Life with Nat - EP189: Scraping the Barrel #36 - The Pencil Test

Episode Date: January 12, 2026

Nat and Marc are taking on the mice, the television industry, and the music the youth are listening to. Another basically lovely episode all 'round, hope you take a deep dive into it! 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 Niece's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natsnieces⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tony's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tonycass68⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linny's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@auntielinny.lwn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MORE LIVE SHOWS! 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: January's Book - ⁠⁠Wintering by Katherine May⁠⁠ 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 - AGEING & non-negotiables 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?  A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

and welcome to Life with Nat everybody. I hope you've had a fantastic weekend or are in a really good place wherever you're listening. Tonight I am joined by Mark, my lovely fiancé, and it's Saturday evening. And it's quarter past 11 at night, which is a little bit late, to say the least. Not for a Saturday, to be fair.

No, it is. Our Sky decided not to work this evening. after cooking a very nice meal of fajitas, all from scratch. It was lovely, actually. Bought some fajita spice, some tortillas, did some avocado, a lovely chili and tomato salsa,

some wedges. And I really, you know, did it with love. Everyone ate that. Everyone pissed off immediately after dinner. I left me to clear it all up. Jobs to do. You did?

You were doing quite a big job, weren't you? Well, yeah, it was a big job. Do you know what? I don't know. There's lots of little jobs going. It's busy at the moment. It's been a busy, busy week.

However, I would say tonight's jobs are unnecessary. Absolutely unnecessary. Unfortunately. Absolutely unnecessary. They're broken things. Yeah. Which is annoying. But you made progress with the record player, didn't you?

I did. Well, I didn't. I've rewired it. I mean, you've spent four hours on it. Yeah. In total. Oh, sorry, before dinner as well. So five hours.

Yep. And it isn't fixed yet. No. Which is heartbreaking. Really. Now, are you suggesting that's me? No. I'm saying that your whole evening,

because you want something down. I sort of knew that was good. Do you know, one thing I've got really good at doing, and that is knowing how things will take longer than you, think they will. Work filling the time available. I was talking to Josh about this at work the other day. And like two or three years ago,

I'd write a list of today I've got to do this stuff. And I'd write all these things, had all these aspirations of getting all this stuff done. And you'd only ever get one thing done. Probably not even get it done. And then you'd feel like a failure when you looked at your list. So now I'm getting really good at that. So yesterday, I'm fortunate enough to be working this week.

It's been a busy week, albeit a tough one. And yesterday... We'll go back to that. I'm thinking, oh, it's Saturday, tomorrow, I've got a day off. Let's get all these bits and pieces done. And when I wrote the list out, well, to be fair, I've got this never-ending. It's really so boring. But basically...

I've noticed you say basically a lot, by the way. So basically loads. A lot. Just not having a go. I noticed it this week for the first time, actually. So you've noticed, I say basically a lot. But quite, sort of frequently within phone calls, because I've heard you on the phone a lot this week.

Yeah, fair enough. I mean, I say loads of things. You say deep dive into, let's take a deep dive. When? On this podcast, a lot. Do I? Yes, you do. do?

Do I do that? Let's not even get started on some of the things that you repeat. I mean, I'm not what I can talk. I say lovely a lot. Lovely is a classic, sorry. I was actually just thinking, it's classic. What is that one you say old time?

It was lovely. Yeah. Yeah. It was just something I noticed, not a criticism. Oh, thanks for that, feedback. Really appreciate it. It's really good. Cheers.

I haven't really spoke to you today, and that's the first one of the sense. Have not spoken to you really, and we've been together all day. Well, and it proves my point about this whole going to the gym thing. What's that? There's no time for it. That's absolutely the reason we're sat here now at this time at night. Not true. Absolutely it is.

I'm telling you. Absolutely it is. I would have started that job three hours earlier. Absolutely is. 100%. You have to make time for self-care. You do. As long as you realise that's why you're doing a podcast at quarter to midnight. Otherwise, I really don't.

Don't buy that because it's, I've been ready since seven o'clock. You have? You haven't. No. Which is fine. That qualifies me and been able to say that, I think. Because you're waiting for me. I still believe I would have been waiting for you if we hadn't have been to the gym.

Because then the sky box played up. Can I just say something? Yeah. Something just occurred to me. Go on. Last night. Yep. Eliza needed picking up from her friend's house.

Correct. And it was very late at night. It involves lots of country lane driving. There's a storm on. It wasn't really a storm last night. Not great weather. Flooding. Yeah.

Loads of flooding around our way. And I'm driving home from work last night, and I remember you had to go and get her. I was very, very up for going. Absolutely. No way. That is ridiculous at like 11 o'clock at night. It wasn't a little.

I was leaving at 10. Anyway, I said, I was going to go. I said I'll go. You did. It was very kind. I opened the front door and there she is. A bottle of wine's open already. Yep. A couple of glasses have gone already. Can I just say this isn't four o'clock in the afternoon? Holding no prisoners.

I'd done a bloody exam. Right, okay. You didn't hang about that, did you? There's no... I mean, you were absolutely making sure that I was going to have to stick to my word because I came in and it's half a bottle gone. That's not true. Yes, there was.

Honestly, wasn't. You absolutely thought about that, and then I saw the silly Instagram video. I did it for that, really. That went done well. Right. I feel like I should do more sort of little comic quips on Instagram. I get a bit lazy with it, but I love watching other people's videos. You're sidetracking now.

