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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Call the Midwife is too depressing

294 replies

jewelledsky · 24/02/2013 20:03

for a Sunday night and to almost be tempted by Top Gear as a light viewing alternative? Where is Downton Abbey?

OP posts:
Oodsigma · 27/02/2013 01:45

mum2 I've recognised stories too. Some are adapted ( back street abortion one, Janes story) I also remember Meg'n'Mave

hackmum · 27/02/2013 08:15

Lol at Rosy and the uniform - I am envious of Jenny's coat. Every week I bore my DD by saying, "I would so love to have a coat like that."

DesiderataHollow · 27/02/2013 08:16

I think it's facsinating that hospital childbirth bgan to be "the thing" at least for the middle-classes during the war. Not for medical reasons, but because of rationing. You got your meals while you were in hospital and there was a long stay after the birth, so not to be sneezed at.

Before that people didn't view childbirth as something that needed to be medicalised unless there was a problem. After the war and with the advent of the NHS it became the norm, with all the classes.

ppeatfruit · 27/02/2013 08:25

I couldn't agree more SaggyOldClothCat Also the production values, well written script, beautiful acting etc. are light years away from the usual crap on T.V. Perhaps the O.P. can't cope with it because it's so unusual Grin.

mrsjay · 27/02/2013 08:33

At least CTM is actually based on something real. Whats wrong with social history? Its what made us what we are today. Ive read the books, the series is pretty true to the literature. That is how our grandparents lived. That is what life was like. It was hard, it was horrible and it was cruel.
Id far rather my DCs watched stuff like this than the trash that usually passes for entertainment!

all of that

MrsBeep · 27/02/2013 08:42

Anyone know where I cat watch or download the Christmas Special? I missed it at Christmas and the bloody BBC are terrible for repeating stuff like that and never leave it on iplayer very long.

mrsjay · 27/02/2013 08:50

have you tried Iplayer ?

mrsjay · 27/02/2013 08:51

oh you have I wish I read things properly sorry Blush

mintymellons · 27/02/2013 11:14

I like CTM, but last Sunday's episode was a bit lame - the dying old man, the pregnant daughter, the TB saga. Just didn't really enjoy it much.

ppeatfruit · 27/02/2013 12:25

You need a bit of blood and gore do you minty? Grin

happyfrogger · 27/02/2013 12:33

Well I shall defo be watching this week as my baby girl is in the next episode!

AmberLeaf · 27/02/2013 12:35

There seems to have been less births in the last couple? I think there was one episode with no births at all? maybe the trixy attempted rape episode?

DesiderataHollow
Re hospital/home births, there were also dedicated maternity hopsitals, not sure what the average class of users were but my WC Nanny had her first baby in one in the mid 30s, she said you stayed for one week, she did tell me how much it cost but I have forgotten and she died years ago.

She said she went in one because it was her first birth, I got the impression she was very proud that my grandad could pay for it [although I imagine it involved scrimping] so maybe it was more of a MC thing?

Her other three children were born at home, quite possibly due to lack of money but probably because she was needed at home to look after the older children.

She also told me about my Dads birth at home in the middle of an air raid in 1943, she mentioned a midwife being there, I wonder what that set up was because it was obviously pre NHS?

AmberLeaf · 27/02/2013 12:36

Wow happyfrogger!

Were you on set? any insider info?!

Oodsigma · 27/02/2013 13:03

Ooh Star in our midst ( well mother of the star). How old was she? They seem to have some younger ones on it.

Think there's not that many stories left in the books to cover.

gazzalw · 27/02/2013 13:21

DW is reading the 'Farewell....' one in the series of four books and she implied that some of the stories have cropped up in this series already...

JugglingFromHereToThere · 27/02/2013 13:47

Can we look out for her happyfrogger ? Would you be happy to tell us which scene she's in and how we can recognise her ? How exciting for you all !
And congratulations BTW Thanks

ppeatfruit · 27/02/2013 13:53

OOOH yes Grin as Juggling said happyfrogger

Oodsigma · 27/02/2013 13:59

gazza they have all been muddled together.

peeriebear · 27/02/2013 14:43

The character of Chummy is actually toned down for the series. Miranda Hart is perfect for her but a bit too perfect- in the books Chummy is always knocking things over and being very clumsy, but she's not in the series. I think people would have thought the part had been written for Miranda if they had her crashing her bike and dropping teapots!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 27/02/2013 15:06

Ooh yes, thay should get her doing more of that sort of slapstick stuff then peerie Grin

ppeatfruit · 27/02/2013 15:12

She did fall off her bike more than once when she was learning to ride it at the beginning IIRC peerie

happyfrogger · 27/02/2013 16:45

I think it will be fleeting - a couple of scenes where she gets pushed past in a pram and one in the clinic with a lady carrying her around. She's the baby in the yellow cardy (looking up gormlessly at all the set lights!)

No gossip from the set, I only recognised Fred from other stuff as silly me hadn't seen the first series before we went! But it was a fun day out, with lots of people cooing over DD!

happyfrogger · 27/02/2013 16:46

Oh about 7 months but a chubby one Grin

TeWiSavesTheDay · 27/02/2013 16:48

I was thinking when I watched the baby show one that they must have use so many baby models. Do you think they ever repeat babies? Or would we notice?!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 27/02/2013 16:54

We'll be looking out for her in her yellow cardie Smile
I would have loved to do that Envy !