Life with Nat - EP203: Dubai Diaries

Episode Date: February 23, 2026

Surprise! Nat and the extended fam have snuck off away to Dubai for a week... Hear them in the heat, and a bit from their return to the cold of home too. 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! 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: February's Book - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anything by Sophie Kinsella ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/books/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nat’s solo chats - any rants always welcome. We're talking big career changes, the constant comparisons with others on social media... and the audacity of teenagers! 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. What are your favourite films & albums? What’s the show Tony’s going on about? And is there any way they'd legally be able to continue their holiday if that happened on the boat? Cold water swimmers and shower’ers… convince us A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. Hello everybody and welcome to Life with Nat from a very very sunny Dubai. Not quite Dubai though is it babe? It's a little bit further north than... Where is this? Where are we? Dubai. Oh it is Dubai though? Well it's an hour north. It gets a bit confusing. It's like the different states, isn't it?

You've got like Dubai and... Why are you looking at me like that? No, no, I'm listening to you with great content. No, not content. Intent. Thank you. Sorry, I'm very relaxed. I mean, we've been here, well, enough time now for you to realise where we are. Not really, to be honest, come out of the airport, got in the cab. Fell asleep.

Yeah, I fell asleep. Yeah, I was not really. Lovely. It has been a really, really, really lovely time. I'm going to do a lovely little walk and a chat with Auntie Linney. So it should be quite an interesting one. It's interesting going away with the extended family. as well, isn't it? We don't normally do that.

Never done it. How do we think that dynamic's going to work out? Will it be right? Absolutely. Any arguments on the cards? Nah, definitely not. Nope. I think when we all get together at home,

it's very different because you're cooking, you're washing up, you're cleaning, whereas here we can just all be together and we haven't got to do any of those things. So it's lovely. Do you what I mean? And the house isn't being not ruined, but all the kids talk, you know, you're worried about... Yes. So you're just away altogether and it's lovely.

And so far... It's lovely for the children. The kids have been very well behaved, I thought. So well behaved. I wasn't really talking about you. Here comes Eliza. A sun kissed Eliza. Sun kissed.

Lobster? More like? No, you look lovely. Thanks, ma. Lovely, that's it. I wonder how many more holidays we have with Eliza coming with us? Probably quite a few. None.

I'll remind you of that when you want to go on holiday and you've got Spondoolies. I think Eliza on holiday with us is going to be a feature. Do you want to go jet skiing? I'd love to go jet skiing. We still haven't done the so far. What about the um, what's that thing called there where the bloke's hanging off the kite thing? Paragliding. Paragliding. I would rather. I'd rather drink my own way. Then do that. Goodness, Eliza. Actually, no, that's a lie. Lots of people do that, you know, for their health. Lots of women. Drink their own way? It was on this morning. How's that beneficial though? not sure but lots of people do it apparently you've certainly lowered the tone it's the

beauty of the pod isn't it you go off onto different tangents so okay well you're going to go off and speak to lini i'm going to have a little chat with lini now yeah i'm just going to lay i'm currently by the pool it's quite busy but it's not overly busy i've got a um what's this called di ointra apparel spritz lovely you've got a nice mehrile over there. Yep. Just painting the pictures for the listeners. Yeah, I'm sure they'll love that on the rainy, freezing cold Monday morning.

But hey-ho. Right, I'm going to go and see Lini. All right. See in a bit. See in a bit. Bye. Right, Alabels. Yeah, you.

Is you having a little kip? Yep. Lovely. See you soon. You're going to have a little wonder. Enjoy. Thank you. Finally escaped.

We've escaped. Six children, six adults. Lover than life. I don't know who's worse. the kids or the men. Well, last night, last night was definitely the adults were annoying. The kids were actually very well behaved, I would like to know why I ended up sitting in the children's entertainment on my own for an hour. Because, well, to be fair, you're the only person that doesn't really enjoy the evening entertainment.

Jones back with a chocolate milk shake. Oh, we found Joan. No, that's her gin. She's got a bit of gin on that. She hasn't really, guys. Dave is still talking to LBC. That's what he spends is. All right, Dave.

You're okay, bruff? just off we're doing a little poddy are you going to have are you going to grace my listeners airways and we're not interviewing as we go on you're all right of conversation

hey I know it's lovely isn't it yeah cruise ship we're doing we're doing a pod yeah we're recording what's your name how's the holiday been Mary

yeah yeah relaxing it has yeah and I didn't realize it's gone so quick I know. Did we're going back tomorrow? So are we? And I thought, because we're arriving home in England at Friday,

oh. Oh, you've got a late flight tomorrow then? Yeah. In the morning. So we'll be home tomorrow. Yeah. It's lovely though, isn't it? Nice and relaxing.

A bit on the old. I know. Don't worry about that. Go enjoy yourself, Mary. Bye. That's the thing as well, isn't it, when you're on holiday? You just feel, you don't want to feel guilty eating, do you? but the food has been.

