Life with Nat - EP225: Nagging with Auntie Linny #25 - just the tip of the tipping iceberg!

Episode Date: May 10, 2026

Big conversation topic today... the etiquette of tipping! Which professions are you tipping? How much? Why? Is service charge the same?We also catch up on some telly! Eastenders, new Traitors announcement & I’m a Celebrity Get Me out of HereAnd as ever... plenty of food chat too!Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review.xxxYou can find us in all places here;⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nat's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natcass1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Marc's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@camera_marc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Niece's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natsnieces⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tony's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tonycass68⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linny's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@auntielinny.lwn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MORE LIVE SHOWS!24th May 2026 - Hertford, Beam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOLD OUT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book Club: April's Book -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathy Burke - A Mind of My Own - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/A-Mind-of-My-Own/Kathy-Burke/9781398548145⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nat’s solo chats - any rants always welcome. Loads on the radar - living our lives for ourselves, 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-negotiablesThings 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? Nat and Tony's big life changes clinic is open for advice questions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to Life with Nat, your family-friendly pod. I say family-friendly, I mean it's got all my family in it. It's not very family-friendly, actually. I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm here with Auntie Linney today. How are you, darling? I'm right. What do you mean?

It is family-friendly. Well, there's a few Fs and blinds at times. What do you fucking mean? We've just done the pod, haven't we? As usual. We've been here for an hour, having a catch-up. discussing all sorts. I haven't really seen you though for a couple of weeks.

No, not since the... Second anniversary. Second anniversary, yeah. Which I thoroughly enjoyed. Yeah, it was lovely, lovely evening. And the pub was very good. I keep repeating myself, but I do think if anyone hasn't listened, people should direct them to that pod.

Well, it sort of showcases... All of us. All of us. Yeah. And then they can sort of get a feel of what it's all about. No, it was clever. Yeah. It was actually very clever concept.

Yeah, it was good. Very good. Have you been? Yeah, good. Yeah. Busy, as usual. Yeah. I had a weekend at Dominic's last weekend.

San Lisa went to a family wedding in Italy. So I moved in, had the kids. Yeah. So Don't was able to go golf. Oh. Then go for a run on Sunday. Oh. Your little hero.

I don't know about that. It was actually really lovely. Yeah, it's quality time, isn't it? Yeah, it was. It was nice. And yeah, we were out yesterday. Went to the grove. I've got to give a shout out to the Ferraro family.

Thank you for Dave's 60th birthday present, which we thoroughly enjoyed. It was such a lovely day out. I heard lots of people say that the, is it a brunch? No. No, it was a buffet. We ate in the glass house. To be fair, it's an amazing building. The grounds are.

stunning. This is the grove in Watford, by the way. I've been there years ago. Yeah, we have too. Oh, what? They used to have a false beach. Did they have? Did they have?

No. I remember going then, there was a false beach. At the grove? Years ago. Years ago. But I've not been for a long time. No, we have eaten there many years ago. It was lovely.

I struggle. I can't fault it. Oh, good. The staff can't do enough. It was impressive. Food was excellent. The choice was. vast. What do you have?

Everything. We ate. It was so bad. No, it's not bad. It is bad. What did you have? So I had a start, I had two spaghetti, two pasta starts. Yeah. I went up to get a pasta dish. Me and Maria went up for her

sisters and I just couldn't choose. Carbonara, red salt, he went well have both. Brilliant. Then I dropped it in that. I was Italian and I said no pressure and he looked at me like horrified. And then the bloke behind me went, I'm Italian too. Then I had, then another course of the tomatoes, avocado, quail, just lots of bits, all the olive. Oh, lovely.

Amazing. Then I had the roast, lamb and beef with all the trimming. Lovely. And then for dessert. And I ate it as well. For dessert. She sounded like Mark on holiday. No, the choice was ridiculous.

I actually ate most of it. It's all right. Well, it's not really. It was lovely. Really lovely. You've got to enjoy a day out when you've been spoiled. You've been bought something. Oh, no.

You know. It's once every whatever, six months. Yeah. Yeah, it was really good. And the staff were amazing. Lovely. Yeah. Did they have entertainment?

No, no. No music or anything. It was a little bit canteeny vibe. in there. Not the setting, you know, beautiful sofas. It was stunning. Yeah, yeah. It's beautiful.

But obviously you're getting up. Yeah. You're not being served. So there's the hustle and bustle of people, lots of children around. Like when you go on holiday. But nicer. Yeah. One to do for anyone that lives around that area.

I would quite like to do that. No. Oh my God, lovely. Nice afternoon. Yeah, lovely. We went and sat outside. had a coffee outside. The golf course is stunning.

Dave must have played there, no? Oh yeah, he's played there before. No, it was very impressive. Oh, good. Yeah, really nice. And then obviously we can discuss the whole paying the bill bit when we get to that point. Well, actually, yeah, as you're talking about it, did you leave a tip? Yeah, so again, interesting, obviously, because you've put it out there about tips, etc.

