Life with Nat - EP108: Nagging with Auntie Linny #10

Episode Date: April 16, 2025

The ever-timeless Linny is back with Nat dishing out advice, tips and tricks Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review. xxx You can find us in all places here; https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/view INSTA: @natcass1 We're also on Facebook now too: https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: [e-mail] SHOW INFO: Life with Nat - it’s me! Natalie Cassidy and I’ll be chatting away to family, friends and most importantly YOU. I want to pick people's brains on the subjects that I care about- whether that’s where all the odd socks go, weight and food or kids on phones. Each week I will be letting you into my life as i chat about my week, share my thoughts on the mundane happenings as well as the serious. I have grown up in the public eye and have never changed because of it. Life with Nat is the podcast for proper people. Come join the community. ♥️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello and welcome to Life with Nat. I hope you're all very, very good on this Thursday morning or whenever you're listening. Doesn't really matter. I am joined by my Linnie. Chats with Auntie Linnie Pods is our name on WhatsApp. We've been going through them tonight. Thank you for all our messages. How are you my darling? I'm fine. Hello everyone. I feel like I'm back with all my big family. Lovely to be back. Hope you're all well and enjoying this amazing weather. Have you managed to get outside at all? Lovely to be back. Hope you're all well and enjoying this amazing weather. Have you managed to get outside at all?

No, not at all. It's been since the last pod we did, which I... You keep saying it's a month. I feel like it is Natalie and I think it was probably the last time I saw you as well, which is really bad. I know, but our lives are busy at the moment. Is it the last time I saw you? I think it was. I think it is, yeah. I feel like it's been... I can't even tell you what's happened. I feel like it's a whirlwind. Oh, I know you've been super busy with work.

Everything. The usual stuff. Everything. Socially, outside, yeah, the usual. It's, yeah, busy. You had a lovely party. You said it was at White City where Strictly was. Yeah, the TV studio. Amazing what they've done there. Really? It's really lovely. I wanted to pick that apart a bit when I saw you.

Oh, no, that was it. You nipped around for five minutes to have a look at the fence. Oh, that's right. That was last weekend. Yeah, but it was for two seconds. But yeah, I wanted to pick it apart a bit. What have they done? What do you mean a venue?

It's got individual venue rooms. Yeah. And ours was a 60th, like very jazz vibe. He had a jazz band. Nice. DJ and just that cool setting, as you could imagine in a jazz bar. Yeah.

And then when I was in the toilets, some young girls started chatting to me, really sweet. And she said, oh, you're at the engagement party. And then I realized there's another room. So they've obviously converted it to function rooms. It is really really nice. Must have cost him a few quid but lovely that was a nice evening. All late to get to, aren't it? Well we jumped in cabs, Natalie, I couldn't be doing the whole trying to be in this lot. I was there today. Oh crikey. White City because that's where

Lou's Swimming is filmed. Oh is it? It's up that way. And they were really funny because you have to get there for a half past eight meeting. You have a morning meeting when you're on the panel. You get there, you have a big meeting about the day, have your cup of tea, and then they sort the show out sort of each part. It's really interesting. But they said, we'll get you a car for about quarter past seven. I said, you won't. I'll have it at six o'clock, please. They said,

that's early. I said, if I don't leave at that time, I'm sat in the car for two hours. Oh, crazy. And I would just rather get there. Don't they note, don't they do their research in terms of? Well, I think you have a look on Waze or Google Maps, but I said, honestly, it's so slow at that time in the morning. Nothing anymore is an hour from here. Well, even like with it being half time, because obviously going to work now takes me 10 minutes instead of half an hour because it's holidays, did that not make a difference?

It was quieter but I don't know if that was because of the time that we left. But once we got into London by 7 it was absolutely rammed. It's rammed. Nice that you get a car. Really nice. Really, reallymed. Nice that you get a car. Really nice. Really, really nice. How was that? Really nice.

I was on with, it was sort of a soapy special. Oh, lovely. So it was lovely Denise, well, which I was in the Big Brother house with. Sally from Corrie. Aw. Who's just the loveliest lady. And Nadia Swahala I worked with also. Oh, lovely.

Who was really, she came, I'd not seen her for years, she gave me a cuddle and she went, oh, I just remember your mum and your dad. And I remember your mum saying, remember this, she said, I did that on the chip fat fryer, like she remembered stuff. Wow. Yeah. How does it make you feel when you meet people that knew your mum and dad? It's just really warming.

Isn't it lovely? Really love it, because it's rare. Absolutely. It's a rare thing isn't it because life moves on. It's been so long, especially with mum. But when she said oh she was so kind to me and I used to sit and nag to her and it was really really nice to see it. Doesn't that put a smile on your face? Yeah it's lovely. And that she made an impact on that lady's life. Yeah. She said I just remember her being so kind with her jewellery on. And like, she had a picture of her, you know, it wasn't just a comment. Yeah.