Beautiful, isn't it? Incredible. Sorry about the background noise, guys. No, it has. The food's been amazing. Yeah. So just so everybody knows, because obviously I don't like to tell

Allens sundry that we're on holiday, but we, you've been planning to come out here to Dubai for how long? Oh, me and Maria had planned it sort of from when we visited last year, half term. We said we'll do it again this year,

perhaps a different hotel. Yes. But guys, what happened was me, Maria and two children were coming. And then Dom and Lisa said, we're going to go away half term. So we might as well go together. So yeah, absolutely, that would be lovely. So the family of four, decided to join us. So then there was eight.

And then Elia was like, oh, if everyone else is going, I'm coming too. But Jack couldn't. So Elia's come on her own with the baby. And then I went and did a pod one night with my sister-in-law, Natalie. you may have heard of her and she went looking forward to coming an holiday with you

and there's another four that joined us but we're still not the biggest party here aren't we? No but also we've never ever been on a holiday together other than

Dom and Lisa's wedding which was a holiday I guess it was a wedding so it's been really lovely and it really has been lovely it does help having an older child with the children

with my grand it changes the dynamic doesn't it as soon as you have and Elizas for being very very much so. good with the little ones playing as well. Brilliant. No, that really does help.

So the mix of ages, that's, I think, what's hard for us as a family, because ours are all very young. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. As soon as you introduce slightly older children, it changes the dynamics. Yeah, they can just go off. They split up a little bit. It's, I think Amelia and Ruby are like twins, aren't they? Yeah, they're so close.

As are the boys. But they've been playing beautiful and all together. No, the older children have been brilliant. Yeah. As have the younger ones, but they're babies at the end of the day. It's been amazing whether the set up here with the pool and the beach literally being next door to each other is perfect. We are talking to you now, wandering. We ain't brought a phone to do a photo.

That's a shame. We're wandering down the beach. Sea, it's about 30 degrees. I can't imagine, though, going home to cold now. I know. Like you said, getting your boots on. Getting your leggings back on. temperature's been perfect, hasn't it?

It's not too hot, it's just perfect. No, it's perfect. The evening's lovely, the morning. It's been really lovely week. It's just gone so fast. Any comments on etiquette, you know, anything that you've thought, room for improvement here, room for improvement there? I would say, if I'm honest, the sunbed situation does kill me.

People's beds, wherever, I know that it's a boring one. Yeah, it's like parking more, isn't it? It's no different, is it? It's hilarious that we've got to get up so early to get the beds. And every day you're having the same conversation. But there is a lot of us, to be honest. So to get all the beds together, we have done well. Beds all lined up when we've done it every morning.

For me, I think the biggest thing for me, which isn't just this hotel, any all-inclusive I've been to, is the breakfast. Why? Just the people walking into you, against you, pushing in front of you. It's a bit like... Oh my God, pancakes! I've got to get the last pancake. There's thousands of pancakes.

I was going to say that with buffet, I feel like that is a human nature thing. Crying. People just turn into this kind of survival mode. I've got to get it. Whereas, as you say, everything's going to be filled up again. There's no rush. Well, it's so much so that someone walked through a glass store and shattered it. When?

Yesterday? Oh, did you miss that? I've not been to breakfast. Oh, you've not been? Oh, have we not shared that with you. Yeah, someone walked into a glass store rather than opening it. for the sheer eagerness of getting to a chair and a table and shattered the glass door. That's for me, the breakfast thing.

I love the buffets because I love to pick and, but I don't like what comes with it. I've got to be honest. And the bit when you go to the bar to get a drink and you're just standing there very politely, standing back away from the bar. Oh, and people are just going in front of you. You're just standing in front of you, like you're invisible. Yeah, the curing is. But that's not breeds.

That's a little different. No, no. I think, yeah. We are very polite in that regard, aren't we? Yes, we are. But I think there's been a lovely mix of people. Yeah. Really nice people to talk to.

Different cultures. It's been really nice. Yeah, it's been a lovely, lovely week. We highly recommend it. What's he doing? Who? There's a man on a hose. Yeah.

Have you not seen that before? No, what's that? Where have you been? Why is it? Don't get out much? It's not jet skiing, but it's the pressure of the water. Look, can you see? It lifts you off the ground and it's about trying to manoeuvre.

I don't know what they call it. Have you never seen that? No. Yeah, so it's someone on a paddle board and the strength of the water keeps him up in the area. Now, for me, I don't understand why you'd go, I'm going to pay some money and I'm going to go and do that for half an hour on holiday. No, because you would probably end up. Break my neck. In A&A. We're going to go and do the mattress thing or the sofa, whatever.

It's called the sofa later, yeah. Me, Liza. Very good. Yeah, I love all that. Yeah, you like all the sporty stuff, don't you? Yeah. You're going to book your next holiday. Do you feel that bug that as soon as your holiday's over, you've got booked the next one?