Well, firstly, do you know where tips derived from? Do you know why that concept has evolved? Not particularly. I did a little bit of research. It was basically in the 17th, 18th century, it was aristocrats that would tip their servants. And it's just evolved from there. Because like you say, it's not just restaurants, is it, that we tip?

No, you go and get your hair done. Yep. You wouldn't dream of not tipping. You go and get your nails done. I never tip. Now, that's an interesting one. Never. Do you not?

No. With nails? No. Sorry. No, don't be. I'm on the fence with the whole tipping thing and again it's going to be controversial so sorry everyone but it's only an opinion. I have this thing where I go and get my nails done. Yeah.

It's not always the same person. I feel like I pay for what the going rate is in this area. I feel like I'm already paying a little bit of a premium to get my nails. I do too. And then I think if I don't leave a tip, am I going to be treated the same as the person that's sitting next to me who probably is leaving a tip? So it makes me feel under pressure, but I don't think I should be tipping. I presume they get paid. I don't get tipped at work.

No, I've never been tipped at work. The only tip I'll ever get is perhaps at Christmas, a client might send some, wine in the post for the me and the staff or chocolates or you know very thoughtful

we do have clients at Christmas acknowledge what we do during the year which is lovely I think again it's a huge subject the only reason

I brought it up is because I heard it was on LBC the other day Nick Ferrari was talking about it and Gordon Ramsey has put up

some of his festivity kind of menus if you like New Year Christmas and the service charge has gone up to 20%

in here He's expensive, you know, his lucky cat restaurants. And it caused a bit of a hoo-ho, a little bit of a discussion because I was saying it's extortionate as it is. There's a lot of people saying, oh, he's got loads of money. Listen, he has, I don't know if you saw the documentary. Yes, I did. But he's put a lot of his own money into that. And I feel that everything has gone up, as we know.

So imagine in a restaurant the pressure now. on the food, on the staff. But what are the tips, aren't the tips for the staff? Well, I don't see a service, you see, I don't see a service charge as a tip. Do you know? I feel like the service charge is there for, it's not just for waiters. Do you know, oh really? I think it's for other things as well.

Do you? I think it gets shared percentage-wise around. So if I have a fantastic experience in a restaurant, I'm gutted if I haven't got cash with me. And I try and remember some cash because I want to. Me and Eliza, went to see Olivia Dean Saturday. Fantastic day out with her, just a really special day. We went to gauchos at the O2. The girl was fantastic. The food wasn't great, I have to say. It was all right. A couple of mistakes. Yeah. That's not her fault. She was brilliant. Her name was Anna. She was outstanding and I didn't have any money and Eliza had some coins. I said, add those coins and I said,

give her that money because I really felt that she did really, really well and I wanted to give her something personally. So yesterday, to explain what happened yesterday then, much the same, we had a Hungarian lady, Vera, Veronica, I think her actual name was because we asked, serving us, exemplary, but all the start. were, but she was our waitress, very attentive, you know, even down to, when you moved away from the table, you'd go back to the table and your napkin was refolded. It was impressive. And so it should be at the Grove. It doesn't come cheap. Now, when the bill came, the service charge was included. Very mind, these were gifts. So ours was a gift. Jim and Maria's was a

gift that we had got them. So there was no service charge, I don't believe, on the first. from what Dave told me this morning, it was purely on the drink because that's what we were actually painful because we'd already, the food was already painful. So yeah, service charge was only on the drink, which we believe was around 12%, something like that. But then Dave said, if I give you a cash tip, will it go to you? And she said yes. So he tipped her. But the service charge gets apportioned amongst the staff. So I'm not sure it service charges for anything other than the service you get. So does that mean an employee,

if you're working for, you know, you're working in that industry in hospitality, does that mean that when they pay you your salary, they factor in an average tip that you're going to get during the course of a week? Yeah, I don't know. Do you know what I mean? I don't know.

We might have some messages on it. So it'd be interesting to know that. We've had a few messages about this. Page said, hi, Annette and Auntie Linney, hope you're both. Well, I don't mind adding a tip, but I think it should be personal choice, not just added to your bill presuming you will tip or do a service charge. I don't really agree with that. But again, I think it's a funny one because I truly believe that the service charge is not just for the staff.

I don't know. But I would always like to give someone some cash. So I know that that's going in their pocket and they've done a good job. My preference is exactly that. I don't think there should be service charge on your bill. You're paying for your food and drink. I'll tell you what gets my goat is if you go to a little bar or something and every drink you order has 12 and a half or 15% on it.

Yeah, it's a lot of money. I don't, I kind of get it when you're having a full meal. and you're there for the afternoon or evening but when you're getting a bowl of nuts and a gin and tonic I don't think there should be a service charge on that it's funny isn't it it's just an interesting one

because again in my mind it's no different you're making this sound slightly different to go and to get your nails done or your hair done or beauty treatments where you again have it's kind of not saying the done thing

but you feel that, and I know it's not obligatory, but you feel the need to leave a little tip, even if it's a couple of quid. Yeah, but it's really funny because I don't. Oh, interesting. I don't tip a hairdresser. Do not? I don't tip nails.

