Life with Nat - EP79: Scraping the Barrel #13

Episode Date: January 13, 2025

Nat and Marc talk about thermostats and teenage freedom. Thank you so much for your input and we hope you enjoy! X 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, everybody. Welcome to Life with Nat on this lovely cold Monday morning, if you are listening in real time. It's a scrape in the barrel. You alright Mark? It's so cold. Boiling went didn't it earlier?

Yep, it did. Why do you think that was? It did well though, didn't I, to get it back on? You did, yeah. It lost pressure. Is that because of the cold? I don't know. I'm not sure.

There's got to be a reason, surely. I think it's been working quite hard. Maybe the pressure got a bit high. I think the PRV valve might have gone released. So then it's dumped a load of pressure. And then it wouldn't fire up. You've lost me. Yeah, I mean, it's a bit of a, like, released. So then it's dumped a load of pressure. And then it wouldn't fire up. You've lost me. Yeah, I mean, it's a bit of a boring subject, really.

It's what you've kicked off with. Well. I wasn't going to mention the point. I was just quite proud of myself, because everybody knows that I don't do much at home. But you sent me a picture and showed me how to do it, and I did it on my own. I was at work as well.

Yep. What time did I get up for work this morning? 5.30. Yep. What time did I get up for work this morning? 5.30? Earlier. 5? Earlier? No, it wasn't. It was.

Half four? The alarm went off at quarter to five. I was up by five. What's that got to do with me doing the boiler? I don't know. That's why I mention it.

I was just thinking about being cold. It's freezing. It's exhausted. of me doing the boiler? I don't know. If I mention it. I was just thinking about being cold. It's freezing. It's exhausted. You were inside today though, weren't you? I was outside for quite a while actually.

Thank you. Minus six. Working in minus six. It looks beautiful though, doesn't it? The landscape in this weather. It does look nice.

It's very pretty. When I took Eliza to school on Friday morning, it was absolutely beautiful. Everything was pure white and the clouds in the sky were pink. And I actually said to the girls, you should really hold this in your mind and paint a picture. You could have taken a photo and they could have just painted it from the picture. Yeah, I was driving at the time. Yeah. Well, Eliza could have done. Yeah, they could have just painted it from the picture. Yeah, I was driving at the time. Yeah. Well, Eliza could have done.

Yeah, she could have done, yeah. When do the clocks change? Because I am fed up with it being cold, dark. Your favourite time of year, the elusible time. This is not my favourite time of year. This is hard going now. It's like Captain U-turn no

oh no last week it was the favourite time of year Christmas it's my favourite time of year no no no you love oh I love the winter

I like it when the clocks go back oh it's lovely because I've got something to look forward to all I'm looking forward to now is the daffodils coming up well they've already

come up actually have they you know yeah no I mean I don't think they're going to do well since the frost now is the daffodils coming up. Well, they've already come up, actually. Have they? You know, golden, yeah. No. They have started. I mean, I don't think they're going to do well since the frost, but they've sort of popped up.

That's mad. But yeah, I'm looking forward to spring now. It's just a hard, arduous time of year. January's got about 450 days in it. No one gets paid right to the end of Jan, do they? It's a really hard month for people 30 days of september april june and november all the rest of 31 except february alone which has 28 days clear 29 actually no it's not 480 days in january i said 450 okay but it was it was just a

joke it was a turn of phrase but it has got it's a long month never ending I listened to Nat's Nieces this morning oh right and funnily enough

somebody I was working with also listened to the same episode of Nat's Nieces yeah driving in so we were talking about it today went down a storm

thank you for all your comments you're all lovely so just saying I mean I'm not the best at this sort of stuff are you going to mention filament filament i've already messaged at 6am i messaged maria it was sediment we were meant to say yeah you don't have filament no in the bottom of the glass we thought about it well it was Maria that said filament. It was, but I was trying to think of the word.

Sediment. Sediment. Yeah. We got it about an hour later. And I could be wrong here. You might have had some messages already. I don't know. Go on.

VPL is not visible panty liner. No, it's visible pant line. Thank you. I mean, I knew that. I've had a few messages about that. Yeah. It's a bit graphic, isn't it? Panty liner.

Yes. At six o'clock in the morning, that was a bit much, if I'm honest. Nat sneezes is a bit much. If you don't like it, don't listen to it. Since I didn't like it? No, I'm just saying it is a bit much. I enjoy the little, you know, this filament. Bit of filament in the bottle of this glass of wine, Maria.

Just saying. I mean, I did message her of this glass of wine, Maria. Just saying. I mean, I did message her at six. To be fair, she did reply. What, at that time? No. No. No, obviously not. About three hours later.

Fair enough. When she woke up. At least she replied. Well, very few people do to me. How's your drink? It's all right, thanks. What have you got this evening? I've got a little water.

What is that? That's Prosecco. What have I got? A tea. Why's that funny? Because one day of the year, you're not drinking anything alcoholic and you're making a point of it.

