Life with Nat - EP34: Up the Pier with Shaun and Chris

Episode Date: August 14, 2024

We got out to the seaside for this episode to hang out with listeners Shaun and Chris. What drew Shaun from Australia to Leigh on Sea? How did they meet? What's for lunch? - All great questions we'll be answering! Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review. xxx You can find us in all places here; https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/view INSTA: @natcass1 We're also on Facebook now too: https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: [e-mail] SHOW INFO: Life with Nat - it’s me! Natalie Cassidy and I’ll be chatting away to family, friends and most importantly YOU. I want to pick people's brains on the subjects that I care about- whether that’s where all the odd socks go, weight and food or kids on phones. Each week I will be letting you into my life as i chat about my week, share my thoughts on the mundane happenings as well as the serious. I have grown up in the public eye and have never changed because of it. Life with Nat is the podcast for proper people. Come join the community. ♥️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Visit BetterHelp.com today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp, H-E-L-P.com. Hello and welcome to Life with Nat. How are you all? I hope you're having a lovely, lovely time, whatever you're doing. Maybe you're at work and you've just got me on in the background having a potter, but I hope it makes your day go quicker. I today wanted to have a little chat about where we live because I have a listener called Sean and he's from Oz and he's been messaging me since the beginning and I promised him that when he moved to Leon C I would meet him and his partner Chris and have a little bit of lunch and he could take me up the pier so to speak and we did it we actually went and met Chris and Sean Mark and I took took the kids. We had a lovely lunch. We had

a lovely wander. And I thought to introduce our little meal, which we recorded a little chat about why we live where we live. So I suppose I live where I live through circumstances, right? Which is the same for everybody. But I'm from Islington originally and I absolutely loved it there. Then I moved with my mum and dad up to Hertfordshire. The reason being is my brother lived in Hertfordshire. So for me, I suppose, every sort of move I've done has always been to do with family really and in the vicinity of family. Wherever I've been, I've had a close family member nearby and that would be the same for my mum and dad and also my dad once my mum had passed away. So I think family is so strong for us.

We don't move far away from each other. I feel so grateful. As you know, you've heard my nieces on the pod, my brother, my sister-inin-law we are all within 40 minutes maximum of each other Elia lives five seconds up the road Maria's 10 minutes up the road it's very very close knit and I know that distance doesn't mean everything but I do think it does make you closer in a way just because you can see each other much more than you would if you did live halfway up the country. So I asked everybody to tell me where they lived and why. Julia Grimes says, I emigrated to Australia from Hertfordshire in 1984, stayed 32 years in Perth and then came home to London at the end of 2016. Would never recommend to anyone to live in another country.

Always want to be in the other place. Anyway, next year, after nine years in London, I'm going home to Australia. Three adult sons and a granddaughter. In the end, my own family wins, but will be very sad to leave my brothers, aunt, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends in the UK. Thank you if you read this, Julia. So again, for her, it is all

about family. This is a lovely message from Victoria in Dorset. Hi, I've just seen your message on Instagram about the fact that you're doing a podcast about where we live and moving away and stuff and is a real topic in my life right now I'm 25 I'm probably not your target listener to be honest I'm like 25 single no kids I still live at home and I'm in a real rut at the moment to be honest when it comes to kind of life and like where I'm going to be living where I should be living where I want to live where I want to be in life because I currently live in Dorset on the south coast which is a lovely lovely place and I've lived here for most of my life but any job I look for and any job that I want to get with my degree and stuff is all kind of London or London way

but I know that I don't want to live like the London life I don't want to kind of do that commute every day and I don't want to live in London but then jobs here are kind of few and far between or they're kind of lower paid or they're just not really hugely creative like cool jobs that you get in London but then I don't know where I want to live like I love it around here my family around here but I don't have a ton want to live. I love it around here, my family around here. But I don't have a ton of friends around here anymore. So other than my family and the fact that it's a nice place, it's like, should I just move somewhere?

So there you go from Victoria. It's really hard and I've not really thought about that because everything I've done in my life, I mean, from the age of 10, kind of fate stepped in or luck. And I've just gone along with it from jobs to then where I live. And, you know, it's just happened. I can't really imagine being 25, still living in the family home, not really knowing what I'm going to do and not knowing where to be. And where I am, you know, you can jump on a train and you're in London pretty quickly.

So I am very grateful for that. And maybe my daughters will stay with me. I'm terrible for that. I don't know if you lot are. But you know, as much as I really want to be that mum to say, go, go, be free, go and travel the world. I don't want them to. I'm absolutely petrified. I want them to be able to get a train, go to London or have a little job nearby and live near me. And I suppose that's really, really selfish, but I can't help it. Just because of how I've been brought up and how everybody is within the family. We're all very, very close together.

