Meeting Steven

Right. So this was the week that I met Steven Arnold. I've written a lot about the event itself over here so i won't repeat too much of that. I met him on Monday night when the board members were going out to dinner with him. Some of them had met him the day before when he arrived in Halifax. A few people had stayed in the hotel the whole time, i didn't check in until Monday. Maybe next time i'll do all three days. Anyway no matter.

We were first going to the bar in the hotel before we went to the restaurant but when i got there, nobody else was there except Steven and his dad and his dad's long time friend so i didn't want to just go up to him and introduce myself cold like that. I waited for the others during which time Steven ducked out of the pub, not sure if for a smoke or to go to his room or both. When he finally came back, the others were there and i was introduced as another committee member. He came forward to shake my hand and then leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Ooh i said, that's a lovely birthday present! Because it was. My birthday, i mean. :D

Over at the dinner, we had photos taken and got some autographs. I brought my 40th anniversary book that all the others that have been to Halifax have signed plus i had my ticket to the event signed and one of the cast cards. I later got to sit beside him at dinner since all agreed i should, it being my birthday. I didn't get much one on one conversation, mainly because i can never think of anything to say to start one and also because there was a lot of stuff going on from one end of the table to the other. We all enjoyed it though and he's a lovely man.

He brought his dad with him, who is Steven Sr. (whom we referred to as Senior when we were distinguishing the two) and his dad brought his long time friend Jimmy. They've been friends since they were children so i expect he's as much family as anyone to Steven. Senior seemed a bit quieter but also very nice and Jimmy was a laugh. They all liked a laugh as it happens. And the two seniors loved their pints of Guinness. Steven likes a lighter beer, a Bud or a lager of some sort. All three smoke so they'd duck out for a quick fag, usually all together and every time they'd return, Steven would say how cold it was outside. Really, though, it wasn't cold to us!

After that a few of us accompanied Steven to a pub next door to the hotel where the band was too loud for conversation but they were quite good. Most of us left by about 10:30 and left Steven and his dad and Jimmy to have some time on their own.

The event was great. You can read that through the link above. I was busy running about wrangling the volunteers some of the time but i did make time to sit and listen for awhile and make notes. Steven really wowed the crowd, especially the women! At one point someone asked him to show his abs and he did! Through it all he was professional and congenial and patient. Never minded giving an autograph and went through the line of 100 people that paid for an autograph and photo at the end which takes about an hour and a half. That's signing, posing *flash*, over and over plus flashes from other people's cameras but he did it all good naturedly. I'm sure he was a bit tired by the end but was still raring to go.

Most of the committee and a few of the volunteers repaired to the bar in the hotel with Steven, dad and Jimmy for a couple of drinks. Even there, Steven didn't mind posing for a few more photos from us and from other bar patrons who recognized him. Steven's dad was saying over and over how really nice everyone was and what a fantastic job we'd done putting it all together. He was hugely proud of his son and told him so, a man of few words, it isn't something he says a lot but really means it when he does. I don't think Steven had ever participated in an event like this before and probably his Dad hasn't seen him deal with the public on such a scale. I'm not surprised he was bursting his buttons with pride. Both Dad and Jimmy kept saying they loved it here in Halifax and didn't want to leave.

The next morning in the hotel restaurant, Steven had breakfast with two raffle winners. We chatted a few minutes with Steven Sr. and Jimmy before they went and moved up to a table near where Steven was but I and one of the other committee members who was there presented those two with a little gift each, maple leaf bottles of maple syrup. They were very moved and pleased. It wasn't even a matter of keeping the father and friend happy so that Steven would be happy, we all really genuinely liked them both. It stands to reason, though, if the companions are treated well, then the actor will be happy too. They all three went away promising to recommend Halifax as a stopover for any future actor that's going to the Toronto British Isles show as well. With any luck we'll be doing it again next year.

Sunday Comments, March 2

Lines of the week:

• Carla about Paul regarding Leanne "I think he's scared you're going to lead me astray"
  
• Leanne to Paul "You've got a beautiful wife and an agency on speed dial"
  
• Leanne "I wasn't stood on street corners wearing bright red shoes!"
  
• Paul, after being caught out being a regular escort service user "what can I say? I'm Sorry!"
  
• Carla to Janice "If you do see him (Paul), tell him to drop dead" (um.)
  
• Carla to Michelle "You're sleepin with the boss!" Michelle "that doesn't make any difference"
  

Paul is right. Carla and Leanne know nothing about running a restaurant. And Leanne is even less of a business woman than Carla who at least has half a chance. Forget the hooker side of things. Now that they've signed a contract, what happens if Leanne doesn't make the full investment amount? We didn't find out how much she needed to make up the difference. Surely she has some money? She was going to buy Jamie's house! Uh oh, one of Leanne's clients has rumbled her to Carla, thinking Carla was a hooker too! Something tells me Carla won't be long in exposing Leanne to everyone and everything and tearing up the contract to the restaurant. She didn't believe Leanne when she said she didn't know the guy. Now she's set her up for a spectacular fall and the cat is out of the bag and the business deal is off. Carla even figured out that Paul knew Leanne's secret life, and she figured out how he knew and she was determined to prove it. Which she does and then doesn't believe that Paul didn't actually have sex with Leanne. Well, would you? Besides, she had other credit card bills with other charges for "secretarial skills" and even though he didn't have sex with Leanne, he did with others. He was a regular customer!

Rob James-Collier is sure cute but he's lousy at trying to act drunk. Liam, however, uttered a classic SOPOD, admitting the search (for Ms. Right) is over. i.e. he's found her, and she's Leanne. Meanwhile, Paul admits he's been seeing escorts for 3 years and Carla throws him out for good. He doesn't take that well (but he doesn't get any sympathy from me) and he flips out completely. I wondered why he thought it was so important to answer his mobile when it was out of reach. He was on his way to take Leanne to Liam to expose her. Uh oh, through a red light and onto the front of a lorry! And this, boys and girls, is why you should never use your mobile while driving and why you should always wear your seatbelt! At least Leanne seems relatively unharmed but Paul is another matter altogether. Just as Paul is rushed into surgery, Carla lets the cat out of the bag to everyone. And isn't it a bit of karma, Paul was the one that was drinking and driving the night Dean was killed and now he's driving drunk again and smashed himself up.

Fiz was away? or just waiting for John to call since the last time they saw each other. Liam's middle name is Barrington? We have a street in Halifax called Barrington! Must be a family name. Violet is all over the map with this new guy. He's going to think she's playing games and she should be careful. But who does she call when she's scared on the street? Turns out Vi just wants to have a baby even though she's already been told it's not likely she'd find it easy to get pregnant after her miscarraige over New Year's.

Oh the Platts are back. Did you miss them? Me either. Betty put in an appearance, though and she always lights up the place! David isn't concerned with his exams. I'm not concerned about David. Sarah wants Jason to move in. David doesn't. Does anyone care? Ken is lurking around the street but still staying with Denise. He said he wasn't walking away from any of his families. So what is he doing kipping on Denise's sofa? You mean to tell me that Liam could see Paul's crashed car clearly enough to read the license plate when he got out of his own car and couldn't tell there'd been an accident before that while sitting in the car? Paul's car was flat across the road, should have been able to see it from the car even a little way back.