I've got a decaf tea. Oh, even better. So I sleep well. It's the epitome of health well we're 11 days into January yeah

how's dry January I didn't do I don't do dry January okay I didn't say I was going to I've got no interest

in it at all see a lot of people remember it differently when you said that you were going to do that no okay not done it that was a drink talking no there's been 11 days in january

new year's day the second i had a little drink then i was ill third fourth fifth six didn't have a drink seventh i think I had a little tipple do you put this in your diary like little logs no it's just I know I feel proud of myself and this year no this year

like tonight I was tired usually even if I was tired I'd have a gin and tonic or something yeah don't take the piss did you have a nap today by any chance

I did have a nap yeah i got up late and i had a nap and i'm still exhausted oh i'm not gonna lie to you no fair enough but yeah what i'm saying is is usually out of habit saturday night you put the telly on and i would have a an alcoholic beverage of some kind i've just drunk water all night and a cup of tea because i'm tired so So I'm going to listen to my body a little bit more. That's what I have to do every night. You're in a really funny mood this evening,

aren't you? Eh? I'm just tired. I've got a little message for you. Especially for you. Oh yeah. Vicky has sent in a Viennetta, which is 99 pence in farm foods oh farm foods again yeah well we know we haven't got one near us i know but it's doing really well for the

viennetta's catherine beckwith says could you tell mark he can get maxi bonds on the beach front shops in alicante very cheap and a lovely place. Please, can I have a tote bag? Catherine. Very cheap? Yeah. What, plus flight fare? I think she's talking about... I'm not just going to pop down now, am I?

One morning. Well, you love it so much you could get over there. Ryanair. In, out, wham, bam. I'll eat one. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am. You could take an ice bucket with you

pay for extra get it in your bag and off you go if I don't understand why the Maxi Bond is not available in the UK anymore

it's really annoying it's not fair there's a lot of options let's be honest there's a lot of options. Let's be honest, there's a lot of ice creams out there. Yeah, but not Maxi Bons. There's 15,000 freezers in Tesco. Not Maxi Bons, sorry. Feast?

Is that not like a Maxi Bon? No, it's enough. It doesn't scratch the surface. How about a nice crunchy? You've been enjoying a flake with Joanie? Flake ice cream? The flake ice cream's not bad, yeah. Okay.

I like a Solero. I would like to hear some recommendations from listeners on some nice desserts. Desserts that go in the freezer or desserts in general? That's a good question. Because desserts is broad. A bit of originality would

be nice. So not your obvious ones. And I think you therefore could go for freezer and cold and not cold. Just unusual is what I'm keen on. Interesting. Fridge, freezer you mean? Fridge and freezer. Fridge and freezer, yeah. This is where we're starting, 2025 the barrel 0778 20 1919 can anyone

recommend some unusual desserts for mark i mean this is appalling what do you think is the acceptable cut off for eating a mince pie me yeah i think you have a few left over from christmas and i think it's when the tree comes down. So it's the 12 days, so kind of 5th or 6th of Jan. Okay. Well, I'm afraid to say today I finished off the last mince pie, and that was the 11th of Jan. Well, you had three yesterday, didn't you?

Three mince pies. Yes. And two limp balls. I had three because I was interested in, well, I wanted to finish the brandy cream. So that was my two. And then I thought, I have not experienced a mince pie over Christmas with custard. It's very late. Yeah.

Very, very late to be doing that. It is. I've eaten a lot of mince pies. I've done, to be fair, I've done a lot of mince pies i've done i've to be fair i've you do know there are two boxes in the cupboard don't you shut up i think so no there's not there's not no you've eaten them there's two boxes i found right okay yeah you've done really well with the mince pies i've done all right and i was also contributed to eating some more cheese today yes something no you don't like i said it's weird you're not christmasy and then half of

january you're eating christmas food it's bizarre well it's a bit like being a bin isn't it i'm sort of just don't want to waste it well at least you're not throwing it away but i've got to watch the figure now we're into january you're looking really great that's very nice of you to say that you are but i do feel i need to lose a little bit of weight you don't you don't at all funnily enough talking of losing weight

yes our one of our regular listeners one of your favourites Roger ah yes has sent in a lovely message have a listen to this

hi Nat just listened to your latest podcast about walking whilst I was on a lunchtime walk. So yeah, so for the next one, you want to talk about not news resolutions, but things that you want to achieve this year. So for me, as I've spoken to you in the past about

is trying to do my best to get my weight loss goal down to where I want to be I've got another three stone 11 pounds to go and then I'll be where I want to be again in a really healthy weight um and then it's just keeping it up um thanks for the great podcast and have a great one speak to you later bye Roger thank you happy new year to you too can i just say that roger has already lost 13 stone that is unbelievable it's incredible yeah just amazing and it sounds like you're doing it really properly slowly like it's staying off it's incredible it's honestly keep going and obviously you're out walking so i'm pleased that the pods are keeping you occupied. Fantastic.

