Life with Nat - EP92: Els & Baby James

Episode Date: February 27, 2025

Nat and Els are getting caught up on how everything’s going with baba, talk about the transition to allowing yourself to still be a person - as well as a parent, and obviously there’s plenty of dinner chat! Dig in xx 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 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

I tell you what, it's non-stop today. I've just finished one with Emma. You alright? Yeah, you? Aww. Little Elia and Nat-Nat Solo. Yeah, this has been a while. Long time. When was that? How did we ever do one on our Solo. Yeah, this has been a while. Long time. When was that?

How did we ever do one on our own? Yeah, we did a couple. A couple? Yeah, we did. Oh, the first one. Baby James as well. We're not flying du Blay. No, he's sleeping but he's got a little cough. I bless him.

He's not been 100%. He's at the swimming yesterday. No, he had the cough before then to be fair, but it doesn got a little cough. He's not been 100%. Is that the swimming yesterday? No, he had the cough before then to be fair, but it doesn't, it's not chesty. Sort of phlegmy in the throat? Well, yeah, it's not really phlegmy. You know, like it's not, I don't know. No, he's all right, he's sleeping, so.

I've been coughing all night long. Have you? As soon as I lay down. I've got a bit of a sore throat. I woke up with a not that. Running nose. When is this going to go? I feel like we're always ill.

All of us have got something little. I think when the weather turns, I've got to be honest. I just think it's cold, miserable. Yeah, we need it. We need a bit of sunshine. Yeah, we do. Why have you got a hat on? A woolly hat.

Because I'm hot. No, I'm cold. And big roll-neck jumper yeah quite chilly and I've come out no coat on no socks on my crocs on. Did you? Yeah. Oh it's cold. Is it? I don't feel that cold today. I did have a walk this morning though with Sophie. Oh you saw Kat didn't you? I did see Kat. Yeah she said. She said if Elia doesn't show up please give me a ring Kat and life with Nat life with Kat. Yeah she said. She said if Elia doesn't show up please give me a ring Kat and life with Nat life with Kat. Sounds good got a good ring to it. It is actually. I'll have to get her over one eye. She's an interesting girl. Yeah she is indeed. She just did one she did one on like recruit you know like business I think

it oh god she's gonna tell me off now so probably got it wrong. Anyway, she did a pod. Yeah, so she thinks she's a pro now. Perfect. I mean you say pro, anyone can sit and talk really. Yeah, no it's true. So it's true. So what have you done this morning then? Had my lashes done this morning.

I thought you had, they look nice. And that's it really, just been at home tidying up, having a sort out. Had skin looks banging. Spent some lovely time with the baby, just playing and he's been, yeah, he's been in a lovely mood. Oh, do you find the time goes slowly now you're at home? So quick. Quick.

So quick. Right. I feel like I do a bottle and then I'm like, oh, he's doing another bottle again. Like it just, yeah, it flies. And also when you, when they're asleep, you're like, right, what can I do? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're putting washing away or doing this, doing that, and then they're awake, and then it's all again. Everything's a bit of a timetable.

Yeah, no, I think it goes so quick. Since he's been born, there's not a day that I've gone, oh, I'm straggling today, at all. No. Or you're popping out. You know, by the time I get home now, then I'm having my hair done, then it's the evening, then it's doing bedtime. Yeah, it's crazy, isn't it really? Just goes really quick. Days just go quick though.

Weeks just go quick. They do. It's funny, I said to her, when Eliza came over the other night, I thought I might have a heart attack in a minute. Oh, good. Oh, do you feel very, bit, don't know. Carry on.

Eliza came over. And don't start messaging in, oh, you've got to go doctors and all that. I'm just drawing a coin, it's fine. Yeah, Eliza came over and I said, she was talking about her lessons at school and stuff, and I said, oh, do you know, what do you enjoy? And I said, do you feel like the lessons go really, really slow? And she said, oh, the one she doesn't really enjoy, yes.

And I was like, isn't that mad? Because I remember being at school, being sat in a lesson and looking at that clock and that was an hour, not even, I'm not talking about the school dance, an hour lesson and I'd be looking at that clock thinking oh my god we've only done 15 minutes whereas now 15 minutes feels like 15 seconds. There is something, there's scientific fact about that isn't there? That as you get older, time moves quicker. Time moves quicker. Yeah, maybe because you've got more going on in your brain and more, do you know what

I mean? You're tied up with kids and lots of odd. If you look back to a six week summer holiday when you were little, it went on and on and on didn't it? Yeah, whereas now, time just flies. I mean, he's four months old. That's crazy, actually. That is a long- And I'm really annoyed about it. Can't stop it, babe, sorry.

I'm annoyed because I haven't really been around a lot. But you will be. I know, but I feel like I've missed quite a lot of time. Yeah, but now is when I think they're doing things, aren't they? Smiling, more giggling. He's getting... Coffee. Coffee.

Like, yeah, he's doing more. Yeah, that's true. So yeah, we've got to keep this brief, because when he's up, that's it. Game over. Oh, brilliant. Thanks for listening to the 15-minute podcast. Well, no, he sleeps quite well. He'll be alright. He can just come and join in.