Oh. Because I feel like that is a service. No, I get agreed. It is. Whereas. But you're seeing the likelihood is when you get your hair done, you see the same person. Yes.

So you build a relationship, a rapport with that. And like you say, at Christmas, I might get them a present. Yeah. Or add a sum of money to the bill. You say that. You can't do it every time that you're seeing someone. And that's the nails as well. You're giving them regular work.

Yeah. That's how I feel. But then I feel it's no different going for a meal. If I'm going for a meal, I'm assuming that what they're charging me for my meal and for my bottle of wine that I can go and buy in Sainsbury's 30 pound cheaper. At least. I'm assuming they're making their markup on what they're feeding us

and what they're giving us to drink. I think you're right. then why is there that added need to add that service charge? I do feel it should be no service charge. And then subject to who has served you, you can then decide how much you give them, whether that's done on a debit credit card or whether that's done by cash.

Then it's down to the company, whether they say to their staff, if you get tips, it goes in a jar. Well, that's it. And it gets split. Yes. Or whoever gets a tip, It's your hard work, it's your hard graft.

It's because you keep it. Then that's down to them to decide, isn't it? Rather than it's a given. You're coming in my restaurant, you're going to pay 50 quid ahead for your meal, plus your drink, and then I'm going to stick another 12 and a half to 15% on it. Why?

Evening, beautiful soul. That lovely. Yes to service charge if it's going to the staff to add to their pay. That was from Chico. Hi, Natalie, people should only tip if they want to and it should be their choice how much. I think that was from Sandra.

I think adding a service charge is wrong as we should all be able to give a tip if we feel it deserves one. So interesting. I mean, everything has increased. I do think we have to remember that. So therefore adding service charge as insults of injury.

Being a restaurateur, can you imagine the pressures? But Natalie, that's reflected in the cost of your meal now. Yeah, yeah, I know. You think you're probably paying nearly double what you were paying 10 years ago. Easy. For the same meal. I mean, a Pizza Express now, you used to go in there, and I know I sound old now. What even, fish and chips?

Well, fish and chips is mad. Absolutely crazy. It's 90 quid for fish and chips. 80 quid. I paid the other day for fish and chips. What, for four of you? Five of us, I think. I mean, that's wild.

Yeah. When you think back in the day, it was just a. easy, wasn't it? Yeah. And they're saying that fish and chippies, you know, are shutting all around the country. Because it's just not that what it was. No.

Which was a quick, lovely thing, cheap, Friday night, out of the paper. Yes. It's now a big cost. So it's a lot for people. So then lumping on a service charge as well. And I know, I get it from your point of view. I totally understand what you're saying. For me, it's a, if someone makes my night more special,

that's why I feel it's different to say the nails and the head. You should be able to, then that's your choice to leave that tip, isn't it? I do it anyway, yeah. I mean, you shouldn't double tip, really. Well, we did it yesterday. Service charge on the bill, and we tipped, because we wanted it to go to Vera. Oh, love Vera. It's a cracking name, isn't it, Vera?

Mine's me a Jack and Vera. I'm not sure she pronounces it like that. I can't remember how she said. Verna, maybe. No, I think she did say, Veronica is the name. I'm guessing there's a lot of people that are going to be listening to this that are in hospitality and they're going to have

a completely different view on it because they do the hard bar. No, but again, I'd love to hear it all. You can tell us if the service charge is all for you. Does it get split? I'm interested. I can follow this on in the next pod who everyone's doing it with.

And also, many a time, we've been for dinner and who's not enjoyed their meal and the service was really poor because the person that was serving us was probably new or got called in at the last minute. Well, I'm sorry. I've done it. Lean, I've done it loads of times.

Sorry, I've said I'm not paying the service charge. I mean, how can you charge that service charge when your service has been abysmal? In some cases, it's been abysmal or the quality of the food has been appalling. Foods had to go back. Meals have had to be reheated. And then you're still putting that service charge on because that's what you do. As you said earlier, it's discretionary. You don't have to pay it.

No, but then it's quite difficult to say can you take the service charge off. Whereas if it's not on there, you just wouldn't tip, would you? Because you're not happy. That's right. Or you might not tip as much because you appreciate it's not the waiter's fault. But actually your experience hasn't been what it should be. It should be. Hey, Nat, Auntie Linne and Co.

Just saw your message about tipping. I'm an expert living in Maine, USA. Here we tip good, service pending. Our servers only get around $4 per hour pay, so I're in need of tips. If by the end of the week their paying tips don't add up to minimum wage, which is $1510. per hour, for the hours they've worked, the restaurant or bar have to pay them the difference. Right.

