40ish - Meditation, Mumsnet & Moany Neighbours

Episode Date: March 24, 2026

This week on 40ish:, things get deep (briefly) because Nicole meditated (we know, who is she?), and we also tackle the Oscars - mainly how illegally and problematically handsome Paul Anthony Kelly is. Also, are we just too old to get Timothée Chalamet. Is he brilliant? Is he a Year 8 boy? A listener has a dilemma with a truly stomach dropping moment;  discovering a Mumsnet thread that may or may not be about you. Cue paranoid spiralling. In meltdown news: themes include being called rude by a stranger (how very dare they), and a listener rant that will resonate with anyone who has ever tried to enjoy a peaceful dog walk only to be ambushed by a neighbour with strong bin opinions. If you’re enjoying the episode, share it with a friend who also pretends to understand Timothée Chalamet. Get in touch! Email [e-mail] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Plus, trade evaluations across their network deliver maximum market value for your vehicle. With competitive manufacturer rates and programs available, now is your moment to upgrade the Performance Auto Group Way. 39 stores, 23 brands, one upgrade event. March 26 to 28th, visit Performance.ca.combe slash upgrade sale for details. Hello, everybody. Welcome to 40. I'm Nicole Goodman. And I'm Lauren Mishkont. This is the podcast. So we tackle the chaos of 40-something life. Tackle it, we tackle it.

Head on. What a delightful decade it is. It is. Is it? Yes. You don't know what 50's going to bring yet. Oh, that's so true. You think it's better than 30s?

I think it's better than 30s. 30s you're in the thick of it with childcare. If you're a mum, if you're a parent. You're in the absolute thick of it. And your time is not your own. And you're being so overstretched. And I feel like 40, hitting 40, coming into your 40s, it's like things are starting to ease up a bit. And you're starting to find yourself again outside all of that noise.

I mean, that's a very romantic way of putting it, but I'd vastly prefer being 36. Why? Just everything. I didn't. I actually didn't. Everything just was firing on all cylinders. No. Everything looked good.

Gravity was better. No, I was definitely not firing on all cylinders at 36. I think I peaked then. So I think it's been downhill ever since, to be honest. anyway, here we are. Well, that's positive, isn't it? It's a positive intro for everyone that's going to start listening to the show. Thank you so much, Lauren.

You are welcome. Or that's my sweatshirt says today. We are diving into your stories, your dilemmas. All those sorts of things. And please, don't forget, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts for Early Access. Add free listening across both our shows and bonus content you will not get anywhere else. And you can watch the video every week on Spotify. or YouTube and you can listen on any other podcast platform.

But stay where you are because you're listening to us anyway. So we don't need you to move around. Just saying if you want to see our faces, if you're not watching us, you can now. You can see Lauren's sweatshirt. It's open to you. And if you've got something to share, big or small, we do want to hear from you. We really, really do love hearing from you. So please do email us.

Hello at 40ish. That's 4.0.com.org. Please be in touch and please be part of the conversation. And we have one final piece of housekeeping. If you are loving 40-ish, we would be so grateful if you could share this episode or the whole show with a friend because it really does enormously help us to grow so that we can keep bringing 40-ish to your ears every week. And to all the other midlife women who need it. Yeah, the more ears we reach, the more we can keep bringing this show to the brilliant midlife women who need to hear it.

Maybe not Lauren's positive spin on it, but maybe we'll get her more positive towards the end of the show. Now, what is this in your most 40-ish moment of the week? I see here you've put, I meditated. I mean, please expand. Say more. Does it need, does it need more? It needs context, explanation, I want a who, why, where, what, when. Well, so the context is this.

