Japan 2026 Lessons to be Learned 

1. Packing: 

• Don’t overpack - buy in Japan (eg umbrella) - take your own toothpaste, Japanese is awful;
• medications must be in original packing + with dr letter - check as many illegal in Japan (eg ADHD meds); 
• ladies - pack clothes with pockets life is easier as you will be swiping to get through stations all the time; 
• backpacks keep hands free but wear them on your chest in train as courtesy to those behind (I bought scuba material one in Target Australia; it is fantastic as it’s super light AND it has stretch, grab one if ever you see it); 
• Japan has fantastic leather products from sneakers (Spingles are fab) to purses + handbags (Kissora) - so consider buying them there.

1. E-Money/Card -  add suica/ transport card to phone before you leave; always have cash on hand; Wise is great - 10 days if you want a physical card = excellent rates of exchange + transfers money fr Aust bank free.
2. Phone - buy data e-sim a week before you go and activate night before you leave; download and check all your apps (goggle maps is fine for transport info) and Google Translate is a must - practice before you go; always take photo shots of outside hotel addresses don’t always work and it’s much easier to identify fr photo; don’t run phone down on airplane cos you’ll need QR code for immigration; hotels have free wifi - can download maps on phones but can’t download directions; coffee shops often have free wifi-wifi; charging - often hotels have chargers if you forget; recommend buy charger AUD10 for multiple usb ports and u can use on trains etc. 
3. Accommodation - check hotel prices carefully =  dynamic pricing; clear cache or use vpn; sometimes room for 2 cheaper than for 1; checkin 3pm+ out 10am some will offer earlier check for AUD10; hotels usually store luggage; recommend use luggage service for about AUD20 you can have your luggage sent ahead;  3-star Kyoto and Osaka hotels around AUD50 per night; all hotels have toiletries, and many have one use shavers, combs, ear buds, face cream, tea/coffee in lobby; usually total room clean every 3 days; fresh towels left at door every day though; warning air con and heating can be centrally controlled so you can’t change; many windows open in rooms and so can let in fresh air; many have washing/drying avail and can buy detergent there sometimes its free - about AUD5 a load; allow for travel days … sometimes if you check out at 10 and get to somewhere b 3 you have only a few hours to sightsee so bear that in mind ….(I use Agoda to book ; I tried others but A is *usually* cheaper-booking direct with hotel can be problematic cos language and not always cheaper)
4. Book must-do activities well in advance - tickets are often released months beforehand and sell out quickly; def try Sumo and baseball games as no one does it like the Japanese 
5. Public Transport - no need Japan rail pass;  Shinkansen tickets can be bought day of journey but if popular time (Golden Week) book a couple of days ahead; can book online via app; check prices and time Osaka-Kyoto Special Rapid 1/2 hour and AUD5; elevators and escalators in most stations - just look for signs 
6. Get there early - Aussies tend to be early risers; beat crowds and avoid queues at sightseeing spots (especially outdoors ones like shrines and temples) by getting there by 7am trains start early; shops don’t open til 10 or 11 so visit Donki and other 24 hour places early too; chain coffee shops (Dotour) often open early (check on Google maps) and usually have great air conditioning/heating, free wi-fi, and places to charge computers and phones- I usually get to where I want to go, grab a coffee and plan; shopping - double check Amazon website - I could’ve save about AUD30 on an expensive purchase, delivered to me
7. Complete Visit Japan form on official website; photo the  QR code and store on phone - it makes getting through immigration and customs sooo much easier. 
8. 100Yen stores - Daiso, Seria etc are excellent for umbrellas, stationery (stickers), candy etc. Same miken candy $1 in Daiso v $4 in Donki. 
9. Go in the season suits you - 

