Sunday Comments, June 27

I'll be away next weekend so there won't be a post for this week's Corrie.

Lines of the week:

• Liz to Deirdre "Do you even play bridge?" Deirdre "I don't know about playin it, i'll be ready to jump off it!"
  
• Liz "I know Steve's no saint but he were a good kid" (blinders, just like all the other mothers)
  
• Hayley "I hate that Hooch. I could do unspeakable things"
  
• Steve "Pet Monkeys work out where they're loved and park their hairy backsides down"
  
• Slug to Becky "You know i care about you" (yeah, but you care about your skinny backside being out of jail more)
  
• Tyrone "Typhoid Tyrone" Jack "I think you mean Typhoo!"
  
• Naomi "I've been given the old heave ho by a bloke's six year old!"
  
• Cop to Becky "The charges have been dropped" (with the evil eye of Hooch being shot through the blinds at her!)
  
• 
  

Ramsay's death has affected Norris more than he's willing to admit. It's good that Rita is making him have a memorial service in Weatherfield for the people that knew Ramsay. Seems like Amber doesn't really want Darryl to come to London with her for some reason. Chances are pretty good that "every weekend" will be "once or twice a month" and then we'll never see her again. Pam is smartening Bill and Jason up! Now they're wearing bright orange overalls. Similar to the prison orange jumpsuits, aren't they? Sean and Leon sure seemed to appreciate Jason!

That was definitely the dinner party from hell. Sally trying to be all posh and a drunken Claire sniping at Ashley and Molly throwing "looks" at Kevin. Everyone ends up insulting each other but Molly keeps jumping to Kevin's defence and being very obvious. Now they're back in the sack and sneaking around again. I can hardly stand watching it. The lies. The deceit. Bleh.

Liz is still bullying Becky. I can understand how she's skeptical and worried that Steve's getting in over his head but I can still dislike how she is treating Becky lately. I hope she has the grace to apologize when she's proven wrong and Becky is cleared because you know that's going to happen! Becky is convinced she's going to prison and doesn't want Steve to be stuck with a wife inside and no life outside, but Steve is more loyal than that. Unfortunately, Liz's attitude sparked Becky's insecurities and she legged it.

Thankfully, Steve found her due to Roy and Hayley's deductive powers. The Transporter in the cab got him there 2 minutes after she had called them he got there before she got on the bus. Over and over he has to convince her he isn't going to run away, that he's going to support her no matter what. And Lloyd had a lucky break and in a 007 moment, leaped into the air and brought Slug down with a crash. Funny moment with Steve and Lloyd trying to decide who was going to rough up Slug and neither of them could do it so they let Becky at him and then they fitted up Hooch, yet again. Hooch didn't seem to want to take the chance that Becky and Slug would be believed. She has a lot of support these days, not like in the past when she had nobody and it's well known, i'm sure, that he has a grudge against her. The accusations would have just enough credence to sink him.

Jack is having trouble finding his own place. Connie wants him to move in with her, platonically, and he can bring his pigeons! But it's hard for Jack to leave it, where he and Vera lived, and battled. Seems to be a lot more sentimental about her now she's gone. She could have used a bit of that when she was alive. You'd think after all the bitching Tyrone did about Connie, they'd have invited him to see her house long before now. All it took was a snooker table and Tyrone was all "It's all forgotten now!" But he did have the grace to apologize.

What's wrong with Peter having a lady over if Simon isn't there? Ken, have you ever heard of doorbells? Turns out she wasn't too keen on kids even though Simon was very well behaved and Simon was very perceptive about her. Awww Simon's bunny died!

Sunday Comments, June 20

Lines of the week:

• Tina to David "You're a weedly little joker"
  
• David "I saw where Joe went...he crawled back into the gutter!"
  
• Norris "I nip out to buy a pair of pyjamas and miss a kerfuffle!"
  
• Emily "The Berlin Wall came down eventually" Ramsay "Yes, but Norris?"
  