I am currently not at the gym in the morning. So normally my mornings consist of me getting up at 6 o'clock, being on a paddle court at 7 o'clock, and being in the gym at 8 o'clock. clock home by 9.30. So by the time I get home, I've done two hours of exercise and then I go and walk the dog. So my mornings are very jam-packed. At the moment, because I am post-operative, I cannot do any of those things. So I have a lot more time. When I was dropping my daughter at the bus stop this morning, a podcast that I was listening to yesterday, Gabby Bernstein, do you ever listen to Gabby Bernstein? No, but I know her. You'd like Gabby Bernstein. You have to be in the mood for her. But that's the same with any podcast. Yeah, totally. I'm sure people are listening to us thinking,

sometimes they can listen to us, sometimes they can't. Very intimate having someone in your ears. Totally. Anyway, at the end of the show, because when you get in my car, it just plays the last thing you were listening to, a meditation came on. And actually, I do quite like her meditations.

I have not meditated in maybe two years. Well, we did it, did we even do it for South Care Club? You didn't. Actually, you did. Well, I think I did for the week that we were supposed to do it, because I remember she gave everyone like a secret. We had our own mantras. Mantras.

That's right. From like the Deepak Chopra school of meditation and mantras. That's not what it's called. School of Life, I think it's called. Yeah. Is it the school of life? Whatever. They were like personal to us from that you had to give her like your birthing time and place and all of that.

And it doesn't matter. Anyway. And then you weren't allowed to keep a secret. Yeah. We were desperate to tell each other as. Yeah. And they're not very exciting. They're just a sound.

It's just a vibration with the earth. Yeah. Anyway, it was none of that. No. No? No. Okay. Anyway, so I heard it when I was dropping her and I pressed pause and I thought,

do you know what? I'm actually going to go home and I'm going to sit and meditate for 10 minutes. That's what I'm going to do. So good for you. So I sat down, put my earphones on and I meditated and it was a whole. And I always think that these things come to you when you need them. I'm feeling very spiritual. I've been listening to a lot of Gabby.

She helps me. She gets me in the right mindset. She really does. She really does. Considering I'm post-op and I can't go to the gym, I think I am quite sprawl. rightly. Don't you? Why are you confused? Well, I was, I was just processing that. I've also drunk a lot of new tropic coffee this morning. Have you? I mean, actually, yeah, you are not as much of a pain in the ass as I thought you were going to be. I wasn't a pain in the ass last time,

though. Last time was a much shorter stint. This is a more extended gym banning. So, yeah, Yeah, carry on. Carry on what you're doing. Do you love this for me? I mean, I could get to love this for you. Anyway, the meditation was all about comparison. Okay. And how to...

Oh, it's the thief of joy? Well, she didn't use that term, but it was all about how to come back to yourself and come back to your truth and come back to your essence and the things that you're comparing it to. The people or the things that you are comparing yourself to see it with love. See it as a way she talks about the driftwood theory, doesn't she?

See it as a way that the universe is showing you that whatever it is that you want, you can have it. It is within your reach. The universe is telling you that it is there for you to grab rather than comparing yourself saying, oh, they've got something and I haven't got it. So that was the whole minute. It was beautiful.

It was really beautiful. My dog was barking throughout the whole fucking thing because since I've had my surgery, she is so, so needy. Because you're around more. So she wants to play with you. She just wants, she constantly, Only wants my attention.

Yeah. Like who fucking doesn't in my household? This is girl dogs. That's what I'm learning. No girls, girls. Girls, we only have girl dogs. Anyways, I'm meditated this morning and I feel really great. You know, you know, I actually think I'm going to say something very big now, which people might not know.

Apparently, meditation is quite good for you. Yeah, so I hear. So I hear. I'm telling you. I'm telling you. Okay. Okay. But don't you love that twist on comparison? I mean, I remember when we were writing the book and we were talking about the Driftwood theory.

Our book called Have You Tried This? So it's not... It's in bookshops now. And online. And on Amazon. So it's not a new concept to me. Yes, but are you adopting it? Are you practicing it? Are you using it? No, you're not. You're fucking not. Don't even tell me. I don't know how much comparison is an issue for me in my life. I haven't really thought about it. In terms of like work-related stuff, it's huge. Not personally.

It's not like you compare. Not personally, no. You don't compare yourself to your friends and stuff like that. You don't do that. I don't do that. Nah. But in terms of work, in terms of like, you know, where we're out, there's always going to be a bigger show.

