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Jane Reynolds's Weekly Blog – 20th May 2012

Written on 21/05/2012 by Jane in The Complete Blog

It felt like the middle of Winter outside this morning. There was a really cold wind blowing, and the skyline was dull and grey. Hardly Sunrise Over Swindon: not even 'sunrise', as there was no sun (and I took today's photo at 7.00 am), but you get the gist!

This week's been spent trying to buy another car. I thought mine had given up the ghost (or was having a hot flush!), last week, but the tin of Bar's Leaks my dad poured into the radiator last Sunday afternoon actually seemed to do the trick and it's been fine since.

It was an omen though, and as it's an old car and there were several other things that had been starting to concern me (not least, the radio switching itself off every five minutes!), I knew in my waters that it was time to buy another car – and quick.

It's hard trying to buy a car on a small budget, but my friend trawled Swindon's Car Dealers with me and was invaluable in helping me secure the purchase of a right little bobby dazzler. I picked it up on Saturday afternoon and am pleased with it, BUT the time it's taken has resulted in me having done virtually NO work at all this week.

As I write this (1.30 pm Sunday), I've still got two episodes of EastEnders to watch before I can even start on 'Queen Vic Corner', and I've got all the photos to take/upload for the other 'Soapy Corners'.

I'm falling asleep here, but have to push on as I've got so much work outstanding now that it's scaring me. The stupid thing though, is that almost none of it is PAID work. Just how long do you keep flogging yourself before you accept that you have to stop? I love what I do: I just need to be paid to do it!

Every morning I wonder whether today's going to be the day when my luck changes, and every night I go to bed realising it wasn't. Still; those six hours sleep (I can't spare the time for any more!), are a little break from it all, but that Gym I've joined has finally opened this week and I've now got the added pressure of feeling I should be in there every day.

Trouble is, I've got a car to pay for now as well, so I need to earn some money. I didn't become a EuroMillions millionaire on Friday night, so it's another week of tapping-away for me (with fingers crossed the whole time – which doesn't make typing very easy)!

On Wednesday night I stayed with my friends who were dog-sitting for the week. This is Holly, the little dog. HOW cute?

Talking of dogs: some of you will know Harvey (the dog at the house where I clean on Wednesdays). The poor old lad's got diabetes and is now on a strict diet. I think he's a bit fed up, but that's life, aye? Bless him.

The little duck's back on her feet too. She was only nesting; she hadn't got the bug that killed the chicken, thank goodness. When I was ironing last week, out of one window I could see the two ducks (and a couple of baby bunnies hopping in and out of the hedge), and out of the other window I could see two deer in the field at the back of the house. That's rather nice, isn't it?

Must go. Don't forget my new feature: Carla Corner (if that's your thing). Have a good week.

PS 2.30 pm Monday: WordPress has been on the slowest go-slow EVER today, and despite having been at my desk since 6.30 am this morning (after 5 hours sleep again), I've literally only just been able to post it now. It should have been out by 11.00 am latest. I despair …

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Corrie Corner – 20th May 2012

Written on 21/05/2012 by Jane in Corrie Corner, Soapy Corner, The Complete Blog

(You can hear me talking Soaps 11.30-12.00 am every Thursday & from 4.00-5.00 pm Fridays on Swindon 105.5 FM) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Eileen's moving house; Eva's moving out; Kylie's moved back in, & the earth's moved for Karl & Sunita. Yes, it's been another busy week in Corrie!

We've had a lot of goings-on at the Bistro this week. I have no life: I think I'll go there for dinner one night, as I'll be guaranteed to get a bit of entertainment. There's always someone either dancing on the table; having a row or throwing drinks (and that's just the customers!), but as for the staff … well, it's enough to make even Basil Fawlty cringe.

I've never seen anyone so unprofessional behind the bar as Nick. When he's not grimacing as if he's suffering from the effects of a particularly dodgy curry, he's rowing with Eva, Gail or (usually), both at once. It's a wonder he's got any customers, and it's lucky (if that's the right word?), that it was 'only' his Gran that David was abusing when he tried his hand at waiting tables this week.

Although it was all COMPLETELY unbelievable, I did actually laugh out loud at the one-liners (ooh, you know how I love my one-liners!), and David was at his miserable, rattiest best as he launched a tirade of abuse at Audrey and her friend.

"And you know what they say: 'drink responsibly'," he reminded them as he slammed a jug of water down on the table, then asked disinterestedly, "Do you want any dessert? It's another word for pudding." Great stuff!

Once Norris and Mary found out that Audrey had agreed to judge the Weatherfield in Bloom competition, it only took a moment for them to start planning their charm offensive.

"We're going to have to butter her up," Mary explained. "They're very susceptible to compliments: women of her age."

I'm more interested in Norris's reaction when he thought Dennis was missing. The line, "I Wanna Be With You Everywhere." from Fleetwood Mac's 'Everywhere', was singing-out behind them, and I wonder if he'll ever admit his love for Rita to either himself or her before it's too late?

Lust is in the air again for Sunita and Karl, but I can't understand why she'd book a Bridal Suite for their latest tryst, especially as they were only staying for a few hours. That won't have come cheap, and where's the money coming from, aye?

They'd have been far better using the place Nick took Kylie to, "One of those dodgy ones in town … and you only go there for one thing," Stella told Eva bluntly. Exactly. A bed's a bed – especially if you're not actually sleeping in it!

Eva didn't have much success in trying to find out what Nick had been up to. "Have you got any better ideas?" she asked Stella angrily.

"No. But then I don't have boyfriends who do the dirty on me in Hotel rooms," Stella replied. No, just husbands, love!

Dev and Stella had a heart-to-heart, and he invited her and Karl to dinner on Monday. Ooh, I can't WAIT for that one! I can't wait for Nick to admit to himself that he still loves Leanne too. We had a few hints this week. He's rowing with Eva, and when David asked him about it he immediately changed the subject, so what's coming next?

Will Leanne get custody of Simon and they'll get back together, or will Nick finish with Eva; start paying Leanne attention and make Peter jealous – leading to him deciding he does love her after all (or hitting the bottle and taking it out on Carla)? Who cares; just as long as Carla and Michelle end up together.

Will Eileen and Fireman Paul stay together now? I'd probably find it hard to live in a house knowing that someone had electrocuted themselves in my kitchen, and speaking of that little episode … Soap Police.

A Defective Detective turned up (with a PC who looked as if he'd been eating far too much cheese on toast), and said accusingly, "I just need to understand how Lesley died."

Dur. Now let's have a think. A woman with dementia was alone in a house, put a toaster in water and was instantly electrocuted. She fell to the floor and the toaster (ie, the evidence), fell into the sink.

You'd be hard-pressed to get a more obvious cause of death than that really, wouldn't you? Both Marcus and the paramedics saw she'd been electrocuted, and just how could Eileen or FP have been involved without getting electrocuted themselves? Surely even the stupidest Soap Police person couldn't have missed that vital fact?

