Hi Sally,
I'm going along with Christina's suggestion here! But I'm being a bit 
stronger as well!
In the 1st stanza I'd like the particular soap to be mentioned! Everything 
else get's detailed mention (even the china cup - not, I notice, a mug!).
And, in the last stanza when the soap is mentioned again I'd do some 
thinking about the plot that occurs in so many soap operas where a character 
returns... it might be that she turns the volume down, ignores what's on the 
screen, but we can see/hear an echo...
What d y think?
Bob
(Who occasionally thinks soap operas have as much class as Shakepeare's 
comedies, and they often share the same plots as well!)

>From: Christina Fletcher <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: New Sub Home for Christmas
>Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 08:24:06 EST
>
>
>Hello there Sally.  I like the essence of this a lot.  I've read  it a few
>times and I'll put a few thoughts in the text.
>bw
>christina
>
>Home for  Christmas
>
>She sits in her armchair
>settles to watch the  soaps
>sips tea from a china cup   ***  Fullstop?
>Snug in  her dressing gown *** comma?
>her slippers, half on her feet  ***  delete comma after slippers and add 
>one
>after feet?
>she smells of the  perfumed bath  *** wonder if you need perfumed?
>she had earlier   *** do you need this line?
>Bubbles fizz in her curls *** this line is very  unconvincing for me
>and her widowed eyes water.
>
>There is ring on the  doorbell
>and a cold draught in the hallway
>Her soldier grandson arrives  ***  I don't think you need this line.  We 
>know
>he's in the Services  when you mention civvies and that he's the narrator's
>grandson when he calls  her 'nan'.
>wearing civvies and a smile
>“Have a can nan" he  laughs
>They slurp together by the fire
>let the tea go cold.
>
>The  soap dissolve in the air. ***  Again, this doesn't really convince  
>me.
>Maybe a variation might: something to do with the soap on the  TV?
>and the dogs curl at his feet
>She wipes tears from her eyes
>sees  the unshed ones in his.  ***  Lovely ending.
>
>sally  james
>
>
>