• Norris about Emily "It's been like living with a geriatric Holly-Go-Lightly"
  
• Pam to Claire "It's a street party, luv, not the G20"
  
• Blanche "In my day when sommat bad happened, you stayed home, got drunk, and bit on a shoe!"
  
• Kelly "I didn't come here to be insulted" Blanche "Where do you usually go?"
  
• Blanche "Folk used to say my mother were a witch" Deirdre "They've said the same thing to me!"
  

So who beat up David after all that shouting and palaver on the cobbles? Yep, neither Jason nor Joe. It was Gary. But wasn't the insult match between Eileen and Gail fun!

Ashley is still avoiding Claire's bedroom eyes but he's running out of excuses. And waiting for him in her lingerie and having to cover up with a pinnie with a picture of a topless woman wasn't much better! I think it's a bit harsh for her to insist Ashley donate the boxing gloves. It's his most treasured possession, something his Dad got for him. And deciding to tell her about not having the snip in the middle of the fair? What on earth possessed him?

The fete seemed to go ok other than Joshua's allergic reaction. Penny pincher Norris Prat Cole doling out sherbet lemons by the singles...Claire running around with a blue tooth headset and clipboard, ordering everyone around when her stalwart "floater" Sally lazed back and enjoyed a beer in the sunshine. Teresa and Umed in the curry cookoff and the best, the BEST of all was Blanche's fortune telling "booth" (Gypsy Rose Hunt) with Simon as her shill! She had Kelly pegged! mwahahahahaha! Why would anyone want to go to a Pencil Museum? Erm. Me, actually, but it keeps eluding me!
Poor little Josh, though! Janice really didn't do much but at least she was there to comfort the lad until his mum was found. And although most people didn't realize, Bad news arrived with the notice of Ramsay's death on the flight back to Oz. He had a brain tumour! I wonder if that will give Norris the kick up the backside he so richly deserves!

Jesse is turning out to be more high mainenance than already! That bird is driving Eileen mad and now it's walked out the back door! Jesse says the bird has a 60 minute fly past out of the cage. Would he really leave the bird alone in the house for it?

So Ramsay wants to buy one of the flats. Does it come with all the furniture, dishes, flowers and food, and a guitar on the wall too? He thinks he and Norris could live together! Has he lost his mind? Norris might manage to make some sort of relationship with Ramsay eventually, but i highly doubt he'd ever manage to cohabitate with him. It's things like how Norris digs his heels in and treats Ramsay so awful for something that really had no bearing on what Norris has accused him that makes me detest Norris so much. He's driven Ramsay away finally and out of Emily's life, too and Boy, didn't she tear a strip off him! I don't feel one shred of sympathy for him after how he's behaved.

That really sucks, that the "free" trip to Paris that Roy (aka Eddie) won has already expired. That's not realistic. Usually those trips/vouchers are good for a lot longer than a couple of months. And oh ugh, Molly and Kevin are back in the sack. Someone change the channel! It's got to be the worst and ugliest storyline ever. Totally out of character and totally without chemistry.

Sunday Comments, June 13

CBC is showing the World Cup over the next few weeks. What does that mean for Corrie? Well the on screen notice on my telly said that Coronation Street will be on in the weekday evenings as usual but they will not be showing the Sunday Omnibus for the next few weeks. Well, they are, but it'll be at 1:30 on Monday morning! If you have a pvr you could tape it. When they return to Sunday mornings, they will be going back to showing it at 7:30 a.m. local time. I know that in some regions it never changed from 7:30 but in other regions it did. I've heard that Southern Ontario had the same notice so it looks like it'll be returning to early Sunday mornings there too. Check your local listings. I can't remember the date, but i think it was probably coming back to Sundays either June 27 or the first Sunday in July.

Lines of the week:

• Norris "It's a charm bracelet isn't it? Hope he kept the receipt because it obviously isn't working!" (But it was a joke. One of the few Norris ever makes!)
  
• Steve "It's a bit knackering trying to look on the bright side"
  
• Joe "are you saying to want to finish?" Gail "I don't know" (pleeeeese dump him!)
  