Why, oh why, does this happen time after time in Soaps? Lesley's death was a tragic accident; an open and shut case. For Eileen and FP to have been implicated, there needed to be a far less obvious cause of death (i.e. she'd tried to make a sandwich; slipped, stabbed herself and been found lying in a pool of blood, perhaps?).

On a food theme: Sean's a fast worker. He walked into the Rovers, was told to get into the kitchen (presumably the ingredients were there?), and one hour later he'd not only prepped, but cooked and portioned-up 30 portions of hotpot (even though it takes at least a couple of hours for the meat to tenderise), before flouncing straight out and into a new job as 'Hotpot-maker/waiter' at the Bistro.

With speeds like that he'd put McDonald's to shame, and what had he come as this week: a lumberjack in a corset, or SuperGay?

As well as Norris's backing-track, we also had some Appropriate/Inappropriate Music in the Background this week with Adele's "Someone Like You" just happening to be on the radio as Eva sat there gloomily – thinking about Nick; Iggy Pop's "Never Met a Girl Like You Before", as Nick took David to the club to drown his sorrows over Kylie, and The Corrs' "What Can I Do?" playing behind Jason as he had a go at FP over his mam.

(Don't forget: I check all lyrics out thorougly to see if they're relevant. Corrie's getting as good as EastEnders at this lately!)

Apart from David's party piece in the Bistro, we're a bit light on Grins of the Week unfortunately:

Sally: "I might live in Weatherfield Norris, but Cheshire is my spiritual home."

Nick: "Get some decent clothes on – none of your dodgy T-shirts." (Here, here!)

Norris: "We've got an extensive range of confectionery that lends itself to mastication." (Beth's face!)

PS Have Kevin and Tyrone not heard of Employment Law? Tommy set off for work and told Tina, "If I can nip out during the day I will, if not, I'll see you tonight." Er, what about a lunch break?

PS2 Sean says himself that he's 'No cook'. Shouldn't it have been Tina that Betty entrusted the recipe to?

PS3 All this drug stuff's SO not Corrie, and did you notice that when Rick rang Tommy from his car it was 8.30 at night (according to the Bistro clock in the previous scene), yet he was sat there in (what looked to be), the sort of brilliant sunshine you'd get at around lunchtime on a warm spring day.

PS4 There's a knock at the door. Gail turns and asks David (in apparent astonishment), "Who's that?" If you answer it you might find out love!

PS5 I just spotted this too: Peter leaves Carla? CLICK HERE TO READ

If you like a good old affair, then my novel, "Just Good Friends?" has got two errant husbands and one errant wife, but Ruth hasn't got another feller in tow. Oh, no … it's far more juicy than that, and if you liked Sophie and Sian's romance (or are waiting for Carla and Michelle's!), you'll probably like this! SIMPLY CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CORONATION STREET HOMEPAGE

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Carla Corner – 20th May 2012

Written on 21/05/2012 by Jane in Carla Corner, Soapy Corner, The Complete Blog

STOP PRESS 21/5: PETER LEAVES CARLA FOR LEANNE? CLICK HERE

It's sod's law that I hit on the idea of Carla Corner JUST as she disappeared from our screens, and we've had another Carla-less week this week. It's hard to cope without our heroine, so hopefully Carla Corner will help keep us going until she returns (which is going to be this week, by the look of it; yay)!

I was thinking about what to write today, and it struck me that even when she's not in it, Twitter's still full of Carla-talk: all day, every day. There's not a single other Soap character who commands such devotion among their fans, and the fact that they're nearly all women certainly says a lot.

What is it about this one woman that elicits such adoration? This is a Soap character after all – not a global superstar singer or movie star. I'd love your thoughts this week on why YOU think Carla is so special. After all; there's lots of beautiful actresses out there (many of them in Soaps), but none of them get the same attention as our Mrs Connor. Tell me 'what does it' for you, and I'll include it next week.

What did you think of that YouTube video from last week? I'd love your thoughts on that too. I don't want Carla Corner to just be my thoughts. (You know what I think!) This is a page for Carla fans everywhere, and I want it to be a place where you can comment (or start a discussion), knowing that other Carla fans will see it.

The difference between Carla Corner and Twitter is that Twitter's so fast-moving it's very easy to miss something, whereas if you leave a comment on here it'll still be here two days later!

Here's this Week's Comments:

Carchellelove loved the video & says: "The relationship is brilliant, and it just has to happen! Isn't the producer of Corrie gay, himself? If he can't see that the relationship would be the making of them, then he needs to step down and let us take over!

"I also noticed all of the evidence you've mentioned, because I've been keeping a mental note of it myself! I thought I was the only Carchelle fan in the world, but since joining Twitter, I've realised that it isn't just me! That made made so happy. This blog is brilliant and Carla Corner is a fantastic idea!(I love the name, too, by the way!)"

S. Maz says: Carla's "Just too beautiful & gorgeous for words," and is missing her.

Ellie says: "I am a straight female who has a bit of a crush on Carla Connor. Half of it is personality admiration (with how feisty & confident she is) & the other half is that she is pretty damn GORGEOUS."

Alex Rose Claridge says: "I am so excited about the arrival of Carla Corner and it will definitely be a big hit when word spreads around the Aliettes about it. Carla is my favourite character in Corrie and along with many others. I, too, have a bit of a crush on her, haha!"

Thanks to everyone who contributed, and to read last week's comments in full, just scroll down to the bottom of last week's Carla Corner.

Carla and Michelle #Carchelle

Many Carla fans have now joined me in my wish to see her and Michelle get together (#Carchelle on Twitter). It would make a sensational 'rating-winning' storyline, and there are so many tiny little clues/seeds that could be traced-back to support its credibility that I truly hope the storyliners consider picking-up on it (assuming they haven't already!).

Their close friendship (closer than you'd expect: which is why I first started mentioning it in my Corrie Corner posts all those months ago now), may turn into something deeper, and as more and more previously 'straight' women begin relationships with other women, my novel "Just Good Friends?" follows close friends Ruth and Helen as they go through a journey that changes both of their lives forever.

It's got husbands having affairs – and all the twists and turns you'd expect from a regular chick-lit novel, but in this one, is it the girl who gets the girl in the end?

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE "JUST GOOD FRIENDS?"

If you'd like to leave a comment, simply click on 'Leave a comment' below. This is YOUR page, and your comments this week will form part of next week's Carla Corner.

(If you'd like to leave a comment but don't want your name published I can do that, or alternatively, you could just send me a Direct Message on Twitter @janereynolds8)

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Emmerdale-y – 20th May 2012

Written on 21/05/2012 by Jane in Emmerdale-y, Soapy Corner, The Complete Blog

(You can hear me talking Soaps 11.30-12.00 am every Thurs & from 4.00-5.00 pm Fri on Swindon 105.5 FM) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Zak's in hospital; Nicola & Elliot are in quarantine, & will Gennie be going to see the Doctor? Is a pregnancy about to be revealed?

Phew. Much as I love Emmerdale, seven episodes has been a bit much for me this week (as I've unexpectedly had to buy another car and have been very short of time. I'm very short of money now, too!). It did get me thinking though: why do we have two episodes on Thursdays? Is one enough?

