No more walking on eggshells for Helen! Heading for an eggsplosive Easter weekend in The Archers - will Helen Archer be resurrected by the end of this thread?

[PseudoBadger]

Helen knows she's not cracking up - Knob is an eggomaniac.

Are we eggshausted with this storyline?

BOOP point for SIMON WILLIAMS, as Justin, having stage fright and saying he always fancied himself being a luvvie . Talk about a soap eating itself by the tail

I wondered if we were going to hear all the pageant;; it sounded very near the mark with socialist Orwellian tendencies, no wonder Justin and Brian were a bit about it.

To give Pat her due, my mum, whom I have a loving relationship with, was charmed by my ex, and found it difficult after our separation. The veil of his charming personna has now fallen. She understands his nastiness.

To put it into perspective, my mum had eight children and was a vice principal of a school on her retirement, so no pushover, though a marriage and standing by your man, no matter what, was what she was brought up with. She was the older partner in the relationship. And quite the independent woman. Always had her own money.

I agree with other posters that it is a storyline that makes you reassess past and present relationships and makes you more alert to potential red flags.

Until recently I would probably have questioned the extent to which the abuse has remained hidden from Helen's friends and family, even Kirsty has no idea of the full extent. However, very recently, a close friend told me something about her marriage (not domestic abuse, but similar in many ways) that although we have known each other for many years and see each other regularly I had had no idea of. I was shocked to learn what she had been going through, surprised that I had not had any suspicions (when I thought about it there had been indications which I had completely failed to pick up on) and at a loss as to how to help.

As a survivor of more than one of these relationships, I know that I have actually known nothing but abuse, for the whole of my life.

My parents were both controlling and abusive, my siblings lurch from one abuser to the next, and give as good as they get.

I have been in therapy for many, many years unravelling the mess which does go back generations, and is far more complex and murky than anyone realises. The line between victim and abuser, within families and siblings is not so straightforward.

I understand that this is not the usual view on MN, but it has been the growing truth for ME, in therapy.

To set it within the context of extended and historical family is actually entirely relevant. Much abuse is learned, and enacted as a defence mechanism to trauma in childhood.

I don't think that's unreasonable. A family member's abuser grew up in an abusive household. His abusive father had been a victim of torture. Before marrying her subsequently abusive husband, my relative also had a series of relationships with outwardly-strong-to-the-point-of-being-controlling men with deeply traumatised pasts.

Recycling: you struck a chord with me there too. I quite like a quiet life but have recently stopped letting DH make all the decisions, insignificant though they may be.

I'm thinking now that him deciding - what's for tea - what film we watch - what order the kids get their homework done in - makes the evenings run smoothly but leaves us in a bad place for making our voices heard when there's a BIG decision to make.
Some things have dribbled cold on me such as the rushing-out-to-buy steak story. That happened to me when I'd prepared my signature dish for a dinner party and it was deemed unacceptable.
On the other hand I recognize that for other things I make him walk on eggshells a bit.
We are perhaps all having a new look at our relationships which is why we're finding TA so disturbing?

I'm a first-time poster but long-time lurker by the way
But may I enquire why PPs have said they were listening to the Sunday "film"?

I've been pondering the personality of Bruce - I do wonder if he'll turn out to be a genuinely nice chap who has suffered at the hands of Ursula for many years, or maybe he'll be more like Brian?

Film is The Archers fans name for the Sunday omnibus Cheesy, welcome to the thread

Appalling behaviour from Peggy, even if she is elderly. She and Ursula would probably get on well.
On the abusers /victim family background, I have friends who have experienced abuse in childhood and have become good parents, and have not always have gone the therapy route. It's not a done deal. One friend was very worried that people would automatically think that that she could be an abusive controlling parent.

On the other hand I recognize that for other things I make him walk on eggshells a bit.

How? cheesy

cold has Peggy raped someone? Is that why her behaviour is appalling?

Sorry cold that should be Mini

Eke don, perhaps appalling is too stronger word, but tutting at Henry's cuddly toy, 'it would be alright if he were a girl' comments, and demands for Simnel cake, made me want to reach for a cricket bat, not that I would want to be accused of battering an old lady. < off to do penance for evil thoughts>

Thanks to the posters who helped fill in some gaps about Peggy and Jack #1. Sounds like her situation was very different and won't have endowed her with insight and empathy for h.

There was some irony in her implied criticism of Helen for babying Henry, and then her querulous response on being presented with chocolate cake: I WANTED SIMNEL CAKE! and when she conceded that the nasty cake was actually rather nice, she still didn't say thank you, or sorry! Horrid woman.

I LA earlier and those who said Knob was at the pageant without Helen were right. Was a subtle comment by Clarrie saying she could see Rob but no Helen and then went on to say how Helen was struggling with her current pregnancy.

People are noticing she is never around but a difficult pregnancy being the reason is easily acceptable, lots of people will be very shocked when she finally leaves him.

Still think it seems too obvious to blame Alf for the church money theft. Not sure who else I think it would be though!

Cheesy it used to be the minibus, from the days when one scene per episode had to be dropped to make it fit the time slot on Sunday morning. It was great fun spotting the scene each night needs to get out more

Agree Alf is too obvious a culprit coldTea

Not a klaxon evening tonight then.

Meaniemouth. I never feel the urge to use a cricket bat. Not especially in the scenario you paint.

Pass the sick bucket please.

oh, thanks for that Pat you tit.

I'm betting on Peggy being the one who realises the truth. Watch this space

So our predictions that Knob would turn on the charm were just right. Yuck.