“Oh”, they said, “you’ll be able to to watch so many movies and read so many books! It will be just lovely”.

Truth be told I didn’t much feel like doing either of these things until earlier this week. It started on Monday night with GO playing Hairspray. In my humble opinion this might well be John Travolta’s greatest performance ever. I could watch the final musical number many many more times and still not be sick of it.

Tuesday my mother and I watched Fiddler on the Roof. This is one of my all time favourite musicals as well. Topol is still amazing in the lead role, and I love the fact that there is no happy ending. And since I was very young I adored the opening violin solo played by Issac Stern over the credits. It’s stunning.

Wednesday I was left home alone for the first time so I indulged in not one but two romantic comedies. Love Actually and Strictly Ballroom. The first was better than I remembered. The second may well be the only good film Baz Luhrmann ever makes. And I make this bold statement without having seen Australia and with no plans to ever do so.

Thursday I watched the fabulous documentary on the ABC about music and the brain. There were also some episodes of the IT Crowd and The Good Life. Both are classic comedies which I can watch over and over again. And Friday I watched Life on Mars which I am ashamed to say I have never seen before but I am love love loving. I also rewatched Chicago. I don’t normally like Richard Gere in anything but he does a pretty good job as Billy Flynn and Catherine Zeta Jones and Renee Zwellwegger are impressive. It’s such a good musical.

I am yet to start reading anything more interesting than facebook and twitter. Shantaram looms large on my bedside table. I just can’t bring myself to pick it up yet. It’s quite heavy and I can’t lean it on my stomach. That’s my excuse at the moment anyway.