Sunday Comments, April 25

Lines of the week:

• Tyrone "I'm not totally daft, me, you know"
  
• Jesse "Seven year olds are very dangerous"
  
• Kirk to Jesse "Can i owe you it, no pockets in me dress" Graeme "is it me or does Kirk look good in a dress? I've had worse looking dates!"
  
• Tony about Rosie "The only thing lower than that daft lass's neckline is her IQ"
  
• Tony to Maria in labour "Do it for Liam" (and that must have killed him to say that!)
  
• Tyrone to Molly "If i die before you do, don't go off with anyone else? I want you to be happy. Just not that happy!" (Selfish thing)
  
• Audrey "Can Auntie Audrey have a hold?" Kirk "Go on then, but be careful" (Aw Bless. Uncle Kirkie is very protective!)
  
• Sean "You're probably sick of hearing this but your brother, In't he lovely?" Norris "I disagree almost violently"
  
• Eddie to Eileen "Can you think of one single reason why any woman wouldn't want to marry me?" (Um. How much time have you got?)
  
• Tina "I am in control" (yeah until David goes on a rampage again)
  

Tony's control freak came flashing through! It's ok to be worried because she was gone and not answering her phone but he did go a bit over the top. That's the Tony we know and love! I was waiting for Tony to have another panic attack, delivering the baby of the man that he murdered. He came through for Maria at least. Can you imagine giving birth in a remote beach house? Only on a soap, eh? Not only that, she had the baby while sitting on Tony's jacket and the baby landed in his tshirt! Why was there a "It's a Girl" balloon? Kirk, of course. And did you see that baby smile when Tony asked him if he was going to be good for his mummy? Tony actually shed a tear over the baby. I wonder if that was genuine guilt and remorse?

Molly and Kevin make me physically ill. Sneaking around, making puppy eyes at each other and shoving tongues down throats. Bleurgh. Did Sally really expect Kevin to be able to identify a mauve makeup bag and a fuscia lippy? Tsk. No wonder he's having an affair! (bleurgh again) And i really don't think Kevin would ever betray his best friend and partner like this, do you?

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Hayley ends up making a deal with Pam to share the catering profits for her sandwiches. Good deal all around i'd say. Joe's back and he's begging Graeme to get him more painkillers because the doctor won't give him any! It's official. Addiction with a capital A.

Rosie is now partner in Underworld. Tony's worst nightmare, i think! Rosie gets to do exactly the same job as before but with business cards to appease her and a cut of the profits, if there are any. She thinks she's educated. She went to a private school for a year or two but never finished her A levels so she's only got basic qualifications.

Lloyd is really missing Liz. Lots of male totty this week, shirtless Tony and then Jason in the gym. Sean spied a good looking fella and started showing off. At least those puppy eyes (the ones Sean was making at the other fella) were guilt free! But Sean, Sean, Sean, you just can't help yourself can you?

Janice is messing up with the PA job, the one Sally has always been salivating over. I wonder if Sally has to call Rosie "Miss Webster" too! Eddie has a red pullover and proposes. That must be his proposing shirt. I thought they were married but obviously not though she uses his name. Emily and Ramsay seem to be getting on like a house afire. Wouldn't it be nice if she found love? Nice to see her have a storyline anyway. And Norris isn't any more inclined to be friendly with his brother.

Laughed at David, Darryl and Graeme wondering why women are fawning over Jason and his new shirt. Duh. Kirk didn't have much luck as Hiya Lowa but he looked hysterically funny! Only he could have pulled that off! I like Jason and Tina together, don't you? I laughed at him telling Tina he was afraid of cows, though i'm sure he was just winding her up. I wasn't surprised it was David sending Tina those flowers and i wasn't surprised he went spare when he found out about her and Jason. Typical David. Then Jason had to sit there while David assured him with Gary out of the way, he and Tina could get back together again. *gulp*

Jesse's parents surprised Jesse and Eileen. Tit for Tat. Jason took the opportunity to tease his mother. So Jason is going to be a property developer and Tina decides to do it with him as a business? Doesn't seem like her type of thing.

On my holidays for a few weeks. See you later in May!

Sunday Comments, April 18

Lines of the week:

• Tyrone "Vera, give us a sign!" (*knock knock*)
  
• Molly to Tyrone "Look at ya! you're 26 going on 12!"
  
• Rosie about Luke "It wasn't my money he wanted last night" (Oh yes it was!)
  
• Kevin to Molly "All I want to do is jump on your bones" (classy)
  
• Molly to Tyrone "You're behaving like a moron and pushing Jack away"
  
• Jack to Tyrone "Like you, carpet burns on your chin"
  
• Tony "I'm a pussy cat" (with very big claws)
  
• Hayley "Trouble with a Capital T!"
  
• Kevin about Steve's diamond jumper: "Is it Jeeves or Wooster?" Tyrone: "More like Norris Cole!"
  
• Sally "I feel like Audrey Hepburn" Rosie "You look like Audrey Roberts!"
  
• Sean about Jason "I heard he was a bit deshabille" (i.e. unclothed) Jason "Yeah we'd had a couple" (of beers) Doh.
  

Hayley isn't too happy to hear Slug was back on the scene. You just got to love Hayley. With a capital L :) Steve is turning 35 and he dresses like he's 60 and that argyle vest that Becky bought him doesn't do him any favours. It looks like something out of Mike Baldwin's wardrobe! I really doubt she'd buy him something like that, really.

Bill and Pam are writing personal ads for each other. Why don't they just date each other? Jesse's dad wont' speak to him and his mum's all over him. Mommy's boy? Something tells me Kevin (nor Molly) would be too keen on being one big happy family with each other now!

FINALLY Hayley tore a strip off Pam for selling sandwiches and taking cafe business away. What took her so long? Kirk wants to be HiyaLowa with Jesse? Stay Tuned Monday for a very funny sight!

Luke has talked Rosie into investing in Underworld. She's going to be even more insufferable now she's an owner. So let me get this right. It wasn't ok for Rosie to shag Stape, her teacher, but it was ok for her to jump into bed with the equally aged Luke Strong, her boss? But because he didn't reject Sally and he's cute, Sally is just fine with it but Kevin at least, remembers that Martin got a great deal of grief for exactly the same thing.
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Kevin and Molly????????? What are the writers thinking? What's going on? Kevin is fed up with Rosie and his wife gets on his nerves. Her husband is spending time moaning about Jack and not paying a lot of attention to her. They've only been married for 10 minutes. Big blue eyes flirts with him and he's got an instant mid-life crisis and has a huge crush on Molly. She didn't think anything more of him than a pal until he said he was crushing on her. She slapped him but did you see her face when she walked away? She thought, well this might be fun! And she was back there the next day, with all glossy lips and low cut tops and doing some heavy flirting with him. We are in for a very bumpy ride and you're not going to like it very much at all.

And before you say it's out of character, it's not. Molly thought nothing of trying to split up Kirk and Fiz just for the hell of it, remember? It is out of character for Kevin. I really REALLY don't believe he'd go after his best friend/partner's wife. And it wasn't that long ago he was beating up Stapid (Stape-stupid-vapid) for going after his teenage daughter. Molly's not that much older than Rosie! And i don't understand why Molly had to hide in the trunk of a car because Sally was at the door. They weren't doing anything wrong and Molly was just there for the books. (and a flirt)

Sean is always putting his foot in it isn't he? Jason seemed to have to get very drunk to put up with Minnie for the evening but she knew it. Who knew she'd have enough confidence in herself to turn him down for being drunk and looking for a one night stand? Well done Minnie! Tina spent the evening gazing at Jason across the room. Minnie might have been flashing her cleavage for Jason but Tina has quite an impressive cleavage too and Jason seems to like hers better. ooops, though, Mother walking in on you making out! eek! Rosie is throwing more money away. Buying a flash sports car she can't even drive! Luke wasted no time sucking up to her and flattering her about it though.

Of course John decided to see Fiz after her very public display of affection and proposal. He had her right where he wanted her. And i'll tell you. Someone that is truly suicidal and depressed isn't going to snap out of it suddenly and completely just because his girlfriend proposes. I've always believed that John Stape is a passive aggressive weak willed spineless pillock and i stand by that. (The actor, Graeme Hawley, however, is quite good at his job!)

Tyrone needs a good smack up the chops. I know he has a hard time seeing Jack with someone else and he misses Vera dreadfully but he needs to grow up and understand that nobody replaces Vera but Jack needs to have a life beyond her grave. Tyrone is really making a prat of himself and with the photo falling off the shelf, he figures that's Vera and she's not happy. Me? I'd have only said that if the photo fell on Connie's head! Well, he is about to drive Jack right out of the house. I do like Connie, mind you and i think if anyone could be a replacement for Vera, it's her.

