Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball - 69: Holiday Dramas, Puppy Love and Propagation Stations…

Episode Date: February 25, 2026

Jo and Zo catch up on each other’s holidays…with a few unexpected twists thrown in the mix. Jo has us all on tenterhooks with her potential puppy update. Plus - how to set up a home propagation station courtesy of the wonderful Ann-Marie Powell.For more garden tips, check out Ann-Marie’s Substack here 👉 https://myrealgardens.substack.com/ GET IN TOUCH📧 Email us: [e-mail]📱 Text or Voice Note: 07477 038795💬 Or tap here to send a voice note or message on WhatsApp:⁠ ⁠https://wa.me/447477038795SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORSThis episode is brought to you by Saily, NS&I and Ancient + Brave✨ Traveling soon? Saily is an easy-to-use eSIM app that lets you download a digital SIM straight to your phone before you travel. No fiddly plastic cards and no eye-watering roaming charges. Just choose your destination, buy a data plan and you’re connected the moment you land. It works in over 200 destinations worldwide. Use code DIGIT for 15% off your first purchase at checkout. Download Saily via the App Store. https://www.saily.com/digit ✨ NS&I - Got plans for the future — whether it’s helping the kids, renovating the house, or finally sorting that savings pot? NS&I has been helping people save for over 160 years, and every pound you invest is 100% backed by HM Treasury. Start your savings journey today at https://www.nsandi.com/✨Ancient + Brave – This January isn’t about being “good”, it’s about having energy that actually lasts. Ancient + Brave’s True Creatine+ supports strength, cognition and steady energy without the jitters or crash. It’s neutral tasting, dissolves easily and fits effortlessly into real life. They’re also a certified B Corp and members of 1% for the Planet, so it’s good for you and good for the planet too. Subscribe and save 20% on your monthly wellness rituals, plus get a free ritual scoop. Head to ancientandbrave.earth to get started.CREDITSExec Producer: Jonathan O’SullivanProducer: Samantha PsykAssistant Producer: Eve JonesTechnical Producer: Oliver GeraghtyVideo Editors: Danny Pape and Jack Whiteside

Coming up on Digit. We had this one morning on holiday when there was a knock at the door, six in the morning. Jude comes in, needs to go to hospital. What? We go to dinner on the first night, and there is a fantastic female pop icon. She was dancing to the band. Nelly was like, oh my God, it's so-and-so. If the mum has nine puppies, you can have the ninth puppy.

And then I suddenly got a message from Jill going, are you sitting down? She's just given birth. All of that. right after this. Hello, Joe, my friend. Hello, Zoe. It feels so long. How are you?

I feel like I haven't seen you for ages. I know. You're right? I'm a little bit jet lagged. Yeah. Because I went away with the kids and had the most amazing time. But I'm not quite sure what time of day it is.

I'm not quite sure which continent I'm in. I'm in the same. I know. I'm in exactly the same state of mind as well. We did a half-term holiday, which we don't often do. But it was long haul, so it was 12-hour flight.

and I got back so late. So I'm in that state at the moment of absolutely everything being everywhere, but I can't find what it is that I need at this moment in time. And it was quite an eventful holiday. It was lovely. It was really lovely.

But God, I don't know whether other diggers have this kind of thing. You go on holiday and everyone just falls apart. It's almost like, you know, you have the chance to relax and then stuff happens. We had this one morning on holiday when there was a knock at the door, six in the morning.

Jude comes in, needs to go to hospital. He was like, I think I need to go to hospital. Tells us what's going on. And we were like, yeah, you do. You need to go to hospital. Okay. So he heads off to Bangkok Hospital six in the morning. He's okay.

Nine o'clock in the morning. Cass comes into the bedroom, knock, not, not. You know those mosquito bites that I've got. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You've got lots because he always, always has always been bitten by mosquitoes. Well, they've kind of joined up and I think I might have shingles. Oh, my God. Okay, take top of, let me have a look.

