Call the Midwife - Christmas Special

[Maireas]

I have loved CTM for years, great characters and stories. Some nice parts last night, but is anyone getting tired of Sr Monica Joan? We jokes in another thread about how much teal there was, so I did laugh at Phyllis having a teal trapeze outfit!

Another long time mum here. I wept at the storyline. Afterwards DH and I talked about our two babies by name, we also noted how old they 'are' and their personalities. We are extremely fortunate to now have DS1&2

But to the PP who found that scene unbelievable. I hope this means that you have no personal experience of this, I really do as it is heartbreaking. You have no idea - I actually felt Gloria's relief at finally being able to talk about it and let go. It was beautifully perfectly done.

VivaDixie sorry for your losses
It's good that people are able to talk about this now.

VivaDixie - I did not think that the loss of the babies was overly sentimental, apologies if it came across like that. 💐

MN is bonkers . I love SMJ, she is wonderfully unresigned to old age and I think she is one of the best characters in it. I seem to be on my own with that opinion on MN though. The Gloria story was lovely but not any more than many of the others on CTM in the past. I also loved the thread about Glenis and Gertrude ( is that her name?) and their desires to be seen as more than the ' maiden aunt' stereotype.

@VivaDixie I didn't find it unbelievable that she thought about her lost babies. I've had 4 miscarriages myself albeit up to 11 weeks no very late ones so I do get it. I found it a bit unrealistic that she would be in the throws of labour and talking about them in such detail.

@bumblingbovine49 I'm still a SMJ fan as well, you are not alone!

I think 'Glenis and Gertrude' are actually Phyllis and Millicent, though

[quote tribpot]@bumblingbovine49 I'm still a SMJ fan as well, you are not alone!

I think 'Glenis and Gertrude' are actually Phyllis and Millicent, though [/quote]
. Not difficult to see why SMJ and the older women resonate more with me than the younger mothers nowadays.

[quote parsnipsnotsprouts]@VivaDixie I didn't find it unbelievable that she thought about her lost babies. I've had 4 miscarriages myself albeit up to 11 weeks no very late ones so I do get it. I found it a bit unrealistic that she would be in the throws of labour and talking about them in such detail. [/quote]
In that case I apologise for saying you have no idea, I shouldn't have presumed and I am sorry for your losses

However, the point was that she could finally speak and let go, as I say I felt her relief and it helped her through the labour. I often feel that I shouldn't talk about it even though there is much more understanding now. Back in the 60s she was told to forget about them and not to think of them as babies. But Shelagh allowed her to let go and relax. I thought the scene was perfect.

@chilling19 thank you, I wasn't referring to your comment 🙂

I do like Phyllis and Millicent. Joking about getting bathcubes! Very pleased that they had a Christmas meal of their choice!

I’ve had several miscarriages, including one set of twins, but I only really remember the first one, as it was my first pregnancy, which unfortunately ended in a loss.

We called it Star, and we still remember.

I always lost my babies before 8 weeks, so I think it’s easier for me to “forget” as such.

Gloria’s story was believable because her babies were more advanced

I still think about my losses. Even though they were early ones. I don’t really talk about it. One was due in November & if had made it would have been 19. The other would have been 20 tomorrow if had kept to due date. I’ve 2 dcs who made it though 22 & 18. I still think of myself (in my head) as a mother of 4.

💐💐 to the others with losses.

to everyone who has been through it. Mine would have been 10 next month. He has a name but its gender neutral as I didn't know if it was a boy or girl, I just had a feeling.

And yes I definitely feel like a mother of three.

I still feel that way about a baby I was coerced into terminating 34 years ago. It never completely goes away.

On another tack I wondered if the mention of Lucille's hair was about the conflict between her natural afro and wanting to have European type hair styles to fit in. Maybe I'm over thinking it.

