Coronation Street - Suspension of Reality (Part 10)

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honeythewitch

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by Melisende_PF:
“Thanks for clearing that one up I think those of us who watch Corrie from overseas (ie. Canada and/or the USA) like to think we're getting a look at how Brits live because British soaps SEEM so much more realistic than American ones - ie Young and Restless. Those are so chock full of SOR that they're a waste of time. A major difference in the British soaps,is that characters actually look and dress like real people. I did realize, however, when I went to England that people didn't seem to go to a local like the Rovers every night

But Corrie was still fun to watch and I love the British humour and colloquialisms (which I put to good use when visiting England). I also don't need a soap be completely true to life as that would be unrealistic in itself. We don't demand that from other TV series. But about a year ago, the story lines and situations in Corrie defied belief to a point where it was annoying and that's when I started to look for message boards online to see if anyone else shared what I was feeling about my beloved Corrie. This was the best thread to express all the things that have us long times fans despairing about this "British institution".

Plus, your comments, ewoodie, about Fiz and Ty scraping bacon grease off the oven floor had me laughing so hard I was crying. That one line was better than either of yesterday's episodes.”

People went to the local pubs frequently until quite recently. Most have closed down now.
I think it was a combination of the government banning smoking indoors so customers would have to stand outside in the cold for a cigarette, and alcohol being suddenly much cheaper in supermarkets.
Most of the successful pubs serve food, so are more like cafes with booze.
To be more realistic, the Rovers would probably have expanded the food on offer.

Originally Posted by Janet43:
“Just looked this up. She'd get Windowed Parent's Allowance, not Bereavement Allowance which is the new name for Widow's Pension, because she has one child "unless you"remarry or are living with another person as if you’re married to them or as if you’ve formed a civil partnership".

So assuming she'd been honest, Fiz wouldn't get it because she's living with Tyrone "as if she was married to him."”

Well if she didnt tell them, Norris certainly would!

Janet43

03-02-2016

You are most definitely NOT getting a look at how Brits live in any soap. Most of our lives are totally dull.

We don't marry/divorce a neighbour and then do it again and again with a different neighbour.

We don't go to the cafe to eat - we cook at home.

We don't just walk into a job within a few yards of where we live with no interview and no idea of what we're going to be paid.

We don't have houses which expand to allow anyone who needs a place to stay to move in.

We don't just bump into neighbours or interact with them that much, especially if we don't have children. For people who work, during the winter we may never see any of our neighbours for a few months, going to work in the dark and returning home ijn the dark.

We don't meet thugs, get blackmailed or murder.

There used to be more interaction when families lived near each other, but often due to affordability of housing, jobs or moving due to retirement families can now be spread over the country.

If they showed how we really live, then there'd be no soaps.

honeythewitch

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by Ouroboros:
“There is never any mention of anyone claiming any type of benefits in any of the soaps, in fact the only time it has been mentioned was when Les Battarsby and Kirk were trying to make out they were living together as a gay couple to claim some form of benefit otherwise no on ever mentions it.”

It was mentioned when Anna gave up her job to look after long forgotten Miley, and also when she had to use the foodbank, but yes in general it is as if benefits dont exist.
Mind you, when you can get a job in the same street any time you like why bother signing on?

Ouroboros

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by honeythewitch:
“It was mentioned when Anna gave up her job to look after long forgotten Miley, and also when she had to use the foodbank, but yes in general it is as if benefits dont exist.
Mind you, when you can get a job in the same street any time you like why bother signing on? ”

Yes and in some case you can walk straight in to a job that requires some form of qualification like garage mechanic and perform MOTs or whatever without ever having to provide any evidence of actually being qualified to do so.

honeythewitch

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by Janet43:
“You are most definitely NOT getting a look at how Brits live in any soap. Most of our lives are totally dull.

We don't marry/divorce a neighbour and then do it again and again with a different neighbour.

We don't go to the cafe to eat - we cook at home.

We don't just walk into a job within a few yards of where we live with no interview and no idea of what we're going to be paid.

We don't have houses which expand to allow anyone who needs a place to stay to move in.

We don't just bump into neighbours or interact with them that much, especially if we don't have children. For people who work, during the winter we may never see any of our neighbours for a few months, going to work in the dark and returning home ijn the dark.

We don't meet thugs, get blackmailed or murder.

There used to be more interaction when families lived near each other, but often due to affordability of housing, jobs or moving due to retirement families can now be spread over the country.

If they showed how we really live, then there'd be no soaps.”

