The (Ciaran) McCarthy Era

spoiler alert: this post makes reference to the July 18 episode on CBC

important note to readers: this post is certified 100% Platt-free - except the bit at the end

Any episode of Corrie which begins with Michelle (grrrr) running around Coronation Street wearing a fluffy, white bathrobe can't be bad, can it? But I digress. Today's topic is Ciaran McCarthy, chef, pint puller and eye-candy for Julie. The thing about Ciaran is that... well.. he seems to have changed. ("How so?" you ask).

Well, once upon a time, Ciaran was a hard-drinking, rugged, brash, woman chaser with dubious morals (are you sure he's not a builder? - ed). He arrived on the Street as an old mate of Peter Barlow (whatever did they have in common? - ed). Apparently they served together in the navy in a submarine (the HMS Bladdered?  -ed). 

However, it is perhaps the understatement of the year to say that Ciaran had an eye for the ladies. In fact, you'll need an abacus to tally up the number of women with whom he's had the proverbial 'leg over'. There's:
- Sunita (yes, that Sunita). In fact they were almost married!
- Bev (former Rovers barmaid)--  although I'm not 100% sure if they did or didn't
- Tracy Barlow (yes, that Tracy Barlow!)

But the icing on the cake was when Ciaran tried it on with best friend Peter's soon-to-be wife (which one? - ed). That was Shelley (daughter of Bev, incidentally). Then Ciaran insisted to Peter that it was Shelley who came on to him -- but finally the truth came out and Ciaran left.

So, you see, this new, shy, chivalrous, puppy-dog, butter-wouldn't-melt (that's enough -ed) Ciaran is quite different from the old Ciaran. The new Ciaran can't seem to bring himself to declare his true feelings for Michelle (he'd rather move to Glasgow - ed) and seems to be easily discouraged (apparently because he burned her chicken dinner and served baked beans on a date).

Come on Ciaran!. For God's sake man, she's wearing a FLUFFY BATHROBE on the Street!  Remember what they say in the navy (periscope up? - ed).  Actually I don't,  but it's probably something like when the going gets tough, the tough get going ('rowing' surely? - ed).

***

Official Counter

NUMBER OF DAYS THAT GAIL PLATT HAS KEPT HER JOB AT THE CLINIC AFTER VIOLATING PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY:  1  

Menu du jour at Chez Ciaran

Forgive me, I'm still trying to digest Ciaran's daring culinary exploits and the titillating aftermath. Talk about your 'Naked Chef'!  But I think Michelle has missed the point (so far anyway - ed). By burning the chicken, Ciaran has unwittingly stumbled upon the British version of nouvelle cuisine (a new kitchen? - ed). Call it 'angleterre fare' (I'd rather not -ed), simple, basic, everyday British dishes made with high quality ingredients and getting back to the roots of English culinary arts.
 
If memory serves me well, 'Iron' Chef Ciaran presented the fair Michelle wth one of England's enduring classic dishes, namely "baked haricots in a rich pomodoro sauce served on a bed of grilled ciabatta avec poivre" (beans on toast).

He could have served a "Chateaubriand reduction in a flavourful beef stock with ancient grains"(Bovril on toast) 

...or treated Michelle to "prime pork slices, grilled to perfection and nestled on a butter-only roux between slices of bakery fresh baguette" (Bacon butty).

...or, how about "fresh farm eggs lightly poached, seasoned with sea salt and fresh ground pepper and set atop a nest of golden matchstick potatoes and garnished with a piquant tomato puree" (Egg and chips with ketchup).  

With 'angleterre fare', the possibilities are endless. On the other hand, maybe the punters prefer to just watch Ciaran walking around in his boxers...

faster than the speed of dating

spoiler alert: this post makes reference to the April 13 episode on CBC

It's like a car crash. It's horrible but I can't look away. (I feel the same way about Charlotte's pashmina - ed)  I'm talking about the first (and last? - ed) Rovers Return Speed Dating Night. Ciaran came up with this and it's probably the worst idea he's had since he signed up for submarine duty with Peter on the HMS Skinful.

First of all, did you notice how they had to import a busload of non-speaking lovelies to participate in the event? Apparently no self-respecting Coronation Street woman (and that includes Julie, Janice and Izzy) wanted to go where no woman has gone before.

On the male side, the main 'players' were Lloyd and Kirk. Graeme bowed out to provide um... comfort (and joy surely - ed) to Tina. Back at the Rovers, Lloyd did alright (he collected more phone numbers than the Yellow Pages!) but ol' Kirkie only managed to pick up an awkward silence and a slap in the face ("I'll take that as a maybe"). As for Ciaran, well, he was found fondling a speed dater in the smoking shelter by none other than Michelle.

Now that's what I call a Celtic Tiger!