I look at his body and I went, oh, no, you've definitely got shingles. This is definitely shingles. Bangkok Hospital again. I know. So we were their best customers. So we've come back to the UK and both of them now need to go and get follow up treatment

and get sorted out. But oh my God, shingles is rotten. Yeah, I remember my mum having shingles. It's horrendous, isn't it? It's so bad, yeah. Oh my God, the pain that he's been in. He can't talk properly in the moment. He keeps talking and then he'll suddenly go,

and just make these weird sounds because of the shooting pains. What is the treatment? for shingles. I know how painful it is. Remember my mum being in agony. So you get shingles if you have had chicken pox and you have the virus, it stays within you. So if you had chicken pox, you all have the, we all have the virus. And then when your immune system gets low or it just happens to some people, I know my grandma had it. You can get shingles. So it's like an extreme form of chicken pox, but it's neurological. So you get neuralgia and you get, it's all about nerves.

So they tend to spread around your trunk of your body and his is around the back. And they have literally met up. So it started on. back, had some on his chest, and then there's spots, I mean, I say spots, they're massive cluster of spots all the way around his torso. And he just keeps getting, because he went wakeboarding and he kept saying, I'm getting really bad pains in my side. And I was like, obviously you've torn to muscles when you're wakeboarding. He hadn't at all. It was shingles. So you get incredible shooting pains, sharp shooting pains. And then the skin is unbearable to touch. I mean, he's not many days into it. So I'll let you know how it progresses. But yeah,

holidays, they don't always go according to plan. So I'm not. quite as relaxed and, you know, chilled as I thought I might be after a holiday. Oh, bless you. But what was your holiday like? Was it chilled? Was it fun? It was so chilled. We went to Jamaica. I once took Woody there and not his sister. And we can't remember why. But obviously, I've been berated for that forever. So this was me making up to Nell and Nell got to come and Rugi, Woody's amazing girlfriend. So it was just the four of us. And I was feeling a bit emotional because it was going to be We often go away sort of around this time or just after Christmas and we'd always take my mum. And so it was that real feeling of all of us.

You could feel it amongst all of us of like, Granny's not here, mum's not here. And there was an amazing moment where Woody and I saw a shooting star. And he went, make a wish. And then I made the wish. And then I realized the wish I made couldn't come true. And he clocked it. I basically wished my mom was with us. And then my eyes filled with tears.

And then he went, Mom, it's okay. And he knew, he knew exactly what I'd thought, but then we just had this big hug. Because the thing is, she's with us everywhere. But it was fantastic. We stayed at Golden Eye, which is Chris Blackwell's place. And Chris Blackwell is such a hero. Anyway, he started Island Records back in the late 50s. He's got an amazing history.

He's a man who brought us, you know, reggae music. And Bob Marley and Grace Jones, he signed U-2. And it is such a fabulous place. And there are trees planted everywhere that have been planted by people who visit. And as you walk around the trees, you see quite amazing names. There was a tree planted by Dunstan Plemons. I believe that's Kirsten and Jesse. And Shaggy had been there the week before.

We go to dinner on the first night. And there is a fantastic female pop icon who we love. but I'm not going to say who she is because I thought actually she's not publicised that she was there but she was dancing to the band Nelly was like oh my God it's so and so

she was having an amazing time and there's just such a beautiful country and just to have my kids together because Woody lives in Bristol so we don't go to see him very often and his girlfriend Rugi is so much fun and the three kids together they just had a joyous time

and I did lots of sleeping and just lots of watching as a mum being really proud of them and laughing a lot. There was a lot of piss taking of me. It's bans, Mum, as Nell always says. Good. Excellent. There was a really funny moment on the journey back where I was like, Nelly was complaining about having to go back to school and, you know, GCSC's. It's like, yeah, fair enough, actually.

And I went, oh, I've got to go back and do the podcast. And she then did an impression of our podcast. Would you like to hear it? Okay. Yeah, I'd love to hear it. This is My Nell on what we do on the podcast. podcast. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, menopause, blah, blah, blah, blah. Gardening, blah, blah, blah, heated rivalry. It's like, Franks now. Yeah, that's it. That's pretty much it. She can take over when she wants. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. Completely. Oh, my God, sorry, can I just

say one more thing, one more thing, we're just babbling on a lot here. Nellie will have a field day taking the Mickey out of us. But we were on the plane last night, on the plane last night. And Coco suddenly went, Mom. Oh, no. Yeah. I think I've left. left Snoopy in Bangkok. Snoopy is her childhood cuddly toy that she could never bear to be without. She'd left him. She'd left Snoopy in the hotel. So thank God, Jude is still out there at the moment.