Whole streets of shops have shut down and been turned into takeaways and restaurants, so I think it must be changing and people are not cooking at home much.

ayrshire lass

03-02-2016

Janet, I just knew you would look this up when I mentioned it in an earlier post, as you like to get ot the bottom of everything

Thing is, she could still be claiming it if no one reported her, and how would anyone know, as you. don't need to sign on to get it.
I remember after John Stape died, she was going around begging people for a job as she said she had "no money to put food on the table", there was no mention that she would be getting this allowance, which is a fair bit of money each week.

honeythewitch

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by ayrshire lass:
“Janet, I just knew you would look this up when I mentioned it in an earlier post, as you like to get ot the bottom of everything Thing is, she could still be claiming it if no one reported her, and how would anyone know, as you. don't need to sign on to get it.
I remember after John Stape died, she was going around begging people for a job as she said she had "no money to put food on the table", there was no mention that she would be getting this allowance, which is a fair bit of money each week.”

I think it is the gap in-between claiming and receiving the benefit that causes the problems. People are often left without money for between six and twelve weeks. Sometimes longer, and it is a common reason for food banks being needed.

Janet43

03-02-2016

Yes, I do. Its the scientist in me. I like to research. Facts are facts - until they are proven to be otherwise, which they frequently are - so don't mess with them!!!

Roger_Peters

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by honeythewitch:
“People went to the local pubs frequently until quite recently. Most have closed down now.
I think it was a combination of the government banning smoking indoors so customers would have to stand outside in the cold for a cigarette, and alcohol being suddenly much cheaper in supermarkets.
Most of the successful pubs serve food, so are more like cafes with booze.
To be more realistic, the Rovers would probably have expanded the food on offer.

Well if she didnt tell them, Norris certainly would! ”

Local pubs started closing en masse long before smoking was banned.
The ones left gained me as a customer after the smoking was banned as I hated the stench.

honeythewitch

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by Roger_Peters:
“Local pubs started closing en masse long before smoking was banned.
The ones left gained me as a customer after the smoking was banned as I hated the stench.”

Me too Roger. I never went in them before because of the smell.

What do you think was the cause of the downfall then? The smoking bit in the Rovers is never used unless someone is having an affair or concealing a murder.

ewoodie

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by Melisende_PF:
“Thanks for clearing that one up I think those of us who watch Corrie from overseas (ie. Canada and/or the USA) like to think we're getting a look at how Brits live because British soaps SEEM so much more realistic than American ones - ie Young and Restless. Those are so chock full of SOR that they're a waste of time. A major difference in the British soaps,is that characters actually look and dress like real people. I did realize, however, when I went to England that people didn't seem to go to a local like the Rovers every night

But Corrie was still fun to watch and I love the British humour and colloquialisms (which I put to good use when visiting England). I also don't need a soap be completely true to life as that would be unrealistic in itself. We don't demand that from other TV series. But about a year ago, the story lines and situations in Corrie defied belief to a point where it was annoying and that's when I started to look for message boards online to see if anyone else shared what I was feeling about my beloved Corrie. This was the best thread to express all the things that have us long times fans despairing about this "British institution".

Plus, your comments, ewoodie, about Fiz and Ty scraping bacon grease off the oven floor had me laughing so hard I was crying. That one line was better than either of yesterday's episodes.”

Thanks for that. I sometimes think my humour is a bit OTT!

Originally Posted by owl61uk:
“How can Fiz/Tyrone have no money total SOR

For the past few years they have both been working full time even on mimimum wage would have around £1800 per month coming in, Luke I assume pays some dig money say £200 per moth plus 2 lots of child allowance So a far bit coming in and little outgoings, no mortgage, Ty drives a pretty old car so guess hes not paying that up., they dont really go on holidays

So all they have is foodbills gas and leccy, council tax phone bills. Total SOR

Hope there are no more scenes with Sally being upset, she is pathetic at tring to cry, cringworthy.

The whole Mary story is just pants. If Dev summoned Erica to the house to speak with Mary who was looking after the shop

Asda and Aldi eating alphabetty spaghetti, they must be about 10 or 11

Eva tring to walk in cobbles in her heels, she has never had any bother before. She did look hot though, despite having to pashmina/jacjet”

Surely Tyrone won't be on the minimum wage? He's a shareholder and depending on how they sort things at the garage he will be entitled to his share of any profits. Considering how busy they are he must earn a decent wage.

So no widow's allowance then. She must have inherited John's assets. Though any money from him has probably been spent on bacon barms. Either way, they just can't be that badly off. It's not like they spend much on clothes and their home!