Sunday Comments, April 11

Lines of the week:

• Stape "Why do you think i became a teacher?" Rosie "Because you're too boring to be an accountant"
  
• Ted to David "I'm not ready for a Werther's Original moment just yet"
  
• Ramsay "We can't remember if it was Richard or John that succeeded Henry II" Sean "I'm better with Queens, me" (Richard, as it happens).
  
• Fiz about John's compensation "Why didn't he tell me?" (hello? not talking to you!)
  
• Kelly "I could wear some unsuitable heels and ask daft questions and flick my hair a lot!" (you already do!)
  
• Rosie about Fiz (and John) "If anything happens to him she's just going to blame me! It's so unfair!"
  
• Tyrone "Call it a sixth sense" Molly "You have trouble with the other five, don't tell me you can read minds now"
  
• Sally about Stape "I saw through him from the start!" (starting with after he rejected your advances)
  

Don't know why Stape aka Prisoner 666 found it difficult to tell Rosie what he wanted to tell her. Why didn't he just get the solicitor to send the letter notifying her? Totally unbelievable. Did we need that scene just to see Rosie's boobs? He wants her to do good with the money. Luke needs money for the factory. Can you connect the very obvious dots? Rosie has money, Luke isn't wasting any time flattering and sucking up. I HATE contrived stuff like this! And for the record? Rosie isn't that intelligent and shouldn't be at university. And John should realize that and is it too late to stop the transaction? No wonder she sees it as compensation, and so she should. But having her flouncing around all smug and even more obnoxious with money in her pocket is going to be excruciating.

And even more pain... Fiz crying into a recorder, whining, sobbing, sucking up to the prison, you name it. Fiz takes drastic action and chains herself to a fence and then threatens to strip. How's she going to do that chained to a fence, i don't know. Blech! I guess she was scared he wanted Rosie again after Rosie wound her up about the visit. Then they told her he was on suicide watch. AGAIN would they really tell her that since she's not related nor on his "to tell" list? And how did she know to talk directly to John through the cctv cameras just at the moment he walked into the governor's office? What i really want to know is why have they totally ruined Fiz Bomb!

Why does Tony have to sleep on the sofa when Michelle is away on tour and Ryan is staying at a mate's? Now Maria's doing his laundry and he's cooking for her. Laughed at Sean having a nightmare about comfy trousers!

Is Kevin actually jealous of Jason, thinking he's after Molly? or is he protective of his mate Tyrone? Jason is too loyal to his friend Tyrone to go after Tyrone's wife. I wonder if the same is true of Kevin? Is Kevin developing a mid-life crisis and getting a crush on Molly? Does he think her flirting just a bit and being all friendly with this running and training means she *likes* him? Whammo. one fluttering eyelash later and Kevin's all over her. Tyrone is more interested in moaning about Jack and Connie's holiday so what's a girl to do? She's having a bit of fun at Kevin's expense and Kevin falls in lust with her? Sorry. I don't buy it.

I love Ted. He's such a Voice of Reason, isn't he? I thought Jack was only gone 2 weeks? Feels like he's been gone a lot longer. Ooohhh General Custard is back! That was the fella that Eileen took a shine to! Oh oh, and Slug aka Neil (Becky's no good ex) is back too! This can only be trouble. He says he's changed. I don't buy that either. Definitely sparks between Jason and Tina. Minnie and Rosie. peas in a pod. Not even enough brains between them to fill a peapod.

Jack is back from Spain and missing his cuppa and a good pint. But very likely where he was is full of English tourists and I bet you could get as good an English fry up there as back in old Blighty. Too bad he had to try to fool Tyrone (and did it badly) when the whole trip was completely innocent. And if he was trying to keep the trip secret, why would he bring back all kinds of souvenirs? I'm sure he and Vera have been to Spain so it's not like it's his first time. Tyrone is going to end up pushing Jack right out the house if he keeps up this attitude.

I'm surprised Becky doesn't know the trendy clubs in town. She's always been a clubber, she and Sean.

Canada's #1 Corrie fan visits the cobbles!

Last year, Deborah Cyr won a CBC sponsored contest as "Canada's Number 1 Coronation Street Fan" and her prize was a trip for two to Manchester and a VIP tour of the set. I published an interview that I did with her here.

During the week Deborah and her husband, Al, were there, they met lots of actors both on the day of the tour and during one or two other days that they waited at the gates of the staff parking lot including the day they arrived. What better way to kill some time before the hotel has your room ready? Deborah has done this before but not as many times as implied by several newspaper stories that were published about her during her visit.

Deborah has kindly given me a description of her visit to Manchester and allowed me to publish it here. These are her words and the photos are her copyright! For those of you who don't like spoilers, there are a couple of minor ones.

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July 30th, 2009 I had a message on my answering machine I will never forget "I am calling from CBC to tell you that you have won the contest looking for Canada's # 1 Coronation Street fan." After waiting what seemed to be the longest 7 1/2 months my husband Al and I headed to Manchester. Our prize included airfare for two to Manchester, 6 nights at the Marriott hotel, spending money, a tour of the set and bragging rights as the # 1 fan.

We dropped off our luggage at the hotel on March 15th and immediately went to see if we could spot any of the actors. We'd only been there 5 minutes and we saw Craig Charles (Lloyd). We knew it was going to be a good day. We ended up meeting 14 actors that day including Graeme, Mary, new character Izzy who hasn't been seen on the screen yet. The biggest surprise of the day was when we went back to check into our hotel. I was looking after that and Keith Duffy (Ciaran) walked into the hotel and asked Al if he was the man he was there to meet. He wasn't, but we still had a chance to chat with him and pose for a photo. Very nice!!

Over the week we met 26 actors....my favourite being Jack P Shepherd. I had received a letter from him years ago, plus a video message and I'd been hoping to meet him for a while. I was not disappointed. He spent quite a while chatting to us and we shared a few laughs. Of all the 60 plus actors I've met, he is my favourite. Others we met that week were Peter, Graeme, Leanne, Kirk, Steve, Eddie Windass (I did not recognize with his wool hat on until Al pointed him out) and Claire. We also saw Eccles.

Our tour date was March 18th. There were 9 of us, 3 other winners that had won a Quality Street Coronation Street contest and a chaperone from CBC. We got to see a number of sets The Rovers, Underworld, Roy's Rolls, Streetcars, Blanche's bedroom (there won't be a dry eye when we see Deirdre going through some of Blanche's things next month), Rita's flat and many other sets. We heard some fabulous stories as we went from set to set. The sets are all very small, you wonder how everyone can fit in. There are cameras, lights and wires everywhere. The highlight for me was stepping onto those famous cobbles and walking down the actual street. There is something special about walking on them.

On the day of the tour I appeared in the Daily Mirror, The Sun and was mentioned on Radio 2. It was a very exaggerated story with a number of errors. I don't make the 12,000 km pilgrimage yearly, plus I go to visit relatives when I do with a day trip to Manchester, I don't camp out there either. It was still very exciting being in the paper. That day I was surprised when someone recognized me and I ended up sigining 3 autographs! Because of the article, I received a number of messages. I have done an interview with Pick Me Up magazine and will be in issue number 17. This will be 'my story' of being a Coronation Street fan.

It was an amazing week, one I will never forget. All of this for enjoying a TV show!! You can see my photos here, I took lots of photos, hopefully you will feel like you are right there on the tour with us. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy. (click on any photos to make them bigger)

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Thank you so much, Deborah for sharing your story!!! I'm so pleased you had such a great trip and jealous as hell that you met so many of the actors! Memories to last a lifetime!

Sunday comments, April 4

Lines of the week:

• Becky to Poppy "You're a bossy two faced cow and nobody watns you here"
  
• Gary "Platt set me up!"
  
• Jason to Pam "Here she is now, the working man's crumpet"
  
• Eddie about David "He's the brains behind all this. Our Gary's not smart enough" (you got that right, but David's none too clever either)
  
• Tony "I'll be back before you can say Mad Scotsman"
  
• Norris "How was i to know he likes his nuts left under the mat?"
  

David now has to scramble to replace the photos. Plot Hole alert! Didn't Ted notice that the photos were all gone? And that lame lie about Gary hiding the photos because he felt guilty about the faces looking at him? Duh. Gary might go to prison but i really wouldn't want to be in David's shoes when he gets out. Gary whines about David setting him up but let's face it, even if that's true, and it is, Gary *still* was up for a breakin wasn't he? And David scrambling to right the photos and didn't quite make it. That's going to be his main mistake but will his family reveal it to the court? Will Gary land David in it? Oh yes he will! Will they believe him? oh yes they will! The photos were the thing that tripped up David.

