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Original poster

Thefts, arson and abuse: The Archers - it's an everyday story of cuntery, folks.

987 replies

PseudoBadger · 31/03/2016 09:55

Thanks to Lancelottie for the title Flowers

OP posts:
JessieMcJessie · 01/04/2016 07:40

I think that PR vs adoption was partly to keep the storyline moving as adoption would have taken too long, with the bonus of demonstrating Rob's arrogance/indignation that anyone suggest there was a need to CHECK he was suitable father material and his characteristic haste to have things his own way. I think that men like Rob manage a very long time (helped by their wives' fear and shame) with absolutely no evidence of how they are behaving towards women being left in their tracks.

AugustaFinkNottle · 01/04/2016 08:13

I don't think Dr Locke would particularly have any reason to know deep secrets of Rob's past. He's not his doctor and wouldn't have had access to his records for the purposes of the paternity test.

glowfrog · 01/04/2016 08:15

magnificat Dad just to clarify - he was the one doing the spreadsheets of posts and predictions and I just happened to be on the thread. I do love Excel but I don't think I could do what he was doing or what Dad is doing so well here.

But the thread topic was definitely on the nerdy/geeky side, especially considering we were grown-ups.

bigbuttons · 01/04/2016 08:33

crumbs, can't keep up, ned to do a bit of catching up.....

redshoeblueshoe · 01/04/2016 08:42

Surely a Doctor wouldn't know about someone's criminal record. I have been registered with my GP for 7 years and haven't been to see them for 6 years, I don't expect them to know anything about me, except medical information.

redshoeblueshoe · 01/04/2016 08:47

Scarydinosaurs - I agree I think they always make Rob more vocal on a Friday.

recyclingbag · 01/04/2016 09:00

I agree - I think the PR thing was just because adoption would take too long and Helen needed to be hurried into agreeing while everything was still rosy.

EasyToEatTiger · 01/04/2016 09:07

I wonder if Rob has already murdered someone, or is about to? Will he be a child killer?

BYOSnowman · 01/04/2016 09:10

Given how easy PR was to get - how easy is it to remove?

If it gives rob the same rights as adoption it seems a bit weird to have. I would have thought PR is about giving a resident step parent the ability to make decisions etc but can ultimately be revoked if the relationship breaks down

Minimammoth · 01/04/2016 09:15

I shall avoid today's repeat it sounds horrid. Was the rabbit, Helens Easter gift to Henry? Can we turn a corner soon please.

simbobs · 01/04/2016 09:27

Anyone know when the climax of this story is predicted to be?

Putthetulipsthere · 01/04/2016 09:30

I was with a friend yesterday evening, and as it got closer to 7.02, we became equally concerned to be near a radio. I'm so glad I was with a fellow over invested listener to hear that particular episode, which has to be the most chilling so far. Poor poor Henry.

So quite a few things moved the plot forward though, Helen now has her own phone , she has been given a way to find Jess's number & Knob has reminded her how abusive he can be, not just to her but to Henry

Surely the SWs are reading this thread????

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 01/04/2016 09:34

I'm assuming because the actors have both broken cover all over the bleedin place that they're about to wind up the story

amirite

[ever hopeful emoticon]

I'm sick to death of Big Stories. I want to listen to Nothing Happening -sometimes twice and again on the omnibus

mummytime · 01/04/2016 09:36

I think Helen either subconsciously or deliberately left her phone at home, because at least her subconscious is worrying that he is using it to monitor her. Either just simple location (lots of apps and even "where's my iphone" can do this), or even recording her.

I think Helen was going to collect Henry - must have been walking distance, but Rob got there first because "Henry was being naughty" whatever that meant really.

I'm really hoping Helen gets Jess's and any other important numbers from Rob's phone.
I'm really hoping that things culminate soon.

SmallLegsOrSmallEggs · 01/04/2016 09:41

I am loving all the stories of technological romance. Grin

Re. The Jess thing I think that is more what SW would like to happen so they can tie up some loose ends they left earlier.
In reality if you were the OW and you knew that the XW had wrongly pursued your nsdh for maintenanxe for a child that definitely is not his, would you mot think that was a sleeping dog best left lying.

Helen already knows he is an emotionally abusive, wife beating rapist. She does not need someone else's permission to leave.