So just what is their annual income?

Salary x 2
Share profit from the garage
Child benefit x 2
Luke's B&B
Kirsty's - child support
Anything else?

Outgoings - Household bills, booze and bacon barms......... = ?

James_Langan

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by Brummy Girl:
“I read that as herpes

Exactly, she just walked over, grabbed the mike and started singing when she heard the intro. She had no idea up to that point what song was coming as she was not asked what song she wanted to sing or had to pick from a selection in a song book. It's a good job she knew the melody and seemingly the lyrics off by heart”

It was herps, the h is silent.

Roger_Peters

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by honeythewitch:
“Me too Roger. I never went in them before because of the smell.
What do you think was the cause of the downfall then? The smoking bit in the Rovers is never used unless someone is having an affair or concealing a murder.”

I think it was a mixture of drinks in a pub becoming so expensive and the fact that if a large pub was knocked down, a property developer could make a lot of money by building rabbit hutch sized houses / flats on the land.

More people purchased their booze from supermarkets where it was much cheaper and did their drinking at home.

callumfreeman

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by ewoodie:
“Thanks for that. I sometimes think my humour is a bit OTT!

Surely Tyrone won't be on the minimum wage? He's a shareholder and depending on how they sort things at the garage he will be entitled to his share of any profits. Considering how busy they are he must earn a decent wage.

So no widow's allowance then. She must have inherited John's assets. Though any money from him has probably been spent on bacon barms. Either way, they just can't be that badly off. It's not like they spend much on clothes and their home!

So just what is their annual income?

Salary x 2
Share profit from the garage
Child benefit x 2
Luke's B&B
Kirsty's - child support
Anything else?

Outgoings - Household bills, booze and bacon barms......... = ?”

Does Kirsty pay child support? I doubt Tyrone would want anything from her.

I don't know why they needed a financial crisis, so bored with these type of plots. Apparently them having a child with cancer wasn't good enough, nope we need to add on a debt storyline.

stevepjk

03-02-2016

your forgot that
our cars dont appear outside our houses only when we need them
we dont have child minders and baby sitter on tap when we randomly need to go out
and
our children dont suddenly turn into another child without anybody noticing

callumfreeman

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by stevepjk:
“your forgot that
our cars dont appear outside our houses only when we need them
we dont have child minders and baby sitter on tap when we randomly need to go out
and
our children dont suddenly turn into another child without anybody noticing”

And most children at a young age are able to interact, walk and act like they are living, not just dolls sitting there not saying a word or with any expression.

davelovesleeds

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by fayemian:
“Since when do you just sing ad hoc songs on karaoke anyway? Don't you usually pick one? Not just press a button and hope you know the song* when it comes on? where was the scene with the words on for that matter?”

I once went to a party and someone had a Karaoke DVD and the game was we were all sat around the room and the DVD went on and when it was your turn you had to sing the next song that came up and none of us knew what the song was going to be until it appeared on screen.

The song I got to sing was .. Old Shep.

chestfield

03-02-2016

I never liked it when individual bars were knocked into one big one, and I stopped going back to some when this happened.

sam_gee

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by davelovesleeds:
“I once went to a party and someone had a Karaoke DVD and the game was we were all sat around the room and the DVD went on and when it was your turn you had to sing the next song that came up and none of us knew what the song was going to be until it appeared on screen.

The song I got to sing was .. Old Shep. ”

Old Shep

Did you get through it without crying?

ewoodie

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by callumfreeman:
“Does Kirsty pay child support? I doubt Tyrone would want anything from her.

I don't know why they needed a financial crisis, so bored with these type of plots. Apparently them having a child with cancer wasn't good enough, nope we need to add on a debt storyline.”

Dunno. He's probably entitled to it and that scowling harpie Fiz would want every penny she could get her hands on.

Why do Fiz and Ty get these lack of money/down on their luck related SLs? When Ty was injured during the loft conversion SL all Fiz did was moan and extract more and more money from Tony every time she saw him. Then there was the time she nicked Mrs Warboys' money because she was skint and ended up in jail.

jackol

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by honeythewitch:
“People went to the local pubs frequently until quite recently. Most have closed down now.
I think it was a combination of the government banning smoking indoors so customers would have to stand outside in the cold for a cigarette, and alcohol being suddenly much cheaper in supermarkets.
Most of the successful pubs serve food, so are more like cafes with booze.
To be more realistic, the Rovers would probably have expanded the food on offer.

