Archers thread #147: Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder how old Ambridge is. Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Many thanks to @PseudoBadger for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed, and of course we are always delighted to welcome back former or occasional listeners/posters. We don't all agree on all points, although we do mostly try to be civil about it. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you'd like to have the general public watching you work and asking questions, or other unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please! We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4636789-the-archers-spoilers-thread-7-cant-wait-for-702pm-join-us-here, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, @DadDadDad has created this useful thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have - BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

Title comes from this poem, with which I drive my family to distraction at this time of year.

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz
I wonder where the birdies is.
The bird is on the wing.
But that’s absurd, the wing is on the bird.
Or so I’ve heard.

Ogden Nash

Apologies to @TeenDivided for ignoring her good ideas for the thread title. Here they are to kickstart our ruminations:
'window on the world of cheesemaking'
'how long until the intercom is fatal'
'will Brian settle in new pastures'
'Springing towards Easter with Widowers, Windows, and wails'

Over to you!

Lee sounded hysterical last night. I know these are anxious times for Helen but having to deal with his panic certainly isn't helping matters.

Episodes are also available on Spotify (I believe it’s free to download if you’re happy to put up with hearing advertisements).

Did Helen ever report Rob’s attempt to kidnap Jack? If not then surely he isn’t a fugitive and can come and go as he pleases.

Helen is a fool.
They should tell everyone so people can be on alert.
Definitely the school.

But I'm hoping that Rob will come back and do the classic revenge thing, kill himself after killing Helen and the boys. And take out Tony as well as I hate his voice.

@Eastie77Returns yes, police were involved - see the reminder I posted from the Ambridge Observer on Saturday evening.

Yes she really needs the whole village to be on alert, doesn't she? But understandable that she doesn't want to be centre of attention again - and cause massive worry to her mum and dad.

Thanks, missed that. How he managed to enter the US is therefore a mystery. Their immigration and security checks are second to none and if the U.K. police were on the lookout for him it seems very odd he was able to board his flight.

I can't fully remember how the Knob storyline ended. It was Helen who was in prison, Helen who was on trial - after she was cleared I remember Knob cornering her in some quiet nook in the court building (unheard by anyone else) and threatening her - something about her never being free of him. He was never charged with anything (as far as I can remember) and I was never quite clear where he disappeared to (just glad to get back to normal service in TA and not endless melodrama). One of the things that irritated me at the time was that Kirsty had been completely removed from the picture and Pat and Tony were at arms length (and all the other people who would normally be taking an interest in Helen and noticing what was going on). I see that Helen is now contriving to set up exactly that situation again - I would have thought she would want all her friends and family on high alert. Ambridge isn't a place where everyone keeps themselves to themselves so theoretically is should be very hard for Knob to sneak up on anyone. I agree that the window on the dairy has not been installed for nothing, next door neighbour Joy has not been revealed as a mental health expert for nothing and I'm fairly sure that Brian won't have been installed in Bloody Hell Cottage by chance. Can anyone remember if Knob also adopted Henwee (as well as being biological father to Myson Gideon) - is this why Henwee was forced to live with him and Ursula while Helen was in prison?

I've got a feeling Rob didn't want to go through the palava (like questions from SS etc.) of adoption but might have Parental Responsibility.

Forgive my lack of brain cell thought but if Rob hasn't been charged with anything and has parental responsibility for Jack then as they are now divorced can he lodge something with border control that would stop Helen taking the boys out of country in her holiday with Lee to US ? as she hasn't got his permission to take them ?

I guess if he hasn't been charged with anything nothing to stop him setting up home in the village ?

Re the window - perhaps Susan will spot him as she delivers her thoughtful monologue about chess making

@JanglyBeads Thanks - missed that!

I am not happy that they are resurrecting the abuse story line. It was hard enough the first time around. I had to back off from The Archers for a while because it was too painful and reminded me of my own experiences.

And I can believe Helen not telling people. Definitely a mistake, but understandable.

I’m also interested in the twins modelling for a petrochemical company and what a disaster that’s going to be. Still can’t believe that Tom is so short sighted! Can’t stand Natasha either!

@IrisAtwood I've got mixed feelings too, but provided this part is as well done as most of the first storyline was (not how it ended), I welcome it.

Once you've had children with an abuser, you never entirely escape.....

Henry was not adopted by him, no.

I am terrified for Helenbut excited by this story.

Can't remember the last time Jess was mentioned? Didn't H try and talk to her at some point.... or was it J trying to talk to H?

Or was Jess interviewed by the police at one point?

helen visited jess.

and jess was a witness at helen's trial.

Thanks. Witness for Helen's defence?

@JanglyBeads yes, Jess gave evidence that confirmed Rob to be abusive and therefore gave credence to Helen's story

This is the second time Gnasher has shown unexpected compassion and kindness and used it in a very practical way (first time was was when Kirsty was looking for Blake).

She’s probably the best-drawn/rounded character in Ambridge. Last week she was a money-grabbing demon willing to sell her daughter’s souls, this week she is in the running for sister-in-law of the year. SWs in soaps rarely pull off multi-faceted characterisation successfully- apart from the Peggy Mitchell-style matriarch who can fight like a tiger but is soppy and over-sentimental about fam-i-ly.

Wasn’t she also unexpectedly kind to Chelsea, helping her to think things through about her pregnancy?

It is quite hard to get a firm picture of Natasha as a character - she’s a bit multi-functional. (Someone may have said that above!)

Yes, I was surprised by Natasha after recent stories. It is nice to hear a well rounded character. She sounds like a real person - has her flaws, but an also be kind and understanding.

understandable that she doesn't want to be centre of attention again - and cause massive worry

😂I’m sorry: thought for a moment you were talking about Helen Archer, but obviously that can’t be right.

Perhaps Jess has had a visit from Rob and she alerted police ?

I think when Rob first went off, the police told Helen he'd gone abroad but they'd set up an alert thingy so she'd be notified if he returned as he'd kidnapped Jack (Gideon).

I was so far behind I've had to make notes so I can catch up properly.

• who would you marry?

Like another poster I think Robert Snell is (was) the only really nice husband in the village. He'd encourage me to pursue all kinds of interests too and goes out a lot. I'm also very sad we'll never hear his "Lyndy" again.

• Chelsea

BOOP for the bit the other day when Chelsea was doing Geworge's hair and she responded to his insulting her by calling her an old woman by saying how cool her "mature ladies" are. Also in the same episode when she made it quite clear that she would call the police if he spiked Brad's drink, and then messed up his hair for the mere suggestion.

• Gun totin' Pat

Don't recall any mention of a gun on the farm before! Let alone Pat wielding it, fabulous mental image.

• Jess

I see you're all optimistic about Jess but I'm afraid I'm wondering whether Rob has suckered her back in and she is now one of his flying monkeys.

I wouldn't marry George.

I assume he's very much wanted for questioning about a little matter of attempted kidnap?

I am very sorry to anyone who has had difficult memories brought back by Helen and Rob's story. I hope things are much, much better for you now.

I remember that the judge said that Rob could only have a few short access visits with Jack under Tony's supervision. That does not affect his PR for him though? I thought Rob had adopted Henry, but a far better informed poster above has mentioned that he did not. I thought they might wait to bring Rob back until Jack is about Henry's age and going out and about a bit without an adult. It would create a Happy Valleyesque situation where Rob could contact him and persuade him that he is being cruelly kept away from a kind and loving father who he deserves to have a realtionship with.