• Betty "Try and pretend I'm not here and I'll try and pretend i'm not listening"
  
• Betty "Who'd have thought. Liz McDonald giving up men!" Liz "I didn't say that!"
  
• David "When is anyone going to take my side?" Audrey "Oh listen to Saint David of Weatherfield"
  
• Jesse "I'm not looking for another mother" (oh are you not?)
  
• Eileen to Gail about David "He hasn't been innocent since the day he hacked his way out of your womb!"
  

Boy did Liz ever make a swift turnaround against Becky! She didn't like her to start with, then thought she was ok but she's back to negativity with a vengeance. She's really being vile isn't she? Worse than anyone else! She told Steve off for taking a piece off her in front of Amy but if she'd kept her mouth shut in the first place and didn't start up with Becky, it wouldn't have come to that. Trying to talk to and then bribing Hooch probably wasn't the best idea Steve has ever had but once they all realized Slug must have been in on the scam, getting his picture to all the cab drivers in Manchester was most definitely Jim's best idea ever. But how much you wanna bet it will be Steve, Lloyd or Eddie that finds Slug? (The only three streetcars drivers we ever see of the supposed 15!)

Gail is getting fed up with Joe and i don't think him making breakfast is going to turn the tide. David is fed up with Joe and Tina for the moment, but only because she's with Jason and rubbing it in David's face. In fact she seems to be intent on giving David grief for everything. I understand why but poor David, it's the like the little boy who cried Wolf! He gets blamed even when he's not doing anything (steal her bracelet). Why oh why can't Gail just get rid of Joe? I'm afraid i'm with David on this one. And Joe being critical about David isn't helping his case either. And in the end Gail gives Joe one last chance. Tina wasn't right that her relationship with David was all bad. It just turned out that way. And as much as David protests that he's had enough of her, he'd take her back in an instant.

So then it's all set up... who beat the crap out of David? Joe was lurking in his van drinking beer and Jason went out gunning for him. All Gail had to do was check Joe's hands. He'd have bruises if he'd done that damage to David's body. and Jason? he's not a violent man and wouldn't have done it anonymously. He'd have pushed David around a bit and shouted at him but i don't think Jason would have done it.

Kevin was driving Rosie's car. Rosie can't drive it herself yet, so i hope she at least insured it for her father and mother to drive but there's not been any mention. I guess we are just to assume. Jesse got what he was angling for, an invite to Eileen's but he's too much of a mama's boy to take it. He only thought he might be ready for committment when his mother threw him out. What's Jesse going to do now that he's moved in and his bird doesn't like Eileen?

Oh heck. Molly and Tyrone are back. Cue more googly eyes and sneaking around. Tyrone brags about his "second honeymoon" so Kevin took Sally house shopping out of town. I guess he figures if he can't have Molly, he doesn't want to live across the road from her either. I wonder if Tyrone is sensing something, now he's buying flowers and asking her if she loves him. I think even he must be starting to figure it out, she's getting sarcastic and critical of him all the time.

Joe's back doesn't seem to be hurting in the least now. Did you see him unload that gear off the van like a 16 year old? Graham has quite the unique cart for his gardening supplies. looks like some castoffs from Joe's kitchen cupboards, too.

I'm really sad that Lloyd and Liz have split up. I don't really know why she finally decided it was over. And she's all in a twist about menopause. I guess for someone that's a live wire like Liz, she must think her youth and sexuality is a thing of the past.

Claire is on a mission and is uber-organizing her Fete. Andy and Jim are gone again. I so enjoy seeing both of them but especially Jim and Liz. The chemistry still crackles between them doesn't it?

Ramsay was leaving and Emily was heartbroken. Norris behaved very very badly during all this. He sniped and insulted Ramsay relentlessly until Ramsay finally gave up. However Rita played matchmaker and put a bug in his ear about the Victoria Court flats and it looks like Ramsay is going to be a permanent thorn in Norris' side if it works out.

