Life with Nat - EP86: Nagging with Auntie Linny #8

Episode Date: February 6, 2025

Nat and Linny take a deep dive into design, magic away the mold, have a puppy panic. And also reflect and think about the future. Enjoy! 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

Hello everybody, welcome to Life with Nat on this very nice Thursday. We are into February, February the 6th and we might have a little present, eh, Auntie Linny? We will indeed. Hi, everyone. It feels like it's been ages, but it hasn't, to be fair. Well, you say that. Our walk at the beginning of the month, January. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, we'll have a little bubba on by the time we do, well, this comes out. So we'll have to say many congratulations to Annalisa and Don. Yeah, yeah. So that's so exciting. And my walk, you know, I always talk about my friend Tina that I walk with. She's got her little bubba coming when this pod comes out today. So, yeah, we're both going to be nonnas.

Congratulations to Michaela. Yeah, congratulations to Michaela in advance. Yeah, we're both going to be nonnas and have lots to talk about. Lots to compare. Yeah, we're both going to be nonnas and have lots to talk about. Lots to compare. Yeah. How ironic. Yeah. Yeah.

So you still walk in every night with Tina? Most days? Most nights when we're not out and about or doing other stuff or trains are delaying her or, you know, the usual trials and tribulations. But, yeah, we walk most nights, Sunday mornings. Lovely. We love it. Come rain or whatever. Yeah, we do it. Yeah, it's good. Oh, you're looking nights, Sunday mornings. Lovely. We love it. Come rain or whatever.

Yeah, we do it. Yeah, it's good. Oh, you're looking good. Thank you. So are you. Lost a few pounds. I have lost a few pounds. Yeah, you look like you have as well.

Good girl. Good. Thank you. Just been trying to eat a little bit better. It's so indulgent, isn't it? December and... Yeah. So it's nice to have a little cleanse and just think about what you're putting in your mouth rather than eating it all.

And January is always the month to do that. As much as I know that you're not, you know, the New Year resolution thing and the dry January. I've been hearing so much about this dry January, which your brother has achieved, I hasten to add. Oh, it's brilliant. Yeah, he smashed it. He's probably at the golf club now sitting by the bar not playing any golf and just drinking i hope he's not yeah he did worked for him it worked for him but i know it's not for everyone but no it's good it's nice to have a little rest from things yeah and a change of routine and

and i was going to say change of scenery but you've got a lovely scenery that bush behind you natalie um looks like it's flourishing. It's looking lovely, that plant, to be fair. Yes. We'll just briefly touch on that. It's not me. I believe you. Thousands wouldn't.

We shall see in time. Time will tell. Is it a show you watch? Yeah, I do, funnily enough. You do? Yeah. And it's really ironic because Dave doesn't. Your brother doesn't watch that.

He said to me after the very first episode, I think, he said to me, you know, it's my sister, Bush. Did he? He did. I went, excuse me? I said, are you watching The Wild Singer? He went, no, I was just flicking through. I went, what?

And you just happened to flick through and you just happened to see the bush. Yeah, he even asked me. Really? Yeah, how funny. I mean, he hasn't mentioned it since, but he said the same thing. He said, is that my sister? Yeah, there's a lot of chat about it. Oh, my goodness me.

It is weird. It's really weird. Yeah. But I suppose the trouble is once you get it in your head that you hear someone in that person you'll then

you convince yourself it is them. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, we'll soon see I guess. Yeah, yeah. You'll be sorely disappointed. What else have we got to talk about? Well, the other thing

I'd like to mention is the girls were saying about their nails and how proud they were that they had kept their nails for an entire two weeks, wasn't it? Would you like to take a photograph of mine? Yeah, okie dokie. And you can share this with the general public. Right.

And then they can maybe guess how long I've had those. Doing it. I've done it. They look absolutely splendid. Oh oh you have no clue how old they are well i can see the regrowth yeah but you still won't get it i'm gonna go it's a record even for me i think i'm gonna go eight weeks where does that take us to yeah it probably is i had them done before your brother's retirement your brother's retirement was on the 10th

of December I think I did them the weekend before which was about nearly two months that's unbelievable it's incredible isn't it and I'll need some

book to get them done when you how do you not lose any with the amount of cleaning you do I wear marigolds yeah but changing the bed and stuff

oh that's what we need to talk about because I think yeah we'll do that in a minute I think I've got a natural long nail bed. Right. So when they're on my nail, I think it's got more to hold on to. I know as they grow out.

But maybe mine don't grow at a huge speed because of obviously my age and stuff. Maybe. It's quite impressive, isn't it? They look unbelievable. I do need to go and get them done. It's bad. Yeah, the stuff. Maybe. It's quite impressive, isn't it? They look unbelievable. I do need to go and get them done. It's bad. Yeah, the beds. Yeah.

How are you talking about bed making on my daughter's pods? That's my remit. I was listening to it and I was like itching to get on with you. So come on then, beds. Right, okay. So I'm going to be actually honest. In the winter, I strip my bed every fortnight. Yeah.

And I'm even, I'm not a sweaty person. Dave's barely in it because he passes out on the sofa. He likes his sofa. The summer, I tend to do it, yeah, once a week because it's watered hot. I'm really, really pleased to hear that because I was thinking I am scum of the earth here. People were saying it's terrible, I do mine twice a week. No.

I haven't got time. I haven't got time. I really haven't got time. But I'm not a sweaty person, neither is Mark. Yeah. Get into bed. And do you know what I sometimes do? Now, this might come across a bit soapy, guys, for a clean freak,

but I'm going to voice it because some people might go, actually, that's a blimmin' good idea. Go on. If I know, like, I'm the only one that's been in that bed, because remember, we've got four bedrooms, four doubles and king-size beds that aren't slept in, so Dave doesn't, because of our routine as well, now he's retired, he doesn't need to be woken up by me,

so we don't always sleep in bed together. Sometimes if I feel like, oh, I just want to freshen it up by me so we don't always sleep in bed together sometimes if i feel like oh i just want to freshen it up like when i do the fortnight thing yeah my fitted sheet i'll rotate it do you mean so the bit of the sheet that i'm laying on oh you'll wash that no i rotate the sheet what's for another bed no to the same bed i'll just rotate the sheet. What, to another bed? No, to the same bed. I'll just rotate the sheet. So the bit I'm laying on may end up at the bottom left-hand corner or the side of the bed I don't sleep on. So it's like I'm sleeping on a fresh bit of sheeting.