She made an impact on her. Well, to be fair, I think your mum was one of those people that if you met her, you wouldn't forget her easily, would you? No. A, the way she looked and B, she was a bit of a character. Yeah, very much so. Kind soul. Oh, that's lovely, Natalie. So that was nice.

So that was really, really nice. Did you enjoy it? Yeah, I did. I felt more relaxed. And for the first time, interestingly, when you go on to Loose Women as a panelist, you're meant to wear an earpiece. So you have a tiny little sort of a cochlear type thing

and you pop it in and you can hear the director and they'll tell you things look here or you know move here maybe you can cut in there with this and the first two times I've done it I said I don't want an earpiece and they said well you really should because we talked to you and I said honestly it really puts me off it makes me really really nervous as I speak about a lot, I feel nervous of live tele. And today I thought, well, I'm gonna have the bloody earpiece. And I had it, and it was really helpful and really good.

Yeah, so now you know you can do it. So another barrier across today. And that's what it is, it's just crossing these barriers. And good for you, because you're doing it in your own time. Yes. Because maybe if you had done it the first time round, it may have not worked for you, and it would have frightened you forever to do that.

Yeah. Yeah, you've built your own confidence up. And the only reason I feel like this is because I was scarred. Scarred for life from this morning when I did the newsroom. Oh. You know that story. Do I? Oh, I don't know what to talk about a lot.

But I did the news hub. Do you remember when they used to do a news hub? Yeah. And I was standing in the news hub. Right. And I'd never practiced. And then I put my talk back in and they said, we're gonna throw to you.

And they threw over, old Philip, threw over, and Holly. And I just froze. And there was an auto queue and people talking in my ear and what's on the news and tellies. And I just fucked it up royally. You did. Excuse my language. I don't know, I don't really know this. And they then went. But how did they salvage? What's on the news and tellies and I just fucked it up royally. You did? Excuse my language.

I don't know. I don't remember this. And they then went back to Philip and Holly and they never threw back to the news hub and I remember being absolutely mortified. And from that experience I've always thought I can't do live telly but I can. No, yeah. How long ago was that then? A long time ago. It was the first time I've left EastEnd can't do live telly but I can. No yeah. How long ago was that then? A long time ago it was the first time I've left EastEnders. Oh okay. Maybe a couple of years into

that but I blame agent I was with at the time she can do it she can do it I couldn't you have to like you say go at your own pace. Absolutely with anything you do. These things are an art. It was like Jeff Jeff Brazier was on today. Oh, right. But he's been doing the competition throughout the whole morning. Yeah. When you look at that, you go, it's only a competition. It is a skill.

He's on every live show. He's got a time. He's got to say all those things. He's got to do the competition. Then he comes on our show. And he's sat in the middle and he's doing it. There's a lot to do. You don't have to stumble. He never makes a mistake. He always does it on time.

It's the norm for him now. It's like any... It is for now. But at the beginning, yeah, absolutely. And it is. And like this morning, I saw that little bit where he phoned someone up who'd won quarter of a million. Took them ages to answer the phone. The chap was half asleep. You don't know what they're going to say. I don't think his reaction was quite what Jeff was expecting. And you've got to be able to add Lib and... Absolutely. It's easier. Look, people make it look easy.

It's not easy. I'm sure it is. Kate Lawler's also good at that. The competitions, the holidays. And people always think that that role is quite insignificant, but all credit to them because it's hard. It's really, really hard and they're really good at it. So interesting to watch. I like watching it all. It's very good. And your consumer programme last Friday. Yeah. That was very good. Again, a different skill for you now that you've done and mastered. Yeah, it's lovely now. You're getting all these opportunities, I want you to do different aspects of this world that you live in.

No, I do feel pretty grateful and also you've got to make the right choices. So it's not easy. You're not always going to get it right, so you can't beat yourself up if you don't. But ultimately you're doing things you enjoy and normally if you enjoy something you're generally quite good at it. That's true. Keep doing what you're doing girl. Thank you. How's your work going? Yeah. Yeah that's a whole different story but yeah it's full on. Well it's only to your own detriment that you're so busy because you keep getting loads of houses.

The saying that you become a victim of your own success, I mean that's quite a true saying. And yeah, it's overwhelmingly busy at the moment, but we'll get there. You just got to take each day, haven't you? Because it's no different to housework. When you start panicking that you're behind with your housework and your ironing's piling up, you become so overwhelmed with it that then you feel you can't, you freeze, don't you? Well, you don't know where to start. Whereas if you just take a step back, just tackle one thing at a time, and then you'll

work your way through it. I've got a message here from Kirsty from County Durham, and she said, I don't have... Oh, talking of County Durham, my lovely auntie and uncle, George and Emma, she texted me last week to say they really enjoyed the consumer show. I love her. And the hope that we're all well, lots of love. I often hear from her through social media but to be honest I haven't done in a little while but that's probably because I haven't put much up.