So most servers are really good at their jobs and they're extremely friendly to make sure they get tip well. Yeah. So again, America, they're huge with tips, aren't they in America? I guess that's quite smart what they've done. They're encouraging their staff to work hard and do well. Smile on your face regardless of how crubber day you're having. talk to your clients, your customers,

because they know that they need to make up their salary. Although I have to say, four pounds an hour pay is disgusting. Sorry, $4. It's terrible. I mean, that's not, it wouldn't be allowed here, would it? It's just not allowed here. Yeah, I find it unbelievable.

Did you see this one? Don't know if you've seen this from listener James. Someone you've bumped into. Oh, no. Being an airline crew, the one who, met Lini on the air bridge at Heathrow. I obviously do a lot of trips to America where tipping is expected. However, when I'm in Starbucks over there and it pops up on the till to add a tip,

I feel that's a step too far and must admit I usually skip it. When good service is provided, of course I love to tip, no question, but for literally taking my order, that's a no from me. Hope you have a fabulous bank holiday, Nat. I love to seeing you pop up on my Insta earlier with M&S. Brilliant. Long-time listener James. Oh, yeah, I remember. Yeah, of course.

There you go. Bless him, they made himself known. But again, their job, that is no mean feat, being an air hostess. Agreed. They don't get tipped. You would never be on a plane being served and seen to. Don't people tip them? I wouldn't.

It's never occurred to me to tip. I never have, but I bet you there are people that do. Do you think? Yeah, see, it would never have occurred to me. Because you think you can spend, I don't know, 12 hours or a whole day if you're into Australia. Someone looking after you. Yeah. They deserve a little tip, don't they?

Completely. Especially when you've got kids and they're helping you entertaining them. See, now that has never entered my mind to say, oh, let's tip that. They've been brilliant with us. But they do. Bet people do. Funny, isn't it? Well, look what we did in Dubai.

Oh, of course. to get preferential treatment. See, this is where it becomes a little bit risky. You know, we are playing the game, aren't we? We know by tipping the pool staff, they're going to look after us, going to make sure those loungers are available to us, the ones we want, or one after the other, make sure there's towels on them for them. I think why not?

Because then another family might not be in a position to financially do that or feel that they should have to do that. And then... But that's surely the way... At any hotel I've been in, I've always tipped the person who brings my suitcase to the room immediately when I'm there.

A tiny little something, but then you know when you see them they're going to be happy and falling over themselves and they work really hard. I get it. We did a cruise years ago, Radisson Diamond, beautiful.

And Dave tried to tip one of the staff that brought our suitcases to our room and they said, no, we're not allowed to accept tips. So the whole trip, no one was tipped. Fair enough. Which then you kind of... Yeah, it's an even kill, right?

It's a level playing field. Yeah. Whereas we were like, have you tipped? Don't you tip? Dave's tipped. No, I've done it at all. We've double tipped the same bloke. He disappeared, didn't he?

Dave said, I don't think it'll be back now. You're tipping the wrong people. We were in all sorts. That was funny, wasn't it? Really funny. Really funny. But why they bloody knew our names? Oh dear.

Bless their hearts. Kirsty said, morning that, it's a definite thumbs up for me in regards to tipping. I'm a big tipper. I will always pay service charge unless there was something awful about the service. And I will always tip the waiting staff. I tip the delivery driver if I order a takeaway. I tip my hairdresser and the dustbin men at Christmas. I appreciate that going out for a meal can be expensive,

particularly with the cost of food increases. but I will always factor the service charge and tip into the equation. I find it's always very well received and appreciated. Much love Kirsty. Oh, that's lovely. And I think there are many, many. But your brothers are, yeah, he would never go out for dinner and not see. No.

And also with a deliverer or a just eat, when it's, there's a rider tip, I always put two quid on. Oh, right. Always. Because, you know, they need that. They're doing that job. They work really hard. They're out all night. And I bet not many people put that on because it's expensive.

And I just think, I bet that puts a little smile on their face to think, oh, extra couple of quid. So if you have a food delivery, I don't mean a takeaway. I mean, like, I don't know, if you had an Accardo delivery or something. Would you tip that person? Probably, yeah. But I don't really do that, food deliveries. I like to do those, don't I, when it's Easter,

and organise those when it's a bank holiday and it doesn't come. Do you remember that? That was fun, wasn't it? She still feel a bit drunk. Yes, very much so. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Yes.

Do you know what else is unbelievable that I was drinking espresso and martinis at 9 o'clock last night and had three hours sleep? I mean, I've never heard of anything like it, if I honest. And for you to say, oh, I didn't really know what was in them. I didn't really think.

But you do know what's in them. Because it's an espresso martini. I didn't really, I mean, I would never have a tea or a coffee. After what time? Three-ish. But I did that, we had a coffee as well, about half-past five. And then what time were the double espresso martinis that you decided? Oh, five.

Oh, oh. Doesn't help with the sleep patterns, does it? Great. Don't look bad on it, though. I don't know how you do it. I really don't. Not. Really don't.