That's interesting. Now, your beds always look nice, though, I have to say, don't they? You iron all of your bed covers, though, don't you? All my bed covers, pillowcases, duvet covers get ironed. Yeah. And when I make my bed, it's made. But it looks nice. I find it really hard.

But I think that's because... Do you know what you've got to do? Go on. So when you make your bed, so you shake your duvet, you lay it over your fitted sheet and you do do i know the girls are laughing at you because apparently you pull yours up right to the headboard it's not right to the headboard it's sort of halfway down the pillow yeah that's okay yeah so what i do everything comes off yeah put your fitted sheet on nice and tall and it is hard to, especially if you've got a king-size bed or in Elia's case, I mean, Jesus, I struggle with her bed.

But again, if you've got a deep mattress, you need to be buying your deep. Yes, deep fitted sheets. Fitted sheets because that gives you a little bit more wiggle room to be able to pull it over. And then when you've addressed your duvet, you give it a good old shake over the bed. Yeah. And then what I do after the pillows, after I've plumped up my pillows and I've put them where they belong, so I've got four. Yeah. I then smooth my duvet with my hand.

I go over the duvet and brush it out with my hand. So it sort of takes out any surplus creases and any lumps and bumps that your duvet may have created as you put it on there. So you get kind of that smooth effect. And then I'll put my fro at the end of the bed if you have one. That's a technique. People don't know how to describe it on a pod. It's like you're brushing it with your hand Yeah, yeah, yeah

You're just smoothing it all out So you end up with a smooth finished article Could you take a picture of your bed? Can I? So we can put it on the pod I can do Yeah Excellent

No problemo But I'm pleased to hear that my girls make their beds in the morning Yes And like you said though earlier I don't know how she makes it because it's so big you can't get round. It's not impossible because of the next to me. That's an obstruction. You have to take the next to me out.

Yeah. Someone said, which I found interesting and I think I might try it, someone said that if they've got a double bed, they'll buy a king-sized duvet. Yeah. And larger pillows. Yes. The larger pillows on a king elias pillows are huge yeah

the larger pillows yeah i mean i'm sure it gives immense comfort they will just about fit though the super king so on a king size bed you'd buy a super king duvet yeah but it's just then when you've got to put your duvet cover over that duvet, it's blimmin' hard work. Like I do king size on double. Yeah. Gives you that extra overhang. That's what I mean.

Yeah, it gives you that extra overhang. Personally, I don't actually think you need it on a king size, on a king size bed, I think does the job. Yeah, yeah. To then add a super king on top of a king size, Natalie, it's not far to make up. You need to. It's a two does the job. Yeah, yeah. To then add a super king on top of a king-sized nally, it's not far to make up. You need to. It's a two-man job.

I need to decorate my bedroom. Oh, you've done a good job on the girls. Yeah, they're getting there. Still not finished, though, are they? Is it not? Everything's not finished. Yeah, but that's where you go wrong. And that's, I've said this before. But that's because I can't do

Joni's carpet because of the hallway do you know what I mean because it's so close and that's the problem when you do jobs in stages yeah

because then by the time you get to bedroom number three say yours yeah it could be a whole year down the line by which time

you'll be going oh I don't actually want the carpet I've put in Eliza's room or Joan's. If you wanted to keep everything consistent, I love floorings to flow. It makes your house look bigger, not that yours needs to,

but it gives you, especially if you're in a moderately sized house, it gives you that consistency. Any flooring... Sort of lines, isn't it? It's clean lines. Yes, it's clean lines, it's continuity,

and it just gives the illusion of more space. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that. See, I can't do my bedroom before I do my en suite. Absolutely not. No way. Absolutely not. So that's the next job, really, are the bathrooms up here.

It's interesting we're having this conversation because I've just been to visit a property that's been refurbished. Oh, yeah. And I feel like, and I get it, when you're doing it you know it's a job you've got to knock it out quickly because we've got to re-let it and I've gone in and it's what you know standard white walls grey carpets all very nice new kitchen new bathroom all very neutral but then I'm walking in and he's probably hating me now because I was like walking in and going oh um how come the banisters uh the handrail

on the badister hasn't been painted oh because this contractor's going up and down I said oh so you're going to paint it now after you've laid the carpet yeah yeah then you go into another room and you can see they've had to change a socket and so there's damage around the socket and they've had to remove a telephone wire so that's caused damage there so there's all touching up to be done after everything's been done. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm probably their worst nightmare. I am very much, you try and do things in... In the right order.

In the right order. Not always easy to achieve. No. Because you're living here, you're itching to get the girls' rooms done, but like you've just said now, you don't want to do Joanie's carpet, A, because she's still quite young and going to cause damage, no doubt, to the carpet with what they do, pens and all sorts. Paint and plain dose.

And also because you can see it from your hallway and therefore you want to use. I would like that to be the same as the hallway. But then I say that, I've got an idea in my head that I would really like a patterned carpet. Yeah, well, we're not going to let you do that. So that's irrelevant. Oh, fine. Why can't i have a pattern carpet am i not no absolutely not shocker sauce that's even that

for me if you're gonna have a different landing stairs carpet because some people have like a deep red or you know whatever something completely different i still think it's nice to then have all your bedrooms the same so you've got consistency yeah yeah no i agree with that i do understand that but what have you put in eliza's room on the floor i feel like that's different she got new car yeah but that's a completely separate and you've got a different carpet in here yeah yeah so your room's already different yeah so Then you've got a different carpet in here. Yeah. Yeah. So your rooms are already different. Yeah, they are. So to be fair.

Get a new carpet down in Joni's room. Don't worry about it. Yeah, because you've already broken the theme. And because your bedrooms are all kind of in different. It's quite big. You're upstairs now. Everything's in a different area. You kind of can't see every room.