Now Gail is so desperate that she wonders if Gary had himself arrested just to get at David? Oh PuhLeze! That woman is unbelievable! Then David decides to come clean and hope they think his plan to get Gary out of their hair was a good one but you know, since Ted was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's not gonna happen. So they all blank him. But he gets to keep his job and his place in his home. Not so bad really. They've gone through this "i'm not talking to you" before and they always weakened after awhile. Just as i figured, Ted wasn't buying into the silent treatment. But he is disappointed and that might make all the difference to David. If it was truly tough love, Audrey would let him live in the flat and make him pay rent on his paltry hair washing salary. pay your own bills, do your own cooking and laundry, sit at night by yourself.

Doctor is cutting Joe off. That man is definitely addicted to those painkillers. Molly and Kevin going running. Kevin looks like a dork in that training suit. I thought they were going to be in a race awhile back? What happened with that? This seems to be a different race. Julie is getting to look more and more like a blonde Amy Winehouse on steroids. What's with the beehive? She certainly has her own personal style. I wonder where she got the idea of early 60s Vogue though? Fiz has to get to the post office? Isn't there one still in the Kabin? that's like, 20 seconds away. Or is it? Judging from the look over Rita's shoulder near the end of the omni towards the back of the shop, there's no Post office back there where there used to be though the sign is still up.

Maria had what she thought was labour pains. Did you see the dog looking up at her when she was doing the first scenes? And Tony knew nothing about the whole incident until Maria was back home the next day. But then, Tony decides to move in and sleep on the sofa and put himself at Maria's beck and call. Why, i ask myself? Still sucking up or has he grown to care for her?

Poppy finally shot herself in the foot. Not only did she upset Betty but she insulted Sean and he sacked her by proxy! Steve is so bad under pressure. So bad that he wittered so much and badly, with it, that Becky took matters and hair extensions into her own hands and that's the end of Poppy. She was a wasted character really, they never really did anything with her.

Pam nearly got herself in hot water with her lies when her dining companions wanted her to play the piano. Eek! Ms Ness knew damn well both Pam "Stella" and "Newt" were telling porkies. Looks like Pam and Bill might actually get together. Not sure i think they work together, they could be throwing them together for lack of anything else to do with them.

Oh nice. Electrical shocks and Tony can't be arsed. It's not money. Safety is important. Rosie seems to be making cow eyes at Luke all of a sudden. She really can't seem to get over that penchant for older men. I'm sure Luke must be close to Stape's age. I've got a sneaking feeling that Tony has been cooking the books to try to wipe out Luke financially. Luke had a better idea, though, make them all buy into the company. I can't see it though. There's no way they could all find the funds to make up a total of 25 grand.

Poor Sean got edited out of the newspaper photo! I didn't realize Tina was still working two jobs. I don't think Graeme is going to win any points with Natasha comparing her to a sheep he'd butchered. Tony ironing a shirt without wearing one, and making porridge with his granny's spurtle? Hmmmm... i could get used to that sight of a morning.

Fiz keeps trying to contact John and he keeps sending back her letters even though, as she says, he really doesn't want them to be apart. Me, i just wish he'd go away and we would get are sparky Fiz back again. Meanwhile, Ches just wants out. Kevin takes pity and lets him wash a few cars. I guess he figures Ches needs a bit of time for himself. And i don't see why Fiz has a problem with Ches doing work for Kevin for pocket money. She says she gives him money but he's also had a paper round for a few years so also works for his own there too. So anyway, John doesn't want to see Fiz yet allows his personal medical officer to tell Fiz, not even a family member, that he's clinically depressed and just as I"m sure was the plan of Prisoner 666, Fiz went running to the jail. I'm throwing my hands up i really am.

As much as i can't stand all this, Sally really was too petty tearing the pages out of the books. Why didn't Fiz just tell her in front of everyone that they were Roy's books and she'd have to replace them? that would have shut her up pretty quick. And whinging and squeaking at the jail guard? Have you no pride, woman?? And what on earth would John possibly want from Rosie besides an quick ogle at all that cleavage she was determined to show off?

Roy's going to send John some books and Lloyd's going to post them? Why? John won't recognize Roy's handwriting anymore than he would Lloyd's.

Sunday Comments, March 28

Lines of the week:

• Hayley to Roy "How do you feel about identity theft?"
  
• Anna to Eddie "You give scum a bad name"
  
• Sean "Being chirpy is exhausting" (you might find that, but Julie doesn't!)
  
• Sean "I am just the man to put Eye in Eye Candy"
  
• Blanche "Biographies. They shatter all your illusions"
  
• Peter after saying *those words* "I don't think i've ever felt worse"
  
• Betty on her job "Close on 40 years" Becky "So you're getting the hang of it"
  
• Peter "I'm Peter Barlow and I'm an alcoholic"
  
• Sean about Betty "She went out like a galleon under sail"
  
• Ken to Blanche "So what are you saying? Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic?" (well, yes, that's the point)
  
• Vanessa "Newton? I bet your friends call you Newt?" Bill "Only when i've had a few" (as in pi$$ed as a newt!)
  

And the next funniest moment was Roy's reaction when Hayley carted back one of the life size Eddies to show him! But you know, Hayley just has too big a heart and realized Anna really didn't give Eddie the passwords. She's just got the bad luck to be married to a devious deviant. I like Anna, though. She's the only really redeeming Windass there is. Roy, of course, doesn't want to take advantage of the free trip. Morally, ethically, he probably has a small point but Hayley's a force to be reckoned with. She shall have her mini-break!

See ya, Michelle, don't let the door hit you on your skanky ass on the way out! At least she knows that Leanne isn't out of Peter's system and she knows she's not really over Steve. (So was the way to get over one guy to get under two?) This set-back has backslide written all over it for Peter. He does admit to his father how upset he is. I wouldn't have thought he'd still have a bottle of booze hidden in the flat after all this time though. Still, he smashed it instead of drinking the contents. Then he nearly had a drink in the pub until Blanche took him under her Bingo wing. They're handling this well though. Any time in the past anyone had a drink problem it was always a temporary thing. This time they're taking it seriously. Peter needs help. He knows he does but going to a meeting is a big step and it's a tough step to take. It's hard to admit you need help and even facing the group, it's still hard to really admit it. Peter better figure it out sharpish though or he'll fall and he'll fall hard.

Now, see, if Joe wasn't hauling great chunks of wood around the building site, he might not have so much pain. Yes, i know, he supposedly has no help anymore now Gary's given up. He certainly seemed able enough when he was tearing the house apart for a man in so much "physical" pain. And David, smiling smugly behind his back after catching him in mid-freakout? Little toerag!!! how on earth was he able to sit in the Emergency for 4 hours to get some painkillers when he was that frantic?

It's interesting though, seeing two addiction stories going on. Peter trying desperately to recover and Joe spiraling out of control.

Julie is going to be Sean's life coach? Like she's got her life in order. I really don't think i'd want Julie advising me on my life. Poppy doesn't seems to be getting on with Betty and seems to be getting highly irritated with her. I'm telling you, you go up against Betty, you're going to lose. Poppy is being very heavy handed, cutting out all Betty's shifts. Them's fightin' actions and if she wants a fight, she'll have one. And what does the erstwhile owner do? Call his mummy. I don't understand where it all came from anyway. Betty always arrives before opening to get the hotpot in the oven. There's no point arriving really late because food won't be ready to serve at dinnertime.

MOlly figures if you go to a salon in town, you come out looking the same. I think Audrey has got that down to a science. Molly's really talking about looking the same as everyone else but it didn't come out that way. It's not as if Molly has a style really.

Bill is trying the singles nights at the bars. He meets a very posh sounding ma'am who is very condescending about the clientele. So what is she doing there week after week? Bill wasted no time telling lies including his name and his background. Pam cleans up nicely and she was just as bad, poshing herself up as a concert pianist.

David's putting his plan in place. He's having Gary rob Audrey's house and getting him caught in the act! Clever. The best part of this whole storyline was Graeme up a tree in stealth camoflage with code names (Mr. Savaloy and Pork Pie!) and a mobile. But oh no! Unexpected glitch? Ted had decided to house sit and was surprised by Gary. No wonder he had a heart attack! Eek! I bet David isn't feeling so smug now! He really does love and respect Ted. Gary figures Len will back him up and give him an alibi and he would have until he found out Gary really did it and could be identified.

I'm still waiting for Hayley to tear a strip off Pam for undercutting their lunch business. I can't believe she let it go this long.

Aw i think that was mean, taking the Gazette photo shoot away from Sean like that.

