Downton Abbey

For Christmas 2010, my lovely aunt (who resides in Ireland) thought that I might enjoy a new TV show called "Downton Abbey", which was screened on the UK ITV television circuit a while ago.  So she sent over the first series box set at the end of November and because of the snow/bad weather/postal overload/whatever, it didn't arrive until almost the start of February......which meant it took almost 3 months to arrive!!!!  (Not that this point matters much).

I must admit that the thought of watching a TV show that I had never heard of before was a little daunting, which is why it has taken me a while to get around to watching it, but it was a period drama and I LOVE period dramas....only problem was to find a spare slot of 6 hours in order to watch the DVD's.  And I am not sure if you are like me, but if you are and you have a box set of unwatched TV shows AND they are good ones - I tend to hit the play button at the end of each episode in a gluttony feast!

Luckily, I was presented with an opportunity to watch them this week (whilst on a doctor ordered day's bed rest) and I absolutely loved it - so much in fact that I googled it as soon as I was finished!
 
So if you (like me!) are not aware of this brilliant piece of small screen cinematic wonderment....here is the synopsis:

"Set in 1912, Downton is the home of the Crawleys, who have been the Earls of Grantham since 1772.  In the drawing rooms and library and beautiful bedrooms, with their tall windows looking across the park, lives the family, but below stairs are the other residents, the servants, as fiercely possessive of their ranks as anyone above.  Some of them loyal to the family and are committed to Downton as a way of life, others are moving through, on the look out for new opportunities or love or just adventure.  The difference being that they know so many secrets of the family, while the family know so few of theirs."

I could go on and on and on about the historical accuracy OR the beautiful costumes OR the stunning interiors OR the brilliant plot lines OR the great actors.  But I won't spoilt it too much for you, just watch it and I promise you will be hooked.  So I am just going to leave you with some inspirational interior shots that make me miss my parents dragging me around each and every stately home as a child......and to think I dreaded those "cultural" days.

I have checked on Netflix, (for those who reside in the USA of course), and season one is currently available to rent (and on "instant play" no less).  And whilst googling it - I found out that PBS aired some of the episodes back in January 2011 on it's Masterpiece slot.