Watch me? You sort of... So the point I was going to make was, today. Yeah. Oh, let's go to the gym. We'll go to the gym today. I know what? You can take Joni swimming.

Yeah. Me and Eliza will go in the gym. I'm going to stop you. Then, when you've gone swimming with Joni, yeah. When you've got in the pool, got out the pool, had a shower, got dry, got your clothes on. Done all the cleaning, sorting Joanie out, getting her already after the swimming. Yeah.

Getting her out. Yeah. To come and meet you. Mm-hmm. And then off I have to go to the gym to then have another shower to get dry again. etc. Who got the rubbish deal today? Well, I have to say, in my defence, when talking about going today, the first thing you said was I'd really like to spend some time with Joni and take her swimming.

Yes. Ideally, after having been in the gym like the other time. Wouldn't it work? That was what I was sort of thinking about. Wouldn't it work, though? Because it would have meant me and Joni just sat waiting for you. Yeah, to be fair, I sort of agree.

But at the same time, I was here for a little bit sort of, like I got the wrong, you know, like the... That's a shame, because I thought you wanted to have a nice swimmer, Joom. Oh, I had a lovely swim with her. I mean, I'll get you as a punch bag. She said she used you as a surfboard. She used me as a surfboard. But she involves me going under water, her then standing on me.

Yes. I mean, the lifeguard blew his whistle like four times. She was drowning me Or she had a great time Oh great yeah I've got bruises all over me now She went to bed early Bet she did

Yeah She'll be up early though That's the only thing She was asleep by 20 to 8 Well I've got a meeting I've got a leave for a meeting tomorrow Sunday morning Sunday morning

And I've got a meeting This is what happens when you're involved with a railway What time have you got to go I've got to be in the Well I don't know I've got to go and get a lot of stuff together as well. Oh my goodness.

And me and, um, it's only like me and Romeo there. No one else is doing anything tomorrow's. Romeo, done. We're going to do a bit of, um, got a bit of work to do. What are you doing? We're going to remove a bit of track.

Yeah. I think, hopefully. Replacing sleepers. I'm bored. Everyone's bored listening. It's really boring. But yeah, I'm going to do that.

Well, I'm going to do a nice chicken roast for us tomorrow evening. Well, that'll be nice. Makes a change you're doing some cooking, actually. It'd be good. Excuse me. Sorry. I know it doesn't seem like cooking. But I did cook fajitas tonight with some nice wedges.

Although when I watch Master Chef, I do get really... I watch The Master Chef because Sky wasn't working and all the Saturday night telly that I usually would watch, I haven't done. So I thought I know what I do. I'll pop on BBC Eye Player and pop up. on a couple of master chefs that I haven't seen. And I do, I'll say, I've said it before and I'll say it again.

I do love a cooking show, be it cooking with the stars, Master Chef, Master Chef, Australia. You've not done Master Chef, have you? I haven't. I'd like to. Really like to. However, I do feel, because I did Cooking with the Stars last year, if I were to get asked to do it, I should have a little break. Right.

Maybe do it another year or so. If I were to be lucky enough to be asked, you know. Right. Look at my lovely mug from a listener. My favourite mug now to drink from. Quite a lot of people have messaged me about your box. Can I just confirm that I haven't said a word? Why are they being inquisitive about my box?

box. Does I put a post up on my Instagram? I don't even know what my Instagram is. What is my Instagram? I genuinely don't know it. Camera underscore Mark. What a stupid name that is.

Camera underscore Mark. Trudy, she said, is it some cameras to film the pod? Makes sense. Flight case. Actually does look like what we'd call a flyaway

sort of set up for doing like multi-camera sort of stuff when you're not using a truck. So I don't know if she's sort of clued up on that. Maybe. Good knowledge. Someone else said it was karaoke. Sue. Sue said it was karaoke.

Portable karaoke system. Exactly. I like that, Sue. Yeah, exactly. We all need one of those in our lives. And also, I had a lot of messages in people talking about, you know, the little thing, I know the little thing, I know, Christmas has long gone now. Yeah, yeah. It's about five years ago.

Yeah. But the candles, the candelabra thing, which with the heat, Making the thing spin. Oh, yes, yeah. There was Leslie, she said she remembers having them. Seems to sort of... Oh, it's very nostalgic, isn't it? Yeah.

I must say, I do agree with you. Christmas was only two weeks ago. Yeah. And it feels like 500 years ago. Yeah, it was really. It's a funny old time of year, isn't it? How does that happen? I think it's just the joy being sucked out of life at this time of year.

I had a feeling. Sorry. This week was a tough one, I think, for everybody. Everyone's got back. Kids go back to school. Their children are quite tired. You're getting up early. The school run, it's cold.

It's been a very, very cold week for everybody. For anyone listening, we've been quite lucky. We had a flurry of snow. It hasn't really disrupted much, but I know many, many of you across the country are still getting snow and have had schools closed. I mean, even that,

You know, inset day for us on Monday was bad enough, but thinking of you guys in Wales and Scotland where all the schools were closed until Thursday or whatever, you just want them back now, don't you? They need to get into a bit of routine. It was really cold this week. Well, you, my love,

were outside for most of the week, weren't you, filming? I was. And do you know something? I made a big decision this week. Seriously, big decision. I'd be interested to know what the listeners think about this. I certainly know. I can already tell you what our Cornish listeners think about this.

