was challenging listening.

I just think it's an age thing with Joe and it's just something he does - I quite like it. Helen only got married recently and in secret so a lot of people probably won't remember she changed her name. I thought it was more interesting that she corrected Joe. Most people wouldn't bother, especially if a very elderly person got it wrong, as it doesn't really matter. Is she scared Rob would hear that she'd allowed herself to referred to as an 'Archer'?

When was the last time Helen saw a midwife? Surely they'd pick up on her health. She must be losing weight at the moment and be deficient in everything. You'd think Pat would notice but then Rob doesn't seem to like her having any contact with Helen.

But when Helen finally does tell pat that rob snarled at or hit Henry, she will say:
Oh Hellon, are you sure you haven't exaggerated? We've all seen how much Rob loves Henry, and Henry can be a bit challenging: I'm sure he just told him off and you're getting it all out of proportion darling.

She wouldn't tell Pat, she's too scared of Rob.

Why did Rob push for PR instead of waiting to adopt? I know he wanted control ASAP but wasn't there some criteria to fill for adoption that he wasn't keen on? CRB checks or something? There must be something in his past we don't know about. That's why his mother suddenly popped up albeit very briefly. His past must be going to come to light and we're being drip fed clues.

Forgot tot say at the time, but did anyone notice the other day when Rob was doing some "I'm only being overbearing for your own sake" routine and Helen gave in with an "allright" that was exactly like little four year old Henry's.