• Spring + Autumn can be crowded so check (esp Hanami) but the weather is considered the best in these months ; 
• Summer hot+humid and school holidays so crowds = long lines for child-centred activities; heat lingers = starts at around 7am and doesn’t get cooler til 10pm;  transport is crowded and therefore heats quickly; so get out early and then move to indoor activities later in the morning; I hate summer in Japan
• Winter - people think Japan=snow but it rarely snows and it doesn’t stick in Tokyo but yes in Hokkaido etc - my fave season as  fewer people but many festivals and games aren’t on - however this is changing…

FINAL - luggage service. Japan has the most efficient system to move your suitcases around - it cost me about AUD20 to ship my suitcase from Tokyo hotel to this private address 4 hours away. Sent nigh r before and arrived next afternoon. Steps 

pack larger suitcase day before and take to lobby - (know hotel deets + reservation #)

Staff will help you fill form, tell you how long it will take, you pay them and they keep suitcase 

You wear one outfit for travel and pack another in backpack just in case

depending on distance, suitcase will be there next day (for checkin 3pm) or day after

Hotel staff will either take to your room or call you and let you know it’s there

Believe me carting luggage round trains stations/airports, up and down steps is no fun and worth every penny. Trouble is you gotta learn to pack light and think ahead.  Won’t work if you’re staying in a different hotel every night and they’re far apart - but logically it wouldn’t work for a holiday anyway. 

Toni’s Housesitting Adventures (in Japan 2026)

Housesitting in Japan for 6 months. Sign me up.  I was thrilled when a colleague in Tokyo offered me this opportunity.

Tokyo - The Start

I fell in love with Japan in 2000s. And since then have visited almost yearly. My first ‘home’ stay was in  a glorious apartment in Tomigaya, Shibuya. Thank you Lesley. I was a five minute walk from Yoyogi Park, 6 minutes to Harajuku, 15 minutes to scramble walk and, if the weather allowed, 50 minutes to heart of Shinjuku. 

I continued to stay in Shibuya until it all changed a few years back. The old Donki, many of the cool back street izakayas, love hotel hill, and Bankamura - all gone. Oh and so too is one of the best fabric shops in the world: it was old shop of tiny entrance and 4 storeys crammed like an Aladdin’s cave. Places that would never have online inventories. Replaced by big box international stores - I’m looking at you H&M which replaced my fave Kinokuniya book store. 

Today I need laid back Tokyo neighbourhoods. Places with fantastic cemeteries, tiny family-run shops, ‘forgotten’ shrines and temples. Basically where tourists don’t propel giant suitcases down narrow footpaths, or refuse to queue and elbow you to take phone shots or get to something (esp restaurants). Honestly, I’m looking at you Chinese tourists. 

So when I was offered a house outside Tokyo - 20 minute train trip to either Osaka and Kyoto - I booked my ticket. 

Housesitting History

I am no stranger to staying in someone else’s place. My first house-swapping phase was not a great success. I stopped after a few couples who ‘didn’t think they should tidy when they were on holidays’. I am not of that philosophy - I leave a house as a find it. But more often cleaner. Final straw was a French couple who left balcony doors open and a torrential downpour damaged several shutters. They emailed me, but didn’t mention damage - I came home to $400 repair cost. 

Location, Location, Location

So mid-July I am in suburban Japan wondering “what have I done?” 

The first shock was location - I love walking, but terrain and weather can change that real quick. And Google map does not show terrain.  My house 35 min bus ride from a train station.  At the bottom of 200 steps. Going out easy peasy - my coming home after several hours of walking + in the heat of the day =  not so much. 

I am also a couple of kms from a convenience store - I didn’t think that happened in Japan. But it is a 25 min walk to the closest place - so no egg sandwiches for lunch. Unless I make them. 

There are no coffee shops or similar nearby. I love sitting in climate controlled comfort watching the world go by. While I prefer to patronise small owner coffee shops - they tend not to open until 10-ish ie late. (Australians do like to get out n about early).  So often it’s one of the Japanese chains that claims me - they have free wi-fi, but I always have enough wifi on my e-sim. Make sure you have an e-sim … see

Lastly, the closest supermarket (like an IGA/corner shop) is 15 minute walk and had some fabulous food - they often have someone outside cooking a special for the day — yummy chargrilled chicken eg. I have to remember not to go overboard and buy too much that I have to carry back.  