There you go. But yeah, got to get up there this year. Got to get up to see them. I don't have a question, but I just wanted to say how much I adore you and your family. Always brightens my day when I see your pod is with you and your family. Love to you all. Kirsty from County Durham. Lovely. Isn't that nice?

I'll tell you what's interesting, which I love about this pod. Obviously, every now and and again I'll have a celebrity or a well-known person on because I like them. So there's no pressure for me to do that whole celeb circle that someone's got to book out. So, you know, the sort of the root of press, I don't need to do that. But I'd have a celeb on every now and again. And they enjoy it, but they just can't wait for family ones. And I feel that we've created a real community, which is very different to other pods. So the feedback you get from this, Natalie.

I mean, I have to say, even driving here to come to do the pod, like I said earlier when I said hello to everyone, I feel like, yeah, they're our family now. And the people that are, you know, texting in, you know texting in leaving voice so community that we've made it's an interesting vibe you get from it I really enjoy it when I do the solo pods now yeah it's lovely to be able to just call people up I mean I can do it any time with you feel like you've made some friends, long distance friends, but in a way we must all be like-minded. For it to work like it is. For them to enjoy listening, for us to be talking. So you've sort of got this little community of like-minded people.

But I guess when you analyse the family members that you've got on the pod. Yeah. You know, we are people, people. We like to talk, we like to... Someone said to me, which I think is extremely important about the pod, you've got family that can speak on a microphone. And I said, what do you mean? They said, well,

some people might not have anyone who wants to talk. I said, but I knew when I did it that I would have... People you would call on. Well, just people that are good at talking. They said, but I don't think you realise how lucky you are that you're all very good at that. The art of speaking is a dying thing. Agreed. And I think our generation and our daughter, you look at Eliza

for someone of her age, the way she conducts herself when she's with adults, the older family members, friends of mine. Yeah. She'll stop in Sainsbury's, if she sees Maria Ferri, she'll stop and have a full on conversation. Of course, yeah. That's quite unique now. I know. I see it with people I deal with that are of a certain generation. They ring me, they ring us, but they don't speak. We have to speak for them. Yes. You are literally trying to extract what it is they're calling you for because they can't sort of compile a conversation or make a request. We take this for granted. I mean, different

for my generation because, you know, we didn't have phones. You had to communicate. And we were very much as well. I grew up in very much an Italian community, an Italian household where family was paramount. You had aunties, uncles, friends, neighbours, everybody in and out the house. And children are very much part of my mum and dad's social life. We were very much part of that. Not the sort of social life we would deem to be social, but just being at home, having dinners with family members. And so we interacted with older people. So to me, it's not maybe that's why I'm such a chat box. But look at Elia.

Absolutely. Elia will talk to someone just standing on the side of the road. She'll just start a conversation with him. So do I. Exactly. She's a carbon copy of you. However you say that, people say, oh, you're only doing that because you're on the telly and I say it's not true. No, that's just in your...

I believe that's in me. Yeah. I think if I was a baker... You'd be the same. I would be talking to everybody. Yeah. Elia used to, when my dad was in hospital, when he had his stroke, we would go and visit my dad. He'd always have loads of visitors because obviously I'm one of four, so there's always someone there. And so she would say as a young girl, and what could she have been? I don't

know, 11, 12, I can't remember. She would say, oh, Nonna's got loads of visitors, Mum, I'm going to go and talk to all the old people that have got no one by their bedside. And that's exactly what I did. And I was eight with Nanny Liz. I mean, it's great. That's what we did. I entertain them. I used to have to drag her away. She's sitting there, jaded, old people that can barely speak, bless them, because we were in a stroke ward. And she's rambling on them. It's funny, isn't it? It's amazing.

So it is, it kind of is in you as a person, but equally I do think that the communication skills are a dying thing, which is sad. So yeah, I guess you are quite lucky that you've got family members around you that... I think we're all lucky together, aren't we? But I think it's just a very special thing that we're creating. And we're lucky that we all live nearby and are able to do this. Yeah, well, if you say that, if not, we would be doing it over Zoom or whatever, but it is lovely to be able to see you. And as I said, Tony's up the road, but I didn't see

him as much as I do now, which is really lovely. And even you, we could, I know we see each other, but it's lovely to be able to say, come on, let's do a pod. It's really good. Message from Kelly Watkins, not really a question, but I just had to say you two are an absolute joy to listen to. I juggle two busy jobs and three children, so I managed to grab an hour in the gym at the weekend as my me time, and I literally count down the days

till I can plan my workout, stick on my headphones and absorb myself in the pub with you both or with Nats and Isis. Thanks for being my sanctuary. Who's that? Kelly, did you say? Kelly. Oh good on you, Kelly, that you're grabbing out to yourself. Sounds like you've got a really busy life. Two jobs, three kids.