What about all the weather's got really lovely? Out in the garden, playing with Germany, doing our netball and stuff. And now we've got... I feel like the UK weather teases us. It gives us that little ray of sunshine and we all get excited and we're all... And we love...

The Brits are very much, let's get undressed. Yes. Whereas in Italy, in this weather, they'd still be wearing bloody scarves and hats and it's just so confusing. You leave for work in the morning, it's bloody cold. Yeah. So you're all wrapped up.

By lunchtime, you're sweating off. I'm sitting outside having something to eat at work and like enjoying the race. And then in the evening, it's been really strange weather. But then how does it go from like 24 to 14? I know, it does. It is a bit wild. But this weekend was meant to be a washing. No, it hasn't been.

To be fair, yesterday was very doable. Saturday was incredible. Beautiful. Again, we were all dressed, I met the girls at Hartham in Hartford. They've got track suit bottoms on. We were sweet, you know, it was hot. Yeah, it's mad, but next week's a bit of a washout, I think. Is it?

Yeah. Well, I'm pleased about that because obviously poor Joni. It's annoyed me. It's got to be done. I know, it's awful. It's just annoying. But do you know what I'm hoping? Because it's just the metal work coming out.

What we've got to remember is her arm isn't broken. No. It's just, they're just going to open. Open her up. Take that out. Take that metal. Bandage it up. Stitch it back up again.

So I'm really hoping. It won't be anywhere as... They're not going to say, oh, she can't do this for six weeks. I'm hoping. Well, no, she hasn't broken anything. That's what I'm saying. No, because it'll be healing. No, it's going to be no different to what Maria's done.

Hopefully. And they heal quick kids as well, don't they? Completely. Honestly, this will be a breeze. I hope so. It will. It will. It's just annoying that she's got to be open again.

Yeah. But it's got to be done that to me. And it's horrible as a mum to see them under Gemma and a sense. I hate that when they put them to sleep. It's horrible. Isn't it the worst thing? It's so horrible. It'll be fine.

It's fine. It's only a day thing. In and out and a day. Where's she having that? Hollow. Hollow. Yeah. No.

And I spoke to the lovely nurse on the phone, Jane. I had a pre-op chat and she's really lovely and she looks after her last time. Are you going to tip Jane? No, I'd love to tip nurses. You don't know, do you? You're not allowed. to. I don't know.

You just wouldn't think of it. And they bloody need it. There you go. That's interesting. Oh, poor Joan. She'll be right. So she's going to be off school then. She will be for, they recommend 48 hours afterwards.

So she's having it Thursday. Oh, right. So Thursday, Friday, then she's got Saturday, Sunday. They will give you a note for two weeks. But hopefully she won't need to. I'm hoping that she'll be able to get back, even if she's not on the playground or whatever, and she can get back. She just got to be.

careful for a few weeks, but she'll be fine. It's not going to be like a broken arm. No. It's just frustrating that she's got to go through another procedure and be put under and stuff because, yeah, it's horrible to watch them. I always remember Dominic as a baby having an op and I'd never had an operation. So that was the weird thing. I didn't know what it was. No? No. No. Yeah, it's not great. She'll be fine. She'll be fine. Yeah. Got a quiet week. So it's come up a really good time. Good, good, good. So that's fine.

What else has been going on? Extenders. Should we touch on that? Oh, yeah. That night of messaging. Well, I haven't seen it. Oh, you didn't watch it now. I've seen clips on Instagram.

Oh, my goodness. But for me, the clips that I saw, it was so real to what I've done that I thought I'm not really, don't really fancy it. Well, we're just to explain to our listeners. So we're in a girl, girly chat, Natalie, my girls, Annalise. And I'd watched it. We call it loose women. Yes. It's called loose women.

When I talk about that chat, I say, like in the loose women chat, my friends go, the what? And I'd watched it, and then I put something in the chat, and obviously Maria yourself and the others hadn't seen it. But I kid you not, I'm watching it. And I'm thinking, have they phoned Natalie up and said, can you write this storyline for us? No, it was so uncanny. And I know there's going to be many people, you know, even when I lost my dad, yes, I remember sitting there.

You know, you get the rattling at the end where, you know, they're at the end of life. And the things you're saying, the things you do, of course, we've all, we're all going to have something that it was very relatable to that scene. But this was to a different level. Nigel just watching him just, it was your dad. The things that Julie was saying to him was you. Even down to a bit of music. Yeah. I've forgotten the character's name.

She was singing in it. Obviously you had Frank Sinatra in the background playing, dabbing the lips with the sponge. Yeah. I remember you doing it obviously with Scott. it freaked me out, which is why I had to put a comment. And then they're all going, I'm going, don't watch it.

Natalie, don't, yeah, just don't watch it. Then Maria's like, oh, I can't watch this. I said, and I'm like, oh, you're on your own? She went, yeah, I went, well, don't watch it. But then obviously she couldn't help herself, but she did. It was unbelievably so real to what we experienced. Yeah, my agent, lovely Scott, he messaged to say that was possibly one of the most realistic scenes I've ever watched.