Like my house. If all my bedroom doors are open. You can see each room. Yes. Exactly. Yes. Whereas you haven't got that here. No. You maybe have it with your guest room and Joni's room.

So those two rooms. You'd do the same. But I only want neutral anyway. Yeah. So your bedroom, Eliza's room and this room doesn't really matter. No. So you're right. With Joni's room.

It just needs to be the same as the spare room next to it yeah and ideally I would try and bring that into my landing yeah

because if they leave those doors open but we're being really picky if they leave the doors open it will look weird it won't look weird it just means you don't have that continuity

yeah no I get it so maybe something to think about is this the most boring pod in the world? Oh, sorry, guys. No, not you.

I was just saying we were chatting away about the hair. No, we've just got carried away. We were chatting about your... I would love to hear other people's opinions, though, on the carpet, what we've been talking about. Yeah, it's interesting. Interior design. Absolutely.

Because I'm useless at it. And I love it. You love it and I don't enjoy it. I love looking at stuff, but I don't... I just don't enjoy it. Although I do think I did well in my lounge. did the what you know I did have help with no your lounge is beautiful you've absolutely smashed it it's all right and again the key I think we've discussed this before I think one thing I got right with mine bear in mind Natalie I've been there 29 years

it's timeless yeah there's areas that have dated. Yeah, of course. You know, my curtains and stuff. But the hall flooring, the dining room flooring, it's timeless. The lounge, it's not really. No, I agree. And when you're spending a lot of money, you've got to consider that too. Yeah, definitely.

It's all very well to go with fads. But they go out of fashion quickly. And if you're spending good money getting things built and, you know, expensive paints, if you're going down the Farron Ball route, that could cost a lot of money. You want longevity with this stuff. And if you've got young children that are going to cause damage

along the way, you kind of got to think about what you're doing. I need to do the bathrooms. I've got to do, I mean, my shower, it's got mould round it that I can't get off oh well well well well i think i can um well actually i've got to give an elisa credit here so she's not going to mind me saying this i was around hers last saturday we were doing all baby stuff getting all the car seats and everything ready everything ready and uh whilst i was there obviously i'm in the kitchen and i'm just sort of making my way

through cleaning the odd cupboard under the sink I do love to clear out an under sink cupboard yeah lovely seems nobody else does sorry Annalie then she said to me Lynn help me I'm having a real problem with my washing machine right to be fair it was not a brand new appliance albeit an expensive one that had come from Ells Bells yeah what was wrong was wrong with it? Oh, she said it smelled really bad. Oh, yeah, fine. So I said, well, you need to put a washing machine cleaner through it. She said, I have. I've done a couple of rounds and it's still not getting rid of the smell.

So I've opened it up, looked at the seal. Oh, my goodness me. It was a treat. Probably in my top five of worst seals I've seen. But she said it had already come a little bit mouldy. So, Elliot, you're going to take credit for some of the mould or they're going to kill me, the girls, after this pod. There is something at the washing machine seal

where I've had that where you think, oh, it really smells. I know this sounds stupid but if you don't know to look in it, it is a lesson that you need to be taught. Right, so I'm going to educate people then. Ultimately, the seals, what happens with them is water remains inside yes but this mold had reached the outer seal as well the whole bottom half of the seal was moldy like bad so yes i appreciate that some people would not think to open up the seal and inside there you're going to find coins kirby grips exactly and they rust yes and then they cause damage to the seal so i said to annalee so oh god this is going to be a

task the only thing i could think of doing was using a mold spray on a cloth and i was going to put it inside the seal leave it overnight and that would work on it and hopefully we could i said we're never going to get all of this off but we'll have a go and get some of it off anyway by magic she says lindry i bought this product do you want to give that a go never heard of it right uh is that mold remover gel guys from amazon it's called i'm not sure if i'm pronouncing it. Oh, pop it up. Oh, yeah, do that. Anyway, I said to her, give me that. So I've... Doused it. So I've doused it in this gel.

I said to her, it says to leave it for five hours. I said, do you need the washing machine later? She said, no. I said, well, just leave it overnight. Then tomorrow morning, either I'll come back, or if you can do it, just get a damp cloth and wipe it. Yeah, because I've done it before where I open it all up and then I get loads of kitchen roll and I scrape out what's in there

before putting it through the cleaning wash thing. And I scrape all the stuff out and it's rank. Well, we've done this exercise. The following day, Annalisa sends me a photograph of the washing machine seal. Yeah. Oh. Well, I mean, I'm absolutely, well, that's it now that this is going to be i'm going to be recommending it to every tenant it's incredible it's brand new i'll put all this up i'm going to

put it all up it's brand new so guys if any of you have got a moldy seal in your washing machine or anywhere so mastic well this is what i'm thinking i need to get this now for the mastic i should have bought you one she She bought straight away, lover. She's ordered me. They come in packs of two, this particular one. Right. And she's ordered me two. Is it expensive?

No. Tenner? Right. It's really not. But it is incredible. Because I've always been told through my job that generally you cannot, once the seal's gone mouldy, it's nigh on impossible to clean them. Yeah.

So what we do is get them replaced. And they're about £100 to replace. Yeah, of course. Or our professional cleaners give it a go and then they charge us. Again, a substantial amount of money, £50, £60. Oh, you've had it off? Oh, no, this is incredible. So I cannot wait to get home and use it on someone else.

So I will get that. Yeah. And I will put it on my white mastic, which is black. Yeah. Leave it overnight. And then just wipe it off. So maybe do it of an evening. Yeah. Leave it overnight and then just put it on my white mastic, which is black. Yeah, leave it overnight. And then just wipe it off. So maybe do it of an evening. Yeah.

Leave it overnight and then just give it a wipe and we'll see if it works. I've not tried it on mastic yet. Right, okay. I'm going to do that when I get home. I've got a little bit that's going to be it. And somewhere around my window, my en suite window seals. Yeah, with the condensation and the showers, all of that.