Violet has a nice looking fellow interested. Let's hope she manages not to scare him off. Kirk doesn't want to lose face in front of Fiz so lied about all the job offers. In return, she got him the job at the butcher shop while Ashley and Claire are away for a few days. How does that work? Doesn't a butcher have to know how to cut meat as well as sell it? Maybe Ashley will precut it all for Kirk. While the Peacocks are away, the neighbours will play, or paint as it happens. The urban equivalent of raising the barn?

Pretty clear from what Becky said that the gossips are burning up the wires about Claire and the fire. You wouldn't think that a beer delivery guy would get invited to the Licensed Victuallers' Association do, would you? Or able to finagle a ticket. He must have pull. Or he must have pulled someone (else). Seems odd that it's on a Sunday afternoon rather than a Saturday night, though. Apparently, the wronged wife is not only being cheated on but she's a glutton for punishment. She told Liz that Derek had been fooling around most of their marraige. And what are the odds that Derek's wife would seek out Liz, virtually a stranger, to cry on her shoulder about her wayward husband when she'd already said she was used to him straying. Very contrived if you ask me.

An Evening with Steven Arnold in Halifax, NS

In exactly one week, the Downeast Streeters Non-Profit Society will be hosting an Evening with Steven Arnold here in Halifax at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel. Tickets are going fast, and may not be available on the night of the event. Tickets cost $25.00 and are available at Celtic Traditions in Spring Garden Place and Heatwave Fashions on Ochterloney Street in downtown Dartmouth (cash only there).

I'm on the committee that's organizing this event and have attended all the other ones that have been held here in Halifax as well. We piggyback onto the Toronto British Isles show, having the Corrie star that appears there stop over here on the way so we don't have a choice as to which actor comes. It's always been a good show, though. The actors speak to the audience, taking questions that are written down ahead of time. There's always lots of gossip and behind the scenes chat. In the past, we've hosted Jenny James (Geena Gregory) and her husband Lee Boardman (Jez Quigley), Samia Smith (Maria Sutherland), Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw), Bruce Jones (Les Battersby) and Shobna Gulati (Sunita Alahan).

What annoys me is people that say they don't want to come because they don't like the character. But the thing is, this isn't the character, it's the person behind the character. Someone that works on Coronation Street, someone that knows the characters you *do* like and would have loads of inside info on the show. I've never been disappointed in any of the actors that have come here. I'm sure that Steven is going to be equally enjoyable and this year, i'm more involved which makes it even better. I'll be blogging about the visit of course, once it's all done and dusted. Just pray to the weather gods please. It's so unpredictable this time of year!

Sunday Comments, February 24

Lines of the week:

• Leanne to Janice "I jacked it in cause you made me see sense." Janice "You jacked it in cause of a fella"
  
• Betty on Liz's new outfit "I hope it's got a cotton gusset!"
  
• Fiz to Kirk "I wouldn't hurt you for the world!" Kirk "You are my world!"
  
• Norris "Has there been a lady in here asking for me?" Roy "Now? or ever?"
  
• Paul about Leanne "she's not suitable, she's not a businesswoman"
  

A baby doesn't just vanish. Someone had to have taken him. He didn't get into the park by himself and a fire doesn't start itself either. What a horrifying ordeal to have to go through, thinking a child died in a fire then having to wait to find out if the baby that was found was yours. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster! Of course it *was* Freddie unharmed. (This was a hasty rewrite after that little girl went missing in Portugal last year. They were going to have Freddie kidnapped and not be found for ages) Eileen probably has some half decent lodgers now that the Peacocks have moved in for awhile. Bloody Hell, odious Morton has really stitched up Claire by telling the inspector she threatened to burn down the shed and meanwhile she's terrified that someone is still out there wanting to kill her. For a woman who's probably still recovering from post natal depression, this isn't going to help matters.

Heyyy now, Claire thinks the culprit could be that Casey that absconded with Freddie and got angry with Claire. It's very likely her too but now we need to find her and prove it! I hope she told the cops that Casey actually did take Freddie without permission. But it might not matter, now that the cops also know Ashley had Claire sectioned. Unfortunately, that, and her perceived irrational behaviour over the loud music will go against her even though she's perfectly fine now to which her doctor could attest. Also unfortunately, it's going to put the suspicion in Ashley's head. You invite a family to stay with you, wouldn't you give them a house key? And if you did, wouldn't you take it with you when you go out or, expecting your husband to be home, wouldn't you just leave the door unlocked? Oh bloody hell they're arresting her! And you can tell they think she's got a split personality or some other serious mental illness. Coincidence that her maiden name is Casey and the woman she thinks started the fire is Casey? We know it's not but nobody else has ever seen Casey. But Casey has been to Claire's house, surely some nosy parker on that street like Norris would have seen her around. I really think the case falls apart with the fire. No matter what they think the reason Claire might have started the fire, it's an awfully big risk if she had done. It seems very unfair that Ashley wouldn't believe Claire didn't start the fire and he's right, if she finds out, it will cause a very big crack in their relationship.

Kirk isn't doing too well handling the hero worship from his friends, that is, until Fiz seemed to be impressed by his bravery. But of course he's misinterpreted it and got his heart broken all over again. Cilla was thriving, or at least trying to thrive, trying to get the attention of anyone that looked like a reporter to sell Kirk's story. Fiz says she didn't love Kirk because she loved John in the past and it didn't compare. But she made a pretty good show of making everyone think she loved Kirk. John was her first love, but it doesn't mean she loved Kirk any less, just differently. So it looks like John and Fiz are making their way back to each other. I don't know. Most of the time, recapturing a long lost love doesn't always work out. People change over time and you tend to have idealistic views of the past and how you used to be. It's going to be awkward living with Maria, Kirk's sister now that she not only has finished with him but told him she is seeing John. For someone that didn't want to hurt Kirk for the world, did she think he was going to skip for joy when she finished with him and all the rest? Aw you gotta feel sorry for the poor lad, don't you?

Dreary Derek walked in to a full pub with a huge bouquet of flowers for Liz. What a stupid idiot. If the situation had been different that people didn't think they belonged in front of the Peacock house, don't you think suspicions would have been raised by someone? Why on earth is Liz scouting out Derek's wife? It's not as if this is a grand love affair. It will only come to a sticky end, mark my words. It was funny that Dreary Derek's wife thought Liz and Deirdre were lesbians and Liz was chatting her up under Deirdre's nose. Good God, what did Vernon bring Liz to wear? Looks like a Madam's corset from a wild old West saloon. Surprised she didn't wear it for dreary Derek. He'd have drooled all over it. They had a close call when his wife and brother arrived back. The wife got a look at her and surely must have recognized her. There can't be that many middle aged tarts with skunky looking hair about. The wife now suspects and is asking questions.

In addition to the new furniture, i see the Battersbys have an LCD tv as well. Where did they get all of that? New boyfriend. What not to talk about? Babies! Hmmm... Seems like Doreen has a history of about-face when it comes to friendship. Norris might be a gossipy nosy parker, but sometimes, it's a good thing.