He sounds well with it as well. Sounds very sort of happy, which is nice to hear. Why would he not be happy? He sounds really good for it. Well, yeah, because he's doing something that he wants to do. Yes. It's just a comment. You are funny. No, I'm just making a comment wants to do. Yes. It's just a comment. You are funny.

No, I'm just making a comment. I do love you. All right, do you? Wrong answer again. Sorry, Tim. Wrong answer again. I love you too. That was really sincere.

Yeah, it was. Yeah, good. So what was I going to say? I don't know. Another important subject. now this this is a subject i do want to discuss properly with you okay because this is something i am very keen to hear more of from your listeners okay how many times would you say and let's be fair over the last 10 years have we had a conversation

about the operation of the thermostat I 10 years I reckon it's got to be twice a month well in the winter really we don't tend to

bring it up in the summer I reckon twice a month possibly three times okay right right what do you want to talk about so the house is cold

yes the heating's on auto when the house is cold and the radiators aren't on, I turn up the thermostat, which then brings the heating on. Yes. Because if the thermostat is at 17.5 Celsius,

it means the house is at 17.5 and all the radiators go off. Incorrect. It's not... Incorrect. It's not warm enough for me. No, no, no, no, no. But when I turn up the thermostat a couple of little degrees,

bang, it comes on again. That's what happens. The house is not at that temperature. The thermostat and the environment of the thermostat is that temperature. Fine. Right.

So, if the radiators have been turned up which tends to happen little elves or something in our house sort of go around fiddling with the thermostatic valves and all the radiators does do that so our bedroom could be an inferno yeah but the thermostat is really cold so it will keep feeding that inferno. I understand, but if I'm downstairs in the lounge and I'm cold, I'm going to turn up the thermostat. Not interested in the bedroom, not up there. Thermostat's not where you're sitting though, is it?

No, but it does make a difference. Anyway, good illustration of a general conversation. What do you do at home? Please could you tell me when you want the house warmer do you turn the thermostat up or do you go round to every room and and change each radiator every time because i haven't got time for it and do you have this same kind of conversation with your other halves whoever it might be that suggests otherwise or suggests how it should operate. Just, I'm really curious.

There'll be a lot of people. Yeah. Because it's so bloody expensive that probably don't use it often. Agreed. Yeah. The heated blankets are really, really good. Totally agree. Electric blankets that people use, fires, whatever.

So we are very lucky to be talking about turning the heating up well actually i'm talking about turning the heating down well you are yeah yeah i actually know someone who who we work with yeah who um hasn't got a digital thermostat he's got an old school sort of dial is this ian smith it's not no go on he's gonna love that well he likes old things doesn't he no radio old school thermostat and he was fed up with his family to get turning the thermostat up when they were out one day he took the cover off and he's like readjusted the dial so it shows a different temperature. Who's done that?

I'm not going to say. It's not fair. Write it down for me. No. But I did, it tickled me. I thought it was quite good. It's really, really Scrooge-like

whoever that is. But he said, no one complains. Psychosomatic. They're walking about with polo necks and jumpers on. I mean, to be fair, if our house today

was two degrees, it's seven degrees warmer than it is outside. Yeah, still cold. Yeah, still cold. I'm just saying, you know, in comparison. Yeah, fair enough. The thermostats is a hot topic, as they say.

I can't believe that I've got to go to work tomorrow. Who wants to get up really early on a Sunday? Well. I know there's loads of people that work on Sundays. I'm sorry I'm being a spoilt brat. You have worked quite hard lately. I have. To be fair.

And it continues. Oh. Yeah. No, you're a trooper. You are horrible to me. No, you are. Seriously. I mean that sincerely.

Who was this? Hi, Mark. I just wanted to say that I've finally started listening to your podcasts. I'm so sorry it took me so long, but I've never listened to any podcast before, and despite working with technology, I seem to be the world's slowest person at actually embracing new technology. I had to turn the first episode off as I was listening at home on my own, and it really felt like I was eavesdropping on both of you. Anyway, I stuck with it and I now love what you're doing.

Your pod comes straight on in the car, so you're both with me on my way to and from work. I've got a lot of catching up to do now. Keep up the good work, both of you. Love to you all. D. Who's D? Darren.

Ah, that's nice. Yeah, and Lisa, because Lisa's been saying to me you should listen to it. Darren ah that's nice yeah and Lisa because Lisa's been saying to him you should listen to it oh that's good but he said he felt really awkward

he listened to an episode it was lovely to see Darren and Charlie the other day but they were they were listening he was listening to an episode at home

through the radio right and he said it was really odd it was like we were in the room yes having a conversation understood but he said it was really odd. It was like we were in the room. Yes. Having a conversation. Understood. But he said it was fine in the car.

Mm. Which I suppose makes sense because if you're in the car with two people talking, you're not eavesdropping because you're in a car. It's very, very interesting that he said this.

And I'd love to hear people's opinions on this. I know that a lot of people listen, well, lots of people listen many, many ways, a lot in the car, a lot on their travels to work and stuff and walks, lots and lots of walks. But you see, I listen to Chatterbix and I listen to Parenting Hell.

