Will Lynda agree that the Grundys are fungis? And is Peggy finally realising that Helen is faaahmly? Await the Ambridge Fairy on The Archers thread.

[PseudoBadger]

"Get outta my village" screams Peggy Mitchell

Oh I completely agree it isn't showing the horrors of the criminal justice system, but it's clear that that's what they think they're doing with the endless Pat wailing and the interminable conversations from all and sundry about how terrible it is to have to give birth in prison. We're meant to be thinking how terrible it is. I presume that our sympathy for Helen is supposed to be bolstering our horror at the general phenomenon. The problem is that they're woefully underestimating the sophistication of the audience, who are well aware that women give birth in prison, and accept that however horrific it sounds, there are circumstances where it's necessary (and people charged with attempted murder are probably one of those). Sympathy for Helen the character doesn't override our objectivity in the way it is doing for Helen's family partly because however horrible her situation in relation to Rob, the character is so bloody irritating.

The one area where I think the storyline probably has worked in making the audience think about the criminal justice system is in relation to Henry's inability to see Helen. He's an entirely innocent victim who is going to be so deeply damaged by the situation.

Loving the bull icon. How do I do that?

The baby will be called Peggy or Margaret in gratitude.
Oh. I said that. See sweepstake thread.
Sadly I also gave today as the birth date. Peggy is a bit optimistic thinking Thursday is the right day to turn up and POP, though, isn't she.

[the archers]

not like that then...[thearchers]

Not like that either. Hmm.[thebull]

No. I could go on. I can do that one, I think....

Just 'archers' not 'thearchers'

Every time Helen says, in tones of absolute surprise that anyone might think such a thing 'but I'd never hurt anyone!', I just want someone to say 'well.... obviously except with the stabbing though, right?

I agree, I keep yelling at the radio "well you did stab your husband love" - I know they're all upset she's in prison but Pat and Tony can't really be surprised about it - she nearly killed him, he's had life altering surgery, he carries his poo around in a bag............of course she's in prison. No one is suggesting she didn't do it, and unless and until she tells all to Anna about the abuse and control, Rob is to all eyes the innocent victim in all this, not Helen...........mutter mutter.....

also, have they not thought that she will have a midwife with her for the birth- you know, a professional trained to give woman centred care, to have read her notes and be able to quickly establish a rapport? you'd think she was going to be attended by prison officers

Ta-da!

I"m not sure I got one of those shallishanti. Do they exist?

Anyway Anna's a huge extravagance because she's going to spill to Peggy who will go head to head with Ursula and drive the titchy beasts from the village. Peggy jas just turned into Hagrid and even has a broken umbrella.

De lurking just to say:

What is going on. Part of me wonders if the sw is in fact fiendishly clever. I have always viewed Peggy as arrogant, bigoted and unkind, now I seem to be under the impression that she is at the forefront of feminism. Her decision re Tony and her will also appears completely reasonable.

That suggestion that a normal, professional midwife wouldn't have read Helen's notes was quite offensive. And if they do happen to miss out on her past history, it's surely not beyond Helen to tell them?

'Johnny and the Pigs', sounds like a great punk band to me.

NorthernLurker - over the months where I've quoted the GADD (generally accepted due date) of 19 May for Helen, I did try to acknowledge that it was your calculation (and the assumptions it was based on). So you get the blame if it was wrong There was a point some time ago when Helen said she was 30 weeks pregnant (or some similar number) and it agreed with your timeline, so I've kept the faith!

The thing is I believe it's actually not that common to give birth on one's due date, so if she does do it on 19 May, the SW have kept to a rather clockwork view of Helen's body.

I only got the last 5 minutes today . Did I miss anything?

(testing)

Will Knob have any information about where Helen is?

Oh, silly me! Of course her family will have blabbed so he'll know exactly where she is and he will have had the due date marked on his calendar for months now.

I wouldn't put it past him to turn up and demand the baby.

"I have always viewed Peggy as arrogant, bigoted and unkind,"

She screwed up the thing with her will- but she rethought, apologized and put it right. Apart from that, I can't think of anything arrogant, big headed or unkind she's done. She didn't approve of having a woman vicar- but lots of CofE people are the same. And I thought the rubbish about Henry and his rabbit was out of character. Oh, and she was Robwashed- but the rest of the family are the same...........

I wouldn't put it past him to turn up and demand the baby

How does this all work legally, does anyone know?
Presumably if she's in a MBU the baby stays with her while she's there, but then what? Back to prison with Helen or home with Rob? Rob gets to visit the baby at the MBU and the prison? How does that work? Helen won't want to see him at either location but do her wishes trump his rights?.

The court gave him custody of Henwee so noone's suggesting at this point that Rob's an unfit parent are they? Helen hasn't been specific about why she doesn't want him to have the kids, and presumably he has rights and will exercise them.

I suppose Rob has every right to argue that a prison is no place for a baby. He can offer a home with his mother as carer.

She's not in prison, she's in a m&b unit. Rob would struggle with arguing a newborn should be taken from it's mother in those circumstances. If she hadn't got a place though then the baby would have had to go to somebody and Rob could have done what he did with Henry and insisted he took it on.

I think he absolutely will try and take the baby but I think he'll find Anna is anticipating him doing that and will support Helen (fingers crossed!)

Daddaddad - thank you :) It's very unimaginative of the SW really. Mind you it perfectly illustrated Rob's controlling nature.

I thought Johnny sounded a bit disgruntled about the Bridge Farm lot getting rid of the pigs as they're his Dad's legacy in his eyes.

I don't believe Knob would be allowed custody of the baby...in real life. However given SOC doesn't play by the rules who knows what he will do.

So Piggoi is booking a trip to the M&B unit for Hellin's due date and expecting the baby to arrive on that day? Well that gives me a perfect excuse to offer a . Apart from that I'm rather liking Piggoi at the moment and hoping at some point she'll tell Pat to pull herself the fuck together.