In spite of Leanne quitting the biz, i'm sure she does have a bit of money stashed aside. I can't imagine Carla running a restaurant. A bit of an unusual friendship, Leanne and Carla but when you think that Carla came from a pretty rough background herself, i suppose they have more in common than you'd think. So Carla wants to open a restaurant with Leanne and figures they can learn it as they go. That's not really condusive to a successful eatery. Carla didn't want to talk in front of Paul so he moved from 10 feet one side of her to 10 feet the other side of her and she told Leanne on the phone that Paul was gone. (??) Leanne must have made a fairly decent wage while she was an escort so what did she spend it all on? She reckons she can make 20,000 in 6 weeks. When she got back from Spain, she was going to buy Number 7? She must have had some money to make a down payment on a mortgage then and it wasn't that long ago. Is she just topping up her savings by hooking? Paul isn't taking the news very well, though.

Sunday Comments, February 17

Lines of the week:

• Janice to Liam "I'm just seeing how far i can push me luck"
  
• Rita to Norris "You'd have had a season ticket for the guillotine!"
  
• Liz "I like to think I'm on the glam side" (no you're on the tarty side, luv)
  
• Ken about Daniel "he's my salvation" (oh, no pressure there, then)
  
• Norris "When you do it it's showing concern, when i take an interest i'm being ghoulish" Rita "That's because you *are* ghoulish"
  
• Becky "I've been in two fires, and one of 'em i didn't start so i didn't see it coming"
  

Good God, Deirdre's sobbing over the pork chops now. At least she does finally realize that she's taking it out on Ken and blames Tracy but she still can't take it out on Tracy and she can't help herself but take it out on Ken. Yet Deirdre gets upset about the baby and then pretty soon it's all about her not the baby. Well it does make you think, though. Life *is* too short. And even that didn't go well, trying to make it up with Ken and he wasn't having it. He's really going through a crisis as much as she is, but in a different way. It's going to be more difficult making their way back to each other. She accused him "It's all about you", i'd say they were both in that boat. Boy it didn't take Deirdre very long to get to and back from Denise's flat in the middle of the night. She must have taken a taxi.

Steve and Michelle might finally have gotten their act together but all the fates seem intent on keeping them apart. Leanne's getting sucked in deeper, now she has to find a villa for Dev and it ain't gonna happen is it? Dev needn't get all shirty with her for "backing out of the deal" when she gave him the names of legitimate property dealers. At least she's finally quit the game, but is it too little too late?

How long would it take for Claire and Gail both to realize that Jerry takes absolutely no blind bit of notice of what they say or complain about. So now Claire's on the warpath. (Oh isn't little Freddie cute!) It's already starting to sound like a one-note song (sorry, couldn't resist). Claire and Gail moaning, Jerry and Darrell doing whatever they want. yadda yadda yadda. Claire is a fairly meek person on the surface, but she's not afraid to stand up to anyone. Boy did she ever snap, too and good for her! Darrel can drive a car, Why didn't he take his mates somewhere other than parked on Coronation Street to listen to their tunes? But yikes! Every time Ashley goes away on his own overnight, disaster strikes! Last time, Maxine got drunk and shagged the doctor. This time the house burns! Even after Claire's compromise about giving the stereo back the next day. But do you think it was Darrell that caused the fire after Claire threatened to burn down the shed? He doesn't seem the type. That fire sure took hold fast . Claire only turned the light off a half hour before the not very loud alarm woke her. I always laugh at people calling the emergency services and the sirens and trucks come almost immediately.

And if someone did take the baby before the fire, how did they get out? They must have climbed out Freddie's window with the baby because they had to break in the front way. Claire was only in bed a half hour so whoever it was might have been in the house somewhere already though it's a pretty small house. Someone would have seen. So it must have been up the wall and down again. One of the firemen who made Jerry leave the house, and others that went in didn't have breathing apparatus on. Totally unrealistic. I'm surprised the upper floor would even hold the firefighters the day after.

Deirdre leaving that teddy didn't move me. Eileen crying because she didn't have her coat and worrying about how Ashley was going to take this did and Eileen trying to stay strong when she was crumbling too. Even Jerry, crying over the baby that he couldn't get to, that moved me too. Deirdre left me dry. Claire waking up screaming for her baby made my blood run cold. And i think more than a few people have seen a different side of Jerry than the cheeky chappy he usually is. Heart of gold. After all this, seeing Steve and Michelle mess around just doesn't seem important at all.

Fiz's head is in the clouds over her ex-boyfriend and her current boyfriend wants to patch up his problems by asking her to marry him. Aw Kirk really is a sweetie though. Hard to see his heart breaking. Makes it tricky for Fiz living with Kirk's sister, too. And all Cilla can do is mither him about the rent. Chesney is taking it almost as hard as Kirk. Ooh Fiz really got a dig in at Maria, calling her the local bike! Poor Kirk, he's got to find a new job as well as cope with being dumped. And is it me, or does it seem like, in addition to all that redecorating Les and Cilla did, they've also got a new couch and table/chairs set?

What's up with Emily? She seemed out of sorts. You can forgive Steve for not thinking of asking Emily to babysit, though. A woman nearly 80 if she's a day wouldn't be my first choice to mind an active 3 year old. Doreen's flat seems to be taking a very long time. I suspect she's putting it all off just to stay with Rita and have a bit of company and Rita found out just that. Why on earth would Doreen go so over the top accusing Rita of stalking her just because she got caught out? Can we say "Drama queen"?

Hmm Derek seems to look down on bar work. Thinks his wife is better than "that" yet his mistress is doing the same thing. that didn't go over well, even if he tried to cover by saying she was a licensee and that was better. Is it worth pointing out that while she and Liz might be serving the beer, he's delivering it.

Sunday Comments, February 10

Lines of the week:

• Leanne to Paul "It's all right you paying for it but you don't like you're little brother getting it for free?"
  
• Gail about Jason "I know his heart's in the right place. It's just his brain. And everything else"
  
• Leanne "I know about Spanish property but it's a different game over here" Paul to Leanne "I think the *game's* the same anywhere"
  
• Deirdre "Don't you talk about a defenceless old lady like that"
  
• Blanche to Ken "You should be careful on that high horse, Ken, it's a long way down"
  
• Michelle (after snogging Steve) "I was just going to make a sandwich. We got any tongue?"
  

Paul didn't spill the beans to Liam... yet. But Leanne knows it's touch and go. Paul makes out like he thinks Leanne is after the factory again but Carla's suspicions are aroused. It's a tricky situation. You don't want your brother to be dating a hooker but you don't want to get caught out using her services either if you're married. Very awkward dinner party wasn't it? at least for two of them. Paul seemed way more uncomfortable than Leanne though. Leanne returned from her Sunday "date" and lost the curly hair and makeup. I guess she must have showered and changed before going to the pub. Ooh and now Michelle is kissing Steve again. Wonder if she means it this time? And if she does, how long is it going to last? Snogging on the street in front of everyone isn't exactly going to keep it under wraps, especially right outside the Kabin run by Nosy pants Norris. Paul is trying to lay down the law to Michelle as well as Liam about their respective partners. He's got a point about Leanne but what's he go against Steve other than Steve deciding not to pay up the bet. Liz sure isn't happy about it and i never really understood why. Leanne and Carla are making good friends but i think Leanne is a bit out of her element there, too. Why on earth is Steve searching for babysitters when there's a few young teenage girls on the street that would love to make some pocket money. But nobody ever seems to ask them!

