A Content Consumer Recommends...

Film

The Banshees of Inisherin: A cracking script by Martin McDonagh and amazing cinematography of Ireland combine with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two life-long friends who fall out. Funny, moving and beguilingly seductive.

Amsterdam: Beautifully acted, visually stunning, and genuinely enjoyable and intriguing thriller. Christian Bale, John David Washington and Margot Robbie lead an all-star cast that also features Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy and Robert De Niro.

TV

The Undeclared War: Enjoyable six-part thriller about national cyber security starring the rather excellent Hannah Khalique-Brown and Herman Segal. Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance and Kerry Godliman are also pretty superb in it.

1899: Slick-looking eight-part thriller about a ship and its passengers facing mysterious circumstances. After a promising start, it ends involving some pretentious concept bollocks I didn't care enough about to even try to fully understand. 

Everyone Else Burns: Six-part sitcom that satirises fanatical religion in a funny, charming and accessible way. It's the sort of comedy that only Channel 4 would ever produce in the UK and I'm already wanting to see a second series. 

Music

Out of the Blue by the Electric Light Orchestra: Rediscovering the joys of one of  Birmingham's finest musical exports. It still sounds like music from a better future nearly 50 years later.

Angles by Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip: Rediscovering the dynamic UK duo's album that made me want to learn more about other types of hip-hop. The opening track and the song about Tommy Cooper remain joys. 

The Logic of Chance by Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip: Rediscovering the second album by the UK duo. It still has tracks on it that delight and amuse me after all this time.

Repent Replenish Repeat by Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip: Third album, whose existence I was unaware of until I chanced on it via the internet-web. Still working my way through this.

The Pyjama Game ..

I'm hunting for a new job after realising my current one will not get any better. Just before Christmas, I landed an interview for a role I really wanted at an institution I've targeted as a future place of work.

I'm aware that my ripe old age of 53 may be off-putting to some employers, so I always shave the grey out of my beard, craft chunky sideburns and have a skinhead before any interview. It's hipster chic. Or 1970s docker seeing the turn at the club on a Saturday night. Choose the description that works for you. Anyway, these actions may be utterly pointless, but they make me feel less old and boost my confidence. Because I do sometimes lack this.

Sadly, I didn't land the gig, but I felt good following what I thought was a good interview and I felt like I looked OK, too. I was a young and vibrant thruster! I was a go-getter who can cut it with the youth. Go me!

Then the Missus buys me pyjamas for Xmas. 

It's true that I have bought jim-jams for her in the past, but I know she hates the cold and these were cute things. Not quite slut wear but certainly not pensioner wear. I also sleep in boxer shorts because I'm reasonably confident that my bowel control is strong enough to ensure I won't casually shit the bed. And, of course, limited nightwear is less cumbersome to remove if I get lucky. 

But I fear this spells a major change in the relationship. The Missus now no longer sees me as a sexual partner and the hottie she married. I'm the old bloke she shares a bed with who brings her a cuppa in the morning.

Beer Review: Buried at Sea Milk Stout

Galway Bay Brewery's Buried at Sea Milk Stout doesn't try to be massively complicated. It has a robust but not overpowering taste and texture, and it's liqourice tang pleasantly loiters around without mugging your tastebuds.

Expert comment: Eminently drinkable and smooth in a self-assured but not showy-off way. Like the sophisticated, older girl you fancied at school.