Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Radio/podcast addicts

Discuss your favourite podcast, radio show or The Archers episode.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Will it be porridge or curtains for Knob? Await a sensible and sensitive ending to That Storyline on The Archers thread.

999 replies

PseudoBadger · 19/03/2016 16:54

Threads are moving so fast! Will this thread be here to welcome SOK?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
ElementaryMyDear · 24/03/2016 21:34

I'm not sure that Ursula needs to get anything out of abusing and controlling Helen, does she? It probably just comes automatically to her.

ElementaryMyDear · 24/03/2016 21:37

I think I need something stronger than Wine for this storyline. Olivia, we need a large gin emoticon.

Looking at the smileys list, I've only just noticed this one - Halo. Maybe one for Kirsty when she finally frees Helen?

BertrandRussell · 24/03/2016 21:44

Ursula is a plot device created to ensure that everyone knows that it's never entirely a man's fault- there's always a woman behind it somewhere. Grrrrrr.

BYOSnowman · 24/03/2016 21:48

Of course Bertrand. A bad husband is made by his mother after all. That's why everyone hates their mil!!

I'm sure Bruce is a good egg who clearly can't be blamed for how rob has turned out because, well he's just a dad.

echt · 24/03/2016 21:54

Open-mouthed at the superb footwork by Rob and Ursula. DH said: "He wants stabbing."

I missed some eps, so what exactly did Helen say to Henry when she sleepwalking, or was it all invented by Rob?

selsigfach · 24/03/2016 21:56

Real Pat (or anyone) would have twigged what was happening at "it's always Rob, this time he's gone too far". Ooh I was cheering Helen on at that point, thinking it was the end. Not yet.

BertrandRussell · 24/03/2016 21:57

She said something about something being all tangled. And that the grass needed cutting.

All very symbolic.

leliondemer · 24/03/2016 22:05

Haven't had a chance to catch up on the thread but how horrible was tonight's episode. I can't believe it! Helen knows deep down Rob is abusing her, it's obvious from what she said. But she just can't seem to admit it. And now arse has evidence of Helen threatening to kill Rob - more mind games to come. It's so sad.

Finger crossed for an end soon but now they've wormed their way out of the school issue, who knows how long it's going to go on for.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 24/03/2016 22:06

Sels, I was too. I really thought the time had come. Maybe it would have done if she'd managed to catch him just even slightly off guard... But of course he was warned by Ars.

Odd that the story spouted by Ars to Patbot was the exact same as that spouted to Hell by Knob (ie tat they were only investigating for the future). Either a lucky coincidence or they are colluding "out loud"...?

leliondemer · 24/03/2016 22:11

Yes I too was thinking 'hurrah' fir Helen when she said 'Rob, it's always Rob'. And then pat and arse just thought she was being irrational... So frustrating.

Helenluvsrob · 24/03/2016 22:14

So they all ran out and left henwee alone? Don't buy that.

At what point will safeguarding be mentioned re the home birth ?

SmallLegsOrSmallEggs · 24/03/2016 22:17

I am in 2 minds as to whether Rob just got lucky there or whether he set Henry up to tell Helen.
Worked out well for him thoughHmm

Ursula though, her motivations are, to me, not as machiavellian as they might seem.

She made it clear by siding with Jess that her main interest in Rob is a df to her dgc.
She wants Henry out of the way to clear the path (not directly to abuse Helen but because she doesn't give a flying fuck about the wife of the father of her dgc).

She could see the plot had been rumbled. If she said oh yes Rob and I were planning on sending H to a lovely private school.next month she looks like an evil duplicitous cow.
So she lied to cover her own arse. She needs to be in a good light to maintain access to the golden gc.
Plus she thinks thete is fuck all wrong with sending a troublesome child away. She did it with her own son. (That rather than education seemed to be her motivation when she and Rob talked about it).

Plus she doesn't know Rob told Henry so she would have to assume they were overheard.