So Ken is trying to get to know his son and his son is understandably suspicious, uncomfortable and not a little resentful. Ken's excuses to Daniel didn't seem to hold water. I guess it did seem fairly realistic for the situation, though. The longer Ken's around, the more that lad wonders why. I really love Blanche's nose sticking into all of this. Denise keeps talking good sense to Ken but he's not ready to hear it so now Ken is sleeping on the couch at Denise's. That's a bit too close for comfort. Deirdre is already assuming the worst and holds an old grudge about him not wanting children with her. Even then, she just couldn't stop that sharp, nasty tongue. I guess she's truly Blanche's daughter when she wants to be. She really gave him hell and they both reduced themselves to old grudges and threw all their respective mistakes at each other. That's going to be hard to take back and hard to find their way back to each other after all that.

Confronting Denise is definitely going to make things worse in the mood she's in. I love Denise! She's always telling Ken what he doesn't want to hear. I really hate it when Ken is on his moral high horse (and Didn't Blanche come out with a similar remark!). Boy Rita sure made a beeline for the pub when she saw Denise. Like as not she knew Blanche would come spreading the news or thought she could get the low down from Deirdre. And what does he do but bring Denise into the pub in front of everyone. I have to say though, the confrontation would have been much better out on the cobbles. :) Deirdre really made an idiot of herself and it's just the sort of thing that would push Ken to Denise for real. And does it bug anyone else the way he pronounces her name "Denize"? So we've spent a month listening to Deirdre scream and snipe at Ken and now how long will we have to listen to her sniveling over him? She's only got her own self to blame.

Wonder how Kirk is managing at the kennel. Hmm badly, so it seems. Vaguely pointing to a dog that needed castrating and the vet knackered the wrong won. Oops. I wonder if he barks in a higher pitch now. The dog. Not Kirk. Does Maria still have a part share in the kennel? This could be the end of the kennels. It won't matter that Kirk was overworked. He didn't take due care and he would be successfully sued. You know, after all that aggro Sophie witnessed her mother go through when she thought Rosie had talent, i'm surprised she's not doing the same thing with Sophie and if she's not because she learned her lesson, i wonder if Sophie feels left out and unappreciated yet again. I thought Sally was a no show but then Fiz said Ches went home with the Websters. Wonder why they didn't show Sally stood on her chair cheering? Yet Bill told everyone how much Sally bragged up Sophie's performance. I want to see her not hear about her! We've heard Sophie trying to sing, we need to hear Chesney now. What did you think? Any good?

For someone so dense about men, Maria was sure clocking on to Fiz seemingly attracted to the teacher. Now poor Kirk is putting himself down, having been a failure with the business so what does Maria do? Council him to do something so that Fiz doesn't get away. Well it seems to have worked. Kirk is going to make things happen with an engagement ring. Fiz seems about to make something happen too, with her old boyfriend. Why does Fiz think she's thick? When she came to work at the factory, we were told that she'd passed quite a few GCSEs. And so it seems they did have a physical relationship back then. She was barely 16 and I'm guessing he was not a little older. She's in her early 20s now and he's got to be 30 at least.

Lol i knew what was going to happen when Vera started listening to those ambience sounds, all that water. More golf shenanigans with Steve and Paul winding each other up. You may notice that Les is being talked about but not seen and now is said to be off with an Irish cover band, ZZ Top of the Morning. In reality, Bruce Jones was suspended for mouthing off in public while very drunk, letting out storyline spoilers. Ooh Doreen is on screen again. So by revealing that Paul is in fact a very skilled golfer, how does that get Steve out of paying up his bet to Paul? He might have got suckered, but a bet is a bet isn't it? Darrel just gets more and more odious.

Sunday Comments, February 3

Lines of the week:

• Steve "How could i get it so wrong" (er. don't you always?)
  
• Liz to Vernon "Don't worry about me, i'll keep meself busy" (You and your lover)
  
• Blanche "I'm always civil" (koff)
  
• Blanche "I"m the closest thing this street has to a diplomat"
  
• Fiz to Cilla "There's a first, you going for something real when you could have had fake"
  
• Leanne "You!" Paul "You!" and later she admitted "Somebody broke me" ( taht would be Danny)
  
• Ken to Blanche "Your presence isn't helping" Blanche "I wasn't meaning to help"
  
  

How could Steve have any idea how Michelle is feeling when she wouldn't tell him what the problem was? As usual Steve put both feet into it without thinking. But really, Michelle really does seem to give Steve mixed signals though his come on was bad timing. Then she turned around and told Vi that if you like someone you should "go for it" which is exactly what Steve did and she knew she'd stuck her foot in it that time. At least she finally told Steve what was going on. Well yes, it was Carla that talked Michelle around to not telling Ryan that Paul was driving the car and not his father. So what do they do? Talk about it when he's just in the other room. and now Paul and Carla are at odds and Liam is thinking Paul is going to go off in one of his moods? Who cares? Paul's pushing the marital envelope, though, staying out all night drinking.

Ken says he's got a 12 year old son within 50 miles of there.... Surely Scotland is further than that? Oh dear, Deirdre's getting really nasty now towards both Ken and her mother. I really do think she's having a breakdown. Ken tells Emily that Deirdre is blaming everyone except Tracy. Too right. Then she made some remark about him not doing enough to get involved with what was going on "over the road" which almost sounded as if she was back to believing Tracy was the abused girlfriend like she pretended. But they know that's not true so why would she now think Ken should have done more? As he said, nothing he could have done would have stopped her in her revenge plan especially since they didn't know that's what it was.

I can't blame Ken for taking off. There's only so much you can take and it certainly seemed to shock Deirdre out of her rage. I felt so bad for Blanche though. You know she feels that if Ken is gone, Deirdre will fall apart even more. And she's right, the longer he's away, the harder it will be to come back. Ken didn't go too far, he seems to have found a B&B and he seems to have found something else. A long lost girlfriend and son. He's being pretty circumspect as to what he's been doing too, not telling Deirdre he'd seen Denise and wants to see Daniel. So he must have said 15 miles not 50. Speculation around the net says Stockport or Rusholme as that's the football teams that were mentioned in Denise's salon. And if Blanche could take a taxi all the way there, it's definitely somewhat local. She wrote him that she'd moved back to the area yet even in the last year i remember Tracy flinging Ken's "son in Scotland" in his face. Blanche is just brilliant, though isn't she? sticking her oar in it all at the moment Ken finally sees his son after 12 years or so. She can't seem to decide whether to bicker at Deirdre, at Ken or do what she can to get them back together. Den of Iniquity indeed. *snork*

Doesn't she look great! I always liked Denise Black's acting and her character, Denise Osbourne. So Ken wants to see his son finally though he's been paying into a trust fund all these years at least. We got filled in, how she did let Ken know she'd moved back to Manchester. Maybe all this upset has got Ken wondering and thinking about the mistakes he's made in his life. So now he's going to get a chance to see Daniel again. Denise is afraid Ken will use him to fill the hole in his life and then drop him again. I think there's a very good chance of that. He's got form.

So Odious Morton is living in the shed. Gail and Claire wonder where he's going to the loo. Where do you think you silly gits? Liz is trying hard to get rid of Vernon, gives her more leeway with Dullard Drayman. Jerry pays absolutely no attention to the neighbours' complaints. None. Absolutely no sound proofing at all in that shed either, at least a house has a bit of a buffer. Mel better not lie and say she was driving instead of Darrell because it would get in the way of her new career as a police officer. And doesn't that half give her dad and granddad a start. Now the girls have got Ashley measuring the shed.

