Happy Birthday Sally

July 11 is Sally Webster's birthday. In the UK she's 40 today. We won't see that on our screens until the spring. Sally is one of the best characters on Coronation Street. Yes she's bossy and whingey. Yes she's got airs above her station. But she's great fun to watch.

When she was young, she was a little spitfire, full of spirit and a real goer. She had a rough life with a dad who was abusive and she was common as much, according to Hilda. After she married Kevin she was still sparky but when she had the girls she seemed to settle down a bit and didn't half become boring. She still pushed Kevin to trying to own the garage and was furious when he didn't want the bother. She wanted more for her family and she tried to push Kevin to get it. Finally she succeeded but it almost came too late.

Kevin had an affair with Natalie and it all blew up in Sally's face. Since that infamous smack across Natalie's face, Sally's spirit has come back full force. She made a few wrong turns, especially with Greg Kelly, and she did her best to be independent but it didn't always work out very well. She nearly married Danny, a market trader with whom she opened a business but that blew up too when he found out she slept with Kevin the night before he married Alison. Stupid woman.

After the diy shop burned down, i think it really knocked Sally for six. She got back with Kevin and i think to this day she did it more for the security and for the girls than for an undying love. Yet, i'm sure she does have feelings for Kevin. It didn't stop her having a fling with her boss for extra money for the family vacation and Rosie's schooling. Pretty close to the prostitute knuckle, was that. Kevin knew. She denied it but i really think he just chose to look the other way to keep his family together.

After that, Sally seemed to go off the deep end, pushing Rosie to succeed, to have the life she never had and always wanted. She set such high standards that it was bound for failure and it did. She finally learned that she had to let Rosie make her own way. She's back on the factory floor sewing knickers but she still has that attitude. She doesn't take any crap off Janice, for one. She goes right after her and gives it right back. I loved it when she hauled off and punched Janice in the pub when she was pushed too far. That's our Sal! Still common as much when it comes down to it, brawling in the pub ;)

Anyway, it's Sally's 40th birthday. My nan always said life begins at 40. She was right. Maybe Sally will use this milestone as a starting point to try something new. I'd say "make something of her life" but i don't think she'll ever find herself away from the backstreet but she might find a new interest that gives her a reason to look forward. The girls will soon be grown and gone and it will just be the two of them. That will either make or break Sally and Kevin. I think she's finally realized what she's got with Kevin, and if it isn't a grand passion, i think it's finally grown back to a more mature love than it was.