Do you feel like that? I am feeling like that. Do you? I think this time of year is absolutely wonderful. I've never been away in February before. It breaks up the winter, doesn't it? It really does break up the winter, doesn't it? Although I have to say the thought of going home and not just chucking on some sliders,

upsets me a little bit. So when you go away in the summer, at least you know you're going back to relatively warm weather. However, I know that you've had a relaxing time, but you have been working a little bit, haven't you? I've been working with work and obviously trying to help where I can with the children. I mean, the mums have been good. They've allowed me to have a bit of a rest. But I feel guilty, even laying on a sun lounger, if one of the kids has not gone down, are they? Yes, I understand. It's really hard mentally to switch off and I have been working as well.

I find it, I do switch off, but they're laying on a sun lounger for me. It's not for you. I just can't wait to get, I'm itching to get up and do something. Be that a walk or... Whereas I think the sun helps me relax something I don't do back home. Yeah, that's good. I could switch off. That's good. But I can't fall asleep. No. I don't know how everyone naps. I'd love to be able to do that. I'd love you nap yesterday. I saw. They all did. They all did. They were. all asleep. I was very envious. Yeah, again, can't do that. But as lovely as it's been, I'm ready to go home. Yeah. It's smart, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. Do you know what, Natalie, I feel like I get tired of getting ready every night to go out. Yes. Because you wouldn't do that

back home. I think if we were doing the longest day, or maybe there wasn't as many of us, you probably would have that one day where you just stay out here on the beach for as late as you can, grab something to eat from one of the bars and just not do the whole getting ready to go out. Do you know what I mean? Go back to your room. Have a shower. Completely understand. Yeah. So that's why what's so important about when you go away is you have just got to do

what you want to do. Yes, yes. But then you're getting FOMO. Yes. So it's all very well saying that. But if I said, oh no, what I'm going to do tonight is stay by the pool to 8 o'clock. And then we're going to I'm not going to do that because we all want to be together, whoever you like it or not. Yeah, yeah. It's nice to be together.

But we have a couple of nights now where you're going home. Yeah, you've got, you can maybe do the long, we can not, we probably won't, yeah, probably be a bit later. Yeah. By the pool. How lovely are the staff as well? They are so lovely and lovely Kamal at the beach bar today. Yeah.

He's just started here. Oh, he's Ramadan. So I said that must be so difficult when you're working for, with food. and drink all day, you can't have a glass of water. Yeah. But he's only doing, he said, all my friends are helping me. So there's a couple of guys there,

they're Sikh, so they're not obviously doing Ramadan, and they're doing a 12-hour shift, but they're helping him, and he's only doing a seven-hour shift. Right. So his energy levels and whatever, but I said that takes such very cleansing, isn't it, for the mind, it's good, fasting. Of course. But doing it whilst you're working,

it's hard, isn't it? In this heat, yeah, it's not an easy feat, but yeah, it's That's very good Again, I mean This morning I woke up to the chanting again Yes It's quite therapeutic actually It's strange

When you first wake up and you're like Oh what's that And then it's lovely It's soft prayers You can hear the prayers Yes And it's like a wave of sound It's very soothing

It's very therapeutic It's lovely It's lovely No it's been really And when you get home I'm special Mm-hmm I'm

I'm assuming you're exactly the same as me. You'll get in. Suitcase will be open and you'll just get the washing done immediately. I have to, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Just hope we don't get home too late. I'm back at work on Friday, so. Oh, blimey.

Yeah. No, you should be alright, but get home about seven. Yeah. Half seven. It's all being well, as long as our flight is good. What about the flight coming out? Oh, yeah. What about not getting a drink again?

Two hours. Yeah, but again, I'm bamboozled. We're doing a night flight. you're waiting two hours for a drink. And then they're bringing a dinner up, but who wants dinner at half-eleven at night? Exactly. As I say, they should feed you as soon as you get on there, feed water you, turn the lights off and let everyone sleep. But unfortunately, because of it being the large plane, like an Emirates plane, they're beautiful planes, obviously.

But they're catering for first class and business before they're coming back to you. So whether you like that or not, I know it's awful, but that is a class thing that you've chosen to do. but you should be able to get a bottle of your stuff. I still don't think it's acceptable that you've got children, families that have been at an airport for two and a half hours and then you're sitting on a plane for another two hours before you see a bottle of water. It's not hard.

Just have the water on the seats then. So when everyone sits down, it's not a biggie, but it is. Steve McFadden. I'm joking. Yeah, Emma, let's do it well. but are we very critical as a family? I mean, I think a lot of people will be listening, thinking, bloody how we can in the beach and see.

There's no pleasing now. No, we're only having a little... But it's constructive. Yes, of course it is. Criticism, isn't it? Can we talk about men's bald heads for a minute? If you really must. I can think of more interesting topics.