But I just had to bear my dry robe. It's a big decision to make. It's quite a statement, isn't it? Yeah. I mean, it's pretty... Dry road wanker. Yeah. You can now join the page.

I've been on it several times. Yeah, thanks to other people I work with. Well, I tell you what, though? I bet you were warm. Well, I was. It's not the most... I mean, it's tricky, because I want... Underneath, I mean, it was ridiculous.

I did a photo actually on an Instagram that I was doing the racing. Yes. And I was thinking about how many layers of clothing I'm wearing just to stand still on a scaffold tower? Yeah. And it's great, so I was wearing boxer shorts. Yeah. Thermal leggings, thermal top.

Yeah. T-shirt. You've forgotten your string vest? No string vest. Onslow style. No onslo style string vest. Oh, that was so good. keeping up appearances.

That's been played again. It's on at the moment. It sort of pops up. I've seen a few one for it in the graves. My kind of shows, guys. My kind of shows. Basically, you've gone down further than Channel 4 and got yourself on to...

No, because watch do not. It's called gold? No, it's not called gold. Right. It's UK TV gold. I'll have you know. Okay. And watch.

And I'm telling you now, usually you don't really see one foot in the grave and you don't really see keeping up appearances. You should be putting yesterday on. Oh, lovely. It's like your sort of era of East Ends. Really good. Early 2000s.

Oh, the Easties stuff, yeah. Well, BBC I play had all the Christmas classics on, didn't I have Christmas, which was very good. Did you watch, Ellie? No, I haven't done, no. But I thought it was a lovely thing to do. So minus the vest. Thermal top, thermal leggings.

Then what do we have? A t-shirt. Yeah. Doesn't really do anything but it was there. Yeah. North Face Top. I had trousers, jeans actually. Yeah.

Denim. But they don't look denim. Trousers and over trousers. What do you mean denim, but they don't look denim? We're not allowed to wear jeans, but these are plain grey trousers. I know. Stretch denim but it look like smart. They look like, I don't know.

Chino. Yeah, chino, that's the word. A thick chino, I would say. That's it, yeah. Then what did you have on? Waterproof trousers over the top of those. I've lost count, yeah. So that was that.

Then, oh yeah, so my north face top over the top of that. Then I was wearing a north face jacket that had a liner in it. So that's another layer. And then the north face jacket. And then I had my dry robe over the top of all of it. I was freezing. Yeah, I had gloves here. Yeah, but it's a bit.

bit of a paper, when you do a camera, it feels really weird operating of your gloves. Yes, I can imagine that. So you can get fingerless gloves, I've got those. Yeah. But that doesn't really. Basically, the answer is just on and off on the gloves. Yeah, absolutely. So what was that?

I was just counting the basiclies. You need like a little ding-ding on one of those paddles. I do. There you go. What have you got on your paddles, actually? You've got to fade them up. Nice. Little sting.

Have you got that burp? Liza's burps on there somewhere. You found that quickly. It's a good bit of music, this. Good, isn't it? Yeah. Oh, boring. Oh. How is your radio stuff going at the moment?

I didn't know what was on them, darling. No, no, but... I think that we should use these a bit more. Yeah, brilliant. It's another little job from me and Emma. I've got to do another channel then that records those. Yeah, but that would be really nice, wouldn't it? Just a few little bits.

Yeah, you do it as live. Well, we sort of do anyway. I don't think you do. Well. I don't think you do. Well, it's not that much. This is where Emma should be on a Zoom to be able to pipe up. It's true.

And talk about her edit. She should be able to call through now and say, it's not as a live now, too. No, that's true. It would be fun to try and do that. Yeah, it would. Should do a live one. A hundred percent.

Definitely do a live one. It's funny that, because we did six last year. Hey? We're in theatres doing it live. No, that's not doing... Well, actually, I do think that you should be in the theatre with a little mixer and do exactly that. I think you should do it like it is the podcast.

I'd enjoy that. Not sure if everybody else would. Okay. Oh, maybe. That's sort of what you're doing, really. Yeah, but you've got to have a little bit of... I bet the audience would like it. Do you know something?

So, I have got... Lots of people have booked tickets. I love radio, right? Yeah. And a long time ago, I think I was about to go freelance, maybe. I worked at Broadcasting House. And some people I ended up working for a lot when I went freelance, they were doing a recording in the radio theatre at the BBC.

Yes. Of a weekend Wogan. So he had an audience, obviously, in the radio theatre. And then Terry Wogan was on the stage. Sir Terry. Elio Pace and his band were in the corner Then he had a couch He was sat at a desk

And it was live radio Brilliant And we were there Recording it And it was so interesting Just watching him do his radio show live Amazing And I loved it

And I was like a little light on the table When his mic was open Little red light came up When a track was playing He was wandering around the audience Handing out Sweet to people and chatting to everyone. They'd wander back and sit at a table,

do a link, have a little chat, throw to the weather. He was a genius. Honestly, it was the most mesmerising thing to watch. Yeah, I can imagine. I did Sir Terry's show. He did a show. I want to say it was called Then and Now, but I don't think it was.