I don't really have time to listen to others. Parenting Hell, I have to listen to in the car. That is my car listen. Chatterbix, I like when I'm pottering at home. In your laundry basket. Yes. I like them both.

I think they're very good podcasts. But I can't listen to Parenting L at home. Why is that? I don't know. Maybe it's is that? I don't know. Maybe it's just habitual. I don't know. I wonder, talking of driving and listening to podcasts, I was listening to an episode of yours.

Yeah. And it came up in conversation talking about, I think it was for girls, actually. And you were saying, oh, yeah, you're going to end up, you know, what was that thing that people used to get? Oh, no, it was me and Linda. You and Linda? Auntie Linny, we were having a walk,

and my foot went into the puddle. That's right, thank you, thank you. Picking me up again? I'm not picking you up. I'm just saying, driving a lot, I thought, how many people today have listened to this? And what was funny about it is it was like, yeah, in the trenches.

Yeah, with your feet. I know. And I was like, all you've got to do is cut out the words in between and you're actually saying it. Well, I got them in the end, didn't I? You did. But I can imagine people screaming it at their radio. Those three people that listen, screaming. Yeah, across the country.

Yeah. They were just, no seriously trench foot we need to we need to have a look it's a good name for a drama that or a band yeah a rock band yeah yeah trench foot i'd quite like to look at the stats with you again and look at the listeners who are in slightly more obscure places around the world. That would be really good. I'd like to do that. It's a good game, that. Well, come on, let's play it.

Can we do that? We can do that, yeah. Whilst Mark's having a look at the places, I'd like to say hello to Lovely Donna. Evening, Lovely. Hope you've had a fantastic Christmas. Just dropped my son back to uni in Bristol. I'm feeling a bit sad, but listening to your pods is cheering me up. Can't wait for the tour you've mentioned. Shampoo. I know you've mentioned that you have fine hair. Same here.

And for years, I've found it hard to get something that doesn't leave my hair feeling greasy. Well, I found this and it's amazing. Bit pricey, but you only need a tiny amount and it lasts ages. So it's Colour Brilliance Wella Shampoo with Lime Caviar. Lime Caviar. Anyway, it looks really good and I will give it a go because I do love to change up my shampoos because my hair's so rubbish. So thank you very, very much. I'd like red hair, I've decided.

Yeah, that sounds good. It was after watching Florence and the Machine at the Royal Albert Hall and I thought, I really, really want that red hair. And I would get extensions, so I'd have long red hair. Yeah, I'm all for that. You like it? Yeah, yeah. A little bit of a change.

Mm. Change is as good as a rest and all that. What are you going to do for me? Get in shape. Don't know. No, you're in shape. Shut up. I've got a problem here.

What was the password that we changed it to? Don't know. Brilliant. Don't know. Oh, good. Yeah, sort of put the knackers on that. All right, well, we're going to have to go back to it. Well, Eliza's going to be home soon eliza can you

believe it's saturday night and i'm having a decaf tea and eliza has been out for someone's birthday a lovely friend and they've gone to a very lively restaurant in bishop stortford what's a lively restaurant it's lively i think it's quite i've not been there myself, but it was weird dropping her off. I dropped her off with her friend at about seven-ish. And off they wandered down the road and you just think, oh, this is the future. She is 15 in September, not wishing the year away. But you do think, wow, that is actually now getting to an age where you are going out a bit, aren't you? Although I do think it's different in this day and age. I wouldn't allow her to sort of get on the train on her own yet or anything like that what do you think is a good age guys to let your children start getting public transport on

their own 27 i i feel what we do is if we go out, say we go to Covent Garden or somewhere and she's with a mate, I sort of tag along almost. So I'm just sort of the bank card, but she does her card. She keeps hold of her train ticket for the day. She's actually really good, you know. She's quite good on and off the tube and stuff now. She's quite nervous sometimes, but she's really good. But I wouldn't allow her to do that on her own yet I reckon

another year you know she's gonna hate us is there a legal age for that I don't think there is no do you also know that there is no legal age for leaving your children at home on their own you are fully responsible for your child when you are out of the house. But if you wanted to leave a three year old and a four year old on their own, you can do that. That isn't illegal. Are you sure about that? I am sure, yeah. Isn't that mad? But if anything happens to them, it's down to you. They're your responsibility.

That's very odd. It is, yeah. Going back to Donna, she said, I'm sorry I can't leave a voice note. I don't like the sound of my own voice. And then she sent this. Vianetta, who's that? GK Barry, you have made my day.

Who's that god lover Donna I know it was funny wasn't it that's how young she is that she's never heard of a Vionetta and it was funny when she said who's that it is quite a fun name you can imagine someone on Love Island being called Vionetta

can't you I don't watch it but you can imagine or Big Brother maybe Vianetta. Can't you? I don't watch it. But you can imagine. Or Big Brother, maybe. Day 22 in the Big Brother house. Vianetta has just woken up. Oh, that was quite good until the end.

