Life with Nat - EP186: Nagging with Auntie Linny #19 - Cheering up January

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

Nat and Linny are back. It's a chance to chat over the last few weeks, and look forward through the January blues with a bit of sunshine and silliness. Enjoy! xx Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review. xxx You can find us in all places here; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/view⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We're on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nat's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natcass1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Marc's insta: ⁠@camera_marc⁠ Neice's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natsnieces⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tony's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tonycass68⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linny's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@auntielinny.lwn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MORE LIVE SHOW! 07/02/2026 Brighton, The Forge ⁠TICKETS⁠ 08/02/2026 Newcastle upon Tyne, The Stand ⁠TICKETS⁠ 25/02/2026 Folkestone, Quarterhouse ⁠TICKETS⁠ 28/02/2026 Colchester, Arts Centre ⁠TICKETS⁠ 07/03/2026 Manchester, Fairfield Social Club ⁠TICKETS⁠ 22/03/2026 Leeds, The Wardrobe ⁠TICKETS⁠ 29/03/2026 Bristol, The Gaffe - ⁠TICKETS⁠ Book Club: November's book - All Together for Christmas by Sarah Morgan & December's book (optional extra for the speedy readers) - A Heart for Christmas: Advent Romance by Sophie Jomain Nat’s solo chats - any rants always welcome!  Scraping the Barrel - SCAN AND SHOP VIRGIN NO LONGER! Bonce vs list! - Are you a list maker? Always collecting for Nostalgia Fest! What’s brewing with the Nieces - are we all skipping the end of summer, all of autumn and going straight to Christmas - Nat’s door is! Group chat ettiquette & pranks. Nice Lorraines… get in touch! Advent calendars & gift recommendations v. welcome! Things we’re nagging with Linny about - More lateness stories and some cleaning questions, please! The Tony talks chatter - Keep your DIY questions coming, also open to some saucy two paragraph stories for Tony to read out at the Southend show - think cheeky postcards (both in tone and length)! Can we make Tony an influencer and get him any freebies?  TBC Cultural differences ep - inspired by Linny’s Mediterranean heritage and her & Ellia's Italian trip, we'd love to hear about the cultural differences you've noticed between the UK and basically ANYWHERE else!  A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello everybody. Welcome to Life with Nat. I hope you're all really, really good. I am joined by Auntie Lily today. You're all right? Yeah, I'm good. I'm really happy to be here. Feels like ages. It does feel like a long while. It isn't, but it feels like ages. but yeah, lovely to be here and talking to everyone again. I just feel like it's nice when we settle into this room. It sort of grounds me a little bit these days. It's just got nice aura about it as well, has me? It seemed weird coming in here and there's no Christmas decorations up.

I did it a bit earlier than I wanted to because I like to bring them down on the 5th, which is the 12th day. But it's logistics, Lynn, isn't it? You're completely right, because I've done the polar opposite. I didn't want to bring them down on the first. Yeah. When I, because I had quite a quiet New Year's Eve, which is very unusual for us. But I thought, no, it's too early. And how?

I wish I had because I'm going to, well, tomorrow I'm going to have to dedicate to taking the decorations down. So, yeah, it is logistic. Mark's back to work, back to school, as we say, Monday, as much as he's been working bits and pieces. But I just said, I'm not, babe, I've got to get them down. You're back to work, and then I've got to do it all on my own. Yeah. And you're not, but fortunately, you don't have to go in lofts and stuff like that. do you because you put them in there.

And I had a bit of a clear-out. Oh. A little bit of a, there were sort of plastic boxes with really old bits in that I've not got out for two years. Have you loved them? Loved it. Yeah. Nothing special, special. Yeah.

But I thought there's too much in this cupboard. Yeah. Again, my OCD kicks in majorly. I knew as I said, we weren't doing much. Everyone's ill. It's the usual story after Christmas. So I thought, oh, come on, come on. I've been wanting to do my walldrabs out for about the past year.

So got started and what a mammoth task. And you know when you start something? You don't realise. And I thought, oh, crap, what have I started? But when you say wardrobes, what are we doing? Literally, I've done all the wardrobes in my bedroom, pulled everything out, hoovered them, wipe them down. And then strategically started putting stuff back. and try to be ruthless.

How did that go? I struggle. I think it's an age thing. You don't want to let go of things. Equally, if I pull everything out that I don't like, there'd be nothing in there. But also, you look amazing at the moment. You always look amazing.

But you have gone back to sort of how you looked 20 years ago, I feel. Done a bit of weight. Which you didn't need, but can I just say, you didn't need, but you've always been very slight, haven't you? So I would imagine there's lots of, I mean, you wore a beautiful jacket the other day that I'd not seen you in frame. So there's stuff that you can start getting out that...

It's mad, isn't it? Lovely, isn't it? And that's why you get frightened of throwing things away because then you sort of go... And fashion does go full circle as well. Yeah, I do the other way. I think I better keep those ones because I'll certainly be in those soon.

But it is lovely to pull out the odd thing and think, oh, actually this looks nice on me now. Yeah. But it's so... I'm again, interested to hear what I were listeners, how they do it, but it's so difficult on so many different levels. I do this thing where obviously now my children have all left home

so I've got spare bedrooms which means spare wardrobes which don't get me wrong I've filled so I do this thing where I take stuff out of my wardrobe that I don't wear anymore and then put it in the spare wardrobe Yes and then when I'm next getting round to doing wardrobes out again if those clothes are still in that second wardrobe which and have never come out it's at that point that I get rid of them No I get that

Because I feel like I'm not getting rid of it psychologically I'm more roofed I can be more brutal then because I'm not physically throwing them away or giving them to charity or taking them wherever. They're going into another wardrobe. To see if you think about them. Just to see, yeah. It's that thing, isn't it? Where you, as soon as you get rid of something,

you think, oh, I could really have done with that navy blue jumper. Why have I thrown it? Well, Eliza did her wardrobes out on Boxing Day, which was really lovely. She said, Mum, this is your stuff. There was a pile. What that you didn't know about? And how ridiculous is that? There was a pile of clothes that were all mine.