We the audience might like to know what Jess has to say but I am not sure a real Helen would phone up a Jess to say 'you know your ex, yup the one I nicked off you, yup the one you warned me about....well....'

tibbawyrots · 01/04/2016 09:43

Why would Rob still have Jess' phone number (apart from being a control freak, have I just answered my own question?🤔)

I certainly don't have my ex's number any more!

Not sure if I'm looking forward to tonight's episode as it is potentially going to be bringing this towards an end or dreading it as it is reducing me to tears every time.

HalsallRedux · 01/04/2016 09:53

IIRC, Knob maintained a surprising amount of contact with Jess, long after he and H had got together and were supposedly in a committed relationship. He kept making furtive calls to Jess when H was out of the way, usually to issue some sinister threat or other. I think he's entirely likely still to have her number in case he ever gets the chance to abuse her again, verbally or otherwise. It's the control thing again. He probably still thinks of her as 'his'.

(I've NC'd back to a version of my previous NN because I missed it, btw, but have been here all along...)

ppeatfruit · 01/04/2016 10:03

After reading all your posts about last night I 'm in 2 minds about Listening Again, I HATE child abuse so much.

Yes to the poster who mentioned Peggy's stupid reference to the rabbit that Henry was clutching while 'attempting' to stroke a piglet at the Bridge Far baby animals day. Helen gave it to him and he's obviously insecure enough to need it a lot. Surprisingly Knob didn't rip it from his hands then and there.

WipsGlitter · 01/04/2016 10:07

So Helen went to collect Henry (have just listened again) but was told that Rob had come to collect him early / he had gone home already. Do you think she didn't ask the mum what happened, so 'where's henry' 'rob came to get him' would you not question that? Or do we think Henry really was playing up at the party.

Agree the 'look it up on my phone' is all a bit clunky to get her to see messages from the school / ursula / jess etc. But if it speeds things along a bit fine!

Bajanella · 01/04/2016 10:12

I would have expected the party Mum to say that he'd been a bit upset and Rob had collected him. Or to say that she'd tried to phone Helen but hadn't managed. I can't imagine phoning a parent over a stropping five year old. I'd phone if e.g. a child was hurt, upset, or had wet themselves and I didn't have spare clothes.

AnnieNoMouse · 01/04/2016 10:24

Re PR - I believe Rob could renounce it but if he declined to do so then Helen could apply for a court order - how that would work out in practice I don't know
Re Rob's potential criminal past - another PP pointed out that Plod would have had access to that information when he "investigated" the Sab assault. So Plod may have info we don't know about. I doubt if it would be anything major.
Helen could ask for info about him under the new(ish) law - I wonder if Kirsty will suggest it?

AnnieNoMouse · 01/04/2016 10:29

Clare's law is the law I was thinking of

Boomingmarvellous · 01/04/2016 10:30

I suppose if henwee was having a full blown tantrum and lashing out the mum would have asked for him to be collected, but is such extreme behaviour likely? He is being subjected to emotional abuse like Hellin is so maybe yes?

Either way he is not going to be seeing knob as some glorious father figure for much longer and Hellin is going to wake up to the fact her child is being hurt too and will not tolerate it. She may back down when she sees knobs increasingly black mood, but she'll be unable to kid herself for much longer.

It would be a better idea for Kirsty to phone jess. Less likely to meet outright hostility.

I think Hellin could have just forgotten her phone as knob has turned her brain to porridge. She at least has the sense to delete missed calls from Kirsty.

bigbuttons · 01/04/2016 10:31

Just caught up with the latest. That wasn't pleasant.

Kr1stina · 01/04/2016 10:38

Helen already knows he is an emotionally abusive, wife beating rapist. She does not need someone else's permission to leave

I don't agree. Helen doesn't yet think of him as abusive. She explains away / justifies most of his behaviour as being her own fault, because she was out of control , it's for her own good, he just does it because he loves her and wants to protect her / the baby .

She doesn't yet think of him as a rapist . She probably thinks that she wasn't clear enough about what she wanted, that he was swept away by passion, that men can't stop themselves etc . There's enough people out there who will justify a man raping a stranger or a causal acquaintance - they could not accept it could be rape to have sex with your Gf or wife .

Many many people seem to think that if you consent once to sex with a man , you have consented to anything , any time , forever . Helen may be one of them , although you can see she is starting to change her mind after the conversation with the woman on the helpline .

She is upset about it but she can hardly articulate why. She has a bit to go before she is able to acknowledge to herself that her husband raped her.

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