It was something like that. Now and then? Now and then. I can't remember. It was a chat show. And I was a guest on the show. and he was absolutely wonderful and I had a really lovely time and I met him on previous occasions with children in need and stuff like that

but he was a true gentleman and a lovely lovely person and just a brilliant broadcaster. He certainly was. Wogan now and then? Yes. That was it, 2006. A special show where he revisited past glories and interviewed guests from his famous chat show.

Is that what it was? Yeah. There you go. Fascinating bloke. He was brilliant. So, yeah, so I kind of imagined, when you said, I'm going to do the podcast live in the theatre,

I sort of imagined that. Yeah. Sort of weekend rogan thing. I mean, you know, it was quite, there was a band. Like a fro to the weather, couldn't I? No. Talk about, throw to the news.

Just like a radio show. You know what I mean? No, I do know what I mean. You know exactly what I mean. I do. I know that I am 47. three this year. However, I do feel very nostalgic when we talk about people like that and we talk about, you know, we are going to lose a lot of legends, let's be honest. We've already

lost quite a lot. But when we watch the two Ronnie's, for instance, over Christmas or, you know, you're watching only falls for instance and a few people have passed and let's be honest, how long are people like Sir David Attenborough and Sir David Jason going to be cracking on for? Be honest. It's part of life, isn't it? But I just feel saddened for people that don't know them. And will they appreciate them? Because I feel like I only appreciate them because of my mum and dad.

I would imagine, well, it depends, isn't it really? It's all about nostalgia of it. Obviously. I just, I worry. I worry about, you know, being a 90s child, if you like. I used to wait for things and I had, great sort of anticipation when the top 10 was out and I recorded it on a cassette or I had to wait for a program to come on.

All of those things that our children just don't have anymore. And I don't feel they appreciate things like we did. But am I just getting old and miserable? I don't think you're getting old and miserable. I think you're just noticing the differences between our generation. Yes. and the current generation. We're all human though.

We all are nostalgic, I think. It's no different. I had someone work experience with me the other week. And I found myself sort of speaking to them, talking to them about the work and how it is now. And I was thinking, you know, I remember when I started. And people talking to you the same way.

And people would say, I mean, the really, wise ones would say, you know, a lot of people would say to you now, you know, it will never be like it used to be. But they, when they started, were told the same thing. Yes. Yeah, and I'm sure it just continues. And it kind of does continue. Yeah. Kind of. Obviously, you know, yeah, the life moves on and things change, doesn't it? But... Yeah, I just find it really interesting. I mean, in terms of... I mean, at the moment, I have to say in terms of television, I think the traitors is fantastic.

It is. Because people wait for it. People have to tune in. And people are tuning in at that time appointment to view television because of spoilers and they don't want it ruined. So people are watching it at the right time. But I'm not being funny, right? About three years ago.

Yeah. Four years ago, maybe. You, that was television. Like, yeah, okay, you can series link something. Quite often you could watch something on an iPad. player. I player is brilliant. It's like the best online platform for watching telly. I think so. It is. It's better than all the others. It is. It absolutely is.

But it's still television. And when you've got live television, live television, by the very nature, you want to watch it live. It's appointments of you. I know, but I just don't think people do that anymore. Netflix started it. So Netflix did The Crown. Yes. And you could watch every episode. The moment the Crown was released, you could watch all of it. Yeah. You could sit there and watch all of it, and they did that with all the other series. Naturally, the broadcasters, the television broadcasters, then did the same thing.

However, they did change their tune, didn't they, darling? Netflix, I believe. I haven't done my homework with it, but stranger things, I believe. You're right. So Netflix did then retract. Yes. And now what's happened, the TV, BBC, what, hang on, I've got a good idea. We're going to make it that you can only want.

watch television when it's scheduled like it was for 65 years up until about three years ago. And now everyone's going, like, it's brilliant, traitors. It's brilliant, because what it is, you can't watch it before it's released. No, I know, but I get... They've been doing that since... I know, but there was a stage where...

You're absolutely right. There wasn't a programme like it. You're absolutely right. And going forward, yes, things are changing. Telly's changing. I know that and better than everyone. So do you. Telly is changing

There will always be a need for it It will always be around But the thing I am What I imagine in the future Is you'll have a world It's not quite like this yet Which is very confusing But I think that

The USP of television Is it can do stuff live really well So entertainment that's live Yeah Your Glastonbury That should still continue I suspect you're sort of recorded stuff, your docks, they can be done wherever, they can be put out wherever.

But hopefully, well, it's a bit like my documentary. The documentary that I've done, near in the end now. But yes, it will be put onto BBC 1 or BBC 2 daytime at a certain time. But I am hoping, you know, no one's going to go, oh, it's half four, must sit down to watch Nat's thing. People will watch that on IPlayer. And I hope people do. Do you know what I mean?

Absolutely. It appeals to so many people. I'm so honestly, so excited about seeing it. Because we've filmed so much, there's going to be so much cut that Ali was saying. All we've done is just pick out the best bits, which, you know, is very special. I can't wait to see our documentary. You've worked so hard at it. I'm very, very excited because it's for care.

people within the care industry, secret carers, home carers, the illnesses and the people that it affects, students, how important colleges are and education. It's sort of so vast that I think there's something in there for everybody. And I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully it'll be May-ish, May, I think. It'll be good. And going back to your talking about sort of legends

and how things move on And 10, 15 years ago, I did a lot of work for a charity where children would get to ask for things. Yes. And when I first started doing it, it would be meet a footballer, meet an actor, meet a singer, meet an off on television people, soaps. Soaps was a classic, that kind of stuff. Within a few years, it was a YouTuber.