It's amazing what people do, isn't it? I love women. We are hardcore, aren't we? Yeah. Yeah, good girl. Really, really good. Really good. A little bit back on brand for chats with Auntie Lynnie. Charlotte Young has messaged, Hiya.

A few pods ago, Auntie Lynnie mentioned that her house decor and interior is timeless. So it never really goes out of fashion. I would love to know how she has done it as I have the dreaded grey that was on trend a few years ago and I really don't like it now so I would love something that would last throughout my house. Hi Charlotte. Yeah, I mean the grey obviously as you all, I'm in the property world, so I see so many properties. And in the last 10 years, the grey carpets, even grey wood flooring, white walls, grey kitchens has just been done to death. And it's beautiful, it's lovely, and it still works. I still go into many homes and it looks very tastefully done. Timeless, well, what did I do?

For me, when I bought the house that I'm in, which was 29 years ago, it's a 1930s property. So what I did was I tried to keep many of the features of a 1930s property and add a little twist and add a little bit of contemporary or modern, shall we say to it. So what did I do? I did things like- Just being very modest is unbelievable. It's not because it needs redoing. I guess timeless is going to be your neutral colours.

It's going to, you know, your white walls are fine, your taupe walls, your taupe, you know, like now... Stones. So mine, for instance, my kitchen is over 20 years old. I went for oak and walnut. It's never going to date because wood is wood. Wood doesn't date. And I went for nice traditional woods, not even pine or beech. Your oak and your walnut twist. You know, if I wanted to now, I could repaint that kitchen to make it slightly more modern or change the handles, but it's not, well you've seen it. Would you go in and say, oh my god, this is really dated?

No. No. So they're pieces that, you know, same with your furniture, if you just stick with, your woods will never date. How's my chair doing? Still in that lounge. And it still looks lovely in the lounge. Yeah, sort of pieces like that, just stick with, your woods will never date. How's my chair doing? Still in that lounge. And it still looks lovely in the lounge. Yeah, sort of pieces like that, like a casual chair that I had. Lynnie's got a little chair.

Natalie wants, I'm gonna have to leave it to her, if I will. I love it so much. Yeah, you know, like my entrance hall, I've got stained glass windows in my entrance hall. So I went for black and white tiled flooring, large medium sized tiles, so not tiny, timeless floor. That will never age. It may not be to everybody's cup of tea, but it works.

You've kind of got to look at the age of your home. Obviously, I don't know the age of your home, and you need to work with that. But your neutral tones are generally going to stay, you know, the magnolia. Back in the day, everyone did magnolia, that dated. Your whites never going to date. But your lovely creams, your taulps, your stones, and you can still add a little bit of grey. It's, yeah, you know, when you're choosing your kitchen units if you go very modern high gloss it's unfortunately they will eventually date. And also I feel like with

the neutrals if you do I'm one for going oh I love pink walls yeah oh I have but you don't need to if you do everything in a neutral manner be it a stone or like you say a cream or whatever it is, you can do all your accessories in that house. Natalie, I don't think walls matter because you know at the end of the day repainting a wall is not the end of the world. It's your furniture, it's your kitchen, it's your bathrooms. They're the things that you know they're expensive and if you stay relatively traditional, you should be able to keep them. Yeah. And also, I think, again, if you, you know, like I know, when I did my house the first time around, it was expensive. We chose nice, so it had to be timeless because I wasn't going to be upgrading it in a hurry. Like my furniture, my furniture was expensive,

Natalie. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We spoke about Clemments Jostlin in Bishop's Daltford. Most of my furniture came from there. I don't want to be upgrading that. So by going for pieces that are never going to date, but it can, and it can get boring. I get it. But I mean, for people who haven't got a large budget, you can still get some beautiful bits now, can't you?

You can go to secondhand shops, you can go to vintage stores, even Islington, some of the antique shops around there. You can pick up some lovely pieces, car boot sales, which we're doing on Zonday. Oh, let's have a chat about that. Oh, goodness me. You know when you commit to something and you think, what have I done this to myself? Well, you know Joni wanted to do a car boot a few months ago, didn't you? Yeah, that never happened though, did it?

No, it never happened. There was a bit of a timing issue and it never happened, which I'm, yeah, I wasn't going anyway. But how can you be bothered? I don't know, because Maria wanted to do one. I hate waste. Yes, agreed. I love the fact that people can make use of stuff that we are likely to be either thrown away or taken into a charity shop or whatever you decide to do with or it just sits in your shed for another year or your loft or your garage. I love the idea and I really enjoy it. It's just time now. Yeah, Maria wanted to do one

because she's got the children's clothes and blah, blah, blah. Yeah. And I actually, me and Dave, we've had some great fun doing the old car boots. He's very good at them. He's funny. So he taught me this technique. So you're selling something, you know what it's like, it's a couple of quid, isn't it? And someone will go, will you take a pound for that? And Dave would be like, no, I want two quid for that, but you can take an item out of that bag. And I thought that is genius, because then you get what you want for your top or whatever it is, the item that you want.