And you didn't see? Did not miss. So they've all gone in a bag. I've not put them back in the wardrobe. Because I don't need them. And I've got, again, I think I've got to do a bit of vinted. I said, Eliza, we can't just charity shop stuff. But I probably won't.

I probably won't get around to it. Well, again, interestingly, you've said that. To appease myself, I was pulling out pieces that, I just can't give this to a charity shop. I understand it. So your brother's retired. He likes a bit, well, he's done a bit of vinted. I said, Dave, I've collated a load of stuff.

Get on there. You need to get vinting. And then I won't feel so bad because I feel like, hey, someone's making use of it. Okay, you're only getting shrapnel for it. But it's not even about that. It's recycling. It's knowing that some other people are going to benefit from something

that you were just going to chuck in a black bag. Yeah. But it's such a job. Yeah, I haven't got time for it. And I need, um, Tony talks advice because I've got into Maria's old bedroom always smells a little bit damp only one of the wardrobe she's got a runner built-in wardrobes

you know built them over 20 years ago with carcasses but always had a little bit of an underlying issue there pulled all my jackets out of it cleaned it disinfected it and literally the base of the wardrobe is like warped where so much it must be just condensation I don't actually know what's going on there Is it an outside wall? Yes, it's on it.

The wardrobes are on an outside wall. Perhaps there's a little hole there. Or an outside wall that doesn't get a lot of sunlight because Elia's old wardrobes are on the same outside wall and I don't have that issue. So it's interesting. So guys, it is, every now and then, it is worthwhile just pulling everything out your wardrobe

because sometimes, yeah, it's scary what you can find in there. Oh, God. But it's nice also because you get to wear the odd little item that you forgot you had. And again, it makes you feel brand new a job like that. And I just feel so cleansed. But I've not finished. I mean, I've lobbed everything in Dominic's old room.

I've still got loads to do. But I find it so rewarding. I want to do mine? Do you know what? It's easier to do other people's because you're, it's a little bit like when someone says, can you, I'll help me with colours for my lounge or choosing carpet or because it's not yours. You can go a little bit. You're just a bit braver.

So, yeah, I'll happily help you do yours. And I think it's nice to do it with someone. It's a bit of like that little bit of... The last time I did it, I did it, was Soph. Well, there you go. And again, purely because I could get stuff out and go, do you want this? Do you want this?

Do you want this? So you felt like you weren't just getting rid of it. It was quite nice. It was a thing. You fancy this. Have that. Your sister would like that. And again, all things that maybe I've worn on telly.

Yeah. And not expensive things. Because I tend not to go too expensive for those television outfits. Because there's a one-off way. Yeah, I'm not going to do that. So that's quite nice. But, yeah, I think decluttering, clearing things out with a mate or family member is quite a nice thing to do. Well, and you guys were talking about New Year's resolutions the other day when you were Tony.

And for me, I feel like that's my thing that I would have to do. Start the year. I do it even at work. I start sort of do a load of admin housekeeping, tidying up. And you feel like you're entering into the new year, fresh slate. Clean head. Yeah, clean and off we go again. Absolutely.

So, yeah. So, yeah, my cleaning. addiction kicks in. Hi, Nat. So I wanted to do a voice note because I haven't been brave enough to do one until now. But I thought it's coming up to the end of the year. And I just kind of wanted to say, thank you for your amazing podcast, which has given me life this year.

I'm a self-employed gardener. So it can get very lonely and very boring. So I've been listening to your podcast whilst I've been working. And also just while I've been at home in silence, because I'm a self. I have had a difficult last few months and I've separated my husband, overshare. But basically, there's a lot of times when it's a bit quiet and you are literally my go-to. So I always stick the podcast on when I'm just pottering around the house and doing other bits and bobs. And I just wanted to say that I absolutely adore all of you.

Nat's nieces absolutely cracks me up. I love Tony Talks and I love Auntie Linney. And Mark, as much as Mark thinks everyone, I'm sick of him. And for some reason, he thinks that they don't really, like, want him on it. I don't really know where he gets that from. But I love it, and I love your banter between you. And I also just wanted to say thank you for your episode with my amazing therapist. Now, she is now my therapist because of your podcast, because it turned out she lived really

close to me and it's exactly what I needed. So I just wanted to say a huge thank you to. you for being so utterly adorable and lovely and to everyone all of your amazing family for making this year the year of the life of nat podcast and hopefully i'll be brave enough to come to a show if you do them again because i just couldn't bring myself to come alone because i was too scared but i'm absolutely chuffed to pieces for you that it went well and hopefully i will see one in the new year bye girls how lovely is that how eloquent so eloquent And I am sorry

It's quite a message from the 14th of December And I haven't called your name So I'm so sorry It might be better that your name's not on But I just wanted to say What a lovely message That Lucy Lovely Lucy from Space to Talk

When I did the mental health Right She's got quite a few clients Through the pod, amazing Isn't that brilliant Just feel like you're helping people Yeah that's why Again these pods

They just open up so many doors And just the fact that she said You know I'm a gardener and you keep me company, isn't that nice? So nice. I hope we're keeping your company now. I wish we knew your name though. Me too.