And he's just sent me a photograph. He's been to the hotel. He's retrieved Snoopy. He's got him in his arms. So he's coming back later on this week and bringing back Snoopy. But I bet other people, our other diggers, will have been to holidays and you will have left behind. Or your children will have left behind that one cuddly toy that your kid cannot sleep

without. And, you know, you've gone to epic. lengths to get that toy back. We're just lucky that Jude was there. But I'd love to hear stories. People can always get in touch. Leave us voice notes. Tell us about the toy tragedies, that, that cuddly toy that's gone missing and the repercussions. That would be good to hear. If you're enjoying Dig It so far, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you watch or listen. That way, you'll get new episodes delivered directly and you'll never miss an episode. By the way, I know our diggers and definitely the Digit's team would like a pup date, Joe, if you have one, because you guys are thinking about

getting a puppy. Yeah, we are. So I mentioned this the other day on the pod and the situation was, I hadn't realised you had to be organised and get your name down when there are litters being born well in advance. So I've been speaking to this amazing woman called Jill. She's on Instagram. It's didgerie doodles. So diggery doodles. I think it works really well with the podcast. Diggerie. So didgerie doodles. And she's got litter. And she's got litter. And she said to me, well, I've got a litter, but if the mum has nine puppies, you can have the ninth puppy. If she only has eight, then you're going to have to wait until later on in the year.

So for the whole holiday, I've literally been waiting like going, I knew that she was going to give birth over the last few days. I've been waiting and waiting and waiting. And then on Friday evening, I think I got a message and she was in labour. And we could watch these puppies. They were being popped out and she was live streaming and it was so exciting. I was like, oh my God, is she going to have more than eight? yeah and I'm like oh she had five in quick succession and then I suddenly got a message from Jill going

are you sitting down she's just given birth to number nine so we have a pop this is amazing yeah she then went on to have 11 in the end this poor dog Madison her name is this amazing mummy and she's had 11 puppies but number nine is going to be ours we're going to have one of them and they're Australian Labradoodles and I've had quite a few people getting in touch saying they are just the most beautiful dogs. Someone said that they're like humans in fur. They're really, really devoted and loyal and gorgeous. So we've looked at all the puppies. We don't know which one we're going to get. We're going to leave them at Jill. I know. I really got very emotional about it. I thought, well, I'm going to be a puppy mummy. And she's going to be part of all the family, part of our Digit family.

She's going to be part of our Digit family. I do love it on the show that, you know, for anyone who can't have pets, we do have the Digit pets. I mean, it's like the modern day Blue Peter. It really is. We have Needs. Emo and now we're going to have a pup. Has there been a discussion about names? I know it's early days. The name that we came up with that we all went, oh my God, that's a really good name, is music-related.

So we always kind of think what we're into. We had Brody, who was from Homeland, because I was obsessed with Homeland. Of course, Brody. We've got Django, the jazz artist, musician, rather. So we are going to have a puppy. She is probably going to have a music-related name, and I'll tell you what it is when we get her. So we've got eight weeks to wait until then.

then she'll be coming home. Oh, congrats. I'm so happy for you as a family. It's moving forward. Did you manage to catch any of the BAFTAs, Joe? I did. We got back on Sunday night, so then I watched the BAFTAs. But what was your take? You obviously love movies. I've watched a lot of TV on the plane coming home. But there was one film in particular that I watched before I went on the holiday, which did incredibly well, and I'm so happy about it. And I know you love it as well. And that is, that's, I swear. It did so brilliantly and in particular, it's star so thrilled for Robert Arameo who played John Davidson in this film about the incredible man John Davidson who lives with Tourette's and the amazing campaigning that he has done for the Tourette's community. And Robert played him so brilliantly. And first of all, he won Best Rising Star.

and was so emotional and he was with his whole family and it was the reaction of his family that just had everyone watching crying and that's when he won Rising Star but he then went on to beat Timothy Chalamay and Ethan Hawke

and Leonardo DiCaprio and win best actor and he was completely blown away but the whole auditorium and everybody watching at home I don't think people could have been more thrilled for such a surprise win. It shouldn't be surprising because he is phenomenal in this film. And it was so wonderful.

