DOWNTON ABBEY

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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, )

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

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

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.

ooh er!

Lona!!

I think I'd like Tom's part.

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!

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.

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!

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

I do love the upstairs clothes though.

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

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!

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.

When I saw Mrs Hughes waiting on Carson I couldn't help but wonder what she had given up her single status for! I do hope the "full" marriage is worth it.

I haven't seen that before, Alea. Thanks for the link.

Thanks roseq I can be a stalker follower now!

Alea Thanks for the link, I'd forgotten that!

Can't get the staff any more rosesarered!

Really, Funnygran you mean... You DON'T have a butler?