No, all I'm saying is you have got to be on top of that, aren't you? There's no hat on. No, none of them are wearing hats. I suppose my mind. But it's probably easy to cream your... I do not put that in I haven't even had a drink yet keep that in a month brilliant

oh dear you'd wear a hat no no I just think they have this shining beacon over there and you're sat in the full sunlight I mean I don't know maybe half an hour's okay it just looked to me quite red I saw done well with the burning though

no one's really bad no one had Joni, unfortunately. Her face a little bit. It's all dry. Yeah, I know. But she's a bit strange. But she's been wearing her hat. Yeah, she's been good.

And all the kids have been amazing. But that's why I think it has been the perfect temperature. Yeah. It's hot enough, but not too hot weight. You're literally frying unless you are covered in. This is enough for me. This is perfect. And I still have to sort of in the midday, one o'clock sun,

I have to be in the shade for an hour. Yeah. Yeah. No, even I did it yesterday, Natalie. You know, I love it. That's coming out of it. I was under the parasol. Yeah.

No. It's been a nice bit of medicine to get us through the next few months. And what have we got coming up as a family? We've got a bit of a quiet one. Throw a month or two, please. Well, we've got all the live pods to do, darling. Of course. That's going to keep us busy.

But in terms of family functions, I think it's... We got an Alicia's birthday March. Got an Lisa's birthday, but nothing overly, I don't think. Again, when you go away, you just become all confused. I don't even know what day is. I know, it's lovely. So, yeah, no, it's back to, you know, catching up at work and back to reality of life, isn't it? Well, there we go.

All right, my darling, well, it's been lovely to be away with you now. It has. It's been really, definitely do it again. I would. Would you come back here? Yes, absolutely. Mm-hmm. I think it does everything it says on the team.

Yeah, me too. But now, I think because you've been here, you can suss out, you can remember where you want to be. But you can remember the numbers, and feelings and things, and things, and I'd like that. And you can... So you see why... Oh, there he is. You're okay? Good, good.

Oh. It's one of our lovely waiters. Well, you can see why people do keep coming back to the same hotels because it's that familiarity. You know where you're going. You know what you're doing. Because if it is a new hotel, it takes a good couple of days to sort out the geography or what pole you want to be at.

You've done so well with this pool. So you've done the work for me. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And you're already. knew where you would pitch yourself. Yeah, no, there's definitely, and I totally understand

the concept of familiarity and people coming back to the same place. And the staff, I mean, oh, God, they already know us, they know our names. It's lovely, really lovely. You know how many people know, and taking you away from the equation. Well, no, no, I said, you said this to me yesterday.

Well, I thought you were the common denominator, but clearly not. No, because they don't know me out here, it's lovely. Come away, and there's so many people that know us, know of us, live near us, know someone that knows us. A small world, isn't it? Such a small world. Mark's met the guy out there whose kids went to the same school as Mark. Yes.

No, it's been good, really good. And now we're going to go and have a nice drink. Nice little drink and a little swim, I think, then. Yeah, why not? Let's do it. All right, love. Let's go. See your chaps. See you guys.

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we've had a very smooth trip to the airport apart from a couple of near-death experiences it's all good why do they drive like that it reminded me of that trip to Tesco the other week no I have to be honest with you

whenever you are abroad I would love the driving is very different to how we drive that's all I'm not being rude but it's true like five lanes of traffic swerving from one side to the other. I once went to Cuba. That was the worst driving I'd ever experienced.

Do you think it had an early influence on your driving career? Possibly. How do we feel about going home now? This is the... Is this an exciting time? I think we're ready, aren't we? We've had a lovely lovely holiday.

Yeah. But I am looking forward to going back because I haven't seen anyone. Wants to see her friends. I have had a lovely week. It has been beautiful, but I'm actually looking forward. And you know what? One of my favourite things about holiday

is when you get home and you open the front door and you're home. Yeah. And that is such a lovely feeling. We're very lucky and fortunate. I'm getting to bed tonight. I'm not going to not have a bad back because that bed's killed my back. I have to say, the pillows were very good. I like the soft pillows.

We've got to sort out our pillows at home. There's a lot of stuff to sort out there. What about the icicles? we're going to have to chisel off from inside our house where the heating's been off. I'm looking forward to it. I don't know why. I'm actually excited for the cold. I can't wait. Pop a little jumper on. Also, it's not like we can show off our tans because... What tan? Well, firstly, we have got a glow. We've got a glow. A glow. But we have won the award for the most mosquito bites from a family of four.

How many did you have, Joan, mosquito bites? Was it 35? 37, she had? 37. I think I'm probably... probably in the 40 range. I've got 12 on one of my feet. When we get home, it's 12 degrees. That's not too bad. Oh, that's alright.