And get rid of this top. And you get rid of something else, because that's the idea, isn't it? You don't want to be going back with everything you've pulled into the car. No, of course. To then unload it again when you get home. So we do have some fun along the way,

so I really hope it's successful Sunday. But yeah, you can pick up some cracking bits of car boots. You genuinely can. I think the sort of modern day car boot is what Mark will do. Whatever we have, just because he's so proactive and he does it immediately and I don't, he'll just go, oh, don't you want that?

Photo. Vinted. Marketplace. Oh, marketplace. Pick it. Marketplace. Oh marketplace. Pick it up. Yeah. Someone's here in two hours, pick it up. Again, brilliant.

We don't waste anything anymore. Well I love that. It goes to our home. I love that. Because people are making use of this stuff. Why have we got to get rid of it, just get rid. I agree. And it is an effort, it is an effort,

whether it's marketplace, vintage, or a carbo. I saw something on Instagram, I might be factually wrong, it was someone's Instagram, I think it was Kerry Godlam and who I had on the pod the other day, and I follow her, but it was about fashion. And it said something like, in the US, 40 years ago, the average person bought 12 pieces of clothing a year. We now buy an average bought 12 pieces of clothing a year. We now buy an average of 68 pieces of clothing a year. And the clothes that are in the world, we have enough clothing to clothe six generations of people.

Crikey. What about that? Well, there you go. So we should be recycling it. Absolutely. That's mad, though, don't it? Yes, insane. And that does sound, I went, oh, 68 pieces.

And I thought, no. Yours is probably double that. I don't know if it is. I'm not a massive shopper. No, I'm not either. I'm really not a massive, because I don't internet shop. Yeah, that's saying it. It's different now because Maria helps style me and stuff. as I get busier with television jobs and that it's good to get a few bits and pieces which Maria helps me with but I don't sit scrolling

and buying stuff. No I don't either, I don't enjoy it. I can't do it. Thank God we can't that's what I say. I know but then when going out, I just like, I bought an outfit for this stew that we had last week. Yeah. Do you know how lovely it was to order something? It arrived, it was clean, intact. Makes a change. And it fit me. And I liked it. Perfect. Where was that from?

ASOS. Oh, was it? But I was so glad that I didn't have to go through the whole rigmarole. Sent it back, ordering something else. Yeah, I'm not a fan. That's why I didn't have to go through the whole rigmarole. Sending it back, ordering something else. Yeah, I'm not a fan. That's why I don't buy a lot of clothes. I don't know if I've, I should really be having this conversation with Maria, but we have enough conversations. Maria picked out a ruby red outfit for my book cover shoot and she said this would look amazing. It had all feathers around the sleeves.

Oh yeah. Feathers, bell bottoms and it looked lovely. This, she said, so order that. I had all feathers around the sleeves, feathers, bell bottoms and it looked lovely. She said, so order that. I said, okay. So I order it. $48.99. So we order it. Doesn't come. Waiting. Doesn't come. Still not here. Go and do the shoot. Still not here. Turns up a week later in an Amazon parcel squashed up to pieces and I get it out, it's see-through and there's about three miniature feathers around it. No, it looks nothing like the picture. See, this is why the shop. There's no return with the website. So I've emailed them and they've said if you take a photo, I'm thinking what is this place?

What was, where is she going to put it? God no, she just obviously saw it, which is fine because it did look really lovely, but be careful because there's a lot of dodgy places out there online. Kind of got to stick to the ones you know. I think so. And that's the key as well, isn't it? That's the finding websites that work for you.

Yes. That you know, you know, a size 10 or 12 or whatever size you are is going to work for you. Yes. You know, you know, a size 10 or 12 or whatever size you are is going to fit you. I completely agree. I'm just not, yeah, I've just not really mastered it yet but I'm going to have to. But you say that even when I go to shops. I don't try stuff on. No, you're, see I do. Oh no. You take it home. I can't be bothered. I can't be standing. No, I can't be bothered to try it on either. I'm with you. But the fault of going home with it all, trying it all on and going,

oh, that's all a pile of rubbish. I'll have to go back. And then I'll go back. Those Marxists have got some cracking bits at the moment. They've hit the jackpot with the old clothing. What about we've got an Ikea coming to Harlow? I know, that was. And a food Marxist.

Do you know that? What do you mean? Marx and Spencer's food. What, in the water gardens? No, you know that? What do you mean? Marks and Spencer's food. What, in the water gardens? No, you know where Mothercare used to be? No, that is not going to be a... Oh, it is. Are you joking?

I'm not. I thought you'd be pleased. Do you know that? It's so good. Right on your doorstep, love. And I haven't got to go to Brookfield. Yeah. Yeah. I'll go to Hartford, but that's not very big.

