A Lot On Your Plate - Ep 16: Ogre Energy, Bagpipes & Win For Autism

Episode Date: November 15, 2022

This week we dive deep into what Autism means to us and how you can get involved in raising awareness! We also touch on ogre energy, how emotional bagpipes make us and what’s been a lot on our plate…because that’s just us!For all the info on Win For Autism check out @winfitnesshamiltonBuy 5 standard meals and get 2 free breakfasts when quoting alotonyourplate. Order via DM on their Instagram - @mollysmealprepsCheck out @niptuckpod- - - - - - - - - -Follow us on IG @alotonyourplatepodYour HostsJess (@JustJessFood)Zoe (@ZoeQuinnnn)Produced ByCobalt Media (@cobaltmediauk)For Business Enquiries - [e-mail] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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We're just getting to it. Hello everybody, happy chappie Tuesday. How are we all? I hope you've missed us, what you've been up to. Hi, Zaz. How are you, Jessica? I'm good. You sound well.

I'm ill again, everyone. It's just doing my head in now. This immune system's not cute. I just don't know why you get like this all the time because you're not really, like you stay quite healthy. You're going to say you're healthy and you're like, actually, she's not. Quite is an important one. I don't know.

This time has been pretty bad. I was floored in bed for two days. Just came out of nowhere. I woke up thinking it was my allergies and then next minute, within five hours I was in bits. Because you're with jelly, she's always sick. She is always sick, isn't she? She's rubbing off on me. You need to stop that.

Anyway, tell me what you've been up to, please. Apart from being in bed, I went down to Manchester on Tuesday for an event with the Huck Group, which is look fantastic, grow gorgeous, quite a lot of really amazing companies, actually. And it was at King Street Town House. They're on that, don't they? Yeah.

I didn't know that, actually, until I was there, but yeah. And it was lovely, and there was lots of influence there. And the ones that I followed for quite a long time. Georgia White, gorgeous, who else will people know of? Ruby Holly. Oh yeah? Beautiful.

I've never seen her new life. But Georgia White is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Isn't she? Yeah. I went down with Jilly and it was so lovely and yeah, I had, well I actually got there and there was that Mamma Mio. It's like a mum brand and basically throughout the day you got giving certain things to do. So it was like people go in the spa at the hotel having massages, which I did not have that option.

So we got there And I saw on my time sheet I was going to go to a cocktail masterclass I was like buzzing Got there It was Mamma Mio Mocktail Masterclass I was like Oh fuck off-off

This is off brand for me But it was still good Did that And I had the ameliorate That body cream that I always talk about I had one to one with them And they brought out a facial skincare range Learned a bit about that brand

That was really good But I use it anyway So it was quite nice to meet them And then we had dinner But I sat on a table with lots of fun, lovely girls. And I sat next to a girl called Ashley, who was telling you about who has a podcast called NipTuck, Not Giving a Fuck.

And I think quite a few of you on here listened to that as well, and she was hilarious. So yeah, two podcasts United, and it was great fun. We had a fantastic night, lots of alcohol. Probably wasn't wise feeling like this, but yeah. I was really jealous. You were doing podcast bits without me. I know, I'm sorry.

It's okay. It was good. You said she's funny. She thinks she's funnier than me. You know, no, no, no, no one is funny than you. Thanks. And he gets to hear that too. And then I came home, I was really ill, like, that day and the next day until probably yesterday.

And then I went to Edinburgh last night, again. I'd had an overnight with Rich because he's now off for two weeks because it's the World Cup. So we went there, we stayed in the Virgin Hotel. Gorgeous, by the way, everyone. Gorgeous. Do you know, I think that's quite a surprise. Yeah, now this is what I was saying to Rich because I says, I don't think a lot of people, because it's the only one in the UK.

Did you know that? No. So there's one in Nashville, Tennessee. No, that's the same place, isn't it? Nashville, Tennessee. Geography Queen. Nashville, New York, something like that. God knows, Vegas, wherever.

But they're all in America. Right. Which I find quite weird because Richard Barnes is British, right? So I thought he would open them here, maybe in London. But the first one in the UK is in Edinburgh, and the next one's coming in January, is in Glasgow. go. I don't understand. Must be something to do with, why can't open in England. But anyway, I thought, you know, those easy jet hotels that you used to get in. That's what I was going to say,

or kind of just like holiday and premiering type vibe. No, it's not like that at all. It's probably one of the nicest hotels I've been in. Wow. In Edinburgh, anyway, it's just cool, got really nice, cool, quirky things. And what I also like, as well, they're, like, champion, like, local produce. So if you go into the room, everything in your fridge is all local, like, Scottish brands, and all the snacks and everything, as well as, like, all the cool quirky things. tinned olives and all that. Love that. Adam went a couple months ago on here.