Sunday Comments, June 6

Lines of the week:

• Audrey about Graeme "He's like some sort of Idiot Savant" Blanche "You're half right"
  
• Becky "Who needs booze? I'm legless on Lurve!"
  
• Becky "I just wanted it to be perfect...and normal"
  
• Liz "Before you say it's not about me... it is about me!"
  
• Liz "I hope you're not going to start on me" Steve "I don't know where to start starting on you!"
  
• Becky "I love you Roy Cropper" (He's a real star!)
  
• Becky going up the aisle "I love it when he's gaggin for it!"
  
• Maria "I'm not disrespecting his memory" (you are, more than you know!)
  
• Hooch "She lied last time and got away with it. Looks like justice has come full circle" (bastard!)
  
• Becky to Steve "I'm trouble" Steve "I love trouble. Bring me trouble" (and he's telling the truth!)
  

Loved the Blackpool Tower made of sausages that Graeme made to tease Ashley about his non-vasectomy! Graeme is an utter and most definite star. Did you see him face off against Blanche over the classic Hollywood movies? He just gets better and better!

Maria might say she and Tony are just friends but you can tell she's got growing feelings and Fiz can tell too. Can't blame her. On the surface, he's charming, handsome and pays all that attention to her and the baby. Does he have genuine feelings for her? He may have convinced himself he does. I'm sure he loves the baby. But we know he murdered her husband so it's really weird! And he's got her completely wrapped around his little finger. He might say he's falling in love with her but i don't trust him for a minute. Michelle went ballistic. You can understand why. Liam's not been dead a year. But she did actually come round. Mammy Connor, on the other hand, is going to lower the brimstone on Maria and Tony. It's a bit quick, yes, but it's not the end of the world.

Poor Steve doesn't trust Slug and i don't blame him. It also looks like he doesn't trust Becky either so that didn't going to go over well. She tried to set up a surprise to get Jim at the wedding and she also had that honeymoon she won. The hen night looked like a fun night in. Loved Becky and Betty together. The Two Frozen Peas dance was punctuated by Anna's swinging her bosums around lol! The Northern Soul dance that Steve and Lloyd did around the ironing board was fun too! You got to hand it to an actor who's less than er...buff and is willing to appear shirtless!

So the wedding day...WHAT was Becky wearing and do you really think a posh wedding dress shop like they went to would carry that??? I much preferred the fluffy pink one from her first wedding! She looked like an ostrich with all those feathers around her hips and hair and tiara high on her head. At least Becky managed to stay sober through it all and on her wedding day though she had a near miss with the panic attack. Roy Cropper to the rescue! Awww lovely to see Jimbo again! And Liz! All she needed to go with that dress was a pair of castanets! Lovely venue (Ryecroft Hall for those of us that were on the locations tour in May!)

But just as we all thought, Slug was in cahoots with that dirty cop and set up Becky. She was sober, but spent her wedding night in a cell. Still, Betty saw him, would she remember him? It doesn't prove he put the package in Becky's bag but it would put forth the possibility. The worst part of it was that Steve didn't believe her and that kind of betrayal has to hurt her to the core. Not only is she being stitched up but her beloved Stevie doesn't believe her. I think if the dirty cop hadn't felt the need to rub her face in it, she'd never have even guessed what happened. Roy and Hayley will stand behind her. Steve only believed her when he saw the cop and it all fell into place. But what a lovely scene between them in the car!
Lloyd been dumped by Liz. It's for certain she was avoiding him, not just by not coming home but by not returning his calls either. But just as he thought it was all lost, who shows up and is too chicken to face Lloyd. (but what did she look like in all pink????) Why did she bother coming back for the wedding if she couldn't face Lloyd? The problem was, Jim came to the wedding, too! Oops! And they had a right old confrontation didn't they with lots of "catch yerself on" and "tell you this and i'll tell you no more!!" Gotta love Jimbo!

Liz and Lloyd had a nice quiet chat. She bared her soul just like she bared her un-made-up face and very un-Liz like clothes and they both cried facing the end of their relationship.