But is this going to be bigger then? I don't know. I'm guessing itford but that's not very big, but is this going to be bigger then? I don't know. I'm guessing it may be a little bit bigger. It's only a food one, but still lovely. It's quite a big unit. Yes, it is. Made my evening.

Yeah, and the IKEA, lovely. Really good, really good. And even IKEA, they have some cracking pieces for homes without breaking the bank. And then if you do get bored of it after 10 years or it does date, if you haven't spent loads of money you don't mind so much. Wacking it on Facebook. You can just sell it and then go again. Yeah, absolutely. Caroline Cacker Williams.

Oh, that's a cracking name. Well, it could be Cacka or Casa or Salsa. Oh, God. It's C-A-C-A. I'm sorry if I said caca, which could mean poo. Caroline Williams said, love a Line pod. Oh, thanks Caroline. Fiona Payler said, keep doing what you're doing. You're smashing it. That's really kind. Shona Kennedy Grant said, absolutely love when your brother and linear on. I just love

the pod altogether. You're the most relatable person out there and keep it real. Isn't it lovely that people go to the effort? I can't believe it. I'll never believe it. Would you ever go to the effort of leaving a... I do. Funnily enough, if I watch a program that I really like or a comedian I really like, I will direct message them. I will message them on Instagram and say, I loved that job, I think you are hilarious. I loved, yeah, I actually do go to the...

Do you? It's amazing that people go to the effort of sending that message. And lovely that you're reading them out. You need to read as many as... They're so good, because then people feel like... They're part of this, which they are. As you always point out, without them, there is no pods.

There's no pods. Kim said... I'm going to put my phone down for this one. I think this will be quite a few minutes. Tips for grandparents who look after grandchildren, please. I'm just going to take a few minutes. Tips for grandparents who look after grandchildren please. I'm just going to take a sit back. Put your feet up. My feet are up. Hang on. There you go. She's making herself lovely and comfortable here. Well the first tip is move as far away as possible. Well guys I've got five under the age of five at the moment. So how's about that one?

It's a lot. It is a lot. It's yeah. Tips, tips. What tips would you like? My tip is, I don't know, this is a difficult one. Right, gotta... Right, let's decompart mentalize. Yes, please. So tips are, tips for when you've got them, do you try and, I'm gonna interview now as a grandparent, do you try and stay in the mother or father's routines? I have to, oh, I'm gonna be really honest here.

Yeah. At the onset, I'm very much about if they're told they've got to, like, okay, let's go back to the days when I was having Alfie, Ruby and Amelia, all at the same time. Yeah. They were ranging from one, three, one and two and a half and three, those ages. I did my utmost to try and maintain the routine that the parents like nap time was at a certain time. But look, it's not easy. If you've got one grandchild, then absolutely.

I do feel that if, and I know I have heard grandparents say well, when I've got them, it's my way. Because at the end of the day, I'm helping out, I'm doing them a favour, so I will do what works for me. I did have to adopt that policy when I had three of them, because as much as I tried, by the end of it, I realised that my first days was a battle of survival. Yeah. So trying to get the girls down at the same time, you know, and I wanted that because then that'd give me a bit of respite, but it was not impossible.

Yeah. But yeah, I don't think there's anything wrong. If you've got, if you're only looking after one grandchild and the parents are giving you a routine or they're saying to you they can only have half an hour on their iPad in the morning and they need to do 15 minutes reading in the afternoon and they're not allowed any chocolate or any sweets. And you know, it's all well and good being told that this is what's got to happen. But we have to remember here, A, we're the grandparents. So we're there to spoil them. Yeah, I agree.

That's what I want to be as a grandparent. I don't want to be the grandparent that's strict and there's rules and regulations, but I get it. I do get it because I don't all equally, I don't want to ruin the routine for them, the parents. So yeah, ultimately as a grandparent, our role should be to play with them, enjoy them, spoil them, but also there's got to be rules. There's got to be ground rules. There are, but can I just say something about these parents? We are all parents and I'm telling you now the rules that we give our mums and dads say, I wasn't fortunate enough to have my mum to give her the rules, but the rules that these parents give them, they don't stick to them every day. The parents? Yeah.

No, I'm sure they don't. I'm sure they don't because life's not like that. And then us that have them on that one day a week or two days a week. They really want to get that right because it's not them doing it. No, absolutely. And it's different, you know, as a grandparent, I'm talking as a grandparent who has them, say, for an entire day. If your baby's sitting and you know that your grandchild generally goes to bed at seven o'clock, I'm not, of course, I'm going to try and do that too. I'm not going to break, but if I'm going to squeeze an extra 10 minutes out of them

so I can have an extra 10 minute cuddle, say I've got James and he just goes to bed a little bit later, then or like Ruby and Alfie are sleeping a couple of Saturdays ago. Yeah, Alfie got in with me. Yeah, nice. He's gone and he's getting with me. It's a treat. So, yeah, so in terms of having them, yeah, listen, it's everything in moderation, isn't it? Of course, we're there to spoil them. What are the tips? Tips in terms of... I don't know, really. I don't know what...