I don't know, is that ignorant or is that just the way it is? What are your thoughts? 07788 20 1919. I think we could really delve into this subject a lot more. But for now, here are Sean and Chris, who we met in Leon C, and we had a fantastic lunch with. Have a listen. Oh, well, do you know what? I'm so pleased we're together. Oh, me too. What I love about the podcast is the fact that you got in touch,

we've begun to chat, and we've actually made it to Leon C. Yeah, it's so brilliant. How long have we been saying we want to come to the seaside? Oh, pretty much before we even started the podcast. We're like, yeah, we'll do loads of trips. We'll go to the seaside. We'll get out and about. So it's nice.

It's so lovely to be here. Oh, it's so lovely that you got in touch, especially as we've just moved over here as well. So we get to enjoy it with you, and we get to talk about it as well. It's so lovely to be here. Oh, it's so lovely that you got in touch. Yeah. Especially as we've just moved over here as well. So we get to enjoy it with you and we get to talk about it as well. It's really nice. We're still very much in our excitable mode. Oh, absolutely. I bet. We've got to talk about it.

Oh, we will. We've got lots to talk about. Thank you so much for this. You are so welcome. It's really fun. For the listeners, I have been given a beautiful bag of goodies from Sean and Chris. And it's all your, tell me again. These are some of our favorite local bits and bobs

from Leon C. So we can, you can take some Leon C home with you, which is something that we wanted to do. I've got chocolates, there's a gorgeous juice. I remember you mentioned that you enjoy white wine, especially because you like seafood. And I've had that Doom Juice one before. And it's lovely.

So ignore the name, I know it sounds like a bad name. No, amazing. Doom Juice. Doom Juice. What is he trying to do to me? Exactly right. And they're all from little independent shops. Oh, thank you so much.

So it also helps the businesses out. Yeah, have a look. Yeah. I'm spending an awful lot of my money on a sweet shop in there. Oh, the sweeties? Got sweeties. Yeah. Oh, sweet.

I thought your nightclub told you I was going to eat every single thing. Oh that is so lovely, I've got a lovely mug, look at that. Happiness is being in Leonce. Well we know how much you love a mug. I do love a mug. This is brilliant. Welcome. So lovely. Bunch of seafood in the bottom there. Avoided that in this sunny day. Just the meat and the seafood. We actually caught it fresh, it's just in the bottom of the bag.

Amazing. I love that. Emma, we have a beautiful picture of Chris and Sean, and on it says, I got taken up the pier with Sean and Chris. There's still time. It's fantastic. There is still time. The day is young. That's right. That's true. Get her on the wine. That's right. Who knows? You never know what'll happen. You sent me a message of you both celebrating. How long now has it been since you've moved over oh well it's a we first

met nearly three years ago that's right um so that was in oz right no no i came over from oz so i'm originally from melbourne in australia and i came over to the uk i'm a primary school teacher so i came over to teach and just to get some experience and to travel I did not expect to fall in love but you know it's happened yeah and um met this one and there we are it all just sort of happened so were you planning on going back to Oz I yeah I was I didn't know when I would come back I was very much open to sort of whenever my mum said you know you just go and you have a good time the door is always open for you when you come back. I've got a really beautiful mum that's always like that she's like whatever state you're in the

door is always open for you. Are you on your own? Have you got any brothers sisters anyone? I'm the only one at home. You're the only one? That must have been really brave of your mum and a bit heartbreaking for her. Absolutely I think in Melbourne Airport, she was a state. I didn't see it, but my dad told me later that she was an absolute mess when I left. I got vetted on cam before he could come over for good. Yes. I got checked out. And my mum put him through.

Gave me some questions. Yeah, I should hope so. That's what mum does, right? It was like law and order. She was like a detective. So, you know, when was your last relationship? How long did that last? Yeah.

She went through everything with you, didn't she? I remember an amusing day when we were shopping for clothes. Like, Sean was about to start at school, so he had to get some teacher's clothes. And I thought, I'll get some clothes myself. So he was texting his mum at the same time, and he's like, sorry, Chris, how old were you when you came out?

And I'm like, what? I'm in Uniqlo. Like, we're in the middle of Uniqlo. Who's that from? He's like, oh, my mum's Texas. She wants to know how old you were when you came out? What? I'm in the Uniqlo. We're in the middle of the Uniqlo. Who's that from? Oh, my mum's Texas. She wants to know how old you were when you came out. And how old were you? About 30.

30? Oh, right. Okay. Yeah. A bit older. Yeah. Making up for good times. That's right.