Anyway, down to business. As I blearily caught-up at 5.00 am on Saturday morning, I suddenly jolted awake when I heard an over-wrought Gennie say, "I'm probably just hormonal or something," to Nikhil, and instantly become the odds-on favourite in the Emmerdale Pregnancy Stakes, yes?

All the clues are there, and I reckon it's only a matter of time before Gennie'll be nipping to the chemist and seeing that blue line! Ooh, how exciting. It'll be brilliant if it IS her, as you can't get anyone more 'mess-averse' than Nikhil, and a baby would totally freak him out (and transform him into a complete 'doting dad' I reckon)!

I've been saying for a year now (before Gennie even had her eye on him), that those two should get together, get married and have babies (as it would be a dream comedy pairing and offer some great storyline opportunities for the writers). Looks like I'm getting my wish.

I also said I wished we could see a lot more of Dan, and – boy – we certainly have this week, as he continued to bulldoze his way into Ali and Ruby's lives.

There were rows-a-plenty, and him getting a job at the factory didn't exactly put a smile on her face (not even a Lottery win could make that miracle happen)!

"We can talk about the divorce. You liked me enough to marry me once," he reminded her, as they sat arguing in the cafe.

"Beggars belief," she replied in dismay.

Love can turn to hate – and vice-versa. From having hated Ruby, Sean's definitely 'warmed' to her; so-much-so that he kissed her on the lips this week, which gave Misery Ali even more to moan about.

Dan blamed Ruby. "I'm into women; not underage lads," she reminded him, but it made no odds.

"This is what happens to kids when you throw them to the lesbians," he retorted. What Century are you from Dan? He's so un-PC; it's so funny to watch!

I'd said that I'd found the lead up to Zak's breakdown rather dull, but thought that what happened next would probably be a lot more interesting, and it certainly has been. It's shocked everyone (including Zak himself), and he's been excellent this week – as has Lisa, who was devastated after seeing the state of him.

It'll no-doubt get worse next week when the rest of the family get to see him, although I can't get over his nurse. "I'm stuck with the name Trevor," he told Zak.

Trevor? I've never seen anyone look less like a Trevor in my life. He looks far more like a Simeon or a Giles to me, and actually reminds me so much of the Carry On actor Jim Dale!

Nicola's still not bonding with little Einstein Elliot, and the little lamb was looking a bit peaky this week. "You'd better take him to the Doctor," Nicola suggested to Jimmy, "Unless you think he can diagnose himself," she added sarcastically.

"So, is it the pox?" she asked Jimmy when they got back.

"No. It is not 'The Pox'. He's not from the flamin' Dark Ages," Jimmy huffed in exasperation, but that left the problem of who was going to look after the lad.

"Elliot? Do you know what 'quarantine' means? No?" Nicola established (as he shook his little head), then turned to Jimmy. "Let's not book him on Countdown just yet, then," she said smugly.

When you're sick, the only person you want is your mum, and it was so sad to hear Elliot ask, "Why hasn't she rung?"

"She rang last night and she sends you big hugs and kisses," Jimmy lied. (Nicola didn't approve!)

Alas for Nicola (but not for everyone else!), it wasn't long before she came down with it too, so was forced to keep him company in quarantine. I'm sure the time they'll spend together will do the trick, and that by the time Kelly does eventually roll up to collect him (as she undoubtably will), it'll take an Army to try and prize him away from Nicola (hopefully unsuccessfully).

Just dumping your child so you can go off and have a good time is unforgiveable, as is dumping your child so you can get on with your life – as Megan's son Robbie told her in no uncertain terms this week. Oh, just fast-forward this one please.

My crystal ball tells me he'll end up bonding with Declan; moving in and being given a job on the Estate (manning the office when the rest of them go off to lunch and leave it unattended, presumably?), then work his way through the village lasses like most young lads do – although who on earth was that woman who came in just as Declan was leaving? Not his girlfriend, surely? She looked rather … 'mature'.

Rather a bijou selection for our Grins of the Week:

Ali: "I want a nice, quiet dinner on my own."

Dan: "In a public cafe?"

Charity: "What's going on?"

Jai: "He (Nikhil), made a face like she's fat (Gennie)."

Charity: "Is that even possible?"

Hannah: "Don't mind me."

Holly: "We do, actually."

Ruby: "I'll teach him to be nice to women."

Dan: "You should know, aye? Hah!"

PS Glad to see Holly tell David he was too old for her. I said he was. Alicia's far more suitable!

PS2 Eric took that leaking carton of milk into the B&B and put it on the table. That'd make a right mess. You'd never do that in real life!

PS3 Doesn't Amy's hair look better now she doesn't look as if she's just come straight off a protest march? She just needs to put foundation further than her jawline and get rid of those panda eyes and she'll finally be revealed as the pretty young woman she really is!

Dan knows what it's like for his wife to leave him … for another woman. Ruth's husband Simon has a big secret, but not as big as his wife's.

My chick-lit romantic novel with a twist: "Just Good Friends?" is a love story about two straight, married women who share a drunken kiss and whose feelings become far more than just friendship. But will they get together? Ooh, the answer's a mere click away on Amazon/Kindle.

SIMPLY CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE EMMERDALE HOMEPAGE

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Queen Vic Corner – 20th May 2012

Written on 21/05/2012 by Jane in Queen Vic Corner, Soapy Corner, The Complete Blog

(You can hear me talking Soaps 11.30-12.00 am every Thurs & from 4.00-5.00 pm every Fri on Swindon 105.5 FM) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Dot's vanished; Janine's getting bigger; something's appeared up Lola's jumper and Derek makes booze disappear. (Can he do the same to Ben?)

Is Ben going to get away with it? Please, NO. If I have to look at that weasely little face for much longer I'll be after him with a photo frame.

He and Phil have either got their 'Uh, oh; we've been rumbled' faces, or their 'S'awwright; we've got away wiv' it', faces on, and it's getting SO boring now.

The Police aren't having any success (they haven't falsely arrested anyone for at least a fortnight), and Ray's daughter Sasha – who wants to be a criminal pathologist – fell at the first hurdle and ran out of Heather's flat crying. Are you sure you've chosen the right profession, love?

Either that, or it was the decor that tipped her over the edge, but if that place upsets her she needs to stay well clear of Alfie's living room. No wonder Roxy was lying down. I'd need to lie down (with an eyemask on), if I had to live with that colour scheme, but if Sacha needs something a bit less taxing than finding Heather's killer, maybe she could go and investigate Phil's moving doors.

It's really bugging me now (and I'm going to have to do some further investigation this week), but I'm convinced that when people come in through the front door they sometimes turn left and sometimes turn right to get into the living room. There's something going on, but I can't put my finger on it so I'll be polishing my glasses and paying extra attention this week!