Don't feel guilty if, say for argument's sake, there's two sets of grandparents and the other grandparents are really full on and there all the time and taking them to school, picking them up, taking them to, I don't know, stuff they do after school like football or dance. Yeah, yeah. Well, that's no different to mothers who work. Yeah, and again, Natalie, I've got to say, as a grandparent, and I work full time, and I love the children and I want to see so much more of them than I probably do, I have had more guilt as a grandparent than I've had as a parent. How can that be possible? Well people say that you love your grandchildren, it's a different love.

It's a completely different love. But I feel guilt. I feel guilt if I don't see them enough. I feel guilt if I can't have them enough. It's just terrible. But it's not a good thing. Well, I'm going to be like the one on Motherland. Eliza will be like, could you help me with the job? Hiding behind the sofa. I'm going away. I've got a cruise, and then I've got lunch, then I'm going to an art gallery. I reckon that'll be me. I reckon it won't. Hiding behind the sofa when she's knocking at the door going, Mum, I can see you. And again, we've had our children. Of course, as a grandparent, you want to help your child.

And it is so much more difficult now for young people because, as we've said before, mom and dad have generally have to work. So they have a lot of pressure. And childcare is super expensive. Well, again, you know, because you have a nanny. Of course. And you know, unless you're earning a substantial amount of money, Natalie, the childcare kind of outweighs the salaries. So yes. But I've had no choice. No, I know you didn't.

I've got no one. No, I know. No one else. No, I know. You've just got to do it. Yeah. But you're fortunate. Fortunate enough that my lifestyle, my salary allows me to.

But if I wasn't in that position, I would imagine I would be a stay-at-home mum and we'd just live in a different house and have a different lifestyle. That's how it would have to go, because who else is going to do it? But it's incredible now how you do see so many grandparents at the school picking up the kids. Oh, it's unbelievable. It's unbelievable what grandparents do, honestly. But, you know, there is a huge difference between looking after, say, a five-year-old and an eight-year-old, to having babies, toddlers, and multiple babies and toddlers at our age. That is very challenging. So I do hope that

answers some of what you were asking, but that's a massive topic. It is a huge topic. Any questions about grandparenting, send them in 0778 20 1919 and perhaps we can touch on that a little bit more. And maybe we could do some calls with some grandparents. That might be a really lovely episode. The grandparent special. There you go. Let's sort it. Let's do it. And interestingly, sorry, going back to that conversation, because now women, many women, not all, are having their children so much older. It'll be very interesting to see what their children, you know, because grandparent, you could be in your mid-70s before you're a grandparent. Absolutely.

So that's a pool that say I'm, one could argue I'm quite a young grandmother and in myself I'm young, because you need physical stamina. Just getting these kids in and out of car seats, that's a workout. So it'd be interesting to see, won't it, in 10, 20 years time, that support's not going to be there. I think it's going to be a worrying time. I just don't know. Because... And if life, cost of living carries on the way it does, how is that all going to...

You're going to have the cost of living, you're going to have people getting older, you're going to have people having children later. And I'm not really sure how that tree works. That's a very interesting subject. Talking of children though and seeing them and everything, Easter, what are you doing for Easter? Oh, they're all coming to ours Easter Sunday. Lovely. What are you doing for Easter? They're all coming to ours Easter Sunday. Hopefully the weather will be like it's been and we'll do the Easter hunt in the garden. We'll have a nice roast in and actually the usual all together. And if we can we might even pop out and take the kids over to the park.

Just very chilled. Very relaxed. Very good. Nice that we've got the bank holidays either side. Yeah, very nice. And then that's another. Yeah, we're seeing Mark's good. Nice that we've got the bank holidays either side. Yeah, very nice. Yeah, and then that's another... Yeah, we're in Mark's family. Oh, yeah, they're all coming over. It'd be lovely to be with you, obviously, but actually, it's too many of us. It's a lot. It is, isn't it?

It's just, realistically speaking, we'll have to get out of the village hall one year, as we've said before. We really must do something like that. We must do that. It'd be really good. Yeah. I like this. Please can you ask Auntie Lynnie her views about hanging your undies on the washing line? I hate it and I don't want to see my neighbors bloomers. Oh, so she's saying it as in she doesn't want to see other people's underwear. Well, to be honest, I don't think there's anything wrong with hanging your smalls on the washing line.

What else? Never thought about it. I mean, again, yeah, I've never, I'm just trying to think if I've ever seen my neighbours, can't say I have because we can't really see into each other's gardens, I guess we're quite fortunate. I can see right into my neighbour's garden and I've never had a look at the washing line from up here. I'm gonna have a right good look at the old aunties tomorrow. I'm not sure who we've got Joanie with us.