Exactly. You did find a good one, right? Absolutely. I did. Yeah. Yeah. We're very happy. Oh, I do love a happy love story you'll see

my Mark soon he's just parking the car. You know I can't be late obviously you listen to the party. Yes we do know that. I just went quick stop the car we're walking. Yes. So I've left him but yeah the traffic is a little bit dodgy. Oh absolutely. It's hard to park here. Yeah. Oh yeah. It's the same on any seaside town though. Absolutely. It's all around. But I actually miss driving. You have to have a car when you're in Australia because everything is so huge and the house is so far apart and you can have friends that live three hours away so you need to have a car. So I certainly miss driving but the one thing that I'm nervous about when I start driving here is reverse parallel parking. I cannot do it.

So do you miss Australia? I know you've been over there. How long have you been here now? I've been here two and a half years now. It's not that long. It's not that long, no. And initially when I came over, so I moved straight to London and, but like London is a very, it's a big city. Everyone's very busy and I came from a country where fundamentally everyone loves to have a chat. You go into a pub on a Saturday they'll always ask how's your weekend going mate? Is it going alright? As they pour you a pint and they're really really chill and I came over to London and it

just was not like that. So I really missed the people, the culture of Australia. Oh that looks nice actually. We've ordered some drinks, haven't we? We have. What have you got there? What have you got there, Shaunie? I've got a Pinot Grigio. Lovely.

One of my favorites. Lovely strawberry and lime cider. Fantastic. I've got a little mojito on the go, Eliza. Virgin mojito. And Emma's got the same, so. You get the virgin mojito. Cheers.

Cheers, everyone. Cheers. Oh, cheers. Cheers. No, I can't reach. No I can reach over. We'll bring it to you. We're going back to the warmth and the friendliness and missing it. Yeah, like I initially,

it was hard, like a lot of people, I mean moving overseas is hard, generally speaking. But I came from a country that was very warm and very open hearted and I'm not criticising London in any way. No, but sure, you're not're not criticizing it but you're right everybody's running around like lunatics so they can be rude gorgeous right come and say hello to my friend joni how are you my name's sean say hello to sean it's very nice to meet you and you you know where it's at. That's where you saw him. Chris.

There's a way up. I love the color of your cast journey too. It's very bright. I bet it glows in the dark too. No. Not really. You've always tested out. Not yet.

Not yet. No, but you're right. Listen, you are right about London. It is manic and like you say, everybody's got somewhere to go. There's no, unless you're having a day out in London. Ah, yes. You know, a nice day where you're ambling around.

And you've got a purpose to go somewhere because it's an incredible city. There's so much to see. There is. But when you're in it and you're living in it, it can be brutal at times and I felt it. We also blame Richard Curtis, Natalie, for making London look... Richard Curtis, Natalie, for making London look... Richard Curtis films. If you live abroad and you watch all these amazing films... It's amazing. Notting Hill.

It's Notting Hill and Fall Weddings. It was Bridget Jones. Oh, Bridget Jones. Yes. You know the other one that I think, if I didn't live in London, I desperately want to move to Paddington. Oh, the cutest. I adore it. Is it not the best?

Yes. In fact, while she's gone, it's Joni's birthday next week and we're going to have a night in London. I'm booking a hotel and I've just booked up the Paddington Bear Experience. Oh. And it's at County Hall. But it's meant to be amazing. I love it. And then we've done the Horrible Histories, Terrible Thamescore. So it's both with actors and they talk about the Thames. So me, Mark, Mark's mum and Joni. Because I've got a drama camp. Oh, that's nice. Where were you in London? Whereabouts did you live before? So I initially lived in like the Shoreditch sort of area.

Because everyone told me to go there in Australia. Went there for a bit and then I met him. So was it quick when you met? Oh yeah. It was actually quick but it was... 10 weeks. I was 10 weeks in. I know that makes it sound... You get it? Yeah. Absolutely. And we've not had like well one row I think in two and a half years about me smashing a glass. Fair enough. Yeah, but it's my favourite wine glass. He does stuff like that. Yeah. Do you know what he did to me this morning? What?

He's kindly poured me a coffee. Yeah. How did that happen? He sort of, you sort of gave it to me, but threw it. Yeah. Threw it at you. Yeah, you sort of threw it at me. It didn't go on me, like on the counter, but it was.

It was a rough pass. Yeah, I was doing the washing up, I had wet hands. No, that's me. I smashed glasses and plates and he's just sitting there like... Nan, I'll give you the context of this. I went to Blenheim, Blenheim Castle. Yes, lovely place. And I bought a beautiful wine glass because I wanted the memories of it because it's such a beautiful plate.