Yes. A gamer. That kind of person. And it very quickly shifted in sort of popular, younger culture. And I still think, when you think of Eliza, so last Christmas, we watched, sorry, not last Christmas, the Christmas before, we watched Gavin and Stacey. Yes. That was event viewing.

Yes. That was the sort of everyone in the country, give or take, kind of tuned into that. Very much so. would talk about it or whatever. And that was, that was sort of everyone did that, that year. That's true. So it still does exist.

There was nothing like that this year, was there? There wasn't. I thought television was very poor, actually, this year. Lots of repeats. I found it a bit dull. My favourite thing was the ballet that I did a couple of years ago. The Nutcracker. You can't beat the nutcracker at Christmas.

I like the fact they put a ballet on on Christmas Day. It's so chilled out. Yeah, I agree. It is festive. It's lovely to work on. I really enjoy that because that's normally done at beginning of December at the Opera House. You're in Covent Garden.

Yeah, it's lovely. It's great. You do a bit of Christmas shopping, like when you're on your lunch break. It just feels atmospheric. It's all sort of... And it's like the first thing you do where you think, oh, it's Christmas soon. And it's a nice... When was that you thought it was Christmas soon?

That was about very early, second week of December, first week of December. Very good. I mean, obviously, before December, It's not nowhere near Christmas. No, of course, yeah. Yeah, I think it's a very interesting chat, and I think I still can't believe that we have two children

that don't watch YouTube at all. Yeah, strange to that. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, by the way. I'm just saying. No. They don't, people know all the stars on there, don't they? I mean, look at Angry Ginge. Angry Ginge from I'm a celebrity

I don't know how angry Ging is but he's an absolute megastar No idea Yeah he does He does all the football commentating Because he's a man you've found But that's why he's on there But he's huge

I find it amazing really You should put this on YouTube Yeah yeah yeah we should Go down a storm Yeah I think it'll be good I think it will Again I think it will bring different people in That don't maybe listen to podcasts

Maybe. Which is interesting. Probably old angry ginge might get involved. Might do. I'd love to get him on. Yeah, I thought it was great, actually. I thought it was a really good year this year. I thought Shona did brilliantly.

Yeah. How good was that seeing Shona at the Pantamon? Really good. It's funny that, wasn't it? Really funny. Lovely to see her. Yeah. Very happy and confident and doing really well.

And then she sang, didn't she, New Year's Eve? Yeah. And she's doing brilliant. It's really good. Really good. I must say, by the way, it turns out of work this week I've got a bit of a fan

who's mentioned it every time I've seen him Hillary? No Who? Mr Thomas Law He's quite a fan of My little video clips Very good

I find it quite embarrassing Ah He keeps mentioning it Oh I love Tom Oh well if you're listening Tom Mesh your loads What a lovely gent No one really does

Ask about you No one asked about me at work Not really. I still call it work. I don't think I'll ever not call it work. No, they do. People do ask. I mean, generally speaking.

No, to be honest, people are busy. They're doing their daily work. Everybody asks how you're getting on. Well, that's nice. And I say you're doing all right. I do miss it. Do you? I do.

I don't know if you'd have missed it this week. I didn't miss it at all. And now, when I maybe speak to someone or Kelly or Zara or Linda D. Maria messaged me the other day, And I think, oh, do miss it a bit. But I don't think that's a bad thing. Would you ever go back to it? I'd say what I always say, never say never.

I think I would like to go back to it at some point. I just think it's in my DNA because I was there so young, it would be a shame not to go back. But yeah, I mean, I loved New Year what you did. I thought it was brilliant. Well, Jake, what Jake did? Yeah, I'm saying I thought it was shot really well, genuinely. Oh, thank you.

But yeah, I love seeing Jake back, and I enjoyed, all you laughing at. I don't know, I'm in a funny mood tonight. Yeah, you are, you've been in a funny mood all day. I've not really, I told you earlier, you have. I've not been in a funny mood. You have? It's making myself laugh, tickling myself. Someone's got to.

Yeah. And it has to be myself, sadly. No change there. On that subject, well about that message you got you sent to me. Oh, I had a lovely message. I don't even need to look. Sarah, lovely Sarah, screenshotsed me. Is that right, screenshotsed me, screenshot me?

It's the right grammar there. Don't think anyone cares. Sarah sent me a screenshot of three door wedges on her Amazon, and she said, just listen to your Christmas ep, which was the live podcast from Clapham. Thank you so much for it. And whilst listening, absolutely brilliant. I've ordered these.

What a game changer. I've got three children. So Sarah... Now, she's got three wedges. Now, is she using those... For each bedroom of the child? Yes. I think it's just a pack.

Ah. From what I remember, ours came in a pack. Vogo got me quite an ornate wedge. Yes. I was really sure to take that when she presented that Well I got that as a very random Christmas present It's nice though, won't it?

Oh yeah Just need to use it Yeah Yeah maybe Just so tired all the time Mark I am Where are you going It is funny isn't it

The level of guilt you feel as a woman sometimes And a mother For feeling tired and the kind of sexual side of it isn't really as vibrant as it should be. But, you know, it's hard. And at this time of year, I'm tired, I'm hairy, I want to wear my pyjamas and I want to get in bed. I'm sorry, that is how I feel.