Lloyd answered the phone at the cab office, said "5 minutes" and never called out the call to a driver lol Tyrone and Molly are so cute aren't they? I think they have a future together too. They're very well suited. Liam and Leanne are starting to get close. Laughed at him saying she should come back when she was done her meeting. He didn't mind. But if he knew... and you know? Even Leanne's boots and heels look tarty! Liam's got a voice that's made for talking, not singing lol and WHOOPS!! Newest client for "Rachel" is none other than her neighbour Paul. Married neighbour. and she's dating his brother! They both want it kept quiet but i see her career as a prostitute come crashing down soon. And it's not the first time Paul's done this either. Now Leanne is getting closer to Liam and is terrified Paul is going to tell even though it'll put him in a hard place too.

Oh what's this? A blast from Fiz's past? Ok, Youth club DJ and she bunked off school to see him. I bet he was still a fair bit older than her even then. We first met her before she was 16, fostering with Roy and Hayley. When next we saw her, about 6 months later or so, she had left school at 16 and came to work in the factory and started chasing Tyrone. Sophie didn't do half bad singing. Not great. but not too bad. Laughed at Jack winding up Vera with the baby monitor in the pub and then she got her own back by turning it off. But they were pleased to hear that Ty and Molly want to move in together. Celebrating with Tia Maria and chips. That's class!

Why I love Denise Osborne

Denise Osborne is back on our screens in Canada after nearly 12 years. The last time we saw her, she scarpered with baby Daniel up to Scotland where all of Ken's biological children grow up without developing the accent. Only his grandson Adam came away sounding like a Scot and he mainly grew up with his mother in Newcastle, only having spent holidays in Glasgow with his granny Tatlock. Go figure.

Denise Osborne was brought in to be the "next Elsie Tanner" and she nearly had that potential. She seemed to attract men like flies to honey, bringing several of them, including footless Don Brennan to their knees in short order. She was feisty, spirited, in her late 30s and starting to get fed up with men altogether. They then paired her with Ken Barlow which should have had her run screaming to the nunnery. Talk about a mismatched pair! But what happened was Anne Kirkbride (Deirdre) developed health problems and was off the show for awhile so they put Ken and Denise together. At first she found him a nice bloke, safe and unthreatening. Well, he never stopped being that but he also became bland and boring to her. It's Ken Barlow! We viewers never doubted the fact that he was not a dynamic man in spite of the long line of women trailing behind him.

Oops, She finds herself pregnant and isn't sure she wants the spawn of Ken Barlow by this time. Ken is fretful and frustrated. She has a miscarraige which takes the decision out of everyone's hands. But wait! It was twins and she's still carrying one and that was the defining moment when she knew she wanted to keep the baby. Ken is now gleeful but Denise isn't sure she wants anything to do with him. Gasp!

Why i loved her? She always stood up to Ken, both before and after their relationship. She took no crap. She might not be as educated as he was but she was smarter than him, if you get my drift. Ken didn't know what to make of her. He usually always went for submissive women, the kind over whom he could wield his superior intellect and reason and who would meekly accept this arrogance. Then he would turn around and have affairs on these meek women because he couldn't respect them. Denise was different. He didn't really love her because she called him on his shit but she had his baby so he thought the right thing to do was make the effort for Daniel's sake. She tried but realized it just wasn't going to work.

To get her out of the show, the powers that be fabricated a previously unheard of and unhinted at affair with the even blanderThanKen husband of her sister. You wouldn't mind if they'd had him be a macho builder or a dynamic business man but he was an accountant, for God's sake! Not one of life's matinee idols, are accountants. And this one was no different. This stormy affair over the salon books was soon uncovered and they left for the highlands. Ken tried to manage with the baby but she came back and took him too. And the nanny, Kelly, for good measure.

Ken being Ken, tried half heartedly for a few months, driving to Scotland or having Daniel for visits but one or two nights of a cranky child missing his mum had him taking the low road to Scotland and the only time he saw his son over the next 10 or so years was a photo with his Christmas card and a few pounds in a trust fund.

Now he's had a crisis with Deirdre and has discovered that Denise is only living in Stockport. He remarked on having a son not 15 miles away that he never sees. And who's fault is that? And even now, he's wanting to see his son and the lad agrees. Denise is still predicting that Ken will use Daniel to fill that gap in his life and then disappear again when it's all healed over but since Daniel wants to see his father, what is a mother to do? But you know what'll happen. Exactly that. But for the next few weeks, we get to see Denise do what Denise does best. Tell Ken exactly what he doesn't really want to hear and probably instigate Ken and Deirdre's reunion because she doesn't really want him around under her feet.

She's only back for a few weeks so we know we won't see her or Daniel again and the writers will never mention it other than the occasional birthday card or phone call. We won't see Ken coming in and saying he'd been to see Daniel play footy or he'd taken the lad for a pizza and a movie.

Verbage: The language of Coronation Street

Over on Corrie Canuck, there's a discussion about the phrase "Neither use nor ornament" to describe someone that's a bit of a waste of space. I also wrote about this over on Corrieblog awhile back. One of the things i enjoy about Corrie and other British movies and tv shows is the language and expressions that are so much more colourful than ours here in Canada. This expression is one of the ones i've heard on Corrie over the years but isn't really one i've picked up and made my own though i should do. Some expressions really are incomprehensible such as "I feel like piffy on a rock bun" (feeling very out of place) or "Well i'll go to the foot of our stairs!" (somewhat akin to our "well you could have knocked me over with a feather!" which shows surprise)

One of the ones i love and use is "gobsmacked" which is just so much more colourful and appropriate than "shocked, incredulous, taken aback" or anything like that. I often use words like pillock, wanker, pratt and plonker and it's funny to see reactions on faces thinking "um, is that a bad thing?"

Some expressions you don't hear much as you used to on Corrie, such as "fur coat and no knickers", often used to describe Elsie Tanner by Ena Sharples. Another one i love is "all mouth and no trousers". I think Maud used this about Reg Holdsworth once and it's *so* exactly perfect for men like Reg. All bark and no bite, we'd say, or ... "he's got his head up his own arse" lol!

Because i watch so much British stuff, i pick up expressions and use them myself, though not all of them. It doesn't help that my fiance is from Salford and of course i have a lot of friends from various parts of the U.K. Most of my friends watch Corrie and so they use the expressions too. "What are you doing today?" "Nowt." I even catch myself thinking in "accent" sometimes! I think i need help! Or maybe....

I'll just get me coat shall i?

Sunday Comments, January 27

So I see that corrie.net seems to be down altogether today. Maybe it's part in part what they're doing to try to fix the guestbook, i have no idea. I"m guessing it's related to whatever they've been doing.

Lines of the week:

• Claire "Nice to have a neighbour takes care of his garden"
  
• Gail to Eileen "you're running away because you know you're not right and what's more you know it"
  
• Blanche "Whoever said other people are hell was spot on" Ken "Sartre" (John Paul, philosopher) Blanche "You mean SINatra" (Frank. Singer)
  
• Liz "I'm not a grandma, i'm a mature woman who happens to have a grandchild"
  
• Cilla "Me and Jodie Foster have a lot in common"
  
• Michelle to Liam "You made me hate him (Dean)"
  
• Michelle to Carla "Just because i'm glad you told me doesn't mean i like you"
  
• 
  

Will Jason be able to talk Eileen round? She is feeling the pressure and needs to get away. Will she stay away or not? It doesn't look good. Claire just assumed that Eileen was going to give the baby back, Eileen didn't actually say it. Gail confronted Eileen who loves a good fight and points out that this time she knows it's a fight she can't win so she's running away. This time Gail really does understand. Of all the people that would be the one to really get through to Eileen, you wouldn't have thought it would be Gail. But then, maybe someone who isn't a friend had to be the one that talked the most sense. Nice of Jason to give Gail flowers. I could hear Eileen's heart crack from here when she gave that baby back. I'd like to know how they got that baby to fuss on cue! Eileen and Jerry seem to be a nice pair. Friends? More? possibly. He did make her feel just a wee bit better.