So whenever I would pour a glass of wine from that cup that wine glass it would make me think of the memories of being there our first holiday weekend our first holiday as well lovely we're doing oxfordshire oxfordshire it's lovely and he butterfingers it lasted two hours two hours oh yeah we got like the table was still full of like you know the suitcase and unpacking and stuff the glass was there and i just didn you know, the suitcase and unpacking and stuff. The glass was there. And I just didn't sit. I just went like that. And it wasn't a lovely holiday.

Moved my hand across and the holiday was over. And at that point, I thought the relationship might also have been over. Yeah, the honeymoon period was certainly over with the crash. Yeah, yeah. I learnt your fiery side that day. I do have a little fiery side, of course. So you moved in pretty quickly. We did, but it was just because it just felt so easy. Yeah.

Because I used to keep going home at night, and he's like, just stay, stay for longer. I'm like, no, I don't want to rush it. But it just ended up being so simple and seamless. It's very easy. Mark and I are the same, really, weren't we? When you think about it. In what respect?

When we met, it was just very easy and it ended up... It just all happened very quickly and we knew it was right, didn't we? Yeah. Very quickly. He sort of like stalked me. Followed me around. Drove down. Followed me down the road.

I did. Really? I did. Very odd. I did follow him out. I wanted to know what car he was in. In fact I did stop him. You asked him what car he drove and then about five minutes later looked in a rear view mirror and you followed him. I was a bit Baby Reindeer vibes wasn't it? That was very strange. Was it what car and what number plate? You didn't ask for the reg but you said what car. No I said what car I think. I spent a long time going around to different runners at work saying,

what's his name, that cameraman? What's his name? I love it. And then people kept saying, Mark. No, most people didn't know, actually. No, most people didn't know. Let's be honest. That's a truth.

No, that is true because he was quiet at work. Right. Now we know him. He's not very quiet at all. No, not at all. But people kept saying, oh, it's Mark. So then Mark Humphreys. And then I was on Facebook at the time, you know, as you would stalk people.

M-A-R-K. Nothing. And then I realised it was Mark with a C. And the rest is history. It's history. If it wasn't for your investigative skills, who knows? I don't know what would have happened. Exactly.

I could have ended up with, I don't know. A spark. Spark with a C. Called Mark with A spark. Spark, I see. Called Mark McKay. Yes, that's right. I've just got to show Mark this, because this is brilliant. Very good. Yes.

I like that. That photo was taken when we saw Kylie Minogue at BST in Hyde Park. Was it brilliant? It was amazing. It was wonderful. Was she brilliant? I've got a story for you about Kylie. Oh really?

Yes. Come on. I thought it should be recorded. Off the record? Yes it should. It's brilliant. Come on. I was working on something.

Jules Holland? And during a rehearsal, while she was rehearsing, she sat on my lap. Which actually I think happened a couple of times. Not only sat on your lap, it was your birthday. And she sat on your lap and sang happy birthday to you as we were talking. Wow.

Did you wake it up? Yeah, I don't think you can. I really didn't. No, maybe, maybe no, maybe. I don't think up? Yeah, I don't think you can. I really did. Maybe, though. Maybe. I don't think that was, no, that wasn't. Well, anyway, she certainly sounds relaxed. That's pretty special, I think.

No, Kylie, which is even better than mine, really. Kylie's been nice. I think you've exaggerated that slightly. No, you definitely told me that, but maybe that was at the beginning of our relationship where you were trying to impress me. Maybe, yeah. Oh, I love those early relationship stories. They're my favourite ones.

You look back five years, you're like, yeah, no, I didn't do that. I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that. tell me that but maybe that was at the beginning of our relationship where you were trying to impress maybe yeah i love those early relationship stories one of my favorite ones you look back five years so i'm like yeah i did do that yeah no no absolutely not yeah oh yeah yes if you'd like some to be grown up yeah that's no problem pass me the glass and the sweetheart why is it the kid why do kids like wine glasses? Oh, it's grown up though, isn't it? It's grown up.

It's grown up! But be careful. Yeah, and don't just slam it down. Don't send it over to Chris. Especially the place after, Jodie. You only have one working arm at the moment. Still, this one would break the glass more than you. I break so many glasses, Jodie.

So clumsy. I used to break a lot of fingers. I used to play football a lot but I broke them when I was young as well. And last time I used to just leave them. If I was playing football I'd leave it. That's fine. Was part of your sport in football one of the reasons you didn't come out earlier do you think? No. That was, I was in London having a great time and every night out I was out with 20, 30 friends. And my life at that point was just great fun. And then gradually, as you get 20s to mid-20s to 30s, you pair up.

