Insomnia is never really a welcome friend to any house. I’ve never been a big fan of it – I like my sleep, comfy and duvet covered. It went without saying that the sleep deprivation caused by the installation of a baby into my life was tolerated (barely) but not loved. So when I finally manage to get a child who is sleeping (not sleeping the night, but sleeping in blocks that feel like it’s a full nights sleep) and I’m stuck staring at the wall at 3am, that’s really just a bad joke. One that really, really isn’t funny.
Last week I started having some slight breathing issues where simple things like walking and talking would make me so dizzy I had to sit down and stop, or risk falling over. In typical form, this initially happened on a treadmill, mid-physio session. Because, where else would you fancy almost fainting? Off I toddled to my GP, who after a quick listen to my chest announced my athsma had decided to flare up for the first time in a few years and I’d have to be on a course of steroids for the week. Grand, as long as it stops the forever dizziness, all was good. Or so I thought. I hadn’t weighed in the thought of how steroids affect sleep – something I’ve definitely learned a lesson from this week.
On the plus side, it did allow me some time to get some viewing done guilt free as I wasn’t really able to do much else (ignoring the konmari book which is calling me to finish it) – definitely found myself rifling through the Netflix collection to see what new and interesting things I could watch which would make my eventual dreams really, really weird. I wasn’t disappointed.
First on my list of things to make my awake brain even more unlikely to go to sleep was Louis Theroux and his series of investigative documentaries – these are a few years old but are absolute must-watch stuff. The first on my list (not watching them in sequence) was “The Most Hated Family in America” – an insightful look into the workings of the Westboro Baptist Church, the group who claims God Hates America because America is supportive of homosexuals and other such deviants, the ones known for picketing funerals. The bit that stood out for me most from this one was the kids in the group and seeing their answers to his questions – it really is a look at blind brainwashing and you can’t help but pity those poor kids who are growing up with these beliefs being forced on them without a chance to think anything else.
Next on my list from that series is “America’s Medicated Kids” which looks like it could ask as many questions as it answers, and will definitely be food for thought.
Speaking of medicated, feeling inspired by my firing-on-all-counts brainpower at random hours of the morning, I stuck on Limitless and loved it all over again. If you’ve not seen it before, the basic concept is that the beautiful Bradley Cooper is a down-on-his-luck writer until he comes across a new smart-drug pill which allows him to use 100% of his brain, instead of just 10% – writing novels in days, learning languages in hours, turning his entire life around – but of course, things are never quite that simple in the long run. In his quest to perfect his life completely he loses a whole other side of himself… Absolutely brilliant thriller, if you’ve not seen it, you should, and if you have – you should watch it again. As well as the lovely Bradley Cooper, theres also some bad guy Robert De Niro and a great soundtrack. Looks like it’s being turned into a series (or rather, a sequel series) next month so definitely watch this beforehand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOLqNOfzus4
In slightly lighter material, in the spirit of actually willing myself to get some sleep at some point, I’ve found myself watching “Love, Rosie”. I had a lot of expectations coming into this film – it’s the film adaptation of my favourite Cecilia Ahern book “Where Rainbows End” which I absolutely adored – and for the most part, they were met. It’s not going to win any Oscars or set aside any major thought processes, but it is a lovely film about love and friendship and the extent you can take both these things to. Worth a watch if you want something to make you smile and cry and smile again.
There are a million and one other titles jumping out at me to watch them this month – some stuff is newly added, others I’d just not come across yet. My to-do list is containing films like The Help, The Kings Speech and Dallas Buyers Club, as well as series such as Homeland, Orange is the New Black and Bloodline. I’m also looking forward to a re-watch of 12 Angry Men, which is set to arrive on Netflix on the 26th – I watched it in school and absolutely loved it, it’s one of those classics you can watch time and time again, legal drama looking into the jury and their actions around a court case. It really does look like I won’t have much time to sleep at all!
Thankfully I seem to be coping quite well on coffee, fumes and a couple of hours sleep here and there – I’m sure it won’t last forever and thankfully I’m finishing up the course of steroids so these effects should go away – but in the mean time, at least I’m able to keep myself amused in the wee hours of the night!
What have you been watching lately, and what would you recommend I add to my to-watch list? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclosure: I am a member of the Netflix Stream Team and received a Netflix subscription and an Apple TV in return for posting Netflix updates and reviews, however, all opinions are my own, and I already had a personal subscription before joining the Stream Team.