How much longer is Ashley going to be keeping his little secret from Claire i wonder? Sophie has noticed Kevin isn't bothered running when Molly isn't around. Just goes to show you, that's the only reason he even bothered in the first place. Oh hey, Claire's support group is having to fold so hey, let's put on a show, kids!! A Street fair/fete! Claire's got a quest, a crusade, and she's going to turn into the UberOrganizer!

Lloyd (Craig Charles) has lost weight. I see Norris is still bullying Ramsay. You just can't win. He castigates Ramsay for breaking his mug and when it's replaced, and tea is offered, Ramsay can't stay so it's his fault again for not taking up the tea offering. Tina is very worried about her dad and his depression. But a metaphoric kick up the backside isn't what he needs at all, it's medical help and councelling when it's clinical depression.

Tina keeps accusing David of causing Joe's Addiction. Nobody can do that. Joe got addicted long before David got his sticky fingers into it. He teased and played with Joe but i wouldn't even consider what he did as contributing to it. He stole Joe's pills and pretended he'd bought him new ones and then only let him have one now and then. If anything, he's guilty of emotional abuse or bullying but keeping the pills away from Joe was probably better for Joe than anything, albeit putting him into withdrawal. The hard way. It was Joe that wanted David to get the pills and it was Joe that took the pills. Yes, David did enjoy it. Even though David was a little sh#t about it all, Joe is being fair by not blaming David.

Sunday Comments, May 30

Lines of the week:

• Pam "Do you really think Cowboy is the best image for a builder?"
  
• Rosie to MIchelle "Did you think i was out of his league?" (no, he's out of yours!)
  
• Joe "I am not a junkie" (
  
• David to Joe "Next time you get the shakes, grab a wisk and whip us up an omelet!"
  
• Kevin to Chesney about the dog "Bring your 'orse!"
  
• Joe "I've got a bad back" (didn't seem to be bothering you when you were tearing up the place!)
  
• Rosie about Michelle "Name one thing she has that i haven't" (where do i start?) and Michelle about Rosie "The whole street has you on tap. You should have your own pump in the Rovers"i
  
• Gail "You think i'm a mug." Audrey "The only thing your lacking is a handle. And mugs are breakable"
  
• Luke about Rosie "Company-wise, she's got less going for her than a dead crustacean" (so why bother?)
  
• Eddie "I had an industrial accident" Anna "First day on the job he spilled tea all over his nether regions"
  

Joe is a whiny drug addict. Yes, he'll probably get over the addiction. But then he'll just be whiny. David is completely off his rocker too, thinking Tina will go back to him just because her father says so. He's pushing Joe so far that he's going to push him over the edge. Gail works in a medical centre. How can she not be aware of the symptoms of addiction or withdrawal? All Joe does is drag Gail down and he pretty much always has done. now it looks like he's lost the big job he got through Len. You do remember that he borrowed money from one of Len's "mates" for the supplies? Yes it's going to get worse.

You didn't think it would, did you, not after he hit bottom and broke into the Health Centre trying to score the drugs.Did you catch the lyrics in the van when Joe was outside of the Medical Centre? "Times for a change, the luck i've had to turn a good man bad. Let me get what i want this time" Ironic, that. then hiding in the ginnel making sure nobody could see him while the van and loud radio was right there! Sheesh! He was even a loser at that, couldn't get into the locked cabinets! I was hoping he'd be electrocuted by the alarm when he was sledgehammering it! Anything to put me out of my misery. Now Gail really has a weight around her neck and everyone knows it. More fodder for David and she'll have to contend with her mother looking down her nose at Joe too!

Even when he got caught, Joe is still denying he's really got a problem. He's not a real addict shooting up on a street corner (but he's breaking into medical offices. Close enough in my book). He just reckons it's bad luck. It is of course, and it is easy to get addicted to prescription painkillers, but put real life situations aside for a minute. This is tv. We're allowed to call Joe a loser. Gail sure didn't look too happy, almost cold really.