She's laughing at me. I'm not sure who was that. Yeah, I don't see. I haven't got her name. I'm sorry, it's from Instagram. Yeah, I don't personally, I don't really have an issue with it, if I'm really honest. People have got to dry their clothing, so that's what washing lines are for.

Air your dirty laundry out, get it out on the line. The other message was about mascara. Oh yeah. Jenny, Jenny and Cornwall said Nat, please, please ask ask Auntie Lynnie how to get mascara off the pillowcases. Oh take your makeup off before you go to bed Jenny. I don't either Jenny don't worry. Yes at 45 years young. Oh Jenny Jenny Jenny. I should know better than to not take makeup off. But here we are. Love her tips.

Oh Jenny it's simple, just bit of detergent, liquid detergent. Leave it overnight. Give it a rub in? Yeah, I mean, if you've realised you've done it straight away, you can just dab it to get the bulk of the mascara off. Put your detergent on it, leave it overnight, chuck it in the washing machine and it'll be as good as gold. Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt. Or Fanny's your uncle and Bob's your aunt. Whatever you prefer to be quite frank. Who's Frank? Whoever they want to be.

Hi Nat, it's Gillie from Skegg Vegas here. When you're next through your chat with Vantillini, would you be so kind as to ask her what she uses on granite to make it sparkle and because mine just keeps getting streaks and it's dull. I don't know if it's the lights or the products I'm using. Love the pod, take care, love to all, bye. Oh yeah it might be the product or a granite does kind of, because you got the two, you got your quartz and your granite, your granite's a of, because you got the two, you got your quartz and your granite, your granite's a natural stone, it absorbs everything and over a period of time,

if it's an age, it will go dull. Can I pipe up? Go on. I bought a Method. Yes, I was just going to say, Method HG. Granite. Yeah, spray. Granite spray.

Yeah. Loved it. Yeah. What do you reckon? Absolutely. HG do a good granite cleaner. Mepha do a good granite cleaner. But if you still, so I would clean it with that. And if you still felt that it hasn't got that little sheen, a bit of olive oil, buff it

right, just a little bit. It's a bit expensive. Go baby. Expensive? Go baby. You haven't got to buy an expensive olive oil. 25 pounds now for a bottle of olive oil in Sainsbury's. I'm not rubbing that in the granite.

That's going in salads or roast potatoes. Or baby oil. You can get away with baby oil and buff it up with baby oil and that'll bring your shine back. But the difference between quartz and granite is granite, you can actually get it retreated. If you've got a kitchen that you still very much love and you want to bring it back to life, you can get granite salt, sandy down a little bit

and it brings it back to life. Rejuvenates it a bit. It rejuvenates, that's the word. But yeah, an oil will do it. But the HG and the Method granite cleaner is very good. And the Method is eco-friendly if you're that way inclined. But I bought that once out of I've not, I actually need one. But you've got quartz and not granite have you?

I don't know but that's what I use. Have I? Yep. Oh I've had an absolute shock. No but that's fine, it's the same thing. This journey's cleaning and buffing up. Fair enough. Buff you up in a minute. She's getting leery guys. Oh I don't. Right then, I've got a very tired journey next to me. You've been a good girl She's getting leery guys. Right then, I've got a very tired Joanie next to me. You've been a good girl waiting for us to do this pod.

I hope everybody knows that sometimes we're finishing work, I'm texting Lynnie, I'm saying I've got to fit one in, she's coming over, she's had a really long day. I've walked. Yeah, you've walked tonight. Walked, rushed here, the girls have been in and out of this room, so I'm sorry if this one hasn't flowed, but we've had a few interruptions. People do like an interaction, so it's all real life, isn't it? Do you want to say good night? Happy Easter to everyone, Joan.

Good night and happy Easter. Good girl. Lynn, I really hope you have a lovely Easter. Oh, I knew, my darling. And we will see each other properly soon. Of course we will. Someone did mention about a walking pod. We must. Well, now the weather's and the evenings are bright.

We can go on evening, Sunday morning, Natalie. No, we've got to do that. Yeah, lovely. I think it's a really lovely thing to get out. Walk along the river. Perfect. All the bikers, bing, bing, bing. That's the only thing.

Ding, ding, ding. Ding, ding, ding. At least if they say hello, I'll be happy. And get them to join in. All right, darling. Thank you. No, be happy. And get them to join in. All right darling. Thank you. No, thank you and happy Easter everyone. Happy Easter.

Enjoy the bank holiday. Yeah and relax, lots of chocolate, spend time with the family or just lay on the sofa on your own doing nothing if that's what you wanna do. Thank you so much as always for listening. Please subscribe, please follow, leave some comments. It all helps me and it all helps towards this being a successful pod 07788 2019. Let us know your thoughts on the

pod and I will speak to you on Monday. See ya! Bye!