Life with Nat - EP241: Scraping the Barrel #47 - She’s done it again…

Episode Date: June 28, 2026

Marc and Nat chat… heat, chaos, ice creams, Alan Partridge and some serious chat about smoking. Enjoy!Get in touch with Nat, buy tickets for upcoming live shows and link to Patreon, all the family's Instagrams, and more: ⁠lifewithnatpod.komi.io⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a week. Welcome to Life with Nat, everybody. Happy Monday to you all. I'm with Mark today. You're right, darling? Yeah, a bit warm. Just a tad. 38 degrees today. Yeah.

Hey-ho. You know that air con that you spoke about like two years ago? It's absolutely happening and it will be put in... It won't. You'll forget about it. It'll be freezing cold in the winter. No, I'm going to get it all done about October time. Okay. Anyway, we've got a fan with us today, haven't we?

We have, yeah? Yeah. Thank you for joining. I'm working overtime at the moment, so thank you so much. If we run out of material, then we could just cut to the fan. Absolutely. I mean, it could be more interesting than either of us. Possibly.

Should we tell everybody about what we've done this week? Would you mean what we've done? What's happened to us? Oh, I mean, not a lot's happened, really. Just in the hottest week of the year, We've just had to spend two days in a hospital. Joni's broken our arm again, everybody. Same arm.

Smashed to pieces. General anaesthetic. Same operation. I mean, she actually knew. The an ephotist. Barbara. Knew her. I went down to theatre.

I said, hello, Barbara. I mean, who in their right mind knows the fucking people in the hospital? They all know Joni. For your nephitis, she even said, oh, I've done the bandage on the bear again, like I did last time. It's not funny. It's not funny.

People are not going to believe it. And it's always, it's funny, it's always before holidays. I can't believe it. I genuinely can't, I'm speechless. I have to say to you, genuinely all joking aside. It's so traumatic.

It was quite traumatic, yeah. On Tuesday. Yeah. I've done a little bit of work in the morning, quite funny work at home. Yes. You were at home. You've not stopped working for a month.

No. Not at a day off. This week is going to be baking hot. You went outside, put the paddling paw up, cut all the grass, thinking we're going to have a few days, like a mini holiday at home. It was going to be. A mini holiday at home.

Probably going to be hotter this week than being on holiday this year. Oh, of course. Yeah. Paddling pool up, barbecues, what we're going to do, it would drink in the garden. Yeah. And then the phone rang. So she slipped over everybody because everyone said, oh my God, how's she done it?

She slipped over in the hall before doing PE. And the thing is really annoying about this is, well, I mean, there's many things really annoying about this. But with all, I mean, you even said to me, I was being a bit over the top the other day. Yes. When Abby texts me and said,

do you mind if she goes down on this slide to which I wrote back absolutely no chance? And Abby had messaged me, but I didn't see it and I'd actually said it's fine but there you go down the slide but you know

it's not like we've not thought about the fact that she's just had these plates surgically removed from her arm seven eight weeks ago she's had the plates out the metal work out

just so you know just so you understand listening there or watching she broke her arm and it was a clean break that was a few years ago she then

broke it again and put all the metalwork in and then eight weeks ago she went under general anaesthetic had it all out and has done it again and just also people will obviously

jump to the conclusion and we've quite rightly which we did thinking obviously there's an issue there's got to be some sort of deficiency vitamins bones but she's had full blood tests and everything is in range

it's absolutely perfect so the consultant actually said, I do think it's just really bad luck. Hmm. Well... The hospital was quite warm. Yeah, it was a bit, yeah. In the extreme red warning of a heat wave for the few days we were in there.

I do think that the whole country was a bit warm. I just, mate, I know I bang on about it. I bang on. But the staff working in that, they don't, they're not moaning, they're laughing, they're joking, just wonderful, wonderful people. We were so well looked after again. It's like a little trip now. It's like been in the hotel.

Yeah, it's like seeing people you know, you see them get a bit older each year you visit. Unbelievable. But there we go. There you go. Our news is out. It's not great. She's going to have to wear a little blue thing

when she goes swimming on holiday. I have to be really careful. You'll get fit to fly letter. When she has the plaster cast on in a couple of weeks time, they've got to split it because we're getting on the plane. It's just a ball lake. Right. They've got to split it?

They always split it, yeah. They didn't do that last time, did it? Yeah, I have to split it and bandage it in case of swelling on the plane. Really? The pressure. I didn't know that? Yeah. I didn't.

You know she's only got a half one on at the moment. If you felt it? No. It's only covering here. This isn't covered. Oh, brilliant. It's not. Really?

Yes. Again, because it's an operation, swelling, clots and all of that. Right. That's why you go back in two weeks. This is not funny, is it? It's really not funny. Well. I felt I was going to have a nervous breakdown actually on Tuesday.

I'm being really honest with people here. I really fell to pieces. I was not in a good place. No. I think that's fair enough, really. Just her little body. Yeah. And the medication and the trauma of it all.

Yeah, it's not great. But she's sat downstairs just so you know where she is. She's had her medicine. She's got her fan. She's watching the television. and she's a bit fed up but she gets on with it really she's so brave

I've just ordered her some slime kits that will come tomorrow because she made some slime in the hospital with Lily from the play team she was lovely and she's never really made it from scratch that was a big craze if you remember when Eliza was about nine or ten

but yeah there we go well that's really cheerful isn't it lovely way to start start off week we're off now no I'm joking anyway really good I've got a question for you about that.

So obviously, you know, lately you did your care documentary and it's been on the telly and you did ask for the bloods to be taken. And how did you feel in the environment? Because it's sort of two years down the line, but you've done your qualification now. Yeah, to be honest with you, I... Do you feel quite comfortable in an hospital? I do, yeah.