And he could barely speak, could in it, just sort of seeing his dad. His dad, the joy. Oh, God. And then his little face went on the stage. And he told this really lovely story about how when he was studying, Ethan Hawke had come and spoken to them at Juilliard and given them. some really amazing advice. And Ethan Hawke looked really emotional seeing that.

So congratulations to Robert and everybody who worked on that film. If you haven't seen it, Joe, you've talked about it on the pod. It's such a brilliant film and an incredible story about an incredible man. I've said before, my sister has developed a kind of Tourette's, which has really taken us by surprise. She doesn't swear, although occasionally she has said the odd thing. But she started snorting, and it was so alien to, what we were used to with Francis.

She does these really, really loud snorts. When it first happens and you're out in public, it really takes you back. You're like, oh, God, that's embarrassing. And you kind of think, or should I be apologising? And then you realize that she can't help herself. She started spitting as well, which it is really antisocial. And it's just not like her.

It's just, you know, not the way we were brought up. But then you look at her and it's not something that she can stop. And she is trying. She's not in control of it. No, she's not in control of it. I mean, she's got learning disabilities. It's a very complex situation because what she does, she will go to spit and then she'll go, no, no. And so, you know, she is trying to stop herself.

And that is the case with John, with anybody who's got Tourette's who's been living with that condition. So it's, it's, it was very interesting. But all I would say is watch the freaking film. Yeah. Because it's astoundingly brilliant and a very, very important film for people to understand. I swear is one of those things that everybody should see. Every kid at school should be made to watch that. film. Also a great win for

Wemme Moussarko who won for sinners. She's fantastic British actress. She's an absolute legend and I was thrilled for her to win. Some great wins for the Brits actually. And of course congratulations to Jesse Buckley who won for Hamlet. Hamlet

won quite a few awards. Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director. And also at the BAFTA's last night there were some fabulous power couples. You had, Kirsten Dance was there with Jesse Plemons. Rose Byrne was there with Bobby Carnivalet.

And I think it was, they went red carpet official. Paul Meskell and Gracie Abrams. And it was so tender. I mean, it's always a bit much, isn't it, when you're looking in on someone else's relationship. And I'm slightly obsessed with relationships at the moment because I've been watching Love Story, which is the story of JFK Jr.

and Carolyn Bessette. But Gracie Abrams wrapped up in Paul Meskull on the red carpet and she was so affectionate with him and then she stood back and let him have his moment and I don't know. It just, they just seemed adorable. It's cute. It was super cute. Yeah, Gracie Abrams, who's also on the Mumford and Sons album.

She's done a really beautiful song on Price Fighter with Mumford. And I think Marcus said that she was like the muse for the record, for that record. So musically, she's an amazing artist. but they're just such a cute couple. Also, congratulations to the guys who made the documentary. This is Endometriosis, which is such an important film. It was great to see that get a win because anybody living with endometriosis,

which I have trouble saying, to be honest with you, will be thrilled because that's a really important and brilliant, brilliant film. Well done to the gang. And Ballad of Wallis Island, I was sad that they didn't win, but really happy they were nominated and they were there and obviously having a fantastic time. There've been some great films up there. When we were on the plane, I was watching, fixed, locked into what I was watching, and Coco was to the side of me, and she watched in the duration of the plane, she watched Bugonia, she watched Hamnet and she watched one battle after another. Those three films, she was like, I want to know when the Oscars come around that I've seen them all.

And so I'm watching over her shoulder. And God, I love Bugonia so much, or Bagonia so much. I was so outraged that Jesse Plemans hasn't had more nominations for any awards because he is fantastic in it. Such a great actor. And I was looking at him actually during the awards thinking your time will come. Jesse, you will win and you will win big. But I was locked in and I watched the hold of shrinking and then I also watched small profits, which we mentioned last time and I know we equally love this series.