I was going to say. That was really good. Day 22 in the Big Brother house. Vianetta has just woken up I can't get the up right Can't get it up Is that a snort? Could have been You've written in our notes

Yes Caps Caps, yeah What's that about? Well, I thought it was an interesting topic Joni For some reason got a cap gun That popped up on her

It just arrived one day You bought her it So don't look at me blankly It's because I bought Alfie one for Christmas And she had all of her presents But of course She was obsessed with Elfie's gun fair enough

so she had some Christmas money so I said why don't you if you really liked it you could get one but what I loved is out of all the presents Elfie and Joni for nearly 48 hours played with one gun, cowboys and Indians pretending to shoot each other

but going back your child and your great nephew 48 hours played with one gun cowboys and indians pretending to shoot each other but going back but that is an old your child and your great nephew yep really had a lovely Christmas day but it's cowboys and indians

it's an old fashioned game yep oh I loved that I thought it was really good anyway the caps you're the one who's bought caps to go in it

well on investigation of the gun I noticed it was an actual cap gun and I'll be honest I got a bit nostalgic. So you've bought the caps for yourself?

Oh, a little bit. That's really, that's dangerous, isn't it? I thought we could have a game. You know, we could run around the house and I could be, you know. No?

Hmm. Put a little cowboy outfit on. I wasn't thinking of that. Oh. I was just thinking of shooting you, actually. Oh, fine. Just pretending to shoot you. Okay. With a cap gun. No, I was just thinking of shooting you actually oh fine I was just pretending to shoot you

okay with a cap gun no I was just no anyway so yeah I found some caps my goodness we used to go to the post office

are they dangerous no they're not dangerous no so if she shot me with one it wouldn't hurt me no no if I just make a bang

right okay yeah I don't want to use those in the house, Mark. I don't know why you've bought those. Well. No, because when she hits the television, what are you going to do about it? No, they don't come out with a gun. They make a noise.

Oh. They're just making a noise. Oh, so they don't shoot out the gun? No, Natalie. You can't buy a child a gun that fires stuff. I don't know, darling. You can, actually. Well, yeah, you could't buy a child a gun that fires stuff. I don't know, darling. You can, actually. Well, yeah, you could just buy them a gun.

The Zerb guns, whatever they're called. Yes. Nerf, sorry, Nerf guns. Yes. Anyway, yeah. No, the cap gun just makes a little pop, pop, pop as you fire it. Right, okay. What was the reason?

I just thought I got very nostalgic but you said were they a lot of money was you going to go into that yeah you used to go to the post office I'd go to the post office with my little thing around my neck with the pound coins in I was quite young

used to have a little thing around my neck a little tube if you went on a school trip you could buy everywhere whatever school trip you went on a school trip, you could buy everywhere. Whatever school trip you went on, there will be people listening to this that agree with me on this and remember it. Yeah. Anywhere you ever went on a school trip, you could buy a little model of the place you were at in a little plastic box. That's standard.

Yeah, I remember that. Right. There was always something you could buy. There'd be about a pound. Because you'd always be given spending money, wouldn't you, on a school trip? So that was like the big budget item. Dad would just give me like a tenner,

put one on the horses. Of course he would. So, yeah, pound for the little model. Obviously, you know, a rubber, a pencil, standard. Or the other thing was a rubber, a pencil, standard. Or the other thing was a tube, which was exactly the same diameter as a pound coin. Yeah. You could get about a fiver in there, I think, or tenner even.

And it was the top part of a tube you could put around your neck and the bottom part screwed in to the lid. So you could store your pound coins in there and believe it or not that was a popular purchase from a school child on a school trip and I had a few

so I had a Canterbury Cathedral one that I used to go to the post office with unscrewed the thing from my neck, I mean I look quite cool, unscrewed the little thing from my neck I bet you look really cool and for a pound you could buy like the box that he was selling of caps I unscrewed a thing for my neck. I mean, I look quite cool. I unscrewed a little thing for my neck. I bet you look really cool. Yeah. And for a pound, you could buy like the box that he was selling of caps. Because I think they were like 5p for a little.

Right, let's get to the point now. How much were the caps on Amazon? A lot. It was like eight quid. And how many did you buy? I can't remember what the figure was. I mean, it looked quite a lot. But I suppose they were individually counting each little cap.

I think there's eight on a ring. Okay. How many rings? Good question. I think it was 64 or something like that. Right, okay. A lot of money, really. It is a lot of money. It was a novelty.

You know, I just thought it'd be fun. But also probably something you're not meant to buy anymore. I don't know. Maybe. You don't really see them around do you no no hi nat this is jill from the scottish highlands just listened to your latest pod with your lovely nieces and was just letting you know what me and my lovely husband at Mr. Jim's date night is. So it's about minus five. It's six o'clock in the evening and we're driving 17 miles to a community hall to watch a film called A Yak and a Classroom, which is set in Nepal and Bhutan.

