I was ordered to lay flat for a week...

and this is what I watched as a chronic hyperactive girly!

Hi my friends!

For this weeks Substack I am going to share whats has been a recent activity in my life - watching stuff. Last week I was deeply sick and was ordered by my doctor to lay flat and rest. For most people this would be both easy and a welcomed activity, but for someone who has a business and finds it chronically hard to stay still for longer than 12 minutes (my hyperactive side of my ADHD) - this would be an incredibly difficult task for me and my body. However if I wanted to recover, I needed to rest.

In order for me to successfully get better, couch laying was my medicine and the television was to keep me mentally occupied. As a devote to all things reality TV and Bravo - I am a big big fan girl of all The Real Housewives shows, Summer House, Vanderpump, Love Island etc etc. Its my dirty little secret and love - watching reality TV after work on a weeknight. However because the days were long and my mind was raging with boredom, I had to forgo by standard reality bites and get into a range of other shows to keep the brain engaged and my mental state alert in some way.

So - I consumed a bunch of great television series, documentaries and movies in this time. Some of them left be balling my eyes out, some left me feeling empowered and others were just a deep warm hug in nostalgia that instantly lifted the schmood in my one bedroom apartment full of sickness. Because this substack is all about sharing a range of different things that I love, I felt like recommending to you the things that I loved watching during this time was a great topic for todays piece. So below are the things that made the top watch list and what I think you should consume at some point, sick or not.

Beside each title I have listed where I watched it, however I am sure some of these are available on different streaming channels so you can just search for what you need. Happy watching, happy snacking and happy learning!

With love, chaos & rigatoni -

PM xx

The Hospital: In The Deep End - SBS

If you live in Australia you MUST watch this, no excuses. It gives a very real insight into the backend of whats happening in the hospital system and what the workers have to go through and experience. As someone who was just in hospital, I can confirm that I was shooketh at what I saw whilst there in terms of the pressure on the system, and could cry when thinking about the nurses and doctors and ALL THAT THEY DO for us. Please watch this and send to everyone you know.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz - STAN

I was an emotional wreck after watching this show and you will be too - however it is an absolute must watch. Telling the true, scary and powerful story of Lali Sokolov, the series follows his entry and life in the concentration camp of Auschwitz and the retelling of his experience to author Heather Morris, who turned it into a very successful book. Get the tissue box ready

Revealed: The Cape - STAN

I was HOOKED immediately in this and was shocked that I had never heard of it or come across the story before. It goes into a father and son that went missing whilst fishing up in the The Cape (top of Queensland), and the story exposes a long standing fishing rivalry between two families that potentially ended in the murder of the missing two. Such an interesting story with many twists and turns.

My Next Guest: Miley Cyrus  - NETFLIX

This is sensational and Miley is an absolute genius. As someone who never was a big fan of her over my life, I liked some of her music but never was in the Hannah Montana-verse - I have in the last few years become deeply invested in what this chick has to say. If you want to have your mind blown, go listen to Mileys interview on the Joe Rogan podcast, that was the moment my opinion switched on her and I realised she is an absolute icon with an intelligence you don’t get to see unless you see her speak for an extended period of time. This interview with David Letterman is no exception, she just confirmed even more so why I think she’s whip smart, both creatively and emotionally.

Under The Bridge - Disney

THIS IS BEYOND! What a story. Follows the murder of teenager girl Reena Virk (a real story) and is absolutely captivating but also terribly sad. The cast is incredible and the story shows you the many facets of how bullying can affect an entire community.

Mrs Doubtfire - STAN

Do I need to say more? Greatest 90s movie ever. I still hear Mrs Doubtfire screaming “HELP IS ON THE WAY DDEEEEARRRR.” Iconic!

You Hurt My Feelings - STAN

This is my second time watching this and I absolutely love it! A movie with Julia Louis-Dreyfus that is brilliant, its a story about how she catches her husband bad mouthing her work and it throws her whole confidence in his opinion about everything creatively she’s done before. Easy watch but also very thought provoking

Dumb Money- PRIME

Great movie that is basically a ‘little guy vs big guy’ story explaining a real life scenario that went down on Wall Street and investments with everyday people against the big corporations. The cast is fantastic and the story is so uplifting!! Poweerrrrr to the peeeeoooooooopllleeeee.

Mothers Instinct - PRIME

You may have scene the posters rolling around of this with Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain - its a thriller about two families that live next door and each have a son the same age. One tragically dies and it follows the fall out between the two families. The ending is WOWZAAAA!

A Man Called Otto - PRIME

I. Love. This. Movie! Tom Hanks can do no wrong in my mind (have you seen Larry Crowne??) and this movie is no exception. It follows a grumpy old man called Otto who is rude to mostly everyone but deep down is battling mental health problems. A new family moves into the neighbourhood and become a shining light in his life. Everyone must watch this at some point, it has so many subtle lessons about the human experience behind closed doors that we all need to know and see.

Celine’s Story , an NBC Special - YouTube

As a devout Celine fan since the age of 16, this was deeply moving. Recently she has come out with her diagnosis of Stiff Persons Syndrome which has been plaguing her health and singing for decades. There is a documentary coming out soon that follows her journey, but this interview with Hoda Kotb is really incredible.

May December - Netflix

OOoooooooffff! Shes a goodie this one! But I mean, what movie with Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman was ever going to be bad?? Directed by the formidable Todd Haynes, this follows the infamous story of the school teacher who had an affair with her 13 year old student and then went onto the marry him and have his kids. The way it is filmed and the story is told, like classic Todd Haynes, is phenomenal!

Broadcity - STAN

Its no secret that THIS IS MY FAVOURITE SITCOM, second to Seinfeld. Nothing has ever made me laugh as hard (except Jerry & Elaine) and I can never ever get sick of watching this. It follows two best friends, Ilana and Abbi, around New York as they smoke doobies and experience the general hilarious perils of being a woman in the 21st century. I literally cackle laugh through 70% of the episodes and it automatically fills me goodness when the credits of each ep rolls. I feel like I am watching a part of my life (and my friends) unfold in front of me and somehow find the humour is areas I didn’t find before. Watch if you know whats good for you!