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Enjoyed CWR very much. The countryside was beautifully shot. I want to reread the book now as I hadn't remembered how strong the mother had to be about the absent father. Good to see Samantha Morton - animpressive actor ever since she first appeared in Band of Gold at a very young age.

I thought the boy playing the young Laurie Lee was outshone by the boy playing his brother Jack. His acting was forced and he sounded like a West country version of Henry in The Archers.

I'll always have a soft spot for CWR though as it brings back memories of a long hot summer in Norfolk, lazing by the river reading Laurie Lee and HE Bates....Oh and keeping an eye on the kids

I started off not liking Cider with Rosie [same thing happened last week] but, by the end of it I was loving it [bit teary eyed and lump in the throat'ish]. Can't actually remember much about what happened in the book, even though it was one of my favourites in my late teens/early twenties. Got a bit distracted by 'spotting the famous actresses even though they're a lot older now' for a while but thought Samantha Morton was superb [bit biased as she's a 'local girl made good']. Didn't think the young boy in it had the star quality of last weeks but he was much younger. Probably not the easiest of books to dramatise I'd imagine, as not a great deal happens.Watched a bit of Midnights Children last night but got bored with it. Why are there so many 'rite of passage' books written by men but so few written by women I wonder?

I've recorded Cider with Rosie. Also Midnight's Children from last night. Must try and catch up with them soon!

I enjoyed it

Was Cider with Rosie a load of televisionasised c--p,or is it me again.

Cider with Rosie tonight.....Really looking forward to it and then Downton Abbey on ITV+1

DH is looking less than impressed at the thought of two and a half hours of non stop period drama

Very funny Matella. I bet she was really disappointed not to be able to go back to being a drudge for 5 shillings a week.

Woops few typo's there! On my phone. V small keyboard!

The "moral higround" comment was great and delivered by Maggie Smith, even better. I enjoyed the episode immensely.
The changes that were inevitable for the time should be interestingly portrayed in this series. I thought that the Crawley's lifestyle was cleverly beginning to look pointless and rediculous for the time. Working class wanting evenings to themselves! Whatever next! Reminds me of a story my DMIL, bless her, tild me. She worked for a doctor's family as nanny, cleaner, cook, and receptionist fir 5s a week. When the war came along she went to the munition factory for 21s per week. The doctor's wife told her she was ungrateful and not to expect her job back when the war ended!

I was in two minds whether to watch this series - but of course, I did, and I enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll be too downhearted when it goes. I agree with Anya about people acting out of character.

Oh I agree, Anya, that was very evident. The way the Bates' nightmare situation was resolved so suddenly and so completely, after dragging on for far too long. My sister and I usually have a post episode giggle phone call about all the ridiculously unlikely happenings.
But I just can't help myself, I love it! It's comfort viewing, the TV version of snuggling down with a new Maeve Binchy and a cup of hot chocolate

I used to enjoy Downton but was distinctly unimpressed by this first episode. Seemed too far fetched and people acting out of character.

It's like a badly written novel where the author has introduced too many characters to handle, and too many twists and turns in unlikely plots, and now has to try to tie up loose ends very quickly.

I love Downton and will really miss it. I agree with others that Mary is looking much too thin now. TBH I think her character has been over-developed to the point where she has become a caricature of her original self. She is now just plain irritating, all the cold put downs to Edith, the cool non-smile for just about everyone who talks to her. I found myself actually hoping she would be brought low by the blackmailer and was quite disappointed when, once again, she came out of yet another escapade smelling of roses .
My fantasy for this series? That Michael will be found, not dead after all, and he, Edith and Marigold will live happily ever after. Well, Kathy came back from the dead in Eastenders, didn't she?

Oh, and yes, that fabulous line from Violet about the moral high ground. I want a book of her one-liners!

Yes,I've always enjoyed it.But PCness does rear its ugly head in some aspects of it.They are afraid to tell a historical story the way it was.

I watch and enjoy Downton but I see it as an entertaining fantasy rather than as a representation of what really happened above and below stairs in those days.

I think it is a charming idea that the below stairs employees became part - albeit a subservient part - of one big happy family. But there are accounts that tell of long hours of drudgery, a lack of privacy and free time, very poor pay - and a complete lack of respect for domestic staff, with maids often being given the name of their predecessors to save employers having to learn their names.

When I hear people - particularly women - say they would have loved to live in those days: it was all so elegant and civilised then, etc. etc., they are obviously envisaging themselves as being "above stairs" rather than the more likely scenario that they would have been up at 5 a.m. and cleaning out the grates.

I do agree that the actress who plays Mary looks much thinner than before and it isn't an improvement. Perhaps it's the strain of trying to maintain that rather unconvincing "posh" drawl!

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it! I have recorded The Go Between.

Milly - yes, I'd forgotten Branson. He was lovely. I used to think that his very stiff tweed suits must be so scratchy!

It was interesting that the first reaction of family members to the news that their way of life may be coming to an end, was to worry about their staff and what would happen to them if they lost their jobs.

Well, it is the last series, so hopefully all the loose ends will be tied up and it won't have outstayed its welcome. I'll miss it, I must admit!

I think the series has run it's cause now. I shall still watch it but shame for it to go into overdrive, like story lines in soaps which go on forever.

Yes, I agree, NotTooOld, Lady Thingy is very very irritating. I nearly didn't watch it at the beg because she was irritating and the girls were bitchy, but the set is lovely, and Maggie Smith always a joy to watch, but I cant say I care much about what happens to any of them, except Branson, and he no longer in it! Although Lady Edith's story is good with little Marigold, and a whole new career, I hope that develops.

Wasn't the Dowager Countess's line to Isobel delicious? "Is it ever cold on the moral high ground?" Love it!

I enjoyed it too, henetha, but was struck by how thin all the younger women are. Lady Mary is like a stick and her curls-on-cheeks hairstyle just makes her look thinner. Also, the mother (Lady Thingy) still has that annoying habit of tilting her head and smiling sweetly which I find most annoying. Rant over, must get out for a walk whilst it is not raining.

Trouble is, when you get to my age I've seen things like The Go Between before, umpteen times.
Anyway, Downton Abbey is wonderful so I would have chosen that anyway. I really enjoyed last night's start of the series.

Oh, those that recorded it should have been warned of SPOILERS.
I watched it. I didn't fancy 'The Go Between '