“Festival” in supermarket car park.

Tip

A backpack is essential in Japan - hands free means easier carrying + easy swiping for public transport etc. But get the RIGHT backpack and please be mindful of others. Japanese people often wear them on their chest…brill.  I have a scuba material backpack that is uber-light and stretches. Best Target buy ever - I haven’t seen them since I bought this one. For about $10 a year ago. 

So I am in the wrong location - and this was brought home to me when I tripped on stairs and buggered by ankle and knee.  Japan is not accessibly friendly - though it’s getting better.  Just be sure to check when you get to the station and so take your time and get there early if you have a mobility issues (aka buggered knee) or a suitcase.

                                                        Steps from House to Bus Stop

                                                        Nearly there - watch your step

I love the neighbourhood values - find and share umbrellas

Not all houses are created equal

I love the Japanese aesthetic - as long as I don’t have to sleep on a floor for too long. And I have a desk to sit at and type. And that desk is a western table/desk that I can slip a chair under. As an older person I appreciate a high bed - like some people do a high car.

House basics

2-storey or not 2-storey - This depends upon mobility. Warning: steps in houses are not “standard” height or depth. Mine are much higher and very shallow ie my foot doesn’t fit so adopt a sideways gait. Also surprisingly the lights top + bottom aren’t connected so if you put on the step lights downstairs you can’t turn them off upstairs - in this house anyway. So you have to walk up or down in the dark and sometimes that ain’t no fun. 

Mail + Parcels. Collection for owner: what happens if signature is needed. Consider, if you sign are you then responsible. You also have to be home to sign-this can screw up your day. And then if you miss them…arrgh. I missed mail twice because I didn’t hear the mail person’s car (electric) OR the intercom which is only audible if in the same room; they do not come to front door but use the intercom which is at the mailbox on the street. This houses haa high hedge and I couldn’t see the mail person on their scooter either.

Other deliveries - I had to get groceries delivered and I had to use Amazon (Prime cAUD5 pm) because of my location. Amazon Japan is very easy to use-translate is pretty good. Though I did need Translate for some items (ie milk). Groceries were delivered same day - you nominate timeframe and they were ALWAYS delivered in that timeframe. The food was fresh - even the fruit and veggies.  Ordinary Amazon products are usually delivered often within 24 hours. 

If you want to buy a specific product you can order on Amazon Japan once you register and yes they accept foreign credit cards. Delivery to private home, hotel, Amazon locker. Hotel: Always check with hotel first - they will suggest put reservation # and of course use same name.  Locker: select locker at checkout (3 days to collect). 

Google maps. Not as reliable as used to be.You can download a map BUT not directions. The magic of maps is that sometimes what they show seems much closer in reality and other times it’s much further away. Other factors: walking on a cool day may be entertaining, walking when your feet hurt, it’s scorching hot, you wanna pee, carrying groceries—not so entertaining. Finally - phones run out when you need them the most. 

Garbage Collection. My biggest headache. Sometimes I was tending to garbage three mornings a week. If you’ve negotiated the European recycling system then Japan probably won’t phase you. 

Basics: garbage is not collected from collection points. NOT at each house. You must leave day of collection and NOT  the previous night. Ours is 8am. There different locations for recycling and burnable kitchen waste. Recycling is to be further divided into paper, plastic PET bottles, and cans. Each has to be a transparent bag.  And it’s not just a matter of putting into bags - there are specific directions for how to deal with material eg milk carton = rinse them clean, cut them open, flatten them, remove plastic spouts, and dry them before bagging them.

Garbage Instructions

In the summer kitchen waste stinks after a couple of hours-hint keep garbage in fridge. This week I have 3 collection days which means three early mornings because I like to get there early. Why? Because the collection bags are transparent and if I’ve done something wrong then it will be obvious. I fear the neighbourhood watching turning up on doorstep with my poorly organised rubbish. 

