Call The Midwife Christmas Special

[PinkFrogss]

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

I remember someone from my year group being sent for X-rays, that would have been about 1984

There are some really nice very small meals for one available from M&S. Many elderly people can only manage small meals, so these could be very useful to them. They call them Mini Meals. I think they must be targeted at older people, not children, as they are extremely traditional British food like roast dinners and hotpots.

I used to volunteer with them during the school holiday and it was a scheme run by our local RVS. It was way back in 1970 or so.

And regarding TB, my aunt spent months in a sanitorium in Scotland when she had TB and just before she was due to be let home they found she had it again in her other lung.

They still do Meals on Wheels in my area- it's called Meals at Home and is run by the council (but you do have to pay for it). They bring a 2 or 3 course lunch and can also bring a packed tea. There is also the reassurance of someone going to the house once a day and checking on you. I have it in mind for my Mum when she needs it so I have been researching!

Even as a child, I remember appreciating how lovely it must have been for old people to have someone check on them.

They really need to let Helen George go. They are writing themselves into knots to keep her in it.

I didn’t recognise dark haired Helen George last night on the One Show. It was only when she spoke I realised. She has a rather plummy voice in real life as well but not quite as exaggerated as lady Aylward’s.

It would have made a lot more sense to have her around as a benefactor.
Shes had two bad break ups, why not let her be happy?

Have they actually let any of the midwives be happy? Chummy maybe.

But
Jenny... boyfriend died
Cynthia... mental health
Barbara... died
Val...grandmother issues
Patsy... had to leave for happiness
Lucille... miscarriage

I suppose Sheila found happiness.

Jenny’s boyfriend died yeah but she went on to meet Phillip during one of her labouring women, and married him instead.

I think the real Cynthia had MH problems.

As my phone knows what I'm reading about, LinkedIn have just notified me that Wiltshire FF are starting a discussion about stroke patients. I won't be watching!

What ever happened to Val?? I liked her.

She went to the Misson in Africa. Disappeared between series.

I can't remember that! They don't seem to be able to hold onto the best actresses.

I disagree. Even back in series one when Chummy had to deal with a breach birth, (Jack Smiths mum,) Sister Evangeline was scolding that the Doctor is always called in the event of a breach birth, so that is consistent. Also by late 60s child birth was becoming medicalised. I know there is a load of hate on here for Dr T, but people won't accept it even when it is right for the period.

I like the character of Dr T very much, and also Shelagh T

He is probably a rare type in terms of being so progressive for the time, but if I remember correctly (OK, I read the books in 2008 so it was a while ago now!), in the original Call The Midwife books, Jennifer Worth did mention a local doctor who was kind, knowledgable and perceptive. I don't recall his name, I don't think he was called Dr Turner, but perhaps the character of Dr T was based on him.

Most of the population don't have contact with anyone who would have it anymore. It's only recommended to 'those at risk'. Which really means it is recommended it if you travel, have relatives or come from a TB country and subsequently are more likely to get it than the average Brit. Those immigrating here have TB testing as well so won't be able to come in if this fails.

Agree it's getting tired but I still enjoy it and I quite like the Turners . Dr T must be due a nervous breakdown or burn out though, with the amount he does. Would also love to see Angela or Mae hitting their teens and becoming utterly rebellious although the series should probably go before that! They've really done Trixie dirty, I think. She's been written into a corner. Think it might be time for her to become a health visitor with better hours for a season or so before buggering off to have her own baby. Do we think Matthew is going to be ill or suicidal as he seems stressed, clammy and broke. I always liked the dentist bf. Perhaps he'll pop up again.

I find Nancy hit and miss- what I like seeing most is her growing relationship with Phyllis. She needs a mum and although Phyllis and Miss Higgins have a fab friendship, so much is brought out in Phyllis by giving her someone to mother a bit. Linda Bassetts performance when Barbara died was incredible and raw, it felt like Phyllis was grieving her daughter, almost. Again, Barbara had been motherless and her bond with Phyllis was very deep and then came Lucille who was far from home and benefitted from Phyliss being on her side. Interested to see if Collettes nose bleeds start again...

Lucille also needs closure. Either she has an accident or illness off screen and dies or she comes back as a new actress. Cyril wouldn't just leave it hanging. Even if she meets someone in Jamaica, I can't see divorce happening given her and Cyrils faith. Although we haven't had a divorce storyline ... but they'd give it to Trixie, surely, if Matthew's going. Nurse Clifford would suit Cyril- that would be a very interesting direction! Nurse Highland wants to be a doctor is my bet.

Also finally a medical moment on the show that this 90s baby can relate to!
I had my Heaf test and BCG in the early mid 00s. I remember everyone being scared of the 6 needle jab that would leave us all with awful scars. We'd mixed up the jab itself with the heaf test. Mine came back bright red grade 1 but not enough to not get jabbed. The 3 girls in my year who didn't need the jab looked like someone had squashed a raspberry on their arms. They'd all lived abroad due to parents jobs earlier in their childhoods - Singapore and Malaysia, Nigeria and Hong Kong I believe - so had had jabs to go. We weren't too bothered about punching each other, just not being one of the fainters!

Dr Turner actually didn't save someone! What a shocker. That's buggered up his success rate.

I live in an area where 18 years ago they were vaccinating newborns with BCG before they left the hospital. All lot of the babies at baby groups had these weeping arm scabs as some wouldn't heal for months. And that was without all the punching we did as teenagers in school.

Trixie as a Health Visitor would be both credible and give options for interesting storylines.

I liked the social history of the early series and a posh HV in the east end could bring some of that back.

What did everyone think of the poor man who dropped down and died in front of his family? I thought that was treated really weirdly. The poor dm had lost her dh and was having three of her dcs taken to god knows where and the midwife thought she was doing her a favour by possibly finding the only person she knew in London! It was almost like a rosy ending.

The mother was far to happy

I agree the bit where the man started spitting blood & dropped dead was quite shocking and seemed at odds with what came after.
It’s such an odd one with Trixie. I quite like the fact that her path has been unconventional as in the first series I felt sure that she’d be the first to get married. But I do think the writers have lost their way a bit with her character over the last few years & it’s partly the challenge of keeping the actor in the show.

I'm in Mid Suffolk and we still have MOW. I was in the school playground yesterday lunchtime and saw a car go past with a MOW sticker on the side!