Roll up roll up! It's nearly Apple Day in Ambridge. Grab a slice of Borset apple cake and see who's got the longest peel in The Archers.

[PseudoBadger]

I'm so happy with the return to the little things. Enjoy the new thread!

What does BOOP mean?

BOOP is BitOutOfPractice. The poster of that name complained some months ago that other posters on here were being too negative about TA - it was when Knob began his nastiness, I think. Also around time of the fling between Roy and 'that middle-aged tart' . So we now award BOOP points if something is BOOP-worthy, i.e. good.

This thread has slowed up so much. I wonder if we'll get a further seasonal slowing down in a few weeks too - unless something really notable happens in TA of course. It's a lovely pace just now so not complaining just remarking!

Kingscote - well, Lily just got on with deciding where to go with no fuss and completely silently. She has a wide circle of friends at the college already because, of course, teenagers naturally communicate via text rather than the spoken word so her selective mutism is of no disadvantage whatever.

Right little Pollyanna I am

Yes, Lily swapped. No mention whatsoever of the term's fees which I assume would have had to be paid to the Cathedral School in lieu of notice.

I think it's normally slower in school hols anyway though dad3 might be able to shed more light

How does it work with private school sixth forms though, presumably you cant be sure the school will actually want your kid till the gcse results are in?

In Freddy's case I assume notice was waived because of his abysmal grades, as school refused to take him into sixth form. Don't know how it works when family make last minute decision to switch.

Fabulous CA comment tonight

Rob is really deceiving himself, isn't he? He can't seriously imagine Helen won't succeed in divorcing him in light of the findings in the family court case, he's been told his chances of persuading the court to agree to change Jack's name are minimal, and he seems to think he'll get full residency of Jack despite having apparently done his best to alienate the psychologist whose evidence is bound to have a major effect on the court's decision.

Will Rob be a hero or a villain for the Bull Halloween party? Or has he been barred?
Do you think he'll come dressed as Helen?

I never had Alan down as a git..........

The thread may have slowed, but I'm really enjoying the normality of Ambridge life at the moment. Bit concerned about Peep and Towbeeeee though - do they ever eat anything other than pasta? At least they used to supplement their diet with fruitcake and flapjacks (before Jill pulled the plug).

Alan is minister to the whole parish: saints and sinners. It's his job to care for everyone in Ambridge.

I'm enjoying the return to normal village life too. Toby is such a catch- I only hope he made it to the bathroom in time...

But isn't part of his job to bring people to awareness of their bad behavior? Not say "oh, I'm sure nobody thinks badly of you" or words to that effect..........

Does Toby have any redeeming features at all? Any? Just one? I can't belive he could even be good in bed-that requires an element of selflessness............

I thought Alan was clearly uncomfortable when rob started ranting and Rob seemed to realise that he didn't approve of what Rob was saying at a few points and backed off a bit.

Tobeee is such a bellend. I'm quite happy for him and Pip to drive off into the sunset in a Massey as long as we never have to hear from either of them again.

Toby must be extremely good looking.

Cos personality wise there's nothing to recommend him.

At one point I started to think Toby was set to come good eventually. It was that scene with Lillian at the stables and she was teasing him and he was quite humble about being completely out of his depth. It was as if all the twaty bravado fell away for brief moment. But nope, he's just a bellend. But so is Pip so it's a match made in heaven!

Haven't listened tonight yet but amused that the mystery person who would listen to Rob is Alan, hadn't thought of him. So basically the only person left that will give him the time of day is a vicar; who kind of has to listen rather than wants to.

I quite hope Toby didn't make it to the bathroom on time. Pip needs to face the delights of dealing with boozer's vomit all over the carpet and furnishings and begin to wonder whether moving him in to spite her grandmother was necessarily the best idea.

Toby must be extremely good looking.

Or extremely well-hung ...

I think for the vicar to give 'repent and turn away from your sins' type advice, the person has to have some self-awareness and be willing to listen. You get a fair bit of training about accompanying people where they are. If where they are is abusive delusional psychopath then there's not much point confronting them and risk getting attacked. Alan knows that Helen and the boys are safe and that Rob is in the system being seen by professionals, there's no use in provoking him. He gave enough hints that he was uncomfortable with what Rob was saying.