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!

In answer to BOOP, yes we've had a week and only 200 posts, that's probably less than half the normal posting rate.

I think Alan did the right thing in trying to show Rob some kindness and learned first-hand that he holds a pretty arrogant chauvinistic view of the world. I think talking to Rob about charity and keeping an eye on him was not the best way to build any kind of bridge though.

Love the idea of Ursula scratching her head thinking who in ambridge she could call about rob.

(Is it okay to say I absolutely loathe Shula?)

I thought it was Richard Locke when Alan arrived at Brookfield. Then we had the cunningly scripted name drop.

LadyC, I am sure Toby and Knob are both very well hung. But that doesn't make them goood people.

I'd forgotten about mid term. Here in the northern province it's not.

I don't know Bertrand, didn't we hear that Rob is good in bed? I would hardly say he has an element of selflessness...

We were told ages ago by Jess that he was irresistible which, in the light of what we know now, could mean he's a man who doesn't take no for an answer.

I wish we could be told how Jess is faring, by the way.

Book for Alan. Excellent acting. Really conveyed that as a vicar he has a professional duty but cutting Knob no slack.

Rob is insane isn't he?

Oh and boop for Kirsty, Roy , Jazzer and even Kate this week.

Yes, I liked the way Alan showed that he wasn't going to be put off despite Rob's best efforts.

Puppet, clearly being well hung is no measure of moral probity. But it's possibly the only explanation for his Pip's attraction to him.

We were told ages ago by Jess that he was irresistible which, in the light of what we know now, could mean he's a man who doesn't take no for an answer.

Don't forget all those comments about how well Helen was looking when she was first married to Rob. I suspect he has learnt that treating women well in bed, at least in the beginning, means they're much more inclined to do what he wants. It's the carrot before he's cemented his position in the relationship and starts using the stick.

(God, I'm cynical. Must stop hanging out on MN...)

I am wondering how they plan to get rid of Rob in TA? I can't see them letting him just fade away into the background but are they going to kill him off - perhaps kidnap Jack/Gideon and die n car crash ?

What I'd like is for Rob to get sentenced for coercive control and all the other crimes he might have committed - rape of two wives at least, other violence to various people, even people we've never heard of, perhaps something to do with Stefan. Also trying to intimidate a witness/Jess.

Then on the last night/day in prison before he is released, another prisoner we've never heard of pushes Knob down the stairs, stabs him, hits him over the head with a huge pot of custard, whatever. The end. No more Rob. And breathe.

but are they going to kill him off - perhaps kidnap Jack/Gideon and die n car crash ?

Yes, I think so. He's sounding increasingly unhinged. Also think the new job will end Auchmithie quickly and spectacularly.

NB I've left the random "Auchmithie" in my post. I've no idea where it came from but swipe text input on phone brought it up three times instead of "quickly"

Thanks Puppet re BOOP.

Agreed on the BOOP for Alan.

I seem to be the only person in the world enjoying the Toby/Pip relationship and the characters.

I'm enjoying it too, Yakitori, but only because I hope some big reveal about Brighton will knock the smugness out of Pipsqueak. However, am I the only one who is appalled by Josh's theft from David re. the lawnmower? Then he even had the cheek to ask for commission! Unless I missed a page or too this seemed to pass without comment from MNs.

Agree re Josh. Awful.

What did Josh steal, Alleycat? Did he buy the machine for less than he said he had? That can't be possible because there must have been a receipt for tax purposes, surely?

Glowfrog, I may not remember the amounts correctly but he bought the lawnmower for £2,900 and told David it cost £3,200. Poor Johnny, who accompanied Josh to the auction had to reluctantly back Josh up. I don't know how J got away with it as there must have been paperwork involved. Then, to cap it all, J asked for, and got, £400 commission! Even one of the Grundys would be hard-earned to top that!

Hard-pressed - dratted auto-correct!

Thanks - I had missed that bit and assumed he had done something like that. Johnny should have refused to go along with that but at least we can assume he didn't require bribing.

I am not part of the Josh fan club myself - I think he is an arrogant little dick most of the time and the only difference between him and Toby is that he is prepared to work where Toby isn't.

So yeah, stealing from your father - well, family in fact - is pretty shitty.

Bloop for Auchmithie!

And that's an appalling plot hole about the receipt, too.

Maybe it will come out when the accountants start doing the tax returns?

I doubt they'll kill Rob off - he'll move to the background at some point but reappear whenever they need to spice up the storylines, e.g. throwing his weight around about sending Jack off to boarding school at the age of 5 or making an almighty fuss should he get ill and blaming Helen for neglecting him. Then when Jack becomes an objectionable teenager there'll be a whole Thing about him wanting to live with his father, and being foul to Henry.

I thought the scene with the Grundys was great a definite BOOP , showing how 'ooray henry' Tobeeeee, thinking in his mindless fashion that he was slumming it but becoming pissed, paying good money to get off his head on shit booze, ending up being taken for the fool he is.

Peep will see through him soon mark my words. If she doesn't she deserves him !