Call The Midwife - **Spoiler Alert** Title edited by MNHQ

[Hulababy]

Last thread is full. So a last thread to finish the series ...

Our local hospital still has rooming quarters for junior doctors/nurses/students.
I think they're only for short term rental whilst they study. It's a teaching hospital but it's about an hour away from the university.

I loved some of this week's episode, but overall I thought there were too many storylines going on. I think this is the first time they've done menopause - so surely it was worth being the 'main event' and explored at some length? I thought the carousel at the end was a bit OTT and (for me) didn't really add much. The pulmonary embolism story was very sad, especially Trixie putting her make-up on and the looks on the faces of those two little girls. It was great to see Patsy back again - I thought for a moment there they were going to have a row about her not writing, so I was very pleased to see them still as firmly as ever in love.

I haven't been keeping track of the passing of time this series, but I gather we must be getting towards the end of 1962, and the beginning of that very long, cold winter. Which means I've been born, a couple of miles up the road in Stepney. We were rehoused when I was about five so I don't remember much about it, but it's intriguing to think that my parents might have led the kind of lives shown - we lived in a tenement that was pulled down for slum clearance and probably not unlike many of the homes that the midwives go into. I gather I was born in a hospital, though, and not delivered by nuns!

Thinking - he called her Auntie Vi.m in the episode he was in, at the end when they left him at his new home. He didn't call her mum. It annoyed me he called her mum this time because an NT person would be unlikely to call their auntie by marriage "mum" like their own recently deceased mum was replaceable. It was a minor but unnecessary detail Imo.

As for trixie at the hospital, it's still h likely she would have actually been a theatre nurse as well as a midwife at the same time. They could have shown her visiting just the same. Again, minor but annoying.

*unlikely

Loved Phyllis/Linda Bassett though. What a great character & actress!

I think it was believable that Barbara would go to that clinic for contraception as she was getting married so nothing to be ashamed of. I got the impression that they were perhaps not that widespread either so finding another she cold go to that fitted with her working hours might have been tricky.

She's fabulous. I've always loved her but she's such a good character in this.

I loved the scene where Barbara asked Nurse Crane to be bridesmaid. At first I found Nurse Crane to be annoying but now I love her. She's such a warm caring person. Maybe she's next for romance- she deserves a good 'un!

It annoyed me he called her mum this time because an NT person would be unlikely to call their auntie by marriage "mum" like their own recently deceased mum was replaceable. It was a minor but unnecessary detail Imo.

Agree completely. Also about Trixie being Theatre nurse.

I still 'enjoyed' the episode as a whole, however, until...the carousel at the end! How ridiculous was that? I can only suspend disbelief to a point. I was still in tears beforehand (I know ) that stopped instantly the great bloody carousel came into view.

OMG I actually rewound the tv (woohoo for sky plus!) when the vicar opened the door. Was quite taken aback and just wanted to make sure it was him (twice).

I like Dr Turner and Sheilah. Just think it's nice easy part to the Sunday night viewing of a couple who are in love with nice children and have a nice domestic life. There must be couples like that out there...somewhere...anywhere??? Think Tom and Barbara will turn into them!

I thought somebody had added a spoiler about the next series. On all of these TV threads 'rule' seems to be that once it's aired it's no longer a spoiler. Otherwise how long should you wait to discuss it after watching the latest episode

Sorry I was the spoiler drama llama. I have been away on holiday and haven't seen any ads so I was looking forward to the last two episodes and don't want any spoilers. It didn't detract at all though. I was snivelling in a tissue by the end! Today is also the anniversary of the death of my first DC and I think I just wanted it to be a cathartic cry fest - which it was. Please don't think badly of me!

Has anyone noticed that Theresa May has the same voice as Jenny Agutter/Sister Julienne?

Peppa or reappear in the Goodlife

I love this thread Thanks to you lot I had to go on iPlayer on my phone and skip to the vicar-in-a-vest scene as I felt I hadn't truly appreciated it the first time round. You're all right of course. He's smoking

How is it some of you lot has only just noticed how hot the vicar is?!?! Best face (and dimples) on telly even in his dog collar!

Anyway, didn't trixie break off her engagement to him because he was going to move to a poor parish in Newcastle and she didn't want to join him? And then he sticks around poplar right under her nose anyway, ending up dating her friend/colleague/housemate Barbara?

Although tom & Barbara make a nice enough couple, in real life he'd get back with Trixie. Chemistry and all.

I thought it was the vicar's hair, in addition to aforementioned attributes, as he usually has it all slicked back rather severely, every strand with brylcream.

Brylcreem, apparently, not brylcream

I love Phyllis, she's my fave although Trixie and Barbara are close behind.

My mum lived in nursing housing for her training which was in the 60s and I think really enjoyed it. I can certainly see the attraction for Phyllis, it's a second family really.

I agree re the vicar, but I've always loved his eyes and smile the best!

I can also remember as a little girl mum coming home from a midwifery shift in tears because there'd been a still born that night. She was heartbroken. It's a midwife's job to bring life safely into the world and to have the opposite of that happen is shattering. I was quite young but I've never forgotten that. Trixie I imagine must have felt very similar.

I had to wipe away a few years during the programme.
Especially when Barbara's diaphragm flew across the bathroom as it made me jump & I ended up chucking a cup of coffee over myself!

Regarding Vi going through the menopause, I'm hoping that she might actually be pregnant instead & doesn't realise. You do get women in their late 40's at the Doctors thinking they're going through the menopause & actually are pregnant instead. This happened to my Nan's friend at 48 & with grown up kids.

I'd always thought the vicar was very good looking but it took for him to be vest clad and dishevelled for him to make me swoon.

It feels so weird to think the next time I will watch it on BBC is Christmas!!!

Re the pill - there was a big news story back in 1996 explaining the risks of DVT and the pill. Especially for women who were overweight, older or smokers. Not so well explained risks of pregnancy and DVT.
I was a student- a bit overweight, smoker, on the Pill. As my exH (then boyfriend) lived 300 miles away I decided that rather than lose weight and stop smoking I should lower my risk by coming off the Pill.
Hence the reason I have a son who will be 20 this year. 😆

Anyway, didn't trixie break off her engagement to him because he was going to move to a poor parish in Newcastle and she didn't want to join him?

I think it was made her realise that she wasn't cut out to be a vicar's wife rather than just not wanting to go to Newcastle.

On the subject of spoilers, I think it's considered good form not to include them in thread titles when it's shortly after the broadcast time. Inside a thread is fine though.

I hope they do have Vi going through the menopause. It's so rare to have it portrayed as anything other than something comical or to be sneered at or pitied.