We'll get him to do his noise. Oh yeah, how funny is it? Little growly noise. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhiahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh going on. Such a lot going on. So when this comes out, it will be a week after the live episode. Oh wow. Oh we've got ages. Yeah, we've got ages. But, yeah. Are you excited for that? Yeah. Your face doesn't shut. No, because I keep thinking, oh, what if I really muck it up and then we're on here talking about it. So who knows? Oh yeah. It's all just a little bit... Yeah, it cringes me out if I'm honest. It's a lot to deal with thinking of

just the millions of people who are going to watch that and that you could make a mistake. It just is. Oh, that's awful. Oh, it makes me sweaty. It makes me sweaty. I couldn't do that, no way. Yeah, you could. No, I could not. I couldn't. I was terrible. I couldn't do that, no way. Yeah you could. No I could not. I

couldn't. I was terrible. I used to love acting, all of that. I did all my lessons. I was great. Get on stage and I'd just, bleh, I'd melt. I hated it. I'm a bit like that though. Yeah, well you can't be. Did you hear my voice on the mask, I'm a singer, shaking. Yeah but only the first one. Now I look at it, well even I could tell, but the first one you were very shaky. And then as you went on, you could tell your voice. I think maybe, yeah, but no, there were a couple that were better than others. Yeah. Smashed it. Yeah, funny, innit? Smashed it.

So many people down the street, they're like, I love your bush. That's good, really good. All good fun. All good fun. We've got a couple of things, haven't we? From listeners. Yep, we have indeed. This was a good one from Joe from Bristol, because we were talking about all the food that we like to eat during the week.

What are you having for dinner by the way tonight? Don't know. Oh really? Do you know what I had? What did you do last night? I had cheese and crackers. So did I. It was lovely. Jacob's crackers, cheddar cheese. That's exactly what I had. I did six crackers, butter. I did six because I've got the little packs, the individual. Oh fine. Because I can't buy a pack because I don't eat them often enough. So I've got a box and you get three in a pack. So I thought, yep, two packs of those. Butter, cheese, and a little glass of red wine.

Exactly what I had. Oh, a shame we didn't take a photo really. Yeah, exactly what I had. And I sat on the sofa. I ate it. Good for you. Did you eat yours? No, I just stood up in the kitchen, you know, me. Oh, no, I quite enjoyed the experience.

Nice. Because although that sounds weird, but that's like a bit of a treat. I don't eat like that. No, I know. I enjoy that city, you know. Watching EastEnders, Cheese and Crackers. Yeah, it was lovely. Lovely. I don't know about tonight. I've got stuff I've got a lot to sort out, a lot of things to do. Oh have you? What, you're going shopping? No, just got a pack and bits and bobs. Oh yeah. When you're going tomorrow? Saturday. Oh lovely, that'll be nice. Excellent. Not for long but yeah just for a little break, a little night away but yeah just going to get everything sorted. Fair enough, fair enough. What am I doing?

What are you doing? Oh I'm heading into... Oh you're working. I'm heading into quite a long weekend of rehearsals yeah, that That's all right, that'll be fun. That'll be good. But looking forward to when you're off. I can't wait. We're gonna be off and we can have fun. Yeah, I can't wait just to have days with you. And the weather will be better.

It'll be nicer because the weather will start to get better. Yeah, we can actually do things rather than just sitting in. Just go for a nice walk. Go for a walk, yeah. With him in the pram and go grab a coffee. But soon enough, he'll be enjoying sitting in the swing. Oh he will. Might be long, will it, really?

That he'll all sit in there and we can do that. Yeah, no, it's true. It is true. Although days are, I mean the diary's getting filled up. Well then don't moan. Quite quickly. That you don't see him. It's not my problem.

I'm just saying, there's stuff going on, no, but it isn't going to be as relentless as it has been. Yeah, but it's not full days, is it? Absolutely not. But also, it's very easy to not have... It's a bit like working from home. Yeah. It's very easy to not have that self-control in terms of not being crazy busy.

It's easy to go, oh, it's only a little something, I'll put it in. Oh, it's only a little something, I'll do it. And the next thing you know, you've got a full week. Yeah, it's so true. And you're manic. Because you're, you think, oh, it's not... So you've got to be careful of that. No, I do have to be careful.

And it's the same as working from home, isn't it? And people say, oh, I'll just do another hour. And next thing you know, you're working till 10 o'clock every night. It's not healthy. So you have got to think about that. Yeah. You've got to make some time for yourself. I do need to make some time.

The girls and me. Definitely. It's true though, isn't it? No, no, no, absolutely. You were reading a message from Jo. Oh, sorry, because I asked you what you were having for dinner. I'm doing the girls toad in the hole tonight. Oh, nice.

Toad in the hole, loads of nice broccoli, peas. So toad in the hole, interesting. Do you do mash with that? Interesting, I usually would for Eliza. I haven't bought, I usually just get a ready one. That's disgusting. I'm really judging you at that. You can't buy, you don't need to buy pre-made mash.