There's a little bit of sun showing there. I've just worked out how we can keep Joni quiet. She just scraped my face. The only way to keep Joni quiet is by pretending we're doing a pod, so we just need to carry these mics around with us all the time. I'm giving her food. That's a great idea. I've cut this out, shut up. You've just...

like that, I'd be annihilated. Well, you do quite regularly. Well, I have to say, the second child does get away with a little bit more. No hitting, please, girls. She's biting my head. For every mum who is listening to this pod, oh, dad, she's biting my head. The bickering that's gone on is absurd, actually.

Joni is currently biting Eliza's head. And you do think, don't you? You do all this, you go away, you put. pay all this money and they're fine with everybody else but together goodness gracious me darling what are you up to tomorrow when we get home I'm going to go to the railway are you yeah you're not going to help with the 12 loads of washing and sorting all the suitcases or because I've been off Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and I'll be doing all of that then as usual I'll be unpacking the bags no they'll be unpacked when we get home tonight actually we can do

that can't we get it all done should say that. Go on. Do you remember if we flew out? And you said, I can't wait for when we get back. Yes. And I said, we're going to get back and it'll be chaos. You'll be unpacking bags.

And you said, no, I'm not going to be doing that. I will not be doing that on the day we get back. That is true. That is true. And I then said, well, I've got to go out on Sunday. And you said, well, that doesn't matter. We'll do it all in the week. Because I said, well, I'm off Monday.

You're absolutely right. No, I'm not. I'm going home and I'm emptying everything. I'm doing it tonight. Brilliant. How excited. It's a fantastic sense of relief with all of those little suitcases packed into each other like Russian dolls They go back in the cupboard. I love that I have to say I like the way that you've colour coordinated your outfit

Are you joking? Are you complimenting me on my outfit? I I don't know because I've got pink socks and a pink t-shirt on A pink t-shirt although they're completely different colours also is that my top? No this is my new good move for M&S fit the shirt this top. I thought was my scuffers one. Sorry, my fault. That would be unusual, wouldn't it? What, me borrowing her clothes? Yeah. Yeah, it would be amazing. She does? Right.

We share? We do. I don't know if it's the word share. Stop eating chewing gum like that, Joanie. So, we'll be on the plane within the next sort of half an hour. I think we should go very soon. It's boarding. And we'll be, wonder what time our food's going to be. I'm going to be awake hopefully on the way home for both meals Uncle David has suggested that we go for the chicken

Pomodoro and a glass of chardonnay Which I'm definitely definitely going to do Right Okay that's good It's good to have people wrecking in before you get there You managed to get your diary out earlier in I've got the holiday bug Right

Just looking at what I can do next Well I cannot wait to get on this plane now Me too. I'm going to try not to sleep, so hopefully I'm going to get back. I mean, that will be happening. I will be sleeping, but I'm going to try not to sleep on the way back, so I actually sleep tonight. You will sleep. It's fine.

It's a tiring day travelling. I don't get all that. Are you looking forward to the cold that's going to hit us when the door opens? Yeah, I really don't mind about it. I'll be fine. Okay. I'll stop hitching. I won't be bitten tonight.

Well, we can have a catch-up on that during the week, can't me? You can tell me if you are happy about being back because I've got a feeling. Can I also just add, yesterday, did you or did you not just say the other day that you were actually looking forward to going back to the cold? I did say that. Thank you. Yeah, in the car every morning to school, you go, oh, can't wait for the summer. Oh, everyone's the same. I hate it being dark in the morning.

Darling, I hate it being dark in the morning. The grass. And then you say that you've got winter depression. And now you're saying that you want to go back. I've never said I've got a winter depression. You do get. You do get it. I don't like the winter, but all you lot love the winter and go on about how much you love the winter.

I don't. I love Christmas. I don't love the winter. Okay. I love Christmas. From October, I like the build-up. And then after Boxing Day, forget it. Get us on a plane.

January is like a long month. I know, but as I get older, I'm realising what I like. Realising the reality of the seasons. Yes. As opposed to what you imagine, the seasons. Absolutely right. I see. So final decisions.

Yeah. Who's sitting next to who on the plane was we've got to sit separate. I'm sitting next to Eliza. I'm with Joni. Lovely. Have fun. Well, I've got to say I had Eliza on the way out and she spent the whole time laying on me. So I'm quite happy.

Yeah, but that's because I didn't have my blanket. She's got her blanket. We're all good. Right. Okay. That gate's going to close. Let's go. Oh.

Shame there wasn't a bit more of that, really. What was stuff abroad? Like when we spent half an hour by swimming pool With all the people looking at us Like we were really weird They said we looked like sports commentators With our microphones Well it's a shame your one wasn't recording

Is it all I'm going to say I'm really upset actually Yeah But what we are doing is not giving the listeners Eight minutes or ten minutes We've decided to do it on the morning That we've come home And you can just about hear that pitter-patter

The rain It's like being in Cornwall It's nice, isn't it? Oh, back to reality. It is a real shame, though, because you've got my microphone from around the pool. Sounds lovely, nice and atmospheric. I didn't do it on purpose.