Yes. But really, just sweet. So sweet. How's Dave, did he garden the toy at this time of year? No point, is there? Can't really do much. No. You can't do much.

I mean, we had a gardener in just before Christmas, just to do a final tidy up. But no, he'll leave it. There's no cutting of grass. There's no weeding. You just leave it, didn't you, until we start approaching spring and then he'll be out there. but it's a lot of, again, it's a lot of work, isn't it? Although it's good, because I think these months, when you're retired,

like you couldn't play golf today because the cross is frozen, and not that he feels 100%. He's got a pile of clothes to sort out at home. But he needs to get on minted. Oh, yeah, I've got him undressing one of the trees as well. So just put the baubles on the floor and then I'll deal with them and I get out of home. I did that the other day. I came down the stairs because I wasn't feeling overly well,

and Mark had laid all the baubles on the floor. I was doing the lights I thought It just saves me another hour Do you know how much I hate Putting the bubbles away I find it so upsetting Do you

What because it's done You're done I must say I'm normally itching to get it all down Because I want to have that clean As you know Or be it I did it before They went up

But I think the house Looks so lovely And cosy I just don't want to take them down this year But I know I'm going to have to, it's going to feel so bad tomorrow. The Queen didn't take them down for a very long time, did she? Do she not? I'm going to find the fact because otherwise.

But I thought they have, but you said they have to be. But this confuses me as well. So we have to take them down on the 12th night, by the 12th night, 12th day. Is that right? Which you said is the fifth? I believe so. But the epiphany is the night of the sixth? I don't know.

So like in Italy, that's what they, they'll put stockings out on that night. Are they taking their declarations down? No. So why are we taking them down? Again, anyone listening that can help us with that fact. Yeah, my mum used to do my stocking on the epiphany. The night. Listen to this.

The late Queen Elizabeth II traditionally kept her Christmas decorations up at Sandringham until February the 6th. The anniversary of her father's death in 1952 as a private way to honour his memory and mark the day she became monarch. Oh. So there you go.

We could follow that. So if it's good enough for our queen. I mean, the lounge one, I should be keeping it up all year. Shut the door. Yeah, that one goes in there. Mind you, if we have a barbecue, we can peer through the window. That might look a bit odd. You have to shut the blinds.

Oh, goodness. What about the illnesses that have been going around this? What on earth has gone on this year? Well, I have to say we had a. Fantastic Christmas. We got away with it, didn't we? Yeah, we had a lovely Christmas. Sort of...

But it was sort of after the day we were all together on the 28th. Well, you, when did you become it? When was you were? Oh, my name was New Year's Eve. Oh, you was New Year's Eve, yeah, I wasn't great, New Zealand. We've had baby James has been so poorly. So poorly.

Frankie and Amelia aren't great. No. Dave's now not feeling a bit. Well, Maria was saying that Ruby and Alfie were all congested. Oh, my goodness. No. Joni had a temperature last night was laying on me whining. Is he mad?

We were all sending pictures of our kids go happy new year. Irene, isn't it ridiculous? But this is what happens. Late nights, out and about, mixing with people, theatres, wherever you are. You're doing, it's what it's super spreading time of year, isn't it? But it feels like it really is super spreading. And it, like, literally, I mean, I had people off work for, like, a week. It just, it's wiping people out.

Yeah, well, everyone I talk to, someone at work's not well, the manager's not well. Elio said all his family have been unwell Everyone you talk to us So it is what it is Just got to get over it It's probably good for our systems to be honest I mean I feel like I've had a right old detox

For a couple of days Oh my goodness So rightly or wrongly I feel quite energetic and a bit lighter After the old Christmas Some goods come out of it And food Saying that food

Let's talk about food for a minute It isn't good When you have run around You've done everything You've bought the food You've prepared all the food. Then everyone's around you don't fancy the food because all you've done is cook.

Yeah. I don't really eat a lot over Christmas. No. Really, I don't. No, I'm not sure I do. I sort of survive on cherry chocolate liqueurs every now and again and a little sandwich or... I'm not eating great big feast of meals.

I didn't really eat my Christmas dinner. I just sort of moved. Yeah, I couldn't eat it. The starter was delicious. You had the fish, didn't you're beautiful? I couldn't. I just couldn't eat it, Natalie, which is a shame. Your own melanzani is the highlight again.

It's funny. isn't that? Do you know why that is? It's not because it's the nicest dish, although it's really nice, guys. It's the fact that it's completely different. But probably by that stage, by the 28th where we're having another, although Natalie said it wasn't going to be a Christmas dinner,

there was a size of beef, the size of my body that she cooked and then potatoes and then veg. It was nice, wasn't it? It was incredible, actually. I enjoyed the cabbage. I want to do that again. Your cabbage was amazing. We had the beef sandwich.

Oh, good. In a bag, we had the beef in a baguette with unknown that's a good. That's been my favourite meal all over Christmas, the melanzan it and the turkey baguettes and the beef baguettes. What did you have with the beef? Dave did. Sounds really random. No, go on. So obviously mustard, mayonnaise and lightly fried onions.

Oh, lovely. It was incredible. Yeah, I feel a bit hungry, you're saying that now, which is good. So I haven't eaten for two and off days. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, but you want to go. I had little, Joni wanted pastina yesterday, so I made a pastina, and I had a little bowl of that and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had some herbal teas, and today I feel perhaps I could stomach a little beer later, maybe.

Gosh. It's a final of the darts tonight, Lynne. It is, isn't it? I was so good last night. I don't watch it. I'm being watching it. Can I say that I am not, Elia and Jack, even Kat, Elias friend messaged me. They watch the European Championship.

