Talk

Treasure basket of interesting baby-safe items (you can use a fabric shopping bag and lay it next top him). Then reading with him on your lap, silly songs, blue bubble mix over him etc

Peekaboo, wheels on the bus, row row row your boat, any sort of rhymetime session with actions and stuff, supervised splashing in a bowl of water while you support him sitting up, door bouncer, jumperoo, banging on pots and pans with a wooden spoon, baby musical toys, destroying yesterday's newspaper, board books with flaps to lift and different textures to feel.

My DS is the same - that stage before they can sit and crawl but a bit bored of some toys! I move from jumperoo to rolling around the floor/brief sitting up with toys, play mat whilst I'm getting ready, skyping family and quite a bit of tickling then it's time to eat nap (walking with pram) etc and the whole thing starts again will try some pots and pans too but generally looking forward to warmer weather and sitting up!

We try books but at the moment he just wants to eat them

Mine is currently in a cardboard box, refusing to do what his big sister tells him to. He can sit, but would probably have enjoyed lying in a box too! Look up 'discovery bottles' on google or Pinterest.

He also likes books (endlessly), long baths with extra toys, saucepans and wooden spoons, wooden blocks, watching the dog, cat or washing machine, walks in the pram or sling, pulling wet wipes out of packets (I'm going to make him a toy for this instead!), admiring himself in mirrors.

I think you should do the things YOU like to do (watching tv, listening to women's hour on the radio, having a shower, reading, shopping, visiting a gallery or library) and let him be entertained by that (also helping you to not go insane doing baby things the whole time.)

Probably not watching TV... But gardening with a running commentary, baking, walks to the park/library.

ds loved lying on the grass with bare feet so it could prickle them

Jumperoo a lifesaver at that age. Pans/wooden spoons etc also good.