A Masterclass in Manipulation - by Liz McDonald

Struggling to get exactly what you want at work?  Need a promotion, a pay rise or simply to jettison various aspects of your job? Then look no further – Liz McDonald is  your woman!

The best bit by far of this week’s visits to the cobbles took place on Monday. Liz McDonald, so at home behind the bar of The Rovers, demonstrated to us how to manipulate your employer into allowing you to cherry pick the aspects of your job that you do like and how to rid yourself of those annoying, less than enjoyable part of the job.

Those of us who witnessed Liz wheedling her way into dispatching the task of toilet cleaning and bleach using, could have been nothing more than impressed.

Tom Ridley played his part too; by criticising the quality of the beer, which got Toyah and Peter panicking as to how to sort things out.  Liz had terrified them by telling them that, ‘If you’re not showcasing the beer properly, he’ll blacklist you – simple as that. Folk round here love their Newton and Ridleys.’ All this, with a shake of the head and a grave, ominous tone.

It didn’t help Toyah and Peter’s cause when Brian chipped in, claiming that, ‘Beer is beauty in liquid form – beer is life.’ Despite Kathy telling him he’s overplaying things, he goes on to say, ‘If you lose Newton and Ridley, you can kiss my custom goodbye.’ Liz cannot resist. ‘I won’t say I told you so.’
Liz tells Toyah that it’s very quiet, so she’ll go on her break, ‘If that’s allowed.’ Toyah replies nervously, ‘Of course, it’s allowed.’

Liz tells Toyah that she, Toyah, had better talk to Tom Ridley. Liz implies that she could get round Tom, After all they have known each other a long time and Tom has a schoolboy crush on her. Toyah is hopeful that Liz will help them out. Liz comes out with one of her best lines ever, ‘So basically, you want to pimp me out.’

'Schmooze him. Take him out, buy him a nice meal. Enjoy a bottle of wine. He’s not the easiest of blokes to get on with. Do it for us,’ begs Toyah.
It is now that Liz makes the most of the position she is in. ‘I’ve always taken really good care of my hands. Some folk have said they’d be more at home on a woman of 20. That’s why me and bleach don’t really get on – very harsh on the cuticles.’
‘No more scrubbing toilet for you then!’ concedes Toyah. ‘Then there’s the cooking. It can get so hot in that kitchen. It plays havoc with my hair – unfurls the curls.’
What else can Toyah say other than, ‘I’ll do my best to keep you out of the kitchen. Anything else?’‘Nothing – except the cellar.’ And with that, Liz has ‘negotiated’ her perfect job.
Later, in the Bistro, we realise that it was all a stunt. Tom and Liz were in cahoots. ‘Do you think your little charade will work?’ Tom asks.
‘She’s already agreed!’ replies Liz, full of glee.
‘How long will you make them suffer?’ ask Tom. Liz says it won’t be for long, and she and Tom joke about Liz being on a golden throne, on a podium, doing nothing all shift.
Tom’s husband then phones him, asking where the fondue set is,  which puts paid to the lie that  Tom had a crush on Liz. They’re just a couple of old friends.
On arrival back at the pub, Liz tells Peter and Toyah that she had her work cut out. But, Tom left with ‘a smile on his face and a doggie bag.’ Liz also says she gave Tom’s bum ‘a little tap on the way out.’ She adds, ‘Think that must have clinched it. The Rovers Return is being given another chance.’
The news of surrogate Jackie’s pregnancy is announced shortly afterwards and Toyah turns to Liz to say, ‘We’re going to need you even more in 9 months’ time!’
Brilliant Liz! A true masterclass.
By @Ruth1722 twitter

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Nick and Leanne, Steve and Michelle, Peter and Toyah - Couples under the Microscope

Under scrutiny are 3 couples - , Nick and Leanne, Steve and Michelle, and Toyah and Peter.

Leanne and Nick have been together on and off throughout their adult lives. Should they now realise that they don't really work or should they make a major effort for the sake of the new baby and for Simon, to stay together? Well, try as they might, it seems increasingly improbable that they will not see it through. Only this week, Nick's antagonism and volatility to anything to do with Steve, showed itself again in one of this week's episode

As Liz is Steve's mother and the biological grandmother of Leanne's baby, Nick cannot accept the gift of a Moses basket, which Leanne had graciously accepted, in the full knowledge that this is the day when Steve and Michelle attend their baby's funeral. Demonstrating her emotional intelligence, a thawing towards Liz has occurred in Leanne, in the acceptance of the Moses basket. Nick, by contrast demands that it be removed and not just because he has bought one too, but because he is churlish and ungrateful and because Liz happens to be Steve's mother. As far as I know, Liz has never done anything to hurt Nick and yet he is inexcusably rude to her. That she must be suffering and grieving seems to be an irrelevance to Nick. His selfishness and thoughtlessness get in the way of common decency.

Nick has a further difficulty - Peter. Despite Leanne's reassurances, Nick is jealous of Peter. Viewers will remember that in an unguarded moment Steve confessed to Peter that he was the father of Leanne's baby. It seems unlikely that Peter will not use that knowledge to his own advantage when the moment should arise.

Leanne and Nick's relationship cannot stand the strain. Affected by Liz's loss, it may be that after all Liz may have a role in Leanne's baby's life. That said, Nick may be more than unhappy about that and put a stop to it.

Though temporarily reconciled after their baby's funeral, the future looks less than secure for Steve and Michelle. Inevitably, it will be revealed that Steve is the father of Leanne's baby and in her fragile state, Michelle will be devastated. And what of Robert? So far, having told Michelle that he has feelings for her, might she not take solace in him? She will no doubt discover too that all along Liz knew that Steve was the father of Leanne's baby. It is perfectly understandable that Liz did not reveal what she knew to Michelle. Whether Michelle will see it this way is more than doubtful.

And, may I ask - where is Ryan?

From the beginning, I have struggled to understand why Toyah and Peter can't tell Leanne that they are an item until her baby has been born. My own belief is that Leanne won't really care that much except for an anxiety over Peter's ability to remain faithful.

I wanted to be convinced but Peter and Toyah just don't work for me and that is aside from the coincidence of their ever meeting and then the further step of them deciding to begin a relationship, despite Leanne's past with Peter and the fact that she is bringing up his son.

And what about husband Toby? Toyah has no children and her biological clock is ticking. This may not concern her but then again, if it does, and she may have her maternal feelings stirred up by the arrival of Leanne's baby, it seems unlikely that Peter will be keen for another child.

It was unseemly of  Toyah to allow Simon to take the blame for the cigarettes that Peter had left at Leanne's flat. Has she no moral fibre? What decent adult  allows a child to take the rap for something for which they themselves are wholly responsible?

Maybe it's an obvious conclusion, but, with the best will in the world, it won't last.

Ruth @ruth1722

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