Sunday Comments, March 21

Lines of the week:

• Julie "Everybody likes The Sound of Music" Eileen "Why? It's just nuns, Nazis and Lonely Goatherds"
  
• Blanche to Peter's suggestion of "Grey"mail "I like you Peter. I always did"
  
• Sally "I think brains are overrated" (That's not what you said when you shagged your boss so Rosie could get an education. Mind you. Rosie doesn't have brains anyway
  
• Umed "A problem shared... " Audrey "Is a problem everybody knows about the next day"
  
• Graeme to David "That crazy cat you once knew no longer inhabits this body"
  
• Tony to Natasha "While I can ignore your non-existant personality and mind-numbing conversation, i think Jealousy is a very ugly trait in a person..." and "Don't ever upset Maria again. I'd hate for us to *really* fall out" um really?
  
• Michelle "I'm just a bad girl, aren't i?" (that's one word for it)
  
• David "When have i ever caused anybody any trouble?" (Yes, he was sarcastic)
  

Funniest scene ever: Hayley in the Cash and Carry seeing dozens of lifesized cutouts of Eddie as "Roy Cropper". Did you see her face??? It's like your worst nightmare isn't it? Eileen can't get rid of Julie now that Julie has decided they're going to be closerthanthis sisters. You couldn't get more opposite personalities even if the sisterhood circumstances were under better conditions.

Helping Chesney really is a lame excuse and i can't blame Sally for being upset after what she went through though she did go a bit overboard. Fiz says she'll give up John but you know she won't. She was on the phone to get a visiting order before Chesney was barely out of the door. Well at least she doesn't have to sneak around anymore. But she didn't break it off with John, he did with her, doing the right thing for a change, knowing it was making her life hell with her family and friends. There she is screaming and crying after him as they lead him away. Have a little dignity, Fiz! Have a little backbone! Oh no, sorry, Stape removed that already. Anyway Ches is back to school with a posse to protect him and he's being very cheeky and mouthy to Fiz. Fiz was definitely in the wrong but she doesn't deserve disrespect from Chesney either but i can't.

Michelle had a "holiday romance" with Luke and wasted no time having one with Peter after he gave her Eurostar tickets for Ryan. Who does she think she is? Rosie Webster? Please tell me there's not going to be a "Who's the Daddy" storyline in a few months? I don't blame Peter for getting picky about letting Michelle off early all the time if she's wandering in late and it's just to run around with another man. It had nothing to do with Ryan's alarm going off and everything to do with Luke's alarm, or something else going off in the morning. Peter found the right way to her heart, or bed at least, through her son. Getting concert tickets and buying Eurostar tickets were one thing, but defending her son against an angry father melted her little heart. So she's got Luke and Peter sulking because she's leaving, (Hey Peter... Leanne who?) both of them begging her not to go. And Luke telling Peter he's a dirty dog but really Michelle never made any committment to either one and with both of them scratching at her skirts, she probably should just get out of town and let them both cool their jets.

Joe should be more than happy to get rid of Gary instead of having to put up with him. Joe's pain seems to come and go, but by telling the doctor he's getting a bit better, she gave him weaker pills. Can you guess where his pain is really coming from? Can you say "Withdrawal"? Joe also seems to have a nasty side to him. Laughed at Lloyd's pub quiz questions, all to do with taxis! Blanche is back home. Ken wanted her back all along. She couldn't make it easy for him, though, and the "greymail" got something out of it for her. Odd though, he must be desperate because one of the things he objected to strongly about the time he met and took up with Martha was Blanche and Deirdre making plans for him to decorate her bedroom. It took Deirdre long enough to warm up again though you could see she wanted to.

I can see Norris is going to annoy me even more than normal with this half-brother storyline. Ramsay is a very nice man and had no bearing on Mrs. Cole's death. Norris is bound and determined Ramsay is not going to make any inroads and is well jealous that Ramsay is "using" his friends to get to him.

David is definitely setting Gary up for something. (oh, what happened to Gary's face? Did i miss him getting the tar beat out of him? What's with the black eye and scrapes or did the actor himself have an accident). Oh, right, I know exactly what David's plan is now. Why else would Audrey tell David all the flaws in her security system which seems to be on the blink? Can you say "break in"? Stitching up Gary!

Ryan's doing his very best to get his way with Sian. Can't blame him. Look at the example his mother sets. But somewhere Sian's father got the wrong impression and came gunning for Ryan! Thankfully Peter was there. Pretty cheap trying to bully a skinny teenager. Well how did he get the impression? She had condoms in her bag. What was her father doing rifling through her bag?

Amber caught Umed in one of his grand stories lol! Audrey came in ...saved by the Belle! ;) But he was in his glory with the tall stories trying to impress Audrey but he didn't impress Bill. But then Bill might have a few lingering jealous feelings there, too. The funny thing is that clearly, Audrey believes all his stories!

Tony was really harsh on Natasha for being bitchy to Maria wasn't he? Wow! He really went a bit too far. All he had to do was say "you're dumped". She warned off Maria and said he was bad news. Maria is going to take it like sour grapes and Tony is going to make it sound that way too but she's right. He IS bad news.

Sunday Comments, March 14

Lines of the week:

• Eileen "There was less hysteria at Princess Di's funeral"
  
• Emily introducing Deidre to Ramsay as "Blanche's daughter" Blanche "And a terrible disappointment!" Deirdre "You try having Atilla the Hun for a mother!"
  
• Blanche "Misery's infectious, you know!"
  
• Fiz "I don't want to love ya. I love ya" (oh heck. she's a goner)
  
• Chesney to Fiz "LIAR!!!!"
  
• Luke "Sorry i couldn't magic up a donkey. I did try"
  
• Police officer "He's been dead for some time" (Really? 2, 3 minutes?)
  
• Julie "There's wisdom in you Jason Grimshaw, I don't care what anybody says"
  
• Eddie "Oh you don't want to go there (London). Price of beer is a disgrace!"
  

Paula lashed out and called the police, mainly because she thought Eileen had forgiven her father. She wants Julie to take sides and poor Julie just wants to get to know her dad which tickes Paula off even more. It does look to me like now that the secret is out, Paula is doing everything she can to get her revenge, 30 some years late. I can't really blame her because what she went through probably haunted her all her adult life. And poor Colin figured he might as well give himself up since his own daughter has all but disowned him. However, all the stress and fear caused Colin to pop his clogs right there in Eileen's living room! And as others have already mentioned, how on earth could the cop say he'd been dead for sometime when he was alive earlier in the same scene! Eileen was only at the door with the police for about 5 minutes, 10 max if you use the television time stretcher.

Julie, as per usual, really let it all out didn't she? Eileen's right, she really did make a meal of it! Paula going to the police put a spanner into any sort of peace she might have made with Julie. Julie can't forgive her for inadvertently causing Colin's death. Eileen is really resentful of Julie as well.

So they've laid Colin to rest. Wasn't sure Eileen was going to go but she did and she spoke. Must have been difficult. Even Steve took Rita though they were late. No matter what Steve's drawbacks and faults are, he really is a nice, kind bloke. Anyone else think Paula was going to crash the funeral and let loose with a drunken rant again? She didn't though. Now Julie is hell bent on making it all happy families and bonding with Eileen who really seems to think poking her eye out with a sharp stick is preferable to being bezzy sisters with Steamroller Julie.

Sally went shopping with Rosie and neither of them had very full shopping bags for the size of them. Very clearly they were empty.

Michelle has finally decided Luke isn't such a bad guy and is going to date him, In the meantime, Peter is stepping up the rivalry and she's flirting with him too! And she's been offered a singing gig and she's going to go. So what does she do? Date the both of them. Peter sure didn't waste any time lusting after another woman. Leanne who? Easy to see why he ended up a bigamist. He can't resist temptation! And she acts like a teenager, snogging at the bus stop. I don't blame Ryan for being embarassed. She might have a little more decorum instead of showing herself up for the slapper she is. Aw but wasn't Luke cute setting up a beach blanket bingo in Maria's back yard for Michelle!

Jason wins 25 quid and the machine breaks down. I still think Hayley and Roy need to put their foot down with Pam undercutting their lunch business. Natasha is accusing Maria of being jealous but she's looking a bit green-eyed herself with the time Tony's spending with Maria. Joe's popping pain pills like candy. You can see where this is going, can't you? Joe said he was going to let Gary do the donkey work but he didn't wait for him.

Then there's Ramsay and Norris. Does anyone else think that Emily and Rita are being a bit interfering? Tina certainly does.The pub is having a quiz and apparently Rita and Emily are interfering further and inviting Ramsay hoping that Norris will come and they will speak. Of course Norris won't go.