So I am a Christmas dart watcher, and I only really watch the last four days. Right. But I thoroughly enjoy it. Last night is brilliant. Yeah, it's good. It is good. By the time this comes out, we'll know who is one. He's won it.

Yeah, it's Luke Littler still there. It's Luke Littler against Van Heen. Oh, right. And he's the Dutch guy, really young, 24. And last night, I nearly cried, whether it's because you feel a bit emotional at this time of year. But he was doing his interview, and he was going against Anderson.

And he was saying, and how I've watched him and he's my idol and I can't believe I'm playing again it was really just two lovely people and Littler's had a lot of stick

because he was a bit arrogant the other night Oh was it? He apparently shouted out to the crowd I didn't see it but he shouted out saying yeah you might all boo me but you know I'm here

you're here and you pay my wage you've given it all that so I think tonight will be an interesting one I'm amazing I might try and watch it but Littler is amazing

one is down and it's only 18 I would love to go one year because it looks great fun doesn't it Yeah, maybe it's something we need to do. What about the couple of little, not little, what about the couple of disasters as well

that there's been, and Joshua, the car accident? Oh, I know. How awful is that? Really, really awful. And again, you just think, as fate would have it. I mean, two people have lost their lives. Him and the driver didn't. But I think the driver's been arrested if I've under.

I don't think he was insured and. We don't know, we don't know. No, no, yeah. Oh, you've seen it. Yeah. And the skiers, Switzerland. Oh, I haven't seen it. Sorry?

No. I've got what happened? 40 people have lost their lives. You're joking. I haven't in, I'm very, sort of stay away from the phone, the news. It's awful. It's actually awful. And it was due to sparklers in champagne bottles, set the roof a light.

Oh, you're joking. No, really bad. Oh, that's awful. Tragic, okay? Really tragic. Happy New Year, because that was New Year. Was it really? Yeah.

Oh, that's awful. So that will put a stop to them. Oh, sending just love and thoughts to anyone. All of them. Just everyone who's in a bad time. Absolutely. You know, people are low at this time of year. We say it all the time.

I've just seen a friend of mine who's a chef. I don't think she'll mind me saying. Her name is Emily, Emily Scott, who I'd met in Cornwall. She's a wonderful chef. And I think she lost her mom mid-December. So I've just sent her a message to say, thinking of you. But, you know, anyone who's losing people, over this time it is always worse I think

because people are quite jolly and then you go into a very dark place but also a very low time January as much as you want to be up I always feel very low in January yeah you've got my yeah see I don't I feel quite low you know you've always said this don't you? Is it but maybe psychologically

like New Year's Eve so I'm going to go back to New Zealand because you know us over the years how many parties how many nights out anyway it didn't happen this year predominantly because James wasn't well. New Year's Eve, I didn't feel 100%. So I was actually relieved I wasn't going anywhere. But I still felt really weird. I felt a bit sad.

Oh yeah, it's quite melancholy. And I was like, but then I'm trying to snap myself out of it and say, no, it's just another day. It doesn't matter. You're going to have a really full on few weekends in January. Absolutely. Probably going away in February. But it's psychologically, I feel like the pressure of everything

that's got all what you believe is going on around you makes you feel like you're missing out but you shouldn't be at home on your own or... I didn't mind no you Zeeve apart from being absolutely freezing and Mark saying it's fucking baking in here I said I'm so cold he said there's something wrong with you and I powered on through I had a couple of glasses of wine

but did not feel well no genuinely I did not feel well I ate a couple of onion rings I didn't eat and I thought I'll have to wait up Eliza was here with Astor. So we watched a bit of Jules Holland fireworks. Went straight to bed and I was violently sick all night.

But I don't mind. I quite like being at home. I don't mind that. No, but I do. It's just that. But I think being on your own, you've got a wonderful family. You're always together.

So it's quite weird. Well, it felt a bit like COVID because we're all sending photos of each other. And we were like, and someone said, this is a bit like COVID vibes again. Mark went, all you've done all night is sit and sex Maria and Elia. Yeah. I said, I know. But we were just texting and photos and...

Yeah. But, yeah, it is what it is. And try not to let January drag you down. No, it's not about dragging you down. And not you personally, just everyone, anyone. I know it's a miserable month, it's a dark month. No one's got money. Back at work.

Tax bills coming. All your bills come through. It's just, you know, the fault of another... You know, you've got another year. Here we go. We're on this wheel, aren't we, that just keeps on turning. But I put things away because, again, I feel like I can talk to you. this is it really bad but when I put the decorations in that why I cry is I think when I'm

when I get these out next year is everyone going to be with me yeah when I get these out next year yeah what are we all going to feel be as healthy as we are now so when I'm packing these away next year is life going what's going to have happened in a year so you're turning into your mother your lovely mother she would worry she was a worrier she worried you're worrying about something you can't control no I know I know You're worrying about something that may not happen. I know. I don't know how you stop yourself from doing that.

It's not a constant. No, of course. But even that little fault, it can just, again, it triggers an emotion that you don't need to put yourself through. Because we might be really healthy all year and just have a fantastic year. I know, I know. Yeah, it's weird, didn't it? But, yeah, it's a hard one, isn't it? It's a hard one to how you educate yourself.

Well, you can't. It's something that happens. It's natural. It's just, yeah. Yeah. Or I'll be thinking, God, Joan is, when I'm doing this next year, Joanie will be 10. She did that much older, yeah. Well, and Eliza will be 16 and what will be going on with her?