Oh yeah, you said that. It's really nice. I had a castle view room, which was so loud until like three this morning though. So yeah, I went there and then we went to Pigs again, at this time for dinner with Richard's friend and his wife. Yeah, we had a lovely evening. And now you're here.

Now I'm here with me. Not feeling fresh, but... You look fresh? Do I, thanks. You look lovely. So do you. Glowing, as always. Thank you.

what you're not to oh my god wait you went Copenhagen yes I did last weekend I went last Thursday until Sunday we've actually spoken about this by the way so I've actually learning everything now I was like don't tell me a thing I really liked it as a place but I feel like it's like you've been once you don't need to go back type place like I would go back but not in a hurry because I feel like I've seen it all yeah because everything it's not that big and everything was like walking distance from our hotel so we just kind of saw everything whilst we were doing certain bits. And we could walk to like the famous street

with all the coloured houses. What's that called again? Oh yeah, God knows. In The Haven or something. And then we got a little canal boat trip the first day. So we saw the little mermaid statue. It's famous for that.

Is it? I didn't know that. The story came from someone there. So Disney must have like bought it off them or something. Did you not like that? I know me neither. But that's one of my favourite Disney films so I saw the back of the statue, which was great. And then I was going to walk to the front

and I was like, is it quite a big statue then I take it? No, it's really small. Oh. I know, weird. Because someone who wrote in to recommend stuff from we go and said that it was quite small.

Oh. You were like it is little. I was like, is little married. I saw that, then the second day we went to Tivoli. The theme part. Yeah, I was there for about nine hours.

Oh, I had to drag Jason out of it. I was like Jason, we've literally done everything. Like we've eaten two meals in here. We've been on every ride possible. We've been in like the haunted house. sees we watched a light show on like the little ponds that's in it I was like we must go now we must leave but it was great but also I can't do rides anymore yeah I remember you saying that on your Instagram actually like do you just get to an age and you can't handle it anymore I don't

like them but I've always loved them like I'm a thrill seeker like I love it I love upside down I love spinning I love everything and I can't like I went on one like you know kind of like a magic carpet style and that was me I felt sick for the rest of the day really and that was the first thing on their ground rides I think if you go to theme park ride they're a bit more thrill-seeker, but some of the stories that I've heard, like, about air at Thought Park and that Twister one, like, oh, no. I know. It does kind of put you off, but it was annoying me that, because Jason wants to go on them so much, he just went on them on his own. The Wolks was all the way it was. Yeah. I was kind of really want to come on, but I don't want to feel sick all day.

No, not for me. It was really ruining my vibes. No, not for me. Anyway, we did that, and then the next day, I think we just walked about again. I don't really have much to say, because we did just walk about. Did you eat anything nice? No, they're eating that didn't really go far. I can't with you. To be honest, we had two McDonald's.

Shut up. Right, I'll explain why. Why are we friends? I know, right. I'll explain why because the first day we got out. By the way, I love a McDonald's, but not. I know, I know, right. But is it known for its food?

I don't know, really, to be honest. I know. I don't think they've got any specialities. Anyway, the first day we were up... The first day we were up at like 4 in the morning to go there, right? So by the time we got there You were tired We had like a burger from this

Kind of well-known burger place there Which was really nice Then we were really tired So we actually wanted to go back to the hotel room Like sevenish and just like chill Watch film go to bed Like 7pm Because Jason's eyes were actually shutting

Because I had to be asleep in the plane So I wasn't that bad Anyway we were hungry but not really fancy And I thought let's just get my Donald It was right next to the hotel So that we don't feel shit when we wake up Because we're not eating in him So that was the excuse for that one

Then, when actually was the second one? I think that was for, like, a late breakfast one morning because everywhere was full. We couldn't get in anywhere. Oh, so you had him with all those breakfast? Mm-hmm. Okay, that's acceptable. And then other times, I'm not joking.

Everything I had involved a roll with something. Right. Had a bagel one morning. Had that McDonald's, obviously. During the day, that day I had a burger from another place. Then one night I had a chicken burger from a steak place. I'm not a massive fan of steak, and I ended up putting my chips in the burger because I didn't like the chicken.

Everything I had was like a burger. with some. Carb Queen's back. She's back and she doesn't look like she's going anywhere. All in all you had a nice time was it. It was lovely, yeah. It rained one day but only for the morning so it was fine. Yeah.

By the time that was they were going to theme parks by the time we got there, it was off so that was fine. And the other days it was like so crisp, what, sunny? Yeah. So it's quite nice. We just sat like outside and they have like the wee fires and got a few drinks and whatever. But what I will say is people are not wrong saying it's expensive. Yeah, is it.

We had four alcoholic drinks each the whole time we were there and still spent an absolute fortune. Really? So see if you were drinking and eating in proper places, yeah. You'd be bankrupt. Yeah, I can't really remember my time there that much because it was a Hindu.

