The Midwives.

Thank you maryeliza, I have never seen a motor cyclist wearing shoes like those,never seen any chap wearing shoes like those !

Hhhhuummmm

Oh I see maryeliza, thanks for that! Actually I think they said as much, so I clearly didn't take it in properly!!
Oh yes Annie, a story coming up for sure! Not good news I fear!!! (can't wait!!)

Jabber it was the National Screening Programme that was introduced in the 1980s but the actual tests started in a random locally based fashion in the 60s as shown in CTM

You too Jaberwok, they were odd shoes , and the camera closed in on them, a story line coming up ?

I was too Annie! They looked most strange! Mind you I don't think mechanic is all he appears to be! Not surprising really in those shoes!!!!

I was puzzled by the shoes the mechanic was wearing on his motorbike at the end of the programme , heels and a strap over his foot , girls shoes ?

Did I misunderstand the last episode?!! I thought cervical smear tests weren't av,ailable till the 1980's? But in this episode circa 1964 they have just opened the clinic for routine smear tests!!,

Was anyone else surreptitiously wiggling their hips on the sofa during the hula-hoop scene?

The abortion stories are heartrending, that poor girl so terrified of becoming like her mother.

After two still births my GP recommended steralization, women do become pregnant on the pill

Wasn't this episode set in the early sixties?

But in the late 60s we had The Pill, condoms too, and Dutch Cap- all available. And men could get a vasectomy, a much much less invasive op, day care and out, no GA - than female sterilisation. A very different time to the 50s and before.

I was steralized in 1974. Drove myself to the hospital early evening for op next day, my husband was home with our two little ones. I had to telephone the police station to ask one of his mates to go to our house and tell him he had to come up to the hospital, frightened him, I was furious as was he when he arrived in the ward to be told he had to sign his consent, he said she is my wife not my property.

I get the feeling we are going to meet the abortionist at some point in this series as we have had two illegal abortions so far.

That was the thinking at the time Anniebach I understand that but I thought there might have been a little compassion before the abortion.
That must have really got up your nose Petra when did women stop becoming chattels ?.
( answers on a post card please )

Sodapop
Same here in 1979. What was worse was that I was divorcing my husband and, he had had the snip
He gave me the forms for my husband to sign.
I took them home and I signed them.

Sodapop what else could the doctor say ?

My Gp , after I had my third baby ,gave me a thermometer and a book on the "Rythm " method , Mum was horrified . Siad thermometer hit the wall upon occasion as yelling baby took precedence to my charts . I ended up with 6 children , loved them all

I've posted this before but I had to have my husband's written consent before I could be sterilized in the 1970's doesn't seem possible now. I think what grated on me in Midwife was the Doctor's attitude that women should just cope with many pregnancies.

I've just finished watching and I love it!! That poor girl, and her devastated husband, dreadful! The estranged family whose babies drew them together, wonderful!
Hulahooping! now, that took me back!! I once won half a bottle of champagne hulahooping!! Hard to believe now, but its true!

Very sad but I guess reaching the '60s there has to be some discussion of the Abortion Reform Act and the dilemmas of the medical profession.
Trixie seems to be written as an exaggerated version of her former self in this series.

It was sad tonight

Loved it

no, watching and sobbing at the same time - as always

Am I the only one who cries every week!???