Did he? Yeah. And I've had so many, I mean... Realistic based on his experience. Just in terms of... No, just in terms of... It was so well done. Oh, well, they're brilliant actors.

It was... Paul Bradley's amazing. I couldn't. I love Paul. Real shame that he's gone. I know they've had to do the story. Do you feel like it's been long enough? I think they cut it short, if I'm honest.

Because obviously his dementia. That could have gone on for... Well, that was my only... Not criticising him. But do you know what? I kind of get it. I do as well because where do you go with it? It's a sight of it.

You've got to move it on. And some storylines that you are like that, not necessarily about dementia, but whatever a storyline might be, I watch Corrie, as you know, and I love it. There's a storyline that's just been going on forever, and you're like, please bring it to a close now. Right, right.

Because you're actually going to, the end's going to end up being underwhelming because it's been going on for so long. Whereas this is... I think that timing was probably. probably spot on. But that scene, that whole scene, was incredible. But for me, it was more the fact that it was just a carbon copy.

Of what happened here? Yeah. Yeah. I will watch it at some point. I just don't fancy it. No, no, don't do it to yourself if you don't need to. Outstanding performance on the beachfront by Steve McFadden and Paul Bradley. It was beautifully done.

Yeah. I may have shed a tear. EastEnders did Nide Proud. Yeah. Teresa. Yeah, and they really did. That's so, so lovely. Yeah, there was multiple scenes.

Yeah. It wasn't just that scene. There were multiple scenes. They did flashbacks and things. I will watch it. I'll have to watch it because I want to see them to do their work. Yeah. You know.

You can flick through the part where he's dying. Yeah, of course. It was very, very well done. He stenders, every now and then they just pull it out the bags. They really do. Yeah, and that was. Did you know who wrote it? No.

I'll have to have a look. No, I don't. I like to know who. Oh, no. But they do. They are very special. It can just go along and it trunders along as it goes. And then every now and again they just do something that is the well factor.

Yeah, they are quite incredible as a team, what they pulled together sometimes. It was very well done. Amazing. And you can see from some of the messages that have come through. Oh. People are. So many. Just seeing your message.

I was actually going to message reunite. My nan was my only grandparent I knew as my others had died by the time I was five, had dementia. The night she died, we were called up to the care home she was in. There were lots of us there with her. We all sat in the room with her. We sat and shared memories and waited while she took her last breaths. I wouldn't wish that experience on my worst enemy,

but I wouldn't have been anywhere else if I were given another go at it. EastEnders episode rang true to that evening and took me right back there. Needless to say, tears were shed. not just for Nigel, for my nanny Briggs. Yeah. It was from Emma. It was so relatable. I had a cousin that passed away in Italy,

and she was quite young, to be fair, and we were very close because she lived in the UK. Yeah. And I was over here, and it's such a terrible, heart-wrenching feeling, knowing that someone that you had such a connection with. You're not near that. You can't be there. It actually heightens the grief,

because when you're there, you're part of it. You're seeing it firsthand. You can get involved, whether that's because you're just serving everyone tea and coffee or whether it's because you can be there and just hold that person's hand. Whatever the case may be, whatever your role is, you're in it. It's like anything, isn't it? It's when you're not in it, you know, a bit like someone giving birth and you were here and we're there. Oh, yes, yes.

You just want to be there, don't you? Because then you can know what's going on and make sure everyone's all right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And my cousin, her son, my second cousin he just messaged me throughout the entire

scenario he said I would tell him you know can you say this to her can you say that to her does she remember when we did X

does she remember when we did and he was like feeding all this back to her and then feeding back to me and then sent me you know continuous messaging which was such a lovely thing for him to do

yeah yeah because he's with his mum and then he said she's gone now And it was, again, an unusual way to sort of be part of her final moments. Yes. But. Made you feel like you were part of it. Yeah.

And that she knew that you were part of it as well. I hope she did. Yeah, that's lovely. Hey Nat, EastEnders, wow, what a performance by it all involved. And Steve McFadden, I suggest you get ready for another award. Such a moving app. I cried like a baby. It was so well written and performed.

and Nigel, aka Paul Bradley, it was absolutely amazing and my goodness you will be missed. Nat, keep doing what you are doing, lady, you and the family are smashing it, Kim from Salisbury. Lovely. So lovely.

Spot on. So lovely. I was having a little chat yesterday with Camilla. Oh, yeah. Queen Camilla. A few bits are very excited about Hartford, coming to Hartford to see us. Are they all coming to Hartford?

Camilla is with Tink, Samantha from Bristol. Both of them are coming. Oh, are they? So they're excited. about that. That's going to be fun, isn't it? It is going to be fun.

In other news, the full celebrity traitors line up is out there. I haven't seen it. Right, here we go. Heading to the Scottish Highlands are Amal Rajan, broadcaster and journalist. I like Amal. Right.

Yeah, I think he's going to be good. Bella Ramsey. Oh. Actor. Right. Yeah? James Acaster. comedian does off menu pod.