But as for washing machine seals, it's a miracle worker. It's brilliant. Fantastic. So well done, Annalise. But as for washing machine seals, it's a miracle worker. It's brilliant. Fantastic. So well done, Annalisa. Credit to you for that one. This is an ad from BetterHelp Online Therapy. We always hear about the red flags to avoid in relationships,

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Kerry on Facebook said oh can I also say thank you to everybody who is on life with Nat Facebook page I don't really talk about it a lot and I don't get on there as much as I should because I've got the business whatsapp and I use Instagram lot. But I've got loads of people on there who follow the pod and talk amongst yourselves, and I'm going to be more active on there, I promise you. So I put a little message out on Facebook, and we got this from Kerry Searchfield. Auntie Linny, how do I get – oh, it's all right, Kerry.

We've just spoke about it for 10 minutes. She's talking about mould off the shower silicone. So there you go, Kerry. Oh, yeah. Try that. Yeah, absolutely. Kerry we've just spoke about it for 10 minutes she's talking about mould off the shower silicone so there you go Kerry oh yeah try that yeah absolutely how does Claire Thompson get rusty watermarks out of a laminate worktop it was from a leaky boiler she's tried everything I can think of she tried white vinegar white vinegar a bit of abrasive, an abrasive cleaner. I mean, a laminate worktop, it's not like a, unfortunately, it absorbs, it will absorb the rust.

So it might be. But white vinegar, you'd be amazed. She needs to give that a go. I would go down the white vinegar route. Okay. An abrasive cleaner of sorts, a SIF or a barkeeper. The barkeeper's very good. Yeah.

Maybe give that a go and just with an abrasive cloth, just keep going at it. Keep going round and circling motions. Yeah. Yeah. Fair enough. Rust is a bit of a bugger as well, to be fair. Rachel Parnell said,

Hi Nat, I've just caught up with all the episodes i love them all thank you for doing them and making me laugh if you get a chance please can you ask auntie what is the best item or product to clean blinds is there a handy gadget to buy or any tips my blinds always seem dusty no matter what i do what sort of blinds are they she's just put blinds always seem dusty no matter what I do. What sort of blinds are they? She's just put blinds. Yeah, it depends what the blind is. If it's a Roman blind, you hoover. I hoover it. A Roman blind, yeah, because they're just dust collectors.

If it's a Venetian wooden blind, I feel your pain. You've just got to go over each one, haven't you? I mean, I've got them in one of my rooms. I can't wait to take them down if I refurbish the place. Yeah, they're hard work. The key for those are regular cleaning, but who's got time? You can buy the tong where it's like a little sponge and you've got a little wipe on it.

Yeah, and it slots in between every Venetian blind and you just dust it as you go along. I mean, i've tried mine with soapy water and actually i closed them so they're all one sheet and go over my goodness it is an absolute awful job real pain yeah so i do feel your pain i don't think there's any miracle um tool for that you it's just patience and perseverance but the tool that sits in between each slat that you just yeah it's got like a dust i know what you mean that sits in between each slat that you just... Yeah. It's got like a duster.

I know what you mean. It's like a duster that slots in between it and you just go through them individually. But it's... It's a pain in the arse, isn't it? The Venetian blinds are dust collectors. Alison Dawn said, any tips for the inside of the air fryer?

I have an oven type Ninja one and it's impossible to keep clean. Yeah, I don't understand that. I send a picture but I'm too embarrassed. I don't understand, Alison. I just wash, I clean. Every time I wash i clean i don't even have the inserts you know you can buy the silicone inserts yes i don't even have those no i don't every time i use it i clean yeah i wipe it just wipe it around bit of soapy water yeah i think allison you might have left it a bit too

long in which case you might just have to leave it soaked, soapy water, leave it soaking overnight and then hopefully you can just wipe and clean. I'm not sure what you've done in there. What are you cooking in there, Alison? That's what we want to know. Regular cleaning is actually easier than doing it once in a blue moon. Yeah, definitely.

Yeah, it's just keeping on top of stuff. Yeah, definitely. Talking of cleaning, I've just got to share this information. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say this, but I i'm as i've probably said in the past i'm not a great online shopper no so anyway going away in a couple of weeks with maria and the kids yeah lovely wait um and so i did a little can i say where i've ordered the stuff from? Yeah. Okay, so I did a little ASOS shop. Yeah. For ease. Anyway, everything arrives.

It wasn't much. I'd literally bought a dress, which, lovely, fit me. I was, like, really happy. I thought, oh, that's good because I hate returning things. I know. I do. So I did this ASOS shop, lovely jubbly. Bought myself a nice Nike sweatshirt top,

which I knew would fit me because I've got a grey one that the girls had bought me. I thought, I'll buy the equivalent in black. Yeah. And a few other bits. I've put the sweatshirt top on. And for the purpose of the pod, I'm going to show Natalie what it looked like. But it was just covered in stains. How bad is that? What's that oil?

I don't know. I think someone's worn it, either gone out in it or cooked in stains. How bad is that? What's that, oil? I don't know. I think someone's worn it, either gone out in it or cooked in it and returned it. Oh, dear. And they've sent it to me. Oh, dear. That's poor, isn't it? I had an old sock, didn't I, in a boot?

We're having a right old go at ASOS. Oh, was that ASOS as well? Yeah. Yeah, well, they might want to have the anti-ASOS. Not great. And this is what I don't like about it. And then you've got to return it. I know.

It's a faff. It is quite easy once you get used to doing it. It's just habit, isn't it? Yeah. But then if I was in a shop, I would never have bought that sweatshirt covered in stains. No. I would have taken it to the till and said,

you might want to put that around the back. Yeah. It's terrible. Not good. Sorry, guys, just having a little rant. Mark's been eBaying a lot of stuff, you know, all bits and pieces that we've had over the years. It's brilliant.

I love it. He's had a little bit of time. He's chucked stuff on. He sold a Sonos speaker today, which doesn't work. It's not working. He's put it on the thing. Not working. It's amazing what people will buy.

25 quid. Because someone might buy that just for the parts. I remember Carboo years ago, Hoover. I think it was actually the Sebo, you know, like my replay. I've upgraded mine. But I was completely honest. A guy came over. He went, I love that.

