SOC reveals he's a quitter whilst Keri sews up plot holes on Twitter about the wicked wife-sitter! Discuss the Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

Not long until our thread's 3 year birthday!

Can it be like Murder on the Orient Express, with Adam, Kirsty, Ian, Shula & Jess all lining up to take a swipe.

Just spent ages typing a post on my phone and lost the blinking thing.

Anyway, my oldest friend's ex was like this. I didn't like him when I first met him. I thought he was an idiot. He worked really, really hard to win me over and by the time they got married I felt awful that I'd misjudged him so badly. Of course, he eventually proved himself to be even more of an idiot than I'd imagined. My friend says he knew it was worth his while to make me like him and that's why he did it. It makes me feel a bit unsettled that he fooled me so completely (and I'd consider myself a bit of a cynic!).

So I can buy that Pat's stopped trusting her own judgement when it comes to Rob. Especially because Helen's so prickly anyway.

Was discussing this with my colleague today and he thinks Rob will get Helen sectioned and take the baby (and Henry too?).

The disappearance of Helen's ED at Knob's behest is irritating. It's another dropped strand - why bother incorporating it in the plot at all if only to drop it? It's as if the SWs remembered Helen had had an eating disorder, decided to resurrect it, pursued it quite realistically then decided to bring in Ursula and so dropped the ED (while at the same time forgetting about all of Ursula's very recent background) Nothing is every followed through when it comes to Knob - the drama is ramped up and then dropped never to be referred to again. All Northern's points re Helen are true, but don't explain why so many of the storylines come to nothing.

She is still dropping hints about not eating though. She was very cautious at Tom's dinner. I think she's making a token gesture in front of the evil two, just enough to make them think they're in control.

No, no, no!

Right. I hate this story. And my memory's slightly crap - but I'm damn good at listening. I knew there was some obfuscation going on so I have made myself listen to the horror again.

Helen and food: Pat asked Rob about it; Rob said

Oh yes ... We sit down to a proper meal in the evening ... and there's always something in that she likes to eat for lunch.

Pat then told Tom that Helen was eating properly again. Two good meals and a light breakfast ...

There is a huge interpretational (?) leap between the two versions. Rob was extremely careful about what he said; Pat chose to believe what was most reassuring to her. I doubt Helen is eating (or retaining) any more food than before.

BOOP for Pixie village.

Tom has definitely got Rob's number.

How old is ruari?

Tom definitely dislikes rob so that's good.

And nice to see ed getting more work

Be a bit daft if ed doesn't do the courses

I'm surprised Johnny likes his grans cooking!!

I guess rob will give duff advice. Maybe when Tony finds out what he says it will make him crosser!!

Ruairi's year 8, 13-ish.

Really cannot see why they're making Ed so stupid about the courses. What possible benefit could there be in not taking them?

Rob is bound to advise Johnnie to head back to his mum's. One less Archer blocking his master plan.

Maybe he doesn't want to take on any debt without discussing with Emma, after the last few times.

I think Helen probably is eating. Knob will be watching over her in the evenings to make sure she clears her plate, and probably at breakfast too, whilst Arsula stands guard at lunchtime.

I can imagine that Ed's course:
a) doesn't teach you anything that you didn't already know
b) has a stupid multiple-guess assessment
c) costs a fortune.

Emmur will talk sense into him, though.

But if Adam is right and you need the certificate to do certain things he will get more lucrative work

Oh I know, but that's education and training these days - it's not about the knowledge, it's about having the piece of paper and ticking a box somewhere.

Just in passing, the guy playing Mr Rochester in the R4 Jane Eyre sounds hideously like Timothy Watson. It isn't him, but his voice is alarmingly similar. Maybe The Infinite Monkey Cage has cloned a job lot.

I don't know what agricultural courses cost these days, but a week-long techy course can easily cost between £1500 and £2500. If the courses Ed's looking at cost that sort of money, it's a massive amount for Ed, given his history. Even a few hundred is probably more than he can put his hands on without a good bit of belt-tightening.

In any case, however good an idea it is, it's been landed on him with no notice - I don't think it's unreasonable to take a couple of days to look at the different options and work out the financial impact. I would be uncomfortable with saying yes straight away in those circumstances.

But if it pretty much guarantees more and better paying work? (Though I admit it might have been better if Adam had said Home Farm or BL would pay outright for the course and give Ed a contract for the work.)

Love the way Justin plans to keep the whip hand on the estate contract by offering Brian his heart's desire. He's pretty much bought up Home Farm now. It only needs him to throw a little publicity Kate's way and sell some ironmongery to his city pals and every single one of them (except Phoebe) will be dependent on his favour.

It's difficult to give an answer at all when the price wasn't even mentioned!

I think Adam encouraging Ed is a contrast to whatever Rob has in mind for Johnny.

Right think the courses for Ed would be the first 2 listed here (PA1 and PA2a) Hardly breaking the bank considering future opportunities and an employer loan...
www.parkhilltraining.co.uk/pesticide.htm

Sounds totally worth it. He just needs to agree on a repayment plan with Adam so he is still getting paid something

Caught yesterday's repeat( after trying no to listen for a week), I really want to slap Helen now, and Pat, and the SW.

How about an apprentice scheme for Ed.

Loads cheaper than IT, then. But still, I would prefer to take a little time to decide for myself.