Kevin sure looked sour to hear all about Molly and Tyrone's idyllic holiday.

Pam seems to have taken Bill and the business in hand. Janice is right, most of them in the factory take pleasure in the misfortunes of others. Janice and Kelly are the worst offenders but Sally does it too. How could nobody realize Joe was inside the Medical Center when his van was parked right across the road from it by the pub?

The truth comes out. And Sally deserved that whack to the head for trying to grab Fiz's handbag. They figured out it was Chesney that took the car and it all kicked off again. See, i reckon that Fiz didn't tell Chesney about John because down deep she knows it's wrong even if she does love him. Sally and Rosie are out for blood, Fiz's blood, But why would Fiz put the ring in her locker? If you didn't want anyone to find it, put it in your pocket! Anyway. Kevin is being reasonable and understanding about Chesney. He figured that's the way the wind was blowing and put his foot down. Wasn't Kevin nice to Chesney? That poor lad really does need a stable man's influence. Kirk doesn't count. Anyway, Kevin knows how to handle the women in his house and with a not-very-heartfelt apology, Chesney and Fiz are off the hook. I think Sally was swayed by the fact that Ches hates Stape as much as she does! Anna is so sweet with Chesney isn't she? Fiz really does do her best (except when she's lost her mind and backbone over a loser like Stape) but Chesney really does need a Mum.

Laughed at Tony sticking the knife into Rosie's insecurities about Luke and Michelle. She's just so bubble headed. I enjoyed Luke and Tony making jokes about her in the pub after she flounced out. You just know if Michelle'd have Luke back, Rosie would be dumped in a New York Minute. However, Tony doesn't want that because they need Rosie's money. Luke's made his bed, he's going to have to lie in it for the time being. It's probably not that much of a hardship unless he's trying for an intelligent conversation in the morning.

I can't imagine what Becky's dress must look like. It appears to have cost a pretty penny and bought in a classy shop. Not her usual style i would have thought. Well we won't have long to wait. Tony really crossed the line ordering Michelle around and i think he knew it. I also laughed at Sean winding up Jesse and telling him he was gay, between mother problems and cowboy gear!

Jesse's mother seems to be the bane of his existence. He's definitely hinting to move in with Eileen but i think it's more to get away from his mum than it is wanting to be with her. I think Jesse is more of a mama's boy than he lets on really. Tina and Jason are the new owners of Number 12, the flat where steve and Karen used to live. Jason goes a bit over their limit but it'll be ok. I'm sure.

Sunday Comments, May 23

Lines of the week:

• Mammy Connor "We need to get her away from that odious man!" (you don't know the half of it!)
  
• Lloyd to Ashley "I'm doing vasectomy jokes here and you're not playing ball!" (snort!)
  
• Betty about Jim "He's like a human tsunami that man!"
  
• Anna to Chesney "You're a good lad, I can tell" (and really, he is, just having a hard time lately)
  
• and.. "Deny everything, they've got nothing on you!"
  
• Michelle "It's complicated" Ryan "With you and men, it's always complicated" (he's learning fast!)
  
• (from last week but it was brilliant!) Tony to Helen Connor: "Why don't you take your toxic tongue and your tubby hubby back to the land of Begorrah and BeJesus."
  

Hiya, i'm back from my holidays. I had a brilliant time and had a great Coronation Street Coroping/Contress weekend in Manchester as well! So wonderful to catch up with old Corrie friends and meet new ones face to face! We had a coach tour of locations that were used in Corrie and had a 40 minute visit on the outside set of Granada studios, thanks in full to the wonderful Christine!!! There's photos of the tour and set here, and photos from the ping party here.

How can Rita tell Emily has had her hair done? It looks exactly the same as it always does! But yes, i think Emily and Ramsay both quite like each other. Wouldn't it be lovely to see her find love in her winter years? Norris finally has an ally in Freda against Ramsay. He really can be an odious little man.