House layout. This house is definitely built for indoor living. Windows don’t open wider than a hand; not that there’s a breeze usually. They are not open plan. Heat rises so upstairs bedrooms are hot - mine reached about 40 during the day. Not all rooms are climate controlled. Air con might be in living room and bedrooms only which is fair. Result: it is so hot that my phone overheats in non-air conditioned rooms.

Steps. There are a variety of steps throughout the house and they all differ in height and width. 

• Steps from street to house shallow and wide; 
• door opens out fr house = no step into genkan;
• step from genkan into house normal;
• step from living room to patio (to water plants) steep;
• 3 steps of differing heights into side/back yard;  
• small step into tatami room-potential to stub a toe = high; 
• step onto top balcony where clothes line is very high; 
• internal staircase very deep and narrow. 

Bathrooms - most places (hotels too)  have really deep bath tubs. My bathroom is on the ground floor - and it is a shower room. There is a panel for steam extraction that I haven’t worked out yet. Instead I wipe the room out and mop the floor each day and leave bathroom window open. I am not a fan of the mirror in this room, why? It runs along the wall at roughly chest to knees size.

Bathroom Panels

Appliances. This was the steepest learning curve and some I still haven’t mastered - see bathroom above. 

The microwave is a steam oven/microwave - type sold only in Japan. You must select microwave each time or the microwave won’t work. Obviously need Google translate to select which setting best. But it isn’t always clear: I don’t still don’t know what “warning - thrusting rubber” means. 

The stove is easy, but it beeps until the stove top has cooled down. It talks to you -if you leave the pan on the hob when turned off - it startled me as I was on my own and was looking for who was talking to me. Never thought it was an appliance. 

Air con - same as most around the world - I’ve learned I like direct cooling on me and not coooling the room. Again google translate is your friend. any ideas what Patrol means? And nope there is a direction button.

Remotes for AirCon with Google Translate

Washing Machine - another Japanese only model - wash and dries. Apparently most washing machines here are cold water. So if you want a hot water wash - then my machine has 635 minutes on the dial.

Refrigerator - no problems but no ice maker. Daiso sells 100Yen trays - I love round ones so splurged. In the heat, I drink a lot of fluids so the trays were very handy. 

Conclusion

A gf offered me an alternative housesit a few days ango and I felt ungrateful for not accepting, but I know my limitations and I would rather refuse than screw it up. 

Okay I seem to have done a lot of whingeing - but it is a loverly house. And I am privileged to have this opportunity.  It has opened my eyes to my shortcomings and needs. I appreciate city living and realise I am not the suburban type - I need to get out n about and look at stuff - especially art museums. Japanese museums have improved considerable since 2000s and in many over 65 means free admissions even for foreigners. 

I thought I would use the time to do some writing, clean up my iPhone/ipad (yes I have a contact lists that has all emails addresses of UQ staff!), learn more about Japanese history / culture.  And while I have done some, apparently I am a YouTube hoarder of to-be-watched material. I am much better at audiobooks and listen to one almost everyday.* Typing the list reminds me to seek Japanese titles. I watched a great 20 mins Nara history last night - now to finish the Kabuki, Noh and Banraku vids I have in my list to watch. 

Famed Kabuki Actor’s Mei
A mei is a freeze for the actor to convey a variety of emotions via crossed eye.

I am sure they are the same for most travellers.

Photos to remember my stay 

*Books in August

Secret History - Donna Tartt

Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke

Circe - Madeline Miller

Anthony Horowitz - Marble Hall Murders

John Irving - Prayer for Owen Meaney

Sally Hepworth - Mabel 

Nevermoor - Jessica Townsend 

The Chestnut Man - Soren Sveistrup

Troy - Stephen Fry

Shopping in Japan

Yesterday I went food shopping and caught a glimpse of Japanese gone wild. I started in a crowded downtown (not local) supermarket. I bailed after 10 minutes. The till queues were so long, they clogged the aisles. So I couldn’t maneuver a trolley up/down to actually shop. I noticed that it was mainly men/women ie couples and they were retired/elderly ie over 60. Interesting aside: compulsory “corporate” retirement is 60 but it can be extended to 70. Nureochiba (wet fallen leaves) is the name given to men who shadow their wives after retirement. They do this because they have failed to develop hobbies or cultivate friendships while working. 

