DOWNTON ABBEY

Yes me too Matella. I know where I would tell my DH he could stick his "full marriage" if he dared to tell me I couldn't cook his chops properly !

I do love Mrs Patmore and would love to see her happy with Mr Mason and his pigs. He needs a good woman to look after him.

Methinks Thomas is offering the new young footman reading lessons in return for something else.....

If you were a character in Downton Abbey who would you be?

I think I would like to be the Duchess (I have a bit of a thing for Hugh Bonneville, Paddingtons dad). Most likely I would be Baxter though.

What puzzles me about Mrs Patmore is that during one series she was terribly worried about her eyesight, and was eventually taken to get glasses which she wore in that episode, but never again...!

I don't know that I'd want to be any of the characters. From Upstairs possibly Lady Edith, at least she's had a bit of a life away from Downton!
I would have been Mrs Hughes from Downstairs, but not now she's married to Carson - imagine that voice rumbling sweet nothings to you in the middle of the night!

Oh crikey I couldn't be married to Carson either Ana he is such a snob and those eyebrows....

I do love the upstairs clothes though.

Thanks for the link Alea that is so funny
[tears rolling down cheeks emoticon]

Ana I think I remember the Earl paying for Mrs Patmore to have an eye operation in London so that she can see perfectly now without her glasses.

However, she has the specs back on in the link that Alea put on!

Do you remember when Thomas was in Coronation Street? Wasn't he a manager at the knicker factory and wasn't he the father of Maria's little boy? I think he was called Liam, like the little boy, and he was mugged and died - can't remember why. He was much more attractive in that than in DA and I find it hard to imagine him as gay. I agree that Mr Bates has changed considerably since he was in Lark Rise, where he was rather lovely, now I don't know what Anna sees in him, he's grim.

I would like to see Rob James-Collier in something else, rather than the sinister Barrow. He is rather lovely, but not in that part!

I think I'd like Tom's part.

Lona!!

ooh er!

Talking about how well servants were treated I recently read the biography of one of the last "ladies" to live in a large house in my locality. When the war came along she decided that she and her maid should sign up to do there bit for the war effort. She really thought she would be able to dictate to the war office that her maid would be her batman. As it happened they were in fact posted to different areas.

"Their bit". Just been helping DGS with his spelling test! ??

Vickya - thanks for that timely reminder. Ok as it's Downton, I'll accept a romance but very reluctantly, I still feel they're ideal business partners.

My grannie was put into service in a "big house" aged 13 and disliked to so much, she ran away. She walked miles to find work in the mills, renting a room from a relative who had already made that long journey to the land of the cotton mills. Like everyone else, I've no illusions about RL in places like Downton but it's perfect Sunday evening tv for me, love the frocks, the horses, the countryside and the devoted staff. Alea, thanks for posting the Christmas link. It appeared on my FB page the other day, I loved it.

I do hope that Mr Barrow is acting kindly towards the young footman. I believe he is and wish he could have a love interest.

I'm another fan of the 'upstairs' clothes, though I'd rather wear comfortable leggings and cosy sweat shirts in RL

I think that the thing I like best about the "upstairs" clothes is that they seem to favour non existent small bosoms, which would definitely suit me

The downside would be that there is no emphasis on the waist, apart from the riding habits. I have no bosoms to speak of, but on the upside what there is of them don't sag, my cellulite ridden bottom and thighs are best not discussed in polite company, but I do still go in at the waist!

(Although not as much as I used to, )

Thanks you lovely lot for making me laugh out loud! I agree about Carson - Elsie should put him on bread and water and keep her winceyette nightie on at all times! Whatever shall we do when Downton finishes ? It'll be the end of an era!

I've loved this thread! I never thought I'd get so excited by the rear view of a labrador on a Sunday evening. We could have spin offs from Downton. I want Michael back for Edith...I'm sure he's not dead but hidden away somewhere with no means of getting back from Germany. They could have a series about their publishing company. Anyone remember 'Compact'? The Carsons could have their B&B, we could see how the chops develop. Mrs Patmore and Mr Mason could set up with Daisy and Andy (surely that romance is on the cards?) in their own version of 'Emmerdale'. Lady Mary is turning into Violet, hilarious. It'll be the end of a tv era when Downton finishes but it's inevitable, as was the end of the grand houses and life upstairs and downstairs.

There's probably more upstairs downstairs still going on than we realise. Maybe not so much on the same scale but there are still a lot of very rich people around who can't "do" for themselves.

I do wish there would have been one more series. It would be fascinating to bring it much further up to date.

Lord Grantham's life will be 'saved' by the Hospital at York and The Dowager will be so grateful that she will change sides and that thread will be resolved. It would be better if Daisy was the one to teach the new footman to read! Guessing what might happen is one of the things that makes DA so addictive.

Yes I have Daisy and the new footman (Andy???) paired off too nonnanna .

I hope Anna and Bates have their much longed for baby beofre the end of this series and I hope it's a boy.... would be nice to have a young Master Bates

I love this programme for its sheer nonsense value and its such a light relief from all the murders and terrorist based themes. My favourite part is listening to the two daughters' accents which get posher every week and Lady Mary does that little moue and toss of her head to show she will brook no argument. I am trying to perfect it here. Priceless!

I'm so glad I found this thread. It's really brightened up my morning. I love the programme, especially the fab and unsuitable clothes. Did Lady M make a special shopping trip for "clothes for the pig farm" ? However, am I the only one who finds Lady Cora increasingly irritating? Can't wait for Maggie Smith's lines each week!

gillybob

Oh I think Lady Mary's wardrobe will have clothes for every kind of occasion GinnyTonic.

From touching the children clothes, being vomited on by daddy clothes, pig farm clothes, going downstairs clothes.........

I agree Teetime it is one of the few programms that I actually look forward to watching. Mind you The Abbey has seen it's share of scandal over the years toom hasn't it?

I wish Lady Edith would hurry up and tell Snotty Lady Mary about Marigold.

"Look Mary, I had a baby a while back. I wasn't married. Everyone knows that it's Marigold but you. Get over it".

Ana, I suppose lovely Imelda Staunton finds the 'rumbling sweet nothings' are liveable with, what with being married to Carson (Jim Carter, actually a v.nice chap)! And they have a splendid garden.
I wasn't a DA camp follower until persuaded into it by Spanish students, who all adore it and have to be reminded that it's completely bonkers fiction .
Am I the only one to find Edith far nicer looking than Mary and not plain at all?