Did you see Blanche steal Rita's drink after Rita went home? Ken's trying awfully hard to get Blanche back home, could it be there's just too much togetherness between he and the ever-spiteful Deirdre? He pointed out that the stairs to Peter's flat are a problem. Does he have to help her up the stairs to get to the toilet at his house then? It still baffles me why Emily brings Norris' mail over to the Kabin all the time when it would always still be there when he got home. Postcards aren't so bad but she's hauled over parcels too.

Chesney wasn't long finding out where Fiz really goes. He already caught her in the lie about the hospital. Why she didn't just say she was visiting someone, i don't know. She's a terrible liar. I am surprised there actually is a home school network! Why on earth couldn't Fiz have used them instead of Stape? Because she still loves the ... well i can't publish the names i'd like to call him. I don't know what they did to Fiz but she's ruined. Now that Chesney knows, i can't blame him for being upset. And she wouldn't have got caught if she'd taken her scooter. We've not seen her with that for ages, does she still have it?

After everything Stape put Fiz through, she goes back to him and lies to Ches about it. She says Chesney is the most important thing in her life yet knowing how vehemently he objects, it doesn't stop her going. There's a whole Home School Network she could have used and she didn't, she went to Stape. There's nothing she can say now that's going to console Chesney now that he knows the truth. And he did a runner but he only ended up ... in the Windass's (formerly Morton's) shed. I can see Anna taking Ches under her wing, she's very motherly. I can even see Gary and Ches being mates. Gary could use the adoration of a little brother and Ches could use an older brother figure who has one or two more clues than Kirk. Not that Gary's that much better, but he's not quite as "innocent" as Kirk in more ways than emotionally. Boy the Websters weren't too happy to hear Fiz is back together with Prisoner 666 again. Everyone else is pretty shocked but they have a lot more interest in the situation. I'm just really pi$$ed that he's back because i detest him and i don't trust him. He's sly and manipulative and he's ruined Fiz.

Sunday comments, March 7

Lines of the week:

• Simon "That man's got no clothes on!" (Well, he does run a business empire!)
  
• Blanche "I feel like brillo padding my eyeballs"
  
• Mary "She was very dear to me, mother, but sometimes i could have quite cheerfully murdered her" (somehow, i'm not so sure that was a joke!"
  
• Mary about Bangkok "Not keen on the Ladyboys but the sunsets are meant to be glorious" and "Mother's lazy Susan could tell a tale or two"
  
• Umed to Dev "Sometimes bouncing back takes time"
  
• Umed to Amber "So your pride is hurt. Think how he (Dev) feels"
  
• Eddie "I thought you were going to arrest me!"
  
• Norris to Rita and Tina "You pair of old gossips!" (pot or kettle?)
  
• Norris "This is the man that killed my mother" (Eek!)
  
• Colin about Julie "Does she ever shut up?" (i ask that meself!)
  
• Julie about Eddie's cab "There's only so much taxi driver B.O. i can cope with in one day!" (ewwwww)
  

I know Dev lied about being with someone else, but he really did believe he and Tara were over. I think Dev is right. He did have a lucky escape. She would have turned into her mother and she's not far from it now. Well he's the talk of Weatherfield now and probably the star of YouTube! Tara didn't think very much about how her revenge would affect Amber. I hope she's happy. She got what she wanted. Glad to see the back of her. If i was Amber, i might be embarassed but i'd also feel my father got the worst of the deal and i'd be supportive of him after telling him off about the one night stand. And how much nerve does Poppy have by saying Tara really put the pressure on her? Poppy couldn't *wait* to spill the beans! Umed was the one that got Amber and Dev back together and seems Dev is also selling off the art gallery too. She got enough money off him so he is due to get something in return. She got money off him for that art project too, and i bet he doesn't see any of that back either for all his humiliation.

Paula isn't dealing with things very well, is she? She seems to be drinking a lot and making ranty phone calls and staggering around trying to talk to Julie and shouting at Eileen. And Julie and her mother are clashing over the whole business. Maybe they've got it sorted now. Julie is so cheerful isn't she? And she dresses that was as well. Bright pink coat? And i loved her bright yellow handbag so much i bought myself one last spring as well! (because i was watching this in the UK timeline as well) Colin is underfoot and Eileen isn't happy about it and neither is Paula who isn't willing to listen to Eileen's side of it and decided to go to the police!!

I don't think i would trust David with 500 pounds cash and trust him to bank it. Fiz all smiley about seeing John and Maria can see something's up and after John got himself beaten up, (awfully coincidental, that, just in time for Fiz to give it up and admit she still loves him) Maria's going to have to keep the secret. It won't be long before Chesney finds out. These things never stay secret.

I love Mary. She's quirky and she annoys Norris. What's not to love? But is it just me or does anyone else think she's got stalker potential? She's very focussed and single minded going after something she wants. I can't imagine driving around the world in a camper van. I wouldn't have thought either of them would have enough money to pay for petrol and food and especially shipping costs if they were to go overseas like it sounds. She looked very nice in her pink flowy dress for her dinner party with Norris but unfortunately Norris wasn't biting. She finally set the scene for a seduction and he ran a mile in a panic. What did he think she felt? Surely he could see she fancied him. He seemed to give the impression that he did. Certainly he gave her mixed signals. I'm surprised he went to the trouble of finding orchids to give her. He didn't get them at Dev's. He's too chicken to say that he just thought of her as a platonic friend. Did you see Amber giving the motorhome a horrified look when she noticed it "rocking" (though it was just Mary dancing to Sheena Easton) Poor old Norris. But at least he finally told Mary how it is. Norris says he doesn't have the confidence to travel the world yet he sort of regretted not going anyway.

Now we take Norris from one storyline and straight into another one. Seems Norris has a brother, Ramsay Clegg, and he wishes he didn't. would you recognize someone you hardly knew after 50 years? Maybe. He certainly looked like it threw him for six seeing Ramsay again. He accuses Ramsay of killing his mother but Ramsay insists that though their mother was shocked to see him, she didn't die for a full year later.

Looks like Luke and Peter are about to be in competition over Michelle. He didn't waste too much time pining for Leanne, did Peter? Eddie is getting caught out pretending to be Roy at the cash and carry in quite a spectacular way! I don't understand why an account with a large business like a cash and carry wouldn't have an accompanying card rather than relying on someone telling you a number and code word. Seems very inefficient and a set up for fraud which it obviously just did do! Deirdre seems to be doing everything she can to annoy Ken and it's working! Funny, though, he didn't have any problem finding excuses to spend hours away from home when he had Martha. Surely his beloved library is still open for business?

DVD Review: Classic Coronation Street, volume 4

You may recall that I reviewed a volume of Classic Corrie episodes back in November. E1 Entertainment is releasing 2-dvd sets of an assortment of Classic Coronation Street episodes every few months. The episodes are taken from a series of boxed sets released in the U.K. a few years ago but are in North American dvd format. This is great news for Corrie fans on this side of the pond who want to relive the early days of our favourite show, now in it's 50th year.

Volume 4 has episodes from 1966 through 1968. And what do you get? You get aftermath of the train crashing off the viaduct. Who's missing? Jack Walker, Lucille Hewitt, Ena Sharples and Elsie Tanner. You see that Val and Ken Barlow's twins go missing, every parent's nightmare! You get a glimpse of a young Bet Lynch, blonde, leggy, and sassy and working in the raincoat factory! And cheeky Dennis Tanner finally gets married.

There's a great argy-bargy between Elsie Tanner and Annie Walker on the cobbles. There's a location shoot at Tatton Park where the women of the Street admire the gardens and stately home while the lads take a trip on a canal boat but get nowhere fast due to stubborn horses on the towpath. Even worse, the beer goes for a swim! I have to say, though, that episode is a bit dull but the one with Annie Walker at the football match more than made up for it!

Each year has a "blurb" to sum up the year prior to where the episodes start. In these few years, Ray Langton first appeared and it was also the first appearance of Bet Lynch (in the raincoat factory). Cheeky Jed Stone was in residence early on, and David and Irma Barlow owned the corner shop. Stan Ogden fell afoul of the ice cream vendor gangs and a herd of cows, and of course his wife. We've got sweet Jerry Booth and cranky Uncle Albert. Len Fairclough swaggered around, the tough builder-cum-town councillor. Irma Barlow and Elsie Tanner's hair styles get higher and puffier as the years go on.

There are no end of snobby lines from Annie Walker, including my favourite "There are limits to how far one can condescend."

These are arguably some of the best years of Coronation Street, when Stan and Hilda were at their peak, Annie Walker still had long suffereing Jack, Elsie Tanner in her red headed glory and Ena Sharples terrorizing everyone!

Where can you get the dvd? Well, online, Amazon has it (but as of this writing, they're out of stock) as does Chapters Indigo but I'm unimpressed. Chapters doesn't even have a picture and they say delivery is 1-2 weeks. I've also seen previous volumes in Walmart and Zellers and HMV as well so check those and other retailers.