I agree. Just make it yourself. I can't buy, you don't need to buy pre-made mash. I agree. Just make it yourself. I know, but I haven't got any potatoes. Right. And... You could have bought the potatoes. I could have, yeah. But Joni doesn't eat mash, she doesn't like it. So to do it for one person is aggravation.

Agreed. Which is why I usually buy her a little single one from Marks's, the little pot. Oh, she's making excuses. That is true though. Fair enough. However, tonight there's two of them. They'll have literally half a toad in the hole with three sausages and I'm just going to do loads of veg with it so they won't have mash. But I kind of agree, I don't think you should have mash. Again, carb on, it's like, but again the listeners love a bit of mash with their roast dinner. I know but we

have potatoes, roast potatoes with Yorkshire pudding. So it's irrelevant what you say. Yeah but you're having one little Yorkshire pudding. Are you? Well, no. Yeah. But what I mean is it doesn't, I don't feel like sausage, mash and veg,

but I don't feel like a toad in the hole warrants mash. I agree. I get it, but I could quite easily not have it. Yeah, me too. And also can I just tell you about the toad in the hole? Yes. I know, do you follow a recipe? No. But you just wing it. How do you make your your batter? I do it the same as I do my Yorkshire pudding mix.

Because because it's never when you follow like a toad in the hole one to get the sausages You know that to not burn the sausages and put the the the mix is never right. It never comes out good But when you use the the BBC Good Food, Yorkshire. Yeah I just do my Yorkshire P It never comes out good. But when you use the BBC Good Food Yorkshire. Yeah, I just do my Yorkshire puds. So good. Usually I put the sausages in a pan. A frying pan. Do you?

Yeah, and I brown them off. That's bizarre. So I brown them off for a bit. Why just not put them in the oven? With the fat? I don't know. Let it all heat up. Oh, is that what you do?

Yeah, you put it in for a good 15 minutes. Get that baking. And then pull them out. Whack it in for a good 15 minutes. Get that bacon. And then pull them out, whack it up, put the thing in, in you go. 20 minutes, bang. 20 minutes, half hour? Yeah, for 25 minutes. And then the sausage is cooked by then, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, you don't need to fry them first. Oh, I love a toad in the hole, that's a great thing. Yeah, I love a little bit of that one too. I should actually try and find a photo of my last one because it was so good. Was it? So good. Oh yeah, we'll try and find it. It was huge one because it was so good. Was it? So good.

Oh yeah, we'll try and find it. It was huge. I think you might have sent it to me. Yeah, I'll have to have a little look. Right, let's see what Jo's saying about her dinners then. What Jo said, hi Nat, just finishing listening to the pod, you guys are hilarious. Love the topic of what meals you have when. Pardon? We have an unwritten menu choice in this house.

Monday is Meatball Monday. Meatball Monday? Every Monday? Meatball Monday. Fair play. Tuesday and Wednesday, sausage and mash, casserole, chicken pasta bake, pork steaks and veg, etc. Fair, yeah, sort of slightly different ones there, but I get it. Thursday, beige Thursday. Hang on, I feel like you've missed the day. No, because that was Tuesday and Wednesday.

Oh, I'm ever so sorry. So, okay, yep. They're the sorts of things she has Tuesdays, Wednesdays. Yep. Thursday, beige Thursday. Basically, Southern fried chicken and chips from the freezer or whatever and then she goes shopping on a Thursday night. So it's a freezer dinner, fish fingers or yeah nice. Friday is a good meal such as a bolognese or fajitas or chilli.

Okay yeah, no I get that. Saturday she has a fake away. Oh yeah, very good. Frozen pizzas or supermarket curry, absolutely no cooking takes place. Sunday, she'll have a roast or another good meal like a lasagna or a curry. Again, I can't think of anything worse than having a curry on a Sunday. Curry on a, see a curry for me would be your Saturday night or your Friday night. Oh yeah lasagna.

Sunday's a lasagna, a shepherd's pie, a beef stew. I did a lovely beef stew on Sunday. Beef stew. What did you do? Tell me. We only went to the little shop down the road to what we could get but actually turned out really well. Swede, parsnips, carrots and leeks. Chopped them all up with the stewing beef all in the pot.

Are you going sort of 10 pence sort of thumb now or how big with the chunks? No, quite small. Little cubes. Put that all in and then I thought I don't really fancy mash, do roast potatoes. One of the best roast potatoes I've made, they come out exceptional. Big ones. Decent size, not mini but a good size. Oh no, but you didn't do your Jamie Oliver special? No, not the big ones, no. Like a half of a potato, of a standard potato.