So she barely lied at all.
We discussed sending H to school - true.
He must have overheard us - also true as far as she knew.
She and Bruce were offering to pay - also true although note she appears to have made that important decision without even consulting him.
Helen is erratic - she has been a bit irrational.around Ursula - with good reason.

I think Ursula is mostly interfering, overbearing, self serving, narcissistic and cold. I don't think she is volluding with Tob directly just protecting her own interests vile bitch.

EBearhug · 24/03/2016 22:19

She said something about something being all tangled. And that the grass needed cutting.

All very symbolic.

There was something about not being able to find the key, as well.

I wish my dreams were as easy to interpret.

TopOfTheCliff · 24/03/2016 22:54

At this point on the Relationships board Helen might post a thread "Am I going crazy?" As the details tumble out the MN assembled survivors say "No it's not you it's him! Ring Women's Aid" "Join the EA Support thread"
Helen says "Oh but he loves me and he doesn't mean to hurt me and he is such a good father to our DC"
But good fathers do not treat the mother of their DC like dirt or upset them or hurt them.
Come on Helen - ring WA! or post on Mumsnet, please!!
It is all a bit too real for me. I had spaghetti head mess just like Helen. Poor Helen!

enochroot · 24/03/2016 22:57

Well I had the Wine but it was horrible to listen to the episode.

She was on the verge - almost convinced the homebirth was nuts, knew it was Rob's evil scheme to send Henry away, shook off Ursula like she would a tarantula then he got the whip hand again and left her destroyed.
And Pat seems completely hypnotised.

BYOSnowman · 24/03/2016 23:02

I think robs drugging the water supply and supping on Fiji water himself

CuttedUpPear · 24/03/2016 23:10

There's a little seed been planted about the birthing plan though - she has expressed doubts to the doc. I hope she tries to get away and do it her way, safely.
Bloody hell this brings back memories Sad

SmallLegsOrSmallEggs · 24/03/2016 23:52

I hope Pay has a wee think too once Ursula isn't there. At the very least I'd be wanting to drop by the next day to see if she were ok. Either she is having some kind of MH crisis or something terrible is happening. Either way her mum ought to step up.

(And Tony too but he didn't witness how diatraught she was).

Re. Henry though. Pat "I've never seen him so [distressed]" cannnot remember if those were the exact words. But really at that age my dc got more het up on a daily basis than he was about far more trivial things. Little stepford Henry.

BitOutOfPractice · 25/03/2016 05:41

Oh the way he said he was going to talk to Henry really chilled me

tibbawyrots · 25/03/2016 07:36

I had to listen later as my dd phoned me halfway through 🙄 and it was horrible. Just horrible. My OH came in the kitchen and was worried about me as he said the expression on my face was murderous! I know this is a sl they are doing and crucially it is going on in some houses all the time but I am finding this very hard going - not putting my head in the sand but it's incredibly difficult to listen to.

tibbawyrots · 25/03/2016 07:38

Sorry if my last post is garbled. I know what I mean but can't always get the words right. Blush

Putthetulipsthere · 25/03/2016 07:43

Haven't read all the posts.from last night but just wanted to say I too felt sick last night.
Although it seems Helen is more aware something I'd wrong, it ended on a high for Knob & Arsula, which left me reaching for 🍷
Agree with PP, that his plan is to have the baby taken away from her. Nice EE touch their SOC.
Also agree having the abuser's mother complicit in the abuse takes away from making it truly credible
Sadly, I think Hellin's reaction to Kirsty on Thursday & to Knob last night is probably very true to life

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 25/03/2016 07:43

I thought your post was crystal clear, tibbawyrots. It is absolutely horrible to think of anyone having to live like this. Sad

Putthetulipsthere · 25/03/2016 07:44

Apologies for typos, corrective text, aarrgh...

Wolpertinger · 25/03/2016 08:07

On the Relationships board as soon as Hellin posted that Rob 'is a good dad' everyone would know he was an EA bastard. And once she let on about the cheese making and the lack of job everyone would be yelling cocklodger too.

Swipe left for the next trending thread