I thought there was something wrong with my eyes when I saw that shot of Lola. From having had an almost flat stomach for the last 14 months of her pregnancy, she's suddenly remembered to stick a football-sized cushion up her jumper, and now looks like a very thin woman … with a cushion stuck up her jumper, unlike Janine, who looks as if she's carrying a whole team!

It's been so nice to see a pregnant woman in a Soap who actually seems to behaving like a real pregnant woman. Janine's been eating for two (dozen), and Michael risked his life (if he IS actually alive – and not the undead), by suggesting she cut back on the carbs.

There won't be many women out there (except for the stick-insect ones), who haven't totally understood her misery when she's complained about 'feeling fat', and wanting to cancel the wedding because she can't fit into her dress. "People won't know if it's a bride walking down the aisle or Heather Trott's 'second coming'," she moaned.

You have to admire Michael's evil, cunning mind though. Janine said the wedding was off, so he took her for a 4D scan of the baby and suddenly it was right back on again! With the amount of money Michael owes, it's no wonder her wants to marry her "More than ever now," but I can't see Janine letting him get his hands on it, can you?

If Michael had a proper job he could get a loan or a credit card like Ian's done … and then go and get a few more. There's only one downside to that plan though, which is that you've got to leave the country and never come back. That's a bit drastic, but as EastEnders is losing actors faster than Andy Murray loses points in a tie-break, it might be an idea.

Dot left in a cab this week, and we all know that Ian's another one going on a 'break'. Maybe he's going to sneak out under Janine's dress when she leaves. At the rate she's going it'd be a damn good hiding place!

To be honest, I feel like going with him. "Every time I try and claw myself back up, something happens. When I look back on my life, it is a catalogue of mistakes and failures and missed opportunities," he explained to Ben.

That is literally word-for-word how I feel about my life. Maybe I need a six month break too? Trouble is, I can't afford it, so I guess I'll have to carry on and just hope for a miracle.

Maybe I could ask Fairy Godfather Derek to 'sort it' for me? He managed to hide a load of illegal booze in the blink of an eye. Maybe he really IS magic? Do you think he could make Ben disappear?

Did you see that Police search? I reckon that if I looked in a tiny little (eye level) corner cabinet, I'd be able to spot if there were bottles of booze in there, or look inside a kitchen unit without having to take the mugs and bowls out, wouldn't you? Where was it: hiding behind an egg cup? Actually, no. I'm not going to say anything about things that aren't credible this week.

Things like: how Ricky's mystery job won't allow him any time off for his own sister's wedding; how Carol's mob can't get to the wedding because of 'engineering works' on the line; how Ben doesn't go to school, but they never contact Phil abaht it; how Derek didn't think to just pick up his mobile and ring any of his family at the Branning's to say he was delayed, and all the Appropriate/Inappropriate Music in the Background. No, I'm not going to mention any of that …

Most of Kim's lines are funny, or she makes them funny with her brilliant poses and facial expressions. They're not all one-liners though, or we'd have loads for our Grins of the Week! As it is, we've only got a few:

Tamwar: "I can put it in a doggy bag for you."

Shirley: "Do I look like a dog to you?"

Tanya: "Abi. Get that please."

Abi: "What am I, a professional door opener?"

Tanya (about Lauren): "She stands next to a beer can, and suddenly I'm a bad mother?"

PS Shirley thought Phil had gone to Portugal and said she'd got up, 'Cos it was the first time she'd realised Phil was 100 miles away. It's actually over 900 miles to Portugal.

PS2 Have you noticed how there's always brilliant sunshine streaming into the Branning's kitchen? Never mind Portugal; I'll go there for a week. It's about as far as I could afford to go!

Here's a believable storyline. My novel "Just Good Friends?" follows both Eleanor and Ruth's marriages as they're put to the ultimate test when an affair begins after a drunken kiss, but who's the one having the affair?

It's just like something from a Soap, so if you fancy it, please CLICK HERE to buy it on Amazon/Kindle (and thank you SO much if you do; I really appreciate it).

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE EASTENDERS' HOMEPAGE

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And Finally … 20th May 2012

Written on 21/05/2012 by Jane in and Finally, The Complete Blog

(And Finally … The bit at the end that doesn't fit anywhere else!)

Mary Portas and her partner are expecting a baby (Mail 4/3/12) CLICK HERE TO READ

Mary Portas speaks of her love for her female partner (Mail 2/3/12) CLICK HERE TO READ and on the 21st October 2011, the Daily Mail published two articles that could have easily been Press Releases for my novel "Just Good Friends?"

The Daily Mail does a lot of articles on lipstick lesbians actually. Here's both these links:

WOMEN PREFER SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS and

MORE THAN HALF OF WOMEN ATTRACTED TO OTHER WOMEN

This is exactly the basis of the romance which develops between yummy-mummies Ruth and Helen, and their affair blows their lives apart. If you know of any Literary Agent, or have any contact, anywhere who you think might even be remotely interested, then please send them a link to my site. I'd be ever so grateful!

You can hear me talking Soaps on the Radio in Jane's Big Blog on Alastair Greener's Big Show: Thursdays 11.30-12.00; Jane's Soapy Slot is now in the TGI Friday show which I do with Paul Dawkins for an hour: 4.00-5.00 every Friday afternoon, and The Big Weekender with the brilliant Nick and Barry is on from 5.00-7.00 pm.

I'm an occasional co-host on Girls About Town: on Wednesdays 11.00-12.00 too; and it's all on Swindon 105.5 FM. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

All done, but here's the 'small print' – which may be useful (!) for newcomers to this blog:

If you're one of my more recent Twitter followers (I'm janereynolds8), and are wondering where I disappear to sometimes, let me reveal my secret. I pull on my yellow marigold gloves and go cleaning/ironing on Wednesdays.

I do one of my Radio slots on Thursday mornings then generally clean my dad's house and do a few 'chores' on a Thursday afternoon, then it's full steam ahead from Friday to Sunday as I prepare-for and write the blog, so I'm often a 'lesser-spotted Jane' during that time.

Same at night. I have to be sat there at 7.00 pm to do my Soap-watching (pen in hand), in order to be watch/make notes for my Sunday Soapy Corners. It all works well, unless I have to go out; something unexpected happens, or I have a rough day and end up eating pasta and drinking red wine (as it's hard to concentrate after that)!

I can just-about cope with missing one night (as I can usually find the time to catch up somewhere), but if I lose more than one - for whatever reason – it all gets very difficult, and there's been the odd occasion where I've simply just run out of time and had to publish the blog on a Monday morning (which I hate doing as I'm such a stickler for efficiency!).

That's a snapshot of my working week. Not much else happens to me, other than that!

There are several jolly good bits not currently listed on the right of this page: things like 'Celebri-teeze', 'Handy Hints' (some handier than others!), 'Moira's Corna' (Chris Evans' Radio 2 show's Newsreader Moira Stuart's Rasta Sista), 'Twitter-y', plus old posts on things like MasterChef, Michel Roux's Service, great Soap-y lookalikes and some recipes/cooking tips (with yummy foodie photos too!), so if this week's blog's left you hungry for more, why not take a look? Just click on 'Older Blog Posts' and have a good old scroll!

