RB recommends for Christmas 2022

As you know, we usually recommend solutions for all manner of things including retirement, investment and inheritance tax to clients. For the festive break we thought why not deviate and share a few recommendations for TV, film, books and podcasts enjoyed by the team this year for you to sample? See how well you know us and try and match up the recommendation with the relevant team member…

TV

‘Call My Agent!’ – Remember when you just used to watch the TV without also scrolling through your phone? Well, this is one is a French comedy-drama and subtitled, so unless you’re fluent in French, you will have to put the phone down for some old school TV watching. There are four series on Netflix to indulge in over Christmas and we’re sure you’ll be hooked within a couple of episodes.

‘Industry’ – a fictional story of 5 graduates who all compete for a job at a top investment bank – the lines blur between colleague, friends, enemies – slightly over the top maybe but enjoyable nonetheless.

If you love sport and military role models a couple of contenders are ‘SAS Rogue Heroes’ and ‘Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams’. Both have the belief in oneself and the importance of teamwork as well as having inspirational leaders in common.

‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’ – a Netflix documentary about drivers, team owners and managers’ lives on and off the track during each F1 season.

‘Cobra Kai’ – an American martial arts comedy-drama television series and a sequel to the original The Karate Kid films.

Books

‘Autumn’ by Ali Smith – a touching novel set after the EU referendum in 2016 (in fact four months after which was a quick turnaround for the author!) Goes back and forth in time following the friendship of a young girl and her neighbour. It’s very abstract but that adds to the story as its not told in a linear way more through anecdotes and conversations, some sad and some amusing. It manages to recreate the feeling in the country at that point and was one of those books I kept diving into when I had a spare half an hour. It also made me laugh out loud in places.

‘Lessons in Chemistry’ – funny, sad and empowering story of Elizabeth Zott, a scientist who accidentally becomes a TV cook in the 1960s, with her dog six-thirty and daughter Mad.

‘The Party Crasher’ by Sophie Kinsella as it’s the first book I’ve ever managed to read on holiday! An easy romcom about family love, family tensions and family secrets.

A book I loved and return to time and time again is ‘Legacy’ by James Kerr. It is about the culture, history and lessons we can learn from one of sport’s legendary teams – the New Zealand All Blacks men’s rugby union team.

Podcasts

‘Diary of a CEO’ – who doesn’t love Steven Bartlett?! Full of advice on life, inspiration and impressive guests, wish I was as wise as he is at just 30!

‘The High Performance Podcast’ with Jake Humphrey and Damien Hughes. Great guests ranging from entertainers, to businesspeople, to sports people and others. The standout guest for me was Kevin Sinfield – coincidental that he is a local hero and very much in the news with his MND supporting heroics. He is quite simply an amazing guy!

‘You’re dead to me’ – a history podcast that combines an expert and a comedian, where you’ll learn about everyone from Joan of Arc to The History of Chocolate and wish you could remember it all at your next pub quiz.

Films

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ was the most popular choice for obvious reasons – reliving our youth and confirming some of us definitely still have a crush on Mr. Cruise…!

For the children

Favourite Film – ‘Polar Express’ (an old one now but a classic in our house to watch whilst decorating the Christmas Tree). About a young boy who embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

Favourite Book – ‘The Night I Met Father Christmas’ by Ben Miller. A wonderful book written by the actor and comedian that will prove once and for all that Father Christmas really does exist!

Favourite Subscription – ‘The Week Junior’ – a fantastic current affairs magazine aimed at 8 – 14-year-olds, filled with fascinating stores and information on current affairs, science, sport, the arts, nature, and technology, encouraging them to explore their world and develop their own opinions.

Wishing you good health, cheer and a relaxing festive season. With very best wishes from Team RB x