The River Boys are back in town...

[TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross]

@SleepingStandingUp, @CurbsideProphet et al - we filled up a Home and Away thread. This is unheard of. So here’s shiny new one - I know there are only a few of us, but keep the faith.

#bloodandsand

I don't think she's officially a foster mum these days but she does take in random teens and lodgers.

At the moment she has Olivia - daughter of Chloe, you'll remember her - who lived in England with her Uncle after Chloe died years ago but came back as an older teen runaway and naturally moved in with Irene!

Roo is in it too, she's back living with Alf but they're in Pippa's caravan park

And Tom and Pippa's house has undergone an external makeover and now appears to be situated on top of a hill with sweeping vistas to all sides (but no caravans in sight).

Irene seems strangely ageless. I thought she looked about 50 when she first started but she only seems to be about 60 now. Or maybe she just looked old to me because I was about 11.

The caravan park house always has enough bedrooms for anyone who wants to live there

Yes it did always magically shrink and expand as needed! I loved chloe, was heartbroken when they killed her off. That was also the Travis/Donna era I think.

Georgie Parker took over Roo's role didn't she? I could only ever see her as A country Practice.

Maybe I should give it another go. I saw an interview with Irene awhile back and she seemed lovely and I am curious to see the changes.

I read an article on the caravan park house. It's an actual house which was burned down and rebuilt to the same design but with a grey roof instead of red. Because of this, there were quite a few years where the outside was never shown and the interior shots are done in the studio so the newer actors had never actually been to the real house.

It is on the actual caravan park but it's inland so I always smile when I see people heading off down the 'beach path' with their surfboards

This is a soap thing Curb houses can always expand to hold multiple occupants. They cram hundreds into 2up 2down terraces in Corrie

Irene's house is a great example of the soap phenomenon of growing / shrinking houses. I've never worked out how many bedrooms she has.

Used to be the one downstairs and (i think) 2-3 upstairs. But it has the amazing growth/shrink spell upon it also!

I've fallen a bit behind but the two best episodes recently have both been when Robbo punched Ash in the face.

They should have a lot more episodes where Robbo punches Ash in the face.

Hygge I totally agree that Robbo should punch Ash in the face! Justin can help too.

How come Olivia doesn't have an English accent if she was brought up in London?!

Wasn't there a time when Alf, Roo, Leah, Zak, VJ, Hunter, Oscar and Evie were all living in the caravan park house? It must be huge!

Oi!

I like the only bedroom you ever see - that was last shown as VJ's so is probably Grandsons now. Will the little step down anf the window seat. Its huge - no way would I let one of the kids have it

I remember the downstairs bedroom at Irene's when it was Belle's and Aden used to climb in through the window.

Hunter had a van, Evie had her own room & VJ & Oscar slept in the lounge, I think! We did also see Leah & Zach's room a couple of times before they split up.

I'd love to see Alf's room.

I think the room that is always shown is the one the Carly and Lynne shared back at the very beginning. I have a dim recollection of seeing Stephen and Frank's room back then so I wonder if that's Leah and Zac's recent room.

I always get excited when a new room is revealed (I'm so sad!) like Tori's room or the Astoni bathroom!

Once after one of Alf's many stays in the hospital he was moved back into the house into a downstairs bedroom which is just on the right when you come out of the living room towards the stairs.

It makes sense there's a downstairs bedroom,the living room kitchen footprint isn't actually that big

Odd to me that Alf owns the caravan park house but a couple of years ago Leah and Zach’s house burned down so their whole family moved temporarily in with Alf. But then just stayed forever and no one seemed to mind or ever complain about the guests who never left.

But classic yesterday - and crying at the bottom of the stairs. Teared up myself at that...

There's no notion of outstaying your welcome in Summer Bay.

I think Leah did offer at some point and Alf told her to stay. It'd be a big house in his own, he might get infirm and Roo keeps moving out so makes sense to keep somebody fit there

And poor Roo had only gone away for a few days and she’s already moved Ben astoni inyo Alf’s. No bed ever allowed be empty in that house!

Although I think the latest “girlfriend with crazy dad” is in Roo’s bed and Ben’s on the sofa giving Leah the perfect opportunity to show him her nightie. So it begins.

I agree Focalpoint there's only reason why Leah insisted that Ben would recover quicker from his cold by sleeping on her sofa rather than in a caravan

I’ve missed a few eps, why is Ben astoni in a caravan/alf’s? Last I saw Maggie was having chemo. Has she died/they've split up?! I’m not used to this show moving so quickly, usually I miss a few eps and everything’s still the same when I come back!

Ben was told to stay away from Maggie until his cold is better. He asked for a van but Leah insisted he stay with her (so she can nurse his fevered brow!)

I just watched that episode on catch up and all I could think was no way would I be inviting him to bring his filthy germs into my house and, if I was Roo, I'd be really miffed at Leah offering up my room as a sick bay while I was away for a few days finding my long lost mother! (She gave him Roo's room at first but I assume he goes on the sofa when Hunter's latest girlfriend turns up in distress)