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?

As I predicted. Cruella is financing the school fees. Wondering now how they get round the age?

I also think telling Hellin Henry is off the boarding school will be the catalyst!

Cheers for Kirsty

OMG. Just delurking on the Archers thread to say I can't bear it any more. Please can they bring this awfulness to an end

Kirsty hurrah! But surely the Archers won't let Henry be packed off to school like an unwanted puppy?

I agree Boom. Because that will have to be explained to the wider community and justified. I think perhaps rob is so sure of his own power he has now made a bad mistake.

Can we all please remember that Kirsty does not know what we know. She has her suspicions. This is playing out in real time.

And Rob is a prime mover and a complete cockwomble.

I think there is no way Helen will agree to Henry going to private school. It will be interesting to see how Rob is going to spin this.

So is Henwee going to board in Reception, or year 1?
(year 1 does actually happen in at least 2 schools that I could find)

Kirsty just go and see Patbot yourself ffs! Or even better, Tom!

"Yes time to go home Mum, it's all getting a bit rapey round here, bit off putting having your mother in the same house."

I think he's reception now, so presumably he'd be going in year 1. Truly terrible thought.

Thank the Lord for Kirsty. I liked the fact she'd sneaked in the field way and obviously waiting until R&U had gone.

And so, the beginning of the end begins...

About time too.

They''re making it more Ursula's fault again. Oh, that makes me cross- poor little Rob, not even knowing his mother was upset about dropping him at school- no wonder he's the way he is.

I hope when Kirsty made that promise not to tell she did it with crossed fingers.

Actually We're all assuming he will be boarding. Has that ever been made explicit? Maybe it will start with him as a day boy, paid for by Ursula , to whom Hellin has to be forever grateful because darling, it's such a better environment for him... Then the boarding thing will come on gradually....

But Rob was talking in terms of him being home for the holidays and some weekends, so that definitely sounds like boarding.

Though isn't there some sort of half-way house? My ExH did some sort of pre-boarding thing before he was packed off for good.

I am concerned Rob now wants Ursula to go so that if he needs to terrify Helen in to complying with his plan he will have the house empty to do it. She may be round his little finger but she's unlikely to witness out and out violence without protest. With her out of the house but as threat 'I'll have to get my mum back if you can't cope' he will be able to control Helen totally. Or he thinks he will.

What's the betting Fallon and Kirsty had a good natter?

The boarding school angle is just a little too much for me tbh

It's far too far for a day school or why would they have needed all those snacks in the car.

But that puts k in a bad position - she will do the right thing in the end for Helen as Helen did not for her (did not warn k of tom's Dave grouts about the wedding)

Idle thought - have we had a lesbian storyline ?

You read it first here.

They did talk about Henry coming home for the holidays and that the baby would be there by then, so assume it's boarding to start next September.

Let's not forget Ruaiaiairi is also at boarding school isn't he? He went off pretty young, about 9 I think. Surely 2 of only 3(?) little boys in the Archers can't be at boarding school at the same time. What is this?

Oops lots of crossed posts

the one question Kirsty didn't ask was 'has he done anything else to you'? I was willing her to ask. Maybe she'll go away and think through what else a man like Rob could be capable of...

George is at Loxley Barratt. I can't remember how old his stepbrother Jake is, but presumably he's at Loxley Barratt too. Can't offhand think of any other small boys, apart from Lynda's grandchild and he must be about 1.

Well obviously there is only one boarding school in the country and it takes kids from 4-18

So Rob has used his mother to pay the fees - he manipulates even her.

It was her idea in the first place, wasn't it?

Yes fair point re the snacks. In my view the issue is the long term damage boarding at such a young age can do. It's why rob is as he is. Both men I knew who boarded from very young were incredibly damaged and had very odd and damaged - and damaging - relationships with women. Revenge on the mother who sent them away for their own good? And all that.