Becky and Steve are going to get married in two weeks! I wonder if she'll get through this one sober! I wonder if Liz will come back! Loved the Pretty Woman scenario in the posh wedding shop (Co-Cu in the Victorian Barton Arcade off Deansgate in central Manchester, for you location junkies! I actually walked through there last week and saw the shop!) I can't wait to see what sort of dress Becky will end up with this time, though i actually did like the pink one from last time. And it doesn't look like Liz could make it back for the wedding so Becky's got a plan, though, seems she's going to surprise Steve by inviting Jim to the wedding. Becky's surprises don't always go according to plan so i shudder to think. She's also trying to win a dream honeymoon. It all sounds perfect but is there a fly in the ointment? or should i say a Slug in the ointment?

Gail's unshockable? yet she always is shocked when something that was blatantly obvious finally sinks in. David is having great fun winding up poor pathetic Joe. And Joe is supposed to help Tina and Jason. More "betrayal" and fodder for blackmail, at least in David's eyes. He figures Joe can make Tina like him again. I don't know who's fooling themselves more, Joe for not accepting he's an addict or David for not accepting Tina's gone and done with him. How can Joe not realize he's addicted when he allows David to blackmail him for one pill at a time! Joe is firmly in the throes of addiction and Gail can't see it at all. He's not even that good at hiding it, i think. Now he's even stealing money from Gail who blamed David for it. More fodder. When she does have some suspicions, he manages to talk his way out of it but you know, deep down, she probably does realize but isn't accepting that he's a loser of the worst kind. Even Joe finally snapped and attacked David but you know that isn't going to scare David off, though it might have if JOe had actually hurt David. Next, Joe is nagging the substitute doctor at the medical centre because he isn't the regular doctor who already knows his history (but then again, wouldn't any doctor check his file first?)

I see Chesney is just as nasty and disrespectful to Fiz as he was 3 weeks ago and i think he needs a good spanking, the brat! So what does he do next? He finds the ring and goes beserk and steals Rosie Webster's car! Did you see her in her Daisy Duke short shorts and high heels washing it? She's turned into a cariacature, a joke really. And the saga of the ring continues, Chesney might have escaped getting caught for stealing the car but he left the ring in the car and Rosie found it and gave it to Sally but Fiz saw it and stole it back. It's not going to be pretty. It's nice that Chesney is making friends with Anna, she needs someone to mother and probably sees Chesney as a young Gary, with the hope of steering him on the right path. He could so easily go off the rails now but i think down deep he's a good kid and if Fiz is careful he might just grow up that way too.

Jason doesn't realize Leon is gay? I have a feeling he does know. It was kind of mean having Eileen and Tina teasing him with every gay stereotype there is though. I see Claire's still on her crusade to make Josh a football legend now she's back on her feet. Wait until she finds out that Ashley didn't get snipped! Chesney, Eddie didn't get you sacked, you did that with your attitude. I'm really surprised that Number 12 is in such bad shape. It was occupied not all that long ago when Michelle and Ryan lived in it before she moved to the pub. Ok, 2 or 3 years but would it need so much work in that short a time?

Low impact aerobics with frozen peas on your ankles? OUch! Kevin didn't get his magazine delivered. Why didn't Norris just pull one off the shelf? And then he gets into a childish tugging competition with Eddie over it. Sheesh. Roy is a peach. lol! Wait, i thought Chesney packed in his job or got himself sacked but there he was later on with the paper bag walking back to the Kabin (when Kevin handed him his wages from the garage). Michelle is back for a bit.

Tony needs to do damage control with the Connors but i think they're far too suspicious of him and his motives and methods. He's intent on putting a wedge between the grandparents and Maria and claiming his territory and he's very posessive of Maria and the baby but in the end, she's slipping out of his grasp with a trip to Ireland right into Mammy Connor's clutches. Tony may actually have developed real feelings for Maria but he doesn't really know the meaning of love, does he? it's all about control with him.

Blogging at Coronation Street Blog, The State of the Street (UK spoilers), and Sunday comments and blogging about the Canadian timeline at Bluenose Corrie Blogger

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?