And it's just a time thing. But I just think because it is such a big part of my year, it makes me think of the year as a whole and where I'll be next year. More than New Year. Funny, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. But, you know, ultimately, we're blessed.

And of course, we've just got to focus on the here and now and try not to think too far ahead. I had a lovely message from Kim. Now, Kim from Morden sends me a Thursday crow every week. And Kim, I'm sorry, I haven't bloody used them. So this is the first one I will use, and I tend to use more, I promise you, in 2026. But she said Thursday's quote, happy new year to you and yours, Nat, time to start wintering, love Kim. And the quote is, happy 2026.

May the new year bring you peace that claim your soul, love that warms your heart and hope that guides your way. There you go. And I thought that was really lovely. So thank you, Kim. How hard is it to keep saying 2026? I've written 25, type 25 so many times. Have you really? Still not there.

26. Oh, that's scary. So 1996 was 40 years ago. 1996 feels like 10 years ago. Wow. It's mad, isn't it? Was it 40 years ago? Yes.

It was. Is that crazy? Oh, hang on. Am I wrong? I mean, guys, help me here. I'm the one that has been... I'm thinking... Hang on.

No, I'm not very good at maths. It's my... I am an ex-banker. I think you'll find it isn't made. But I'll phone, Rachel Riley. Hang on. 96. 2006, 2016, 2016, but I beg your pardon, 30 years.

Stand corrected. Oh, because I'll be 52 now. 43 this year? Mad, isn't it? Life just crazy stuff. That's why you've got to just embrace it and do it, and let's get these live pods going again. I know, can't wait. I'm so excited.

So many people have said they've bought tickets or they've had it as a prezi. Oh, how lovely. Really lovely. Me and the girls did have a lovely idea. I don't know if we're going to pull it off for this year. What's that? I just think it could be really good to do sort of, and that's nice his brunch.

With a bit of bingo, just something for the mad crowd. Right. Don't what I mean? Just something, it isn't just a live show, but a bit of an event. Oh, I see. Like an actual brunch. Yeah. Oh, amazing.

Just an idea, I mean, I'd love to do it, but again, it's organising it. But I think we've got time. Maybe a September. Yeah. But we could do a bit of a something fun. Could have to think outside the box, Natalie. Got to do it. Yeah.

Got to. Yeah. So, yeah. And that's what is so exciting because there is so much you can do. You know, you think how this started, you know, we're in your bedroom, in one of your bedrooms, which is now a beautiful studio, talking, whatever we want to talk about. And the year ended with us sitting on a stage in front of 750 audience. I know. Incredible.

So who knows what this year will bring? Just don't know, do we? So we've just got to, we've got to grow it. We've got to come up with these ideas. And I have said it, and I do want to, I think we should be doing a live grief show. And I would love to put it out there, 0778-1919, what are your thoughts?

It sounds maybe melancholy or miserable, but you know that me and Linda aren't miserable. How would you feel to come out and really do? talk about grief, really get into it. Because we'd need you to participate. Yeah, we would have to have people participate, I think. But I think, again, we could do it in a nice small room, not too big, and I'd love to know your thoughts on it, because I just think it's needed.

People want to talk about it. Yeah. I really do. Have a cup of tea together after, can make it very, like being in someone's big front room. Yeah, it doesn't have to be, you know, talking of, you know, and we don't want to get morbid, I went to a funeral Saturday before Christmas. And it was a lovely send-off.

He was a young man, friend of the family, practically related. But sad, and it was sad that it was, for some of us, it ended up being like a school reunion, community reunion. I caught up with so many old faces. I actually ended up going for brunch with a host of girls because of it. it was come away with a nice feeling as sad as it was and obviously for the family but a good sender

but how beautiful look what it brings it just brings people together you know he was in my youngest brother's school year so it was a lot of people from our school that we hadn't seen in years it's just how something so sad can then open up other doors and relationships and connect people again

I think it's true of many, many things, sad things that happen. Yeah. You know, it is what it is. But the girls will be laughing that you're talking about funerals because they call you the funeral crusher, don't they? They do. Love a funeral. I don't love a funeral.

I'm just blaming enough to go to too many of them. But again, that's living in a community all your life, isn't it? You just know, acquainted with. And also, you out of respect, the Italian community, you go to a lot, don't get to show up. Yeah, very much so. So here's a message from Sarah, from Luton. Happy New Year to all the lovely life with Nat Crew. Meeting you in Luton was a highlight of my year.

You are one in a million. Keep doing what you're doing because you're fecking great. Lots of love. Isn't that lovely? That's fecking brilliant. Blesser. So, yeah, really, really nice. We've got loads of Happy New Year's from people.

It's lovely. Just really. Yeah, it's heartwarming. It's like a massive hug, isn't it? And also, I do think sometimes when I get the messages, it's so nice that you've thought to text me on New Year's Eve. I know. Because probably 70%, 80% of the people I know haven't.

Yeah. But the listeners have, which I think's really nice. I'm glad you bought that out. Go on. So again, I'm going to sell out a bit of a Mizog here. No, go on. don't you get, like, isn't it hard to constantly texting everyone? Yeah, I don't do it.

And I used to do it religious. And I did it more so when I stopped doing Christmas cards, which was like only last year, before last now. But the constant having to message now, everyone, I find that really. Yeah, I don't really. And I feel really bad. And I don't mean that in a bad, negative way. But I just think, oh, my God.

We don't need to text Happy New Year to everyone. I know. I'm saying it's lovely. It is lovely, the thought, but we don't, especially when it's a group, Happy New Year, and then you've got 11 Happy New Year's. No, we all know it's happy, just do a thumbs up. Same message, 11 times. It's funny, aren't we a funny old lot?