Paul certainly knows how to power play the staff. Hayley and Sally want to put some of the pieces together but a lot of what they think they know is supposition on their part (well, *we* know it's true but Paul seems to be a master at what we in canada call "stick handling". He just avoided the issue altogether and warned them what could happen if they started rumours. and then feeds Sally's ego by implying she's going to get to ge a PA and that caused Sally to do an abrupt about face now that she's "practically" management. Has Paul actually offered Sally the job though, or just made it seem like she would get it to get her on board. I thought Carla knew that Liam wanted her out of the factory? So why did she go ahead and snag another contract? She and Michelle nearly went to daggers drawn over the bar and Carla took out her frustrations on Michelle and now Michelle has the scent about a secret. Liam isn't as accomplished at lying as Paul is. It was written all over his face. I think Rob James-Collier did a great job in the confession scene. Gotta say though, that wasn't much of a slap, very obviously staged. I like my screen slapping to look spontaneous, not posed, and then nearly in slow motion with a light little slapping sound effect. Bloody well take his head off like Sally did to Natalie that time! The gold standard of Street Slaps, that was!

Paul made a remark to Carla about his marraige not looking too good lately. Huh? Up to where Carla more or less let the cat out of this particular bag, they had been looking pretty united. Where did that come from? Ok, well i think i know what they're setting up here but i can't spoil it but i really hate when they start throwing stuff out there like that. Let's face it, Carla and Paul probably always have had a rocky marraige but then they seem to patch it up and stick together. Who would have thought it would be Carla that made Michelle calm down a bit and realize that Ryan would have lost even more if she'd cut him off from his uncles, no matter what they did. At least Liam feels guilty about it. Paul might but he comes across as a lot more "cold" but i suspect, more self destructive.

Derek the grey drayman keeps sniffing around and Vernon hasn't got one suspicious clue to rub against the other. Liz is in this full stop now, though and damn the consequences. It didn't take long for Betty's aerial to start twanging with suspicion. I can't really see what Liz sees in Derek other than he's got a bit more about him than Vernon but Derek probably thinks all his birthdays have er... come at once. So to speak.

New shed... it's bloomin well the size of a small house! I've seen hunting shacks smaller! What's the point of getting Ashley? What's he going to do about it? Mind you, if it's encroaching on the neighbours' property, they could complain to the council and be made to take it down. Jerry's also a master at verbal stick handling. Pretends he is listening and heeding the complaints of the neighbours and goes on and does exactly what he wants. Watching that shed get lifted over the roof reminded me of when Des Barnes did the same with his boat.

Deirdre's still snapping at Ken when all he asked her was if she wanted a cup of tea or telling her about his day. Blanche is back, too though Ken wants to confiscate her downstairs room for a study but Deirdre won't have anyone in "Tracy's" room. Why doesn't Ken just make Tracy's room into a study instead? I think Deirdre seriously needs to talk to a doctor. Her heart's broken for Tracy but she's racked with guilt for her own part and resentment towards Ken and probably Tracy as well. As much as Blanche can be critical of Deirdre, she does love her and doesn't want her and Ken to break up.

Laughed at Jack blaming Vera for making him tidy up which caused her fall. Now Vera has hold of a baby monitor, it's like having an electronic umbilical cord to Jack. He won't get a moment's peace at all now! Looks like Fiz is better at sewing knickers than suits. You'd think someone that could design her own gear could do Chesney something that fit, or has the continuity fairy forgot about that? Only Cilla could be responsible for diverting the course of Biblical History and offer Mary and Joseph a room in the inn. I wish i'd seen that school play!

Corrie.net problems.

Yes, folks, the Corrie.net guestbook seems to be down at the moment. It's not just you. I can see other parts of corrie.net but can't ftp in to the server either, without getting an error. (I upload the spoilers and the episode updates regularly). We sit and wait. I emailed the tech support but that's not got a response yet.

Sunday comments, January 20

Lines of the Week

• Janice "Far be it for me to be insensitive" (HA!)
  
• Paul "What's done is done" (he's making a habit of that)
  
• Liam "I've never let ignorance stop me from discussing anything"
  
• Sean "My head's hurting, must be from all this concentrating"
  
• Jason to Eileen "You're more selfish than anyone"
  
• Bill about Cilla "The only blokes who watch her every move? Store detectives!"
  
• Gail "What harm could a little shed do?" (uh oh, i think you'll be sorry you said that)
  
• Lloyd "Is it Mondays. Is it women? or is it me?"
  

They must have put a camera right on the ground and let it go by remote for that shot of the ambulance driving right over it. Amazing how much the factory bees knew about Kasia for someone that could barely speak English. I'm surprised that, when everyone was wondering why Kasia was in so early, that they didn't realize she was working nights too, they must have known she and Vicki and the others had night work all along. And later on they did start musing about it. It just seemed like the continuity was a bit off. Here's hoping that Carla's guilt trip about the insurance for Kasia's family will keep Vicki from telling the truth because Vicki is pretty sharp. She knows that it would mean trouble for the Connors and probably everyone would lose their jobs if the factory was closed. Sally certainly mounted an efficient offensive with Vicki at a "nice friendly lunch" and had Vicki scurrying out in tears. Carla didn't think about how it looked waving a new dress around in the pub with the grieving factory workers. And did you notice the song playing in the background? Careless Whispers. "Guilty feet have got no rhythym...." I thought the upper area wasn't to be used for storage? Yet there are still dozens of rolls of fabric up there. Paul sure isn't very sincere. Working on his video game and then finally confronting the girls and making them feel like dirt because they didn't start up a collection for Kasia themselves.

Leanne seems to have worn out her welcome at her favourite hotel. Thing is, it's clientele from that hotel that called the call girl so really, the clientele *do* want her sort there. I don't know why Leanne was so upset, she must run into this all the time. Embarassment? or maybe Janice's words about going from posh hotels to the street corners hit home. Has she taken to plying her trade outside of the escort service when she's not on an "appointment" or something? Liam seems to be her rebound fella. It seems to me Janice used to have just a one bed flat, because i remember Leanne saying something about sleeping on the settee when she left Danny and stayed with Janice for a bit. I don't think Liam and Leanne are for the long term anyway, their names are too much alike! It'll never work! I think Janice might like a rerun of Leanne and the Underworld boss in some ways. Loved Paul taking the mick out of Liam just like a real brother would.

Mel Morton is in college. Doesn't seem like twin Darryl is. She was secretive about what was in her backpack though. Jerry's ex sure ran down the list of all the electronic stuff missing with out a word about the kids. Even so, i don't think they should have nicked the stuff. She sure gave them up quickly enough. I think they should call her bluff and let them call the cops and then hang the social services on her. Les and Cilla's place is finally looking decent after all the decorating they did. Looks like Sophie and Chesney are both in the school play. Sally doesn't seem to be nearly as strident in pushing Sophie like she did Rosie.