Unbelievable. Then I had one carrot and one parsnip left. So I chopped them all up small, did some honey roasted carrots and parsnips. Jack made some dumplings. So we had dumplings and potatoes, but only one dumpling. Coming from the, told in the old no mash. Yeah. So then we had, so yeah, beef stewed dumplings, roasted potato, honey roasted carrots and

parsnips. Beautiful. It was a really nice dinner. Was it quite thick? Thick. Yeah, it was just, and not having mash Was it quite thick? Thick, yeah it was just and not having mash with it. I love the crispy potatoes with it. So yeah that was good dinner. It's a bit like when we do, you know you do lamb in sauce or whatever and you'll have

your bit of meat with the crispy potatoes but you've got a bit of sauce with it. Oh you can't beat it. Yeah. I haven't had that for ages. I'm going to do a lamb shank soon. No I did it a couple of weeks ago. Did you? Yeah. I also, I've gonna do a lamb shank soon. No, I did it a couple of weeks ago. Did you? Yeah. I also, I've gone off the lamb shank and I quite like a lamb neck. You ever had a neck fillet? Yeah, I have. It's nice.

I've done that roasted before. I do love lamb. I love lamb. You do, don't you? I'm not a massive fan. I'm not a fan of the lamb. I like a very, very well done lamb cutlet. I'm not a fan of roast lamb. That is crazy. Roast dinner. Not interesting really. Yeah, no, it's my

favourite. Roast lamb's my favourite. And then lamb in salsa. But then it has to have cauliflower cheese. I feel like there's certain things that you have to have with it. Anyway, yeah, Jo, I like that. I like, and also I feel like sometimes you need, I need that sort of bit of routine because I'm a bit all over the place for dinners at the moment. I have no inspiration whatsoever. Online food shopping.

Everyone at the moment is like, why are you not just doing an online food shop? Get your basics, get a couple of dinners at least. We just don't do it. No. But do you know how much that would help us? We're not good. We're always saying, I haven't been to the shop, I've just got to pop to the shop. And we're the same in the sense that we don't necessarily like to do a full weekly shop because

we don't know what's going on. I don't know what I'm doing. Or Mark might be a bit later. Yeah, so tonight and tomorrow, Mark's not home till half 10. Yeah but then if you'd have done a shop then you're wasting food. I can't bear to waste food so I'd rather not buy it. But we could do an online shop where you just get three meals for the week so you're guaranteed three dinners and then you've only got to nip to the shop to maybe grab something for one of the nights. Well again I have not been shopping I can't tell you when. It's like old Mother Hubbard's downstairs. I just pick up like two or three things that I need or Laura will go when she's shopping or whatever.

You should do it. Maybe what you need to do is do one big one to restock. No, like you said, you haven't got anything. Just do a good stock up and see how you feel. Maybe. It's a date for me, you know what I'm like. Can't bear it. No, I don't think it's that bad. But again, if you're buying for a few dinners, I don't think it's that bad. Even when I go now,

I go with the pram. I don't know how, I know you can put the pram on top of the thing, on top of the trolley and strap it in, but I'm sure you can't see No. So I don't really, so I just go with the pram and one bag for life hooked onto the pram. So I can only get a bag full. And are you scanning and shopping then? 100%. Of course you are. If you don't scan and shop,

You're a moron. I need to know why. Do you scan and shop? Yes. It blows my mind. Why would you not scan and shop? Why are you putting your stuff in the trolley? To then take it out.

To take it all out, to put it all back in. Yeah, I know. I do not get it. Or what Mark does, puts it in the bag for life, takes it out the bag for life and puts it back in again. Why does he do that? Oh, you don't listen to the pod, do you? No. Mark will go into a supermarket and not pick up a basket but use the bag. I've done that before. I have done that before. If there's no scanning shop available, I'll just put it in the bank because it's easier to carry. Fine. But you've got to be scanning. If you're doing a full shop, even if you're picking up, even what I do with the baby, you've got to do scanning shop. Yeah, I don't understand why you would.

I love it so much. I do love it. I only do that though. I'm saying I do it. I only do it in Sainsbury's. You don't do it because M&S have got it now. Have they? Yeah. They've got a Scarnon shop now. Do you do it? Yeah. In there?

Oh, I'll be doing it. I'll be doing it. I do it everywhere. Right. Little test, the test goes down there, does it now. Right. Okay. Nice, good. But yes, for me it was always the Sainsbury's thing. I've now become more...

Fine. I'm more diverse. I do it in all the shops. Oh, you're brave. Well, I have no choice. Branching now become more... Fine. I'm more diverse. I do it in all the shops. Oh, you're brave. Well, I have no choice. Branching out. She's wild. This is from Esther, and she's from Yorkshire. Hi Nat, I recently listened to a Nat's Nieces episode, and Elia mentioned she was having

a night away for her birthday without baby James. I wondered how she found this or have any of you got any tips and advice? My baby's eight months old and me and my husband are going abroad to a wedding in the spring and the baby is staying with grandparents. While she will have a great time, I've got massive mum guilt. We are doing some practices with nights away, but when we go to the wedding, it's for four nights. All tips, advice, welcome. Loving the pod, really enjoying it whilst on maternity leave. That's a good question. It was not, I think again, when they're going somewhere where you know they are going to be showered with love, spoiled, you're not worried, right? You're not leaving them with strangers.

No. If anything, they're probably, in my opinion, not better looked after, but they're getting full attention, aren't they? Because it's a novelty with grandparents. So you know they're going to have a lovely time. But it is hard. You do feel... It is hard. You do feel... Like, look, when you're there and you're having a good time, you're distracted, so you're not really thinking about it as much. You're having your dinner, like we went out, we had a drink, and then we were in the spa the next day.

