Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

How are you?  What a chilly week - did you have snow?

No snow as yet here in Kent but certainly nippy.

I mentioned last week that I would be sharing my birthday outing

and this was it.  A 'Call the Midwife' tour.

Apologies if this isn't a show you watch as I am about to bombard

you with pictures that I have taken along with images from the show and info.  

I knew some time ago that they recorded quite a lot of Call the Midwife 

in the Chatham Dockyard (only about 20 minutes away from me)

but I hadn't realised there was an official tour.

The Dockyard is steeped in history and film crews use it regularly,

Les Mis were there a while ago.

What is interesting is that it still a workplace too, a ropery business

operates daily from there. 

A separate tour is available for that along with a submarine tour.

 

Back to Call the Midwife - it has now aired 10 seasons.

All episodes available on BBC iPlayer.

It could be mistaken for just a show about giving birth and babies but it is a lot more,

a brilliant insight into social history of the 1950s and beyond.

The dockyard has plenty of Georgian and Victorian buildings 

(it is actually a 100 acre site!)

In addition cobbled lanes which gives the feel of old London.

The tour is conducted by a fully uniformed midwife (who although

very knowledgeable confirmed she would not be able to deliver any babies).

Our first stop is this passageway featured in many scenes...

 

including opening credits with the washing strung between buildings.

Props and more props are needed.  The addition of strategically placed baskets etc

can hide anything that doesn't fit into the time period.

There is a little museum housing original items from the show.

I'm a big fan of the red cardigans - I've struggled to find one that exact red.

My sister and I felt quite old when we saw this toy dog on wheels

as we remember having one as children.

Along with roller skates exactly like these.

Mum was very sensible - she only let us wear one roller skate at a time so 

we didn't fall over!

The iconic bikes - imagine cycling in all weathers, carrying everything 

and then delivering a baby.

Spot the crochet cushion.

I was able to grab a photo of my TV screen showing this decor.

Varying shades of brown and orange were popular back then.

 

Back outside and these buildings double for scenes as the police station

and maternity hospital.

 

Nonnatus House isn't in the dockyard. Originally it was a St Joseph's 

Missionary College in Mill Hill, North London until 

it was sold to make swanky new flats.

So now Nonnatus House is actually Manor House, Surrey a house built in 1853.

I'll leave you with one last snippet we learned from the tour.

Christmas episodes are always filmed in the Summer due to the fake snow,

if they were to use it in cold, damp weather it would not look so good.

This means the cast are absolutely sweltering when we think it is freezing.

In this festive episode Sheila Reid (Madge from Benidorm)

was apparently wearing just a swimming costume under her coat!

Between takes she would strip off to cool down

(which apparently is not allowed for continuity but a veteran actress 

can probably get away with it).

And that was my birthday tour of Call the Midwife and loved it.

Other news: oh I am still in such a muddle indoors!

Plasterer and electrician are coming to finish the conservatory next weekend.  

This all should have happened months ago, 

original dates for conservatory was last May!

Once stuff can go back in there I will be rushing to get things moved and finally put

up the Christmas decorations.  

I feel very behind but I'm sure it will all be okay eventually.

I will be catching up with you next week re: crochet, telly as I think

this post may have already taken up a lot of your time.

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Take care friends.