Chisue, I'm also pretty good at noticing the same actor popping up in different series. I thought I noticed the change a couple of episodes ago, but when I Google it, Wikipedia and IMDb gives the credit to only one actress. Thanks to the KT I have extended my Instant Queue to include "Doc Martin". I'll have to look for others mentioned. I can't decide whether to start watching a new series before I finish Midsomer, or finish Midsomer then start another. I think I'll do the latter, then when there are no more Midsomers to watch I won't be so let down, I'll have the others to look fwd to. I'm really enjoying my streaming Netflix. I've also watched a few documentaries and some older movies. Unlike TV, there's always something new to watch on a cold winter's evening.

yes i read series. i've chugged thru the 'Dune' books i read all the aubrey/mauratin novels by o'brien i read all the horatio hornblowers (just to compare--there is none) thinking of tackling the julius caesar/first man of rome for this winter--re-reading all from the start. i do usually find that they eventually become formula-ic if the series is a continuation of action over time. also a problem arises if each book stands on its own, in that the author needs to rebukd the character/environment each time (you want to say, ok,ok i already know this, tell the new reader to start at the beginning, don't bore me. but then you realize that the auther is just doing character development that is necessary, but you've read it over and over. diggerb

I very much enjoyed the series "Call the Midwife." I have watched up to season 3. It was so refreshing to watch a show that doesn't overlook the hardships that women have faced, and to some degree still face. I live in Canada, and have seen a lot of US/Cdn TV which usually features wealthy and perfect conditions, beautiful movie stars, with little to no reality, and without touching on female perspectives. I saw a mention earlier about the lack of slums in Canada. I can only speak to the history of western Canada, which was mostly rural. In the 1950s, Western Canada enjoyed a high standard of living where there was ample food, although, my father did say that if you spent all your money on frivolous things you could starve. Before that, especially during the Great Depression, my grandfather had a sister who died because the family couldn't afford the medicine for her, and his mother saved for years after to pay the hospital for her daughter's death there. They lived in fear that the bank would take their house, but almost every house was in foreclosure in their area, Vancouver BC. My grandfather had a dairy cow he quite liked, and a garden, so it seems that western Canada was quite rural, even in the cities at that time, possibly with the exception of Chinatown, where the Chinese Canadians there had things quite rough. Today in Canada there seems to be a greater divide between rich and poor especially in the larger cities. Some of the issues in the book and movie still go on today, for example, abuse of women, children, losing a child, (although not as common today) being judged by others, mental illness after pregnancy and the great love we as mothers have for our children. I found it interesting that Jennifer Worth said most families lived near their parents, brothers and sisters, usually moving two streets away from where they grew up at most. Here in Canada we don't seem to have that closeness with family. Also there is a lot of privacy here and I think many mothers can feel isolated or suffer in silence. I don't live near my family because the housing prices and lack of jobs paying over minimum wage makes it very difficult to live there. Worh had another comment on the older people being rehomed to better living conditions, but that many of them died because they missed their friends and family and they didn't have that support. I found it interesting, and I think nowadays here in Canada, people's values are more about money than relationships which is sad too. In that way, the community of East London seemed to be better.

Annpan, I happen to have a paperback edition of Forever Amber, so in my book bag it goes. A Restoration romp might be just the thing to put me somewhere besides seemingly endless water. I've read it a couple of times, but the last time was years ago. Thanks! Vee, nothing so roomy as a cruise ship. My son's ketch is a 51-footer. It has a motor but it's only used for getting in and out of harbors. It's not luxury, but it's a sight bigger than his previous 37-footer that we went down to Pago Pago in several times previously. I should say I have made the voyage down several times but I've only made the round trip twice. Once in Pago Pago harbor I hang around for a week or so, then I usually fly home. I'm not a very good sailor. I only do what I'm capable of doing: cooking and cleaning. I've heard of A Pattern of Islands and have meant to find it, but my local bookstore doesn't have it. I'll have to wait until I get home and order it from Amazon. That's all right, though, because I'm sure I'll enjoy it, whenever and wherever. I saw that "Pacific Destiny" was filmed in Samoa. The only islands I've seen in Kiribati are atolls while most of the Samoas (American and Independent) are 'high islands'. Thank you for your well wishes. Hope to catch up with you all in a few weeks.