And suddenly it's not 30 people you go out with, it's 15 couples. And I'm like, no, OK, I've got to do something about this now. It's like hang on a second like we've had a great night all the pairs are walking off and i'm standing with a kebab i'm like i like this kebab now i'm not saying i don't like kebab i got a funny feeling there's something more in life to this yeah um so that was like i always knew i never pretended i wasn't there's no wives or girlfriends no but you just know yeah i've never of like, there's none of these stories you hear like people trying to suppress it with like Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Drink or drugs or like, I've never hurt anyone or I've never been a ruined past. But there's just, at that point it's like, I need to grow up. There's more to life than going out. Sambucas are great, but they're not, you can't go to bed with one. I can't tell you something, I can't have one of those now. No, no. Natalie, this is it. You can't do it. I just can't.

It just reminds me of such bad nights. And if I smell one or tequila, if I smell tequila, the throat just clenches up. Have you ever had a honey tequila? No. I tried to think. It's delicious. Really? Oh, is it to think. It's delicious. Okay, isn't it darling?

I've tried that. You have? We went to King's Cross, you know Coal Drops Yard? Oh, yeah. We love it there. You remember that place where you have the cocktails where you've got all the records and the music? Yes, yes, yes. You know the one thing? You're right. Absolutely right.

I had a cocktail and it had the honey tequila, etc. and it was delicious. Then I bought a bottle on Amazon. Awful, isn't it? To buy. You can just get anything you like. I bought the honey tequila, but then had a bit of an evening at home, where I drank about a quarter of a bottle, and that was the night I fell asleep

and everyone put stuff on my head. Yes, I know that story. Yes, I know that story. Yeah, that was that evening. Is that the last time we played loads of games? Yeah. Well, we didn't. Well, you didn't play.

Just different versions of it. A lot of effort went into that prank. No, we didn't actually play any games. We just set them up and took pictures. Three different games. We set the games up. So I was really upset when I woke up, but they just set them up to take a picture,

so you've missed all the games. I can only imagine that. So it's recent that you've moved here, isn't it? Yeah, two and a half years ago. Two and a half, right. Yeah, yeah. So I came over here to teach. Yeah. And just travel.

Yeah. And then I met this one and life just went on a different path, a different journey. I'm not a teacher anymore. I do supply, you know, every so often. But my passion has always been performing. And I thought, I think I needed to sort of realize that, you know, what's important and what I really wanted to do and what I wanted to try lots of stuff so you know Park Faire so last year which he hates to admit was he doesn't like talking about himself but then the Park Faire so in London play there and

when I was in that it just made it was called laundress and it was directed by Amy Allen and it was like a limited run. But I don't know, when I was in that rehearsal, maybe you can relate to this, but being in that room with all these creative people, it made me think, you know what, I just don't have the energy for the teaching anymore. I think I want to try something else.

I don't know how you sit in a room with 32 children. It's not for me. She struggles with one. With my own head. Exactly. So, yeah, I just thought to myself, myself you know what I think I want to try something else. Now that is brilliant though. Yeah. And you said you've got comedy stuff going on. I do yeah so I'm just trying out some different comedy bits and pieces now that I've got the time. I need to talk to Emma because she's just done her first stand-up performance. Oh really? Yeah, she's done a comedy course, stand-up stuff. Oh, we'd have lots to talk about.

Mark had a question, didn't you? I've forgotten what it was. No, no, no. But I did, I did. Well, it's blown out of the water now because you said what would make you move. Oh yeah, no, I did. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

To the other seat, but this is the reason. It was me. Yeah, I understand that. Yeah. It all comes down to the person. I didn't fully understand the detail. Yes. So no, I get it, I get it. Yeah. But, this is the reason. Yeah, I understand that. Yeah. It all comes down to the person, not the place. I didn't fully understand the detail. Yes. So, no, I get it.

I get it. Yeah. But we were thinking about moving out of London for quite a while. Yeah. It wasn't just me, I don't think. I'd like to think it was just me. I think my ego, I'd love to think that it was just me. So when you moved over, you were living in London.

Yes. And now you've moved from London to... Yeah. So I grew up here. I moved to London when I was 22ish, so I was in London for 20 years. Met Sean, who moved in really quickly, and it was like perfect from like day one. But then some other things like, well, came up. I've got a chronic lung condition so therefore doctors were telling me even back home in Melbourne how the sea air can a lot of the bugs that I used to get don't grow in the sea air so there was they would say have you ever considered moving to a seaside

town and I'd just be like oh I don't know I haven't really thought about it really and when we were talking about moving out of London what would be good for our quality of life, what would be the best thing for us, health did play a part in it. Even though sometimes I don't want it to. We had to consider it, we considered all the things. I think also, like, last time, I got made redundant and my industry's not great at the moment.