There's always going to be someone with a big, much bigger platform than us. Always. And the universe is always going to show us that. Yeah, so you use it as driftwood. Yeah. Listen, I, I think it's good for you. Us is good. No, I meant the meditation.

It's good for you. You're very chill today. What's going on? My 40ish moment has nothing to do with meditation. My 40ish moment is a meditation on, because it was very recently the Oscars. And obviously I was looking at JFK Jr. What is his name?

That man, he's problematically handsome. John Anthony Kelly, no, that's not his name. I have to get it right. Kelly's something, something Kelly. It doesn't matter. He is so handsome. He was all over everything. and he was wearing that beautiful whatever he was.

It doesn't matter what he wears. It actually doesn't matter what he wears. He's too handsome. He is AI. The guy is like AI. I actually think AI have created him. I don't think he exists. Paul Anthony Kelly.

He could be AI. You just wouldn't know. You wouldn't know. He's problematic. He's like one of those 3D printers, which I really don't get. No meaning that, I don't know. He could have been printed by one of those 3D printers.

He could. And he was in a sort of chocolate coloured velvet blazer. He looked fabulous. But to be honest, put him a living bag. He looked fabulous. doesn't matter what he wears or doesn't wear. Could have worn nothing, could have worn a sack. Who cares?

Who is your favorite look at the night? Him. Anyway, but that wasn't my point. Women, women, women. I've got two. I had eyes for no one else. No, come on. I know you want to get to your point.

Who is my favorite look of the night? Actually, I've got three. I did like Gwyneth's look. And then I saw it again this morning from the other side. And I didn't realize that it was, there was a slit. I didn't see it. Up to the armpit. All the way.

So she's got no underwear on. Up. No underwear, but braw or bottoms. I mean, the slit went up all the way. That is quite sly for a 50-year-old woman. She looked very elegant. And also, there was someone else who had a very 90s dress on. Who did I say to you the other day?

My brain's not working. I loved her look. It was very paired back. I wasn't into the paired back. Although Emma Stone was quite paired back. Yes. And I thought she looked very beautiful, very ethereal. She did.

She was in like this silver. Like, it was like effortless. Yeah, she looked lovely. And I loved her hair. It was a lot of 90s nods. There was a lot. But my favourite of the night, I have to say, it was Nicole Kibman. Oh, I think that's who I was talking about.

It was very stripped back. She was very stripped back. It was feathers on in a pebble. That was Demi Moore. No, she had a peplum feather. It was feathery. It was in Chanel Couture, I think it was. She looked gorgeous.

But she was in a very music. toned tone, which was so amazing against her, because she's so pale. You'd think it would wash her out. She just looked stunning. She looked gorgeous. And Demi Moore's peacock dress was also wonderful. I loved that. And I saw some fashion influencer today ripping her apart about that. And I loved it. I just thought she looked fabulous. She did. No, you're right. Nicole Kidman scrubbed up something proper. I mean, it's Nicole Kidman.

Kidman. Yeah, but you know, sometimes. I'm watching her right now on Amazon Prime. So am I. Scarpetta. Oh my God. It's very gory that show. I've only just started watching it. Ever so gory. There's a lot of autopsy scenes because that's her job. She's the chief medical officer. And she's very like scrub back in her scrubs and no makeup and it's four in the morning. She has got makeup.

Anyway, it's a really good show. I recommend. What is your 40-ish thing? My 40-ish thing is I feel I am now too old. No, I just am too old to understand or appreciate Timothy Shalameh's being a vibe. Like, okay, he turned up on the red carpet. He was in a white suit. He looked like something out of the backstreet boys.

Sarka 1994. The 90s are like so bad. The facial hair was like struggling, struggling to come out of his face. And I kept looking at him thinking, I swear you're like in year eight with Josh. I swear you're like one of those kids who's in my house all the time. You're basically 13. But don't you think that part of his appeal is the fact that he has Kylie Jenner on his arm. But he was like a big heartthrob long before the Kylie Jenner.