And it's so hard to explain what it is. Steve looked over in the island. He was like, what is it like science fiction or something? And I went, no, it's about people in the community and about auditors and, you know, living together. And then it's about these weird little fairy creatures. It's so hard to explain, isn't it? Small prophets, but from the amazing mind of Mackenzie Crook.

And it's kind of about people and loss and loneliness and misfits and, you know, neighbors and the interesting people that you meet in your life, be it at work or in your neighborhood. And, you know, hoping and wishing and dreaming and never knowing. There's so much there. and every single character is brilliant. It's really tender. It's kind of heartbreaking. It's hilariously funny.

Like, laugh out loud, funny. And, yeah, we finished the whole six this weekend. And I was really glad to see that there's going to be more because all those characters are so wonderful. So, Bravo McKenzie Crook. It's such a great series. It's on the eye player if you've not seen it. Welcome back, Diggers.

So I just wanted to draw attention to this because I didn't know this was a thing, but very much like the Eurovision Song Contest, there is the European tree of the year. And it really leapt out because the images are so stunning. So I think different countries can enter their own favourite tree, stunning trees. And then it all gets decided as to which is the European tree of the year. And there are some amazing, beautiful trees in here. So I think everyone will have their different favourites. There is one in Portugal, which is a Cyprus, Mexico. And it literally looks like a Mexican hat. I guess that's where it comes from. So this is in Portugal. It's phenomenal. And then there's a white elm in Poland, which I really love. So it's like a branch, massive branch, it just goes horizontally and then the tree grows up from there. It's beautiful, architecturally beautiful. Have you got favour? Is that over? It's over some water, isn't it? It's amazing reflection. I'm a sucker for that. Well, the British tree of the year, I believe, the Argyll Street,

Ash in Glasgow is stunning. I think lots of people will have seen it and it really just shows nature against urban architecture. It's incredible in situation. I actually want to go and visit the Argyle Street Ash in Glasgow because it is an absolute beaut. It might have been Scottish tree of the year. But Rugi, Woody's girlfriend, is Lithuanian. So I'm quite fond of the Lithuanian oak, which is 400 years old and it is an absolute. absolute beaut. Really delight yourself by checking out the European trees of the year. You can't vote anymore, but there are 12 finalists and the winner will be announced at the ceremony in Brussels on the 24th of March. Do feel free to send us pictures of your favourite

trees, perhaps if you have one. God, I love trees. I love trees so much. In Thailand, I just couldn't stop taking photographs of the trees. There were so many beautiful. things to look at. And then it made me want to plant more trees when I was there. I was like, yeah, I definitely need some more trees in the house. What can I possibly get? I got a river birch last year, which I am so excited to see how it grows. Jamie Butterworth came and planted up. And it's by the riverbank. And the bark is just gorgeous. It kind of is peeling. And it's, yeah, I haven't seen it in full flow. So I'm really excited about how that's going to look. But now I'm thinking I need some more blossom trees. I know you bought blossom trees as well, didn't you?

I did. Gardening with Ish, he prompted me to buy a beautiful blossom tree. No buds on it yet. I have looked outside and the ones I can never say, Amalankia. Amalankias. They have started to butt. And this is my first year of them. So I'm actually going to see them do the full cycle, which is really exciting. And the garden is so full of life at the moment. And we've had a sew and tell from Jane. Hello, Jane. She says, hello, Zoe, Joe, just wanted to send you my sew and tell. After being laid low, with a nasty, fluy bug for nearly two weeks. Oh, how are you feeling better? I have so enjoyed a brief period, a blue sky today. Headed out to collect some packs of muscari and tete-a-tete and then found some lovely dishes in a charity shop. My spirits are lifted. The birdie sang and all felt better in my little world. So she's planted some gorgeous plants into these lovely little crockery.

I love it when people, you can plant. Not stuff in anything, can't you? Old sinks often see baths, old broken wheelbarrows. But cups and sauces and little pots that you find in a charity shop make great little homes for plants. I've got my first daffodils in the garden. Look, these are from my garden. Are they? These are the ones.