No. I've got another question for you. Go on. So you didn't do any recordings with Maria or Elia. I know. We were too busy drinking mahitos. Or your brother? Yeah, I know.

Again, we were just having a lovely time. I know, but you've got the whole of your, apart from Tony, you've got like the whole of your podcast sat around the same place. I know, and we were really enjoying ourselves. You bothered flying the microphones out. I know.

Flying them out. They're not exactly gargantuan. And you lost a windshield. Yeah. I mean, honestly, I mean, all in all, the podcast recording for holiday hasn't gone to plan.

However, here we are again like troopers. Sunday morning, 8 o'clock in the morning. in. Joni's been up since 4.32. She's done all right. I've got to say, so our flying back was interesting. So the flight local time was what,

just after one, wasn't it? About two? Two o'clock. So we landed UK time at six-ish. Yes. Which would have been about 11, no, 10. 10 o'clock on our body clocks. So by the time we got home,

it was sort of midnight body clockwise. It was very early. And then we sort of went to bed. I woke up a bit early today, but no earlier than I would if I was working. I would like to wake up at seven on Sundays, usually. I think it's worked out really well. Fingers crossed. We'll see how we feel later, but I think it's all right.

It's only Dubai. It's not Australia, is it? No. And it's also different when it's BST. Obviously at the moment. I mean, I've travelled out where it's an extra hour then, isn't it? All gets very complicated. for my little head. All right, okay. But what are a lovely holiday we've had?

It was really nice being away with everybody, wasn't it? It was. It's gone a bit too quickly. I'm not sure about seven days. I know. I'm still not a fan of that. I'm a bit of a convert. After going to Greece that time. And we did 10 days.

That really made quite a big difference. I agree. But it's hard with the children because I only have a week off school. Yes. Yeah. That is true. Although I would like to bring that up And I completely and wholeheartedly understand

Why families do take their children out of school Maybe a day or two before And then send them back a day after Because the price difference is astronomical Yeah And it shouldn't be the case It was, I think it's, I don't think you're going to change that, are you? Anywhere?

No But it is I do understand why people do it. What are you up to? I'm just labelling up a clip, share I'm doing multitasking while talking to you. Well, the problem with the multitasking is when you are concentrating on something,

I don't feel like the other thing you're doing has full attention. No, but also it's not my show. So you should be able to hold the fault what I'm doing. I can. I can hold the fault. I can, absolutely. I hope all the listeners are well. I hope they've had a lovely weekend.

book clubs coming up soon, which would be nice. What book have you gone for? I have gone for Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella because she passed away last year. And I've given everybody the chance and choice to read whatever Sophie Kinsella book they'd like. So I haven't read that on holiday, unfortunately. Right.

I've been stuck into a Matisse autobiography. I was just about to ask you that. Did he... An autobiography? No, biography. Did I say auto? Yeah. No. Sorry. It was a biography. I was going to say, I'd be surprised if you'd done an autobiography.

Yeah, it was a few years ago. That lovely lady walked past, didn't she? She saw the book, made a beeline for the book, picked it up, started looking it over and said, oh, have you been there? I know. They were not. It was very much a bit like, you know what I reminded me of the, especially at breakfast. I saw it at breakfast. And it was a bit like the two ladies from 40 towers. Yes.

And I just thought, isn't that a fun? That is so true. It was like a real sort of, real version of them. Sort of. Exactly. All lovely and smart. Yeah. Hello to everybody.

Really good. I loved seeing them. I just thought, that gives you hope for the future. If you've got your health at that sort of age. To travel and still enjoy yourself. How brilliant is that? It was a bit like that really smart, octogenarian couple that were sort of wandering into business class. Yes.

Was there? all done up with their hats and pearls. They were very happy. They do do that deliberately, don't they? They make you walk past all of the sections. So you don't walk past first. Not on that plane, but often you do. Do you?

On a smaller plane you do. Right. Not on a bigger plane, admittedly, because it is literally off to another section. But you walk in and you have to get marched past all of the other smug-looking people sat in their beds. They've already got a Prosecco in hand. Already, yeah, they're munching around stuff and watching everyone filing past. While we get right up to the back. It is, I mean, it's very clever that.

Very clever. I think you handled the children so well on the plane. They love being with you that I thought maybe next flight I could possibly have a little rest in business. Yeah, you crack on. Absolute biggest waste of money I have ever seen in my life. Honestly, it's an absolute waste of money. Unless you get an upgrade or you're using some points or maybe it's a special time where it's like you and your partner are going away for a special occasion

and the flight is part of the excitement. So, for example, if we were going to Paris for a nice weekend away and we were flying, then I'd get it because it's the experience. I'm going to say something actually. So I even disagree there. I think if it's a longer flight, anything over six, seven hours. and it was a treat, I think it is necessary. But we went to, we did like an upgrade or something.

I got given an upgrade, we didn't we? We went to Crete. Yes. All you got was a bit of leg room. And basically a tea towel that got pulled across just to separate your seat with the seat behind. The seats were a little bit bigger. But what you do get is an unlimited bar.