Do you feel quite comfortable. I just thought it was interesting. No, and I was looking at people's practice. And, yeah, it was interesting. Oh, hang on. You were critiquing. Yeah, well, I just feel like now I've done the course. Yeah.

I don't know. I'm more aware of things. Well, that makes sense, I suppose. I know. You could have done a bit of like overtime there, not overtime, but, you know, casual employment. It got a bit boring. I did they?

A few jokes. Oh, I didn't hear anyone say that. Not more in the middle of the night, you know. Oh, right. But yeah, hey-ho. We've got loads and those and nice things to do now So

Okay well I have to say I feel thoroughly I felt a bit better yesterday We had a barbecue and stuff And after this last This last 10 minutes of conversation I feel quite depressed So thank you for that

Sorry But everyone does need to know what's happened That way absolutely Because it's ridiculous I've written a nice newsletter Actually all about it On Patreon That's on today

Oh I wanted to mention Patreon Oh so do I I want to mention it as well Go on No You're probably going to say the same thing as I. Carry on.

I was just going to say, I did a post about it anyway, so it's fine, but I did a little video, but those people not on Instagram? Yes. Patreon is a paid thing. It's an app,

and you pay £6 a month with a little charge, which I've found out now. I'm not charging you £7,000, by the way. It's a charge for it. And you need to do it on your desktop or your browser. if you want to join,

otherwise it's nine quid or something. So make sure you do that. Don't do it in the app, in the Patreon app. It's a bit strange. I don't know. It's very complicated. The thing is,

you've not had to sign up for it. Well, actually, I have to say, even signing up where Patreon have given us sort of, you know, the family thing to get, I couldn't do it. Yeah. Really bad.

I found it quite complicated. Okay. So anyway, it's www. Patreon.com forward slash life with Nat Pod if you can't do it or you don't want to

or you can't afford it nothing changes we're still doing Mondays we're still doing Thursdays it's just for people who can be bothered to do it and want a bit of bonus material yeah I have to say

the only thing I spotted was a few people who are saying oh I know it's going to come to this you said you'd never do this and I thought that's fair enough but this is an extra thing I did say though at the beginning I did say I wouldn't do it

so I kind of get that Oh okay fair enough But what I mean is obviously nothing has changed because it's completely business as usual for the normal episodes What would have been bad is I went down to one a week

Yes And then the Thursday episode You have to pay for That would be terrible But no you're not doing that No It's just a bonus It's a natural progression

For us to continue to do this Yeah You know It's a lot of time It's a lot of effort for everybody, all the family, and, you know, we need to be paid, basically. So I think people are, I understand it.

Yeah, I think our fan understands it. I mean, they need a replacement. We need the aircon. You get it, don't you? There's only one way that the aircon's going to happen. Oh, yeah. Anyway, hey-ho, there you go. Come and join.

Be quite fun. Lots of little bonuses on there. There's a little family chat going on at the moment, and everyone's in there. Tony's posting pictures up of where he is and what he's decorating and stuff. He's doing really well. Excellent.

So it's cool. There's been some messages on Instagram at camera underscore mark, my Instagram. I like that what happens. There's like one person, contact me. Every week maybe there's one little message from somebody. Fair enough. So I had a message last week asking about buying tickets for the live shows. Yes.

And if you go on Lifewithnet.com club, there's links there to buy tickets for the live shows. There's also a link for the Patreon. If it's easier than type it in the Patreon address thing. Yeah, yeah. Or in this day and age, if you actually Google, you know, Life With Nat Patreon, I'm sure that probably comes up. Or Life With Nat live shows, maybe. Maybe, maybe not.

But Lifewithnat.com. Well, you can go to the Fortune Theatre's page. Yeah. Or the Tring one. Yeah. What's that called? Demby, I think. Demby Theatre.

Just go to Lifemnat.com club and you can buy it for tickets. Fine. This is why it's confusing. Fair enough. More importantly, tickets are available. Yeah. Patreon's available. Yeah.

Did you watch the Hartford show, the live one? I've watched bits of it. Any good? I haven't watched it. Well, I was there. When we did it, I loved the show. I just wondered. Yeah, I think it was nice.

It's nice to watch it. I'd love to hear from you, if you have joined Patreon and you've watched the live Hartford show, let us know, send us a voice note. Did you enjoy watching the live show? Was it a bit weird being on the telly and not being there? Does it make you think, oh, I really want to go to one of those now? I'd love to know.

O-Septu-8-2019-19. Are you going to put other live shows on there? I'd have any other ones to go on there? Loads. I see just going to put it up a problem in. Even down to the first one, me, Ro Ro and Tony did in Islington. Fair enough. So, yeah, we're going to put the grief one up.

But I'm not going to put them up all at the same time. Right. I sort of might do one or two a month. Okay. That sort of thing. Yeah. And then that will lead us to have Clapham Christmas show in December. Does that make sense?

So I'm going to draw it out a bit. Oh, I see. So, yeah. So, yeah. I do think, you know. It's very good. Thank you. And the other thing about the Patreon.

and the people are going to get sick of us talking about this now, but you can listen without the adverts. Yeah, no, it's important to say. It isn't bad with it. That's not bad. No. It's not, I mean, it's not a huge amount. I know, or you could just skip them.

Yeah. Just saying. Maybe, yeah, maybe. Anyway, I've had about four or five people send me a video. Yeah. From Instagram, which is a hack. So when I go out today, I'm going to do it for you. can make it.

