Call the Midwife

[poppy43]

What a lovely, gentle, watchable show. I shed a tear at the end of show. ( I'm just a silly old fool). I was surprised how good Miranda (don't know her surname) is a Chummie.

[budgie]

Really enjoying this.

[jube]

It's a beautiful programme but it's a pitty that the BBC has put it on the same time as top gear. We have to tape one and watch it later.

[Little Jan]

Yes I enjoy this but missed this weeks as it clashed with a load of c... hubby had set to record(stuff he has on dvd) grrr so will watch it on Iplayer,my MIL said that it was just like she remembers it as she lived in the east end, and laughed at water sample in the syrup tin, as herself had done just that and also in a ink bottle ,and remembers the look on the trainee midwife's face when she saw blue wee.

[poppy43]

It brings back memories for me too. We didn't actually live in London but on the outskirts. I can remember a bomb dropping just up the road from us and for a long time we had about three families using our air-raid shelter, which was in the back garden. To make it look nicer my Dad planted grass over the roof.

[craftycat]

I've really been enjoying this series. Even though I am a great fan I wasn't at all sure Miranda Hart's character was going too work but she has been marvellous. Lovely to see so many skilled actors in "guest" roles too.

[Granny Penny]

Recently read this in an article where Miranda Hart (39) is being interviewed:

It’s thanks to the comedy Miranda that I’m in Call the Midwife at all. The late Jennifer Worth, author of the Call the Midwife book, wrote to me with a copy and said: “I’ve been watching your sitcom and this is my novel, which is based on true stories – and I watch you and think of my friend Chummy. It looks like it’s being made into a TV show so I really hope you get to play her as I can’t think of anyone more suited.” It was such an honour. Comedy will always be my first love, but I’d like to do more drama.

Which explains why she seemed so well cast.

[jenty]

We watch with interest as Jessica Raine, who plays Jenny, was my youngest daughter's best friend at school. I have a lovely photo of the two of them about two years old looking as though they are about to get up to mischief. She has had some good reviews in her acting career.
I gave to turn over in the middle of DOI the go back to watch the last half on + 1 before seeing the results show. Sunday nights are a bit busy!
I, too, enjoy Miranda in the role. Those prams take me back a bit!

[lilac froggy Jan]

Dancing on ice can be seen and hour later on ITV+1 Jean. How loverly Jessica was yoru daughter's best friend. Small world.

I love this show. Don't worry poppy I also shed a tear. But it's because I wish I was still nursing. Was heartbreaking to have to give it up due to illness. It's a very well cast show.Indeed miranda hart is perfect as chummie. And all the others fall into their roles nicely too. Good to see established actors like Jenny Agutter and Pam Ferris, taking a slight backseat with a new fresh actress in the lead role. I read in the Evening standard that Jessica is excellent in the theatre playing very different and diverse roles to this one. There was a two page spread about the show.

[poppy43]

Another lovely episode - all be it a bit sad............again!! When we moved to our first house our middle son was just 3 weeks old and our new next door neighbours had just lost twin babies to eclampsia (sp.) I hated puting our little boy out in his pram to get some fresh air. I was only thinking the other day whilst shopping in M.......s that years ago their used to be loads of prams parked outside shops - with babies - whilst Mum's were doing their shopping. Were we all naieve or what!!

[budgie]

Another lovely episode - all be it a bit sad............again!! When we moved to our first house our middle son was just 3 weeks old and our new next door neighbours had just lost twin babies to eclampsia (sp.) I hated puting our little boy out in his pram to get some fresh air. I was only thinking the other day whilst shopping in M.......s that years ago their used to be loads of prams parked outside shops - with babies - whilst Mum's were doing their shopping. Were we all naieve or what!!

You had no choice then. They wouldn't let you take prams inside shops in those days, cos they were huge in comparison to todays buggies. Had to walk to town too, cos too big to go on a bus.

[sam]

I watched it last night with my two daughters and they were astounded that anyone would leave their baby outside their house in a pram! How times change!

[craftycat]

I remember having a row with my mother 40 odd years ago when she put my DS outside in his pram, on the pavement on a main street. I really didn't think it was safe. As others have said though this used to be the normal thing to do.

Times certainly have changed. When we were kids were used to take off first thing in the morning (if we weren't in school) and would only arrive home again when we were hungry. We used to wander off all over the mountains without supervision.