I feel men are very different. They'll do it at any time, any situation. Doesn't matter. Your kid could be burning up 41 degrees. They still want to have a bit. Men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Which is interesting really because Venus is the love planet. But there we go.

While you were gone, having a tinkle. Yeah. And grabbing a drink. Right. I was just chatting to the listeners a little bit about our sex life. Oh, great. Well, not just ours, but people's in general. Well, I was going to say, I was only gone about 30 seconds.

I was just talking about the fact that I think it's very difficult sometimes when you do feel really tired and there's a lot going on in the mind and I don't think men understand that. But you take it very well though, don't you? When I'm there snoozing away in the corner or I don't... You do? I'm trying to have a serious conversation. I mean, I do have to say to you, please, Natalie.

Not, not again. Don't leave me alone, do you? I'm being serious. I'm being serious. But I do think, I'm telling you now, please message me. Please send me a voice note. Don't message us. Please message me because I think when you do feel tired,

especially at this time of year, and you just want to be cozy, you want to read, you want to just chill out because it's hibernation season, suddenly, your partner thinks, I don't know, You've fallen out of love with them and you don't love them anymore. Something's going on. Hang on a minute. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. No, it's true and it's aggravating.

Let's not reading between the lines here, though. It's aggravating. Is it? Yeah. Because it's just nice to be cozy. The door stops will come out again. I'm sure they will. Well, Sarah's bought a pack of three.

Fantastic. In the beginning of January. She has? What's she going to buy in August? Who knows? So... It has been a very busy week, though, Mark, isn't it? Because not only have you had a record player to fix,

not only has the Sky not been working, we've had mice. Well, it's standard this time of year. I wouldn't say standard for everybody. It's pretty standard in this house. It is. January. Mice.

Always in the same place. Little cute, little lovely field mice. Can I just say that the house is not running alive with rodents? There's the odd mouse that comes in. That's what she thinks. We think through the wall. Really boring. At the outside wall, they're getting in from a little hole.

But you've been out today, haven't you? Working your nuts off as always. Squirreling around outside. There you have. Shut up. No, you have. You fixed it, haven't you? Well, yeah, I found a couple of little holes that I filled.

Good. And a bit of mesh. Bought some expanding foam. Exciting stuff. Yeah. Just went around squirting, like, this foam all over the place. Your mum listens to this. It's you, but your little look.

You just did, then. I haven't said a word. I was genuinely squirting, expanding foam into little gaps. I know you were. Right. And I'm pleased. I'm pleased it satisfies your needs. It did. It was good.

Good. I found it there was a big old hole behind the dishwasher. Yeah. Good. I mean, what can you do? The things can get through holes like the size of pencils. Here we go. The pencil test.

That's all I've heard all week. I mean, talk about love language, ladies. What if you can get a pencil in there? Yeah. And the little rodent can get out of there as well. Like a rat. up a drain pipe. Where's that from?

Where is it from? Like a rat up a drain pipe. Alan Partridge? Your seat's creaking, by the way. It's really annoying. Not me. This one stopped creaking. That must be a creaky one.

No one's in it. I know that. Oh, this is brilliant as well. Go on. I haven't even told you this. So, yes, we've had mice. It's fine. Every couple of days, there's been one mouse.

I think that's, they're coming in. I think they are. Because you've got peanut butter in the trap. Probably, probably baiting them in the house. Can I also say that our traps are lovely? They're see-through and they're humane traps. So, listeners, when I wake up in the morning... I'm a celebrity around you.

So when I wake up in the morning, I'll go and open the cupboard. There's a little mouse. Put my gloves on. They can spread disease. So let's just be careful. You know, we're not making them pets or anything. Put my little latex gloves on, blue gloves on. Yep.

make my coffee, I've got my water bottle ready, got my lunch out, put it in the bag ready to go to work. Usually, yeah. Right. And very hygienic. And then I'll go into where we've been finding the mice and I open the cupboard and sometimes there isn't a mouse. But the other days, there is a mouse. Yeah.

So then the trap has to come with me in the car. So you don't, you're asleep when this is going on. I'll tell you what, though. Isn't it lovely to have company on the way to work? You don't even know this is going on. So I go in the car, put my bag in there, my coffee, my bottle of water. Don't tell me something happened, and it got out? No.

No, the fault has crossed my mind. I mean, that is the next thing, isn't it? It's quite tricky. Thankfully, they're quite secure of these little humane traps. So I put the mouse and the trap in the car. Where does he sit? Under my seat. Oh, okay.

I can imagine him now with a little. little seatbell arm in the front. Like next to me, in the car, that's ready to go. And because the thing is, apparently, they're quite good at finding their way back again. So I take him for a little drive. So we get in the car and I have a little chat on the way. It's quite a moment. I appreciate, I do appreciate the company. Yes.

And although by the state of the trap when I've released him, I don't think he enjoys the ride. Fair enough. That's another story. So on the way to work, I then find a place to pull over. Then I get out and I've released them else. Yeah. Now, when I'm doing this, bearing in mind it's half six in the morning on a country lane.

Yeah. You know it around here. Yeah, yeah. Outside the church, for example. Yes, yes. The graveyard. Yeah. I've been there and I've released them there.

And the last one I did was at the airfield. And as I'm getting out the car, other cars are driving past. They must be thinking, what's this bloat doing, not pulling over? Because we're all quite conscious on. Do you still got your latex gloves on? Yes. Got my blue gloves on. Yeah, that's a bit weird.