Was it a Hindu? Yeah, it was. Where did you go? Like, it wasn't very rowdy anywhere. Can't remember now, honestly. I feel like mind blank from that, but, yeah, shock. We went into the Scottish pub because it was right next to her hotel

and that was quite good, that there was a live singer and stuff on, so that was quite fun. But apart of him, that, unless we just didn't tap into that bit, you didn't see a lot of nightlife, really. Yeah. Next to the Scottish pub, there was a couple of Irish, and they were really busy over the weekend, like the Friday Saturday. But apart from that, it was just quite chill vibes.

Yeah. But everyone does look cool. Yeah. Like it's that kind of cool, edgy vibes. Yeah. I've just booked Lisbon, finally. Oh, yeah. I'm not doing the Barcelona-Lisbon thing anymore.

Just Lisman. Because we're just not doing that course this time. But, yeah, so we're just going to do Lisbon. I was going to do the Monday to Friday, but I thought that quite, I've done this before where I've gone in the week. and a lot of places are shut on a Monday when I get there and it annoys me so I just think I'll just go Tuesday to Friday

really early flight Tuesday and quite late Friday so it's four full days three nights. That'll be good. What will the weather be like there? I'm not even checked but I think... Probably quite mild just quite nice to walk about it so yeah I'm looking forward to that it's meant to be amazing I know and really cheap when you get there

well it was cheap to be fair it was really cheap for us to do the hotel and the flight the flight was I think 60 quid each return and we just picked, I'll be honest with you, there was not much choice left of hotels, to be honest. So I was gone with a good location. It looks nice. To be fair, we just stayed in a citizen and then. We went to Copenhagen there because there wasn't much to stay in.

And anything that was half decent was really expensive. Even that was quite expensive. Yeah. But you know what you're getting with that, so I quite like it. I felt like I spent more last night buying one night in Edinburgh than I have my whole four days to Lisbon. But any time I've looked at Edinburgh recently, it's the same. It's a fortune.

Ridiculous. Jason actually owes me a night in the Scotsman, but anything. I don't even want, but I don't even want you to say that really, yeah. I don't know if it's because it's the England, New Zealand game today, and remember it Sunday. I don't know whether it was just a busy weekend in Edinburgh. I don't know, but this morning I got to see the parade and honestly, bagpipes. I don't know what they do to me.

I was like an emotional wreck. I am during my period today, but I was like, I seriously feel so emotional. I'm like, I feel like if these tourists start looking at me, they were like, oh my God, bless her. But bagpipes, I'm just like, oh, this is. just so special. I do think they're emotional. Do you know? I think it is quite emotional. At a wedding or anything me at a wedding, anyway, I'm just... We were talking about that this morning in the chat, but I do think New Year's quite emotional, but I don't know why, because as you know,

I'm just not an emotional person. Because everyone's happier, like, happy New Year and everyone's hugging, it's just nice, isn't it? I feel like everyone's kind of reminiscing on the last year. Yeah. Thinking of all the good memories. And we were saying, weren't we in the chat? I don't know if anyone else feels the same, but this year for me is the fastest year. It's ever been in my life. And I don't know if it's because the older that you get, the faster the time goes, maybe. They do say that, but I feel it's been, it's not just been, like, one times faster because I'm one year old, and it's been, like, 50 times faster than any other year?

50. Gee, do you think that? This year has gone quick. It's Christmas in a few days. There's no way I've been in that flat nearly a year. I think it's because if these crammed everything into this year, they've been in the last two years, they've been crammed into one, so it's lying. True, because I feel like I've done so much.

Like, I've been away quite a lot. Yeah. I don't know how I've, like, fitted it all in. I just can't believe Christmas is around the corner. Zoe. And buzzin. What are you doing for Christmas Day? Family politics. Yes, family politics.

Well, the reason I am not doing anything this year is because, not because of family politics, but partly I went home last year because Richard plays football over Christmas so he can never ever spend Christmas with each other, which sucks. And then when I went home last year, I was like, he was on his own. He had COVID, to be fair. Oh, yeah. And he was on his own. And I just thought, I'm not doing this again.

because when I'm home I feel sad for him and then when I'm with him I feel like I'm FOMO missing out and it's never as good as you think on Christmas Day I know it's not for me anyway and I'm sure a lot of people feel the same I know what you mean I also think when you feel you need to go around different places you just feel that you're here there and everywhere and at what point can you just settle down and it's chill

but I think I don't enjoy the actual day as much as it's hyped up to be at all I like the run up to it and all the events and festiveness but the actual day to me is a load of bollocks I do love it I do love it but I think I'd probably be further run up. But I think this year is the first year I won't wake up at home. Yeah, and that might be.

Because even though I was in my flat last year, we'd just get into it within a week. So I was like, let's just go home because we weren't planning on being out at Christmas. I'm glad I'm not at home because I don't even know where my mom will be living. Oh, yeah, of course. She's not got a new house yet. And she's moving out of this one in the 9th of December.