And then there's a little sale afterwards of bits and bobs from a women's cooperative and then we will drive 17 miles back to our little cottage and it will probably be about minus 10 by then and there's snow on the ground freezing mist and it's absolutely beautiful and the moon is needy full anyway just wanted to share our date night with you and love your pod always makes me feel like i'm just hanging out with a couple of friends oh and i'm sending this from our land rover if it sounds a bit noisy lots of love oh you little show off love a land a Land Rover. Mine got nicked. Shame.

That sounds like a beautiful date night. Absolutely gorgeous. Lucky her. Sorry? Date night. Sounds nice. Sounds like a nice thing to do. Did you listen to Nat's Nieces?

I did, yes. So it was about, actually, what date night to have at home. Yeah. Is this date night tonight? Well, these are like our date nights, aren't they, a little bit? Yeah, everyone just listens in. We need to put more time aside for ourselves. No, we're always too busy.

It's really boring. Very boring. Are you in? No. Don't roll your eyes. Are you into the data? I'll be honest, it's not going well at the moment. Oh well, never mind.

I think it's gone a little bit wrong on the new password. I'm pretty certain though, the password I've got in front of me is the correct one. Okie dokie. However. I had a fantastic message from Bex, who is now my friend, not just a listener. Morning. I'm a bit late on parade. I've only just listened to Nat's nieces from Thursday. Not that late on parade, really, but it's been a bit of a week, as always. Back to the routine.

I just wanted to say thanks, really, because today I've got a few bits to do, but I've got nothing major to do. I had a bit of a blitz at the house yesterday and I feel quite on top of things. But I have in the back of my mind had, I must do out my wardrobe. This morning I started thinking, maybe I'll do out my wardrobe today. I'm not going to because it doesn't really bring me joy it's one of those things that when I start doing it I think why am I doing this so I'm not going to do that today thanks to your little chat I just listened to I don't know what I'm going to do but I'm going to do something that brings me joy and not feel guilty about it so there we go that's thanks to you and

also south end isn't that far for me i mean it's a little way but you know i'd get there for a live show love so um you know let's think about south end if that works for you that'd be great um anyway i hope you're all well and um staying warm in this chilly weather. Oh, thanks, Bex. We text after that, didn't we, anyway? But I'm with you. I could have done quite a lot today. I didn't do much. I had a little whiz round the kitchen. Should have put more washing on.

Should have done a lot of things, really. But I really enjoyed playing with Joanie. We played a lot of schools. And that's her choice, not mine, by the way. But we did a lot of times and that's her choice, not mine by the way but we did a lot of times tables spellings, playing watched a lot of bits of telly we watched Celebrity Chase

and just had a nap and just had a really slow day everything needs dusting everything needs hoovering yeah, it's it isn't like me but I'm quite enjoying myself. What do you think, Mark?

Yeah. Maybe I should get used to doing them on my own. Pardon? The pods. The what? You're helping me this evening Feel quite confident That I could do this on my own Because I haven't yet done one on my own

You should do Yeah Why have you not done one on your own? That's very odd I know I get scared Of what? Just being on my own Oh shut up

I don't like being on my own do I? What? So it's like being scared of being In this room on your own No just holding the torch, really, for the full kind of 40 to 50 minutes, whatever we do, and sort of people wanting to listen to me on my own. I can't really believe that.

Just think it's better to have a conversation. But I think with the help of lots of voice notes and stuff and lots of questions, I probably could do it. What bargain purchase have you had post-Christmas so far? A bargain purchase? Bargain purchase. In all honesty, darling, my purchasing sort of stops now. I haven't really bought anything because I sort of overdo it in December.

The next purchase will be Elliot's birthday. In January? Yes. Yes. Yeah. But I haven't, I haven't, what have you you have you had a bargain then an absolute bargain and i'm so pleased with myself oh good tell me about it i have bought two sets of 400 warm white battery-powered christmas lights excellent and i'm telling you now January is the month to be buying those

go on they were like nothing it was like £5 I think wow it was like £12 delivered for both sets

that's brilliant you try buying those before Christmas won't be able to no that's what I like about you in January really into the

Christmas stuff aren't you yeah I mean I was thinking about buying some more mince pies I don't know about mince pies

all you're finding in the shops now are easter eggs I know did you see the photo I sent you earlier it's ridiculous

isn't it ridiculous a proper aisle in a big supermarket chain Did you see the photo I sent you earlier? It's ridiculous. Isn't it ridiculous? A proper aisle in a big supermarket chain. You can say Tesco's. A whole aisle. Yeah, but don't pass. A whole aisle. Easter.

Something for people to look forward to, I've told you. No, sorry, it's ridiculous. Michael McIntyre's big show's back on soon. Yes. Which is going to be's back on soon. Yes. Which is going to be very, very good. Yes, I look forward to that. And Ant and Dex Saturday Night Takeaway is no more, which really still upsets me.