They've all been knocked over either by the squirrels or by the cat. I'm not sure. Yeah. I've never had cut daffodils from my own garden before. No. So I'm quite proud of those. Well chuffed. We're going to have lots of our cut flowers, I think, from the garden behind us when we're doing the podcast throughout the year. Lots of roses and everything. Yes, we'll be displaying our works. We'll be sewing telling every single week.

The last time we talked, we were talking about a book that Anne-Marie Powell had out. It's all about having colour in your garden. And here she is giving us her tips for setting up a propagation station at home. It's just about time to start sewing our annual seed, which is super exciting. So welcome Joe, Zoe, and all you diggers to my kitchen. table propagation station and I'm going to share with you all the kit that I use to make sure my seed gets off to a good start. I do have access to a greenhouse, but I so adore keeping my seedlings close where I can see the magic happen. It all really starts with this. And this is my trusty old seed tip. There are two of them actually, one for veg and one for annuals. And there's a host of seed here. I arrange my seed just using envelopes by sewing month. Here's April, so just on the back of an envelope, so I can see exactly when it's time to sew anything. Some of it is really, really old. I don't think that I will be sewing this kidney bean called Lazy Housewife or another one, Nun's Belly Button. This is where it begins. And it's literally a frame from one of those pop-up cold

things with lots and lots of tears on it. Time for the propagators. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. But one more thing. What the grow lights do means that you can grow when we don't have the light levels in March and April that we would have where these seeds were growing naturally. You really can use anything to sew into. You can recycle the plastic packaging from supermarkets. You know the trays, grapes come in and things like that. Mostly, what I sew into to make sure that I'm not over-sewing is one of these. And this is one of the mini propagators. After my seed tin, it's definitely my heated propagator that's my next favourite thing. It gives your seedlings bottom heat and that really does get the germination rates going. Other things that are

essential in my seed sewing arsenal. are things like these. Metal labels. These are reusable. A quick swipe with some nail polish and off comes last year's garden marker, indelible, ready for the next year. Always put the date on as well. I mean, I know my setup isn't particularly glamorous, but I just adore it. I mean, I just love seed. You saw how full those seed trays are, but look at this. I just feel. I just feel. I just feel. I just feel. find it comforting. And yeah, I've overordered again, but there is nothing nicer to know that I've got worlds here, summer after summer of bold, bright colour. And my goodness me, seeds don't half make good presents at this time of year. Happy sewing everybody. And I hope to see you soon. Oh, thank you, Amory. You're just making me so excited to get sewing. I'm really bad because sometimes I get seeds and then I'm dithering about and I'm running around doing loads of other things and then I forget to plant them and then I wonder how long they last. Can you keep them for years?

Yeah, good point. But it's great, isn't it? You were saying, you know, you just stick them in your little pots and put them in the window in Disco Steve's office. Yeah, yeah. And give them the warmth. Those little lights look really good. I mean, it looked like quite a professional setup that Amory's got there. It did. But it's something that we can all do. Yeah. When she was saying about the propagated, the heated propagators, I presume they need to be plugged in somewhere. And those little lights look brilliant because then if you're giving you a little bit light. But of course, you can simply do it on a window sill. On a window sill.

As you've mentioned, yeah, I need to get on with things like this. I know. I'd quite like to grow some cosmos this year. Yeah, cosmos is lovely, really lovely. Maybe some veg as well, maybe some tomatoes. Cosmos are amazing. Cosmos are amazing for filling gaps. That's what I've always found.

When everything else kind of begins to die down when you get to midsummer and you have cosmos everywhere, It's just like they give height and they give colour and they're frilly. They're really wonderful. It's a big fan of Cosmos. You had me at Frilly. There is one called Frilly Knickers, actually. Frilly Knickers. What was that?

What was that seed that she had there? Lazy Housewife and Nun's Belly Button. Brilliant. And you can find more from Amory on her substack, My Real Gardens. Thank you, Amory. Just fabulous. And can I just say Amory always wears the most amazing bright colors and clothes and just I'm going to take a leaf out of her book. Look at me. I dressed as a stick today.

