DOWNTON ABBEY

I want to know how one minute they're all spattered with blood and the next they appear as pristine as ever ready to accompany poor Robert to hospital. Maybe the ambulance response time was similar to nowadays and they had time for a bath and change of clothes.

Who cleaned up the dining room? All the servants were sitting around downstairs as usual.

I'd sack the lot of 'em

Quite startling, I have a feeling there is going to be more to this than an ulcer. They are all very skinny, well all the 'well to do ladies' are the underlings not so much.

I was so glad Lady Cora kept her tiara on when she went to the hospital, one has to keep up appearances.
DH has had a few evening/night time trips to A&E, maybe I should invest in my own tiara?

Bless the man, he is going to be OK, isn't he?

I was in suspense all through this evening's episode wondering what the 'shocking scenes' we were warned about were going to be!

Quite an anticlimax, really...

I confess with blushes , I thought the shocking scenes were going to be male rape, so was relieved it was his lordship's ulcer popping

TBH I thought blood all over the starched double damask was quite startling. It reminded me of the memorable evening when DH fell asleep while our guests "chatted" after dinner and the elderly Labrador quietly did a whoopsie on the carpet in her sleep.

Like Anniebach I was thinking of male rape or may Anna miscarrying again.

I'd like to have seen Mrs. Hughes shoving Carson's lamb chop where the sun don't shine as well.

merlotgran I think Carson may be finding 'that side of marriage' is not so forthcoming if he keeps criticising Elsie's lamb chops and bubble and squeak

Still don't understand how Carson has 'given his life' man and boy to the service of the family when I remember quite distinctly an episode where the other half of his music hall double act 'The Two Charlies' (or something like that) turned up and caused embarrassment.

Phew, thought only me had that thought Merlotgran , I agree with you on the lamb chop

Apologies, they were called 'The Cheerful Charlies'
That's cheered me up no end, knowing that it was not a figment of my imagination or that I was getting mixed up again

The Carsons are living in a very upmarket dwelling considering their 'servant' status. I seem to remember them planning to buy somewhere together in the last series. Is this it?

I suppose if they have been 'in service' all their lives and risen to 'the top of downstairs' they could have had quite a bit put by over the years, not having had to fork out for keep.
Then, of course, they could be flat broke having bought the cottage, as Elsie asked Mrs Patmore to make up a basket of food for their meal

I thought Elsie asked Mrs Patmore for advice/suggestions and she volunteered the paté and chops

I thought the 'distressing scenes' we're going to be either a racing car crash, someone slipping over among the pigs and being attacked or the wife who had to leave the farm completely losing it.

'were' not 'we're' - so frustrating not to be able to edit on here. Also sometimes wish I could 'like' someone's post.

I too thought the distressing scenes were going to be Thomas up to his old tricks again .

Mrs Patmore and Mr Mason would make a nice couple wouldn't they? Then Daisy could marry that new boy (I forget his name, the one that Thomas has his eye on).

Is it just me or has Lady Mary's voice got even posher lately?

If I were Elsie I would have shoved Carson's chops down his throat complaining that the plates weren't warm enough. He is snobbier than
The whole lot of them upstairs.

I will miss it when it ends.

I haven't seen this yet sounds as if Lord Whatnot has burst his oesophageal varices (alcohol related of course) I look forward to seeing that this afternoon.

I agree with you gilly about Lady Mary's voice - TBH I think her character is being hammed up to the point where she's become a caricature. And I do wish she would speak to Dr Clarkson about her stiff neck, I'm sure he'd be able to suggest something for it.
I actually rather expected the shocking scenes would be about poor Robert, as it has been building up to some sort of catastrophe with his health throughout this series. It would have been fun quite shocking, though, if it had been Lady Mary slipping over in the pig muck and getting trampled.
I don't think Carson quite understands what is expected of him in his role as a husband. Someone needs to have a quiet word in his shell-like and tell him that it is actually nothing like the role of a butler .
Yes, I too will miss this when it ends.

Oh Teetime you shouldn't have looked at this thread if you haven't seen the episode yet! Apologies for spoilers . I hope you enjoy it despite all that's been said here.

I thought someone was going to drop dead! Wishful thinking that it would be Lady Mary!
I would have shoved those lamb chops somewhere that would have made Carson's bubble squeak!

Lona

Will Lady Mary marry her brother in law

Will Ethel finally push Lady M down the staircase

Is marriage on the cards for Daisy

Will Mrs Hughes murder Carson

Will Mrs Patmore marry Mr Mason

Will Cora ever say - sod it

Will Lady Mary learn to take her own knickers off and not leave it to her maid or any man who smiles at her

anniebach
Holding my breath!

Not the first, though, as in those days there was a list at the beginning of the Book of Common Prayer and I am sure one was a man may not marry his wife' s sister

No, just checked, the law was changed in 1907 - yes, simmering away there.

She's not like the sainted Sybil though, is she!

Will the Dowager's butler push her lady's maid down the staircase?

Lona