The men were the worst as they hogged space while spending minutes selecting an item — it was sooo frustrating, I’m a grab and leave kinda food shopper. So I opted for a supermarket over the road - less crowded and probably more expensive. They had self-service tills which are  much quicker. Why? Older Japanese people will queue 10 deep rather than use self-service tills. Which is strange.  

Japanese supermarkets have always had a self-service element. When I first visited back in 2000s, at the local supermarket the clerk rang up groceries, and then you moved to a separate table and bagged your items. Nowadays, after clerk rings your items up, you move to a pay machine to pay and then bag the groceries yourself. So it’s a kinda half-way to self-service.

Furthermore, in the basement of many ‘malls’ is a food hall - yes think Harrods. There are specialist counters where you pay directly but there are also a selection of smaller “supermarket” type places where you can buy staples and you pay there. If you don’t speak Japanese, it is confusing and my best advice is to watch and follow.  Now comes the next difficult part - payment. 

Shops take different forms of payment. A few, mainly smaller stores, still accept cash only. Most accept credit/money cards - physical cards - only. Some accept e-money.  Furthermore, there’s been a growth in the types of money aka IC (Integrated Circuit) cards. A wee while back, transport cards became easiest way to pay for travel. Such cards eg Suica (there are about 10 brands) expanded and could be waved to pay for other purchases - up to 20,000 Yen. Now there is also a digital version for phones. BUT the physical and digital are not connected ie they have different balances. Some places will only accept the physical card. 

Now shopping in general. Japan is still the bastion of the small store. So a mall is a different animal. Generally each floor of a Japanese mall has a collection of smaller shops. Clothing, food, travel companies, toys, household goods, electronics, and restaurants all nestle under the same roof. As do larger retail companies such as Muji, Daiso, Seria, 3 Coins and the like. Usually grocery/food shopping is in the basement and restaurants are on the top floor.  There are a few department stores such as Isetan. Retail giants such as Uniqlo, The Gap and GU have standalone stores but usually only in busy shopping areas such as Shinjuku. 

Finally, Don Quijote. I remember the first one I visited in Shibuya — it was a crowded, messy, noisy store whose costume and cosmetic sections on the ground floor formed a virtual Aladdin’s Cave. There was no Google translate in those so days so I made some wild purchases, but it was open early and I fell in love. 

Generally, Japanese stores don’t open until 10am - so early-riser that I am I used to wander Shibuya streets from 5am. Anyway Donki was open from early and I spent hours there.  Today many Donkis are open 24 hours and are NOT the bargain they used to be. Definitely visit one but check prices - I found suitcases are often cheaper elsewhere and price match cosmetics in drug stores. 

Shopping in Japan is fun - some recommendations. Tourists: Bring your own toothpaste, the stuff here is pretty awful. Over-the-counter pain relief is very, very mild so bring your own and must carry prescriptions if they are stronger. 100 yen stores such as Seria and Daiso (not like your one back home) be sure to visit for fun items and souvenirs: socks, umbrellas, gloves, drinks, snacks, cords for phones. Konbi (convenience stores 7/11, Family Mart, Lawson) also have smaller items such as facecloths, cosmetics etc but best for snacks, food and alcohol (cans that have a % on them are alcoholic so check carefully). 

Fashion shopping - check the smaller shops in Asakusa for leather; Uniqlo has different graphic tees, Uniqlo + GU have larger sizes but not on floor - order online - they could be delivered before you leave cos Japanese efficiency. Selvedge denim is fabulous but expensive. Sneakers here are cheap but buy Japanese made only—look for Spingle.  Second hand shopping is big, look for local markets. 

