Discuss The Archers here. There's hut construction, new teen arrivals, pastured eggs, pining Pip and other fun Spring-like stories to choose from.

[PseudoBadger]

Maybe if we don't look directly at the other storyline it will disappear?

Rob was forced out of the high power job, though, it wasn't his choice. Certainly he could apply for and probably get another, but maybe in his eyes the immediate priority is to keep Helen in her capacity as vessel of SOK under firm control. And maybe he reckons the shop is the beginning of a new empire.

Possible conversations:

Ed to Emma - moan, moan, money, moan
Emma to Ed - well, at least you've got work, not like that Rob Tichener, he's still working in the shop.

Clarrie to Patbot: And how is Helen keeping? I haven't seen her for ages. And Rob? Any sign of a job?

Christine to Peggy: Rob still hasn't got a new job, and the baby is due quite soon, it must be a worry for them.

Ruth to Usha: bla, bla, Berrow Farm
Usha to Ruth, bla bla, Berrow Farm, it's been bad luck for Rob, he still hasn't found a new job. Still, as long as he can pay the rent on Blossomhill, bla bla

Susan to anybody, fishing for information: I don't know how they're managing....

I always thought there were suggestions of knob being slack as well as incompetent when he was at berrow - so maybe he can't be arsed to get same sort of job? He'd rather have much easier job and dress it up as helping Hellin - with an eye on prize of it becoming Knob's Sausage-Free Emporium.

Regarding Rob being slack - I belive psychopaths are often easily bored, and not that inclined to work hard -that's for lesser mortals. They often tend to move jobs a lot - they entertain themselves by disrupting and causing havoc at one company, get bored and move on to another.

I actually have no idea Gasp0! And I'm not sure the SWs do either since even Annabelle Dowler thinks her character has "lost her way a bit" and there's no mention of her academic past at all.

In my head Kirsty is responsible for the phrase "at uni". And in the past I'm sure all her social life was conducted amongst "friends from uni". Perhaps I missed a crucial six months and she left without a degree. Or perhaps the SWs were just pre-emptively portraying the current economic climate.

I can well believe that

• most of the village find Helen humourless, 'highly strung' and generally hard work, and think Rob is a bit of a saint to take her on.

• given Pat and Tony's retirement and Helen's 'confinement', imagine there is plenty for Rob to do at Bridge Farm.

Good fortune that Usha will incur no cost sending a lawyer's letter to RT demanding her unpaid, back rent

Rob was on a pretty high salary when he worked at Berrow Farm. He was there for at least two years and during that time he took no foreign holidays nor did he do anything else that would have been expensive. If he'd been living like that in Canada too, he might have substantial savings. He's been renting Blossom Hill Cottage all this time. I suppose he might have had to give some capital to Jess on divorce, but given that they had no children, no house and she was also professionally qualified and working full-time, surely she can't have been entitled to all that much?

But if he had a stack of cash saved surely he wouldn't be buying expensive gifts with Peggy's money?

All part of the game - Helen afraid to spend money while Rob looks generous.

I went out this morning and when I came back the font had changed. Is it just me?

Shula hasn't been entirely silent about the SAB incident. She told Oliver and Caroline and admitted that she had not told Harrison the truth. What I can't figure is why Oliver, knowing that, left him in charge of the hunt.

Rob would have been gossiped about in our village!

R4 just catching up on the thread and am literally weeping with laughter at SOC's ultimate literary allegory.
Also is it does me or does Mumsnet have a new font?

Crosspost Enoch - I thought I was seeing things with all Lynda's talk of fonts - the ultimate in over-infestation

MN is gas lighting us all with their sneaky font changes….

enoch - Didn't Shula only tell Caroline? (Though we'd assume Caroline would share the info with her DH.)

But the lack of conversation in Ambridge is so far beyond belief ...

Well I'm glad it's nothing I've done. I've been messing about syncing my phone with my laptop and am now prepared for any kind of weirdness!

I love the ULA - ultimate literary allegory.

She had a convo with Caroline who told Oliver, IIRC.

Oliver knew about the Sab incident from Shula PoV - which makes the fact that he let rob be master in his absence odd

Re the font - it's giving me a headache!!

Agree re font. I hate changes to websites.

There's a thread in site stuff if you want to complain!!

Don't know if I can bear to listen tonight!

Is tonight anticipated to be a Rob/hellin ep?

Yes, something about Helen being vulnerable and out of the loop. It's not going to go well.

Oh lor. I'll be listening, though.

Come on Ambridge women! Come on Hellen!