So you're enjoying yourself, and it's important for you, as a couple and as a person, to have have that time like yourself. But it was funny because we got to the hotel and we were like, we're just going to chill for a few hours. So I had a little drink, sat on the bed and then me and Jack just both turned to each other and we were both just looking at photos of him on our phone. We were like, God, we need to get a life. We're just sat here scrolling through our phone. But you can't help yourself. It is hard. You do have that. I mean, look, four nights, that is a long time and I'm doing much the same soon for a wedding. The baby could come but logistically it's not going to work.

I'm a bridesmaid so I want to be fully there and you know be there for my friend whose wedding it is and also it's down in Cornwall. It's a long drive to have him in, you know, we're just going to get there, enjoy our time and get home. And yeah, I probably will struggle, but at the same time, they're happy. Like we had to cancel our weekend away because Jack wasn't very well, but he wasn't very well. And I think that's the other thing, you know, you've got to do what's ever right for you. Like we changed it. If it meant we'd have had to not go, again, not saying that the grandparents can't look after him if he's unwell,

but also that's not fair. Oh, he's my ill child, see you later. Yeah, yeah, of course. But it's difficult, but also so good for them. And you don't want to grow up with a child that hasn't stayed away, so then when they want to have a sleepover, they're going to hate it.

I think there's a big balance there. I've always been terrible, terrible at leaving mine. But I say that because I think because I've worked a lot and my hours are very late. I've done a lot of times where I'm not home before they go to bed and I could have been away for five days. I'm at home. I know I'm coming home. But they don't even see you. So I think with my kids, it's more about the way I feel because they're brilliant now.

They miss you and Joni does still definitely miss me when I'm working loads. But now I am absolutely now thinking, right, I would love now to go away with Mark for three or four nights, four or five nights somewhere, and I think I'm ready to do that. But I think you should be doing that. Yeah, yeah, I do.

And going back to Esther's thing about advice, it's just not overthinking it. They're going to be okay. They might miss you a little bit. Of course. But at the same time, actually actually when you get home, the way they look at you, they're going to love that you've come back to them. You're not leaving them forever. I think that's good for everybody to have that time apart with partners, with everyone.

If you're 24-7 stuck to each other, that's no good for you or for them. It's important for you as a couple. You've got to remember, just because you've had children, yes, they're your whole life. And I'm not not disagreeing with that, because I couldn't imagine my life without baby James and I'm obsessed. Yeah, yeah, of course. Also, you need to be yourself. Hence why things like getting your nows done, you know, you had him yesterday for me for an hour. Loved it. Took him up the school didn't I, the pram? But that's the thing, for you it's lovely. You get to do those little things with him. Alright, I've literally rushed there, had

my nails done and come back. But it's doing things that I can then go, oh I'm so glad my nails are done now. Yes. Because it's something I like. It's being able to get your hair done or go for a massage. You've got to do those things. Yeah. I mean, not everybody gets their hair done and goes for a massage every week, you know, and not all else bells. No, I definitely don't do that every week. But I'm just saying over the course of time, you've got to have that time. Yeah, and also what you've got to remember is,

I think a really good point that Elia May destah is, when we have a child and you learn more and more of this and it'll be crazy for you to even think about it because you've got a baby but as they grow up Eliza will be 15 in September and Joni will be 9 this year there's a point where you realise as much as you are bringing them up you can't mollycoddle them as much as you want to. Because your job is to bring them up, look after them, and what you want them to do is to be able to look after themselves and succeed on their own. So that's what we're doing. We are raising and we are rearing children to go out on their own. That's the end thing.

Absolutely. Which is's the end thing. Absolutely. Which is quite a daunting thing. That's why having these experiences of leaving them with people you trust, again, remember you wouldn't be leaving them with grandparents, friends or babysitters if you didn't trust those people. So, you know, you have to do that. And at the same time, there's a lot of people, including like you've just said Nat, that have to work, that don't see their children overnight or they have to go that. And at the same time, there's a lot of people, including like you've just said Nat, that have to work, that don't see their children overnight or they have to go away for work. Yeah, or they're on night shifts at hospitals all night long.

And that's the thing and that's what they're used to. So it's not going to hurt them at all. Go and have a lovely time. Yeah, go and enjoy yourself. That's the other thing. Just wake up and think, oh, I haven't got to change a nappy, I haven't got to worry about a bottle, just enjoy it. No broken sleep, have a nice lay-in. Yeah, great. Yeah, and be you.

Yeah. Have good chats with people, not have to do whatever you wanna do, and I think that's, yeah. It's super important. It's important, yeah. Aw. She says like, oh, I've got to leave him

for a free night soon. You'll be all right, though. Where's he going? Not sure yet, need to sort it out. Oh, fine, I've got to leave him for three nights soon. You'll be alright though. Where's he going? Not sure yet, need to sort it out. Oh fine, what dates are they? No, we'll sort it. I could have one, you know, if anyone needs to... I feel more guilty, funnily enough, I feel more guilty about who I'm leaving them with.