Okay. I'll pop it on Instagram for people to see it. Right. Don't ever say that. You never do it. I do. You know,

if I had a pound for everything you're going to put on... I tell you what I do need to do. Yeah. I must put out, Tony sent me the football boots that he never got, which you spoke about

in the last episode. Yeah, I remember. And I need to post those up. You've just reminded me. I will do that. Okay, good. You won't remember. You get a load of bourbons.

Yeah. Bourbon biscuits. Right. You split them. Yeah. You lay them out. Uh-huh. You put ice cream, loads of ice cream, layer it up.

You put the other halves on top. Right. You put it in the freezer. And then you cut them. It meant to be like a maxibon. Sounds laughing like a maxibon. Going to make it for you. Okay.

People have been thinking of you. They've seen it. They've sent it on. I must say. Yeah. Those Biscoff ice cream sandwiches, they are very good. Like it? Yes.

How many did you do you? eat last night. Why can't you just have one? I can't. It's really greedy. Yeah. They're a lot of money as well. They're lovely. They reminded me there was a cookies and cream. I think it's Liddle or Aldi, do them, definitely one of those two. And they were really nice because it's quite a moist biscuit cookie. Yeah, horrible. With the ice cream inside. It's so good. Disgusting. It's, it's, um, reminded me of those. I need to go and see if they have those. Because Aldi and Liddle do their product ranges for like a month and then they don't do them anymore. I don't know, darling. It's like a choco bond. Although I don't, I don't, I don't

think chocco bonds are a thing at the moment. I don't think they're doing them. No. Which is a shame, really. Yeah. Maybe it's the same factory as did the New Forest Ice Cream. Just go to Marxist's and see their new range of stuff. That's all I'm going to say. It's outrageously good. Is it? Stunning.

They don't do like a maxi bond type of them? Yes, they do. Do they? Yes. Well, I've not spoken about it. I'll get some. I'll get some today. I'm going them in a minute. Okay. They've also brought out a, just, everything.

think they bring out, they think, it's mine. I don't know how they do it. You know I'm not a sweet lover. Well, you say that. I'm not a majorly sweet lover. Okay. I bought you a iced coffee in the hospital the other day. Oh, with a bit of vanilla in it. That's because I was in the hospital. Sorry. What is that? It was like drinking, like, I don't know. I thought, how can you drink this? It's so sweet. It's just where I was tired, though. I would never have that. I'd never have vanilla in it usually. Eliza said that's what you

have all the time. No, I have an oat iced latte with nothing in it. Vanilla? No. I know I had a shot of vanilla in it.

It was so sweet. Anyway, what I was going to say is M&S have brought out it's 85% dark chocolate ice cream. Okay. That's a nice idea, yeah. So good.

Yeah. Anyway, I might get some of that later. Right. Anyway. Very confusing about mixed messages. You don't like ice cream

You don't like desserts. Because it's, it needs to be a certain thing. And that is it. Right, okay. You know, um, Dawn, who was on the radio with the bloke, our last pod. And there was a weird situation where he'd asked her to do something. Remember? Dawn's story about being on the radio.

Don't remember? No. Always worry. Sorry, Dawn. I'm in stitches listening to me this morning. So James Hemming was our parent at nursery. I do remember. It didn't make a lot of sense.

At heart at the time here in Kent. I was in the studio dressed up to play the part, lull. I remember now. Thank you, Dawn. There we go. It was a few weeks ago that was recorded, and some stuff happened things then. A few bits have happened.

Yeah. I'll let you off. Yeah. Good evening, that. just wanted to let you know I feel your pain I've had hay fever

for all of my 50 years and you know what I love what I really love is when well-meaning folk come up to you and say have you tried tried local honey you tried this have you tried that

I feel like saying nah I like feeling like I want to pull my eyeballs out Anywho Any road From a fellow sufferer Just wanted to say I feel your pain

And as well-meaning as people are Jesus Effing Christ, it's annoying isn't it Take care, darling, love you Cheers Donna People mean well Donna, don't they? They've been well I couldn't see yesterday, Donna

I had some sort of attack episode I don't know what it was I don't know what was knocking about in the air. I think it was two bottles of wine. No, it all calmed down after that. And I didn't have two bottles of wine. I have one bottle of wine. Oh, right, okay.

Two beers and a gin and tiny. Yeah, I'd note some of my beers disappeared. They're lovely, those. Yeah. Quite nice. Session IPA for anyone interested. Very good. Yeah.

voice note rather than type of message today. I just wanted to say I'm really really excited about Patreon. Yeah boy. Bring it on. I've not been a Patreon yet so I'm gonna do what you said go on Patreon sign up and then keep my eyes peeled ready for Monday. So yeah really excited about that and all the extra bits and bobs that you mentioned so yeah just wanted to send this voice note purely because you said you love voice notes and I'm excited about that and that's it. Have an amazing week. It's going to be warm, sun's shining. Enjoy yourselves, everyone. Speak soon. Bye. Oh, thank you for that. That's lovely. Thank you.

I'd like to find out if she'd be as chirpy now in the heat. Yeah. I mean, it'd be quite funny that the next voice. Can we just talk about this? Cricket sounds. Can we just talk about this for a minute? Yeah. It's ridiculous. I know that we're obsessed with the weather. But you do just have to get on it a little bit. The whole country's come to a standstill. Right. There is a little bit, you've got to get on with things sometimes. I mean, today is very, very extreme. 38 is going to be later.

Right. But that's all we're talking about, isn't it? I'm a bit bored, I suppose. I'm just bored of talking about how hot it is. Well, to be fair, have you been talking about how hot it is? Yeah, every time I pick up the phone to earlier, I say how hot is it. Right. You haven't really said that to me.