What did you do, Chris? Advertising. Right, so advertising but it was a case like I got into advertising it was once creative and it's not really anymore and I think we just got lots of layers of stress like all the people in London it was getting more expensive we were working harder and harder and having less and less money like it was just building and building and building it's like why are we trying to, why we keep trying to make this work? Like change. Yeah we're forcing it. We're running harder and

harder and harder. We're not even keeping still anymore. We're falling backwards. So it's a bit like well let's try and let's just figure out what like what's a big move and Sean's health was one of it. It was, definitely, and I think when we came down one time to visit your mum and dad, you know, we thought about it on the train ride home and we were like, seaside town, it's not too far out of London for work if you get another job.

We're smiling so much on the train on the way home. You hadn't really quite figured out. Near your family as well. Near family. My mum had a stroke last November and my dad can't really get out of the house much anymore so it's much nicer being nearer and it's

not like I'm there all the time but it's just nice that that emergency phone call is now five minutes away rather than two and a half hours away. So it makes them happy. I go round every Monday for cream cake now and they're very happy about. So yeah, it, like, I think, yeah,

towards the end of last year, there were lots of stresses, and moving here has just seemed to have got rid of them all. And we just had to think about that term, quality of life, and it was just all about what could just make us happier. Really, you know, we were burning the candle at both ends. The city was swallowing us up. My health wasn't good. No, you had a bad run.

Do you feel that your health's improved since being here? No, like seriously. I even was talking about it with Chris the other day. I wouldn't be able to do half of what I've been able to do in London. I have so much more energy. I'm able to do a lot of the stuff that I love to do. I'm not spending my weekends in bed tired anymore. It's just so much. It's just improved.

And it's lovely though, like before we'd get taxis everywhere. Now we have nice walks. We just go to the normal shops and even collect them a bit. It's just lovely just pottering around. We're now just walking through town, chatting and laughing. And the people are lovely. I think anyone by the sea, like you said, just has that, they're a bit more laid back. Yeah, absolutely. Like we went to just a restaurant that we'd been quite a few times before and the waitress recognised us recently and she gave us both a kiss on the cheek. Yeah, it's nice. It makes a difference.

Really nice that she remembered us both a kiss on the cheek. Yeah, it's nice. It makes a difference. And it was just so nice. Really nice that she remembered us both. And it kind of feels like we've got London back too, because we started getting annoyed with it, it was like being detrimental to us. But now our London visits is like a lovely weekend away. We're only there now for me and sport or theatre or like... Last night we went to Soho Theatre, we came back on the train.

It's so much nicer coming back on the train to the seaside rather than spending 50 minutes trying to get an Uber. Yeah. Stuck on Holloway Road. Holloway Road. And also like this little funny things now, we lived on a street which went to a hospital. So the whole day we just had sirens going past the window.

You don't think it affects you, but then actually you're on, you get a little bit more hyper alert because everything's around you is a little bit more stressful. You don't realize it. And our first night actually, I said to Chris, like,

there's just this weird sound and it's driving me mad, Chris, what is it? And Chris is like, Sean, that's silence. I'm like, oh right, okay, that's actually what silence sounds like, so to speak. Okay, like, it's like little things. Like, I genuinely knew the sandwich orders for all the shoplifters in Archway. Like, I could recognise people.

I could recognise what they were doing. I was like, it's just angsty. Everything around you is just a bit angsty. And it was nice just to come somewhere where people are nicer. It's a bit more laid back. See, like, it's beautiful. It is, yeah. The good side about advertising was I spent 20 years in focus groups.

I've spoken to every single type of person, like, left and breath of their country. Like, you can just grab those people. There's always like, I spoke to someone someone once who she was an older lady she used to play music in the bedroom which her son used to live in just to make it feel like he was still there uh and like someone said that um um this one's not as lovely but she said she'd give her child dairy milk chocolate to get milk into their diet i'm like there's other ways to get milk into your diet. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But like, you hear all these stories of like really normal people.

And like, it's yeah, I love that side of it. I love that kind of humour, but it's just so, it's impossible. Nothing's impossible. No, it's not. True, true. That's why he keeps telling me actually. Yeah. Yeah. I'm more of a supporter to you, really. I'm very good at telling Sean, just go for it.

Just email him, direct message him, send me a reel, just do it. You never know, it doesn't matter, you just need one person to watch it rather than a million. And then when Ethan said to me, I'm like, oh no, I'm not doing that. I'm a bit stubborn like that sometimes, but it's him that sort of sets me up and goes, don't worry, what's the worst thing that could happen? Yeah. It's good, it's good. It's lovely to have a supportive partner. Yes.