I also love SMJ, but then I also love the Turners kitchen so I clearly don't belong here

I wish I was Nurse Crane. I even have a new name in her honour

I identify with her and Millicent more than I care to admit. (I'm younger but joke about being a spinster, or Maiden Aunt, albeit one with dc) I'd forgotten about bath cubes until now! I thought I was so grown up using them as a child. I'd have beans on toast and a whole trifle though

[quote parsnipsnotsprouts]@VivaDixie I didn't find it unbelievable that she thought about her lost babies. I've had 4 miscarriages myself albeit up to 11 weeks no very late ones so I do get it. I found it a bit unrealistic that she would be in the throws of labour and talking about them in such detail. [/quote]
I don't know- I was capable of holding a conversation right up until the actual pushing bit with my last labour. Between contractions I was totally fine, and there was still about 3 minutes between contractions right at the end.

to all you long time mothers. That is all x

Unpopular opinion but I cannot stand Lucille. She always looks at Cyril like she wants him to shut up. I also think SMJ should quietly go.
I miss Sister Evangelina.

Just as some upthread noticed the 'gender' rather than 'sex' on the baby's wristband - I thought that Jacquetta saying the children were dressed up as 'Cherokee Indians' stood out a mile. You can't put 21st century terminology into a 1960s drama so as not to offend. It's playing with history.

That aside, I agree with those who say it's run its course. It's a cosy bit of historically inaccurate nostalgia but it seems to either repeat storylines or be scraping around for them.
And now we only have three secular nuns left anyway!!

midwifes!!!

Ah Jaysus midwives ... I'm going to bed!

But Cherokee Indians is how people spoke in the 60s. The description ‘Indian’ or ‘American Indian’ is outdated at best, and considered offensive by many. The Cherokee tribe is extremely famous and has always been talked about. It struck me for the opposite reason to you; that it was an old fashioned expression.

Had they said ‘First Nation’ or even ‘Native American’, I would agree with you.

I agree with @Dailyhandtowelwash. My DSis did a song as part of a primary school play growing up. It was about someone on a wagon being chased and the chorus went, 'The Cherokees are after me!' and I got the message impreesion the song was pretty old back then.

@Dailyhandtowelwash

But Cherokee Indians is how people spoke in the 60s. The description ‘Indian’ or ‘American Indian’ is outdated at best, and considered offensive by many. The Cherokee tribe is extremely famous and has always been talked about. It struck me for the opposite reason to you; that it was an old fashioned expression.

Had they said ‘First Nation’ or even ‘Native American’, I would agree with you.

I agree with this. They might have said Red Indians but the word Cherokee was also known and in use.

@FestiveStuffing

I agree with *@Dailyhandtowelwash*. My DSis did a song as part of a primary school play growing up. It was about someone on a wagon being chased and the chorus went, 'The Cherokees are after me!' and I got the message impreesion the song was pretty old back then.

The song was written in 1961

Three Wheels On My Wagon
The New Christy Minstrels

Three wheels on my wagon,
And I'm still rolling along
The Cherokees are chasing me
Arrows fly, right on by
But I'm singing a happy song

I'm singing a higgity, haggity, hoggety, high
Pioneers, they never say die
A mile up the road there's a hidden cave
And we can watch those Cherokees
Go galloping by

SPOKEN: "George, they're catching up to us!"
"Get back in the wagon woman!"

Two wheels on my wagon,
And I'm still rolling along
Them Cherokees are after me
Flaming spears, burn my ears
But I'm singing a happy song

I'm singing a higgity, haggity hoggety, high
Pioneers, they never say die
Half a mile up the road there's a hidden cave
And we can watch those Cherokees
Go galloping by

SPOKEN: "Duh, Paw? Are you sure this is the right road?"
"Will you hush up? You and your maps!"

One wheel on my wagon,
And I'm still rolling along
Them Cherokees after me
I'm all in flames, at the reins
But I'm singing a happy song

I'm singing a higgity, haggity hoggety, high
Pioneers, they never say die
Right around that turn there's a hidden cave
And we can watch those Cherokees
Go galloping by

SPOKEN: "George? Should I get the bag of beads and trinkets?"
"Woman, I know what I'm doing!"

No wheels on my wagon,
So I'm not rolling along
The Cherokees captured me
They look mad, things look bad
But I'm singing a happy song

SPOKEN: "C'mon all you Cherokees sing along with me!"

Higgity, haggity hoggety, high
Pioneers, they never say die

Songwriters: Bob Hilliard, Burt F Bacharach
For non-commercial use only.