People are nuts. I know. But can I also, can I tell you what you're actually? 40-ish moment is. But I can't see it. No. No. No. Your 40-ish moment is that we've already had this conversation on this very show. Have we? You are repeating yourself and you've forgotten. I don't remember that. No. So that is you being very 40ish. Listen, I don't get it. But you still don't get it. I don't get it. I can I tell you as I did you get it? No, he's not for me. I like a, I like a bigger, much bigger guy. I saw Marty Supreme. Yeah. With my 22 year old. And after I was,

I don't get it. And Max said, well, you know, it's like a... We've already had this conversation. Like literally word for word. I can pay it back to you. Well, I still don't get it. Okay. Who else don't you get?

I don't get Tom Holland. Oh, really? He is the most ordinary looking man I've ever seen in my entire life. He is so ordinary. He's just so ordinary. The best thing about him is Sendea. I don't get it. I don't what.

How could people find him hot? He's, he's so... nor ordinary. Because I think maybe the appeal is he's like the boy next door. You know like a Dawson's Creek vibe. He's like the friendly boy next door. But you know, I was never into Dawson. I was always into Pacey.

Obviously we loved Pacey so much. So I would never did the Dawson thing. I like Dawson and Pacey. I like them both. No. No. I'm sorry, but you're going to want to have sex with Pacey more than you are Dawson.

Yeah, but I'd like to hold hands with Dorson. I think the Tom Holland thing is just that he's a genuine nice guy. And also maybe in real life he's got the most unbelievable Riz, which is why he's now married to Zendaya. I reckon he's just... Can we say Riz? Yeah, we can. No.

Yes. Who says? I've just said it. And I'm not sorry. Are we allowed to say Riz? Yeah, we are. Like if I said Riz in front of my 15 year old, I don't think that would go down what?

If you said Riz in front of Josh, what would he do? Nothing. He's used to my slang. I drop it all the time. But does he think it's cool? No. He doesn't think anything I do is cool. But he accepts it.

I think I'd want her to think anything I'd think do is cool. I really thought my parents were cool when I was younger. My parents were cool. They were cool. I didn't think my parents were cool. I think they're cool now. I do. That's so sweet.

They are, though. They're lovely. That's so sweet. But you just called your parents cool. Are they still cool? They're not cool. But when they were in their 30s, they were really fucking cool. So now we've moved onto a complex.

conversation about being cool. I don't think that's cool. You know what I mean? Like the word cool is not used and amongst people younger than us. That's okay because we're 40 something podcasters. Podcasting to other 40 somethings about being cool is you're either cool or you're not. Yeah totally. You can't buy it. You can't sell it. You can't learn it. You can't manifest it. No, you can't fake it. You just are or you not. Yeah. Yeah. Where are my gloves? Come on, heat. Any day now?

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So if there is an issue, you are seriously struggling with. Please contact a qualified expert. Interrupting this show to remind you that if you are enjoying this episode and you enjoy Fortage, then please, please, please share it with a friend of yours who you think will love it too. Hi, ladies. I had one of those moments this week where your stomach just drops. Oh, I hate those. I hate that.

I was scrolling through Mumsnet, just dipping into the AIBU that Am I Being on Reasonable Threads because they're weirdly addictive. And I started reading a thread which I realized was about me. Hold on, just explain for people that don't know what that is. Am I being unreasonable thread on Mumsnet? Yes. So it might be something like... Am I being unreasonable?

I loaned my friend to jump her and she put it in a bowl wash and now it's ruined. am I being unreasonable to ask her to pay for a replacement? And then you can like vote. Yes, no. And then other people can say whatever they like. Okay. Okay. The details were so specific it couldn't have been about anyone else,

about a situation with our kids' school and my son and me. She was essentially asking if she should distance herself. She also said that I talk a lot about my problems and I dominate group conversations without realizing. The worst bit was there were about 30 replies and they were not gentle. Lots of people saying, oh, we all know someone like this. Life's too short for emotional vampires. Now I'm in this horrible position where I'm about 95% sure it's me.