Is she? She'll be staying with me in my couch. Well, my mom's just got, did I told you my mom's got a new house? Yeah. She moves in in the first week of December. So now I'm like, I actually do wish to go home because the house looks really nice.

But you could maybe go on there, like, in-between days or like a few days before or something. No, I'm not doing it. Okay. I'm not doing it this year. I was just looking to give you compromising. If you listen to this, Mom, I'm not coming home. No matter how much you beg, it's not happening.

She can come to you because you do love that. Please don't. Jokey, joke, joke. So I think I'll wake up in the flat, do Christmas bits with Jason in the morning, go to his sisters because she's doing like, everyone just goes to her all day because obviously they've got kids.

Like the new wee baby. So I think I'll do that, do all the presents, whatever, see, like, Little Millie having fun with our toys. And then I'm going to go home because my mum's, like, family are coming up, some of them live in Nottingham. Oh, yeah, very funny. Yeah, they're all coming up, so I feel like it wouldn't be right for me not to spend it with them either. And I think I might just leave my plan there and just see what happens.

Yeah. Like, if Jason feels it coming over later, they can. Or what I'm thinking is he could take me over there, then he could see everyone do pick, like, he can get all his stuff, and then he can go back to his sisters, and then we'll just play it by you. year. Yeah. Because last year I had like a plan of I'll go over to Jason's at like eight and I just felt like you're just waiting on that time coming to know that you need to leave. Yeah exactly. So I agree and then I'll just see like oh my dad and all that on

boxing day probably. Yeah that's nice. My dad's normally away abroad so I can never really see him to no point but I'm actually spending it with Richard and his best friend Mark and I think he listens to this podcast so hi Mark but he's coming up to stay with us because he sadly hasn't got any parents and a part or a partner so he's going to come and spend it with us. That'd be nice. He usually like Christmas for the obvious reason but I'm going to make it extra spesh. I feel like that makes it like a bit better for you too but you can be like he can't wait for just yes Christmas dinner. Well this is what I'm going to say like I don't know if you do find this exciting because like I wouldn't because I hate cooking but you can be like in the kitchen

prep and all and all that for your two boys. I know it's nice isn't it? I think that's nice. My four boys two fluffy boys and my two boyfriends. Your two fluffy boys that will actually make you not be able to breathe every single day of your life. Honestly, you can't wait. I'm more excited this Christmas than going back home. And I'll see in between. Yeah, exactly.

I said to my friends up here I was like, you all have to see me because I probably will, I say this now, I will feel sad not being around my family, so. Yeah, and then we might go away for a new year. Oh, yes.

Well, you are definitely going down but it might be a thing. Yes, we might be. I might come. Right, what's next on our little list? So what's been on your, I've been home for a few days, so what's actually been physically on your plates?

Well, what I would like to discuss is that I definitely had food poisoning yesterday. Oh yes he did. And I was severely unwell. You feel like okay now? I feel like okay but I would say I'm like 80%. Oh. I wouldn't say I'm 100% you know what I mean? I can't believe that. I know. We won't say where it was. I know but

I got a take away on my friends on Friday night. We were having wine as well so let's not forget I did drink. We did drink three bottles of wine but those three of us. She went I only drank a whole bottle of wine to myself. I'm like hmm. But you're not being that like unwell from that. You're having a sore head from that. Yeah I guess so. Do you know what I mean? Depends if it's a whole bottle of red.

No, it was rosy. And it was over like six hours. Okay. So that's not really that much me think about it. But also two of us had the same thing. One didn't. Two of us really ill.

One not. So it really made sense. And it was fish and rice and things like that, wasn't it? Yeah, it was like prawn cats to a bit of sushi. And to be fair, we did look each turn with prawns are quite like soggy, aren't they?

But I was just kind of like starving so I ate it anyway. And now I'm like, that's obviously what it was. So my Saturday was completely waste. So that's what was on my plate and I don't want it on my plate ever again. Oh no, I feel sad for you. I know. So it ruined a buzz.

We had meal preps, didn't we? Yes, we did. We did. Molly's meal prep, she's called. She's actually works in a lovely little coffee shop in Udingston and she got in touch with and asked if we would just try a few meals and she does sell them around Glasgow. I don't know if it's what the postcode range is, but we'll put her little act in our bio. And yeah, it was delicious.

