Adrian Phelan

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Adrian’s All – fairy tales of a beta male

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Adrian Phelan

Adrian Phelan

Post 18

Welcome to this week’s blog

Blog

AI proper roasting

I know it shouldn’t feel like an event when I cook, but I did another roast gammon on Sunday, and it was delicious. Practice makes perfect is not a lie. It’s fair to say I had to cook over the stated times on the pack, and what AI had told me, however the latter helped me make perfect roast potatoes, veg and Yorkshire puddings. AI might take our jobs, but it certainly does help make the perfect roast; and a decent sticky toffee pudding too.

Season’s greetings in the rain

The animals were roaming in pairs where I live, on Tuesday. It was a horrendous walk to the station. And very cold as well. We’re prone to flooding and I once had to take my shoes and socks off to get under the railway bridge, which frequently becomes a natural paddling pool. If you ever see me doing that when it hasn’t rained however, just politely smile, and move on

But we’re in the last week of January now, and before we know it, it will be Valentine’s Day, then St Patrick’s Day, Easter and can I take the opportunity to wish you a Happy Christmas for next December. The pubs and restaurants will be advertising it in six months. The turkeys usually arrive in our local farm shop in August with a couple of them getting nervous around Thanksgiving. But enough about that for now, I haven’t yet moaned about there being Easter eggs in the shops already. Although I did spot a Maltesers one I have my eye on if you’re buying.

The film bit

I saw ‘Is This Thing On?’ on Friday. It’s good. I read two, three-star reviews in advance, and three stars is a fair rating, compared to other films that have come out this season. I think it loses two stars because it is a bit disjointed, and the jokes that the main character tells in his stand-up routines are a bit odd. Again, it’s not one you have to see at the cinema. But it will make for good viewing when it comes on d’telly at Christmas.

Dentist

I went to the dentist on Wednesday. I have more fillings than teeth, so there’s very little actual tooth matter left to treat. Because of that I haven’t needed a filling for a few years, and I thought I might have needed one this time because of a slight chip. But it was too small to be a concern for now. However, I did get the sales talk on my future options; one of which being an £800 crown which could also by its very nature lead to the requirement for root canal treatment. However, where it is, I think a basic silver filling will do. For now. It will fit in with the other 20 I have.

I Swear, The Traitors is good

I was listening to Irish breakfast radio this week and there was a report of complaints to the BBC in Britain about the amount of swearing there is in the Irish version of The Traitors. The long and the short of it is that you will never get 30 Irish people together and not have swearing. We can’t help it. And we’re not British.

When the smoking ban came in in Ireland (the first country in the world to introduce it), all people spoke about for a year was the smell of BO and stale farts. England just didn’t have that problem. You’re too polite. If anything, you farted less in public when the smoking ban came in.

So, I’m not surprised about the swearing, and I’m not surprised about the complaints either. It’s what makes us different, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Do Good Well

World Interfaith Harmony Week caught my eye today so I’m promoting it in this week’s charity section. I love the description which says, Spreading harmony and tolerance between the world’s religions and those with no faith.

I’m the latter but value diversity so if you can support in any way, please do.

Thank you thank you

As ever, if you haven’t scrolled on before this bit, then thank you.

I hope you’re enjoying the posts and if you are, please have a think if there is anyone in your network who needs capacity in my skills area. Here is my CV,

I will see you next week.

Adrian

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23 January

16 January

9 January

2 January

26 December

20 December

12 December

5 December

28 November

21 November

14 November

7 November

31 October

24 October

17 October

10 October

3 October

Adrian’s All – fairy tales of a beta male

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Adrian Phelan

Adrian Phelan

Post 17

Welcome to this week’s blog

Slightly long (but worth it) film bit

We’re a day late again this week but for good reason. What a Friday! I went to see Professor Brian Cox at a theatre I can see from my office and was able to squeeze in a film before the 7.30 start at a cinema I can also see from the office. With work it meant I was on my arse for 13 hours, but what an arse.

