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Call The Midwife.

(158 Posts)
Calendargirl Mon 25-Dec-23 21:52:39

Just watched the Christmas special.

Feel like I have swallowed a whole bottle of golden syrup.

How many more times is Sister Monica Joan going to predict her end is nigh?

Ilovecheese Sat 30-Dec-23 19:06:36

I thoroughly it.

DamaskRose Sat 30-Dec-23 22:55:55

Well I enjoyed it and stopped watching Eastenders years ago. That probably says quite a lot about me!

grannydarkhair Sun 31-Dec-23 01:08:04

I agree about Sister Monica Joan, she’s never been a favourite character of mine except in a few isolated episodes. I also agree about the wrong clothes, etc. Having said that, I still enjoyed it, such easy viewing.

MayBee70 Sun 31-Dec-23 02:01:41

It’s one of those series that I do actually like but have got out of the habit of watching. I thought Sister Monica Joan had dementia in the first series ( and seemed pretty old then) but ten years later she still seems to be in it.

Lilypops Sun 31-Dec-23 08:06:07

Dr Turner,s same inane grin and awful acting put me off CTM ages ago , he has the same expression for every event , must admit though I do like to see the old prams being pushed around even though they go nowhere and back !

LadyGracie Sun 31-Dec-23 08:12:16

It is exceptionally sweet and sickly but I enjoy watching all the same and always have.

Anniebach Sun 31-Dec-23 08:18:53

There are very elderly nuns in convents

Calendargirl Mon 08-Jan-24 07:09:11

Not much new really.

Cyril seems a bit surplus to requirements now his wife has gone back home.

Did I mishear, when the Sister was on the megaphone to the gun-toting husband hanging out the bedroom window, she said she was “Sister Monica Joan”? Not sure what her name is, but it’s not that.

Trixie’s voice gets posher every episode, but think Rosalind is set to emulate her.

But it fills up an hour on Sunday night.

TillyTrotter Mon 08-Jan-24 07:25:13

Rosie Jones was the star of last night’s episode.
I love the warm nostalgia of the show and yet it still covers some tough topics.
Looking forward to how the new young Midwives’ roles fill out.

Franbern Mon 08-Jan-24 09:02:52

My eldest was born in Walthamstow, E17 in 1969. Can remember in the maternity home where he was born there were Nuns working there. No idea from where as I can never remember seeing any around. The Moon landings, all post natal Mums were 'ordered' by Matron to go into the common room to watch it on tv. There was no Special Care Unit for babies there, any baby that required that was sent to local hospital, but Mum was usually left at this unit or sent home.
First time Mums had to stay in this unit for a minimum of ten days following the birth, in order to recover and to learn how to feed, bath, etc our new baby. All first time Mums had to breast feed (by order of Consultant).
There were no showers and only two baths between all post natal patients. The central heating, sujch as it was hardly worked. The building was old, tired and falling apart. It closed within the year., The main thing I learned there was there was the wonder of salt water to help epesiotomy.

Eleven months later I gave birth to my next child, at home (although only an outside loo), with the assistance of wonderful midwifery service. There was no choice, Mothers who had delivered without complications previously had to have next baby at home.

A modern, state of the art unit was building in the grounds of our local General Hospital1, , So up to date !!!- had twins there six years later - Special Care Babies unit was on floor ONE, but post natal ward for \mums was on floor THREE.

Jaffacake2 Mon 08-Jan-24 11:00:26

1969 it is coming up to the year when I started my nursing training. I can remember appearing at the nurses home with a suitcase and handbag. We had purple capes and little storm caps to wear and often rode bikes from the accommodation to the hospital. Loving being nostalgic watching Call the midwife !

MerylStreep Mon 08-Jan-24 12:47:35

If it’s supposed to be 1969 the script writers need to brush up on historical facts.
The man with the gun was said to be involved with the Krays.
Ronnie Kray was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1966 for killing George Cornell.

Anniebach Mon 08-Jan-24 13:39:36

The Krays were convicted 1969

Nana75 Mon 08-Jan-24 16:00:13

I usually enjoy the show.As a few posters have said at least it's safe viewing.Having said that last nights episode was a bit on the boring side.I will still be watching though!

Jaxjacky Mon 08-Jan-24 16:54:40

I’ve now reached my limit of sickly sweet and will find something else to watch.

Overthemoongran Mon 08-Jan-24 19:05:55

As I’ve said on this thread before I love the series and haven’t missed one since the start. Once again a very thought provoking episode last night but (& I’m sure I will be shot down in flames by some for mentioning this) did anyone else find Rosie Jones really difficult to understand? I missed half of her lines and kept rewinding to catch them again. I thought she played the role wonderfully but I for one could have done with subtitles.

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Jan-24 19:11:19

Can you put subtitles on with your remote control, Overthemoongran?
On ours is a button labelled S/AD - subtitles and audio description.

I find it useful with programmes like Shetland and some American programmes/films.

Overthemoongran Mon 08-Jan-24 19:15:51

Callistemon - I feel very silly now, yes of course I can. I just never thought about it. We never use that function but I must remember it in future, thank you.

Callistemon21 Mon 08-Jan-24 19:23:40

I find the dialogue on BBC is often unclear
And they seem to film in the dark too.

Calendargirl Wed 10-Jan-24 13:27:30

I’m not deaf, but I always have the subtitles on. Makes viewing so much easier, Scottish, American, in fact most accents are difficult to define sometimes.

Ziplok Wed 10-Jan-24 13:40:02

I know it’s a bit smaltzy at times, but nevertheless, I enjoy watching it. It’s an hour of escapism for me without the violent, unpleasant themes programmes such as Eastenders seem to relish. That’s not to say it doesn’t deal with gritty issues, but you don’t have characters thumping merry hell out of each other, shouting and screeching, unpleasant language, etc. A good drama doesn’t need that in order to put its point across, surely. The real world is violent enough without it being peddled on tv as “must see entertainment” via some of those awful soaps and dramas. My view, and I know many of you will disagree, which is your right of course.

Clawdy Mon 15-Jan-24 19:16:25

I just wish the main characters were more likeable. Trixie and Nancy and doc's wife are all really irritating now.

Auntieflo Mon 15-Jan-24 22:06:47

I watched the Christmas edition last night, and I wonder how they managed to cram in so many story lines.
I have got another two recorded, but wonder whether to bother watching.

Callistemon21 Mon 15-Jan-24 22:32:11

The storyline about Trixie learning to drive was just risible.

This is supposed to be 1969 - surely wealthy Matthew could afford the cost of proper driving lessons for her? And what on earth was she doing attempting to drive in those silly yellow gloves and high heels?

I'd been driving for 5 years, it wasn't that unusual!

cornergran Mon 15-Jan-24 23:33:52

Agree about the driving calli. 1969 was the year I married. I’d been driving for 3 years by then. Mostly taught by my dad I’d had half a few lessons pre test that I paid for myself. My instructor would have banned those shoes and had a good laugh at the gloves.

I do enjoy watching the programmes though, I just suspend analysis.