Sunday comments, February 28

Lines of the week:

• Ken "It's a marraige of convenience. It always was!" (for you maybe)
  
• Ken "If i'm being selfish, it's about time!" (Eh?????? he's spent a lifetime being selfish!)
  
• Peter "You'll see him (Simon) later when you come back round the corner with your little suitcase. You're ridiculous." (And he was right)
  
• Blanche "We'll all be just bones at the end of the day" Deirdre "We're nearly out of teabags" (those little conversations that Corrie does so well!)
  
• Peter to Ken "I know how much you value honesty in your relationship." and "Me dad's not averse to a bit of scandal!" and "You don't do brave, old man, you never have, you never will"
  
• Jason "Whatever he's done, he's my grandad"
  
• Deirdre "Do i need you? Do i need you looking down your nose at me? Do i need to compete with a fantasy?" (Go girl!) and "You were too spineless to leave. Maybe I'm too spineless to throw you out"
  
• Blanche "Deirdre's chosen her philandering two-timing husband over me!"
  
• Kirk to Blanche "Are you going on your holidays?" Blanche "I'm going to hell in a handcart!"
  
• Amber "The art will do the talking" (oops!)
  

Will he? Won't he? Did he? Didn't he? Why break a habit of a lifetime, Ken? He bottled it. He ran for the hills, dragging his little suitcase behind him. He was too scared to face his loved ones to say goodbye but he was even more scared of the big world that was at the end of the Street after all. Even Ted knew what was happening and gave him a little touch of support but in the end, it was back to Deirdre and the security of the Street he never could bring himself to leave. Just as well. Even after all this, he still ended up lying to Martha just like he always did. He couldn't admit he's not told Deirdre and scarpered behind her back and then he scarpered behind Martha's back, not able to face her either. Coward! Peter managed to snatch the letter before Deirdre saw it but Ken let the cat out of the bag anyway. Why on earth did he give her the letter? So that Peter wouldn't tell Deirdre first i guess. Maybe he feels he deserves the guilt and anger? And why on earth didn't Deirdre throw him out? She knew down deep there was something wrong for a long time. It's one thing to say ok we're even, after her fling with Dev, but her fling with Dev was a one night drunken stand. She wasn't going to leave Ken for her "soul mate" like he was going to do.

I was surprised to see Uncle Albert's photo standing back up but since Peter nicked the letter, he probably sorted out the photo, or Deirdre or Blanche did when they came back in. Well, at least Deirdre's troubles gave Eileen a respite from her own! And she's got a point. Ken told Deirdre so he could get it off his conscience. Selfish B@stard. Now we get to hear Deirdre give him a few pieces of her mind, too. The worst thing about it all was Blanche finding out which i don't think either of them wanted. And i do think Deirdre overreacted to Blanche's reaction by throwing her out. I guess she did that because she wouldn't throw Ken out and she said it was because she couldn't bear to hear Blanche throwing it back in her face forever. And Blanche landed on Peter's door. Now that ought to be a hoot!

Poor Julie just wants a family. She and her mother were on the outs so she wants to get to know her father and you know Julie, always thinks the best of everyone. And Jason, he really is a nice lad isn't he? Unfortunately, Eileen can't stand the sight of Julie because she reminds her of everything. Paula admitted to a crush on Colin when she was 14 and in her youthful wisdom thought they were in love. Colin, as we know, was just flattered and never took it seriously. Eileen softened somewhat and went to see Colin in hospital but she's not ready to forgive him yet. I expect she will eventually, given the chance. Poor Julie is really on the emotional roller coaster with her mother. Make up to break up etc.

Leave it to Eddie to rip off Roy. Now i'm sure Roy has been coming to the cash and carry for a good many years. You would think they would all know him by now wouldn't you? David seems to be cooking up some kind of plan. He's got Gary interested now. Spider web and fly, methinks. Mary is certainly getting aggressive isn't she? Not putting pressure on NOrris but insisting Rita is ready to move on and is very intent on isolating Norris in that camper van and getting him all to herself. She doesn't seem to want to take No for an answer.

Michelle has clearly changed her mind about Peter. Saying she didn't know what to feed Ryan for his tea was obviously a hint and Peter happily took her up on it. Leanne who? Peter's just as jelly spined as his father when it comes to women.

Tara's revenge plan is coming together. Poor Dev isn't going to know what hit him. Promising he has absolutely no secrets was signing his humiliation warrant. He figures proposing to her in front of the neighbourhood is a grand romantic gesture. Do you think a simple No is going to suffice? She wasn't too happy to see Amber, maybe she doesn't want Amber there to witness the revenge plan. And what is it? A building sized poster of a naked Devster with LIAR scrawled across his dignity. You know, I really think she went wayyyyyyy overboard. A one night stand with someone she knew (who doesn't seem to be as close a friend as she makes out) while he thought they were broken up really doesn't deserve this grand gesture. She really is her mother's daughter, isn't she?

Where the heck does that street or alley go, the one that was behind the DJ at the street party?

Sunday comments, February 21

Lines of the week:

• Rita "Don't ruin everything now Norris" (and he didn't, and he didn't say I Told You So)
  
• Jason "Steve down on one knee? He'd get repetitive strain!"
  
• Colin to Rita "Just let me explain"
  
• Julie "I always wanted a dad... but not like this"
  
• Eileen "The best thing he could do for us all now is die" (SOPOD ALERT!)
  
• Julie "We're stuck with each other, me and the truth."
  
• Eileen "As soon as I set food out that door i'll be deafened by the whispers"
  
• Colin whinging "They call it a mid-life crisis these days. A young woman wanted me, unlike your mother. Is anyone thinking about you?" (quite a bit actually, but not in the way you want them to)
  
• Ken to Peter "I'm glad you're not making my mistakes" Peter "No need. you're more than capable on your own"
  
• Roy "Pricking sausages somehow seems less arduous when discussing the great events of the day"
  
• Jack "I was just telling Connie she knows how to handle a bird" (ooh er!)
  
• Blanche "I'm old, i'm fragile, i've got a dodgey hip. I've got to take me pleasures while i can"
  

So yes, quite the revelation, wasn't it? Colin doubled over like he was kicked in the gut when Paula screamed out that Julie and Jason were related, like he just realized what the truth was. He did say he never knew about the baby and it seems that's true and he couldn't deny it. I felt so sorry for Julie who really felt all her life that her mother didn't want her and when she found out the real reason, she and everyone else went into shock. Eileen got the shock of her life and the gossip mills have fuel for months on that one! And Jason sure was heaving a sigh of relief to find out he didn't actually shag his auntie! No wonder Paula was so upset about Julie and Jason! And i tell you one thing, the actress playing Paula is REALLY good! And Eileen!!! Attacking Paula and accusing her of tearing her own family apart. Then tearing her father's photos up. Whereas poor Paula spent a lot of years blaming herself too, but then realizing Colin was the adult and should have known better. At least Eileen and Paula made their peace. Colin has a stroke, i wonder if Eileen will get the chance to make her peace with her father or if she gets to suck up the guilt over her statement about wishing he would die.

Julie, as she does, always tries to see the bright side. She's thinking she's got more family now though it's been tough on her too. She wonders if her mother did all the running but Fiz protested that was no excuse. Just like John jumping into bed with Rosie...she might not have been underage but he was old enough to know better as well. Colin tried to excuse himself to Rita, and to Eileen, saying Paula was precocious, it was a one off. I can't understand Rita telling him to go away. I could smack Norris (though that's a regular urge) for making nasty remarks about Colin to Jason. He's still the lad's granddad! What a fabulous storyline! I've written a bit more about this whole storyline over here, have a read!

Rita said Yes and then she said No! Well, wouldn't you if you found out your intended got an underage schoolgirl pregnant, the best friend of your daughter? Norris was right in his element, too, and snapped it up as an excuse not to travel with Mary. Well... he still has feelings for Rita and she did need all her friends around her. Wonderful scenes between Norris and Rita, both when they talked after she said Yes to Colin and after she chucked her ring in the cash drawer. Norris is so upset about the whole situation and how upset it's made Rita. Nice juxtaposition with Rita feeling old and stupid while in front of a photo of a young and beautiful Rita. But she wasn't much smarter about men then either.

