When I was young my sisters and I were excited to be the first family in our street to get a portable television. It meant even on the various unusual, remote holidays our parents chose, we might get lucky and get to watch our favourite television series (that is assuming the destination had electricity…which was often not the case…).
It was the 1970’s, and whilst all the kids I knew spent hours outside everyday, read voraciously (Swallows & Amazons were my favourite…) – that ‘orange bubble’ TV was the gathering place for neighbourhood kids. The Jetson’s, Flintstones, Bewitched, Get Smart, I Dream of Jeanie – I’ve forgotten many of the shows, however upon hearing a snippet of theme music I am transported straight back to being eight years old (and hours of fabulous childhood memories).
Later my sisters and I would play a game of choosing a character to play for a particular episode; The Love Boat, Charlie’s Angles, Chips and The Brady Bunch.
Fast forward (err, several) years...and I still love relaxing on the couch (these days with a glass of wine), to watch a series. I always have a book on the go – yet sometimes after a busy day nothing beats being transported into someone elses world for an hour.
My current favourite television series (in no particular order);
I was late to the Orange is the New Black party and now I wonder what I was waiting for. Set in a prison, the storyline follows a group of incarcerated women from a cross section of the community – sometimes funny, quite often poignant, regularly tragic. That it is based on the memoir of Piper Kerman makes it all the more fascinating, I really have to work hard to not binge watch the entire season in one sitting.
Another brilliant ‘Scandi’ series from Denmark. The Legacy plot centres around a dysfunctional family; death, an inheritance, and strong female characters which the Danes do so well (remember Birgitte Cyborg in Borgen). Add brooding landscapes and you have clever drama making for compelling viewing. The Husband and I joke we have watched so many Scandinavian series that we don’t even need the sub titles anymore.
Gossip Girl is not a new series (the final season aired two years ago), and I miss the demographic for viewers by about 20 years…However I am on my second viewing of favourite episodes; if for no other reason that it is set in NYC and the fashions are AMAZING. The plot follows a group of teens living a life of private jets and limousines, haute couture – essentially so far removed from my own that it makes for total escapism.
The Real Housewives have been part of the Arena stable since 2006 and I have been watching some of the series. Okay I have watched ALL the episodes – Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Real Housewives of Melbourne, New York, Cheshire – you name them, I’m there. The Husband walks past as I am glued to the screen. He likes to roll his eyes – in a self-righteous, high-brow kind of way. There are lots of fake boobs so I know he looks….I don’t bother responding. He wouldn’t get why I find these programs so addictive. I don’t even particularly like reality TV so I can barely explain it to myself. Still, it is relaxing to watch.
The final episode in Season 3 of The House of Cards was a doozy…I didn’t see that coming… Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are fabulous lead actors in this drama set in political Washington, D.C. Backstabbing, conniving, affairs, murder, couture fashion (for 1st Lady Claire Underwood) – excellent viewing that is not necessarily aligned with reality; nevertheless some of the shenanigans that actually go on in politics will find echoes of the familiar on screen with this series.
DO YOU HAVE A CURRENT FAVOURITE TELEVISION SERIES?
WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV WHEN YOU WERE A KID?
## The Urban Mum is part of the Netflix ‘Stream Team’ – giving me membership to the network (so I can loll around on the couch watching Mad Men all day). In addition I get regular updates on programming and opportunities to speak with Netflix ‘stars’ – I promise to raffle off any occasion I get to meet with Jon Hamm. xoxo
Mid-life nutrition is ever more important. Not only are we trying to juggle careers, families, and personal well-being, but we also need to ensure that we’re giving our bodies the fuel they need to keep going
As I discovered during my A Grown Up’s Gap Year, putting yourself back in the picture isn’t a luxury – it’s essential for your mid-life wellbeing.
A Grown Up’s Gap Year explores how you embracing mid-life adventure, wellness, with a side order of ‘navel gazing’…mid-life adventure as it were!
A GROWN UP’S GAP YEAR
Special Offer: Buy A Grown Up’s Gap Year Now and Gift One to a Friend!
I’m thrilled to announce that A Grown Up’s Gap Year is now available for purchase on Amazon! To celebrate, I want to offer you a special opportunity to share the book with a friend.
While Amazon doesn’t allow direct ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ offers, here’s what I’d love to do:
Simply purchase a copy of A Grown Up’s Gap Year through Amazon, then send me a screenshot of your receipt and/or a review via email or Instagram DM.
Provide your preferred mailing address, and I will send you a FREE copy for a friend in mid-January (once my publisher is back on deck).