I'm very sorry to say that my 'Superhero' Jim Montgomery (who got this site purring like a Rolls Royce), is no longer able to be involved 'behind my scenes'. He's been wonderful, and I don't know how I'd have managed without him over this last 18 months.

It's a blow to lose him and I wish him all the best in getting back to full creative steam in the near future.

If you need a very reasonably-priced Accountant (who also plays the Saxophone – but not at the same time), mine's Swindon-based Len Morphew, and he's done a jolly good job for me.

CLICK HERE FOR LEN'S WEBSITE

(My debut novel "Just Good Friends?" follows the lives of wealthy South London families embroiled in a series of affairs, the most surprising of which being yummy mummy Ruth and Helen's, as – after sharing a drunken kiss – their close friendship turns into something deeper and threatens to destroy Ruth's seemingly strong marriage. Available from Amazon, Kindle or directly from any page on this site as a paperback or ebook.)

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Jane Reynolds's Weekly Blog – 13th May 2012

Written on 13/05/2012 by Jane in The Complete Blog

Here's a Sunrise Over Swindon (not quite sunrise; I took this at 6.00 am this morning but it had already been light since about 4.30!)

It might as well be Friday 13th with the luck I've had today.

I worked from 6.00 am Saturday, right through to midnight (with a short break for dinner at my friends' house, but wasn't even able to drink much wine as I had to write and post a review at the end of the Britain's Got Talent Final. It was midnight when I got into my sleeping bag.

When I left my friends' at 5.45 this morning, I noticed a huge puddle of water under my car: obviously my radiator was leaking. I managed to drive to my office, but by then there was steam coming out and it smelled hot, so I jumped out and legged it inside in case it caught fire.

I looked out of my window (3rd floor) and saw that it was ok, so got on with my work and thought I'd just ring my dad later and ask him what to do.

As you might know, my dad's got terminal cancer, and I'm afraid to say he's taken a turn for the worse this week, so after ringing him constantly from 9.00 am; by the time it had got to 11.30 and he STILL hadn't answered I was really panicking.

I'd got no option but to drive home, so took some water down to fill the radiator. Firstly, I couldn't get the bonnet open, then after having to get two different blokes who were walking by to help me, I finally got the water in and set off.

When I got home, my dad was in the kitchen eating toast. I counted to ten, then asked him why he hadn't answered the phone and he said he hadn't heard it ringing …

This afternoon I've had to keep going out to the car while he tinkered with it, and in the middle of all this (and with several other interruptions too), I've been trying to do this blog.

My dad went out, so I sat in the front room and half-watched the second half of the Manchester City match, and all seemed to be going well, but just when I thought I was ok, all three of the leads I use to connect my iPhone to my Mac FAILED, so that wasted another half an hour. I still haven't been able to upload two photos I need, but it's now 19.00 and I'm … let's just say: fraught.

I'm going to finish here because I desperately want to get this posted tonight. I need a shower, some food and a glass of wine, but even though my dad's been home for an hour, he still hasn't been in the kitchen, which guarantees that the second I walk downstairs to get my food he'll go in there, and it'll be an hour before I can eat.

All I want to do is collapse and watch a bit of TV then fall into bed (only 10 hours sleep over the last two nights!), ready to get up at 5.50 am tomorrow and start all over again – including having to sort my car out. Still; tomorrow's another day, isn't it? I'll think about that later.

Must go. Do enjoy the first-ever Carla Corner (if that's your thing)!

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Queen Vic Corner – 13th May 2012

Written on 13/05/2012 by Jane in Queen Vic Corner, Soapy Corner, The Complete Blog

(You can hear me talking Soaps 11.30-12.00 am every Thurs & from 4.00-5.00 pm every Fri on Swindon 105.5 FM) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Fairy Godfather, or just a deluded Marlon Brando? Yes, it's the 'Dirty Derek' show, again …

Something creepy happened this week. No, not Michael smiling; Dirty Derek wore a different suit. "I'm a good man who's done some bad things," he said. Yeah, you're just 'misunderstood' aren't you, mate?

In Derek's latest attempt to have us believe he's just a regular guy, he even wore a nice brown suit (instead of his normal cockroach black), to go and see his daughter in. That's right, his daughter.

A few months ago we didn't know he even existed, and yet EastEnders has pretty-much turned into the 'Derek Branning Show', and there he was this week, doling-out presents (again), in one scene, before popping over the road to the pub to wind Ray up a bit, then stepping outside to shout at a poor young girl … who just happened to be his long-lost daughter.

We knew he had a son, but now there's a girl too: Alice. She seems nice-enough, but please, why so much Derek?

Actually, as most of the rest of the cast are on a six month break I guess they've got to fill the time somehow, but – boy – it's getting tedious. It's not even as if he's a likeable character, and as I've just read that Ian Beale's off for a 'little break' soon too, does this mean we'll suddenly find that Derek's taken over the caff and the chippy as well?

Once place he won't be getting his hands on is the Arjee Bhajee; not after that magnificent relaunch. Who wouldn't want to go and eat curry with Tamwar's miserable gob looking at you and a rapper in the corner? Sounds like a top night out – NOT – but their makeover (it didn't look any different to me), seemed to assure Zainab that their future was rosy.

"We're back on the map," Afia pronounced.

"And now you two are set up for life," Zee beamed.

What? After one night? Who are you: Gordon Ramsay? I've seen Kitchen Nighmares, but that takes the poddadom.

Tamwar and Afia's faces are enough to curdle the lassi, and I reckon they've got far more pressing things on their mind than running a Restaurant anyway. "I'm living the 'married and working together' dream." Tamwar intoned to Fatboy. Wow.

After only a few months of marriage, Afia's got itchy feet and Tamwar seems to prefer spending his time with FatBoy. Is Afia displaying lesbian tendancies? Just 'putting that out there', as she's always trying to hook up with the witches' coven, and nearly jumped out of her sari at the chance of going to a gay club with Christian. I might be on the wrong tack here, but it was just something I spotted. Watch this space?

Something else I spotted was Phil's kitchen: in the hall. I'm sure I must be wrong, but has it moved? This conundrum has exercised me all week, and when DCI Marsden was walking round the room, I kept pausing it and trying to figure out whether I was mistaken, but it looks to me as if the left hand door that used to lead outside now leads to the kitchen – due to there being kitchen cupboards in there.

It wouldn't surprise me. Nothing suprises me in EastEnders. Carol, Tiffany and Morgan (and the kitten), set off to live in Suffolk in a small hatchback. What about all their stuff? I take more than that with me when I go cleaning on a Wednesday.

So, that's Kat; Ricky; Bianca; Carol; Tiffany; Morgan; Janine (Michael?), and now Ian, all either going, going or gone on a break. Anthony Moon's leaving too, as are the viewers – in their droves. EastEnders' ratings are at their second lowest ever, and do you wonder why?