I've got my mouse trap in one hand, the little green thing. Going around the front of the car, you know, releasing the thing. I had a dry robe on, on the one I did the other day. So, I mean, it's all going on. But what I haven't told you, sorry,

what I was saying was, I didn't tell you this. So I worked on the record player tonight, sort of did a bit of it and then kind of failed and, you know. Yeah, we know that. I went and put it my tools back in my shed?

No. And when I went in the shed, there was a noise from the corner of the shed. Uh-oh. And I thought, oh, you've got to be joking. It can't be like, what is this going to be? And it was really weird. It sounded like a hornet's wings, like flapping really quickly.

Sort of like a, just a random noise. It would be like, what? And then it was silent for about a minute, and then it went, I can't do it now The one I just did was perfect impression Hang on I can't do Hang on

It was sort of going Vibrating Just like that I think it stopped again So I think I mean what's that It genuinely sounded like that What is in the corner of my workshop

Well I haven't left anything in there Sure about that Yes Okay You haven't have me a Christmas present in there or something. You forgot to give to me? No.

Maybe it was a hornet. I mean, it's a... I think you have a hornet in January. Yeah, it's a random time of year, but you never know. Right. A bat? No, they come out in the summer, don't know? I know, but I don't know.

I don't know. It could be a moth, maybe. But winter watch around here at the moment. Yeah. We do live in the countryside. I know. But yeah. We should get some of those cameras for the evening.

You can place them around the garden and then you can see what wildlife's around. Well, we've got CCTV, and to be honest, we actually had quite a nice collection of stuff, didn't we? We had a bee, we had a bird. Spider. Spiders. Oh, loads of spiders.

No, more kind of the nocturnal stuff. I'd like to see. But the fox, the fox that would curl up in front of our front door, just sleep on the door mat. Oh, I like foxes. But he's gone. I don't know where he is. But he used to every night would curl up

and just sleep in front of the front door. A little cat. What was like a cat? Well, the New Year is upon us, and I've got some live shows to write. Yes. The exam is out the way. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

The exam is out the way. No, no, no, no. Forget all that. Just explain. Live shows to write. Yes. You don't write that, do you? You write for live shows.

Well, I certainly have a shape to them. Okay. Do you have a share? that with the contributors? Yes. Okay. It's very, very important to have some sort of shape and different subjects that we're talking about. Agreed, but I don't quite remember that on the pre-meeting, pre-show meeting. Definitely a few. Okay. A few ideas have been knocking around. But this year, I want to really focus in

and have lots of different subjects to talk about and stuff like that. Okay. Yeah. So, and all I know is I'm around for like a couple of them. You are, you're working a lot, darling. So I'm not doing all of them. No. No one's really doing all of them.

So I'm sure people would like to know who's, what and what sort of going on. Well, everyone's around. Brighton is me and the girls. Okay. Me and Eleanor and Maria. Is that the first one? A bit of a girly one. Yeah, that's the first one.

Nice. So that's going to be fun. I was even thinking, I'm not sure yet, but I was thinking Leeds, Manchester, do I maybe get a guest on? Could I think of someone from up north that would be good to sit on the stage with me and have a nice chat,

get a little guest as well as maybe having Tony or Linney. I think it's Colchester. I'm sure it's Colchester where it's everyone but you. Brilliant. You're working. Oh, sorry. But yes, as I say, things can change. To be honest, I'm not going to cement who's going to be there

because everyone's got lives, things can happen, babies can be poorly, people can be poorly. So I don't want to, you know, promise things to people for them to be disappointed. But it will be me, family member or a couple of family members, and maybe a little guest here and there. Yeah. You might get a surprise guest. I might do.

That'd be really good. I just thought it'd be quite fun. Yeah. And just go through all the bits we talk about, the mundane things. Would you say that you've got a guest? No. So it would be like a proper surprise. Yeah.

So if I booked, I don't know, Manchester. Yeah. And you happen to have got a guest. It would genuinely be like, oh, by the way, I don't know, he's Manchester. Liam Gallagher's... If Liam Gallagher was going to come on to the show. Yeah. Would you tweet about it?

No, you don't do tweet or Twitter anymore. Do you do Instagram? I might put a post up. Okay. But yes, on a smaller scale. Is he from Manchester or was he from Newcastle? He's from Manchester. Oh, got that right?

He did. Well done. Oh. The listeners will be proud of you. Have they got another tour going on? No, not the moment. I thought there is one coming up, isn't there? No, I don't think so.

Not yet. That was great last year. I thought about that the other day, actually. It was a good gig that out. I enjoyed that. That was brilliant. And also, Glastonbury, they were out. It was a great year for music.

It was really good. It was a nice feel. Pulp came back for a bit. So it was, yeah, very good. Enjoyed it. You've got some gigs coming up, haven't you? I have. I really have.

I've got a spare ticket for Ray. If you'd like to come. Yes. Would you like to come? Yes. Well, it's quite a lot of money the ticket, so if you want to pay for it. pay me for it.

Sorry. I actually asked Kelly earlier if she'd like to join us, but she's current. It's Paul's birthday that day. What's the date? First of March. I think I'm around. It's a Sunday.