I mean, we've said it's a bit hot. I don't think we've gone overboard on it being... A big problem. I mean, it's what a lot of people are talking about, obviously. I just think we need to gear up as a country now, don't we? Because this is going to keep happening. I've got to say, it's very sad, isn't it? It's a worry.

Well, it is what it is, but we need to start clearing up for it each year. Yeah. It can't come to a standstill. No one goes to work. Go and pick your kids up at one o'clock when you're working. Yeah. You know? No, but it's a very sudden climatic.

change, which would normally have happened over hundreds of years, thousands of years, and you're, you know, it's a bit unusual, you have to suddenly deal with that. And, yeah, the country isn't built for it. No. Hi, Nat and Mark, it's Grace.

Thank you so much for putting my voice note into the podcast. It means a lot to me. Apologies, Mark. I was in a film called The Falling and a film called The Experiment. Do you remember Grace? Yeah. Liar? Grace.

I can tell you're lying. No, I know, Grace. Yeah? What was her voice note about? In what... I can't but watch. She's done so many. I can't remember which one.

No, she hasn't. That was her first one. Honestly, it's very poor. Sorry, it was like two weeks ago. I've done Royal Ascot since then. I've been in hospital with Joni. Oh, talking of Royal Ascot. Yes.

Had a little message here. Yeah. From Gemma. Right. Just spotted a certain mark in the field looking dapper, camera in hand. Gem, also working at Royal Ascot. There you go.

How was that? All right? Hot. Top hat tails. Wooden jacket. Could have been worse, couldn't it? Could have been this week. If it's really hot, the king lets you take your jacket off at Ascot.

Oh, bless him. He didn't do that last week. That's good of him. Oh, what? He didn't. Did he get asked? I don't know, but it comes down to that. Well, it was previous years, the Queen,

when the Queen was alive, should say, or you can take your jacket off. maybe Charles is a bit stronger. Well, again, it's that kind of motherly thing, isn't it? Yeah. I think. Natalie, I need you to channel your inner Esther Ranssen. We need a program making about how absolutely shite customer services these days.

It's all fecking QR codes and live chats with robots and emails being ignored and crappy deliveries not arriving. I would voice message, but to be honest, I think it would be all expletives. I've had problems with four companies over the last few weeks. It must be retrograde or something in Capricorn, probably. Sorry. Was that English, what you just said there? It was, yeah. Retrograde in Capricorn.

Or something to do with Capricorn. Right. Just explain. For the other three people listening to this, you know what you're talking about. Maybe for everybody else to explain it. Retrograde. Yeah. There's a certain period of the month, yeah, in terms of the moons.

Right. Whilst going on up there. I'm not an expert. But when it's retrograde, yeah. Electric things go wrong. There's lateness. It's always very, things go wrong at that time.

Okay. I'll have a little look at the moon, actually, for this week, what we've just been through. Yeah. I wish we had a proper program about this. I know they have a consumer program sometimes on BBC in the morning, but we need to revisit that's life. Is that what it was called?

Yeah, that's life, but with me instead. Brilliant. It's a good idea that. I was thinking of Watchdog. Oh, I liked Watchdog. Is that Adam Robinson? Yeah. And that was all customer services.

Where did she have gone? Oh, I don't know. She's not past, does she? Sorry. Have a little Google of that, maybe. No, she's just having a rest, I'm sure. Oh, I don't know. It's an daughter to do it.

does something as well, didn't she? Does she? Google, Anne Robertson's... I haven't got my phone with me, so I can't do it for you. Anne Robinson's daughter definitely does something. And... I'm sure she's sort of a presenter. Really?

Yeah. Oh, she's 81. She is fantastic. Still alive? Absolutely. Good. Not sure about the daughter. Anne Robinson's daughter definitely was a presenter. Was she even on Watchdog?

Hang on a minute. Oh, broadcast journalist and television producer. Emma Wilson. Right, okay. She's definitely been on a telly. I've seen her on a telly. Right. I thought she did something with her mum.

It could even have been like a consumer affairs. I'm not sure. But Watchdog was brilliant because they used to hold companies accountable. Someone would phone up and say, I've gone to this shop and I bought this product and 10 other people would buy this product and the 10 people would say, oh, it's useless. Yeah, yeah.

The next week, the managing director of the company would be standing there, and they'd say, yeah, we're going to give their money back and compensation. Yes. They were all sort of publicly held accountable. It was a really good show. Whereas now, did you look to the fan then for a view?

Yes. Do you genuinely want to listen to that more than me? Yeah. Okay. No, the reflection caught my eye. I thought someone was walking past. That's why I looked around. The reflection?

The reflection in there. It caught my eye. Oh. Carry on. Anyway, yeah, it was good. They held them accountable. Excellent. Good show for you, that would be.

and a good use of television. I'd be good on a telly, something like that. Well. Really good. And it's popular. Martin Lewis. That's a other consumer program. People like that.

People love it, don't they? Yeah. And I just wanted to lead you a quick voice note because you're on Michael saying you love a voice note. Hi, this is Lisa from Paul. I just wanted to say hi. So really enjoying the pod. Love listening to an exceptional program

and well done on your results. Lots of love. Please kiss. Bye. Cheers, Lisa. Yeah, voice. Lovely, I like that accent. One of my favourite episodes of only fools and horses to hull them back.