How much do you want for it? I can't remember. It was probably nothing, a five or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I said, no, but it doesn't work. He went, that's fine. I'll have it for the parts oh it's amazing what people buy

and I love the fact that we recycle I do what we're throwing away someone else is going to make great use of it's true it's so so true

I do love that have I done a pod since I did the garage out no oh what you done so guys whilst we were on the subject of cleaning,

David and I decided that we would spend one Sunday absolutely clearing out the garage. I can't believe this has only just come up. Well, that's how long we haven't spoken. Because you need to tell them what you found. Yeah, so I was on a mission in January to try and do a bit of like a spring clean at home. So for any free time I get.

January, February, March, April. I mean. No, no. It was a January spring clean. Right. But it was. Yeah, yeah. I've done loads of cupboards out, drawers out and day much the same.

But the garage was a big job. So we thought we would spend a Sunday that we knew we were going to be at home. Albeit we had lots of visits that day. People popping in, which stopped us. But hey, ho anyway so we were doing this clear out yeah and i may have mentioned this previously that we'd lost our vinyls you did and guess what turned up the old vinyl that is so good i mean these vinyls are like 50 40 30 years old and we thought we'd lost them and i'm so pleased and we were and we were like oh my goodness so they weren't we didn't throw them away good we must have put them in this cupboard and just when we've looked you just not really look properly maybe i know yeah so the

vinyls turned up so spring cleaning works, because you'll find things that you thought you'd lost. That's really good. Yeah. So why was I mentioning the old, what was we talking about? Oh, the spring clean, the garage. Oh, it's brilliant. Oh, and the fact that obviously, again, we were pulling things out and rather than just getting rid of it,

we were like rubbish, car boot, charity. Yes. Doing that. So we have built up a little bit of stuff for car boot which we'll probably never do but yeah it's brilliant the recycling so good on mark the other thing is facebook marketplace is brilliant everyone does it it's absolutely brilliant i know you just track it on and someone will come and collect it yeah i know even if it doesn't matter but someone's going to get rid of it for you. Absolutely. It's brilliant. No, I agree. I agree.

The only thing with that is you get people to turn up. Yeah, they turn up. I'm just going to say that. I had a lovely lady who was a massive fan of the pod, Grab Something. But she turned up and she was like, it's lovely to meet you. And I'm a fan of the pod. So no, it's really lovely. But you've just got to be a little bit cautious.

But she was great. So I can't remember her name now. But yeah, she was down in Statsford, Abbotson. She picked up a couple of things lovely lady yeah what about have I told you about

my walk last Sunday you text me and said I've got flowers and chocolates from my neighbour I've been out with my neighbour

and we've had a debacle about a dog yeah so it'd be interesting to know how many of you listeners, like I live in a no-through road, so only people going up the road are people that live there or visit. And people like where Elliot lives, they're in a WhatsApp group, like all the neighbours.

So we've never really, as a a road we've never really done that but by default I've ended up in a whatsapp chat yeah that involves some of my neighbors like my end of the road yeah and an adjacent road right because of a development that they were meant to be that was meant to be going up that people weren't happy about so it was just a method of communicating about these blocks of flats that they were going to build. Yeah, yeah. That hasn't seemed to materialise, frankly. So anyway, I was walking on Sunday again with Tina,

our usual morning walk. Yeah. And as we're walking, we've done about an hour and a half, and we're walking back. And whilst we were walking, my phone pinged, and it was this WhatsApp group that I'm in. And there was a photograph of a little puppy and one of the neighbours, not in my road, in the adjacent road, saying, does anyone recognise this dog?

Anyway, as I'm walking up my road, there's a lady who I didn't know, transpires she lives in my road, looking quite fraught, bless her heart. And I've been there, so I did feel for her, like running towards us. And she's gone, don't suppose you, I said, have you lost your dog? She went, yeah. So I showed her the photograph that had pinged on my phone. I said, is this him or her? She went, yeah, that's my puppy. So I said, oh.

She said, have you found it? I said, no. I said, and I explained the whole group thing. Anyway, long story short, guys, I ended up spending a good hour with Kay, is her name. She won't mind me mentioning it. Where was the dog? So it turned out the dog had, she had gone to the gym.

Her husband was working. He's let the puppy out in the garden. The dog's managed to escape the garden and he's ended up in a very busy road called Brooksbourne High Road. Oh dear. Couple found the dog. They were asking people as they randomly walked in. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. And this, the lady that sent the photograph,

it was her daughter that had been approached. Right. She was clever enough to take a photograph of the dog, but she didn't get the couple's details. No. So whilst we knew the dog was safe and it was with this couple. You couldn't find it? We didn't know how to so how did you find it

well they said they were going to take it to the local vet of course all vets are shut on a Sunday in our area Elia's got on it because she's like inspect the clues yeah Poirot's turned up yeah she's half so good so can you get it on Facebook but our neighbouring

our adjacent road had already put it on Facebook thankfully anyway long story short there's this lady called Candice who, if your dog's been chipped, which this dog had been chipped, she's able to determine who the owner is. Right. Anyway, through that, Elliot's direct messaging her saying, my mum's with the owner of this dog.

Have you got her? Long story short. Anyway, you found the dog. Yeah, so, and bless Kay, she was like, in the end, she ended up popping around with her, which she didn't need to do because, yeah, I did stay with her. I couldn't leave her. I felt so fraught for her. But it was just interesting to see how, A, social media.

Oh, it's so good for stuff like that. Is an amazing tool for stuff like this. Absolutely. And the old WhatsApp group, because if I hadn't been in that group, I don't know what stage she would have realised that her dog was safe. Yeah, of course. So just interesting to see. I've got a WhatsApp group with the neighbours here. Oh, so you do.

A few of us. Yeah, no, I'm good. Oh, talking of neighbours, I've got the best invite I've ever had. Am I allowed to say? It's a surprise. Oh, it won't be a surprise. No, I know, but I don't think she would ever had. Am I allowed to say it's a surprise? No, it won't be a surprise. No, I know, but I don't think she would ever know. Is it a surprise like birthday party?