I feel guilt that I'm putting that on that person. Right, okay. Whether that's in laws, mum and dad, I think that's a lot. That's where I'm sitting there thinking, oh, I wonder if he's going to sleep well, wonder if he'll go down well. And look, he's a good boy, so I'm lucky in that sense. But that's hard. That's what I feel guilt about, is the person that's looking after them. I don't really, it's very, very rare throughout my life. Obviously, you help, you know, people have helped me, but I've always really paid for

childcare. And I'd say the one thing now is if Mark and I say, went away for four days, I would prefer my kids to definitely see you or Maria, or maybe someone could move in here. I just think that a long amount of time I would like them to be with a family member. Or for part of it. Or just for part of it. No, I get that. I do get that. But yeah, I would like to do that. I would like to have a little look. He's the big four zero, isn't he?

Well, you need to do something about it. Oh, Marcus Galeanos. Marcus Galeanos. But you're't he? Well, you need to do something about it. Marcus Galeonos. Marcus Galeonos. But you're not going to do anything. I'll do all this. I've just booked two holidays. Are you proud of me? Oh, fair enough. Are you pleased? Yeah, I am. Thank you. I've done April. Yeah. And I've done August. Well done. I'm booked. Done. Limey. I know. Are you feeling all right?

I'm excited. No, it! That's good. Really good. So we've done a week and then 10 days in the summer, which I'm really pleased I've done as well rather than just a week. Yeah, 10 days is... It's more of a holiday. You always say that to me. Two weeks is two... But didn't you do 10 days last time? No, it was a week. Oh, fine, yeah. Just you travel on to the days, don't you?

Yeah. So it's nice. It is nice. Looking forward to it. Lovely. You're looking forward to your Holly Bob? So it's nice. It is nice. Looking forward to it. Lovely. You're looking forward to your Holly Bob? Yeah I am. I need to get, I just need to buy the kids some clothes and myself some clothes. What is that? May. Oh you've got time. Yeah, no we've got loads of time. So yeah, looking forward to it. How lovely. Yeah it's mad. I need to actually get him a passport. Ah. I've done the photos, which are really cute.

Oh. No, I do need to do that. I need to do it. Just do it online? It's really easy. But it's one of those things that I go to do and I think I feel nervous doing this on my own. I know that's weird, but I get scared.

I need Jack to be with me so we can cross-reference. I do understand that. You don't want to be getting it wrong, do you? I mean, you and Jack doing the passports are worried. Do you want to do it with someone else? Maybe get another two people to do it, just not you and Jack? No, the thing is, it's just, again, you overthink it.

You look at it 100 times, you go back, you think, if I put that right, it'll be all right when he's just doing it. Something you do need to help me with though is I've booked the holiday but no flights yet. Oh, good. Could you do that with me in a minute? Yeah. Thanks.

Well, if we've got time. Who's that? Who's at the door? One, two, baby J, maybe else. Might be like a parcel. You need a little ring, don't you? Ring doorbell. Hang on a minute.

She's putting her head out the window. I'm going to get my phone off the floor. Hello? What a good boy the baby's been. Hello? She's so... Can you hear her? Hello?

Hello? Hello there? They're walking round the house. Oh no. Hello? Hi, I'm up here. If you come to the black gate, hiya, you're right, I'm here sorry. Thank you so much, cheers.

I mean they just leave it, I don't know what your bloody postman is, it's actually my postman. Oh no, you've mugged yourself right off. I'm really bad now. Is it the same one as me? Glasses? No. Young boy. No.

And you're... And it's just the postman, aren't you? It's the postman. I'm going, hello, am I Mr Bean? Oh no. I love to put that up. I've got that. Yeah, you'll have to do that. Oh, don't. Oh dear.

I sort of laugh, don't it? Yeah, what else is going on? 44 Fridays until Christmas. Oh, fuck off. I love Christmas, but I need some sun. Going back to the dinners, I know it's boring. No, it's not. I was saying the other day, I think I'm really uninspired at the moment.

Why? Because I've, the winter dinners, it's a bit like winter. Winter before Christmas, we love it. Excited, really nice, cozy. After Christmas, you're bored, you want summer. Now, I'm over the winter dinners. I'm ready for barbecue, grilled meat, salad. Little jacket potato.

Yeah, I'm ready for the summer dinners. And then when the end of summer comes, you'll be ready again. I'm absolutely ready for the winter dinners. That's the problem. Do you know what I'm going to do this year? What are you going to do? I'm going to start making some interesting salads.

I love a good salad. You know, wholesome big salads. I've got my Otolendki books and he's a master of salads. I'm going to start making proper salads. I like roasting my beetroot, my feta. Did it? I like roasting my beetroot. You look like a beetroot today. I do, don't I? No, you look like a, what's her name? A Ribena.

She's turning violet. What is it? She's turning violet. Violet's, violet. Violet's turning violet. Yeah, no, I think it's just been over the winter stuff. Would you agree? Yeah. Sort of ready. I think so. I just would like more time.

