The Archers. No need to share the thread with anyone else darling, we can have a lovely time just us together. It must be Henry's bedtime.

[PseudoBadger]

New thread for the Omnibus.

But for this thread I'd have no awareness of black pudding... it's not in my world.
All the chat about what Helen was like when PG with Henry, made me understand Pat-Bot a lot better. However, all the ED-people I've ever known had some horrid crap in their background, and I don't see Helen like that (not abused or neglected in her youth). That's the only part of Helen that doesn't make sense to me, But I guess Jack A. was a terrible alkie, so there's a genetic link alright.

Who said it somewhere, Rob is just always right. Distant cousin to Donald Trump, I suppose. Very 2 faced as a result.

Tbf her brother died in a horrible accident, her mother went into a deep depression and her partner shot himself some years later

I think both of those are pretty traumatic!!

I think they are carefully researching the ED line, SOC's said as much in interviews. What is more uncertain is whether they've properly researched thinks like ante-natal checks for women with a history of eating disorders and pre-eclampsia.

I agree about it being ridiculous that Pat isso willing to accept reassurances. Surely when Helen was anorexic before she kept telling everyone she wasn't starving herself? Given that she apparently looks ill, it really ought to be a massive warning sign.

Helen has awful stuff in her past!

The rushing out to be sick is a lot more like an anxiety attack than bulimia. Rob would make me anxious. I think she is panicking because she feels trapped and she really does not want that baby.

I know people who've had eating disorders who haven't had abuse or whatever in their pasts at all. A close relative of mine and my best friend at school both suffered from anorexia as teenagers. They both have really happy family backgrounds, which maybe helped them to make a healthy and full recovery. IMO one was triggered by school bullying and the other by a dysfunctional relationship/heartbreak, at a vulnerable and stressful time of their lives.

Also, just because Helen isn't making herself sick on the occasions we've heard (rushing off to bathroom) doesn't mean she isn't quietly throwing up as well when no-one else is around. Maybe those who have experience of EDs can tell me - does making yourself sick often make you more liable to be sick "accidentally" as well?

Yes, masses of it.

I can just about see Pat accepting Rob's reassurances that Helen is eating (because why would he tell her anything else - as far as she's concerned, he's wonderful. Of course he's telling the truth), but I can't see her entirely shelving any concern whatsoever, particularly if Helen's looking ill. And the rushing off to vom is a huge red flag, as is the never ever eating in front of anyone, and Pat must surely have spotted that.

I'd be more convinced if we heard her discussing it with Tony (if he's back from whatever other job the actor was doing) because that's what you do if you have a child with an ED or any other long term illness.

Also I'm sure this has been covered, but isn't there a horrible contrast between Helen's two pregnancies:

Pregnancy 1: Entirely of her own volition - wanted, planned and conceived at her (and only her) instigation

Pregnancy 2: Entirely against her own expressed wishes - wanted, planned and forced upon her by her husband, with her having no say whatever

I thought it was the mention of oysters on the Valentine's menu that sent her rushing out. A combination of the food she had already had to eat, mention of oysters, a prospect of a 'romantic' evening with Rob and a reminder of Valentine's Day which perhaps triggered the memory of Jess arriving out of the blue.

I'm not the only one who finds Henry really sinister, am I?

I've come round to the idea that Rob hasn't been encouraging her ED after reading the above but his stupid comments about her size have made it worse.

In a manner of speaking, she has found something which he can't control and it's her subconscious way of fighting back. He's no idea how to cope with it.

Back in the sonkhole days I did speculate that Henry was actually the devil and rob his guide (thinking of the nanny in the omen)

He speaks on a really odd way for a child his age and does come across as creepy. I have a dd 6m older so I am comparing like with like rather than a memory of 5 year olds!

Exactly - EDs are often about control, as your eating is the only thing over which you feel you have any control, and that's horribly true in Helen's case.

There really isn't anything Rob can do about it, unless he attempts to force feed her. Guilt tripping won't work, or if it does, she'll probably get rid of the food later by some means or other.

So it was either a flashback to the last time they had a 'cozy night in' or her body reacting to the sudden onslaught of food

I thought a flashback. Helen's world changed dramatically that night.

Just listened to yesterday's, Kirsty isn't buying all the cover ups, am still convinced she will be the saviour in all this. She is a good friend, she keeps on trying when others would think Helen is giving them the brush off.

Yes she felt sick as a combination of the pressure of being nagged about the food in front of her and then the mention of valentines which can only mean one thing to her now. It got too much.

He is going to get more and more angry now every time H won't eat, it's the only way he knows how to deal with something he can't manipulate.

It will be interesting to see what happens with MW visit/ scan. Last time when she was told baby was small that kicked in her instinct to protect the very much wanted baby and she made herself eat. Maybe not properly but enough.

This time either baby will be small in ehich case will she want to.protect it or just carry on as is or baby will be fine, in which case will she redouble her efforts?

She has never once expressed any joy or enthusiasm about this baby. She didn't want to discuss names with Rob etc. I think she is just wishing it would all go away.

I an re-delurking to run in and say - Jim & Christine discussing playing Fuzzy Duck?! This made me .

That's all. As you were.

Sorry to deviate from HelRob conversation. He makes me shudder, all that nasty laughing he was doing with Henry about mummy being hopeless and mummy eating up her huge pudding.

Ah but HellRob were OUT , maybe he thought he could force feed her more easily in company. Awful bit about Hell calling Kirsty in the garden at night FGS

I think one of the problems with Henry is he's become sort of a soap child, saying really unnatural things to help conversations/plots along. I think he only became of speaking age since SOC took over (but I could be completely wrong there, feel free to correct me) so he's not had a chance to develop naturally.

Having said that, the children have always been a bit weird. Ruairi with his acute Irish accent that stayed for so long being one example.

BYOS Poor little Henry's character is being recorded and is obviously aware of it. IMO Knob is not a good influence on him. The sooner Hell gets her act together and she and Henry leave the shxx the better.

We cross posted Adventures

Agree adventure

Still irritating and makes him sound slightly evil

Agree he is really unsettling!

I was v. confused by the sudden dash to the loo and puking. No morning sickness. And if bulimia - to deal with being forced to eat all that food - then wouldn't have been involuntary. Maybe suggestions about it being triggered by stress and the general Hell of being anywhere near Knob is the answer.

I didn't think she was making herself sick, I thought it was involuntary.

So much Robbishness! The over-feeding, the belittling her, the 'how will you get there my prisoner', the "hmm - we'll see" when she suggested her dad bring her to the appointment.

It was the long description of foods given by Auntie Cardboard that set Hell off wasn't it? She really has problems.