She does protein meals, normal like, meal. meals if you're a calorie counting, breakfast and some snacks. I saw there was a soup on a menu this week. Protein pancakes, biscoff oats. They were amazing though, weren't they? Yeah, did you heat them up, by the way? No? Because, yeah, because I posted it one day that I was like starting it

and she replied to me saying, by the way, put the oats in the microwave for like 10 to 20 seconds, like just not a lot, but just to like melt the biscoff or melt the Nutella and like mix it all in. I still really liked it, but... Because I had the first ones without doing that, I think. but I prefer the biscoff in the morning because I love Nutella but it's quite heavy for me in the morning

I think Nutella's a bit sickly yeah but yeah I prefer the biscoff ones they were delicious I just loved not having to prep my lunches for work yeah same that 95 that I do so easy that we talk about it often which I actually bought some offer yesterday

because he was like oh they'll be a class there one would get some and also if I was meal prepping like for myself as I'm just organising what I was going to eat I would let's be like baked potato and tuna rice or like chicken and rice whereas it was like prawns

you had like pestle pasta checking, like there was so many different options. So I can't wait to do it again. And she did say to us that if you, did she say, if you quote a lot on your plate to her and you message her, she'll give you two free breakfasts. But just talking about Molly, because she's actually a massive fan of this podcast,

as is her best friend, Sophie, and they always talk about it. But she sent me a little voice now. I'm just going to play it because it's about something we spoke about this week. Hi, so we and Sophie are just discussing the slogan rap situation and going through every person that we know on the sight of those sort of frog on planet air

yeah um however I actually made my own one up so I heard about this ages ago and I've got on an Instagram on an Instagram on an Instagram on Instagram so I've known about it for a while right

but I came up with my own one so I always think people are either a fairy or an ogre and it's just really fun to do like sometimes when I'm like walking down the street I'll be like um

fairy energy so I was sitting there thinking I'm one million percent I know you got I am Fiona from Shrek I'm a hundred percent I know good as well but no you're fairy pardon you're fairy what is fairy energy about me tell me like pointy pixie soft feature

cute he he he I'm like a big raw big nostrils coming for you I'll actually have the harshest I'm going to eat your kids that is me I'm Fiona I have to say

I don't disagree with you about you because I know what you mean like you're just quite like I think maybe

I'm Fiona energy no I'm Fiona with a fairy energy yeah I would say your energy is quite fairy like quite like

ditsy and like high energy this is what I'm confused about because I couldn't be lower energy

okay you're a fairy with ogre energy but definitely actually do yeah I think you're an ogre no

you're a big fairy I know what would you even rather be out of there too? I don't know. I actually was thinking the whole frog rat situation because a lot of you have messaged me about this I think we need to add an animal and I think the third animal is a pig. Me too.

It is a pig because I'm a pig, because I'm more piggy than froggy. I only want pig involved if I'm a pig. Yeah, because you love them that much. You can see little piglet. But then someone that really, really was passionate about me being a rat. Was that your sister? My sister, she messaged me, she just thought,

listening to the one that told me about it listening to the podcast, Zoe is definitely a rat. I'm savage as hell. It's like, perfect. Honestly. So yeah, so that was from last week's episode

and that's what I've been on my plate as well to be honest and we're going to pick some more up tonight, aren't we? Yep, I can't wait. A second week, yeah. Nice to feel organized to have it done for the week. I know, it makes me feel great

and just putting them in the fridge and all my lunches there and it's delicious. Not having to chewing it right to have an avocado every day. It really makes me sad. But also me and Zoe are doing something really excited after the podcast today. We are. You see it.

So for anyone that's probably not from Glasgow, there's a garden centre here called Silver Birch. Yeah. And it is pretty iconic at Christmas time. It is like basically winter wonderland in there, isn't it? Yeah. And they have invited us along like, we're celebs. And they're inviting us and give us a little voucher to go and spend for some Christmas bit. I honestly cannot wait for that.

I sent it straight into my group chat and they were like, no, you've made it. I was like, yeah, no. I could quit at this point and I'm happy. I mean, it's very expensive. I know. So I don't know how far it's going to go, but it was, I love it in there.

Even just to walk around. It's lovely. It's just a nice, like, Sunday activity. Go out of a wee cafe, get a wee soup and a toast day and then in a couple of Christmas bubbles, a wee candle, and that's you. Yeah. What are you going to get?

I need a tree. Richard's banned me from getting a real tree this year. He said it's too. Why? Because he hoover's five times a day anyway, but he says he had to hoover more than that. Well, I actually heard you can get someone to come pick it up. Did you do that last time?

Yeah. But did that help with the messiness of it or not? That's what it was. Dragging that out the flat when it's half dead by New Year's Eve. We also did the same. It just goes everywhere. You just need to brush it up, hoover a couple times,

and then. Yeah, because I've got all those wooden floors and it was going down the cracks, it was just not cute. And it was kind of doing that with hers as well, but I'm not settling for fake, so. No. And then next week, I'm going down to Lester for a few days, days and then Sunday I am bringing Zoe to win which is where we record this podcast I'm

almost almost I'm actually not almost I'm high key concerned why because I really took this on thinking November I'm getting fit and healthy I'm back carb queen is out the window and ask me what I've done in November fuck all and see as well I ate they meal preps during the day being like oh look at me look at me go home and I just still eat like a little eat like bag of shit. I'm like, what's that actually the point? So I'm feeling like maybe I'll be like... New year, new you. Okay? But it needs to happen before then. Well, it's not going to, is it? Let's be realistic.