Enjoy the madness that is Japanese shopping. 

Glasgow and Coffee and Other Strange Things

 Today is my fifth day in Glasgow and I’ve just spent one hour looking for a coffee shop. You know the type of hygge shop with dark corners, comfy seating and moody lighting? Well they’re not easily found - in most cities the usual coffee haunt is a generic one such as Nero’s or Costa in the UK.  Well those types were so crowded I opted to go back to my hotel - Voco Central - and there the patient concierge showed me the hidden place in the hotel where I got a fab coffee and here I sit typing. Alone cept for the friendly waitress who is setting up for brunch. And she made a perfect cup of coffee for me.  

So Glasgow is a smallish city - population 600,000 according to a guided tour (must check that fact). But it’s busy from about 8am onwards with people swarming to work. This surprised me as leisurely Edinburgh didn’t seem to have such a bustle and I was free to roam crowd-free til tourists hit the street about 11 ish.  Similarly Amsterdam had a different kind of morning rush. Mainly frenetic cyclists trying to control the roads and pedestrians. And lovely Gothenburg was its gentle self all day. But more on those places elsewhere.

I haven’t been to Glasgow since a memorable New Year’s Eve back in the early 1980s. And it’s a vastly different city now.  

Today Glasgow is known for fantastic street art and has a couple of excellent museums. Add images. The Kelvingrove Museum has some great French Art, an outstanding Dali and the world’s biggest pipe organ. Stick around til 3 pm to hear an organist play classical (Sunday) and other types of music. Allow 2 hours. The Riverside Museum is basically a transport museum but has so much more than a load of old and beautifully restored cars, trams, buses, it includes wheelchairs (of course they’re transport), boats etc. the most engaging display was the double decker bus that played a video of reminiscences of 1950s/60s dance halls. I loved the parts about the shoe bags that women carried to preserve their dancing shoes fr the damaging bus steps, the makeup application in the bus (!) away fr disapproving parents, the courtship rituals (the best dancer more sought after than the most handsome). And their ages from 15-17 at the time! Add link. 

Add it to your must visit list. Kick off on a an hop on hop off 90-minute bus tout to give you an overview if you’ve not visited before.  Warning buses are not heated. So beware the open top on a winter /wet day. 

And I highly recommend staying in the city centre … despite advice from my Glaswegian friends who pointed me to the West End. I love the city pedestrian streets where you can shop without traffic interference. Though to be honest, Glaswegians ignore traffic lights and jaywalking is the order of the day. And among the shops are some pretty great places to eat.. definitely try lunch at Mackintosh’s Willow Tea Room (warning £35 for afternoon tea) for its stunning Art Deco deco and lunch/brunch at Ivy’s which has a White Lotus vibe. 

 Orientation Week - Or Panic Week

So O Week - Freshers Week, Rush etc - is over and classes start tomorrow. 

Reflecting on the past two months, I have spent way too many hours online.  I wonder if others have walked as many circles as I have?

Textbooks.  In total I reckon have spent 30 hours.  Seeking second hand ones, comparing prices of new ones and trying to gain the system by using the library options (borrow, download, read online).  However several new editions have been released and thus some of my cheapie-get-ahead-of-the-crowd books purchased in October last year are now out of date.  

Buying - can buy in a variety of places but seems that the uni textbook store is every student's go to..quite a few are in a panic because the bookstore has sold out. Suckers. When I bought mine and there were loads left so I'm going to assume some people left it REALLY late. 

Libraries - libraries haven't processed the new editions. When will lecturers learn that it takes libraries some time to process new books.  

Download - sometimes you can get the whole book, apparently, I haven't seen any evidence of this but such a button exists on entries. However, you can get some chapters BUT the download system was arcane=I struggled with it for about 5 hours one day. I tried again last week--now it's much easier.  Why it should've changed over the holidays I have no idea, but it pisses me off and seems particularly personal. Patience - not a trait I possess - is key. 