One of my neighbours is turning 90. Oh, and they're having a little thing. And they're having a do. How lovely of them to invite us in June. Oh, lovely. Isn't that lovely? Really nice. Oh, bless her.

Oh, she's immaculate, my neighbour. She's absolutely, she looks amazing. She's always smart. So they haven't put this in the WhatsApp chat, obviously. This is not. No, no, this is not. This is a completely. This is a paper form.

Right. For the neighbour. Well, again, us, last weekend. Yeah. Weekend, last weekend or the weekend, no, weekend before, talking of neighbours and WhatsApp groups. So we've got neighbours of ours which have lived in our road for 43 years. They've sold their house. They're moving locally, but to be near their son.

They invited the neighbours. This was not via WhatsApp, though, by a little note in the door. All welcome for drinks between this time and that time. Anyway, it turned out we were looking after Amelia Sunday because Dominic and Alisa had gone out with your brother Tony who's on the pod and his wife, which was very sweet of them to take them out for dinner. So I ended up going with my neighbours, Maria and Jim. What a lovely, I didn't want to come away. It's a really lovely afternoon.

But isn't it mad how you can live in a road? I've been there 29 years. What, and you've never met them? I knew, obviously, the couple that had invited us. Yeah. But not that well. But then you're meeting other neighbours. I think it's great.

Who you've, I mean, they seem, one particular neighbour seemed to know who I was and all you guys, because he's got a plate of butchers in Richmond Hill. But it's mad that you're meeting neighbours or talking to neighbours that you barely see. Yeah, absolutely. It was a really lovely few hours. I come away thinking, oh, I'd really like to have like a bit of a... A soiree.

Yeah, with all the neighbours. Yeah. But do you know what it does as well, Natalie? I feel like that if ever I was on my own... Oh, absolutely. I mean, I feel safe because I've got Jim and Maria next door who are friends and obviously Mick and Joy that I've been next door to them for nearly 30 years of course but it still gives you another layer of security it really honestly does

and for the newbies I think it's nice like we've got a young couple that have had a baby Todd and his wife again I've met them because of walking. Yeah. And he's out walking his dog and that's how we've kind of got chatting and transpires. We've got mutual friends. No, it's really good. It's lovely.

It's nice for them because then they get to know the neighbours and if anything was ever to happen or they need anything, they feel comfortable to be able to just call you or text you or knock on your door. No, I completely agree. So, 07788201919, Like this lovely story of finding the puppy, have you got anything that's happened to you, which has the WhatsApp group, the neighbours chat, you know, has benefited you? And if you've got a really nice story about it, let me know

because I think that's really lovely. Or you might have a neighbours from hell story that you might want to share with us because I guess that's the flip side of it if you end up with a neighbour and you think oh god doesn't leave you alone yeah that scenario it was it's interesting because over the last few weekends I've met more neighbours that I've met in the years I've been there no it's good it's So, yeah, just be good to know what other people's thoughts are on that. Well, I've had a bit of a mad couple of days. Well, I was just going to say, I'm reading some of the posts. Patsy Palmer's was one I read this morning.

It made me cry, actually. Bless her. So, the Cassidys are having a bit of an end of an era we had Dave leaving Barclays after 43 years yeah you leaving EastEnders after how many years 31 32 yeah yeah wow way yeah oh Natalie how does you read you're ready you're ready for a change of yes I'm definitely ready but it still is very emotional of course it must be massively overwhelming and it's going to be even more so as you get closer to the day that you leave because I'm sure they're going to give you a lovely send-off

and make it really special for you yeah that'd be nice and then all your colleagues all sharing so many I think the biggest thing about anywhere you work if you've got a great place to work is the people of course and as much as

they become your family yeah and as much as I'll miss sort of the part of Sonia and the work I'm really going to miss a lot of people and not just the people

you see on television no it's all the people in the cup it's the makeup it's the prop boys it's the lighting guys you know and you will do the makeup, it's the prop boys, it's the lighting guys, you know. And you will do the whole, we will stay in touch.

You will stay in touch with some of them. Yeah. But it's impossible because you move on and you'll be busy and it's amazing how quickly you adapt and adjust and then that's... I'm just not at home at all at the moment. Oh, it's crazy. I'm not at home. I'm leaving at six, getting home at eight.

Welcome to real world. Yeah. Well, I'm coming out of it. I'm not doing it. You're lucky that you're able to... I feel very lucky that I am building a life which suits me. But also I feel very proud of that because I have done it myself. Of course.

You know, I have initiated the stuff that I'm doing and I know that I want to have a better quality of life more time with the children you want a life and work balance I do I do and I know that's near and impossible for some people I met someone the other day in the street said hello had a photo and she said I'm just off to my job she had three jobs she did three different jobs in one day and she did it every day just to make ends meet and just to put food on the table for no luxuries at all it's incredible how hard people work and the cost of living and everything you know I was having a conversation with my MD actually the other day and we were saying how we talk about salaries and what people are earning

and some of these salaries are phenomenal salaries. But it's still not enough. No. Because unfortunately life now is so expensive and people have more expectations in terms of the car they drive the clothes they wear the holidays they have the things they want their children to do as maria was saying on the pod the other day the clubs the thing yeah you know the swimming the football clubs the drama clubs the karate clubs or judo, whatever.

It's all money and it does all add up and everything is so more expensive now. So, yeah, for people to… What do you think the average UK salary is in this country? Well, I'm probably the wrong person to ask because, obviously, we're very fortunate as a family in terms of what we earn and what we do. But, again, you know, my children have been working from the age of 16. Absolutely. You know, as have I. Yeah.

I feel like I should know this answer, Natalie. The average salary in the UK or in our area, in the UK. Well, I'm going to be really conservative and say something like, please let it be at least 30k a year 37 oh roughly i said i'll be conservative because i didn't want to go yeah 37 roughly 37 ish you know that's a gross salary natalie by the time you've paid your tax and national insurance it's crazy isn, isn't it? How can you survive? If you're a couple and you've got a child, you can't... Well, certainly not in our area.

