While there are many aspects of early twentieth century life that I am happy to have dispensed with, such as asinine doctors misdiagnosing pre-eclampsia, there are some aspects of life at Downton, that I could happily see adopted in my household:
- As a married woman, I should very much like breakfast brought up to my bedroom everyday.
- In keeping with Carson's rules of order, women should not serve dinner but be served, I should like to train my sons in this fine art so that once they come of age they will correctly serve me my bouillon.
- When my husband eventually leaves this mortal coil, in about eighty or more years if I have my way, I should like to be known not as the widow Pinault, but the Dowager Mrs. Pinault.
- I don't necessarily need a whole retinue of staff, but it might be nice to have a ladies maid. Someone who would fix my hair in the morning, iron my clothes and mend anything that was damaged in the course of the day.
- I do so dislike reading the newspaper and having that residue left all over my fingers, quite disturbing. Without a second footman, I may have to start ironing my own newpapers before reading them. Though I tend to read most of my news on my husband's Ipad, I'm not sure he would take kindly to my ironing it.
- The separation of men and women for a short time immediately after eating. In my house, where I am one woman to my husband and two sons, this would mean I could sit calmly in the other room while my husband cleaned up the messy, messy boys.
- While the medical services of Downton era practitioners can leave a lot to be desired, it would be nice to have the Doctor make a house call when I am feeling ill, instead of having to make and keep an appointment thirty minutes away.
- As a transplanted Brit it came as a great shock to give up my big bath tub for a shower. I would very much like Lady Cora's bathroom, a claw foot tub in the middle of the room, with the aforementioned ladies maid to fetch and carry for me.
Is there anything from Downton that you would like in your life?