Eileen told Claire that Holly's mother dumped her but she did omit the fact that Holly's mother now seems to want her back. I really don't trust Miss Thing, the baby's mother even though i'm sure in the long run, she'll get the baby back. How will she know what to do with the baby this time around? The actress isn't very good, either, i'm afraid. I don't have any sympathy for her. The whole situation has driven Jason out and where did he land? Gail's (and Sarah's) Jason called Eileen selfish. I suppose she is in a way because it feels like she's filling a hole in her life with that baby without thinking of the baby. I can understand her being reluctant to give the baby back to a woman that abandoned her in the first place but with social services involved, they'll make sure Emma treats the baby ok and the baby isn't any blood relation to Eileen. Is Eileen going to give the baby back? She was doing all the baby's laundry. Poor Claire seems to be having a bad day with Eileen keeping a secret from her as well as the Barlows, that she's taking the baby and running!

Audrey broke Bill's heart and turned down his proposal. Well not really. He wasn't bothered. Nobody likes an proposal out of obligation anyway. Gail's turning 50... er... 49!! I don't blame her for having a gob on her when her own mother got it wrong. I think it really touched an old sore spot with Gail too, after a childhood of what seems to be neglect at the hands of her mother. Leave it to men to think it would be ok to broadcast a woman's age all over the neighbourhood. But Audrey did give her really pretty flowers, didn't she!? David knew that Audrey got it wrong but didn't say a word but that's not typical David, that's just typical teen!

Peter nearly got away from Maria without saying goodbye. But he tried. Get the feeling that Peter has a girlfriend down south? Peter's too old for her anyway. Adam is going with Peter and Denise (Ken's ex) wrote a letter of support. Deirdre thinks all the notes are from people who are basically ambulance chasers and gawpers. Now that Adam's gone and Blanche is away, will Deirdre and Ken be able to stand it with nobody else as a buffer?

Did Vernon really liken himself to a pulsating beast? *gag* He didn't waste any time scarfing the birthday champagne. I don't think Gail's glass even hit the bar before he'd had it. Meanwhile Liz is panting after Derek the drayman and Deirdre knows it.

Lovely little scene between Becky, Hayley and Roy outside the cafe. Claire is still banging on about Tracy's trial. She thinks her testimony sent Tracy to jail and Ken Barlow couldn't stand her to feel that way. He let Claire make the right conclusion and that has given Deirdre even more ammunition against Ken. Jerry seems to be measuring up the back garden. A shed?

Sunday Comments, January 12

Lines of the week:

• Jason "I reckon it's what Charlie would've wanted, me being around to take care of his business" (in more ways than one!)
  
• Sarah about the Mortons "We're posh compared to that lot"
  
• Eileen "It's not about me" Violet "Isn't it?"
  
• Betty about Vernon "He's like a u-boat, that fella, he only surfaces when it's quiet"
  
• Jason about Holly "But what if i love her or somethin'" (you don't know?)
  
• Jack about Vera's urges "Pretty soon she's marching through Paris!"
  

Emma needs to think hard and long about her motives for wanting that baby. It's all about the money she thinks she should get from the estate (so who got the money from the sale of the house and the business?) Sounds like Miss Emma and Miss Tracy are almost cut from the same cloth. Well nearly. But if that's the case, she's going to have to fight Shelley because she's got just as much of a claim. And i think Miss Thing would just as quickly dump that baby again if things got hard again. I can't blame Eileen for throwing her out on her 4 inch heels. Social services are involved, as they should be. As i expected, Jason really doesn't want to have anything to do with the baby now he knows it's not his. Sean gave him something to think about, pointing out it's entirely up to him. Support from anyone else makes no difference,it's down to Jason but Eileen won't listen. I laughed seeing Emma trying to fight Eileen over the baby. She didn't have a chance. Eileen was twice her size and had anger fueling her!

Kasia sure learned a few words of English quickly. Too bad it didn't serve her very well. Carla pushed and pushed the girls on the night shift and look what happened. One big cover up case. Problem is, the coroner could probably tell the time of death so waiting a couple of hours or so to call them could backfire big time. And with three boxes that fell down with Kasia, one small piece of clothing fell out of one of the boxes. There should have been clothing all over the place. Yes i know, pick pick pick. But isn't that what i'm here for? So Paul is spearheading another coverup over a death. This is turning into a habit. Not only do they have to convince Vicky to go along with the story, which might not be difficult, but Sally has her nose in it now too.

I think Ken has grown into a man that cannot express his emotions. If he has trained himself all those years to be objective then he probably has lost the ability to let it go except on rare occasions. I don't know what's worse. Deirdre screeching at Ken or barely talking to him.

Oh nice. The Morton's take the kids home, rightly so, but then strip the mother's house of food and appliances??? Why wouldn't the neighbour have recognized the other kids if not Jerry. Surely Jerry would have come to drop Kayleigh and the twins off at their mother's different times. The twins get to share a car for their birthday. Here's assuming they can drive. At least it goes, it's in better shape than David's. Partay! I giggled at Sally, Claire and Gayle getting squiffy after they were watching Granddad clear the place out and having a good nose around! I bet they all had sore backsides the next day but i suppose their hangovers were hurting them worse! I was enjoying David's getting shot down by Mel.

So Vernon thinks asking Liz to marry him means he's a changed man? But you know he's not going to change his skiving ways. Vernon just going to propose to her with a cringing song. Somehow, Liz's "all right then" didn't seem to be quite heart felt. Start as you mean to go on. Take Liz out to celebrate and borrow the dosh off Steve. *That's* going to make him a fan, yes indeedy. But *what* kind of blouse was she wearing? It looked likt it was made of about 4 different patterns! Talk about Fugly! Liz shows just as much bad judgement of men as she ever has, thinking Vernon has more incentive to change when all he's doing is letting her down already by getting drunk. And that's pushed her right at Derek. A bit of exciting which is exactly what Vernon isn't.

Another golf game, another set of ugly sweathers. Why is it people seem to feel the need to dress in the tackiest clothes on the golf course? At least they weren't in plus-fours. Yes, why *would* Jason ring his mother to tell her something when he lives so close? Adam doesn't want to go work for Peter because he doesn't want to actually work! Surely he must have spent most of that money he got for his share of the factory by now. Even if it's just on putting gas in that fancy sport car. Eileen wanted Jason to settle the baby but she sure looked quiet to me.

ooh we haven't seen the early morning milk truck for quite awhile! Vera must have been quite a hot blooded passion in her youth if she's still up for some morning dew-me ;) Where's Jack's going to put his pigeons? Will he make Liam feel sufficiently guilty? Oh sure. A couple of pints a week and a vision of his old Grandad and Liam was won over.

Monday two episodes back to back at the regular time.

Annoyances

There are things about soaps that annoy me in spite of the fact that i do love them. I do know it's television and it's not real. I do know they take artistic license sometimes. But I do wish that they'd use a bit of reality when it comes to things legal with regards to real estate. Houses are bought and sold and the new owners moved in practically in a few hours. The latest load of tosh is Charlie Stubbs' estate.