Sheesh, Ken is such a sourpuss old man isn't he? In a way i wish he would go off with the perfect Martha. He's no fun and i can't imagine Deirdre having any real fun with him. I see he found Martha's boat. Looks like it is pretty much in the same place as it was before, by that bridge. With all the angst over the Grimshaw storyline, Ken's self indulgence seems even more navel-gazing than usual. Poor Blanche missed out on all the gossip and expected Ken to tell the tales? What was wrong with asking if Rita was ok? Sanctimonious Prat. Well, he insisted up to now that his relationship with Martha was platonic. It sure isn't now! He was like a dog with two... er... well anyway, he was pretty peppy when he left that boat this week. No wonder he wants to go back. Meanwhile he still looks like a deer caught in the headlights when Peter confronted him. Will he leave Deirdre? It looks like he might, getting all maudlin about all his memories of the street he never could manage to leave before. Did you see him laying Uncle Albert's picture down so he couldn't "see" Ken's guilt. Well he didn't have to worry about facing Uncle Albert's figurative disapproval, he has Peter's instead. Peter caught him about to scurry off with only leaving a letter. So will he stay or will he go? Find out Monday!

Peter is alone in the flat again. Now that he's on his own, will he be able to stay away from the bottle? Ashley was a good friend to help distract him on his first night. Laughed at the pseudo-Monty Python conversation, about Blanche and her cronies arguing about who was the poorest as a child.

Oh good. Tell Amy the truth because that's better and then tell her to lie to her friend, the bully, that her mom is out of prison and is going to get him! Very good. Why on earth would Roy trust someone nearly brand new to the cafe with his cash and carry password? Because we have to have another storyline with Eddie taking the mick that's why. Sheesh.

Laughed at Becky and Eileen stringing all those little cocktail sausages together. And i chuckled at Betty deciding men weren't worth having to share the telly. Where did Julie sleep? In a bunk bed with Chesney? She said Kirk gave up his bed. Tyrone isn't too happy about this new-found friendship between Jack and Connie.

Shocking!

Coronation Street has dealt with underage sex in the past. Sarah got pregnant at 12 and gave birth at 13 by a schoolmate. Rosie and Craig had sex before they were 16 but didn't just leap into the sack, they thought about it and waited until it was right for them, even if Sally and Kevin nearly went beserk! Now Sophie is making a vow of chastity because she didn't want to end up as slapper like Rosie who continued on her merry way shagging her teacher once she turned 16.

Yes, her teacher, John Stape, currently in prison for kidnapping Rosie. He was in his 30s and wasted no time in giving into temptation when Rosie seduced him. She was barely 16. When you think back, Fiz couldn't have been more than 16 either when she was first with John (though he'd have been in his 20s then) because she came back to Coronation Street after she left school at 16 and has been working at the factory ever since. That, of course, is a rewrite of history for the character but we'll put that rant aside for another day. That came close to pedophilia but Rosie, and presumably Fiz, were of age.

Now we dive into the topic further. Turns out, Eileen's friend Paula had sex with Eileen's father when she was 14 and Julie was the result. That was most definitely illegal and he could have been prosecuted for it but Paula's parents didn't want the attention and left town with their pregnant daughter. As Eileen says, it was a different time and appearances mattered. Eileen's mother seems to have been aware of the situation, at least the affair, and left her husband soon after but Eileen didn't know what happened. She stayed with her father because she thought her mother just didn't want to be her mum anymore and she felt sorry for her father. Her father now insists he didn't know Paula got pregnant.

Her father reappears in her life, though i think she's probably had continuing contact, we've just never met him. Jason certainly seems familiar with his Granddad. We are told he's a bit of a scallywag, a gambler, a bit of a liar and a womanizer. He certainly made a beeline for Rita though his affections seem real.

Enter Paula, Julie's mother. Eileen only just realized that Julie's mum was her old best friend from school. Paula has worked at Freshco for years. I find it hard to believe that Eileen never ever saw her or ran into her there but we'll suspend disbelief on that one for now. Paula was evasive but eventually admitted that her parents moved because she got pregnant very young but was not very forthcoming as to who the father was. Clue 1.

Paula and Eileen's dad, Colin, finally came into contact with each other. Colin clearly recognized her but pretended he didn't remember her and Paula froze. Other encounters had Paula reacting rudely or sarcastically towards Colin. Clue 2.

Paula and Julie seemed to have a bit of a contentious relationship which hit the fan big time after she found out that Julie spent the night with Jason, Eileen's son. She even admitted she resented Julie sometimes. You might think that might be normal for a teenage pregnancy anyway but her over the top reaction about Jason seems to imply that it's more than that. Clue 3.

It all blew up at the birthday party when Paula, drunk, staggered in and blew up the bomb. Colin is Julie's father! Colin couldn't deny it. He tried to blame Paula for coming on to him, which she did but he was the adult. It was up to him to say no. Teenage girls are often very flirty and get crushes on older men. They feel they are grown up now and their hormones are telling them they are women and they want to try it all out. Most fathers whose daughter's best friend tried to seduce them would very firmly and hopefully gently reject the girl and it would be all over bar a few tears and dramatic diary entries. Colin had no will power and a very large ego and this was the result.

Rita was Colin's new love but she won't have anything to do with him now. She feels stupid but how on earth would she ever have guessed? Norris gets to gloat but unusually, at least at first, he doesn't because he's more concerned with Rita, as he should be! And he uses Rita's upset as an excuse not to go traveling with Mary. We all know if Rita had said yes, Norris and she would have been married and we all know he still loves her. Rita isn't going to forgive the mistake Colin made over 30 years ago (32 to be precise). Would you? It would be difficult to live with someone who made such bad judgement. Even if they've never done anything similar since, even if it was a one off, could you trust them? He might not go after a young girl again, but if his ego was fed well, would you trust him not to cheat on you? Rita obviously can't and I can't blame her.

Eileen is horrified and wants nothing to do with her father and she blamed Paula too, for the breakup of her family. All those years she blamed her mother and now realizes it wasn't that at all. But she and Paula made up once Eileen got over the initial shock, agreeing that Paula was just a kid at the time. That's good anyway. But Colin thinks Eileen should forgive him. That's a tough one too. Mistake it may have been but he should have known better rather than give in to temptation. If he'd hung his head and apologized, taken on all the responsibility, Eileen might be able to forgive him in time. But nooooo... he seems to think Paula should take on part of the blame for being all "Lipstick and confidence".

Now Colin has had a stroke from the stress. Eileen said he'd be doing them a favour if he died, back when she first found out. If that isn't a Soap Opera Phrase of Doom, i don't know what is. He's bound to pop his clogs after a statement like that. And think of the guilt Eileen will feel on top of everything else! Jason feels bad for his Grandad but i suppose he doesn't feel as betrayed as Eileen does. I'm not saying he approves of what Colin did but seems more willing to put it in the past.

Julie is shocked at first but is delighted to have a new family. and Ever the Optimist, she's willing to let bygones be bygones, put a mistake in the past, too. Julie is nothing if not fair. She probably wished all her life for a dad and the one she's got will just have to do... and a sister! I think it's going to be funny seeing the perky and optimistic Julie trying to make a team player and bezzie friend/sister out of grumpy Eileen. She'll probably be very maternal towards her new nephew Jason (and no, they were too drunk on the night they spent together. Nothing happened. Incest is just a bit too close to the bone for Corrie!)

Colin is ill. Eileen can't forgive him and is having a hard time dealing with it all, as you would expect. Paula has had to defend herself and now just doesn't want to talk about it at all. Julie just wants it all to be Happy Families. How is it going to come out? I'll say one thing, this storyline was well set up and well executed and quite good. Hopefully once it's all over, they won't just drop things and forget that Julie and Eileen are sisters. I think there could be some funny stuff pairing these two. What have you thought of the storyline?

Sunday Comments, February 14

Lines of the week:

• Rita "I enjoyed that (Norris groveling to pay his bill to Roy) Shall we go watch the tapes in back?"
  
• Tara "Revenge can be quite exhilarating" (I think you might have to eat those words)
  
• Tony to Tom "I don't know if you lost your touch, or if you ever had it in the first place" (ouch)
  
• Blanche "She has a routine, sort of. Every two years her father changes his girlfriend"
  
• Maria to Tony "There is a difference between wanting advice off someone and getting in bed with them, in a business sense..." (Hmmmm)
  
• Norris "Consider me a rat deserting a sinking ship" (sour grapes much?)
  
• Becky to Roy "Thank you for being you" Roy "I find it hard to be someone else." Becky "Me an' all. That's our problem."
  
• Julie to Paula "You're like a joy-seeking guided missile"
  
• Teresa "Has Minnie chucked in her pinnie?"
  
• Eileen to Jason "What did you say about Viet Nam?" Jason "I dreamt i was there fighting for the King Kong"
  
• Tom to Kelly "There's a ginnel outside with your name on it" (oh. Classy.)
  