I've been commenting for months about the lack of credibility of the storylines, and the viewing figures prove it. People aren't stupid, and turning the show into a gansta's paradise revolving around 'Dirty Derek', and Ben's gormless guinea-pig-gob popping up every five minutes is a complete turn off.

Don't even get me started on the witches' coven and Lauren's drinking. Let Cora sort her out (but don't turn her into another mafia-type character too, please!), or get Derek to do it; he's doing everything else at the moment.

If I wasn't doing this blog I wouldn't still be watching right now. It's only the lovely Tanya; Zainab and Kim that are keeping me going at the moment. Doesn't bode well, does it?

The Producer's resigned this week. Maybe a new broom will make a difference? I've been saying for months in my Soapy Corners that there's real credibility issues here, and now everyone else is finally saying it too.

The funny thing is though: EastEnders won 'Best Soap' at the British Soap Awards last month. I didn't say anything at the time (as I never like to comment on anything other than what I see on my screen), but this has been its worst year ever, so how did that happen?

Not surprisingly, there's barely any Grins of the Week. That's another thing: where's the humour gone? Apart from Kim, there's nothing to laugh at any more …

Tamwar: "Is that halal?"

Fatboy: "Mate, it's not even chicken."

Fatboy: "You need a theme."

Tamwar: "Er, Indian is kind of The Theme."

PS I like DCI Marsden. I can't wait to see the look of satisfaction on her face when she slaps those cuffs on that little stoat.

PS2 It's not just Alfie; Denise is another one who keeps her champagne under the counter (unchilled). She sold one to Kim, who took it straight home to drink. Er, champagne is served chilled guys.

PS3 Why does Ben have school uniform on so often? He never actually goes.

PS4 Christian's yellow hair's a bit scary.

PS5 Where did they get that Chinese takeaway from? It's my dream to eat a chinese from containers like those (I've only ever seen them on US TV shows); mine are always those clear plastic ones. It's SO not the same!

It's just like something from a Soap, so if you fancy it, please CLICK HERE to buy it on Amazon/Kindle (and thank you SO much if you do; I really appreciate it).

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE EASTENDERS' HOMEPAGE

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Emmerdale-y – 13th May 2012

Written on 13/05/2012 by Jane in Emmerdale-y, Soapy Corner, The Complete Blog

(You can hear me talking Soaps 11.30-12.00 am every Thurs & from 4.00-5.00 pm Fri on Swindon 105.5 FM) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

David's being chased by women; Zak's chasing demons all over the Moors; Nicola's 'Satan in a dress', and who's going to be needing maternity dresses before long?

David's got as exciting a life as mine; he rings round all his TV for the week, and why not? Seems eminently sensible to me, but crikey, he must have changed his aftershave or something, as he's suddenly turned into a man magnet – with three women after him. Can he let me know what I need to do to please, or is it just that low-cut T-shirt he's been wearing all week?

Maybe it's his cooking stills they're after? I loved the sound of his Come Dine With Me dinner menu. Scallops to start.

"Potato scallops?" Rachel asked.

"No. Queen scallops," he replied.

"Barfing already," she gulped.

Alicia got her ten penneth in. "What would your menu be: crisps followed by sweets?" she sneered.

"Loads of NUTS, so you and your brat couldn't come," Rachel shot back.

It's all led to some excellent 'Rat-eye' looks, with Alicia definitely coming tops in the 'Death stare' department, and her tongue coming a close second. "So, these are your work trackies as oppposed to your best ones?" she asked Rachel sarcastically; looking her up and down in the bar.

Poor old Rachel's spent the whole week looking disappointed, and I can understand why. David sees her as a mate, but not the sort of 'mate' she'd like to be.

She wants to have a word with Gennie (who went through the same thing with the gorgeous Nikhil), but Gennie got her man in the end, so will Rachel? I don't think she will actually; surely Alicia's going to win the 'prize' here?

It certainly rules Alicia out of the betting in the Emmerdale Pregnancy Stakes, but the odds have certainly shortened since we learned that two babies are going to be born during the 40th Anniversary week in October.

I've been doing my sums, and worked out that it has to be somebody who'd been 'getting jiggy' in January/February, which leaves Gennie, Laurel and Nicola neck and neck as joint favourites, but with Katie and Moira still probably worth an each way bet (Charity's odds having been slashed after this week's Spoiler alerts!).

Nicola's still struggling with her cuckoo in the nest, but he's such a sweetie how could she not love him (especially when he said "I want my mummy," to Megan)? Oh, yes. It's because his mother's "A painted-faced trollope with a pea for a brain and a chest made out of recycled bin bags," that's why!

Poor little mite. Children might not say much (most Soap children don't), but they're little sponges, and he can't have felt very loved this week by his wicked step-mother Nicola. "Jimmy thinks I'm Satan in a frock," she told Laurel, but he's got a point, as she even managed to lose him.

Jimmy wasn't happy, and accused her of doing it deliberately.

"You're right. I lost him on purpose and I thought when you found out you'd just go 'Oh well. We've still got Angelica'. Then it'd be the three of us like it was before. I can't believe it didn't work," she retaliated sarcastically (best form of defence is attack!).

Jimmy thinks Elliot's a genius. Nicola's surpised he's got a brain at all – with Jimmy and Kelly as parents, but is more concerned at Angelica's lack of aptitude. "I don't know what's wrong with her today. She's showing no interest in phonics," she grumbled to Jimmy.

It's all great stuff. I love Nicola and Jimmy's banter. They've got such great chemistry and it's a joy to watch them bickering!

We need a bit of light relief from the week's other big storyline: Zak's trip out to Ilkley Moor. "You don't know Uncle Abe. If it was his funeral he'd have the pennies off his eyes," Chas had told Alicia about the tenner Zak owed him.

Judging by the roll of notes Zak had in his hand, he's certainly not short of cash (where did he get it from, anyway?), but I wouldn't hold out much hope of him seeing it again, as half of Yorkshire will probably recognise that rock!

I wonder whether Zak found it hard to act all that out by himself on the Moors, or whether he actually relished his big solo?

It was nice to see him get a storyline, but I've found it all rather tedious, and wasn't it a stoke of luck that Cain (on a crutch), managed to somehow limp miles across all that rough ground and just happen to find him down a hole like that? Marvellous … and who called the helicopter? If it was Cain, he was damn lucky to have got a phone signal up there; I never have!

I've never seen someone have a complete breakdown before. I'm sure we've all felt desperate and helpless at some point, but most of us manage to stay just to the left of the line which Zak's now crossed, and I'll be interested to see what happens next, rather than what we've been watching over the last few weeks.

Some lovely writing for Nicola this week from Paul Roundell, and here's our Grins of the Week:

Jimmy: "I thought he'd pick up on the tension – you know?" (Elliot; because he's bright.)

Nicola: "He'll probably write a thesis on it."

Jai: "You don't want to take a sweaty mess back with you – especially when you've already got one at home: no offence."

Nicola: "Jimmy or Angelica?"

Jai: "Jimmy."

Nicola: "Huh. None taken."

Sandy: "I am perfectly capable of preparing my own lunch."