She has no idea that I've seen it, but I'm suddenly questioning every conversation we've had for the past year and also wondering if she posted this on purpose for me to see it. Part of me is mortified. Another part of me is wondering if I am that person, and nobody's ever told me. The weirdest thing is that we're seeing each other this weekend at a birthday thing and I have no idea how to behave.

Do I pretend I never saw it? Do I confront her? I genuinely thought we were really good friends. Would you say anything anon? I mean, she doesn't know, no, that it's about her. She doesn't. She doesn't.

And I think there is a lot in this message. There is a lot of overthinking in this. Yeah. So you don't actually, you're 95% sure, but you know, you've still got a 5% doubt. So, so that's an issue in itself. I mean, what are the chances? What are the chances that that was her friend? But she said there's weirdly specific details about it.

And also, I think I would be the person who would think, well, does she know that this woman scrolls on mum's net a lot? But if that's like an open conversation, I would be paranoid. that someone had posted that so that I read it, you know? Who would do that? I don't know, but that's, to me. Who would do that? Someone who wants you to know without wanting you, without telling you themselves? That in itself is very problematic.

Like I am not down with that. No. Because if there's an issue, then just come and talk to me about it. Don't start intentionally putting something on mum's net in the hope that I see it to then make me feel shit about it. Like that, I firstly think that is unlike you. I just think that whole part of that scenario. Because that's the bit when I've just read that,

that's the bit that's sticking out to me is that's like the worst bit of it. Exactly. But it's also, it feels very fabricated that bit. Sorry, it does. I don't think that's real. So it's just, if it is about her, it's just really bad luck.

Well, let's say, if it is about her and her friend put it on there, that's a problem in itself because what is happening in the relationship that she feels she can't talk to you. Yes. That's a big red flag. Yeah. Right.

And that's to do with both of you. That's not just on the person who wrote the post and the person who's writing in. That's on both of you creating something together where she feels she can't come and talk to you or she's too scared to. And if you're really good friends, you should be able to have a conversation. That's the first thing. Secondly, if it is her and she's writing all of these things and this is how she feels about you, you've got a big problem on your hands. That's also, that is just her opinion.

It doesn't mean that it's true. Well, it's her experience of this woman. But it doesn't mean that she has to then start worrying about herself. Am I that person? Am I that person? Well, that might just be how that person experiences you, in which case you probably shouldn't be friends with them because she doesn't seem to like you very much.

People only experience you from their own selves. Sure. Right? So how I experience you or how, somebody else experiences you are going to be different. You're not different, but the person coming into that interaction has their own stuff. But that's what I'm saying. She shouldn't necessarily take it to heart. I don't know. If someone turned around to me and said to me, oh, you only ever talk about yourself and you, all we do is discuss your problems. Like,

I would have a hard time not just brushing that off because that is someone's experience of me. But it's true for that person. So what should she do on the weekend? end. I would say nothing. Of course you would. But that's always your go-to. Also, how fucking paranoid to rock up at the party and say, hey bitch, did you anonymously post something about me on Mum's Net?

It also sounds really paranoid. It sounds like you're mad. That's a really hard one. The thing is, to not say anything, obviously, of course, that's an option. But she's never going to be able to be normal around her. No. And she's not really going to be able to get past it until they have a conversation. It's just is.

And also, it might not even be about her, might not be. Let's just, it might not be. And therefore, she's creating this whole thing. That doesn't exist. That doesn't exist. And she is her really good friend and she doesn't think those things about her. So. Yeah.

And also, you know, there's a fine line between, there's a big, big, big gap between not saying anything and confronting her. There are other options. She could just say at the party, is everything okay between the two of us? I just feel like you've been a little bit off with me lately and see where that lands. She could absolutely say that. Or even something a bit more generic, not even with the accusation of you've been off. Just is everything okay between us?

Something feels a bit off. Yeah. I feel something's a bit off. Is everything okay between the two of us? How about that? That's great. Or and and I think that's a really good option. Would you say that?