Mark's very supportive of me. Yeah. Yeah. Aren't you? Yeah. Yeah, I am pretty much. Yep. No, I am very much.

You are good, you are good. Yeah, it's very good. Making changes, doing different things at the moment, like Mark's doing so. Are you having a ball at the moment? I can tell. I can just feel it. It's really, really lovely. It's just nice to be doing different things.

And, yeah, I feel very, very content. Isn't that nice? Yeah. Did it take a while? Were you thinking specifically on wanting to do something different or is this all falling into place accidentally? Like a happy accident. It's been on my mind to start doing, the podcast has been on my mind before starting it for about a year and a half. But yeah, lots of other things I've thought about and I'm a great believer in putting stuff out there and I do think things come to you. I really do.

Yeah, absolutely. Too much has happened which I don't think is accidental. I think it's positivity saying you want to do it. And your life experience as well. Well yeah, yeah that's true. It's about being fortunate isn't it? You sort of make your own luck in a sense. Yeah. And it's no different to the, you know, which we'll be able to talk about in the future, but the thing you've done recently. I mean the chances of you being able to do that and

how that fell into place and you know all that sort of thing. Yes, yes. Is very much you putting the right things in place to achieve it. Yeah, there's just been a couple of jobs lately which have just been kind of dream things that have just been on the two days, the only two days that I had in that fortnight, you know, where things just... It's that serendipitous sort of thing. Yeah, just like a jigsaw puzzle of joy, which is really lovely.

I do feel very lucky, very grateful. It's funny because I don't know how it worked with both of you, but there's various which is really lovely. I do feel very lucky, very grateful. It's funny because I don't know how it worked with both of you, but there's various things with me and Natalie where it's very strange how things worked out. Or how... You can have these chips. Hey, don't step on the plate. Why don't you set my plate? With me and Natalie, it was interesting because certain things sort of fell into place, didn't they? Like you think, there were certain little bits. Yeah, I can't really, it's so weird because at the time everything was so coincidental.

And now I can't remember any. Well, the fact that we worked on the same programme, and then you then say you look and then you think of the circumstances that you ended up working on that programme. As we've already said, you know, it was very, you were in the right place at the right time, you ended up working on that programme, etc, etc. And then with me, I always remember saying, I really wanted to do, I always wanted to be a cameraman, but I specifically had an interest in the drama side of things and like but also really like multi-camera and I remember saying

someone like I think I was still at college and they said what sort of thing would you like to do like overall and and I said well I'd like to do anything. I like the entertainment. I like music. I've got a real interest in either sort of multi-camera comedy sitcoms or multi-camera drama. And someone's saying, oh, well, the thing is, all you could do these days is EastEnders, Coronation Street or Emmerdale. Yeah. And the chances of you ending up in one of those is very, very slim.

Yeah. And all of that sort of thing. And then I did work experience when I was at school because I happened to know someone who managed to get me in there. It was back in the day when those things could just happen, like with work experience and knowing someone and someone giving you a shot. Very much so, yeah. You can't really do that now.

I just think it's got so much red tape about it. Red tape now. You have to have a certain agent or a certain manager before you even get somewhere and it's like, oh. It's hard. red tape about it. You have to have a certain agent or a certain manager before you even get somewhere. It's hard. But yeah, it's interesting, isn't it, how these little bits... Well, I don't think we would have been together unless I had a horrendous day at work. Because I had a horrendous day at work and I stomped home.

I was self-destructive. I'm not going to get the tube off, but I was going to walk home. It was lit and it was raining. I could have easily not done all this. But when I walked home, I thought, right, when I get home, I'm going to go back on Tinder and I'm going to find someone. And I was so cross about how the rest of the work was happening. Like, right, I don't need work anymore. I gonna do this yeah went home then I did see that I mean Sean was probably the fifth person I came across I was like

he looks nice and I think what three days later we met up for a drink yeah 10 weeks later we were living together that's smart isn't it yeah like if you had a good day at work I probably would yeah seriously yeah yeah that is really crazy that day at work had gone well I've probably gone gone to pubs with friends or gone home and said, well, life's pretty content. I'm pretty content. I pretty like it. That's crazy, isn't it? No, it is. It's all that three degrees of separation, isn't it? Yeah. It's all that, you know, Erin Brockovich stuff. Right place, right time. Yeah. Yeah, I fully believe in that kind of stuff. Yeah, I do too. Amazing. How's everyone's food been? Lovely, it's been fantastic.

Oh, well it's been lovely. It's been really lovely. Really nice meal, hasn't it darling? Really nice meal, yeah. Really enjoyed that. The girls enjoyed it. Are we gonna have a little wander down the pier? Yeah, absolutely.