I feel like if I've got a bit more time, I genuinely would love to go, right, I'm going to open one of the 4,000 cookbooks that I own and cook something a bit different today. Yeah, I do possibly have that time. I just feel so uninspired. I saw the other day roasted stuffed peppers. I love stuff. I've not done that for ages. And that's and you can make quite a few of those. That's a lovely dinner with a bit of salad. Lovely dinner.

But I don't want to eat a salad at the moment, it's freezing. Really though, if you had a pepper, some crispy potatoes, even then a bit of veg. Or two peppers and a few potatoes. Why don't you do that soon and I'll pop over. No, I'm going to make them because I really, really want them. I've got a real craving for them. But it's things like that you forget. I know, but then Joni doesn't eat that.

Mark's not overly keen on a stuffed pepper. Eliza loves a stuffed pepper though. Yeah. I mean, you make several dinners, which blows my mind. I will never, she says, I will never be doing that. Well, sometimes you'll do something for you, something for Joni. You'll make a couple of dinners. Yeah, easily.

That's, I find that crazy. But I feel really bad lately, because Mark's been working really hard. We've both been working really hard, but on the days where I've been home early, Mark's just been doing his own dinner. That's how uninspired I've been. I've been like, I don't really want to eat that.

So you can just have that. So he got in late last night, bless him, and he made his stir fry. Yeah, that's not- And I just had my cheese and crackers, we could have eaten together. Yeah, it's not great. You need to get made his stir fry. Yeah, that's not- And I just had my cheese and crackers. We could have eaten together. Yeah, it's not great. You need to get your mojo back.

Yeah, I do. My cooking mojo. But yeah, I don't think I could be making more than one dinner. I'm making a dinner if you don't like it. Lump it. See you later, pal. See you later, pals.

Who is that? Is that Home Alone? No, the Ross look alike. See you later, pals. Yeah, it is. Brilliant, brilliant. I? No, the Ross look alike. See ya later pals. See ya later pals. Yeah it is. Brilliant. I don't watch Friends as much anymore. What do you put on the television?

Marvelland. Yeah. When I go to bed now. Marvelland or Sex and the City. Never seen it. Yeah, it's wild. Never seen it in my life. But yeah, just sometimes Friends.

I think I might have done it last night, but it's very occasional now. It's not like... Well, you have been watching it for 30 years every day. Yeah, but that's what I mean. It's crazy. I've like, I've got turned like a new page. To be fair, I've been watching Amanda Lanskin. New mum, new me.

New mum, new me. No, I still watch Friends, but no, not as much. Mm. Not as much at all. What about the other day you sent me that meme and it was if you're cremated after you die you can be put into an hourglass and continue to participate in Family Games Night. I want you to do that for me. That is the best. Isn't that fantastic? Yeah so you can be the timer. Yeah. In Articulate or whatever and I can be on the table.

My ashes, no, it's the best thing I've ever heard. Absolutely brilliant. Really, really good. And I've got time for that. We can just make loads. But they're the sort of things that get lost, aren't they? Get stuck under the sofa. You'll just be everywhere.

One under the sofa, one under the radiator cover. You'll be everywhere, it's alright. No, maybe get two or three made so you've got a spare. I wonder if you can actually do that? You can do everything these days. But imagine like you've invited some friends over, yeah? And you're all having a drink and a laugh. Yeah, and I go, oh look, it's my dad.

Yeah, but I do that now anyway. I'm like, oh, have you seen, come and meet my dad? And they're like, hey? I'm like, he's on the windows anyway. I'm like oh have you seen Come and Meet My Dad and they're like hey? I'm like he's on the windowsill. I always say this daddy. No I know but imagine you're just playing or like and then you're like oh this is this is my auntie Nat. Ready steady go. You've got 30 seconds go this is my auntie. But what box would it go in? What do you mean what box? What board game would have to have a safe place? Articulate? I think so.

Or the Scrabble really. We don't really use the timer for Scrabble. I know, but you should play with the timer. No. Articulate? Although I think I would go in Articulate. Maybe yours is use this scatter grease, but it's not really, it doesn't have that sort of timer, does it? It won't work.

Not really. No. Pazazz. Yeah, pazazz. But isn't that a noise timer? It is, but we could use a normal timer. You could use a slendy timer. Pazazz is so good.

We haven't played that for a long time. Such a good game. Such a good game. What are you doing now? played that for a long time. Such a good game. Such a good game. Very good. What are you doing now? Going home? Yeah. Could have had a quick game. Yeah, no.

Can we start? That's something I did want to talk about. We talk about board games, board games, board games at Christmas time. Don't mention them again. That's not true. You know, if anyone does, it's me. It is you, yeah. I would happily do games nights throughout the years. Throughout the years. Throughout the years. But the years of the year. Throughout the years. Throughout the year. I love a games night. It's just not really been on my agenda. I've been a bit busy. Yeah. But I do feel a games

night would be good soon. Up for it. Really, really up for it. The deal I know deal you brought Joni is absolutely fantastic. I've got some really sad news. The series ends this Friday. Oh. What am I possibly going to do with myself at 4pm? It's gonna be Tipping Point. I know, Tipping Point is back and I love that, but I love Deal or No Deal.

