Things To Do in Ambridge When Rob's Dead. Can The Archers get Home Deliverance for Helen?

[PseudoBadger]

Gasp0de, what a brilliant memory, it would indeed be great if the shepherd's hut was the catalyst. I grew up with the Archers and when I was a child and didn't understand something on TA, I always loved that my mum, who has been listening since she was a child in the mid-50s, would invariably start her explanation by telling me about something that had happened years before I was born.

I'm glad others like the idea of Lynda to the rescue, though I should add that I think Kirsty needs a role too. I'm a similar age to Helen and am getting a bit sick of everyone my age on TA being incapable either in work or relationships (or both) and in need of help from mum and dad (Hayley was good and Brenda had potential). We need Kirsty to prove our competance!

I'll gain a lot more respect for the script writers if this whole shepherds hut storyline is a way to bring about the downfall of knob.

However, I won't be holding my breath.

But if all the early middle aged in Ambridge could get by without constant input from Mum/Dad/Granny/Joe all the over seventies would have been cast out into The Laurels.

I suppose the centrality of multi-generational households/communities is something we accept in TA - it's an interesting point that that might be perceived to come at the expense of the middle generation's dignity.

Across most of MN the older generation (older than the one posting) seems to be seen as the devil incarnate; a force to be pushed out of the way the minute you pair up and make another human. Is this why people who don't like TA don't like it?

OK, I've got down my Archers Encyclopaedia (Joanna Toye & Adrian Flynn) and The Book of The Archers (Patricia Greene, Charles Collingwood, Hedli Niklaus) !

TAE: Alf Grundy, dob 13.11.44. Was played by Terry Molly (ie Mike), so must have had a voice at some point!

The elder son of Joe and Susan, Alf Grundy has brought little credit to his family during a lifetime largely spent paddling in the shallows of non-violent crime. He started early, stealing chocolate from Woolworth's, before graduating to receiving stolen copper wire in 1980, when he was supposedly a legitimate dealer in scrap metal. At this point, Joe said he was disowning him, and contact between Alf and the rest of the family became extremely intermittent thereafter.

After spending some time in prison for breaking and entering offences, he showed up briefly at Grange Farm in the summer of 1986. He stayed long enough to empty William's money box and steal Eddie's car stereo, before heading off to resume his criminal ways elsewhere. In the run-up to Eddie's 50th birthday, in 2001, Clarrie contacted him to see if he could contribute any memories of the brothers' years growing up together. He could, but, sadly, nothing suitable for repetition in mixed company.

Later in the year, he met up with Joe for his father's 80th birthday. Apparently untroubled by any desire to revisit Ambridge, Alf continues to weave his own path through life. Those he comes into contact with would still be well advised to count the spoons after he has gone.

TBOTA: Alf Grundy was a credit to his father Joe's upbringing. Everone knew that he was a poacher, although he was never caught... He loathed farming and left home the moment he could [ending up in Gloucester, which was where he was convicted].

thx!

I have been a fan of TA, on and off, for over 40 years but I can't bear to listen any more. I find it uncomfortable and unbelievable. Helen was a strong minded business woman and has given in to Knob without so much as a whimper. Just think how much more dramatic and interesting it would have been if she had put up a fight and argued with Knob and tried to keep her independence, if only for a while. She could even have been driven to hitting him over the head with one of her casseroles. Please, please, it's time he got his comeuppance. How I loathe him! And as for Ursula...words fail.

To be fair, Helen did argue with Rob quite a bit and went against him when it came to a number of votes about how to run the shop. I don't think it's necessarily incredibly that a "strong minded business woman" gets reduced to this sort of state under relentless pressure over a long period from someone she thinks she loves, particularly when you start introducing pregnancy and vulnerability around her son into the mix. But what you have to remember especially is that she never has been defined as being a strong minded businesswoman; she always has had major vulnerabilities, as indicated in particular by her anorexia and her past relationship history.

There was a quick hint of Helen's personality until it got stamped on again. Now waiting for a scalding fat incident.

Yes Knob - the school thinks he's too young to board

But it is a possibility.

I tried to listen again tonight, but had to turn it off as I was getting too upset.

For fuck's sake. I do not want to listen to domestic abuse every night!

Please, please, please make it stop.

So Rob will be forging Helen's signature on the school application form which both parents (with PR) have to sign?

God, somebody kill Pip please.

Another slight challenge by asking Rob if he had interfered with the timer. Has she overheard him talking about the school?

Bastard.

I missed the bit when Rob was on the phone - was he talking to the boarding school?

Hmmm. Any worried parent could just call the school and book a call with the teacher - in RL that is.

Yes, buttering them up about his old house master. He acknowledged that Henry would be very young for boarding, but that his mother couldn't cope very well so he needed to be sent away. Then he lied to Helen about which school it was.

Hopefully Henry will be the catalyst Helen needs.

So Ursula will of had a good look through all Helens PRIVATE maternity notes then.

How old is Henry? 5? 6? Children have to be at least 7 in Uk for boarding so I guess Knob is planning on getting Henry enrolled in secret and dealing with Helens protesting afterwards. He no doubt thinks it will be easy enough to persuade her once the baby arrives and she just can't cope with two

What a load of old bollocks

Why is Ursula putting Helens maternity notes away? It seems to me that Knob and Ursula are in cahoots to upend Helen and totally control her.

I know a man who is totally controlled by his wife's family. He's a shadow of his former self, his fil is a complete control freak.

So the pothole lives to bite another day, eh?

What an odd year this has been so far. In all the previous years of this thread we've speculated about outrageous possible stories - but they never actually happened.

This year everything, even the completely impossible, ridiculous, unheard of in 21st c England baby boarding idea is being played out in front of our ears.

So how can we now dismiss any future outrage? They'll hold her down and deliver the child themselves? They'll have her sectioned? Rob will take every penny from Bridge Farm? This is exhausting.

Helen needs to reclaim her notes, her mobile and her car keys, then get the hell out of there with Henry tucked under her bump.

Exactly - I keep expecting her to think, right, I just have to get out, and go.

Or maybe Lynda will ride to the rescue, which is an idea I like very much indeed.