No. Why? I just wouldn't because I'd be the paranoid bitch that thought that she'd posted it on Mumsnet on purpose so that I read it on Mumsnet. I'd be that person. Well, you're not an overthinker. No, I'm not really, but I can see.

I don't think you would stretch to that. It depends how specific it was and she doesn't say what the situation was. No, she doesn't. It's hard to know without that context. That context is quite. Yeah. So maybe we just have to trust her judgment on this.

Yeah. Okay, so if it is about you, then I think the only way you're going to get past this is to have a conversation. It's worth the conversation. It's worth an uncomfortable conversation in the hope that you can resolve something within your friendship.

Otherwise, the friendship is done. You're not going to get past this. So to me, it feels like an important moment to address it, but to address it with care, compassion and love. Not you said this and you did that and I can't believe you put it on Mum's Net. I mean, that's not going to go well.

No, no, that's not going to go well. She can say, oh my God, I was on Mumsnet and I saw this post. You could just be really honest. My God, she could reply to the post. No, we're not going to do passive aggressive shit. We're going to... She could be like, this post is about me.

And I just like to say. Yeah. She could just say, I saw this post on Monsnet. It felt weirdly familiar to you and me. Like, can we talk about it? Maybe this is something we need to talk about. I am uncomfortable with you even saying that sentence. How are you going to get past it otherwise?

Oh, you're not? Are you? or not. It depends on what you want from the friendship. If you want the friendship to continue and to resolve it, then you have to have a conversation. If you're like, bitch, I'm over it. I don't need this. You're difficult anywhere. You make my life quite tricky. Then don't, but I don't think that's the case. She seems she says. I thought we were good friends. Yeah. Then I think she, then they have to have a conversation. You've got to have a conversation. Sorry. Sorry. Or you can listen to our show on how to have difficult conversation on self-care club.

Oh my God. Yeah. Yeah. That was such a good show. because maybe we'll link it. Oh, we can link it in our show notes. For you. Just for you and anyone else who needs to have one. We all need to have one at some point. Oh, we do. You should relisten to that show.

You don't like having a difficult conversation. I do not. I don't think anybody does. I don't think anybody enjoys it. No. What's your meltdown this week? Share it with the group. It's a small thing.

It's always a small thing. A stranger? An absolute stranger. Called me rude. What, are you rude? No, I was not fucking rude. Because I'm not generally rude. Context, please.

We were going out for dinner on Friday night. We, who, you're with your family. Me and my husband. And my parents were in the car. Yeah. And there was like a disabled space and then there was a yellow line. And there was only a yellow, the yellow line could have fitted one and a half cars on. Okay.

So one car. Yeah. Right. So Adam, turned around and went to go in the space. And at the same time as he was going to the space, someone else was driving into the space. But he was definitely in the space first.

And so she got out the car and she was like halfway over this disabled spot. And then got back in the car. And he was still poking out. So I said to her, he's just, don't go forward because he's just driving in a bit because he's sticking out. And she's like, but I'm in the space. I said, we are not in the space because you're in the disabled space. You're in the disabled space.

and so he moved the car literally like a millimeter, two millimeters forward she rolled down her which got back in the car, rolled down her window and she goes well that was rude and I thought you know what it wasn't your space so why are you assuming it was your space

and I'm rude because we've taken a spot that wasn't yours anyway you know what I mean that's my melt down why are you looking confused I'm just thinking I don't know the tone That was the tone. That was the tone. That was the tone. Well, that was rude. That's what she said.

I'm so weird about parking spaces. But also, like, we were here first, bitch. Like, what the fuck? We were here first. Like, should we just move out of the way? So you can just park wherever you like. What the fuck is wrong with you? I was trying to park at a hospital once to take Josh for an appointment for some broken bone or other. He's always got a broken bone somewhere. And this guy went, I was about to go into the space. This guy went and stood. in it, like stood his actual body in the space. I said, I'm parking here. Was he saving it for someone? Yeah, and he said, my wife's got an appointment. I'm like, we've all got an appointment. My son's got an appointment. I'm not here like for the food. Or the service.