That is what you're paying for. Right, okay. Unlimited attention from the staff. Okay, right, yeah. I've got to say when you're on a very expensive flight travelling a very, very long way across the globe

the seats we were in were fine I've got to say and if we're going to spend more money I really don't think it would be worth it on the flight Well if you think about people that do travel business all the time and they added that up over a few years

imagine how many more holidays you could have Well that's what I mean So yeah, no I know I'm torn Very bad for the environment as well. I'm imbriolied. Yeah. Did you like that?

No, I've got no idea what you're saying. What does that mean? Natalie in Brulia? Her song, Torn? Oh, yeah. So I said, I'm in Brulia. No idea what that meant. Fair enough.

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And it just shows you that residual heat around the house is then missing, which makes a difference. I have to admit, I'm surprised how cold it was, actually, considering it's February. My feet, the floor was really cold. It was cold, admittedly. I then also, you don't know this, but in the middle of the night,

naturally I woke up at like 4 o'clock in the morning. Yeah. Because I've been getting up at 8. Yes. 7.30, 8 o'clock every day. So have I. So have I. up at that time and realized that obviously our heating wouldn't be on.

If it's overnight, it's not on. I see. So all that effort the night before, when we got in last night, it's kind of been wasted. It's like an igloo again. But then I thought, right, okay, I don't really want to put the heating on overnight because then everyone starts coughing and starts being ill. Sweating. So I did it.

I thought, I'm going to do it. So I went downstairs, turned it on again. I think it was worth it. And it feels nice now. I think we're up to warming up there. Yeah, no, we're back to scratch. And also, we have been in the Middle East. Yes.

So, I mean, it's been particularly hot, hasn't it? Yeah. Particularly hot. You wouldn't really want it hotter. No. It was like getting in a bath, getting in that swimming pool. It was like a bath, yeah. Yeah.

I don't think we should moan about it, though. I'm not moaning about it. I really don't think we should. Yeah. Still not convinced about this going away in February business either. I just felt very strange. I'm very confused now what part of the year we're in and where we are. All you've got to do, darling, is have a little look at the calendar.

I think you do know what part of the year we're in. And it breaks up that long winter. I'm a convert. Right, okay. I think we can do all family together in Feb, something to look forward to all together, which is really fun. Right, okay. And then, like I said to you, on the way home,

I feel like I've got a bit of the holiday bug now but I need to start being sensible and finding some deals or some interesting places that are a bit warmer and then we could have a little break again in the summer possibly What you need?

Go on. Teletext. Oh yeah, that would have been good. Go on the old text? Mm-hmm. Get a last minute deal. For me, there was nothing better than walking into a travel agent's.

Do you know something? Having some brochures. Mm-hmm. I loved a brochure. Yes. And I once spent on a really, really good holiday. And it came about from going into a high street travel agent. Yes.

Where you'd get really good brochures. And you would think that there'd be a very, they were quite a well-known sort of quite salubrious travel agent. What, like a Keone or something? Yeah. And you'd just go in and say, well, I'm quite flexible on dates. And they'd just sit and muck about. Yeah.

And it'd basically just get cheaper and cheaper and cheaper. went on to some really good holidays by going into what you would think of as a premium travel agent Well I'm going to now do that I'm going to muck about fiddle around

Have a little look Well why don't it go into a travel agent Can you go into a travel agent still Are there high street ones? I haven't seen one There used to be one in Hoddesden I wonder if that's still there, can and travel I used to pop in there

Yeah a few times a bit I mean it's a new thing now Isn't it buying online Well you're saying new I sound like I'm about 50. I know, we are getting old, babe. We really are getting old. Joni wants to go to Madagascar.

I know. How has that come about? From when she watched Madagascar, the film. That makes sense? Three or four years ago. But it hasn't changed. That's her holiday of choice. I think it's quite a complicated one.

Yeah. Yeah, she's done a bit of research into it as well, I think. She sort of knew a little bit about it. She doesn't want to go yet. She thinks she's too young. Okay. But she'd like to go. Right.

In a few years. She wants to do a bungee jump or something. No, she just wants to be in with the animal, she said. Okay. So. Fair enough. Perhaps we could pack her off there. She said she can do some work.

Yeah. Get these wildlife reserves, don't you? And they take people for a couple of months. Yes. They sort of stay there free, but they help out. Mm-hmm. Perhaps you could do that. I know you joke about that, but I actually do imagine that in the future that is something she probably will go to do.