Well if she didnt tell them, Norris certainly would! ”

Some have closed down!! A lot of local pubs on estates are doing fine because of local custom

sam_gee

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by ewoodie:
“Dunno. He's probably entitled to it and that scowling harpie Fiz would want every penny she could get her hands on.

Why do Fiz and Ty get these lack of money/down on their luck related SLs? When Ty was injured during the loft conversion SL all Fiz did was moan and extract more and more money from Tony every time she saw him. Then there was the time she nicked Mrs Warboys' money because she was skint and ended up in jail.”

Fiz would have no problem claiming any widow"s benefits fraudulently if she thought she could get away with it. It would be good if she were found out and had to pay thousands back and go to court

It would add a bit more drama to the crappy debt SL, and this time Ty could take the moral high ground. The fact that Fiz could end up doing time (again) would be a bonus.

Janet43

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by sam_gee:
“Fiz would have no problem claiming any widow"s benefits fraudulently if she thought she could get away with it. It would be good if she were found out and had to pay thousands back and go to court It would add a bit more drama to the crappy debt SL, and this time Ty could take the moral high ground. The fact that Fiz could end up doing time (again) would be a bonus.”

There's another reason she wouldn't get Widow's Benefit - her husband would have had to pay National Insurance Contributions. John did, but as Colin Fishwick, not John Stape.

RealityRocks

03-02-2016

I live in Manchester and there still exist little local pubs so it's not too much of an SOR but ours relies heavily on its food income, Sunday carvery, quiz nights, wine nights etc none of which the a Rovers have. It's an SOR everyone goes to Devs, they used to show Freshcos and it would be so much more realistic to have people working there and bumping into one another now and again. The gym is underused and the medical centre/pharmacy and chippy haven't been used since the new set opened which is very limiting.

Since opening we haven't seen Tracy's shop which is a bit strange, and Im still not too clear on where Steph and Andy / Michael live or why Luke lives with Tyrone when he could be keeping Maria's flat warm and giving a family with a sick child space.

As for the debt storyline, what nonsense. Tyrone earns, Fiz earns, they get £132 child benefit a month plus tax credits, their outgoings must be minimal, Even if we forget the half share in the successful garage they could make the minimum payments on a 20k (was it?) debt. Hurrp hasn't been seen since she got the all clear, she was staying in hospital then she was upstairs and Rubeh is Equally invisible.

I'm not buying Kev and Fishwife, two snogs and all of a sudden they're an old married couple interfering in each other's business.

I am enjoying (what, no moaning?!?) Jenny's return as I think she's a great character. But who will they pair her with?! You can't be single and under 40! Who is left... Dev, if leather face doesn't succumb to him, Aiden if Eva gives him the push or does another terrifying impression of Shirley Bassey, Nick (soon, when Carla finally does one) or maybe she'll fancy a younger model in Jason. Either that or have her turn and end up with the most unforgiving Christian on Gods planet, Our Soph. Choices!!

callumfreeman

03-02-2016

Originally Posted by RealityRocks:
“I live in Manchester and there still exist little local pubs so it's not too much of an SOR but ours relies heavily on its food income, Sunday carvery, quiz nights, wine nights etc none of which the a Rovers have. It's an SOR everyone goes to Devs, they used to show Freshcos and it would be so much more realistic to have people working there and bumping into one another now and again. The gym is underused and the medical centre/pharmacy and chippy haven't been used since the new set opened which is very limiting.

Since opening we haven't seen Tracy's shop which is a bit strange, and Im still not too clear on where Steph and Andy / Michael live or why Luke lives with Tyrone when he could be keeping Maria's flat warm and giving a family with a sick child space.

As for the debt storyline, what nonsense. Tyrone earns, Fiz earns, they get £132 child benefit a month plus tax credits, their outgoings must be minimal, Even if we forget the half share in the successful garage they could make the minimum payments on a 20k (was it?) debt. Hurrp hasn't been seen since she got the all clear, she was staying in hospital then she was upstairs and Rubeh is Equally invisible.

I'm not buying Kev and Fishwife, two snogs and all of a sudden they're an old married couple interfering in each other's business.

I am enjoying (what, no moaning?!?) Jenny's return as I think she's a great character. But who will they pair her with?! You can't be single and under 40! Who is left... Dev, if leather face doesn't succumb to him, Aiden if Eva gives him the push or does another terrifying impression of Shirley Bassey, Nick (soon, when Carla finally does one) or maybe she'll fancy a younger model in Jason. Either that or have her turn and end up with the most unforgiving Christian on Gods planet, Our Soph. Choices!!”

Steph, Andy and Michael live in the Builder's yard flat.

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