Great. Good. Full of conversation today. Hello, Nat. It's Sean again, Fred Maddington. Just back on the name thing, because I have been listening to your pods there. And it was really interesting today to hear the ladies they were calling you nothing. And I know that Mark and you had the conversation,

Mark, said, isn't it funny how your unlisted call you Nat? Like, you know, they know you. But if you just let him know, it's the complete opposite for me. The reason I call you Nat is because I don't know you, even though, like I said before, you know, of course, you're everybody's a best friend. And I would feel that I was intruding on your personal life if I called you Natalie. So in my head, it's working the opposite way. So, yes, Nat is because I'm not.

I loved a one, as it were. So yeah, that's weird, isn't it, how people's brains work? So that was me. Okay, take it, bye-bye. Love, Sean. She messages all the time. Love's a voice note. That was a very long time ago we were talking about that.

Well, but... But it's true, though, isn't it? Yes, it is. Nat is actually, people that call me Natalie. Yeah. Probably know me more. Who calls you Natalie? You?

Yep. Elya and Maria? Quite a bit. They do, actually, yeah. They do, actually. Tony. Yeah. It's interesting.

Linda. Family, really. Isn't that funny? Sometimes it's Nat, but... I don't think I've ever called you Nat in my life. Don't think so. I genuinely mean that as well. I don't think I have.

No. There you go. It's a good point, Sean. Very good point made. Hello, Nat. Shine again, just the last one. I'm sure you've probably heard from Claire to say that she's come to see you in London. in November.

And yes, I'll be coming to, along with Dawn the Prawn and Sophie. And, yeah, I'm afraid we've got all the front row seats pretty much. So we will be seeing you there. Brilliant. And my sister Kim, who doesn't listen to the pods, but she's the one I dragged it with me to your first few events I went to. And was disappointed because I hadn't got a ticket. She's like, I'd have come to that one.

So I was like, okay. So luckily, there was still one seat left. So yeah, she's coming along too And she can commiserate with Maria because, yeah, she's the one who's 40 this year too Take care. See you soon. Bye-bye. Cheers, Sharnie. I can't wait to see you all.

Love the fact that the old hardcore fans are going to be in the front row. Love it, love it, love it. Is Maria 40 this year? Would you believe it? No. Doing a little birthday special soon for her. Are you? Like they did for me.

I get some bits and that. Oh, she's going to hear it. She's going to listen to them. No, she won't. It'll ruin it. No, she might not. There you go. She won't want anything special though.

She won't want a fuss made or anything. No. No. Bless her. She deserves a fuss made. She deserves it. Hi, nice. It's just Jenny from Sunderland.

Just listen to your Scroat and the Barrow podcast with Mark and him fiddling under the desk. Oh, what a naughty boy. Like a little school boy. I always say hands on the desk when I am at school as I'm a teacher or she never know what they might be fiddling with under that table.

But yeah, I was listening to your Patreon chat and I'm wondering, do I have to sign up to my listening channel which is Spotify for the up or is at a completely different website because if I can get more of you in my ears I definitely want that because you just, you guys meet his mail

and every day or just having you. you guys, whilst I'm on my dog walk, just keeps me happy, keeps me chuckling in. And I think, yep, too weak. I love it. But if I can go a little bit more, amazing. Thank you so, so much for that. That's lovely. Well, you'll be listening to this on the dog walk, and I would have explained it all to you. So thank you very, very much. We had a little picture here. Someone has taken a picture. Hi, Nat. I hope you are well. Just catching up on the pod here in Sunny, Filtaventura Just looked up and spotted a whole van

dedicated to Maxibonds Made me think of Mark I will enjoy one for him Keep doing what you're doing Best podcast out there Chloe from Andover Thank you Chloe Look

Spotted Maxibon van There you go Isn't it lovely I know we've said it before But I love the fact that people are away and they think of you

when they see the old Maxibon's It's so weird It's good isn't it It is funny The same as I have a lot of people saying when they're in the shower now and they wash their feet, they just think of me. I had a little message about it, actually, earlier on. Right.

And they said, I hope in this heat you're washing your feet in the shower. That was from Jodie. It's an interesting thing to think about. And actually, Jody, you're right, I do. Because your feet get dirty, you're in and out, you've got flip-flops on, and you're absolutely right. I actually, this morning, and I'm not lying, got into the shower in my dress, and only washed my feet because they were dirty.

That was like in the pilgrimage days that was like offering someone a cup of tea. Washing their feet for them? Really? Yeah, if you're on a long walk, you'd be offered a, do you want to wash your feet? That's a little bonus. Talking of that,

what? This was an interesting thing. Go on. I was walking into Ascot and we have to park quite a long way away. Yeah. And on the walk in, we walked down what used to be the old race course, the old mile straight. Funnily enough, it's about a mile long.

And while you're walking along it, I was thinking, oh, my feet hurt, because really by the second day I had a blister, really bad blister on my heel. You really did. It was huge as well. How is that now? It's disappeared. That's good. All the fluid leaked.

Oh, please, darling. People are having their breath. That's really horrible. No, it did. I was out in my crocs. I took the bin out last one. Yeah, all right. Don't say any more.

But I thought like my... No, I've got onto water. Please. It's as bad as the old snots sucking in conversation. Anyway, yeah. So we're walking in and I'm thinking, oh, my feet kill. So I'm like, that feet were on the brain. That and the fact I was wearing, you know, three layers of waistcoat, you know, it's warm.

Yeah. And the guy in front of me, just as a member of the public, was walking. And happened to be walking past Ascot. Yeah. So he has transited, like, part of a car park, which I think is like public space or something. I don't know. Right.

He's walking through that. Then he got onto the curb and he's crossed the road. And he's got up onto like the hard standing next to the... And he had to walk over, like, ramps, little ramps and things. He didn't have any shoes on or socks. It's completely barefooted walking his dog. A lot of people barefoot walking his feet were black. Like, completely filthy.