You know him? No, I'm sure. Very, very dry. Great comedian will be excellent. James Blunt, singer. Now, I think... You're by my love. I think he's going to be...

He's a bit of a character, isn't he? I think he'd be interesting one. Jerry Hall. Oh. Wow. How old's Jerry Hall got to be now? You got to be in a late 70s? Or am I being rude?

No, I don't think you are. Joanne McNally, fantastic comedian again. Lots of comedians. Really? Julie Hedzmunder. You know, I've probably said that wrong. I don't know half of these people. You do.

She's the lady was Roy's wife. Oh, she, I thought she was in it. Oh, is that her really? Yes. She's good. She's excellent. She's a character. And did you see the drama she was in years ago?

It was in a factory with a load of women. Yes. I can't remember the name. Yes. But she was excellent. Yeah. She's good actress. Very, very good.

She's the voiceover. on... Pointless. Yeah. No. Yeah. You should? No.

We kiss link. Yeah. That's usually in my piece of information that I know. How sad. King Kenny, who's a content creator. Oh, right. I don't think we've heard of him, but apparently he's big. Leanne Pinuck, singer-songwriter.

Don't know her. Maya Jama. Oh. Myajama's going in. Michael Sheen. He's going. going in. Right.

Miranda Hart. Myela. I'm not sure if that's exactly right. It's M.Y.H.A. Apostrophe, L.A. It's pretty. Maya. Or Maya,

actor. Okay. I don't know who that is. No. Again. Professor Hannah Frye, mathematician and broadcaster. You'll know her if you saw her. Very intelligent woman.

I think she'll be excellent. Richard E. Graham. Oh, right. I like Richard E. Grant. Very good. Rob Beckett. Oh. Ramesh.

Ramesh is in it? Rob and Ramesh are in it. Oh, Lebo. That's mad, isn't it? I actually was a bit like, really? Rob and Ramesh at the same time. Clever. Ross Kemp.

He's not. He is. And Sebastian Croft, musician and actor. No sports people? No. Interestingly. A lot of comedian. But a few very cleverly.

journalists and broadcasters. I think that's clever. And I like the way that it's very different. So sorry, I think I forgot one. Joe Lysett. Blimey. So there are a lot of comedians going in. Is it because a comedian one last year?

Possibly. There's a lot of comedians. A lot. A lot of laughter then. Who's the traitors? I wonder if they've gone, do you think they've gone down that route? Because the last one laughing has been so popular. And that's all comedians.

I mean, it's a completely different show. Don't get me wrong. But is it that they just are entertaining and they want to lighten it up a bit? Maybe. Don't know, Natalie. It's interesting that comedian won it last year. So, blimey. But that's a lot.

There's six or seven comedians. James Acaster, Jeremy McNally, Joe Lysitt, Miranda Hart, Rob Beckett, Rommash. Six comedians. Yeah, that's bizarre, isn't it? I wonder what they're. Thinking is behind it. Amazing.

Well, let's hope they entertain us. I'm sure they will. When's this on them? Where's it start? Oh, I don't know. I think they're filming it at the moment. Oh, right. It'll be January, right.

It's usually on the celebrity one. Unless they're going to move it forward. Oh, so it's not for ages. Unless they are going to change it. They've already told us, Susan. No. It won't be January. Surely not.

We got waited a year nearly. No. When was the last one? It's always January. Oh, is it? It's been January. Oh, blimey. Oh, God.

It's huge, isn't it, this? Massive. But I think if Ross Kemp's in it, I can do series three. Just putting it out there. You'll be on it. It's only a matter of time. Yeah, I'd like to. It'd be fun, wouldn't it?

I mean, he's going to go for ages. Yeah. Sure they'll scrape the barrel, get to me at some point? I'm sure they won't need to scrape the barrel to get to you. And at least you won't have to eat anything. Well, when I was watching that, I'm a celebrity. It's so bad, in it? So bad.

In the sense that what they have to do. And I know they all say it's such an experience, but... And I'm sure it isn't a mate, but my goodness, me. Would you do it? I feel like you'd do it. Because I'm that person that... I just feel like you're quite competitive. I'm so competitive.

But it's the eating challenges. Just don't know if I could... I gagging briefly. because I wouldn't allow it. But, yeah, again, it's a brilliant show. Do you think the traitors have now... Overtaking? Yeah, very much so.

Massively. It's been going a long time, I'm a celib. Yeah. And they've kept it going for a long time. And it is still very entertaining. And I have to say, I think Ant and Deck were brilliant this time. I know you've already spoken about it, but based on what went on, which I found extremely distressing, upsetting, upsetting, unnecessary.

very disgusting, actually. I've got to have my little rant about this. I know you've spoken about it. So I'm sorry if this is repetitive guys, but as a mother, watching Adam disturbed me. And it's mental health. Mental health month, yes, we're going to mention that. You're so right.

