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

[PseudoBadger]

Thanks to Lancelottie for the title

EmilyDickinson, after mulling it over this evening I had come on to suggest exactly what you suggested regarding Henry's behaviour at the party. I'm hoping she'll run into "party mum" tomorrow who will ask whether Henry was ok, as he'd been so upset yesterday. The truth will out.

Also, what kind of parent describes a 5 year old as "letting them down"?! My 3.5yo sometimes embarrasses me in public but, you know what? She's 3! I get cross, I feel flustered, I hope any onlookers are feeling sympathetic rather than judgemental, but I've never felt that she's "let me down". Maybe it'll happen when she's older, but not when they're so little.

Tonight's episode was so scary. Her pleading with him is awful. The toy in the bin was dreadful. Who the hell thinks throwing away a much loved toy is good parenting? He's so, so horrible. Unbearably horrible. I couldn't be in the same room much less share a bed. I feel sick for her.

D3 - I was going to thank you for the emoticon effort but the thread ended before I could. I'm not good at knowing which emoticon is appropriate but for sorting it out.

Fink also, Helen didn't pick Henry up from the party. Rob did - they called him, having been unable to reach Helen as she didn't have her phone on her.

Vango Rob was supposed to be the father of Jess's child but I believe it's been confirmed there was a sort of last minute change of plans on the part of the SWs - I think to keep Rob in Ambridge as they decided to go down the route of EA. Anyway, IIRCL, SOC confirmed Rob definitely isn't the father of that child. Lucky child!!

It's funny how one can end up dissecting character motivations that turn out to be almost literally arbitrary!

I thought Kirsry pushed too hard too fwiw.
In that situation you don't need to be bullied by your friends. Although the phone was a good idea - might have been better put as you never know when you might need it.

mini - that DNA question pops up from time to time, but the SW have categorically put that to bed: Rob is not the father. And now I'll find someone has cross-posted with the same answer.

Think they take the mother's dna too for the test so she cannot use another baby

Also possible that Henry was having a lovely time at the party and behaving impeccably but Rob decided to turn up early to yank him out, just to mess with him and Helen - bastard.
Kirsty the character is surely a MNetter and reader of this thread. I'm sure she's following the advice of some one from an earlier TA thread, re mobile phone etc?

Anyone here watch The Walking Dead?

I can totally see Rob turning into the Governor.

(now pondering zombie takeover of Ambridge. Title: The Cuntry Dead)

Delurking just to say, re: the phone.
Did Helen leave the phone at home on purpose as she was meeting Kirsty - that way she didn't have to be answerable to Rob

I'm sure someone suggested on here a while ago that Kirsty should give Hellin a phone. Dad3 are you able to correlate comments on these threads with subsequent storylines? Hang on a minute, are we actually writing The Archers now??!!

Yes, but glowfrog, didn't Helen turn up at the end of the party intending to collect Henry, that being the moment she learns that Rob had already taken him? That's what I thought fink meant.

Someone definitely did suggest the phone thing, with exactly the numbers K put on it, and credit an so on. I forget who it was.

Aaaah yes, of course, 3D. You're right (and Fink).

I suppose they might not have wanted to go into details, especially if maybe other parents were arriving or leaving at the same time?

Shiraz oooh maybe she did leave it behind as an excuse not to answer if Rob called! Maybe even unconsciously.

I'm sure someone will return to claim the credit for predicting the storyline.

I'm assuming she'll look on Rob's phone for Jess's number. It seems that when Rob is mean to Henry, that's when she starts to see what an arsehole he is

Glowfrog Didn't SOC just say that the DNA test (at Rob's end) was above board and/or accurate? I know the storyline was changed to fit the new direction and that the SWs expect us now to forget all about it! But what I'm suggesting is that given Jess's certainty, our own (albeit hazy) knowledge of her character, and my own personal frustration about the abandonment of that storyline (!), Minimammoth's idea would be a very good way of giving the SWs an easy way of tying up that loose end. Rob would never have to know!

I think he took it- he has been messing with her stuff for months now.

Argy I'm sure someone suggested on here a while ago that Kirsty should give Hellin a phone. Dad3 are you able to correlate comments on these threads with subsequent storylines? Hang on a minute, are we actually writing The Archers now??!!
When I became a born-again listener in autumn 2014 this thread was invaluable for helping me keep up with the episodes that I missed - a few each week.* But I do increasingly find that it also correctly predicts the future - Kirsty and the mobile phone being just one of them.
*My level of obsession now is such that I make sure I listen, either live or on catch-up - except when I flounced for one whole episode when Ursula was revealed to be a baddy in cahoots with Rob.

Tonights episode made me think of the book 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit'.

glowfrog I was immensely proud a few days ago when dd was watching an old walking dead and said 'he's actually a bit like rob, isn't he?'

On the Spoilers thread I posted this a few days ago. I feel a certain modest pride in hitting the bullseye in one respect:

^I wonder if Rob is going to tell Henry that he broke a promise not to talk to Mummy about the school and this is an example of what he has been trying to explain to Henry - that he must be obedient. He must do everything Rob says, because if he doesn't Mummy will be upset and while Mummy is wrong to get so upset, it is also wrong of Henry to do anything to make her worse. To help Henry remember better, he's going to take away Henry's Easter Eggs and he will only be allowed to have them if he is good, ie does everything Rob says. 'Awwight', says Henwee, but being only five, and having been forcefed chocolate by Ursula for several weeks now, he can't keep his hands off the stash (probably displayed somewhere obvious to maximise the torture) and is caught in the act, which is of course exactly what Rob has been expecting. Then he can step matters up, which has the dual effect of further cowing both Henry and Helen.

I wish that didn't sound so plausible. I keep thinking of the early chapters of David Copperfield and Jane Eyre.^

I was listening to tonight's episode in Broadcasting House, queuing up for a recording of The Now Show. It made grim listening - TA, that is. The Now Show was quite good (on tomorrow).

Gasp0

Oi Dad - it seems like we've got an awful lot of posts today
are we going for a record