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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:
ppeatfruit · 26/02/2013 13:20

Just thinking of the logistics involved in COOKING for that number makes me goggle actually!! The size of cooker etc. I just remembered the mum who WAS coping in CTM who made a big pot of stew or something and all the family eating out of it Grin.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 26/02/2013 13:25

Oh, yes, I remember that. She cooked it in the boiler that'd been used for boiling up the babies' nappies, too. Ewwww.

ppeatfruit · 26/02/2013 13:28

Well it would be clean!!Grin

AmberLeaf · 26/02/2013 13:34

No I don't think the dripping came from a joint they had had. It was bought.

They certainly weren't anything like rich enough to be eating joints of beef!

ppeatfruit · 26/02/2013 13:36

Yes i thought of that after posting amber at least it was nourishing and 'real' as opposed to marge! you can buy it now I think!

LaVolcan · 26/02/2013 13:40

Dripping came in waxed cartons, and was quite tasty, and probably quite nutritious too. The dripping you buy now doesn't taste the same.

AmberLeaf · 26/02/2013 13:51

Yes I occasionally buy a block of dripping [you only get the white bit though] when I fancy roast potatos as they used to taste.

The smell of potatos roasting in beef dripping really takes me back!

Don't think Id fancy it on bread though, even with the tasty black bit.

ppeatfruit · 26/02/2013 13:54

DH saves the dripping from his beef or whatever to cook his potatoes in (I don't eat meat, it's nice to have the luxury of being able to say that isn't it?Grin)

aufaniae · 26/02/2013 13:58

I know the conversation has moved on a bit, but I just have to say, OP YABU!

Call the Midwife is brilliant. I'm very busy atm, and it's the only thing I watch on TV regularly atm, everything stops for it!

It has depressing bits sure, but it's based on real life! It also has lost of wonderfully uplifting moments and lots of great stories.

Why on earth would anyone with half a brain consider watching Top Gear instead?!

AmberLeaf · 26/02/2013 13:58

Strangely, when my Mum was a militant vegetarian she said one thing she missed was beef dripping!

I think growing up the way she did certainly set her up for not feeling the need to eat meat every single day.

She is not veggie anymore, but still only eats meat rarely....her fav is roast beef [rib I think] and she seems more excited about the dripping!

AmberLeaf · 26/02/2013 13:59

Yes sorry about the food nostalgia derailment!

ppeatfruit · 26/02/2013 14:20

Quite right aufaniae Grin Apologies O.P. YABVVU BTW!!!

TeWiSavesTheDay · 26/02/2013 14:26

I think people saying it made them appreciate the NHS are saying so because you see all the nurses going out to the houses of people who've not had/been able to afford medical help before. How grateful (most) people were, and how much it was appreciated.

My mum was born about then and didn't want me to have a homebirth, she remembers her mum having to get up and do the washing up right after having her 4th! I pointed out that was probably because her husband was an arsehole though...

JazzAnnNonMouse · 26/02/2013 14:40

I Love it and I really enjoyed the books - are there any other books like them? Social history type stuff?

Tansie · 26/02/2013 14:58

Actually, the Top Gear on the other side (I mentioned earlier that that 'won' the TV battle in my house but I like to watch CTMW at my leisure with DS2 on iplayer, anyway)- well, OK, I was watching with half an eye and engaging the quarter brain necessary to take it in, but- weren't they patronising and humiliating pensioners?

Not sure how 'light viewing' I felt that to be!

LRDtheFeministDragon · 26/02/2013 15:00

Yes, Top Gear was horrible. They just weren't funny at all. I think the pensioners were game for it and I thought they were quite funny (I assume the BBC does actually tell them what's going on, it's not as if they'd gone into it unprepared), but it's a bit poor when they're funnier than the presenters who just seemed crap.

Xenia · 26/02/2013 15:32

Other books a bit like it - try the Tuppence to Cross the Mersey books. I think there are 3 of them.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 26/02/2013 15:36

Ooh, I'll look out for those.

Xenia · 26/02/2013 15:53

Not by the same author but similar, typical life (autobiography) in Merseyside and written by a girl whose family were reasonably well off until she was 10 and then suddenly they were thrown into poverty.

Original poster
jewelledsky · 26/02/2013 15:58

Bit rude aufaniae.

Ive decided IADNBU, and I'll take Top Gear over watching dramatisations of real people's misery for light entertainment anytime. It's in the same camp as that awful misery lit.

I bid you good day.

OP posts:
aufaniae · 26/02/2013 16:08

I meant it to be lighthearted, I'm sorry if it came over as rude!

Have you seen many episodes of Call the Midwife? It's certainly not on a par with misery lit IMO.

There was a pretty traumatic episode the other week, I'm wondering if you caught that one and not too many others and have a bit of a skewed idea of the series? It's not all traumatic births, although I have cried a fair amount at it I must admit.

FWIW I see it as "drama" rather than "light entertainment" if that makes a difference? Also, being based on real life, it gives us a fascinating insight into what life might have been like only a few generations back. I grew up not far from the area in the books, and find it really interesting and educational as well as entertaining.

ArcticRoll · 26/02/2013 16:20

I avoided first series as thought it was typical saccharine Sunday night telly like Heartbeat or Downton, however I have watched this series and think it's really well done, very moving and great chronicle of recent social history-also good rebuttal to all those who like to think the good old days were somehow better.

Thinkingof4 · 26/02/2013 16:57

I think it's the best thing on the bbc for years, beautifully made, and makes me realise how lucky I am.
I can't imagine there were many overweight poor people back then as so little money for food! Don't think that's unrealistic at all
I think all the characters are so engaging, esp love sister bernadette and the doctor storyline. Also love trixie and found the attempted rape storyline very moving too. How often were women sexually assaulted or raped back then and unable to do a thing about it. Sad
Things have changed such a lot in terms of women's rights, though admittedly still a long way to go till we have equality
Yabu

ppeatfruit · 26/02/2013 16:59

If you post on Am I Being Unreasonable jewelledsky You generally get roasted Grin

IMO It shows the quality of the viewers of CTM that you got an apology FFS from a poster who was being light hearted!!!!!!!

limitedperiodonly · 26/02/2013 17:05

I'm another one who missed the first series because I thought it was all about babies and it had bloody Miranda Hart in it.

Now I love it and I can't wait for Chummy to come back next week.

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