But Limitless Win is on, which is brilliant. Do you remember the time we were sat watching Michael McIntyre? No, sorry, I'm talking absolute rubbish. Do you remember the time we were sat watching the telly and you got a text message that was really random? Yes. And you wrote quite a witty reply. Yes. Because we guessed that the person was on.

Danny, wasn't it? Danny Dyer. Danny Dyer texted. And it was a really random question. And you made, it was very funny. I knew straight away. It was a good joke. Yeah. And it got read out.

It did. That was good, that. It was really good. I'd like to be on there now, though. Not just being read out. I'd like to be in the balcony section where they take your phone. Yeah. Or I'd like to do the midnight game show.

Although I would pass out and have a heart attack. If someone woke me up. Because I'd think we we're being burgled and it'd be finished i'll be dead anyway so i don't know how that would work but i'd love to do the midnight game show okay my favorite i could not keep that secret one of One of my favourite things to watch if I am feeling down. Is Gina De Campo? No. No. Alison Hammond.

Oh, that is brilliant. Alison Hammond and Rusty Lee in bed at the Midnight Game Show. Absolutely brilliant. They weren't in bed. Yes, Rusty came in and got in the bed. Did she? And then Michael was telling jokes and their laughter is so contagious. But Jason Donovan.

Contagious or infectious? Oh, God. Laughter is infectious or contagious? I think it's infectious. No, but contagious, no? No. Oh, it can be if everyone starts laughing, I suppose. It's not really a used phrase, is it?

If you yawn and you pass it on. This is unbelievable. No, I'm doing it for the sentence. If you yawn and then pass it on. Yeah. That's contagious, no? That is, yeah. I don't, maybe you can say, of course you can say, you can say whatever you want.

Infectious sounds, I don't know. 077 88 20 19 19. I think I need to start reading the dictionary a bit more. For my age, I don't feel my vocabulary is up to scratch and it upsets me because I do see myself as quite an intelligent person. And as a Scrabble player... I know. Surprisingly.

I know, but I smash it out of the as a Scrabble player. I know. Surprisingly. I know, but I smash it out the park in Scrabble. You're very good at Scrabble. Can we have a game of Scrabble? It's in Pointless with you, isn't it? Might as well get with Joni.

Yeah, no, we'll have a date night. Lovely. Bit of Scrabble, podcast recording in the evening. Sorted. Are you being facetious? There's a word for you.

I couldn't spell it. The only word in the English dictionary that has all the vowels in the right order. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it. I mean, I'm no Susie Dent, but that's not a bad fact. You'd be good in Dictionary Corner. Well, funnily enough, myself and Morgana robinson were going to do that you were um but it was covid times and i can't remember something about screens and we wanted to be near each other that was a bit of a pain but now she's you know your friend yeah can it not be arranged maybe maybe i think it should be I would like to do

8 out of 10 cats does countdown and I'm really upset that Joe hasn't helped me out Joe Wilkinson yeah I mean I know that he doesn't do it and all that but surely they can put a word in

yeah I mean I put a word in with Sandy Toksvig I said Sandy you're not being funny get us on QI and she was very up for it when I did the last leg

do you think she was being sort of no I think she was being serious because I think I could tell there's no bullshit with her she says it how it is

and if I would have said that she would have gone oh no darling it's not for you but she went yes I think that would be a really good idea and I'll mention it

has Morgana messaged you since the podcast? We've had a couple of... See, even that, I know what I want to say and I can't think of the word. We've had a couple of exchanges. Right. Yeah. Have you still sort of continued talking to each other as the same person?

No, not as the same person. No. I was going to send her a voice note soon so she can pop it over to Kate Moss. Why have you not done that? I just haven't done it yet. No. I will do. It'd be quite nice.

I mean, I was... Go on. I know what's coming. You don't. I can read you like... What? Okay, have a guess. What was I going to say? You were going to say it'd be quite nice for you to meet I can read you like what okay have a guess what was I going to say

you were going to say it'd be quite nice for you to meet up maybe you could invite them over maybe Kate Moss could come over for dinner

I'm not interested in Kate Moss coming over Morgana yeah I just think it'd be entertaining I don't know if it's a good thing

I don't know right why would you want that? It's just because it would be funny. I enjoyed the podcast. Yeah. Two of me. Well, no, that's...

I don't know. I mean, if it was cold and we had to start talking about thermostats, I don't know what her take on it would be, but that could be a bit of a nightmare. You're in a really funny mood tonight. Am I? What am I in a funny mood

tonight? What does that mean? I'm not sure, just a funny, I don't know, something about you. Mischievous. Yes,

a little bit mischievous. Yeah, that's a good word. Spell it. I couldn't spell it. Fine. But I know what it means. But why are you

laughing at me now? Because you make me laugh. Oh, good. It is good. Why is that? What, what? I'm making you laugh. I'm not trying to be funny.

