Recession-buster

spoiler alert: this post makes reference to the August 31 episode on CBC

Think back eight or nine months ago. You remember all the disastrous events: financial collapse, mortgage crisis, bank bailouts, Canadian Idol etc. etc. That's the prevailing setting for the current Corrie episodes (since Canadians see the show eight or nine months after the episodes are aired in the UK). It explains a lot in terms of what we are currently witnessing on the Street these days. "We are in a global economic downturn," says Tony to the blissfully unaware Underworld squad. (I'm surprised 'T' hasn't blamed the recession on Liam). Everyone, it seems, is taking a hit from the economy and dealing with the crisis in different ways.

The Peter Principle
For Peter Barlow, it's actually a lucky break. His inheritance from Lucy gives him the brass to buy the bookie shop from Dan at a bargain price. The bonus is he gets to move into the flat above the shop and escape Ken's monotonous mithering. Now, if only Jack Duckworth would just come back to the street, bookie revenues would skyrocket.

The Gordon Growth Strategy
Tony is also dealing with hard times. No-one is buying real estate (except Dev who doesn't seem to realize that he's the only punter to buy a flat in that empty building) and money is tighter than... (the padlock on Sean Connery's wallet? - ed). This situation calls for some creative financing. Tony is robbing Peter to pay Paul, or to be more exact, robbing Carla to pay the staff at Underworld. Times must be tough. Julie has even raised the innovative idea of profit sharing.

David Platt's 'Recession-Busting' Initiative
Ol' Joe McIntyre's kitchen fitting business seems to be down for the count. As with many small businesses, cash flow is crucial and he has none. Now that the appropriately named 'Windasses' are refusing to pay £7,000 for a nice, new kitchen with all the mod cons, Joe is facing financial ruin. "No-one's buying anything, least of all kitchens," he explains to his faithful employee and sidekick, David. But, never fear, David has a solution -- and a crowbar. Nothing like a little gentle persuasion to... um... 'coax' the Windasses into paying. A few broken pots and dishes later, David is asking the deadbeats: "Deal or no deal?"

I guess that's a kind of stimulus package.