Yeah, so I feel, and not for one minute suggesting he's got mental health. But my goodness me, to have endured what he endured. but I think it's appalling. Genuinely, I do. And I have to say, I've got so much respect for ants who really did fight his corner and stood for what he believed was right or wrong. And I know these shows are edited.

Also, lovely Dean Gaffney, he's great friends with the Thomas brothers. Is it? Yeah, no, no, no, huge friends. And I've seen them a few times at different things. They're great people. Well, they come across like that. They're just great people. They come across like just nice, happy, smiley,

nothing wrong with them. And I've listened to the pod. They've got their own pod and I listen to the pod where they discussed. And, yeah, I just, again, I just wanted to go down the microphone and give out him a big hug and say, good on you, Gemma, for having his back as well. It's a bit disappointing that people weren't. What's a shame is it's an entertainment show. Yeah.

And it's a real shame that it went down that sort of rabbit hole and that whole end, that live thing. It was just very awkward, very awful. And I don't think it's done the show much good because it should be a positive thing. I mean, I was watching Gogglebox watching it and then saying, I've never watched this before, it's getting really good now because it was, it is as awful as it is.

When there is. It's great viewing. Yes, yeah. But it was uncomfortable viewing to watch him being crowned. And you could see he was broken. Yeah, I didn't watch the last week of it. I've got to be honest with you. Oh, wow.

I didn't. And I just think grow men. behaving like that. What is going on? Yeah. Shame. Real shame. But, yeah, I think the traitors now has just smashed all of these, hasn't it? And I also think last one laughing is,

I know it's, you know, on a different network. I've struggled. Yeah. No, fair enough. I've struggled. If someone said to me, what do you want to watch, it's like they've written the program that I want to watch. Really?

Which is just me watching comedians trying to make each other laugh. Yeah. Sort of my favourite now. Yeah. No, it's a funny one, isn't it? You'd be really proud of me, by the way. I made a lasagna yesterday.

I made a lasagna from scratch. Go on, quickly. How did you make it? You're not going to like it. The reason you're not going to like it is actually Eliza said to me, can you just do a really basic one? Like an English one. Because I usually put egg in it.

I will put in... Do you haven't got to put egg in? You haven't, but I like to put egg in. I'll buy some ricotta cheese. Did you put ricotta cheese? in it then? No. Did you put mozzarella in it?

Just cheddar. Oh, blindly. So I've done a real English. But I did carrot, celery, little sufrito with the onion, pork mince, beef mints, chopped tomatoes, pasta, Italian herbs in, cooked that, made my bechamel. Nice. And it came out. Do you put bechamel just at the top?

No, I'll layer it. Oh, do you? Yeah, it's English. Cheddar, bechamel, bechamel, bechamel. But she, like, they loved it. So I'd rather make them something that they're going to eat. Absolutely. Well, they're not eating it.

it if you put ricotta in it. If I did ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, they would find it too rich. Oh, interesting. Yeah, they didn't like it when I did it last time. And I worked my bollocks off and it was a really good one and it got wasted. So. It's a nice dish, isn't it? It's easy. Stick it in the fridge. And I enjoy making it. Yeah, I think it's a little. Did you use fresh pasta or dry pasta? No, just used dried sheets. Yeah. No, it was good. I'll give you a little slither to take home to try if you like. With no ricotta and mozzarella? I'm not sure I can do it. No egg I don't put I don't mind pee

A few peas I like peas Me too But not everyone does Yeah I'd even have Bonanese with peas In it

Me too I love peas Yeah Me too In fact I love pasta With peas Me too

I could do Plain Pene Loads and loads of peas Oil, garlic I'd be happy Yeah I do love a P What are you having to eat today

We don't know We had the discussion And I said today once I've done the pod, I'll see if I've got any inspiration and I'll ring you. We're going to do chicken milanese. Oh, are you? I bought some chicken. The kids love it again.

Joni wants wedges with hers. It's easy dish again and easy dish. Eliza's now out. Sorry, she's now changed the plan. So I've bought all the chicken. And now she's going out. So actually I might have to re-evaluate and do that tomorrow. And going back to your pork and beef mince, do you ever use lamb mince?

No. Not in a bolognese. Nice. Really? Lamb makes lovely sauce, doesn't it? It's a bit fatty. I always buy the higher percentage, though, of beef min. I always buy 12% fat when I do it.

Lamb. I got doing the pork and the beef from Elia. Yeah, I know. That's what you're meant to do. But we do like a bit of lamb mince. Do you add that with another one? Sometimes I just have it on its own, yeah. You are so...

Oh, just so healthy. It's wild. He's a pissed up. Oh, dear. Well, that was a lovely catch. It was. Nice and chilled. Nice and relaxed.

And I hope everybody enjoys that. 077-8-28-20-19-19. Send us your views. And, yeah, it's been lovely to have a little catch-up. We'll speak to you very soon. And thank you. Your pleasure. Enjoy the rest of your day.

I'll see you soon. See you all. See you. Bye. Bye.