Tuesday, 18th May 1999

All this bad news, grief and upset in such a small Close is not conducive to the well-being of the residents, if you ask me. I don't think *anyone* had any good news today, so it was a bit a of heavy episode, but before you stop reading, I will just say that the show did have one or two 'moments'.

Sinbad was still moping around the house, following the news of Mandy's forthcoming marriage. Mick did his best to cheer him up:

"When are we going to get our old Sinbad back? I don't half miss him", said Mick.

"So do I, mate", was Sinbad's response as he slunk off back to his room.

Mick tried again later and this time there was some success. Sinbad opened up and admitted that there had been times when he'd been feeling suicidal since he'd seen how well ensconced Mandy and Brian were, when he visited at Christmas and that he'd actually come close to doing himself in. Mick managed to get him to talk about it and by the end of the episode, there were signs of Sin returning to his old self.

Niamh was also moping about, waiting for news of Luke. Ryan and Joey had gone out searching for him. Ryan hadn't gone too far - just to the parade where he bumped into Katie. As they talked, Nathan the solicitor was walking to work arguing with someone (presumably his wife) on his mobile phone. He finished the call and upon seeing Ryan, came out this little gem:

"Still no sign of Lord Lucan?" LOL!

Later, Ryan's searching took him back to the solicitor's shop just as Nathan was leaving to meet a client in Bar Brookie. Overcome with the stress (of being a Musgrove?), Ryan broke down and Katie took him into Nathan's office. Before long, however, they were lying over the desk kissing, when (and yes, you've guessed it) Nathan returned. Shocked, he accused them of "creasing his paperwork" (LOL) and flung Ryan out. Katie then get the requisite dressing down. (I nearly wrote dressing *gown*, there!). It didn't, however, take Katie long to get her own back, for the phone rang and the caller identified herself as the so-far unseen Mrs Cuddington. Nathan frantically gestured that he wasn't there and Katie deliberately passed the phone to him. Nice one, Katie. Good luck with the job-hunting!

Over at the Shadwick's, Katrina was there, getting ready to go to her modelling interview (one assumes that since this interview is such a secret, she must have been ultra-certain that Jason wouldn't be at home) and having squeezed into today's tight skirt, she, Nikki and Bernie (Nikki's friend from Uni) set off for town.

The police then telephoned to advise against wearing skirts which are so tight that one can't walk lest it lead to trouble, just ask Nik. . . . .ooops - sorry, carried away. :-o

The police then telephoned to advise that Luke had absconded from hospital. Margi turned completely white (Dulux Brilliant Gloss, I think), whilst Greg grabbed the phone and berated the poor policeman on the other end:

"You *what*? You've known since *Friday* and you tell us now? That's a disgrace."

He then sets off to try to find Nikki.

[ Would the police really take four days to alert the victim / victim's family? I thought they took the welfare of persons involved in rape cases much more seriously than that. They bl**dy well should do. ]

Leo tried to secretly wash the shirt he'd worn during a night on the town the previous day which had become splattered with blood. Not his own, I hasten to add, but given that both Mick and Sinbad were in the house at the time, I think that the chances of adding some of his own were pretty high. Of course, Mick sees him and kicks off. Leo says that he just happened to be standing (?!!) too close to someone being attacked with a bottle and that he wasn't involved. Mick's not sure whether to believe him or not. No further clues as to the impending 'issue', yet. . .

Alec was seen for the first time working as a Great Grannies' Grandad Gardener, so whoever is running the show whilst Ron and Anth wander round the Lake District is doing a good job. Jessie told him that they should cool things for a while until the Luke business dies down. Alec wasn't best pleased.

Later, and back on the Close, Greg overhears Matt, Niamh and Alec talking outside number eight. He calls across:

"I'd have thought you lot would have had the decency to keep a low profile."

To which Matt immediately replies "Will you wind your neck in?" [Brave lad!]

Incensed, Greg slums the van door and strides across. "What did you say?", he asks grabbing Matt and attempting to lift him off the ground.

"Get your hands off him. I said leave him alone", sings Niamh.

"Why should I? He's had this coming."

"Dad, will you help me?", implores Niamh.

"Maybe you *should* give him a deg(?). It might knock some sense into him", huffs Alec walking away. "Argh, I've had it with the lot of you." [Brilliant]

Just at that point, Margi, her face now a shade known as 'Antique Plum' emulsion, rushes out of the bungalow in a panic saying that Nikki had been seen going off with Harvey and that since she can't stand the lad, it can't be by choice. . .

Fortunately for Matt, he gets a reprieve. I guess *that* must be tonight's good news, for he's the most likeable of the Mussie clan. It's *Ryan* who needs the slap, if you ask me <ducks quickly from any lurking Ryan-fans> !