"Women are like Amazons"

I think the above quote sums up the BBC flagship costume drama of "Cranford" (2007) quite wonderfully. It is spoken by one of the townsfolk of a rural 1842 Cheshire town, who understands quite clearly (as Elizabeth Gaskill obviously did) the small absurdities and major tragedies in the lives of isolated small community women. The largely female cast absolutely shine, in this ambitious production, that effectively see-saws between hilarity and moving pathos. Standouts include Eileen Atkins as the town's arbiter of political correctness and Imelda Staunton as the hysterical Miss Pole.

This series has caught me by surprise! It is a wonderful piece of television.

Nige left for home this afternoon, as the weather has turned for the worse. He will be glad to miss the voting on Strictly come dancing tonight (He called it the X factor for the middle classes!- which was a little waspish!)

Great to sit in next to the fire anyhow watching Gethin getting through to the quarter finals and the good folk of Cranford coping with the advent of the railways!