I don't think Deirdre had any right to say yes to taking Amy to see Tracy before clearing it with Steve first but we all know what Tracy's like for manipulating her mother. Becky thinks Amy needs to be told about Tracy and probably she should. Lies are doing her no favours and then the schoolkids spilled the guts on the playground. Becky was backed into a corner and seeing as she doesn't believe in lying, out comes the truth. I think she did the right thing. Amy isn't very old but she's old enough to be told i think. Can't blame Becky for getting narked at Steve. He's pulling rank over his fatherhood but it's ok to pawn the kid off on her when it's inconvenient for him.

Now he thinks Becky's a liability and he didn't think he should apologize for his rudeness. Tsk. Even Lloyd thinks Steve is in the wrong. Well they made it up in the end. The Truth is out there and there's no taking it back. Time to move on and help Amy cope with it all.

Poor Maria really freaked out seeing that mask and i can't blame her but she didn't hold it against Luke. She is also avoiding having her scans even though the first one was ok. Tony seemed to be sucking up to Maria to keep her off the track, but now, do you think he's actually starting to like her? or like the idea of a sweet young thing and a baby. He's certainly getting more involved with Maria and pushing Natasha to one side. Not that Natasha was every more than a convenience for Tony anyway. Tony also put the boots to Luke, he might not be able to take clients away but he's a client too and contributes a big chunk to Underworld's business. Luke had no choice but to back off.

Meanwhile, Tony is sweating all over the hospital after Maria's scan. More guilt! Tony is also upping the pressure on Maria to oust Tom. It's working but Tom at least got one more shot in by tattling about Tony's offer for Ladrags so Tony had to do some fast and charming backpedalling. And Tom took his frustrations about Maria and decided Kelly was, well not Ms Right, but definitely Ms. Right Now. So tacky, really. Tonsil hockey against the bar and then up against a wall in the ginnel. Classy.

Tara lured Dev to a fancy photo shoot and then talked him into a nude shoot. But notice, she didn't strip for any equal opportunity photos? He looked ridiculous posing for the camera, too, with those Sears Catalogue facial and body poses. He really is a conceited pillock isn't he? And she's soaking him for the cost of the "public art piece" which is clearly going to be part of her revenge plot.

Julie finally landed Jason but they were both so drunk they probably didn't get very far when they ran up them stairs! Eileen and Sean were shocked and Her mother was horrified! Colin was more concerned with his own surprise for Rita at his "surprise" birthday party which of course, he already figured out. Paula was adamant that Julie not see Jason anymore and wouldn't really say why. It was a horrible arguement and Paula's lifelong bitterness came out. Wished she'd never had Julie sometimes? Julie just thinks her mother doesn't want her to be happy but there's more afoot than that. Have you guessed where this is going? But first.... Colin's asked Rita to marry him! Will she say yes? Under other circumstances, they actually might make a good couple. Norris will be horrified and make a bee-line for the camper door now if she goes through with it.

Something tells me Norris will not be able to tear himself away from Weatherfield. And he gave Emily flip flops with mops on the bottom? I'm not quite sure that says someting from the heart. Maybe she won't miss him as much as she thought lol! I really dislike that hairstyle that both Becky and Julie are sporting with the big puffy back combed lump of hair up the back of their heads.

Connie seem like a very nice lady. She could be a good friend for Jack though he's finding it difficult to admit he likes her. It's not been long since Vera. Tyrone is pretty against his new friendship, clearly though Molly thinks there's nothing wrong with it. Why is Fiz wearing jeans miles too long for her? She's a sewing machinist, surely she could hem them. And wouldn't she be carring ID in her wallet all the time? Chesney needs the themes of Doctor Jekyll... surely he can get that on the internet and Fiz doesn't have to go to John. Sheesh. Oh you can see where this is going, can't you. He certainly wants her back and is willing to do anything to lure her back with sweet words and kindness. She's fighting her feelings.

Sunday Comments, February 7, 2010

Lines of the week:

• David to Gary "I just want a quiet life"
  
• Theresa "I just popped in for me wages" Minnie "You don't work here!" Theresa "I know but i used to!"
  
• Audrey to Ken "There's a woman waiting for you" Ken "REALLY??????" (oh. Deirdre)
  
• Peter to Ken "Toast spread with a veneer of guilt and freshly squeezed lies?"
  
• Luke to Dev "I didn't break anything did i?" (But Dev was throwing it in the trash! does it matter?)
  

Oh Wow was the show good this week!

Hmmmm David didn't stitch up Gary when he had the chance. He's definitely up to something. Meanwhile Joe's back is still painfully painful and his temper is flaring up. He really can be a nasty w@n**r when he wants to be, when he's in pain or under pressure. I don't like that kind of temper in someone. Can anyone else see Joe getting dependent on those painkillers? He's already borrowed from loan sharks. Can drug dealers be far off?

Tara is bent on taking over Dev's life. Cheeky of her to grill Umed about when he's leaving so she's can take over the spare room. Can't she use the gallery? Theresa's back and not very sober either. Dev is backed into a corner so he allows Theresa to stay in his flat because it gets Darryl out from under his roof and away from Amber a bit too. Now Dev has to try to keep his fling with Lisa quiet but Tara is all BFF with Lisa now and Poppy is all BFF with Tara (though we've never seen them interact any more than ordering a drink across the bar) so Poppy told Tara (Surely that's against the Barmaid Code of Ethics?) and Tara is out for revenge. Overreact much? She told Dev they were finished. Yes it's a bit tacky for him to bed hop that very night but he thought he was a free agent until she walked in the next day as if butter wouldn't melt!

Tara didn't waste any time confronting Lisa but no matter what Tara said, you'd think Lisa would warn Dev that Tara knows about their fling, wouldn't you? Tara isn't that scary though i suppose if she sicced her mother on Lisa, that might put the fear into her. I think there's a lot of Tara's mother in her and i bet Dev's blood would run cold if he could hear her plot. And it's true, he did a stupid thing over buying those photos from her gallery but it wasn't *that* big a deal. Yes, he shagged her mother before he got together with her and lied about that but again, prior to them being together. And finally, Yeah, he's pretty stupid for not owning up but he's Dev. He's not my favourite character but he's fairly harmless. I really dislike Tara.

Martha and Ken may be split up but Audrey has discovered something is going on. Can Ken talk Martha back into his life? He uses every excuse but the fact remains that he was infatuated, he grew to love her but let her think he was a free agent. That's a huge trust issue. Will Ken leave Deirdre? Will Audrey tell Deirdre first? If you thought Ken was an insufferable prig before, he's even worse now. He wouldn't until he knew Martha would take him back. Will he have the bottle to do it? Leave his family just when his son needs him? Deirdre thinks Ken just has a lot of worries. Well that's true but not how she thinks. But Peter knows too (Audrey had no business telling him, though) and won't stop digging at his father. I suppose it's hypocritical of Peter to take the high road, considering he's a bigamist but i truly am enjoying Peter winding up Ken. Ken actually admitted to Ted that he wanted his cake and eat it too! Wanted more and wanted what he already had.

Norris is being an annoying little prig as usual, jealous of Colin's affections for Rita. Hmmm conumdrum. Tracy wants to see Amy but Amy doesn't know her mummy's in prison.

Still wondering why Roy and Hayley don't have their sights on Pam for stealing their business in sandwiches away. Other than a bit of huffing and puffing by Hayley, nothing seems to have been said. Could the PI be any more indiscreet with a camera and lense the size of a bulldozer? This guy makes Inspector Gadget look like James Bond! I laughed at Blanche paying Simon 50p to clean her room and he came in with the duster and rubber gloves on!

Bwahahaha!!! Blanche in the aviator hat and goggles!!!! Jack lost his birds but someone brought them back! She's Connie and it looks like Jack has a new friend, someone that likes pigeons as much as he does! Poppy is getting awfully annoyed with Betty lately. This can only end in tears and i'm betting they'll be Poppy's. Molly is taking to marathon training like a duck to water. Do you notice that Umed keeps dropping famous names and telling tall tales? Methinks he's making it all up!

Is Claire going to turn into a rabid footie mum? Is Tom going to stop whinging? Ok, to be fair, yes Tony is manipulating to push Tom out but all Tom's doing about it is whining and mooning over Maria. I can understand Maria wanting Tony's input on the business. Neither Tom nor Maria have any business sense at all. That was Liam's area. Tom was the website techie and perks lover. Tony totally embarassed Tom by exposing his crush on Maria and lying and saying Maria was embarassed by it. Guaranteed to push Tom even further, straight back to Luke and he spills the beans about the PI. That leads Luke to wind up Tony using the mask left over from the fateful stag night. That in turn freaks out Maria and Tony both but Luke only feels bad about Maria. Are you still with me? Meanwhile, Natasha, who's finally got a storyline, is getting the short end of the stick with Tony who's clearly using her.