I've got the same trousers on that I interviewed Kerry Mulligan recently and she looks so cool. And I was like, where is your outfit from? And it was from Coss. So when I was in Bangkok, they've got a massive cause there. And I went, cause in Bangkok. I need to find these trousers. So I've now, these trousers I'm wearing are the ones that Cary Mulligan was wearing when she did the Ballad of Wallace Island promotion. And they're great. They're called black cords cropped. So you can wear your loafers with them and they look quite nice. Yeah, so I literally just stole her style. If you're going to steal the style of anyone, Kerry Mulligan is a great place to start.

She's so fabulous. Right, crate digging. Have you got any crates that you want to dig into? What have you got in there? What is in the crate this week? Well, when I was on holiday, last time I was in Jamaica, I read Grace Jones' autobiography, which was fabulous.

This time I read The Islander, which is all about Chris Blackwell, Mr. Blackwell. They call him. He set up Island Records. He signed so many. incredible artists. He started out filling the duke boxes

of Jamaica. He would drive all the way around Jamaica and he'd find records to put in the duke boxes and that's how he kind of started out and he set the record label up

in the late 50s and I think one of his first releases was Millie Small singing My Boy Lollipop which was a massive hit in the UK and in America and all over the world. He went on to sign

you know Bob Marley U2 He produced movies, like stop making sense, the Talking Heads film, which I fricking love, one of the best films I've made. And he set up island outposts, set up hotels. But he's just got the most beautiful story. And when we were in Jamaica, he was there at Golden Eye, because it's his hotel. That's where he lives.

And he appeared through a gateway. And I was like, Chris, hello. And everybody talks. He talks with everyone. We met his grandkids. And his life is incredible. So if you're into music and you want to be. inspired by an incredible man who grew up around the most amazing people because his mom

was friends with Noel Coward and Errol Flynn of all people. Wow. It's an amazing story. So that's a great book. It's called The Islander all about Chris Blackwell. But also just like to shout out a couple of talented friends. Dougie Payne from Travis, you know him well. Dougie from Travis.

Dougie from Travis has written a book for the Littlands. It's called Pucci Pete and his very big feat. It is the most gorgeous kids' picture book that he's written all about Poochie Pete with great illustrations as well from Rachel Sego. It's such a lovely book. Bravo Dougie. I'm hoping there's going to be more of these. I shall be reading this to my nephew, Zach.

And also I'd like to shout out Lou Beckett, the long-suffering misses of Rob Beckett. They are the most brilliant partnership, these two. Lou definitely wears the trousers in that relationship, I will say. But she has written a great book for young parents all about being a default parent, being the parent who's left to raise the kids, do all the jobs, run the house, run the life whilst your other half is off being an international comedy god. And Rob's actually stepped back to take a bit of time out for Lou to talk about her book. It's currently number two, I think, in the Sunday. times bestsellers. It is a really brilliant book about parenting. I know lots of people have got in touch with us of some of our young listeners asking for our advice on parenting. Well, get yourself

this book from Lou. It's brilliant. It's got some great advice. It will make you feel heard and seen. And it's very funny on the latest episode of Parenting Hell, Josh Whitcomb. He grills Rob to see if he knows things like what day the bins go out. Which day is PE? Which day? Which swimming for his kids. It's a very funny episode, Lou's on the episode as well. So this is a great book. Lessons from a default parent surviving frontline of family life. Well done, Lou. Love this book. Such a great read. Oh, okay. My offerings are you just mentioned Errol Flynn and Noel Coward. Steve is obsessed with the moons of Balloon, which is the autobiography of David Niven. Yeah, he was reading that on holiday. He just kept shouting at all time. Oh, this book is amazing. And he recommends that to everybody.

So that from bygone times. But I just wanted to recommend this book, which is The Homemade God. And I mentioned Rachel Joyce last week because Rachel wrote the unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Frye, which is a really, really wonderful book that's now been made into a film, which is now a musical in the West End. So if you are part of his world, you will love that. Jim Broadbent played Harold Frye in the film. But she's written another book. This is her latest book.

And I absolutely love this. I think this might be my favourite of hers. She's talking about a family. There are four kids in the family, and it's about the relationship with the father, and things go pretty wrong. And it's written so beautifully, from the very, very first word to the very final word,

I was, it just gripped and entranced by the whole thing. She's so descriptive in her writing, and so empathetic. It's beautiful. It's a really beautiful book. So take this on holiday. When you're going on holiday and you go to the airport, and there are all these books there.