But you know I do usually stay quite fit and healthy throughout the year in the last couple months. But that's fine. So what's been hard on yourself? She's gone. It's fine. I'm thinking I'll be there and I'll be like, woo! You'll be cheering everyone. But anyway, let's explain what it is. So next Sunday, when, which Graham is the owner, CEO, um, starting. We started a charity, how many years ago? Last year. Last year called Win for Autism.

I'm going to pass over to G just to explain a little bit more, but have an event on Sunday, which is like a fitness event, and I'm bringing Zoe along. Everybody is welcome, but we'll talk a little bit why it means a lot to G and actually quite a bit to Zoe as well. So I'll pass over to G, just explain what it is, please. First of all, our son, Jackson, 6 is autistic. So last year, we decided to have a little fundraiser in the gym.

Just a kind of a little event, a workout, to raise some funds for a local group you went to, which was just a little kids group. We're actually trying to support their Christmas night. So we obviously got all our members involved, but they took to it like nothing else, like got behind it, obviously to support us and obviously didn't know about Jackson,

but the thing took off, like lightning. End up massive to the point where we raised so much funds that we were able to turn it into an actual charity, a foundation, to then put on events for an entire year. So for the last 12 months, we've been able to do. We booked out the cinema, private screenings. We booked out the air thrill, like the trampoline park. We did private parties.

We did like a fake birthday party for all the kids. I was telling with that yesterday. Yeah, so all the kids, like, as you know, kids with autistic or kids with learning difficulties often miss out on these things, they don't get invited to parties and stuff. Yeah. I don't think it's empty's fault, like it's understandable, but they can obviously be a bit disruptive and they can, uh, some kids might not want to invite them. So we thought what we'd do is we'll have an autistic birthday party.

I mean, all the kids got like their own cake, their own candles and it was basically their party, but it was like 30 kids there. So stuff like that. We had like a Halloween party in the gym. We had like all sorts of inflatable, they kind of do their own thing. It's just really cool because not just for the kids, but for the parents is well. When your kids are autistic, you get to go to these things and the kids can just do what they want. Yeah. It's like, throw them all together. Just let them go wild. Then all the

parents have got that kind of support network as well. So it's like I kind of get together for them as well. So basically from that one event last year, the funds raised then funded that entire year worth of events. That's brilliant. And that was really down to our members getting behind it. But then them just kind of spread in the work. Spreading the words. It went nuts to the point where I had a workout in the gym, the actual event where it was packed out. Like you had a hundred people doing the workout and stuff. So it was really cool. So we're bringing it back this year, which is now Sunday. Now, what we're doing this time is and why Zoe's coming is because we've opened up the event, which is a fitness event, a workout, which is

successful for every day, but you can bring your friends this time. So all the members are going to bring their friends and family. And basically, anybody, if you're listening, if you're running about Hamilton, if you want to come down and support, you can come and get involved in the workout. That's what we're doing on Sunday. So if you do want to support, if you're interested, one, you can come down, just hang out, come see what's all about, do the workout. We've got a raffle going on, which has some really cool prizes. Really cool prizes. Which Jess has very nicely donated as well.

He? What is it? We have the look fantastic beauty advent calendar. Full of goodies. Absolute belters. Yeah, Richard's got a few amazing prizes as well to do with football. So if you check out our social media, they'll post up all the prizes there and you can buy tickets. We've got a t-shirt for the event.

We're all going to wear white. The thing is the workout is all dressed in white. Do you know that as well? No, I haven't talked about it now. I'm going to wear like a really fancy dress so that it's inappropriate for me to get involved in the work. Right. No, you need to do the work out. So yeah, basically that's it.

So we're looking just to raise funds, raise awareness for the next 12 months worth of events for the kids and the families and all of that. And I just need to say that this is all down to Jenna, which is my wife. She is an absolute superstar. She just takes all of this on. The charity itself, nobody takes anything from it.

It is 100% everything goes towards that. But it's also Jenna's time. She does all the organisation for all the kids, all the families and does it all herself, which is pretty awesome. We love Jenna. We do love Jenna. We do, don't we?

Because Janet also helps us out. Her podcast superstructure. She is. We love her. But yeah, so when did you find out Jack, so when did you know that he had autism? How old would he have been?

Probably just when he turned one. Yeah. Because Jack's non-verbal autistic. Yeah. And so is Zoe's brother as well. I actually don't think they knew for sure until like three-ish. I could be wrong, but that's what I always remember it being.

