The magic of the TV box set helps time just fly by

Under doctor’s orders to be idle was anything but ideal and days of doing nothing hardly something to write home about.

Being a good patient by being patient and giving myself a good rest quickly got me down.

The occasional walk into the village for messages we really didn’t need failed to fill the void and hardly improved my mood. Even the few hours in the pub that I managed much later into my 13-week ban from my desk, although allowing me to see some old faces, catch up with the gossip and providing a welcome change of scenery, only provided a short-term boost.

I have to say that I really did find myself missing the routine that is the working day.

What saved me from incessant thumb twiddling was the miracle of daytime TV, more specifically that modern day wonder that is cable and its greatest contribution to stay-at-home entertainment the magnificent box set!

Over the years I thought I had collected my share of ‘must see’ shows, The Sopranos, West Wing, Twin Peaks, Friends, but settling into the big chair with remote control in hand to explore what’s on offer at the touch of a button nowadays was a jaw dropping experience.

There are hundreds to chose from and more seem to be added every day.

I was captivated by Billions, going to sleep dreaming about what hedge fund king Bobby ‘Axe’ Axelrod’s next underhand move in his war with US Attorney Chuck Rhoades might be, while Revenge, was a show 88 episodes long with more twists and turns than Spaghetti Junction.