Call The Midwife Christmas Special

[PinkFrogss]

Anyone watching? Apologies if I’ve missed the thread.

Lucille's exit was unbelievably badly written. She didn't even actually tell Cyril she wasn't coming back. He just got concerned, rang her and found out she'd accepted a job at a hospital in Jamaica. That is so uncharacteristic, as Lucille was always a kind and thoughtful person who adored Cyril. And instead of being broken hearted he seems quite happy and sanguine with life. Ridiculous.

Someone mentioned on a thread last night that the Call the Midwife threads were the worst for going down some side alley and starting a lengthy discussion about something only peripheral to the programme. It seems to be happening again.

One minute: they are breaking their hearts because they cannot have children.

The next: their marriage seems somewhat optional.

Odd.

I don't think it is derailing just highlighting the fact these issues have still not been resolved 55 years on!

The Lucille and Cyril storyline is so annoying, they could have done a million and one different things to explain Lucilles absence that would have been less annoying and out of character!! I wonder if the actress had said she'd come back and then changed her mind?

Why was Matthew's face so shiny when he was teaching Trixie to drive?

At first I thought he was supposed to be stressed but this was before they'd even started.

Literally the shiniest person I've ever seen.

Also, was this episode sponsored by an old lady cat charity? Irrelevant cats everywhere!

They really should have just recast Lucille or killed her if Cyril didn't want to leave. I know recasting doesn't really happen now. At least if she died tragically they could have a nice grieving pastor storyline with Cyril and the Church woman trying to set him up constantly.

Phyllis started it! 😬

I'm struggling to think of any male dominated professions that are considered to be vocational.

And FWIW band 6 nurses are experienced, qualified nurses. The absolute backbone of the NHS. When I was an F grade, (the 1990's equivalent), I was in charge every shift I worked, did the ordering, the off-duty, mentored students, including paramedics, did audits, attended cardiac arrests throughout the hospital and was the fire officer for the site on night duty. Although i've progressed to more senior roles, I've don't think I've ever worked as hard as I did as a junior sister.

The Church?
Armed Forces, Police, Firefighting...

Church, yes. The others I've never heard referred to as a vocation, or 'but it's a calling' used to justify low pay.

Re Lucille I reckon they think if they just don't mention her ever again then we'll forget she exists.

Apart from the church, I don't think anyone suggests those roles are vocational do they? You also don't need a degree.

Phyllis views were widely held by older nurses when I started my training in the 1980's, but it's sorely disappointing that some people still think like that today.

I baulk every time I see the Turner's kitchen. I don't remember anyone having a built in oven until the 80's. Most people didn't have fitted kitchens during the 60's.

I've heard of all of them being called vocational especially police and armed forces. Police officers don't put their lives on the line for the pay!

And in general, vicars and the like still have accommodation provided for them, unlike nurses these days.

Name854 in that context it is usually meaning that it is more than a job. Not an excuse to pay less than equivalent professions.

With Nursing / Teaching / Social Work "but it's a vocation" is used to justify low pay.

I agree with everyone who says that the Cyril/Lucille story is unsatisfactory. If he is now going to become a social worker is he going to be concerned with the woman who had her second baby last night, and is struggling with the mould and money and the missing father? I'm just trying to read the writers'minds.

With Violet running for Mayor, I'm wondering what that actress has on Dr Turner's RL wife. I'd much rather a midwife-based story line.

I'd love Violet to be mayor of Tower Hamlets now over Lutfur Rahman.

Agree they should have recast Lucille or got rid of both of them.

@SoundTheSirens yes. My friend was telling me that their diocesen stipend is £11k a year. And that's more than other diocese pay. But for most of them, it's all disposable income. I don't think my friend has paid a household bill in his adult life.

I was irked that the woman with porphyria was told not to do anything to put strain on her liver, but the only practical action stated was not to get pregnant. Nothing about diet, water, stress, alcohol, sugar, or any of the other things that might strain a liver.
If porphyria is a hereditary condition then surely some people with it manage a pregnancy?

So what’s going to happen to Trixie then? A divorce? She doesn’t seem to be enjoying married life much.

Another big accident, he'll die rescuing Colette

Why? Trixie seems doomed to loneliness. Can't see the point of that story.

Because it gives them a tidy end for him. That or she moves back to Nonatus house because the travel is too much and it splits them up.

We had one in the 1970s. I remember it being ripped out and replaced in about 1976, so the previous (original one?) must have dated back to the 1960s.