You both need to be working. Absolutely. And even then, you're having a, you know... But taking stock and making the decision that I made, I genuinely mean it. Hopefully I'm going to be fine and I'll financially kind of, I'll be on a par with what I'm used to, shall we say. But even if that didn't happen,

I think that I would rather not do certain things. You'd rather compromise lifestyle. I think I'd rather compromise lifestyle. Yeah, you're a home bird, aren't you? Yeah, and I think now Joni's eight, she'll be nine this year. Eliza's 14, she'll be starting mocks and stuff next year. I really want to be around. Those exam years are meant to be extremely stressful, aren't they?

Very. So I want to be around. Well, but again, you are very fortunate. I mean, this week she's got a GCSE option evening and it's impossible, I can't get there. Yeah, that's really upsetting actually. But again, you can't get there because schedules don't allow and there's no one who can do my job.

I do get it, I understand. It's a huge machine and I just can't get there because I'm so busy. But I don't want to miss stuff like that anymore. No. And then therefore something has to give. Yeah. And the thing is, with your job, I guess, if you get a job whereby it may take you out of action for three months

and where you're out every day or, you know, three days a week. Yeah, yeah. You know, it will give you potentially an income that if you didn't work for the next three months yeah possibly there's not many you know it's interesting you are in a different it's it's a very different like you say different way of life because everything people keep saying what you're going on to what you're doing and actually there's a few little bits and pieces boring i can't talk about yet but i don't feel worried because I'm doing the pod and I love the pod.

You've got that continuity of the pod. So that's really important. And I want to really do concentrate on it and do more, get some more guests and just carve the episodes a bit more. So I've got more time to listen to everyone's voice notes and give each one a shape. Like that takes time. This really, this part, I am knocking them out. Everyone's saying they're loving it, don't get me wrong, and it's brilliant, but I don't feel that I am achieving

the standard that I want to achieve on it with editing or some little sounds and just things that, you know, I think will make it even better. And maybe having a bit more time to be able to think about what you're going to discuss or chat or do research. Because I'm not saying you're winging it, but to a degree, it's just a casual chat at the moment. Whereas you could have more content if you have time to do some research.

Exactly. But as you say, these things, you know, do take time. If you don't, what's the saying? If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. And that's a very true saying. Anna Sher used to say, proper preparation prevents poor performance. Well, there you go. Anna's theatre, I went to Anna Sher as a child,

and that was my drama club school, if you wish. And the theatre turned 25 I believe last weekend I couldn't make any of the celebrations just because I am so full-on busy but me and Patsy were talking and you said she put up this post Patsy but we were together the other day Patsy, myself, Tamikaika Sid Owen there's a lot of people I wasn't with Sid but we were talking about

all the people that came from Anna's and none of us would be doing what we are doing if we didn't have that little working class place to go

none of us would be doing what we're doing there's not a lot out there for people who are just bog standard,

normal families, working class. Yeah, because when you think back, that is quite a well-known, successful drama. And you could go in for £2.50. And I remember you saying to your mum, what's that costing you? She went, a couple of quid. It was two quid. A couple of quid on a Saturday. Yeah. And look what's come from that.

It's amazing. And there should be more places like that. Well, you've got, we've got PQA, haven't we? Pauline. Absolutely.

Which, and that, can we just say, what's terribly, terribly sad news. Because she's someone you saw, we've grown up with, isn't she?

And you kind of feel like you know her. And because of, yeah, the, obviously her drama schools as well. We've got one of our daughters. Pauline went to Anna's. No.

Pauline and Linda went to Anna's. Yeah. Again, Anna Sher did so much with that theatre. It's quite incredible. But there are a lot of fantastic people who went to Anna's who are going to carry it on and do stuff, like really amazing stuff. So is that still, Anna Sher, is that still deemed you know people still coming from her drama school um with like it is all a bit complicated actually because the anna share building itself isn't anna's and the ethos of anna's so they've still got the name right but

there are old friends of mine who are doing it in a location down the road and they're going to be doing everything the same as how anna did it so they're basically mimicking mimicking but with total respect to anna so that's going to be amazing oh interesting really really good and it keeps people off the streets absolutely and it gives young we'll look at little even little ruby i know already she's this is her third but even the one you're talking about and pqa they're brilliant but they're pricey yeah so it was still very very different in what we did because it was one pound 50 when i first started and you chuck it in a, you'd pop it in and you'd go in. And I know people are going to say, yeah, but £1.50 30 years ago. Yeah.

But it was still nothing. When I remember your mum telling me, I still remember thinking, God, that's cheap. Yeah, it was. When you think where you could, well, where you have landed. I know it was in Islington and, again, I think there's a difference to going to, like, a drama school in London to maybe some of our little villages and towns.

Yeah, maybe. Because, like, PQA, who went to that one? Eliza. Both. Both girls. They loved it. So did you feel that was like going to Anna's? No.

No. So there's a difference. No, but Anna's was unique. Yeah. It was unique. You'd stand in a room with all different people working class people you'd read poetry

you'd learn about religion you'd learn about racism you'd I got more out of going to Anna's than any school than you got at school yeah interesting

amazing she was amazing so it was her it was her she was incredible yeah I owe her a lot I think she'd be very proud of me

for making these decisions that I'm making we're proud of you Natalie thank you we are it's incredible and it's a brave decision it's a brave decision

it is hard to just leave the ease and convenience financially absolutely the stability of it all it's a brave decision but sometimes in life

you do have to take risks you've got to and if they pay off you may be in a better place as you say even if you sustain financially what you're earning now yeah the fact that you may have a little bit more freedom and a bit more time for your home life and your goals and for mark absolutely um it's a it's a you will have achieved what you need to but more importantly

you're going to be able to do pick and choose what you want to do hopefully hopefully it'll be exciting because I haven't even thought about

auditioning again yeah I'm going to get some new photos done for Spotlight that's the Spotlight is where all of the actors

and actresses so you don't know what could come from that. Yeah, no, I'm going to get some photos done. I'm going to change my hair up a little bit, be a bit different. But I think you're going to be hugely missed as Sonia. Do you? Oh, my goodness me.

