Archers Addicts 4!!

Crumbs Elegran. The worry is that this type of person moves on to their next victim when they have destroyed the first (as Rob has). I think your point about no conscience is the vital bit.

I know of one and met her briefly. She manipulated a young man for her own ends and brought disaster to his finances, career, and health, she tried to cut him off from his family and almost succeeded. She abandoned him when he was hospitalised, but when he showed signs of recovery, she started manipulating his guilt about wanting to escape the relationship to try to extract from him money that he no longer had but she thought could be wrung from his family. Their help in strengthening his resistance triggered her to try to manipulate them too, by obliquely threatening to destroy other careers, but they joined together to thwart her.

She didn't even have beauty or charm, but she knew which buttons to press to get what she wanted, and she'd no conscience about how she did it.

Phoenix seemed to be saying earlier that she counted at least one psychopath among the people she knows but I wonder if she has really got the measure of the high-achieving psychopath which is what 'Rob' has been described as - he has also been described as narcissistic but I will leave that for the moment.

I thought it might be interesting to clarify the definition. I found this article interesting. It starts:

Psychopaths are in love with power and risk taking, masters of manipulation, self-serving opportunism and self-aggrandizement, and hold doctorates in deceit and deception. Psychopaths are super intelligent charmers who are highly skilled at playing others in order to get what they want. They are keenly perceptive at reading people, understanding their motives and values, brilliant at learning their weaknesses and blind spots, and highly effective at inducing both sympathy and guilt in others.

I think this sums up 'Rob' really well. I suppose we can all see characteristics of the people we come across within the Archer's characters - there are many spiteful gossips like Susan for instance, although is she spiteful or just not very bright? Having said that I wondered if anyone thought they had ever come across a psychopath? I have a feeling we may have had someone like this at work years ago but I didn't have a lot to do with her - different part of the companies - so was never sure. Before she moved on she caused a lot of angst and chaos and a few blushes from some of the men she had "played".

The Freda Fry Memorial Trophy - awarded for original and innovative ideas. This year's theme is, Creating a Bog Garden.

There has been a couple of early entries but the committee is divided over whether blocking a culvert with brightly decorated bunting might actually cause an environmental disaster.

Also, cutting down a large sycamore tree seems rather extreme unless there's a handy source of water like a spring nearby.

The committee would like to stress that they are only interested in ideas that could actually work

Good that Pat and Tony took advantage of the time with Henry to discuss what's on the horizon. Makes a change from them treating him like a toddler.

He's in for a rough time whatever happens, poor boy.

OMG! The way Henry went quiet immediately when Rob issued the order, plus Rob's comment re that's what happens when you take him out of a loving stable environment!

Shouting at the radio!!

(Yes, I do know It's not real)

Lazigirl I am not only going to be missing TA that week the cycle Tour of Britain is going right through our small town.

A good point well made, Penstemmon

I do hope you're right, Penstemmon

I do not think Rob will be allowed to 'get away with it' as I think the work that TA have done in liaison with Refuge & Anti Domestic Violence people would make that difficult. The purpose , I thought, as well as entertainment, is to encourage women to speak out. If he is seen to get away with his abuse that would not work!

merlot !

Rob appears charming, twists previous conversations/events, and also seems to actually believe that his interpretation/version of things is right.

Remind you of anyone?

I must say I don't have much faith in Anna following her disappointing meet-up with Max. I think I am going to be exasperated with her and with Helen. I can't see how there can be a successful outcome unless Rob is exposed as the bully he is.
Maybe there will be a guilty verdict followed by a successful appeal just to keep the storyline going a bit longer (sigh).

Nellie How can you go during this crucial time ??

I know how you feel Lazigirl. I can't say I enjoyed reading the article because it rang sadly true but good to hear your experience which, I would like to hope, is becoming more common.

I don't know what would happen if Helen was found guilty and everything came out about Rob later. I have a feeling many addicts my be hovering over the off button in the week of the trial.

Nellie have a lovely holiday.

Thanks for the link Gg but I honestly don't think I will be able to listen to TA after the trial if Rob does get away with it & Helen is convicted. Too much torment to bear even tho it's only a drama. I know she says that it's supposed to be mirroring real life, in RL shit happens, and society including juries and judges are not very sympathetic to women, but I was on a jury where the (male) judge was very fair and respectful towards women witnesses. I'm just hoping as you've said that they're building Rob up, and ratcheting up the tension before they pull all threads together and he goes splat during trial.

Is #TheArchers like real life?

have a good time in Shetland Nelliemoser - there may be a pub with wifi?

We only seem to have Rob's word for this job offer.

I have been away this last week and as the wifi was only available in one part of the house I was having to wait until after 10pm to find a time to download the Archers onto my tablet and listen to it.

I am away in Shetland for a week from the 3rd of September so I might miss the whole weeks episodes.

Also more likely to be a panel interview with a company like that, rather than just a one to one.

Although of course it is the Archers, and not real.

There's another update on the Mumsnet spoilers thread.

New theory re the SWs. They will build Rob up making him feel invincible and then pull the rug from under him just before or during the trial so he is already angry with everyone and lets rip during the trial when asked awkward questions.

I agree the writing is sloppy. A private company wouldn't have to go through the advertising and give others a chance to apply like schools LD but I can't believe someone who has run businesses as Justin has would be so cavalier over putting someone in such and important post but it could happen.

Isn't this the time for Jennifer to be surprised to hear he has the job and tell Lillian about the blocking of the culvert?

This whole new appointment for Rob beggars belief - no shortlists, no second interviews, no presentations etc. Go in for a chat and - bingo! - you've got the job.

Of course any existing managers that Rob will be overseeing will never be mentioned.