[poppy43]

Another lovely episode..........didn't cry this time.........well almost. I think next week is the last one. I hope something half decent replaces it. I wonder where they filmed the pre-fabs? and what about the horrendous underwear worn in those days. Not forgetting the birth control class............I had forgotten those....what a hoot.

[Spendsloads]

I'm really enjoying this too, although we always seem to be busy on Sundays, so I have to record it and as a result I am a couple of episodes behind.

I must get a copy of the book for my aunt. She now lives in Canada, but she was a midwife in the UK in the late 1950s and though I think this series is set a few years before this, I am sure she must be able to relate to some of the tales.

[Granny Penny]

I was a child in the 50s and had no idea that people who had been in the workhouse would have still been around - it was always history to me. I love the humanity of the nuns and very sad to hear next week is the last episode.

[morgana123]

I remember as a small child my nan being knocked down by a motorbike and the police coming to get mum and dad because nan was screaming the place down trying to leave because the hospital had previously been the workhouse and in her confused state following the accident she thought she was being sent to the workhouse. Mum and Dad had to actually bring her home once she had been checked over because she refused to stay and mum had to look after her until she recovered from her injuries. I had no idea what a workhouse was and when Mum explained I was horrified.

My Dad was always a fervent supporter of the NHS, said it was the best thing that had ever happened to the ordinary people and when I asked him why he told me how his yougest brother had died of pneumonia because my nan owed the doctor 2 shillings and sixpence and the doctor refused to come out again unless nan promised to pay him, which she couldnt do. So his brother went from having a cold, to a chest infection to pneumonia and by the time nan had the money to call him out it was too late.

I shudder to think what this country will be like if the current government continue with their plans for the NHS.

[LoobyLou]

My Aunt, was raped by her oldest sister's husband. She was put in the workhouse because 'she lacked moral fibre'!

[Loveinamist]

Call the Midwife books are a trilogy set. She also wrote about her time as a nurse. There is a new TV series commissioned. My DD has read all of her books and was regularly in tears, difficult but interesting reading. She enjoys the TV series but only the social history side of its depiction. As a midwife she has issue with the birth portrayal! Jennifer died this year from oesophagal cancer but she was heavily involved in the making of the series, thankfully she lived long enough to.

Call the Midwife (2002)
Shadows of the Workhouse (2005)
Farewell to the East End (2009)
In the Midst of Life (2010)

[Lioness]

I have just purchased 3 of Jennifer Worth's books from the Works for just under £9 incl P&P (the first 3 on Loveinamists post).They are £1.99 each plus P&P

If anyone is interested you can get 15% off by going through the link below and quoting the discount code that appears on screen before it takes you through to their site. (Apparently I also get a few pence back for every order that goes through this link:wink:) I placed my order on Tuesday and received the books today (normal price according to the back cover is £6.99 each)

http://theworks.refr.cc/BX889K7

You can type in the authors name in the search box to get to them quickly.

(If you have a "The works" store near you, you may be able to buy these @ £1.99 and save on the P&P)

[poppy43]

At last I have got round to watching my recording of Call the Midwife - thoroughly enjoyed it. I think someone said that there will be another series, I hope so. It brings back so many memories - love the music ( isn't it strange that you know all the words), the pram that the triplets' Mum had reminded me or mine, except mine was cream with a green hood and apron. It did for all three of my boys but I did have to have new tyres by the time the third one came along - used to walk everywhere. I would have the baby inside, the middle one sitting on a seat at the end and the eldest walking. I was also a fan of 'crimplene'. It didn't use to fray so it made dressmaking so much easier. In the early sixties all of my mini skirts and my little boys trousers were made from it. Happy Days!!!!

[craftycat]

Another fan of crimplene and similar man made fabrics. Some really lovely things available. Used to make all my clothes, all my DD's clothes and a fair amount of my DS's clothes as well. Plus knitted every single jumper or cardigan that was ever worn by family members. A cheap way of clothing even if you used the French yarns that were just starting to arrive in the UK

[budgie]

Another fan of crimplene and similar man made fabrics. Some really lovely things available. Used to make all my clothes, all my DD's clothes and a fair amount of my DS's clothes as well. Plus knitted every single jumper or cardigan that was ever worn by family members. A cheap way of clothing even if you used the French yarns that were just starting to arrive in the UK

Not cheap anymore! I too used to make allsorts, but now it is cheaper to buy them.