Game of Farms: The 4 Houses of Ambridge. Bleak House, Boring House, Sitcom House and About to Breach the Terms of Their Tenancy House.

[PseudoBadger]

Never mind the yoghurt - who is making the Sterling Gold?!

Well she seemed normal but....how can she be?

Is she going to start gently pricking knob's inflated sense of self?? Why on earth would he invite her if so?

He's invited her to show her what a success he is

But there will be lots of mocking him and maybe someone will criticise him in front of her and he will be bottling it all up until she leaves and take it out on Helen?

Maybe

we heard the door go ages before Rob appeared. Was he eavesdropping? Was the loud door a sound-effects error?

I think as she's so nice maybe Helen or Pat will ask about the dinner party no-show and then they will all have concrete evidence of Knob's deception. In fact I'm not entirely sure why Knob has invited her. She's not a particularly consistent character is she? Her first appearance was when she phoned and was astonished to discover Helen was living with Knob, having no clue of her existence. Then there was the dinner party where Knob painted his parents as borderline abusive. She turned up out of the blue - Knob was not happy to see her at all, though mysteriously he had been keeping her up-to-date with news of the pregnancy. She came across as quite overbearing with her Little Prince sleep suits. Now she sounds perfectly benign. I think she will give us an insight into Knob's background and hopefully fill in lots of blanks - she remained in touch with Jess didn't she when she thought the baby was Knob's.

Maybe she's there purely to spill some SW beans over the week.

He was earwigging I reckon - he does it a lot

I wish my house would sprout an extra bedroom

She won't admit to having not been invited to the dinner - I think she will use that as a stick to beat rob with

Earwiggy yes.

Think you are right BYOS - mocking then explosion. Beans all over the gaff.

I wonder if Ursula is afraid of stepping out of line with access to SOK, or afraid of him.

Many narcissists are extremely charming to start with - look at how Rob charmed Jenny etc at the start, so I'm not convinced yet.

But some interesting dynamics coming through - Rob the jealous younger son, Ursula teasing him about always being right.

I wonder if he invited Ursula because he was only too aware of the way his mother behaved at meeting 2 and was hoping that would carry right on, thereby allowing him to paint himself as H's saviour. In his own special way.

I just get so cross listening to Tom letting him get away with all of stupid shop decisions! Why is it so bad for there to be empty chicken shelves but fine for the shelves to be empty of Tom's sausages?

No one ever makes the obvious comment to him!

Will Ursula serve as a device for Helen to realise the extent of his lies? The dinner party, the frostiness on the phone- all cleared up when she exposes Rob for who he is? Rob won't expect it as in HIS mind it's all true, and even if she does expose it, he won't expect Helen to believe her over him.

I really hope that normal Ursula hasn't been brought in to explain that Rob is a knob because of his rivalry with Miles and really he's not a naughty boy...he's just a bit misunderstood. That would make a huge mockery of everything that's gone before and in light of the Refuge donations it would look particularly shite.

I'm still finding it incredible that the Bridge Farm Archers could let Rob just walk in and take over Helen's job. No references - despite leaving his last position in questionable circumstances, no relevant experience ... And his lecturing Tom (of all people) on what retailers need - would be hilarious were it not so infuriating. How can they all be so blind?

Think it was enoch who mentioned the possibility of Ursula smacking Henry? (No human being has smacked a child in Ambridge since Nic, have they?) I'm not too interested in poor little ill treated Rob but it would put him in a difficult position if such a thing were to happen now. No matter how comatose she has become Helen would have to protest, and Rob couldn't disregard her without revealing himself to be utterly disloyal. But he can't drive his DM out and leave Helen without a prison guard. Perhaps that could be the thing that wakes Helen up.

Thanks Lil'G btw. PayPal ok?

I got an excellent letter from Reguge anout Helen Titchener.

I am completely confused by the HelRob storyline. Helen apparently likes to be in control and she likes making cheese. She seems to be neither. I love the idea of houses sprouting bedrooms. Fantastic!. I wonder if Pip is going to find herself up the duff after Valentine's Day on Lakey Hill? The whole Ursula thing is baffling. What is going on???? I expect little Henwee is going to grow up to be either loony bin or prison fodder with a dad like he has. It can't end well if they all stay alive! Who are the Fairbrethren? It seems they are up to no good. Eggxiting stuff! Oh no... Please no egg jokes...

So, no tentacles?

Is Blossom Cottage like Hogwarts with a room appearing when needed?

No egg jokes? You mean I can't even crack a small one?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ho ho ho! Gnnnnffffff

Have to be honest, I'm afraid I didn't find Ursula benign. The whole Grandma Ursula shtick was much too full on. Poor Helen. But perhaps this will be the shove that Pat needs to wake her up.

Re Rob inviting U to look after Helen and Henwee.
I think he did it because He likes to control everything. He knew Helen would need help. He'd rather be the one to choose who helped.
He has consistently separated H from her family and figured he would rather chance it than have Pat popping in all the time (or even worse Kirsty)
H will feel uncomfortable with U there - so less likely to share any concerns she has about his controlling nature.

I dont think U will hit Henwee
If anything, she will catch Rob doing or saying something inappropriate to him (not sexual) and she will tell Rob off (in a way that Helen wouldn't dare)

Oh and Why doesn't Tom tell Rob to feck right off.

Where has stroppy stubborn Tom gone?

Grandma Ursula came from Henwee encouraged by Helen (and previously by Knob) not Ursula herself. She just seemed perfectly reasonable tonight - thanking Helen for the flowers, saying she looked well. Helen seemed very at ease. It could be a charm offensive. Maybe she will turn out to be to Knob as Knob is to Helen iyswim. All charm to everyone and then constantly undermining Knob, rewriting history (with regards Miles) and generally emotionally abusive. But if that's the case then why invite her to stay?

I'm reserving judgement. What with false trails, amnesia in the SW team, re-writing history, nobody in the village talking to anybody else, nobody visiting Helen and character transplants a-go-go the Ursula thing could go in any direction.
I shall wait for whatever exposition it is that they decide to throw in our direction.