Charlie dies. No will as far as we know. Even if there was one, it would take weeks or months to sort out. But no. Tracy isn't even convicted yet and the house is sold and a new family has moved in. I want to know who sold the house. None of his family came to the funeral though he's supposed to have had some. Wasn't he even supposed to have had a child from a former relationship/marraige? Mind you, nothing he told anyone could have bore any relationship to the truth since he bent and twisted it to meet his needs. That sob story about the younger brother who died from a drugs overdose was always suspect if you ask me.

If he died without a will, there's no way his estate would be in any shape or form to be able to sell the house and now, the business, this soon after his demise. No way. And there's been no word about the flat either unless he was renting that. I know he sub-let it to Maria but i don't know if he owned it or was renting it himself. We'll let that one go to the rent book in the sky.

Also, how on earth could Jason have continued to run the business? He almost certainly wouldn't have had any access to the bank accounts either to deposit payments made for jobs or to withdraw to pay for supplies much less his own payroll. He's no accountant either. He also wouldn't really know the ins and outs of running that business. Stupid stupid stupid.

I really hate when they do things that are just incomprehensible. I'll accept some things for "artistic lisence" like how the immigration department swooped in on the factory the day after Janice called them. A day which happened to be Good Friday though they were all working overtime in the factory. Then Vicky was given a hard time because she had to go home to get her passport. What about all the others? Did they have birth certificates or passports with them? I doubt it but i'll let that one go but only grudgingly. We'll forgive the fact that Janice wears the same grubby old jacket for years but has expensive manicures. The estate stuff really rubs me the wrong way, though.

Another thing that annoys me from time to time is the black hole where all the cars go at night. As far as i can recall, only Rita and Gail's houses have garages. Most of the residents have cars yet you only see one on the street when they come out of the house to drive somewhere or arrive from somewhere. Then it's conveniently parked outside. Any other time, it's invisible. There's barely room in the ginnel for the wheely bins to be taken out by the binmen. There's nothing behind the new houses aside from their gardens. Victoria Street is directly behind them and Streetcars takes up most of that parking space. Behind Streetcars, at the end of the street, you often see the gates of a brewery so no residential parking there either. Where are the cars?

I know i shouldn't really get so anal about these things. It *is* only tv and i'm willing to suspend disbelief a lot of the time. It's just that some things go beyond disbelief. I'll just get me coat.

Sunday Comments, January 6

Lines of the week:

• Foreman of the jury "Guilty!"
  
• David "Whatever i say everyone automatically thinks i'm lying" (um, because you usually are)
  
• Steve "You know i'm going to have to buy her her first bra!"
  
• Janice about Joanne "She should have told me!"
  
• Dev "Mine is bigger than yours" Steve "It's not the size it's what you do with it" (golf clubs!)
  
• Janice "We need to take action" (haven't you already done that?)
  
• Dev about Jerry "Not only did that man kiss the Blarney Stone, he snogged the very life out of it!"
  

She's going down!! Absolutely no doubt in my mind that she would be found guilty. 15 years and Deirdre is going to beat herself up every one of them. Steve is now a single father. I wonder if we'll actually get a storyline where he finds it difficult. Nah. We didn't get it with Ashley, we won't get it with Steve. Tracey would have gone to prison even without Deirdre's testimony. Liz at least probably would be good company for Deirdre. She's had a son go to prison too. Claire's going to get quite a shock when she finds out that her bezzy mate stitched her up and sucked her into her nefarious plan. And Deirdre is now going to lash out at everyone and Ken's going to get the worst of it. Deirdre just isn't going to accept completely that her daughter is a monster and made Deirdre believe what Tracy wanted her to believe. Even knowing the truth, Deirdre seems to still be blocking it out and blaming herself. And even those crocodile tears as she was led away weren't very convincing. So the morning after, it's all over the newspapers. Why wasn't in the papers before that? You only saw it i think, the once, the day after the murder and not one photographer on the street. After Richard Hillman's escapades, the street was thronged with press. This shouldn't have been any different.

Tracy really is sticking the knife in where Deirdre is concerned. Nothing Deirdre says makes any difference. There's no way Ken and Deirdre could possibly afford any more big legal bills. Tracy turned on them some quick when she found that out and then tried the sympathy card ramped up with Amy guilt on top of it all. She's a supremely selfish cow and she deserves to be banged up alone for 15 years. I bet Tracy won't remember her parents' anniversary (will she remember it's also the date her father, Ray, died?) Blanche is gone on holiday, Peter will be gone and Adam with him. It's just Ken and Deirdre and all that guilt and smoke. Deirdre needs to get angry at Tracy, really angry. And not just at Ken which is who she's taking it all out on and i resent her calling him the Voice of Reason! (even if he is! ;)

Poor Steve is in a panic over raising a daughter in a pub and what Amy's future is going to be like. Steve has told Amy that her mommy has done something a little bit naughty. Can you see the panic in that child the first time she is naughty?

Sarah certainly seems to have completely gone against her brother. She doesn't give any quarter does she? Gail has her doubts about David's testimony and knowing about the security tape adds to it but he still managed to talk his mother round. He really knows what buttons to push. Peter's still sniffing around Maria's skirts but I see he really hasn't changed any. He turned around and took off back down South and didn't even tell her, and left the day after he spent the night under her sheets. Bill's buying Charlie's builder's yard? I thought he already did! Will Sally let Kevin invest? No i guess not. I don't suppose they have much money after all those school fees they're paying. But Audrey won't mind and Bill will take her up on it. See i wouldn't want paying back if the business was a good one, i'd rather have the income!

There's another little fallout from the murder. Just when Jason was starting to really like the baby, as we all suspected, the baby that everyone thinks is Jason's, isn't. Charlie was using Jason's name when he was out on the pull though the girl did remember Jason as being at the club that night too. I wonder if Charlie did that a lot or just when he was out catting around on a girlfriend. (and where *has* the baby been in the past few weeks? we've hardly seen her until the last episode this week!) Eileen's going to have a hard time giving up that baby now. I don't think Jason will.

You just knew that Leanne's survey was going to show that the house was just fine. She just enjoyed winding Liam up. As sure as houses, they'll end up together. You can see them sparking off each other already. Vernon's drum school was short lived, because of Amy moving in. Why isn't Sally all agog pushing Rosie on the stage now that she's auditioning for the school play?

Is Kayleigh old enough to be babysitting her little brother? She's old enough to be shoplifting. Guess she gets that from her Granddad. She's definitely not old enough to be left alone with a younger child. So Mel and Darrel are going to be turning 18. Guess they've both left school at 16 without going to do their A levels.

I'm glad to see Vicki standing up to Janice, face to face. Someone needs to offer Janice double and triple shifts and see if that stops her complaining. Except it wouldn't, would it? Ah so we see what's behind Joanne's vitriol against the Poles. She's an illegal immigrant, herself! Oh heck, Janice called in the immigration police and boy did she get a shock when Joanne was shopped! Why would anyone have their passport at work with them? The factory was open on Good Friday though they mentioned that they were doing overtime. I'm surprised the immigration police showed up. I can't think Janice knew they'd show up the day after she made the call and most places like factories are likely closed on a day like Good Friday so did they just arrive on the off chance? Joanne wondered how a child could break the law, well they can't. But she's an adult and has been working. She could have started the paperwork herself as a refugee from a war zone. Paul's hands are tied, though, more publicity might shine the light on Carla's night workers who may or may not be legal.