Loads of people. People do it. Grounding, isn't it? People run marathon. Sorry. It's not grounding on tarmac. People... Well, if there's a bit of glass on the floor.

People run the marathon. Yeah. With no shoes on. Right. But why go out for your casual dog walk? Go traversing all of that. Because people like to be foot to ground. But there's no conductivity through tarmac.

It's not just tarmac though. I get it on the grass. I know, but he's not going to put his shoes on to go over. the tarmac. Right. So if he's out and he's in the park, he's doing the grass, and then he has to do a bit of pavement, whatever, it's meant to be extremely, extremely good for you.

Or earthing your body? Yes. Right. I was going to get a surerthing sheet for the bed. Yeah, you could do that. And at the same time, we could get a pair of binoculars so we can stare at the moon. Between us, we'd be all right, wouldn't me?

We'd turn into the... I mean, we could go to a whole hog, couldn't we? And it's like having wind chimes everywhere and... Why, you're not... It's very stereotypical. I'm painting a picture. I'm painting a picture. Stereotypical situations are all over the place.

Get some sage? I had some sage, didn't I? I used to burn some incense sticks. I used to do that when I was younger in my bedroom. Cover up the smoke. The smell of cigarettes. Yeah. All right.

Do it for some of that now, to be fair. What's that, darling? Just some masking. Incense burning. Why? That's because it's nice, isn't it? It's better than... Masking what?

Don't try and get out of that. Feet that haven't been washed in the shower. Well, my feet have been washed. I've shaved my armpits. Brilliant. This morning. Okay. How often do you do that?

Depends, really. In the summer, maybe every four or five days. It's quite a lot of upkeep, isn't then? Women. Yeah. Yeah. Don't mention it much, do you know, stuff like that. Again, I can feel on a very, very slightly treacherous ground here, so we'll move on.

We'll move on. Yeah. I have to say something, actually, talking about us, our relationship. I do feel, oh, it's a hard one this. There is one good thing that comes out of huge emergencies and traumatic experiences. Is there really, I'm looking forward to hearing this. the fact we're such a good team and that

I feel we support each other we just get on with it those couple of days in hospital you're like right you go home now you do what you need to do I mean we were very fortunate that we both weren't working incredibly lucky

well it's the same as when you did it the first time I know but what I'm saying is I'm sure they're you let me know listeners let me know I'm sure people do have partners maybe that aren't, you know, that that team work doesn't work as much. I don't know. I'm sure when you're in situations like that, I mean, that's quite an extreme thing.

It is. We're not talking about having an argument, I was putting the bin out. I know, but it's quite a thing. I bet there are people that have had emergency situations where their partner has not helped the situation. I bet there are. No, I'll be surprised. 2008, 20, 19, 19, maybe I'm completely wrong. I'd like to think our listeners are all kind of nice relationships where they're supportive.

I know. I know. Well, you say that. Yeah, I hope so. But there are a lot of people that aren't in those. Maybe. But also, it's, I've got to say, I mean, it's very strange because we were talking to earlier.

Yeah. About three days before this happened. It's true. About how traumatic it was the first time around. Don't. and he'd only think afterwards, I can't believe we had that conversation. I know.

But it made me realise having that conversation with Elya, it really, really affected me that. I know. It really affected me. And I've said that since, you know, it's two years ago. Yeah. And in the moment, you just get, like you're saying, you just get on with it,

which is why I'm saying this really, because you've just reminded me. Well, it's fight or flight, isn't it? You just crack on. But even when we got the phone call. Yeah. And I was in, I mean, I remember like just thinking this cannot be happening. Like when I got, when you got off the phone, it was I heard one side of the story

and just thought, no, this can't be the case, cannot have happened. But weirdly, going into the school, I sort of knew what I was expecting. Which didn't make it easy, but it's not pleasant, senior child, you know, screaming in pain and it being very upsetting and the shock of it all and, you know. But I did also, I was very aware that. you know, you were, you were going to, well, you, I knew what it would be like from your perspective. I could empathise with that and it just needed sorting out. But you just got to take, you just got to get on with it, haven't you?

Yeah. And I think both of us, that's not, by the way, that's not me at all suggesting that, oh, you know, I dealt with it really well. No, you think both of us dealt with it very well. I'm saying both of us kind of got on with it. I'm not, it's not, it's just not very pleasant. No one wants to see their child. I think once I got over the initial shock of it all, then I was okay. Yeah, and then, you know, it's something at these.

And it's like we said the other day, it's happened now. I know, there's nothing you can do. It could be a million times worse. It could be something that's repairable. It's something to talk about. Well, there's always someone else worse off. You have to just remember that. Always.

Gail from Buckinghamshire. Hi, Natalie. We are currently in Spain. I saw these in the Carrefour, Fort of Mark. Love the pod. Can't wait to see you in Tring in November. Lovely, Gail. Thank you.

Another one, thinking of you on a holiday. Quite a lot of women who think of people who think of. about you on their holidays? How does that make you feel? What are thinking about ice creams? I mean, I don't even know what that was about. All of us are really interested. What was she thinking about?

What do you think? I don't know, because being not necessarily a visual medium. Yes. It's a large picture of a freezer with lots and lots of maxibons in there. There we go. I can't believe we don't get paid for this maxibon thing. Well, they don't really exist in this country. It's really out of order.

Yeah. Had to join the Patreon gang. Otherwise, I'm going to have FOMO, Jane from Beds. Well done, Jane. Thought of you as I was making dinner tonight, bag of grated cheese, hand straight in. Oh, you can't do that.