I'm sure I'm around that day. I just didn't think about inviting you. It's me, Maria, and at the moment, it's me, Maria and Eliza. Okay, so let's just have a little think about that. You didn't think about inviting me. No, I just didn't think you want to go. I quite like it, Ray.

Yeah Yeah, sorry about that I didn't really I was thinking it was going to be like a girly thing Well, sounds it If you'd like to come No, I'm fine

And then Eliza and I have Olivia Dean Which I'm very excited about both gigs Actually I would say I absolutely adore the fact That Eliza enjoys those two women

I think they're brilliant role models Eliza's tasting I agree and Eliza's tasting music's good and the other thing, it's funny because we were talking earlier about the, you know, the celebrity thing

and who people like and what have you. Olivia Dean and Ray are two extremely good examples of like people you should aspire to be and like and be fans of very good.

There's some good people about. You think like 15 years ago it was a bit rubbish in the music world I think now... Or you were me and you loved indie music but it meant... Fifteen years ago.

You're not talking about 40 years ago. No, but... 30. Sorry. But I'm talking about what I aspired to was Canza Red Stripe and getting stoned.

Oh, God. But do you know what I'm saying? Whereas Eliza, she's listening to these inspirational, talented women. I think the music now, when I get in the car now with Eliza, like yesterday, driving her back from her friends. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Every single tracks you put on was good. Yeah, absolutely. I agree. And it's funny, you know, because my dad used to be, he was excellent, used to drive me around all over the place, used to put me up when I was going out.

Remember that when you're moaning, or she's going out? Again, I'll just refer it. Refer the listeners back to about 15 minutes into this podcast. Yes. On record, I'm saying, I'm going to go and connect Eliza. I know.

I'm just saying that. What point are you making? I'm just saying it does. You've said, oh, that's a, but unfortunately at this age it is going to be a good couple of times a week. When my dad used to come and pick me up and then go and drop off all of my friends, he'd be listening to what we were listening to, which was like Garage. Yes.

And he really liked it because it was very good. And it's just interesting that there was in this sort of period where it went a bit funny. I agree. And now it's good again. I agree. And I have to say, we used to listen to definitely maybe and what's the story morning glory in the car. and my dad loved it. He actually did enjoy that music.

I mean, you knew my dad, can you believe that? But he genuinely enjoyed the music. So it does show you, if music is good, it doesn't matter what generation you're from, you can appreciate it. I agree with that. And I think that there's a lot of people that are sort of... Yeah, I mean, yeah.

I totally agree with you. But yes, two really good gigs to look forward to this year. And I would like to go to... I've decided I'd like to go to Glastonbury. when it's next on. Okay. It's a bucket list thing. I need to go.

I do need to go. They're resting this year. Yeah, yeah. I mean, a poor old worthy farm. Must get a right old beating, wasn't it? Can you imagine? The ground and the... No, genuinely.

I think it's good that they rest it. Yeah. Right then. That's been over an hour, darling. That went really quickly, didn't it? I hope you've all enjoyed that. I really enjoyed that. It felt like a real good chat.

It's basically not spoken to me all day. You know, the last podcast we did. Emma did text me and said, it's funny. She did say, like, you've said goodbye. I can't remember any times it was now. About 15, I think. It was ridiculous. You said goodbye like 20 minutes before the end.

Well, I do that often. So, Emma, you are right. It isn't live. No, you don't do that often. It's my fault. No, I do it with the girls as well. We go, right, see you later. No, but it's me then talking nonsense.

No, it's right. I've got a confession to make as well. Oh. I've actually, I do listen to every episode of your podcast. Yes. And I've not listened to the latest Nat's nieces, which is unusual. Well. I don't know what to say, really.

What else have you been listening to? Be honest. I've listened to, well, do you, I don't really competition, I suppose. No, it's not competition. British scandal. There you go, you're into something. I let you off.

63 series. Wow. All of them, different things. You're going to be behind then, aren't you, on this? And something maybe we could talk about one day, but it's on the News of the World, phone hacking. Oh.

And I'm on episode four, I think. Very, very happy to talk about that. And I just think of you. And what's brilliant about that podcast series is it's about people that we know. Yes. Did you know? I'm sure he won't mind us mentioning this.

This is public knowledge. Do on. Did you know that Rebecca Brooks, who wasn't called Rebecca Brooks back then? Rebecca Wade. Rebecca Wade. Bought Ross a suit of armour for his 40th birthday. No

Well there you go Cracking present Where's my suit of armour I could have bought you one last year I like it Ross I can imagine him walking about in it though Yeah I can And when they broke up

Who got custody of the suit of armour That's what I want to know I'd love him to have that still On a little plinth at the beginning of you know I'm surprised he doesn't weigh it on Bridge of Lies I just thought it was funny Random but very very funny And there's a fault for you

So there you go If you want a nice podcast about random subjects. All right, that's enough. Yeah, turn this rubbish off. Go and listen to something a bit more, I don't know, educational. There's a great one actually on the Millennium, you know, the highest for trying to steal the diamond.

Everyone, I'll talk to you on Thursday. Thanks for listening, O-7-8-20191919. Let me know your thoughts on today's pod. It has been really lovely. a great rest of the week and thank you for listening. Please subscribe, make sure you follow and tell all your mates about it. Speak to you soon. See ya. Would you like to say goodbye, darling? Oh, sorry. I thought of... I really want it to be smooth. So when I say see you, you just say see ya. It's really simple. Bye.