I'll tell you, a funny old bunch of people is what we are. We haven't spoken about Christmas presents and the volume of boxes and wrapping paper we've had to get rid of this year. Yeah, last year. We need to go back to food as well because we didn't really. We've touched on that. Touch on that. We got it all wrong this year, I feel, in my household.

What, food-wise? I think. Oh, boxes. Dave will beg, both. Dave will beg to differ. Yeah, we over did it with the food. And then you find I can't bear waste. So we are literally making all sorts.

He's made turkey mini pies. We've frozen stock galore, which I hasten to. That's very good, though. And we had it last night with fresh tortellini. and took it next door to our neighbours and had an evening with them and it was delicious. There you go. So again, guys, please, please, please don't throw stuff away.

You can just utilise everything. Yeah, it's so true. Custard. You can freeze custard. Can you? Yeah. Can't freeze cream. Yeah, just everything.

There was just, but we haven't thrown anything away. We didn't waste. I mean, obviously we bought turkey here and then took it home again. Yeah. But we didn't throw anything away. But we could have probably. we didn't need a goose and a turkey, or at least the size of the goose and the turkey.

I bought too many pigs in blankets. But you can freeze them. Yeah, I've frozen them. There you go. Too much stuffing. Because I make my own stuffing, which was lovely. But then always buy a couple. I don't know why I do that.

Buy a couple in case. Yeah. So I froze one of them. Ridiculous. Fish I did brilliantly with. Yeah. Last year I threw away. Oh.

Ridiculous amount of fish, which made me cry. Yeah, that's not right when there's people starving. No, it's awful. I've frozen some smoked salmon. You can free smoke salmon. Excellent. So I've frozen that. That's it.

Mark had smoked salmon and bagels with avocado last night to get rid of one packet. But because I've not been feeling well, these three days of an evening, I would have been grazing. I would have been having a cleanie, smoked salmon, glass champagne. So you've not been, you've not done that. So there's a few little things But I've got paté cheese that lasts forever I've got some salamis and things End of Feb dates

I've done very well Oh good I feel very pleased Yeah me too I can't be We haven't thrown things away But I feel like we didn't necessarily It's stupid things

It's like even the girls saying Oh, two bottles of orange juice Isn't going to be enough For one day So we've ended up buying more And then But that will last your ages No I've been drinking it

Well just get it in the garage juice I've been having screwdrivers. Oh, fuck me. From the box on the screwbox. She's on the screwdrivers. I'm not a pleasant enjoying it as well. Nice, a little vodka and orange. Really, I've forgotten how nice that drink is.

I've really enjoyed that. So I've been having lots of that. And vitamin C, so happy days. Yeah, yeah. What about the garage being absolutely full of boxes? Oh, my Lord. Mark's been to the tip three times. Wow.

Filled up the garage, taken it. Filled up the garage, taken it. It's crazy. And the bin for the bottles. I don't know how we're going to get it down the road. Mine's all gone. Have yours not been collected yet? How big is your bin for the bottles?

What, you have a bin? It's huge. Stop. What do you think? I'm going to show you it. In fact, I take a photo. Your bin men are going to think, oh, okay, she's got a problem.

I don't even feel like we've had a lot to drink. But you've done a lot of days. Yeah, you started Christmas Day with, Tony's family and it's, yeah. Yeah. But no, the recycling and it's crazy. How much? And like Dave was saying, you've got to, and he's right,

you can't put the plastic with the cardboard. No, it's all the toys. You've got to separate. I know what you're going to say. I mean, that's a job in itself. Yeah, and Mark's, that's why, when we had a big cardboard box and people are lobbing things, Mark's going, please don't do it.

Because it's another job. He's got to sort it all out, which you've done. But yeah, it's a lot of jobs. What made me laugh the most about our day is out of all of the presents and I wish we had a photo of it hopefully we have a last maria but Alfie's favourite thing to play with

was it was the tubular plastic that he got into so you looked like a pencil and the box for my lovely nest of tables that you bought me didn't the kids love that box? Loved it, sat in it and was playing with

plastic and as usual and these and these viewers are not our listener sorry are not babies you know we always say give babies the wrapping paper and they're being their element now for six and it's nine and they were having the best time with this um what is it like a just a very large box oh and the other yeah the tube of tube of plastic you know the protection yeah that's got airing a bit of airing he looked like a little crayon I thought I can't believe this it's crazy it's mental, isn't it? It was lovely though. They were so good over Christmas as well, even at ours. They were so good, despite it's still having issues like in the night,

one of them was a bit poorly and you have all those dramas, but they was so good. Bless it. It was really lovely, actually. It was really lovely. Well, fortunately, at least we got Christmas done before everyone being a little bit poorly. Yeah, I think we got lucky, didn't we? And then it sort of all collapsed after. But that's an element of, do you also relax and I don't know.

Of course. Yeah, we've all had a bit of something, haven't we? Yeah. Have you been walking? Yeah. Every day? Not every day because obviously Christmas has been in the way and Tina's got hundreds of birthdays this time of year as well, bless them.

But yeah, we have walked and we're walking tomorrow morning. Brilliant. And as cold as it is, the sun's out, you wrap up. I think it does you the world of good. It looks so nice. Especially, I mean, I get a little bit of cabin fever. If I'm stuck indoors for longer than two days, I need to get out there. And I just think the fresh air just clears your airways.

And in fact, Elliot got told that with a baby having croup. Yes. It's good to get him out in the fresh air. And as long as they're wrapped up and warm. And you see so many people walking their dogs and everyone's, you know, wishing you a happy New Year. It's actually really nice. It's time to be out and seeing people.