You are funny, though. Right, okay. In your own little way. I did laugh a lot at Nat's nieces. Pleased to hear it. So did a lot of people. They never compliment anything

that we say though, do they? Just saying. Oh, here we go. I'm forever talking about them. Entertaining,

that's why. Well, there you go. I'll tell you the reason. The three of us when we get together, we haven't got time. We haven't got time

to dissect anybody else's. It's a little bit more chaotic. And we've got a lot to say. There's a lot that goes on in the three of us. There's a lot. I mean, it could be six people talking. It could be. But it needs to be a little bit more regular, I think,

because we don't have enough time to get everything in. Give the audience what they want, I say. If I had it my way, I'd do one a week with you. I'd be doing it five times a week, but it's not possible. There is absolutely no way. I mean, the only reason I'm sat here now is, as you said to me earlier, I won't repeat exactly what you said to me earlier I'm well I won't repeat exactly what you said

what did I say you said I'm in a bit of difficulty because I've got no podcast to put out on Monday or words to that effect and I'm I could really excuse me that is not the case tonight while you're doing it oh really absolutely not right we

are doing it tonight because you were tired last night. Yeah, I'm tired tonight. I know you are, but you've done it for me, haven't you, sweetheart? You begged me.

I did. You could have just spoken to yourself. I don't want to do that because people love us together. So it's important. Oh. Roger, Roger listens.

Lots of people enjoy all of them like i say darren listens matt pain matt pain brought it up again today he said today at work yeah to our colleagues he was there in the morning only for a few hours but never mind and he said um have you heard my episode of Natalie's podcast? His episode. Oh, here we go. Dining out on it, is he? He's enjoying it. Very good.

So he should. Yeah. He's a lovely bloke. Got to get a picture of him, though, with a cap on. Yes. Because he does look like David Earl Earl who's had a big Christmas we do need to get a picture

you can't save it he doesn't mind I've spoke to him about it no he's just being polite no he's fine

you cannot save it oh come on it's me if you can't have a laugh what's the point it's very rude

it isn't rude. I'm not rude. Had a big Christmas. Well, it's been a lovely evening. Very, very enjoyable. Hasn't that flown by? Yeah. It's gone quick.

I wonder how many people start listening to this. And as soon as I open my mouth, it's like, oh, off, off. It'd be quite interesting to see how many people are clinging on to this last minute. That's what I want to know. Okay. Answers to the WhatsApp, please. Please, can you all tell your friends about it please can you all subscribe to it if you haven't done already because apparently it makes a difference don't

ask why i'm used i'm new to this game well it's easy to find it no but you've got to subscribe so it automatically downloads apparently and it makes it easier because if you're on the tube for example or don't have internet reception on your drive to work or whatever it might be or you don't want to spend money on your data allowance if you've subscribed to it and your phone's at home the moment it comes out it downloads to your phone it's on your phone doesn't cost you anything to listen to it i mean it doesn't cost anything anyway but even data yeah that's good get it in your house on the wi-fi. Don't pay for it individually. Oh, yeah, that's good.

Yeah. Anyway, do that. And please, please send in your messages. Let us know your thoughts on today's pod. It's a bit of a slow start, but, you know, January and all that. And the last thing on that exact subject. How good would it be if all of your regular listeners, if they like it

and they think that people enjoy listening to your podcast, all they've got to do is show someone who hasn't heard it before how to download it, how to listen to it. Yeah.

Because that, funnily enough, Darren, when he came over, he actually said, I don't listen to anything like it listen I've said it

at the very beginning of this there are a huge number of people who don't know how to listen to podcasts but his wife Lisa helped him showed him yep

and now he listens to it whenever he drives he's like I don't listen to the radio I listen to what I want to listen to and he listens to the podcast I like listening to BBC Radio 2 still and over Christmas sorry to bring it up

but Magic FM absolutely fantastic never knew that you were full full on Christmas for the month of December

you need to do a radio show at Christmas it'll be set up your street. I'm onto it. That'd be good, wouldn't it? I'm onto it. That's all I'm going to say. Oh, yeah.

I'm onto it. What are you thinking? I'm onto it. Okay. I'll see you all soon, guys. Have a fantastic first... I'll see you all... Hang on.

It should be great on radio. Imagine it live. Be good. Hang on. Go on, pretend it's live. Don't do live. Brilliant. Great advert.

I've already ought to do radio. I can't do... No, I will do it. I will do it. You're going to do live in February. Has that been out? Is it in the press? Yes.

Very much so. It's been in the press. Fine. Yeah. is it in the press yes very much so it's been in the press fine yeah it was in the press before we were told about doing some live stuff freestanders soon so i haven't got a lot to do on that note wishing you a fantastic beginning to the week I will speak to you on Thursday and I have a really special guest, Donna Ashworth, poet. Please can you follow her on Instagram before listening if you haven't heard of her, at Donna Ashworth. She's amazing. She's got many, many books out. She writes the most beautiful poetry. It's really uplifting, inspiring, touching. She talks about loss, grief, renewal. It's really, really beautiful. And most of all, hope. And it will just be a really nice, gentle end to the week.

So look forward to that. You take care, Mark. Thank you. Thank you, darling. I love you. I love you too. 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 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.