Look out for this because I think you will love it. I can't recommend it highly enough. The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce. That was my read. Love that. And also, I just wanted to mention on the subject, I didn't know that Amory was going to be talking about seeds. And we were sent this. I was sent this and we were sent a letter by Janette from the Oak and Rope Company.

Now, the Oak and Rope Company make things of oak. And I've got a swing garden in my garden, which you might have seen in some of the Instagram stuff that I've done. and it was made by the Oak and Rope Company. I bought it from them last year, and we love it very much. Jeanette has been in touch, and she said, I just wanted to send you this

because you are sewing so many seeds all through the year, metaphorically and literally. We've just moved to new premises to an amazing setting. For the first time in years, I have a commute again. It means that I have regular time

to listen to Dig It, and I just wanted you and Zoe to know how important the work you do is, I'm sure you already know it, but it can't be said enough in a world that looks a bit shit. Digit and your Instagram feed is my safe space for inspiration.

wholesome news and thoughts. I love how you're using your influence to lift others up. That's wonderful, Jeanette. Thank you. I know. What a lovely message. And she sent me this and she said, you don't, I don't want you to show it to anybody. It's not, that's not the reason. But I just, I do want to show it to people because it's, it's so beautiful. It's a chunk of oak. And it says, seeds to sew, engraved on the side. And then there are little holes for your seed packets to go January, February, March, April, May, June, July. And they're the seeds that you sew. And that gives you some order and direction as to what to plant or what to sow when. So it's an amazing present, Jeanette. Thank you very much indeed. But also I thought other people would like to know about it and

maybe it might be something you want to invest in. What a great gift. I love what they do. And I really appreciated her getting in touch and sharing. There's some lovely words about Digit. Musically, by the way, weirdly, because obviously, because I've been away with my kids, I've been listening to a lot of the music they've been listening to. And Woody has introduced me to ASAP Rocky. And his, I mean, obviously he's been around a long time. His album is pretty amazing. It's called Don't Be Dumb. There's quite a lot of language in there that is quite explicit, I think.

But there's a great track that he's done with Dochi, which samples an old jazz record that is fantastic. And a song that slightly became our song of the holiday was Stay Here for Life, which is beautiful. It's funny. I feel like I've been completely absent from music, going to stay with Steve's dad. he doesn't listen to music. It's really strange. So my house was always full of music. We always had the radio on or the record player was on, whatever. And Keith just doesn't. So the house is silent so often. And occasionally I'd get my iPad out and I'd start playing lots of yacht rock because that's my holiday go-to. And then there'd be this comment of like, who's playing music? And I'd go and turn it off because I felt very embarrassed. Exercise and music, I feel like I've been really starved. I also wasn't able to run because it's really hot in Thailand. I went. to the gym every day because the gym was like open air and looked out across the amazing ocean. And I would just go and do my little half hour Pilates on an app. I took a skipping rope. Did you a skipping rope? Yeah, because I knew that I wouldn't be able to do much

exercise. And so I thought, what should I do? So I took my bands and I took a skipping rope and I did. That's, that's all I could do. I hate skipping. Oh, I love it. I love it. I tell you why. It's because it hurts my brain. It's such a weird thing. I'm convinced that at some point my brain has shriveled to it the size of a small walnut. And it's, I feel like when I skip, it bangs up and down against my skull. So when I skip, I get a headache. Is that weird? Wow.

So I hate skipping. I mean, probably if you're really good, you hardly move your head at all. And my friend's got a skipping rope that is just two handles and there's actually no rope. Oh, no rope. What? Yeah, no rope. What? I know, it sounds really weird.

There is such a thing. I'm not making up. An imaginary skipping rope. It's an imaginary skipping rope. and it counts how many you do, but you don't actually have to skip over it, but you're pretending you're skipping, I think. Or did you dream that?

No, it is a thing, I promise. Anyway, but I hate skipping. Maybe I should try it again. Maybe my brain is full again. I will always take skipping over rowing or cycling. Right, lovely to talk to you. Love you. All right.

Bye. Love you. Bye. Digit is a Persefonica production.