But as it's only me using it, I'm figuring that's okay. Check with Mark for me. Is it okay? I'll tell you what you should do. Find somebody you know works in a lab and just send off a sample about a week later. Just see what's in there.

See what's started growing. Oh, you don't do, You can't do that. You must use a utensil. Not even on your own. No. Because you've got stuffed bacteria all over your hands that's going to go into a bag of cheese.

Fair enough. And it's going to fester and grow. Don't say that. Microorganisms are going to grow in your bag of cheese. And then you're eating it again. Smell my cheese. Don't ever do that again. That is absolutely bizarre thing.

And it's part of it, isn't it? No. Yeah? No. Yes, it is. Google it. No. I mean, I'll...

It's quicker for you to Google it. All right, okay. It is. Got some cheese? No, thank you. It's quite nice. Smells. Do you want to smell it?

No, thank. Smell the cheese? No, I don't want to smell my cheese. Hello, please. Smell my cheese, you mother. I think that's quite enough, thank you. I've got cheese. This is cheese.

I didn't like that. There you go. Smelt my trees, mother. Very good. I'd forgotten that scene. Yeah. Fantastic. I'd stand corrected.

As usual. That's all right. Let's have a listen to this. Oh, Nat, I've been trying to get out of the habit of sending you messages like you, my friend. Oh, no. Never do that. I hear you on the Shagg, Married, Inoyed podcast, my two favorite podcasts together. And, yeah, you and Rose here are so similar.

That's so funny. I just wanted to say you were talking about how they market face products for kids. What about vapes? I mean, I know you vape, but you're an adult. It drives me wild. I don't know if it's the same in the UK, but in South Africa, they look like toys. They have them at like sweet kiosks and things,

next to all the other things that children would buy. They are marketing vapes for kids. It really, I have a huge problem with it. I think you're absolutely right, Angel. They're bright, they're fruity They're like sweets, aren't they? You've got to stop vaping I know

You did it to do that You can do that as well You're more than capable of doing that I don't know if I am Yes, you are Honestly You've only got to do three days I don't think I can do it

I'd have to go away I've told you this I'm being serious I would have to go away Do you know when you can do it When? When we go on holiday Do what I did

No way Even easier Perfect Do you know what I recommend that to anybody What's that? What's that? I think it's amazing that you've given up.

No, but seriously, for stopping on holiday, it was hot. It wasn't pleasant doing it. I didn't enjoy doing it. I really enjoyed it. It affected my breathing. It's like holiday here, and I love sitting in the guard with it. It was horrible. And then you get on an airplane.

You get in a goodie. You get in a cab to the airport. Go to an airport. You can't really vape. You then get on a plane. You potentially are forced into a day's worth of traveling, half a day's worth of traveling. Just don't vape.

Don't do it when you get home. Try. Just try. I think you have to want to try though. It's like anything, isn't it? I was just panicked about doing it and just didn't like it. And it really panicked me. And every day that went by it, there were days which was really tricky. Oh, they were awful. You were awful.

It was really difficult. You did brilliant, no. But I just stopped. It's great. But I did have to take it one day. Never say never as well. It's always when we sit in here that. No, no, I know. Yeah, no, I know.

You know, I'm not preaching. No. I am preaching. You are a bit pretty true. But I'm doing it in a hopefully in a supportive way. No, no. I think it's possible. And if I could do it, I genuinely think.

I mean, yeah, if you can do it, anyone should be able to give it up. Which is what most people have said. It's mad. Yeah. Because it was mad. Yeah, using it all the time. But it's, it feels so much. But it's a, even, a teed of a weirdest one of all.

Yeah, go on. It's like going away somewhere, where we've stayed somewhere for a night or we've gone. just not having to have the paraphernalia with me. Yes. But yours was exceptional circumstances. What do you mean? Well, there was a huge extension lead. There'd be four different batteries.

It was so old. It was quite antiquated. It was so old what you used. It was ridiculous. That's true. That's true. And the lights on the ceiling, it would be like fucking casualty. There'd be sort of flashing blue lights on the ceiling

because of the charging thing. I mean, it wasn't normal. No, that's true. But it was definitely It's amazing, brilliant Definitely worth doing I don't, I've actually now at the stage

where I don't miss it That's the really interesting thing Because I have to say My friend Sophie I was working with Yes Just about three days in And that was a tricky one Three days in

I was starting to feel it We just got back from holiday Yeah We were working next to each other Both on cameras Yeah And we were talking And I said oh I've done

You know This is what I've done You know I'm in a bit of I said that I'm a bit actually a bit grumpy is what I said to her. And she said, oh, my mum stopped smoking like 30, 40 years ago. And I said, oh, that's brilliant.

She said, yeah, she still misses it. I just thought, yeah, if all the things to say to someone who's three days in, absolutely desperate for nicotine, that possibly wasn't the best one. It was brilliant. But I did think, you know, that's always stayed with me that she said that. And I saw what I know what it means. I remember Dad. Yeah.

When he chucks his fags in the bin, when they said, He told him he was going to have a... You should do that story. That's a good story. Yeah, he was going to have a triple heart bypass. He went to the thing. They said, you've got to have a full heart operation. All your archery is blocked.

He walked out at the hospital, got his 20 embassy, and chucked him in the bin. And he'd have 40 cigarettes before about 10 o'clock in the morning, because he worked in the shop from about 4 o'clock in the morning, 5 o'clock in the morning. And he just chuffed him in the bin, never smoked again. But he would always say, oh, he liked the smell. He enjoyed it. He missed it. Yeah.