Everyone's happy. They've had a bit turn at home and happy to get out. out. So no, it's lovely. And I'll be back on it with a vengeance now. Yeah. That's good. It's lovely. I need to do that. But if you remember this time last year, we did a new year's walk and I'd been ill in the rain. So I always come down with something this time of you. I think it's where you're so busy. And then you shut down. And I just shut down. But yeah, it's all fine. I wanted to just read this, talking about your walks from a listener called Laura. And Laura said, morning that, hope you're all good, I've been inspired by my brother Adam, who last year

ran every day for the whole year. What an achievement. Whilst I'm not planning on doing the same, I'm going to attempt red January, run every day, Jan. Simply because I want to challenge myself and commit to it and listen to loads of podcasts. We'll see how it goes. So that was yesterday. And she sent me run to a little picture. And I said, well done. And then she said, thanks now. It's only day two. I said, keep going. And then this morning, she said, run. I hope you don't mind me sending it helps me to stay accountable and weirdly motivates me to do it

I said absolutely not I said keep just send them to me and I can just put the thumbs up and she said you really are lovely that's why the pods are the best like everyone says it's chatting with friends being part of a community

happy Saturday to you I said thank you so much and she said sounds great I'm sure you'll grow the community loads and loads this year hard when you're spinning so many plates with all jobs and commitments you've got pods out every week

two pods even when you're super busy and that's because your commitment to the pod is so great no doubt it will grow even further oh thank you and you're her motivation so that's brilliant and sometimes that's just what you need got to send a photo yeah it's a bit like we say like if I had to walk on my own I'm sure there'd be nights where I'd be like oh no it's too cold

whereas if you're going with so she's doing the same thing she's doing it on her own but you're her motivation because she's getting that thumbs up from you so keep sending that thumbs up and well done you That's really good. And if she doesn't do it, I'll be like, what is the old photo, Laura? Yeah, exactly. So now she's got that pressure to do it.

And now I've said it on the pod. Yeah. So it's even more pressure. I'd like Laura. No, you're well done. Well done you for doing it. And I think it's lovely for people to just give themselves something, especially in January. Yeah.

Because as you say, for so many people, January can be such a depressing month. Don't make it. No. Go and buy yourself, I don't know, anything. Do a jigsaw. Get yourself an appraisal. an apparatus for indoors where you can just, I don't know, do, even if you're just skipping, you know.

I wonder what you're going to say then. No, Natalie. I'll leave that to you a mark on my daughters. I'm a sensible one. No, yeah. It's exciting to see what this year brings. Absolutely. For everybody.

Well, I can't thank you enough, giving up your time. God, that's gone quick. Oh, it's a good faulty. Yeah. I know, it just goes so quickly. Fries by. Yeah, it really does. But thank you, after work on a Saturday.

No, it's all good. It's all good. And you're going to go and see Els now for a bit? I'm going to go and have a little cuddle with the baby Jane's. Oh, lovely. If he lets me, bless his heart. Yeah, he's been a little bit under the weather. Oh, bless you.

He's coming through it. Yeah, yeah. It's a lot at this time of year. And also, they can't tell you. No, not when they're like small. He has been really poorly, hasn't he? Yeah, he has. He's not been able to, yeah, sort of other than just.

You just feel so helpless, don't you? So helpless. Yeah, it was, yeah, it's been a bit worrying, but he's, he's turned a corner. He's, he's good. And Elia and Jack are brilliant, so. No, it's all good. So turn the corner, be nice. By the time you get to Monday, he'll be back on track.

Of course. Hopefully. Yeah. And everyone will, you know, we'll all feel a bit better. Yeah. It's sort of back to school Monday, isn't it? Absolutely. Yeah.

And literally back to school, so traffic will be back to, as usual. Well, there's a lot of insect days now. Yeah, Monday and Tuesday are here. So Tuesday mine are back. Yeah. As Armaria's, I believe. As Armaria's, yeah. So you might get a quiet Monday morning. Yeah.

And then it'll be crap again. And then it's back to, yeah, busy roads. Oh. It's horrible, do it? Yeah. Horrible. Although I'm not doing a lot of driving through January. Are you working through January?

I beg you, pardon. No, apart from the pod. Apart from the bar. I mean, have you got my, I know you're on, well, today's Saturday, isn't it? So you're on, you're doing catch, we've seen your catchphrase tonight. Yeah. Do you want me to tell you?

What, do you, do you, do you, do you? Stop it. Yeah, for people, sorry if it's a spoiler, but it's been out. But yeah, have a little watch. I was very proud of myself. Did you really? Well done. Did you shit at the wall on my own?

Did you? Did you? Is it, does that wall, is it so nervous? Yeah, it must be. It's not nerve wracking. You just kick yourself because you just can't see it because you want to get it. It's so annoying. But I had a great.

time. It was lovely. What charity? What charity? Saving kids cancer, who I'm ambassador for. Oh, of course. I've got, oh, how lovely, Natalie. Yeah, I was really, really pleased. And I don't win a lot.

I never do quizzes and win, so I sort of felt quite proud of myself. Well, you've done all right so far. I know. You won Cooking with the Stars? Yeah. Yeah. What else have you done? You did well at, um, Mars Singer.

That's true. Yeah. Oh, don't be too hard on yourself. See what's to come this year. Yeah. Who knows? Yeah. So the month of Jan, you've got.

I've got my exam next week. Oh, wow. So that's enough. So I need to revise, revise, revise. Lots of pod stuff. Yeah. Organising logistics for the live shows. Which they start the end of this month.