Read online - that seems to be straightforward but I cannot sit for hours reading online.  

And that's just the start. 

Newbie to Law School - ADMISSION = QTAC

Well you would think with 30 years of university experience that I would be well informed about university administration.  I am not. Neither are many of my colleagues.  So I'm flying blind into a new degree.  

So let's start at the beginning. QTAC (Qld Tertiary Admissions Centre).  All online, very easy to follow.  Simply put in all my qualifications - some of the degree paperwork is pretty moth-eaten.  Strange fact - my old employer wouldn't provide a letter of employment with dates. But I did get a statement of some sorts that satisfied QTAC. I also applied for grants that I wasn't suitable for and QTAC email came through almost immediately asking for some paperwork that wasn't relevant.  

QTAC staff know what they're doing; they are courteous and kind. The hours are generous; I like to contact early in the AM before CS folks get too irritated (that word looks weird). But that's just me projecting.  I tried both online and phone chats--seamless success. Staff, IT personnel/website creators 👍.

As I've got a few degrees and too much life experience, I could skip to the start of the Law Line and I get some credit points.  So within a few days I received an offer.

Now comes the tricky bit. As I'm used to OLD terminology I accepted the "offer".  Little did I realise (ie read properly) that I had to press an "Enrol"ment button.  It was large and green but somehow I am green-large blind.  

I received a phone call from QUT - lovely ones welcoming me BTW - checking my enrolment.  I told them I'd accepted and blithely ignored the semantic difference.  

Late one night - with drinks imbibed - I logged into QTAC to check on something.  I realised I'd been locked out a while back because of poor password memory (PPM) when I successfully logged in this time - see how helpful some alcohol can be - my green-large blindness was cured.  

I enrolled at 1:10 am Christmas Eve.  I was massively panicked - was I too late?  Luckily, my place was still available.  And luckily I didn't delve too far into the admin labyrinth that is enrolling in a modern university...😕😕😕😕

My Favourite Co-Vid TV

Hi friends - after many chats, I thought it's probably easier to list my favourite tv view for Covid.  Now those of you who know me, know I love a documentary.  And that I don't like sci-fi; fantasy type shows.  With some exceptions -- and I'm going to look for the entire Buffy series, cos I've never had the time to watch. 