I think it would be fantastic. When I did my documentary for the movie, the BBC and I went to Australia. Part of it, we stayed in the rainforest in Cairns. And we were at a massive beautiful, imagine giant, giant tree houses, and we were all up in the hammocks, and in the middle of the jungle, in the middle of the rainforest. And most of the people there were all on that trip. They were doing three or six months, and they were helping with all of the wildlife

and preservation, and they were all young, having the best time, but staying there for free. Amazing actually. I'd very much be happy if the children wanted to do something like that. Great life experience. And cheap as well. I mean I'd miss them, but there's a lot of the world to see. Can't hold them back. How many countries do you think you've been to? Me? Um, Cuba, Australia, Los Angeles, Spain, Italy, France. Greece with you Dubai Crete

Crete Crete Memory's not great I can't really remember anymore I reckon you probably got another 5 on that About 15 maybe Maybe about 12 Ireland

Oh yes Where else you've been Ibifa Spain You haven't been to mainland Spain? Yeah mainland Spain And Ibiz To stay there with June

Yeah Well you can say that's a different place Fair enough Yeah Yeah How many have you been to? No idea. I thought you had a little book.

I have. I've got a list somewhere. It's really sad. I'm not going to get out now. Fair enough. But probably about the same number. I'm talking of you getting it out. I am quite pleased we're home because it is quite hard being in a room with four people

and you're sleeping with Joni and me sleeping with Eliza. I've got to say I quite enjoyed it. Oh, fair enough. It's been quite nice with Joan. Apart from when she kicked me, during the night last night or the night before. Bit of a fidget. Yeah.

But now it's been, it's been all right. It works all right at that. No, it does work. It works fine. But I've very much enjoyed climbing into our bed last night and having a cuddle. I do miss you sleeping next to me. That's quite some reassuring to hear. That's good.

Good. On that note, I think... I think that work is done. And what is it to say to that? Oh. What are you doing now? What's happening? today what are you up to?

Going to the railway. You're off to the railway. I have already got two loads of washing in. Two cases are unpacked. Got to put all the medicines away and sun creams away. I shall continue washing as we go. Joni's got a tennis lesson. Are you going to go to the gym while she's doing the tennis lesson?

I have to be honest with you. Not sure I'm in the mood. But it'll probably do me good. I'm quite keen to go, actually. Are you? I feel like, I mean... I don't go tonight, though. All I've done.

done is eat. It's just been brilliant. Eat and drink. I've done a bit of swimming. I mean, it's not really swimming though, is it? No. Bobbing about in the water. No, we can't call that swimming.

Playing Daddy Shark. It's your fault that you overeat on holiday though, darling. You have no self-control? I've got no self-control. No. Hasaps. The reason why? Yeah, I've got no self-control.

I haven't jumped on the old scales yet. Probably put on a few pounds, but it doesn't matter, does it? No, it's fine. It's irrelevant. We've got no holiday to look forward to now. Because we've done it now in February, so. We will go away again, I'm sure, at some point. It'll be nice to.

We will. I told you I'm going to find some really obscure, really nice place to go, like a villa somewhere. Okay. Yeah, be good. All right? You look really brown. Thank you.

So do you. I don't. No, no, not really. I don't get a colour. I've been bitten to death. I've been bitten to death. That's a very strange thing, that. For you it is, isn't it?

I haven't stopped being bitten, which I very, very rarely get, I mean, I know anyone would get bitten, but it's not something that I recall being a thing. I'm sure why that is. I don't know whether it's a sun cream, I don't know. Might have been. Maybe I'm just a bit smelly. No comment. Should we go and get on with our weekend? Yes.

Yeah, I think we should. What are you up to this week? You're doing a live show on you? Sure I am. Folksden, Wednesday. Are there still tickets available? I believe so. Very good.

Yep. And also doing Colchester on Saturday. Very good. So that'll be super duper. For Folkestone on Wednesday? Yes. What time is it? Is it a matinee?

No, it's not. It's an evening show. It's a Wednesday. Oh. So fancy a bit of midweek interest. Absolutely. So yes, we are at the Quarter House in Folkestone. And the show starts at 7.

and 30. Doors open at 7 if you'd like a little beverageini of some kind. And it comes down and finishes at 2120 just before half nine. I might come and watch that. Sorry? I've got a meeting, you know, I, but I might have to get down there in time. If you get down there in time, you'll be on the stage. Absolutely not. I might come watch it, though.

It'd be quite interesting sitting in the audience. You're not doing that. No way. Why? That is the weirdest thing I've ever heard. Why would it be weird? Because if you're there, you've got to be on stage with me. No, not if I've been in work mode. I can't just rock up and do it.

Saturday, we are at the Colchester Arts Centre, and that starts at half-past one in the afternoon. And it comes down at 1520. So, again, if you'd like a nice little Saturday afternoon treat, that would be really nice. And you're in Colchester as well? Not far, is it? It used to be a company called Davy Paxman based in Colchester that built, like, railway equipment.

Right. The Institute 125, I believe, was built by them. I hope you have a lovely week, everybody. 0778-8, 2019-19. I'll catch up with you again on Thursday. Not sure I've got on yet. It's got to be a bit of holiday talk, I think, with the nieces. But we'll see how we go.

Lots of love. Speak to you later. Bye.