Ruby: "I can cut my own hair, but it's less likely to end badly if someone else does it."

Nicola (about Bernice): "She thinks she's got problems. She's probably got a split end."

Arthur: "I've grown two inches."

Laurel: "Your nose has, pinocchio!"

Rachel: "I've had it on vibrate." (Her phone.)

Alicia: "Got to get your kicks somehow when you're single."

Chas (to Cain): "I'm sorry. Have I got a chicken on my head?"

PS I'd just written 'Where's Adam gone?' in my notebook, when he literally walked into the kitchen at that exact same moment. Blimey. What's happened to his face? Now, there's a tan that could only have been achieved from having spent two weeks on a beach in the Caribbean etc, and definitely not a burger factory in the Yorkshire Dales!

PS2 Declan cancelled a meeting with a client, stating, "It's my day off." Er, businessmen like him don't have days off. He should have said, "I'm taking a day off."

PS3 Did you notice when Ashley thanked Laurel for letting him visit the children and she said, "No, he's really enjoyed it," little Arthur nodded his head. Bless!

PS4 Alicia's had her Jammie Dodger earrings on this week. I love them!

PS5 Zak was ranting on about Butch ("His dog?" the Doctor asked Cain), and it took me straight back to thoughts of one of my all-time favourite characters: Mandy Dingle. Ah, she was wonderful, and I'd SO love her to come back one day.

PS6 Did you see Declan put those two mugs of hot coffee straight down onto that highly-polished dining table? Is he mad?

Poor Rachel's got unrequited love for David. Helen has too, for Ruth, in my chick-lit romantic novel with a twist: "Just Good Friends?"

It's a love story about two straight, married women who share a drunken kiss and whose feelings become far more than just friendship. But will they get together? Ooh, the answer's a mere click away on Amazon/Kindle. SIMPLY CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE EMMERDALE HOMEPAGE

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Corrie Corner – 13th May 2012

Written on 13/05/2012 by Jane in Corrie Corner, Soapy Corner, The Complete Blog

(You can hear me talking Soaps 11.30-12.00 am every Thursday & from 4.00-5.00 pm Fridays on Swindon 105.5 FM) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Eileen got a nosebleed; Curse-ty's lucky she didn't get a punch on the nose; Tina got a bleeding head, but Lesley's toast-making tops the list for the the 'Worst Accident of the week' Award.

That Curse-ty's a fast worker. She only got suspended from the Police last week and she's already started work at Underworld. What about her P45?

Her Police training clearly came in useful though, and it didn't take long for her to start dispensing her own special style of people skills to her co-workers, but Beth's not one for being talked down to and set-about giving her a taste of her own medicine.

"I'm making a brew, d'ya want one?" she asked everyone.

"Yes please," Curse-ty replied.

"Make it your flaming self," Beth told her bluntly.

It didn't get any better later, when Curse-ty tried to make amends by offering to do the cake run. "No ta. I wouldn't want the cream in me eclair curdling," Beth sniffed.

My favourite line of the week was Curse-ty saying to Fiz: "I've spent years locking the likes of you up." Just how old IS she then? You'd think she'd run Weatherfield CID single-handedly the way she talks, although I reckon the local criminals will be dancing a jig now that sneering, self-satisfied so and so's off the scene.

I just want her off my screen and hope she'll get that kitchen draw open again soon and give Tyrone (or is it Tih-rohne?) another battering.

Poor old Eileen got battered by Lesley, and fled the house with blood streaming from her nose, leaving Lesley alone to get herself a little snack: cheese on toaster.

Oh crumbs, what a way to go. She literally WAS toasted, and it's thrown everything up in the air now – with Fireman Paul driving off, having pretty-much put the blame on Eileen. "Once the funeral's over, Eileen'll have the bunting out," Norris remarked.

"I imagine there'll be a post mortem?" he asked Jason ghoulishly.

"Yeah. I'll get you a copy," he replied sarcastically, but it's water off a duck's back to Norris, isn't it?

Does this mean they might be over for good then? I think we'd all just assumed that Fireman Paul and Eileen were going to be together, but this is Soapland, so I wonder what's going to happen next?

Eileen was lucky just to have a nosebleed really. Tina lost a lot more blood when she hit the floor (wouldn't they have needed to shave some of her hair off after a head injury like that?), and that dastardly Terry was just going to leave her there to die. What a lowlife.

It's been a bad couple of weeks for Tommy. There he was with a twelve grand inheritance, but that's all gone and he now OWES nine grand to a loan shark. He should be scared, but not half as scared as he ought to be by the rollocking Tina'll give him when she finds out.

Oh, my. She is NOT going to be happy, and I wonder where this one's going too, as it's quite hard to shake a loan shark off, and he's not exactly flush with cash any more, is he?

I'd be scared if I was Karl too, because when Stella finds out about him and Sunita the pair of them are going to wish they'd never been born, but they're going to get caught out sooner than they think if they stand there slavering all over each other like that in the bar. Blind Freddy could see what's going on, and I'm surprised Norris's gossip antennae hasn't picked up on it yet.

"We both know where this train is going," he said to her on Monday. Yeah: into the tunnel, and pretty regularly too – now that they've got that flat to go to, but I don't blame her. Come on: would you want to be married to Dev?

I felt a bit bilious when he walked his fingers across the table and asked Sunita whether her wearing extra make-up was "Cos Papa was coming home." Yug.

We had some Bad Drinking From a Bottle from Terry (who forgot to swig OR swallow!), and a bit of Appropriate/Inappropriate Music in the Background, with someone singing the line, "Told you I want you more," at the exact moment Karl walked away from the bar with both Stella and Sunita watching him (with very different looks on their faces)!

A far more respectable selection than of late for our Grins of the Week:

Tommy: "You left Tina for dead, and you were going to leave me for dead."

Terry: "You don't half build up your part."

Izzy: "Fiz was telling us earlier that you wanted to be a Policeman."

Kirk: "That's right, yeah. Undercover."

Izzy: "Are you undercover now?"

Kirk: "Nah. I'd tell you if I was."

Terry: "Put it there."

Tyrone: "No. I'd rather not."

Norris: "You don't know what goes on behind closed doors. I mean, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?"

Beth: "I don't know. What?

Curse-ty: "I don't do charm offensives."

Fiz: "Oh I don't know; you've got the offensive bit right."

Terry: "Where do you get your energy from?"

Tommy: "I'm young. Do you remember being young?"

Terry: "Not really."

Beth: "I'm here too."

Curse-ty: "Large as life."

Beth: "Are you being funny? First you snub me; now you're saying I'm fat."

Fiz: "Our Kirk wanted to be a Policeman."

Beth: "Ha. They wouldn't have him, he's too quick-witted."

PS Stella's top looks like someone's stuck their hands in a tin of black paint and grabbed her boobs!

PS2 Jason said that if he found the girl of his dreams he'd take a battering for her any day of the week. If he pops round to Tyrone's he could have a free sample.