I mean, I found that quite extraordinary. Well, did he have to drive on? I didn't run him over. But in retrospect, I kind of wish I had. No. I'm pleased you didn't. Yeah. Although he was right by a hospital. So, yeah, would have been handy. gone in. Would it be fine?

I mean, what would have happened to you? That wouldn't have been good. People are weird. People. You know what? People, very peoplely. Sometimes they're so peopley. And sometimes, like, it depends what mindset you're in, but they get more peopley as time goes

on. And just like, you know, you're going to have those days where it's like, why is everyone such a pain in the fucking ass today? You're like, yeah. I don't know. Like, there's something on the cameras that says Patrick Ryan. Who's Patrick Ryan? Who's Patrick Ryan?

Who's Patrick Ryan, James? Oh, he's coming here. He rolled his eyes. He rolled his head. And now he's... He's got a Zoom call with America at 1 o'clock, which is why we were supposed to go. But I was just getting it ready. It's 5 plus 1.

I know, because we started half an hour after the pot. Oh, you want us to go? You want us to go? What do you mean? Okay. All right. Two more minutes. Two minutes.

Well, you interrupts us for two minutes. Right, James is chucking us out again. We always get chucked out. I know I love it. Patrick Ryan, I bet he's not getting chocked out. He's in America. Let's go to the list of meltdown. Well, he's definitely not going to get chucked out, is he?

That's my meltdown. That could be your next meltdown, Lauren, how we always get chucked out the studio. Being his favourite comes with some disadvantages sometimes, James. Right. Victoria G has sent us a meltdown. Are you ready for it? I need to have a small rant, she says. Every morning I take the dog out for about 40 minutes.

It's my quiet time. No kids, no work, emails. No one asking me where their P.E. kit is. Just me, the dog. usually your podcast and a bit of fresh air before the day starts. Today, I just got into that nice rhythm and I had my headphones in and I got to the good bit of the podcast when I heard, what's the good bit of the podcast? When I heard, not when James comes in to talk about Patrick Ryan.

When I heard someone shouting my name, my neighbour from three doors down was power walking towards me like she had urgent breaking news and launched into a full 10 minute conversation about bins. Something about someone in the street putting cardboard in the wrong one. and could I keep an eye out because I'm always out and about walking the dog? I know that this makes me sound like a middle-aged misery, but I just wanted to say... No, it doesn't. We see people are peoply. I just want to say I'm on my dog walk. I am not on neighbourhood patrol. Yes. But obviously, I didn't say that because I'm British and incapable of ending in conversation without being polite.

So I smiled and nodded and said, right, well, I better get him home. And by the time I had finally escaped, the podcast moment had passed. The dog was muddy. My tiny window of peace had evaporated. I feel like dog walking is a bit like going. going to the gym or sitting on the train with headphones on. And I am so annoyed. Yes, it is. It's your time. Endlessly cornered by another annoying midlifer, her and her gripes with people on our street.

Victoria. Yeah. Good for you, Victoria. Well, not good for you. I'm with you. I'm with her. I think it's okay to want to have that time to yourself. And you need that time for yourself.

You have to own it, claim it, take it. I can protect it. Sometimes I just say, I always have my air pod. in. Sometimes you just point to your headphones. And I say, sorry, I'm on a call. Yes. I do that.

But when you're not. Sometimes. We are not on a call in the middle of the woods because there's no service there. Well, bear in mind, we've been on street walks for three weeks because of the being on heat. Yep. So there's been a lot of people. Yep. Peopling.

Anyway, we hear you, Victoria. We understand. I totally understand. But next time, just point to your headphones and say, sorry, I can't hear you. I'm sorry. Sorry, I'm just in the middle of something. You've got 40 minutes to yourself. Like no.

No, Victoria. Next time, just look at how quickly you say, sorry, I'm really busy and then walk on. Right, we're being chucked out the studio, so we're going to wrap this up. We've got to go. We've got to go. Bye, everyone.

I mean, bye everyone. Bye everyone. Enjoy Patrick Ryan's podcast. We'll be back next week with another episode of 40-ish. Bye.