It's been a lifetime, Natalie. I had some really beautiful messages. I will read a couple out that I got. I mean, really overwhelming. Really, really nice hi Nat just seen your story on Instagram leaving EastEnders wow a new chapter awaits I just know you have so so many new pathways to take it must be so so exciting albeit a little nervous making changes are scary but good at the same time nothing stays the same that bring it all on sending love and best

wishes take care that's from our debs oh well very well said debbie she's absolutely spot on really really nice and i got this from kim um from morden essex congratulations on your decision to leave eastenders you'll be very mr sonja however having had you always in my life on screen and now in my ears on your pod i totally understand why you think it's time for a change you deserve it i'm so excited love the pod so much and lovely and that's the thing people that follow you yeah and have an interest in you and feel they know you whether it's as sonja or natalie yeah they've got the pod yeah this pod as well as your pod with joanna yeah absolutely it's niceia or Natalie, they've got the pod. Yeah. This pod, as well as your pod with Joanna. Yeah, absolutely.

And I'm sure we're going to be seeing a lot of Natalie on the screen, even if she does decide to dress as a bush. You have to ruin it. It's not you, we know. But I'm sure we're going to see you popping up on that. As you say, you've done quite a bit of work already. Well, there's a Channel 4 presenting job that I did. That's out in April.

So everyone can see that. That would be really lovely. There's some, yeah, talks of other bits and pieces. But it'd be great to do some acting. I would love to play a different role and surprise people. Yeah. I would love to really get my teeth into something. Something completely different. I could see you in a period drama, Natalie. Oh, I'd love to do that. We've always said that. I would love to really get my teeth into something. Something completely different.

I could see you in a period drama, Natalie. Oh, I'd love to do that. We've always said that. I'd love to. And also a bit of presenting. I can see you presenting. A bit of comedy. I mean, look.

Who knows? What did Del Boy used to say? Your world is your... What was it he said? Was it Del Boy that used to say? The world is your oyster. Yeah, something he used to say. No, he just used to say this time next year would be millions and i hope so well he said that to

you yeah well yeah well do you know what sometimes it's not just about the money it's about feeling fulfilled it really really having that you know going to work enjoying what you're doing and what's having that but it's gonna you're, you're going to, it's a challenge again. It's getting that buzz. Yeah. But I think for you also, I feel you're, you're such a home girl that knowing that you can just have a little bit more, you can control the hours you work to a fashion subject to what work you take on.

Yeah. You just can't end up putting yourself in a position where you end up saying yes to everything. And then you're going to be, no, I be very good to be a bit disciplined disciplined and yeah i really do actually because stuff will come in of course and you haven't got to say yes to everything you're right and also i did say to mark i would really like to get a little job in marx's because i could get the 20 discount and it was such a difference to my life no but it would you'd be saving a fortune if you got that discount so i i wonder if i could do well the 20% discount and it was such a difference to my life. No, but it would. You'd be saving a fortune if you got that discount,

wouldn't you? So I wonder if I could do... Well, it was your mum's favourite shop. Your niece Maria worked there for a period of time. Did she ever get to see that? I don't think she did.

Did she? Maria in the Marxist uniform. Oh, that was a shame. But it is my favourite shop. I can't quite see you working there as just like... But why? I know I'm all in there.

But I know I'm all in there. I know, but... Couldn't I just do four hours Sundays? Would you get the discount if you just did one day a week? They wouldn't have that, would they? I'm not sure how it works. I don't know. Go and see them all down there, say hello.

I'd love it. It's not about the money I'd be getting for the job it's the discount Sonia Jackson's working in Marks' Brookfield people would get used to it

after a while it would be funny it would be good wouldn't it well I'm not so sure that's going to happen babes but you can you never know

if Marks' Marks' are listening but you we thought you were going to be maybe setting your sights not that there's anything wrong with working at marx and spencer's i can't think of a lot worse places to work but we thought you were going to be like the uh face of yeah i mean who knows i mean that's that's the dream isn't it limb but i mean just popping in there

and putting on the uniform what a good start maybe volunteer work come in there and just walk around with the uniform on I could do the trolleys no that's one step too far I'm not doing the trolleys no way I don't think you're going to have the time love no

I think you're going to have plenty of work coming your way and like you said this pod alone I thought you wanted to go on the old take the pod well I do I do that's going to keep you busy

but that is going to be a lot of work a lot of work I need to sit in here at that desk and plan what I want the show to be it's a lot of work I need to think about what I want but it's lovely

from what I've heard the little bit you've spoken about it the fact that you want it to be like a show. I do, yeah. It sounds fun. You've got to make it fun, haven't you? Yeah. Yeah, so you've got plenty to do, Natalie.

It's all good. Oh, that's been a lovely night. It's been nice to catch up. Really nice. I don't know if we've covered everything we were going to talk about, but there'll be another one soon, I'm sure. There certainly will. There certainly will.

But yeah, any questions for Aunty Linny? 07788 201919. You can ask us anything. And I said it before, actually, it think, oh, I'd love their advice on that and you enjoy that pod with that dynamic, then just send it all through. It hasn't got to be about anything specific. I just love getting your messages. So thank you. Liam, thank you.

I hope you have a lovely weekend. Oh, and you, my darling. I'm going to the Arsenal tomorrow. Oh. Okay. I know, hospitality and everything. I don't even know who's playing. I'm so out of the loop.

Arsenal Man City oh is it yeah oh that'll be good yeah with your brother I mean it's I've never I don't think I've ever

been to the have I oh I must have oh that'll be really nice yeah so it's nice yeah so we're going out for the day could you let him know

in the next one I'd like to go because he's taken Eliza now he's taking you oh yeah but I'm going posh oh no Eliza I think

Eliza did hospitality blimmin' good isn't it oh yeah what about your sister we'll put you down for the next one thank you alright love you loads

and you my darling speak to you later have a great weekend everybody and as always thank you so much for listening it really means the world

bye guys 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.