The film was ‘Saipan’, which I’m sure has some of you scrolling away but for any Irish in Britain (It came out in the UK yesterday but has been out in Ireland for a month) who remember the Keane/McCarthy Saipan saga I ebbed and flowed on my opinion during the screening, but concluded it was good, and worth seeing. Eanna Hardwick played Roy Keane well and let’s face it, there probably isn’t a bad Steve Coogan film, and he plays Mick McCarthy. A chance to lay a few ghosts to rest I feel.

I’ve seen six of the films nominated for best film at this year’s Oscars which I’m chuffed about. I haven’t watched Frankenstein yet, but I think that’s on Netflix. Year after year I look at the list and think, I’ve not seen one of them, so it’s great to have a few under my belt and I’ll try and tick a few more off before the big night. I think Sinners has the most nominations and for pure wtfness it’s probably the one to watch if you want a flavour of this year’s big hits. Hamnet is good too but you can watch that on the telly later down the line as I said in last week’s blog.

The cleverest man in Britain apart from Stephen Fry

What a man Brian Cox is. If there’s anyone who knows the size and composition of the universe, it’s him. He’s doing try-out nights in advance of his arena tour kicking off in the autumn so to see him from the third row of a 500-seater was a privilege. In the spirit of the work in progress, I won’t give too much away about what he has planned, but there is a nod to his musical side, with one of those 80s piano/guitar thingys making an appearance. If you’ve ever been to Prague as well, you might recognise some of the visuals but that’s all I’ll say for now.

A bum note

It’s a slow news week so I’m going to moan about tinnitus. Out of nowhere it’s just ambushed me. It’s like the love child of a tuning fork and the sound of static from an old tv. I’m guessing it’s connected to wearing a headset for 35 hours a week so a nice gift from my interim gig (which I am still grateful for by the way). But the ringing is constant, and loud so if you have any tips for blocking it out, let me know. And I won’t believe it’s connected to beer consumption.

We’ll take a cup of kindness yet

I went to a Burns night in the restaurant at my local college on Thursday. The whole thing was run by the students, and it was excellent. There were cocktails and mini burgers on arrival and then four courses, all for a reasonable price. I didn’t have any tartan on but one of our party did, and I spotted at least one kilt. I do hope for his sake that he wasn’t too traditional with his choice of underwear. It was a bit cold. But bravo to the students. It really was wonderful.

The job bit

I learned a harsh job lesson this week. I was planning to apply for a role that was pulled before I had a chance to get my application in. There was no end date in the advert, and I missed it by a couple of hours. I certainly won’t dilly dally in future.

I had a good career chat on Monday though with one of the leading pharma companies. I know where I could fit in well for a role in the pharma industry. I just need hard work to meet a bit of good fortune to make it happen.

I carry on Here, once again is my CV.

Having my ears raised

I’m at that stage where the indicator for needing a haircut is more about how bushy my eyebrows have gotten as opposed to the length of my hair, which increasingly wants to show-off the quality of my scalp. I used to get dandruff when I was younger but even that can’t be asked anymore, because of the lack of coverage.

I mention the hair thing as part of the build-up to turning 50. I’ve always been grey, so the only place I am visibly aging is in my face (I still have a great body). The main manifestation of that is just below my chin where fish could now easily be stored.

I’ll try and keep the ageing moans to a minimum, but as The Rolling Stones sang, ‘What a drag it is, getting old’.

Do Good Well

I didn’t have a plan for the charity bit this week so arbitrarily I’m signposting to Race Against Dementia Day which took place this week.

A bit more about Race Against Dementia:

Founded by Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, after his wife Helen’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, Race Against Dementia funds early-career researchers to accelerate progress towards a cure for dementia.

With over 55 million people affected globally and someone diagnosed every three seconds, Race Against Dementia is taking immediate action to drive significant breakthroughs and develop leaders in the field.

Do support if you can.

Goodbye and thanks

As ever, think if me if your projects need any extra capacity. Here is my CV.

Thanks for reading the blog and I will check in again next week.

Adrian

Connect with me on Facebook and:

Instagram: @adrian_phelan1

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Threads: adrian_phelan1

16 January

9 January

2 January

26 December

20 December

12 December

5 December

28 November

21 November

14 November

7 November

31 October

24 October

17 October

10 October

3 October