When Calls the Heart Christmas Special 2016 - Costumes and other historical inaccuracies

So I know Christmas has been over for a while, but the last few months have been a bit hectic so I haven't gotten round to writing a review until now.

Anyone who has read my previous post on the subject of this Hallmark show, knows that I have a bit of a problem when it comes to the serious lack of historical accuracy of the show's costumes. They seem to be getting worse by the second. But for some reason, up until now, I kept watching the show. But after the Christmas special, no more!! This is saying a lot, as I love Christmas and I am a complete sucker for the traditional over cheesy Christmas films that Hallmark bring out every year. But this episode was too much. Along with the awful historical inaccuracies in the clothing/hair/makeup, the thing that got me the most was the Christmas tree lights in Rosemary and Le's house. They live in a small house in a small frontier town in the 1910s, there is no way the town's houses would have had electricity, Or even that one house would have had a generator. All the other lights in their house were gas lit, but the tree lights were definitely electric. I wonder, were they powered by fairy dust?! This, coupled with the quality of the story-line seriously dropping, means that the show is no longer watchable. It is so sad really as the show had so much potential at the beginning. Anyway, onward and upwards to brighter things - did anyone see the fabulous "Hidden Figures" - the clothing in that was amazing. :)

Christmas Windows and Greetings

I have decided to take a break in my Jane Austen Festival posting, to bring you something slightly more festive. This morning I went into central London to see some of the shop windows, as I heard that Harrods's windows were a must see. I was not disappointed. The theme this year is a 30s style train - think Orient Express with a modern twist.

I will apologise in advance for the photos. They are not great because of the reflections on the windows, and because I had to take them quickly as there were so many people walking past!

The engine of the Harrods Christmas Express. The wheels moved, there was smoke and sound effects. So cool. :)

The name on one of the carriages

This was my favourite window

A close up. As you can see from the water drops on the glass, the weather was being typically British! 

There were large windows which showed the inside of carriages, and smaller windows which were set up as train carriage windows with blinds, showing little displays. I love this art deco style tea set (or it might be a coffee set!)

The bar carriage 

The dinning carriage

Try to ignore the National Express coach!!

Wishing you all the Merriest of Christmases. I hope you have a fabulous time. :)

Christmas at the 1940s House

In 2001 Channel 4 aired a programme entitled 'The 1940s House'. It was a reality tv show where a family lived in a 1940s style house and tried to live a 1940s life, for 3 months, to see if they could really find out what life was like during WW2.  It was a very interesting programme and I definitely recommend it (you can buy the dvd on Amazon). When the "experiment" ended, all the contents was taken to the Imperial War Museum. As part of the 'Children at War' exhibition, a replica of the 1940s house was built inside the museum and the contents of the original house was placed in the new replica. The exhibition was only meant to be up for a few months, but it was so popular that 10 years have past and it is still there. But sadly the museum have decided to take it down early in the new year. About 3 weeks ago I suddenly realised that I had never been to see the exhibit, so I promptly decided to go.

Well it was fabulous and if you haven't been and are in London during the next 2 days (it is closing on 2nd January) then you should definitely go.  As an added excitement it has been decorated with 1940s style Christmas decorations as a last hurrah.

Well here are a few photos. Sadly my camera was acting up again (it seems to happen more often then not at the moment :( ) so most of the photos are a bit blurry.

The Sitting Room

another view of the Sitting Room

the ceiling decoration in the Sitting Room

Food out for Father Christmas and his reindeer. :) 

There were ropes across the doorways to each room to prevent you from entering them and touching anything. When I was walking round, taking countless photos, a security guard came up to me and mentioned that it was unusual to find someone who was obviously really interested in the exhibit (Really sad if that is true!). After chatting for a while, about the 1940s, he said that, if I wanted to, I could quickly go under the rope across the Sitting Room doorway and that he could take my photo in the room!!!

Here is the photo - a pretty hideous photo of me, but I was so excited to be able to sit on the actual sofa that appeared in the programme. :) Pitty I wasn't wearing 1940s clothes!

The kitchen

Another view of the kitchen.

Ceiling decorations in the Dining Room

The Dining Room

The exterior of the house, all covered in snow :) It was rather hard to take a photo of the outside of the house as it was in a rather tight space. Hence the angle of the photo, making it look like I took it whilst lying on the floor!!

The front of the house

I didn't take any photos of the upstairs rooms as there were quite a few people walking around so I couldn't get any photos of the rooms without anyone in them. 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

I am crazy about Christmas. I just LOVE it from the decorations and carol services, to the music and the gathering of family and friends.

I was going to post some photos of my decorations but, as usual, the run up to Christmas has zoomed by and now I am in the countryside staying with my aunt until after Christmas. But I might post a few when I get home :).

Anyway I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays. :)