Because I'm like a bit older. There's quite a lot of age gap between, I'm actually not that much older than Daniel. I think I'm six or seven years older than. him. But I'm sure it was about three-ish because he's completely non-verbal. So it was just obviously you're not developing like any child does. Given the age, like Jackson's 6

Daniel's 18. I think he's turned to say, I think. He's kind of 20 this month actually. If you think about that long ago, I think the awareness wouldn't have been as much as they would have been knowing. But it's just six years ago we've seen it kind of when he was one. It was kind of things like no eye contact and maybe being a bit unsocial and stuff like that. So the signs were

very early and mother's intuition. Jenna knew right away. But also because there's such a, there's like so many different levels of it. You could get to any age and people be like, definitely think there's like a bit of like autism in them. Yeah. You know that kind of way. Yeah. Because it can just be that you're a bit socially awkward. Yeah. Whereas obviously we both have like the nonverbal like kind of extreme. Yeah. Whereas we're lucky that the kids can be really aggressive but Daniel's actually really like loving. Like see if you walked in like. So is Jackson isn't he? Yeah. That's where we always say like Jackson's awesome. Like he is like he is the happiest child ever. And even

when he gets upset, it's like brief. So we don't, fortunately, don't have to deal with, a lot of kids deal with, like, kind of meltdowns in public. There's definitely been a few, for sure. But generally, he's pretty happy. You just find a heart to communicate, and definitely, it's definitely been on the top end of the spectrum as well. Yeah, I know that's the same as Daniel.

I mean, see, if you come in and you had, like, a fur coat or he'll just want to touch it. He'll touch it. Like, he'll just come up and he'll just, like, stroke. And I'm like, just let him, like, because he just, he loves textures. And he, I don't know if Jack's has got, like, any wee habits, but like Daniel obviously he's a bit older

but in a sense I suppose I don't really grow up from a lot of things so he'll like damp kitchen roll and like rip it into tiny tiny shreds and then just like play with it because it's obviously like a texture thing and there's been like other things in the past I can't even think now but like he still does that

and then he's got like a wee boxer he's like ripped up kitchen roll oh my God I know and he loves the iPad He's on it like all the time and he just work at like an absolute wizard as well yeah because they've always got like

usually like a kind of like speciality. Like a lot of people with autism have a really good, like art. Like genius. Yeah. Really good with like art or like technology. And Daniel's really good with his iPad. But he plays songs and repeat.

And you can just see my dad looking like Daniel. Next. But he just like laughs away. So how does both Daniel and Jacks communicate to you both? Obviously if they can't speak. So Jackson right now has got a few words. He uses them kind of out of context. But he definitely has a better understanding the odd word.

doesn't string together, send a tease, I can't really. But I think they just communicate in their own ways. There's definitely a lot of signals. I think you just know what things mean, I suppose. But Daniel's got, like, for example, if he spilled something, he would say mess. Okay. But he wouldn't say, like, mum, I've made a mess, or can you help me clean up the mess or whatever? He would just say mess.

But he wouldn't say anything unless something happened. Or when I go in, I'll say hi. You wouldn't say hi back. But I'm like, say hi. And eventually, he'll just be like, hi. Right. So, like, there's some words there, but he would never just speak. Do you know what I mean?

Yeah, okay. So, like, you can kind of prompt, like, some words out of him, but it's just basically non-verbalt. At the, um, when the autism parties that you've put up, how does Jackson or all the other children react with each other? All very different, I think, because, like we've just said, there, like, there's so many different levels of autism. And not just autism, usually autism comes with some other sort of special needs as well.

So it's usually like a few different things mixed in there. Yeah. Um, ADHD and whatever, even some kids with Down syndrome who are also on spectrum. So there's a film mixed to. there so it does depend but I think it's really cool because it's one of the only times we get to see Jackson actually interact with kids like that yeah because the other parents there's no fear from us as well because of course as a parent of a autistic kid you find yourself apologising your entire life if you're in public is

apologising sorry sorry sorry yeah whereas in this situation you don't care it's just like let the kids go nuts and you end up actually brings out the best in Jackson we're in here last a few weeks ago for the Halloween party yeah it looked great and there was another little kid who was actually older than Jackson was Ali Crawford's son do you know yeah yeah the two of them just like kind of glued each other and Jackson was getting him to chase him and they were he was like hitting him and running away and all that and they were just really cool to see that which is a raided for Jackson you know he just kind of lives in his own world and does his own thing so it is cool so lovely Jackson's obsessed with Richard as well

isn't he loves him Jackson's biggest thing just now like I say has got a few words but it all started from he obviously Jenna like loves Jenna yeah doesn't he wanting to leave ever so when Jenna comes in the house now, if Jenna's got her shoes on, that's the signal that she's going to leave. So he's learned how to say shoes off. That's his number one saying. I remember I'm in the gym and he kept saying, like, he was just like pointing at his shoes because he was stressed that she had his shoes on. She's like, I'm taking them, I'm taking them off, I'm taking them off. Daniel actually used to have that with like someone putting a jacket on or I think maybe shoes as well. And then they remember directions so well. I don't know if you found that. And it's like

you drive a certain way and he'll be like park, park or like. Yeah, we can go. somewhere once, like even like around in Glasgow into town somewhere and if it was something he really enjoyed like a park, we can go back six months later and if we miss that turning, you're like, ugh, start screaming at the turning. Is that if you remember, oh yeah,

like the directions are unbelievable. But also Daniel once, you have to laugh. Daniel once left the house. I'm talking years ago, right, and just strolled down to the corner shop at the bottom of the street. But I'm talking like, I would say maybe like a 10 minute walk, right?

