In honour of how The Archers threads began: Why are the SWs allowing this to happen?

[PseudoBadger]

The very first thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/a1740045-Why-is-Lillian-allowing-this-to-happen

40k posts later....

Yes indeed!

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa: I did indeed forget that Justin was a Cambridge man.

Not sure that helping 2 old grannies will redeem them After being invited for tea by Chris, I couldn't help but think of the Harry Enfield and thingy (i love her but forget her name) playing the 2 old ladies sexually assaulting a plumber "Ooooh Young Maan" !!

To be fair, one of them did try to stop the other one being quite such a git with his "Davids" but failed.

Rex is supposed to be the good egg but I don't find him very sympathetic either

Is it written in the stars that Pip will take over the farm? Josh and Ben have yet to make any sort of career choice and Ben was already showing promise as a poultry entrepreneur before he became a cereal box sorter.

Ben will quietly be forgotten... Poor kid

Peggy's surely going to stump up some cash for the FairBs, much to Knob's chagrin.

Or some land? Does Peggy have some land?

Wasn't that Josh enoch?

Josh sneaking up on the inside and filching the farm was one of the reasons Toby gave for why Pip would be unwise to disappear to Brazil iirc. Think he'd suggested some sort of bird partnership with them.

It might have been Josh. Both have joined the ranks of teens who are silent!

Was that a deliberate nod to the audience by the SWs about Peggy not being able to tell Rex and Toby apart? I liked it!

My teenage son would appear to be a 'silent' to the casual observer. In the autumn he provoked much amusement by claiming to be in training as a hermit, he's going to make his way to a cave in Canada (not sure if this is post A levels or university).

He could get some tips from Tom!

Thanks for the thread - marking for later!

My Dh went wwoofing in Canada in his early twenties. It's the ideal thing for the Lost Boys. And although there is unlikely to be multiple boxes of cereals to sort there will very likely be field cereals and skiing. Might be an option for your own hermit son, Eastpoint

So Roy is The Fat Lady then?

Luffly old Tory Brine

SWs not so misogynist tonight hey?

God I love Brine.

Please don't let the Dopeys do shagging on Lakey Hill. I couldn't bear another baybeee.

I really, really do NOT like the thread title. Actually I'm horrified. I don't give a stuff what 'in' reference it is. The effect of the title to the casual observer is to hold Helen responsible for the abuse she is suffering. I know perfectly well that is not when any of the contributors to the thread would intend to convey so what's the point?

There will sadly be plenty of people on Mumsnet right now, living the life that Helen is. We wouldn't say to them 'why are you letting this happen'. Because we know the answer is that they are victims of prolonged and terrible abuse. So why is this ok?

Jennifer makes me puke and the way Brian sucks up to her also. The first intelligent thing she has said was this evening when she questioned what she had achieved - yes, what has she achieved? She married a rich man and bred - well done Jennifer.

And that line from Justin about him believing she had been to Cambridge - why would he think that? When has she ever showed great intellect, her conversation is mundane to say the least. And the way she simpers when she gets an (unrealistic) compliment - such as after Justin's comment.

I think I dislike her even more than Helen (wet) and Susan (no self awareness, hypocritic, bigot and gossip).

Maybe aliens could abduct them all at the same time - bliss!

She married a rich man and bred - well done Jennifer.

She's done a lot more than that! And her early "breeding" brought the country to a standstill.

Jennifer has written books, been a teacher and campaigner as well as an active party in Home Farm. How many famers markets has she flogged Brian's venison at? How many venison casseroles has she made for shoots? Not to mention raising her husband's love child as her own so he could have a mother........

I don't see how people can avoid making future mistakes if they don't recognise their past mistakes.

Helen sleepwalked into abuse. And a dysfunctional relationship with Greg before that. She's impulsive & terrible at foreseeing consequences.

I completely see your point Northern and I absolutely did not mean that sentiment at all; I got carried away mirroring titles.

Terrible at forseeing consequences? Because she failed to notice that the man who was promising to love and protect her was actual a controlling rapist? Would you say that to a woman in RL in Helen's position?

I love the Archers, I've listened for 30 years I reckon. I know it's just a drama. But the thing is what they are covering right now is one of the most important issues they've ever covered and there is the potential for this to really make some sort of difference to women's lives. We need to recognise abuse in the lives of our friends and family members so we can help them and if we dismiss it as something they sleepwalked in to or as something they are complicit in allowing, then we won't help them. Which is terrible because further down the line from where Helen is now is further physical abuse and the risk of death.