Docos
Abducted in Plain Sight. Man some people are dumb. This doco shows two of the most naive parents in the entire history of mankind.  How they let their neighbour take over their family and especially to control one of their daughters is unbelievable - if you can watch this without yelling at the screen "ARE YOU KIDDING?" then you are a better person than I. Fascinating (if frustrating) story that just breaks your heart.
Monty Python - Almost the Truth (Netflix) - lots of chat with the surviving members that shed light on their personalities and the conflicts.
The Great Hack.  Story of political control aka "rigging" via exploring the Cambridge Analytica scandal.  If you think you know how invasive the internet is then you don't need this;  but if you really want to know what Zuckerberg and crew are up to then watch this.  I reckon the female knew more than she was letting on.  I'm going to watch again.  I need to get my mind around it and now I know why I don't have my location on and rarely use FB, Instagram, Twitter and the whole sorry mess of a place where we exist simply to provide information for companies to utilise. The main question - we will ever have a truly democratic election ever ever ever again?
Don't F***k with Cats.  A group  of internet "nerds" track down a murderer via the internet.  It's compelling, just like Catfish was...and if you haven't seen the original Catfish doco (not the TV show) then get to it.
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich.  I don't know who I despise the most, him or his pimp (I'm not even going to type her name, disgusting piece of trash she is).  It's a story of political corruption and the powers that kept this piece of .... surviving in the world. You almost cannot believe it.  And I hate conspiracy theories. So luckily he's dead and therefore cannot get out because of a buddy or be excused by some understanding judge.  He added nothing to our world and it's a better place without him.  This documentary should be watched by all parents with children - and they targetted "troubled" teens.  Sick bastards.  But it's a fascinating show to demonstrate that evil comes in all sorts.  Man I really would have thought that having a female around would mean that everything is ok. 
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez.  The social welfare system totally missed the boat on this and poor Gabriel died because of the confusion between the various government departments.  Police, teachers, social workers all let him down. He was kept in a cupboard for crying out loud. I can't imagine living in a cupboard.  Makes you realise that you have to be prepared to speak up if you think something's wrong.
Athlete A. If you haven't heard about the gymnastic doctor, Larry Nassar then you must watch this. He violated girls (yes, they are often girls) in his surgery, while their parents were in the room.  He put himself between them and the patient. He did this to hundreds of females AFTER police and Olympic committee (?USA Gymnastics) received complaints.  Again, he (like Epstein) survived because someone ignored the "complaints" - Stephen Penny of USA Gymnastics did next to nothing. And thus Nassar had more time to damage more young girls. Another of this world's despicable persons.
The Confession Killer. Henry Lee Lucas is one strange dude. In the 1980s, he confessed to over 300 (?the number keeps changing) murders when he was arrested.  Did he do that many murders or was something else going on? The thing I remember is that one person said that he smelt.  He had about 4 teeth and smoked all day -- I'll bet he stank! Plenty of twists and turns.
Making a murderer. Second Season. Started out slow but picked up quickly. The twists and turns...I mean -- was he guilty? 
Keepers. Dead nun and a threatening priest.  No doubt why she was "removed".  Great doco if you're not sick of hearing about catholic church and abuse. Hubby was not a fan.
Cheers.  I couldn't give a rat's arse about cheerleaders.  But I was hella bored so thought I'd give it a go.  Yep, it's a great doco.  The amount of work they put into it is scary--and loved the males. 
Tell Me Who I Am.  Twins - one brother loses his entire memory.  All of it.  So the other brother give him all the memories he needs.   Or does he?  It's a simply shot but moving show....how much would you want to know about your past?
Tiger King - Listen to the podcast first ; this is the story of a slightly strange group of people who love wild cats.  Was murder committed? Arson? Drugs? Yet this has it all including a gay, blonde, mulleted central character.
Conversations with a Killer: Ted Bundy Tapes.  I know he existed but knew little about him and his crimes.  Death penalty is a difficult topic - but if ever anyone deserved old sparky, Bundy did.  He seems to have been beyond rehabilitation - he had it all good-looking (sorta), smart-ish (not as smart as he thought he was), educated, no history of family abuse, or head trauma - or at least that's what we "know". Yet his brain was warped - the manner and frequency of his crimes is shocking.  The world is a better place without him. 

Mystery Type
Mindhunter (Netflix) - story of FBI dudes who started the whole profiling thing.  They interviewed every "serial" killer they could in order to understand the mind of the killer.  It's a great series.  Great acting..


General Drama
The Good Fight. Season 4--too short, damn you covid.  I love this series. At first I ignored The Good Wife (I mean why would I watch a show with that title) but once I started...loved it.  And The Good Fight just got better and better.  This season with its imagining of a female president...Loved it so much. So disappointed it was 1/2 its projected run. 
Safe - Harlan Corban - US and UK actors.  Missing teen -  unearthing secrets.  Lots of twists.  Easy to watch series with plenty to keep you guessing.
The Stranger - Harlan Corban -US and UK. Someone knows too much about people.  Intimate secrets.  She approaches people and whispers their worst secrets in their ears and starts a domino effect of anger and rage.
Morning Show (Apple TV) - best ever series so far this year.  I generally don't like Jennifer Aniston, but she is fantastic in this role. 
Hollywood - beautifully realised -- and as imaginative as the place itself.  Can you imagine a film with a black lead actor becoming a hit in the 1940s?  No neither can I. But still it's all great tv. 
Desperate Housewives - you gotta love Gabby's one liners. I forgot how funny it was. And yes, Teri Hatcher is annoying.  But you can put it on while you do cooking, cleaning, housework, play your favourite computer game.