PS3 We've had more than one close-up of Sunita's bottom this week, and have you noticed how whenever she and Karl are having a clinch, his hand's straight there. You can't blame a bloke for making the most of an opportunity I suppose, can you?

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CORONATION STREET HOMEPAGE

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Carla Corner – 13th May 2012

Written on 13/05/2012 by Jane in Carla Corner, Soapy Corner, The Complete Blog

As Carla seems to be Soap's most popular character (and adored by more women than men, it would seem), it suddenly struck me last week that what could possibly be better than for her to have her own Soapy Corner?

I'd mentioned a couple of weeks ago that as Carla's been in almost every episode of Corrie for about a year, it was only a matter of time before she went missing for a while, and guess what? Yep. After barely a glimpse of her last week; this week we've had no Carla at all!

Never one to be daunted by a little hiccup like that though, I've ferreted around and managed to rustle up a few little titbits to keep Aliettes; AlisArmy; Aliettething; Carchelle; Carpet … oh, no, that's not one, but you know what I'm saying: something to keep everyone happy this week until Carla's back on-screen.

But what is it about Carla that makes women go weak at the knees?

Why not leave a comment and tell us what she does for you. I'd like to think that we can use this as our own … Carla Corner (!) and have a good old natter about what's been happening to our favourite factory owner over the past week.

As I say: it's a bit tricky this week as she's not actually been in it, but on the other hand, it does give me a chance to introduce this page, so do leave a message with any comments or suggestions and they'll be up there for everyone else to see as soon as I click to approve them (which I can do pretty quickly, except on Wednesdays when I'm out earning money as a cleaner!), or send me a tweet (which I can re-tweet and/or add to next week's post).

I'll have to see how it all goes, because I'm writing/launching this off my own bat and might not even get a single response. I somehow doubt that, but we'll see, aye? Do you like the name, or do you prefer Carla Connor Corner? Let me know what you think. It's YOUR blog, and is the place where we can indulge ourselves in Carla-talk and share our guilty, girly secrets with each other!

Carla and Michelle #Carchelle

It was the middle of last year when I first noticed how the normally ice-cold Carla seemed to be unusually tactile towards her sister-in-law Michelle, and couldn't seem to help but touch her in almost every scene they had together.

Carla often kisses Michelle (including several times on the lips over the last few months!), and my 'Carla watch' is continually spotting tender moments between them. (All the evidence is there in black and white if you look back over my Corrie Corner posts.)

They say 'It takes one to know one,' and – trust me – straight women just aren't as 'close' to their friends as Carla and Michelle are to each other.

If this hasn't all been part of some big storyline (Carla's relationship with Peter inevitably breaks down and she turns to the only person she feels she can truly trust and one thing leads to another … ), then it jolly-well should have been, or hopefully WILL be now, as I'm getting a lot of support for this idea.

Call it wishful thinking, but wishes come true sometimes, don't they? The Sophie/Sian relationship was a big hit with the viewers. Just imagine Carla and Michelle running the factory together. A powerful, professional lesbian couple in Corrie? Mmm. Sounds good, doesn't it (and extremely good for ratings too, I'm sure)?

Many Carla fans seem to have bit of a girlie crush on her (and have joined my growing band of supporters hoping that she and Michelle become the Street's next lesbian couple), but I'd just like any new readers to have a read of this post from my Corrie Corner blog of 29th April 2012. Here it is:

Speaking of Which …

I hadn't intended to write this (as I sat down to start this blog on Saturday morning), but it struck me (as I read the – literally – hundreds of adoring tweets (including many photos), on my timeline by Carla's female fans in reaction to this weekend's British Soap Awards), that there seem to be an awful lot of 'straight' women with a bit of a girlie crush on Alison King!

You can certainly understand why (she's absolutely lovely!), but it's interesting to read tweets you'd expect women to be writing about men: all saying just how gorgeous and attractive she is.

That's another reason why I think the storyline with her and Michelle getting together would be such a winner. Carla clearly has a lot of female fans who openly admit to finding her attractive, and it's a reminder, too, that sexuality isn't simply black and white.

Hands up how many straight women would 'swap sides' for Carla? I'll bet there's a lot of hands up, and this is the point I've tried so hard to make in my novel "Just Good Friends?". Ruth's a 'straight' married mother of two, but after she sharess a drunken kiss with her closest friend, the feelings Ruth experiences lead her to question everything she's ever known, and throw her 'perfect' life into turmoil.

Programmes like the BBC's lesbian drama Lip Service give an impression that lesbianism is a little club that only 'real lesbians' can join.

It's nowhere near as simple as that, and if you're one of Carla's female fans who would call yourself 'straight', but have secret (or not so secret!) feelings for her, then you're proof of exactly what I've been trying to say since I wrote my novel five years ago now: that most people have got (or had) someone of the same sex who they've been attracted to at some point in their lives.

Now then. If that's you (or think it couldn't possibly be you!), take a look at this video of Carla and Michelle then let me know how you felt during and immediately afterwards: CLICK HERE (and many thanks to BethFayeful for putting it on YouTube for our complete and utter delectation!)

Ok. That's the first Carla Corner. Hope you've enjoyed it, but what happens next is down to you …

More and more women are leaving men to start relationships with women. My novel, "Just Good Friends?" follows two such women as they go through that journey.

It's got husbands having affairs – and all the twists and turns you'd expect from a regular chick-lit novel, but in this one, is it the girl who gets the girl in the end?

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

PS If you're loving Carla and Peter and are hoping to hear wedding bells, then this page might not be all you'd hoped for. Carla's far too good for Peter (in my opinion!), and Carla Corner is going to be an unashamed fantasy spot for those of us out there who like both Carla and the thought of Carchelle, so if that's not your cup of tea (or glass of red), then I hope you've at least enjoyed the photos of our favourite factory owner!

(Thanks to @danielle222 for the boots photo, & to @Alison_KingFans for the business card photo. Any good photos welcome!)

Click on 'Leave a comment' below to add your comment. This is YOUR page, and your comments this week will form part of next week's page!

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And Finally … 13th May 2012

Written on 13/05/2012 by Jane in and Finally, The Complete Blog

(And Finally … The bit at the end that doesn't fit anywhere else!)

Mary Portas and her partner are expecting a baby (Mail 4/3/12) CLICK HERE TO READ

The Daily Mail does a lot of articles on lipstick lesbians actually. Here's both these links:

WOMEN PREFER SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS and

MORE THAN HALF OF WOMEN ATTRACTED TO OTHER WOMEN

I'm an occasional co-host on Girls About Town: on Wednesdays 11.00-12.00 too; and it's all on Swindon 105.5 FM. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

All done, but here's the 'small print' – which may be useful (!) for newcomers to this blog:

That's a snapshot of my working week. Not much else happens to me, other than that!

It's a blow to lose him and I wish him all the best in getting back to full creative steam in the near future.

If you need a very reasonably-priced Accountant (who also plays the Saxophone – but not at the same time), mine's Swindon-based Len Morphew, and he's done a jolly good job for me.

CLICK HERE FOR LEN'S WEBSITE

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