But also, that's the difference as well, because vaping doesn't really, well, it does give off a smell, but it's not the same sort of thing, is it? No. So that makes it a little bit easier. But it's not good for you. No, it's not good for you. It's awful.

No one's ever going to turn around. I mean, yeah, okay, people stop smoking cigarettes for it. Well, yeah, that's the other thing. You shouldn't start. I mean, it's mad if you've not smoked and you're vaping. Yeah, that's crazy. I see it on the school run. I know.

I know. See these kids walking around with them. I know. Which is what? Bookends exactly. the point of that, isn't. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Oh, what a somber. Not somber. I don't think it's somber. That was actually quite a meaningful little conversation for a minute. You weren't talking about chocolate, chocolate ice creams. You see you're still continuing the feet washing. Feet washing, yeah. The heat.

I mean, it's getting very warming in there, let's be honest. I am fine. It's cooler today. Why didn't you let me sit in my bikini anyway? Because I've been protective over that. Are you now? Yeah. Fair enough.

Right. It's very warm. I've had to put my cover up on. I'm not going to sit here in my pants, am I? You did the other day? It's exactly what you did. Oh, didn't? Yes, you did.

You had a t-shirt and you looked like when in the poo were your pants on. Did I? Yes. I mean, you can't see it, so it's fine. No. It's like that newsreader thing, isn't it? Not any newsreader in particular I'm talking about here, but there's a, there's a, what, what?

Good job, this isn't live. What's the film? Is it Anchorman? And he wears... Is it Anchorman? Yes. I'll make... I could be making that up.

There's something where he's wearing like the top half and he's got nothing on... Yeah. Just for ease. No dodgy reasons, I should emphasise. And I'm not referring to any newsreader that might... Do you think I'll be able to... Wear this...

When I go shopping in a minute. Does it look okay? Yeah. So it's quite cool, actually. Well, again, I can only see the top half of you, really. I'll show you after. For everyone knowing, yeah, I've put my leper-print bikini on a bit of a cat's later going on today. And I've put my cover up on, but I think it's acceptable in this weather to go out like this.

I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid, actually. It's fine. It's a shirt type thing, isn't it? Yeah. I don't really know what to say to you. No, fine. You can't really see a lot of you, like I've said. Okay, dokey.

It's probably okay. I mean, in the UK, if you drive, I mean, this is another, generalisation thing, but if you drive the van and the moment that you're coming out of the spring and the sun's out. Top out. Top off. Straight away the t-shirts off. So that's acceptable. So I'm sure you can walk around

of your... I'm quite looking forward to going out into the shops to seeing what people are wearing. Okay. I'm looking forward to it. Well, I don't want to spoil it for you, but I went to a shop yesterday. A large supermarket. Yeah. People were just wearing clothes. Were they? Yeah.

No difference. Not really. No. No. Well, my friend Rachel would come around yesterday in her bikini top. Yes. Which is unheard of. That's how hot it is.

So. Yeah. All right, well, you enjoy your shopping trip. I'm looking forward to it, yeah. And, well, thank you. It's been lovely. I hope everybody enjoyed that little episode. Sorry, it's a bit of a downer, but I can't lie to you all.

You know that I'm honest. Have a lovely week. Whatever you do. What are you up to next week, darling? Oh, bloody hell. Wimbledon. Starting Wimbledon. Oh, I'm pleased that's on the telly.

Lovely. Something to look forward to. Lovely. Look out for me, can't you? Absolutely. Where's Wally? Where's Marky? It begins again.

Can't believe we're another year around the sun doing where's Marky on the telly. I know. It's gone so quick. It was, and also, interestingly, last year, a lot of people spotted me. A lot of people did. A bit more than normal. It's quite a good fun, though. Good fun.

If you fancy playing, drop us a little screen grab and a voice note. If you want to get involved with where's Marky, that would be lovely. I can give a clue. I'm trying to think where I... No, don't do that. There are days where you definitely can't see me. Well, it's all right. There's one day a week, at least, where you can't see me.

I think it's all right. You know, you don't want to waste people's time. I don't think people are going to be glued to their teleplaying it all day long. Fair enough. You think they might be watching the tennis? They could be just watching the tennis. Maybe people do do that. Maybe people do watch Wimbledon for the tennis.

And then might spot you. But the odd person that doesn't watch women for the tennis might be looking for me. Fair enough. Fair enough. But if you do spot me, you know, send a messaging, either on the WhatsApp number, which I still don't know. Also, 07-8-1919. Why did you give me a funny look earlier when the postman came? And I offered him a lolly.

Okay. Think of it from this perspective. Go on. I'm a postman. Yeah. I'm putting myself in his shoes. Go on. So I'm walking around.

Get to a house. I put a post in the letter box. I turn around. on a mission. Excuse me? Excuse me? I'm thinking about what's this person going to want. She's got something to give back to me. It's got the wrong address on there.

She's got something. Turn around. Woman standing there. Leopard print bikini. Do you want an ice, Lolly? I'm just going to think, what is wrong with what he's going on? I was trying.

I'm in a rush here. I'm trying, I've got a lot. It's hot and I want to get these letters delivered. I thought it'd be a nice thing. Nice gesture. Working in this heat. Yeah. That's why I ran out there.

Yeah. So join a lolly, mate. It's a bit strange, the whole thing, isn't it? But I was trying to call him down. Sweating he was. Right. And I wanted him to know that I was thinking of him, thanking him for his hard work in this weather.

Yeah. I felt it was quite a nice thing to do. He's found it a bit strange. Anyway, he didn't have one, did he? So fuck him. There you go. No. Can't ask him again.

No, okay. Right, let's go. Love you. Love you, too. See you later. Thanks everyone. Bye.