They start. Did they? Oh, February. February. But I've got, there's a lot of logistics. I want to sort those out. And we've got a nice family function at the end of the month? Yes, we have.

Can't wait for that. Little Frankie's being christened and his first birthday. So, yeah. Else's his birthday? Yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, it's busy. Yeah.

Busy again, isn't it? The wheel. keeps on turning. It sure does. It sure does. Well, your will needs to keep on turning today. I need to take Eliza to her mates like a cab driver as usual. And I'm looking forward to getting her.

She'll be driving before you know. I don't. When I'll be putting the decorations in next year, I'll be thinking she'll be driving. Bloody hell. God, I'm getting old. You were going to say something I interrupted you. No, I was going to say I'm looking forward to my Marks and Spencer's collection curry tonight.

Oh, lovely. Now, a bit of a funny one though, isn't it, when you've not eaten? It's a bit brave. Brave. Because you've had a very delicate tummy. Although I'm starving. And I feel like I'm better. And it's not low.

It's not too spicy. No. No, you'll be fine. But it's their new collection one. Oh, okay. It's a lamb biryani. I've bought a little pania, chili panier, the cheese. Oh.

And just a black doll, the lentils. Right. And me and Mark will sit and share. that and I'm going to have a little beer and enjoy my darts. Do you do that? What are you doing tonight? I probably, yeah, I don't know what time I'll be leaving Elias, but probably much the same. We were out yesterday, so we're going to have a nice chilled evening.

Miniature turkey pie? No, they've all gone because the kids all got one, sorry, you didn't get one. No, do you know what, I've got into the, so obviously I started watching the traitors. Oh, absolutely. We haven't even mentioned. No, sorry, very quickly, guys, and then we are going. No, it's fine. But Claudia, I just think she's brilliant.

She's brilliant. The way they dress her. That is Shanae McKefrey. Well, who's a lovely woman. Well, she's got Claudia spot on, I have to say. So good. And she's so good, Claudia. You know, she's got her new chat show coming?

No, I heard something. Is that what it is a chat show she's got? Chat show. Oh, wow. Which is about time. Think about the men that have done chat shows. Yeah. Yeah, there hasn't been.

When has been a woman? No. When has there been a woman? Mrs. Merton. But again, she was a character. Yeah, in a self, yes. Dame Edna. Character.

Interesting. So she's doing chat-shut. What channel? BBC One. Wow. She's smashing it. Old Claude. Yeah, she sure is.

But yeah, the kilt. No, they've just got her right. She's got, the stylist has got her. The knitted. I love it. So what I've done, so I've watched the first one, and I'm into it now, and I've never watched it. them. So I've gone to series one.

Have you? So I'm going to be watching that tonight. Did you watch the celebrity one? Yeah, that's what got me into it. That's the only one I've ever watched. So this one has started, so I thought I need to watch it. But now I've gone back to series one. And then last night we're chatting about it with our neighbours. One of the guys in series one, he was your brother's GP. No. Yeah. I have surgery. How about that then? So I'm watching him. He's not there anymore.

He was our GP. Yeah, he was one of the doctors at our GP. That is hilarious. How nice? Who'd you like on this one? Let's have a quick, quick go. What do you think about the secret traitor element? Genius.

Good, isn't it? Because we're now playing. We're absolutely that. So now we're getting a taste of how they feel. How they feel. How clever is it? But what I don't quite understand, have you watched it? Yeah, yeah.

So help me understand. So the three traitors, is their aim to establish who. the main traitor is so that, because they're not in control, are they? So do they want to get him out or not get him out? I know. I'm not, I'm a bit confused. Could they, what I want to know is, it's up to them. Could they say, are you the secret traitor? I mean, it would be huge because no, you'd then be outing yourself as a traitor.

So I suppose they can't do that. So is their goal to get the main traitor out or not? Because he's controlling what they do. I know. Because look at the three that he's, She's put up, or she's put up. I think it's Fiona. You think it's Fiona?

Yes. Because the other night, maybe it's the edit and it's getting me out of it. She's the one that didn't... You know, the white hair. Yeah, yeah, I know, Fiona, when they were sat down and Ben, the Scottish shoulder guy, he went, oh, well, if it's roster trait, I'll be out tonight because I'm talking about him. And then when they got into the turret, Ben was on there, and I thought, Who would pick Ben?

Who would pick him? Oh, it's brilliant. It's so clever. Is it not? It's on tonight as well. Is it? I think so. I think it was Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

And then it's next. And then it goes normal. Back to Wednesday. It's on two consecutive nights in the week, isn't it? I believe so. Yeah. I think you're right. I think it is on tonight.

I think it is on tonight. Well, I'll be watching that. I'll be watching that late after the darts. Oh, lovely. Oh, so nice, cozy. How lovely Saturday night in. Oh, it's lovely. House is nice and toasty.

Toasty. I mean, our bills are going to be nice and toasty as well. Oh, don't. But how can you not have that heat? You've got to. It's so cold. It's really cold. It's really, really cold.

And it's not just the UK. Oh, no. Parts of Europe are having a similar experience because I spoke to family members in Italy and they went, oh my goodness, it's cold here. Really? And their houses aren't geared up for the cold. No.

So wrap up tonight, everyone. Get cozy. Light a candle. Yeah, light a candle. Nice little drink. A few picky bits. You can have a screwdriver. Nice.

Oh, hang on. Oh, now his mind is wandering. How rude. And on that note, see you later. It's a goodbye from him. And it's a goodbye for him. See you guys. Love you.

Bye.