Picked up a packet sweets, walked out and walked back up the road. What did buy them? Well, he doesn't even know what buying sweets are. So my dad has to go down and apologise. And they're like, where is they? And they had to look about for him. And I'm almost sure we live right, well, my dad lives right next to the railway line,

like at Motherville. And he knows, like, he always liked going to ASDA and like picking a packet sweets and like that kind of thing. And I'm sure one time he also started walking to ASDA. And they couldn't find him. You're like, how can you remember that? Like, he's how way to get you shot him in? This is Daniel and Jackson's world.

And they had to, I know. And they had to, like, go find him. and it was my friends always remember a time when they were over and Daniel loves the trampoline so he'll go out even when it's like actually pushing around on the trampoline or there could be snow on it and he's on it with bare feet so they always need to try and like bring him in

if it's not obviously appropriate to be out there but eventually he does want to come back in hours later but he was up at like the kind of patio looking windows and he'd be locked out and he couldn't get in and my dad was like oh it's just character building you're like right my pals were like pissing himself oh I love that

I love it So yeah, if anyone listen to the podcast would like, or lives locally, I'd like to head down. It's this Sunday the 20th and we'll put the address on our Instagram page and if you want to enter the raffle, please do because the prizes are honestly incredible and if you want to just donate anything

we'll put all the details there as well. And you get to come and meet me and Zoe as well if you go. There'll be a cure out the door. Long cue. But you know what? You have to bring your gym gear. You have to be part of the workout, I'm afraid. No, you don't really.

Do they have to do the workout? No, not really. forced to do the workout now. Come down, there's going to be some other kind of events and stuff on as well.

Yeah, if you like fitness, come, it'll be great fun. I remember that you said that when you're forcing me to do it. You're careful to do that.

You know, it's like teams as well Zoe, so I'm going to make sure that I'm not in your team and you're going to have to have you. No, that makes, no, I'm feeling awkward

I don't know anyone. I'm joking, I would never do that too. I don't know anyone I feel weird. No, you'll find it, you'll honestly love it, I promise.

But what I'm going to say just to be clear, I'm not joining the cult. This is a one time. I said that. This is a one time thing for a good cause. No, look at me. And then I'm off. That's creepy the start of something beautiful, so you know.

No. I'm scared. No, don't be, don't be. I'm going to go to the gym tomorrow and I think weights. I'm going to lift weights for the next week. Get my bottle to do ready. Right, so we're going to do a spit or swallow. We haven't done one for a while and Zoe's treating me to a lovely al-a-cart meal.

Make sure you eyes. Okay, luckily I can't taste too much. Yeah, I can't handle it after being so. Right, open white. Choo-choo. Okay. Mmm. Oh.

It's actually nice, but there's a lot of the wetness. I actually thought you might like that, by me. Don't tell me what it is until I swallowed it. Wait, don't tell me that's butter. Fuck me. Is that crisps and butter? It's M&S sweet shelley crisp with utterly butterly. Me.

Like my whole calorie intake in one spoon. Delicious. to be fair. Was it nice? I thought it was cream cheese and salt and chilled crisps because that's what we spoke about. We've had that they're really nice to dip in.

Woof! Don't recommend. Nice. Heavy. Carb Queen. Shot you giving me that. You're just jealous, aren't you? I'm going to have that for snack later on.

Actually, I'm going to need to buy a new butter now because obviously I've just dipped a crispin and there's crumbs and you know what Jason's like. And I've decided that, well, you know what? I was wanting to do a spit or swallow for you today because you told me that you hadn't had anything good in Copenhagen. They're known for pickled herring. And I was going to go and try and find pickled herring in Morrison's, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Payback to you for not

trying their national dish. So payback is I'm going to find, well I know exactly what I'm going to get you. For anyone that's been to Lisbon, they know what they're known for. Don't Google it. Let's make me feel weird. I'm going to bring it back and that's going to be your Swet or Swallow. Good luck. Great. I can't wait. And it's not pleasant. Well, it might be actually. But yeah, anyway, I can't wait for that one. Same. Okay, guys, well, we're going to wrap up the episode there. I hope you enjoyed this nice little catch-up and we'll leave all the details we spoke about in the bio bit below

and all the Instagram tags. And we hope to see some of you there. Yes, we really do. I can't wait. See you next Tuesday. Bye. Bye. reputable MBA from one of the world's top business schools. Our faculty of business holds

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