Taking me up the pier? I'll take you up the pier. As we promised. We've put it on a mug, so we can't take it back. Well, we're finally up the pier. We are. We're finally taking you up the pier. Amazing.

Absolutely amazing. We get a nice picture. Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely wonderful lunch. Oh, thank you so much. So nice that we've made it up. So lovely.

Yeah, after all this time thinking about it and chatting a few months ago, and now we actually made it. It's been lovely. been lovely best day best day and the weather's nice absolutely it's a beautiful day really gorgeous thank you for my gifts as well oh you're so welcome i can't wait to eat and drink them oh and obviously not my mug because i shall put tea in them that's right you know you can put some doom juice in your mug if you wanted to. Doom juice wine into your mug. Yeah, absolutely. Oh brilliant. Thank you so much.

It's been a pleasure to see you all. Thank you so much. Kiss kiss. Thank you so much Natalie. See you later. Lovely to see you. Thank you for watching. Keep in touch.

We so will. Brilliant. Thank you. See you. See you guys oh honestly it was so lovely to see them and have a good old natter and a lovely lunch thank you to the boatyard i had a beautiful dover soul it was really really nice quite large a bit too big for lunch we were stuffed didn't have no dinner after but we had a little wander around leon sea it was so pretty there's something about the sea which makes you feel good i'm also like that though if i go to a

forest now i'm a taurean so i'm not sure because it's an earth sign whether the earth affects me more than the sea actually because i'm not a water sign anyway i'm babbling here are another couple of messages just to finish off because I had so many and I thank you all so much here's one from Jackie hi Natalie my thoughts on why we moved from the UK to Spain we've been here six months now we decided to make the move for the warmer weather the relaxed lifestyle and to immerse ourselves into the Spanish culture. Our kids are adults with lives of their own, and now is the time to do something for us as a couple. We have made the move now due to health issues,

which left us a bit bereft, as life now is not what it was. But we're making most of every day. Sometimes it's not easy, especially with the language and all of the hoops we have to jump through. But they're having a lovely time. And do you know something? You are only here once. And I do love to hear about a couple whose kids have grown up and they are making a lovely time and you know something you are only here once and I do love to hear about a couple whose kids have grown up and they are making a life for themselves because

that's another petrifying thing isn't it once your children grow up they can't be the only thing in your life they are our lives but they are tiny humans and we need to just nurture them and they're going to go because that's what we're here to do we're not here to lock them. And they're going to go. Because that's what we're here to do. We're not here to lock them up. And they're not going to be by our sides forever. So once they go, once they've flown that nest, we need a life of our own. So it's lovely to hear, Jackie, that you've taken that step with your partner. And you're in Spain.

And I hope you're really, really enjoying it. I really, really do. Here's a message from Lachelle. Can you believe that I was put on a plane to England by myself when I was three years old? Kind of crazy, right? Yeah. I went there for the summer and my auntie Doreen and uncle Bob took care of me. I went to England every year, maybe twice a year when I was little my mom is from England and I finally got my dual citizenship which I had wanted my whole life I love England so much my heart sings when I'm there I was recently just there all I care about is eating fish and chips going to Marks and Spencer's and boots that's all I

need in life well I love taking the bus. I love walking. I love taking the train. I do think I will live there one day. And yeah, have a great day. Well, I'll tell you something, Michelle. Fish and chips, Marks and Spencers, and boots. I'm happy as well.

I love a walk around boots. You can't beat it. Especially when you get to the till and you look at your Advantage card and you've got a load of points on it. Mine's totted up to about 42 quid now. I saved mine up for Christmas, actually, for Christmas presents. But yeah, Marks' Boots and a bit of fish and chips or Lillian Gish, as my dad used to say.

You can't beat it. And we are very, very lucky to live in the UK. There's a lot of rubbish that goes on. But when you go into town and you look at our wonderful city and what it's got to offer, we're very lucky to be up the road from it. I hope you've really, really enjoyed today's podcast. Let me know what you think of the location pods

because I know there's a little bit of atmosphere and a little bit of noise in the background, but it'd be lovely to hear what you think about them. 07788 20 1919. And that is it for now. I'll speak to you really soon. Bye. Hi, this is Chris McCausland.

And this is Diane Boswell. And we've got a new podcast, haven't we, Di? We do. What's it called? Winning... Isn't... Everything. Every week, me't we, Di? We do. What's it called? Winning. Isn't. Everything. Every week, me and Diane, we're going to be having a little

catch-up on the back of Strictly, aren't we, Di? We are. I've missed you, Chris. I've missed you too. We're going to talk some nonsense, so why not tune in? Available everywhere you get your podcasts.