Homeandawayfan.

No doubt if she did return, it would be revealed that she was pregnant when she left the Bay with Owen Dalby's child, thus giving Alf his billionth illegitimate grandchild. ?

I agree, too much sinister music being played. No need for it. I bet Jasmine was annoyed when she was asked what she was looking up on computer. It is like reading someone's personal letters when you look at what people are searching online and then asking very annoying questions.

Alison Patterson was one of my fave ever characters, the vixen of Summer Bay. I think by the time she left her character had run it's course, and she got a good send off by trashing the Diner and heading for the city. What would have made a good storyline for 1989 was a whodunnit, and Alison Patterson was the victim, due to her villainous ways. Alison and Bobby had a huge scrap on the beach in February 1989 at dusk. Bobby was hurt during the scuffle and had a blackout. The following morning, Alison was found dead by Donald Fisher when he is on his morning jog, her body badly beaten, and in a grassy part of the beach, so a bit secluded. Turns out Alison was also in a fight then hit with a rock a few times in the head. Bobby is arrested for her murder, and faces tough questioning. She is unsure if she killed Alison due to a blackout after the fight, and is devastated and distraught, and could face decades in prison. Bobby goes back to the murder scene and it transpires that Alison's body was found 20 metres away from where Bobby had the fight with her, and Bobby thinks that shows she could be innocent, she could not drag her body 20 metres in her dazed state. Alison's friend Judith Staples seems to be very interested in the murder, and says how it was probably deliberate. It turns out Alison owed Judith a lot of money and refused to pay it back, and she saw Bobby fight with her, waited until Bobby left then hit her several times in the head with a rock. Bobby is vindicated but angry that she was allowed to take the rap for a murder.

It has been said that since Martha returned from the dead and back into Alf's life, it has been spoken as if Ailsa never existed. Do you think this is true?

I went to Sydney once but never went to Kellyville, Kenthurst or Palm Beach, or Epping, something I strongly regret. Although it is good to have been to the central district where H&A has filmed on occasions.

H&A did film quite a bit in the central Sydney area in the early years. Even the pilot had scenes filmed in Balmain, just east of the Sydney harbour Bridge.

As said before, Channel 5 obviously favour Neighbours over H&A, and H&A is seen as the "unloved younger sibling". I think it is because Neighbours has always been more popular in the UK than H&A, and more iconic, and the Channel 5 favouring of Neighbours reflects that.

I think that ship has well and truly sailed. Norman is 81 now, and he has not been back since 2007 whereas he did pop back on occasions (2003-2007) after his official exit as a regular character in 2003.

Seems that area of Sydney has been used numerous times since 1988, including the pilot episode for Tom's city home.

Nice to see more major filming locations for H&A pinned down.

Floss returned in 2000, which was the year I feel that "classic" H&A ended. Corrie and EastEnders also changed their tone in 2000. I feel 1999 was the last "classic" years for the 3 shows even if the early years ended earlier. They retained their old school feel until the Millennium. 2000 was the sea of change when they got a revamp. I suppose it was the shot in the arm that the 3 soaps needed. In 2000 Floss said Nev had died about 4 years earlier I think.

Colleen made Eileen Clarke look tame. Floss was cheerful but was not a busybody.

I wish Floss at least had stayed on past 1989 and was around during the Shane and Angel, Michael and Pippa, Sarah, Tug and Damo era. Maybe Nev could have died in 1989 and Floss stayed.

I think that while the show did have a good deal of younger characters in its first year, such as the foster children, I do feel the show did cater for all ages at the same time. When it begun, Tom, Don and Alf were all over 40, and Ailsa and Pippa acted older than they were. We had Floss and Neville and then Celia and (a couple/few months in we had Colleen and Morag) as well as youngsters like Carly, Lyn, Roo, Sally, Stevo, Frank, Bobby, Matt and Lance and Martin. Many of the recurring characters such as Walter Bertram, Mervin Baldivis, Doris Peters and Bob Barnett were older. The only younger recurring character was Alison Patterson I think, who had stories with the regular youngsters. And the older characters acted as surrogates to the younger ones and mentored them. They got as much screentime as the youngsters. In 1989 Des Monaghan must have wanted to make it purely a younger persons show. In early 1989 TPTB felt that Floss and Neville were dead wood so were surplus to requirements.

I like Willow. She is very hot. I wonder how old Sarah Roberts is? I guess late 20s, 30.

I am sure I saw a weird eye movement from Frank in Feb 1988 when he was being berated by Alf for dating Roo.

I was never a fan on his but due to some suggestions, feel he does deserve his own discussion thread. Frank could be quite obnoxious but I did love the way he almost scrapped with Fisher in the episode after the pilot.

I always think of Debra when I think of Pippa.

How this character is still in the show just escapes me.

Debra has won Hell's Kitchen Australia. I think I read something a few months ago about her saying she has no desire to return to H&A. Unless I was confused with Kate Ritchie but Debra says it is a totally different show to when she was in it and it is no longer the family friendly show it was. I stand up and applaud what she said about the current show.

continued........ INT. SUMMER BAY HOUSE. Alf answers the door to 2 male policemen. One, PC Slater, is played by Jeff Kovski (Neighbours, Blue Heelers) and one played by Ashley Paske (Also once in Neighbours). PC SLATER Can I speak to Mr James Handel Bateman please? Leah almost chokes on her cuppa at the funny middle name of James. James is embarrassed. PC SLATER Nothing to worry about Sir but we would just like you to take a statement. PC SLATER Just to clarify a few things. JIMMY Yeah OK. Can we use the hallway Alf? ALF You don't have to ask Jimmy. JIMMY (lightening the mood). Now you all know my middle name hey? ALF Lucky our old Nam friends never looked at his army documents while out there hey? Jimmy, PC Slater and PC Smith exit to the hallway. SHARON Dad has a hard time forgetting the army. ALF Well you can have counselling but it will never fully go away. Anyway Summer Bay does feel like it is cursed. SHARON What was this about a bushfire? ALF Oh it was, what, 20 years ago now, I think 1995, so 21 years. It ripped through Summer Bay and destroyed the school and many houses. The estranged husband of a local resident was found dead and a young girl was a suspect but a bank statement from the victim cleared her. He had apparently made advances to her as she was a mate of his teen children Damo and Finlay. So she was a suspect naturally but was cleared. His real killer was some guy nicknamed Dodge. Anyway enough of the history lesson. Jimmy and the 2 cops exit from the hallway. PC SLATER Thanks Mr Bateman, we now have everything we need. to be continued....... Jeff Kovski, once played Raimondo Cammenitti in Neighbours would be great in H&A so this fic has him cast as a copper.

Gets you thinking doesn't it? Debra's Pippa with Tom and Vanessa's with Michael. Both Pippa's were significantly different to one another. Tom was quite a strong willed man and could be quite fiery as could Debra's Pippa so I am sure they both would have ruled the roost together if Tom had stayed for a while longer. They would not take any crap off people.

Carol Wilessee played Pippa in the pilot but the original scenes were re-recorded with Ness playing Pippa as Carol had quit. Also Jackie Woodburne aka Susan Kennedy applied twice for the role but never got it.

Caroline Gillmer has sadly aged a lot since her Cheryl Stark days. So it seems Charlotte King's mammy was Chezza Stark.

Bill Roache is still in Corrie at 85. June Brown is still in Easties at 90. Ray is not yet 73 so young enough to be her son so could have many years yet. 73 is the new 63 today.