What am I gonna do? I'm gonna have to go back and watch all the old ones. Yeah, you'll have to do that. Can you not go back to Noel? Yeah, Noel. Noel. No No it's Noel's deal. Eh? Deal or Noel's deal? What is that accent? I have no idea. Gavin and Stacey! Don't worry you're lost. I am lost. I need to watch that again really that's one I put on often just to whack that on. Yeah, I'd like to go back and watch a few more of those.

And I need to watch the Christmas one again, actually. Yeah, I've watched it a couple of times. But yeah, if you haven't, you should. I don't think, I think I need to watch things a good twice to let it sink in. So I'm watching Amanda Land at the moment. I'm on episode five, but as soon as that finishes, I'm starting again.

I need to let it sink in. Fair enough. You know? ADHD brain, innit? Is that what it is? Yeah. I think so. I could watch a film, I could literally watch a film, a month later I could tell you, I watched this film, it was unbelievable and I couldn't tell you what happened, innit? That's me. I could say it's my favourite film, but I don't know what happened. That's me.

Unless I watch it six or seven times. Yeah I was talking the other day to someone about a film called Magnolia with Tom Cruise. Yeah I've heard of it. And I listened to the soundtrack because it's got a fantastic soundtrack by a singer called Amy Mann and she did all the music and I often listen to the soundtrack in the car and I was saying this film is absolutely fantastic and they said what it's about and I often listen to the soundtrack in the car. And I was saying, this film is absolutely fantastic. And they said, what's about? And I said, I don't know.

I'll tell you. It's a bit like the joke about the box. I was like, it's amazing. I was building it up. I said, Tom Cruise is it? Oh, the soundtrack. That's why I'd rather not have an opinion because then they think that I'm lying.

No, it's true. So I say it's like my favorite film and then they'd say, oh, what's it? And I don't know. Yeah. That is embarrassing. That is like you're just pure lying. Well I do it with books. I say to people oh I've read that book and they say oh what did you think about it and I say I can't really remember it but I just really remember enjoying it. I'm the same. That is really weird that we're like that.

Because I yeah I think you'll find it is an ADHD thing. Perfect. No yeah it's a weird one but I'm glad it's not just me. It's definitely not just you. Funny, funny, I think. I can read a page of dialogue. I can read a book, read two pages of it. And forget what? Yeah, I have to go back.

Yeah, but that's because we're not focusing. I know. But then I've sat and watched films in the cinema and I know I'm focused. I always fall asleep in the cinema. I do not like the cinema. Neither do I. What a pointless... Isn't it weird?

I would never choose to go to the cinema. I do love the Everyman in King's Cross, I'm not going to lie. I like going there because you can have a glass of wine, some food. The food's good. Yeah, fair. You get your pitas, your olives. I like going there because you can have a glass of wine, some food, the food's good. Yeah, fair. You get your pittas, your olives. Yeah, but you're going with the kids, it's a bit of a...

You and Mark, if you had a night, date night, as we call it, you would not choose to go to the cinema. Absolutely no way. That's my point. I think as you're children now, you can go and enjoy a film with the girls. I would go... Bob Dylan, for instance, is out at the moment. Timofee Chalamet is playing Bob Dylan. You're literally, you could be speaking another language.

But yeah. But Bob Dylan the singer. Yes, I know who Bob Dylan is. And Timofee Chalamet, who played Willy Wonka. Don't know who that is. Oh, if you've not seen it, you've got to watch Willy Wonka. Oh, I think Tom Davis in it. The girls brought this up to me the other day.

It's really, really good. Anyway, he's in that. And I would go to, I would love to see that in the cinema. I'm annoyed that I haven't been able to go and see that. Yeah, there's a few girly ones, like Bridget Jones tonight. Oh, that would be good. If the girls had said, and that's annoying because we should be more prepared, but obviously it's not that easy at the moment.

No. But that would be nice, a girly night, like you said, glass of wine. Yeah, going to, but you need to go to an Everyman or one of those cinemas because you can get some nice food. Yeah, but I would never, me and Jack never went to the cinema. No. Like early days, but never. No, I don't really.

I'd rather sit at home. But some people absolutely love it. Yeah, it's crazy, isn't it? They're members of, you know, they get the membership so they can go twice a week. Some people love films. Yeah, no, fair enough. I'd just rather sit in the pub. Yeah, or go for dinner.

Or go for dinner. Yeah. Yeah. Excellente. Fantastique. Lovely. Short but sweet, just like yourself. Thanks for listening everybody. I've had a lovely morning of podding. These are going to be really lovely actually, just nice little EPs for you all to enjoy.

0778 20 19 19. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and I will be back with you on Monday. Elves have a lovely time. Thank you and hopefully Nat's nieces will be reunited as one. Extremely soon. Very, very soon. No, we will.

We'll have to get one in when they're back. Absolutely. We can hear all about the trials and tribulations of the holi-bob. Absolutely. Take care everyone, see you later. Ciao ciao, bye. Hi this is Chris McCorsland. And this is Diane Buswell. 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 here 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.