Life with Nat - LWN 219: Nat's Nieces #48 - Els has had a shocker

Episode Date: April 19, 2026

We have 1.5 Nieces on this ep, you'll hear from Els, but she's had a shocker! More splitting the bill chat, some working from home with the kids around, and a whole lot of telly chat too. Plus... How's Roro coping post surgery? Enjoy!! xx Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review. xxx You can find us in all places here;⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We're on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nat's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natcass1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Marc's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@camera_marc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Niece's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natsnieces⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tony's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tonycass68⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linny's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@auntielinny.lwn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MORE LIVE SHOWS! 10th May 2026 - The Grief Show with Auntie Linny - Studio, Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TICKETS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 24th May 2026 - Hertford, Beam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOLD OUT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Club: April's Book -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathy Burke - A Mind of My Own - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/A-Mind-of-My-Own/Kathy-Burke/9781398548145⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nat’s solo chats - any rants always welcome. Loads on the radar - living our lives for ourselves, the constant comparisons with others on social media... and the audacity of teenagers! Scraping the Barrel - SCAN AND SHOP VIRGIN NO LONGER! Bonce vs list! - Are you a list maker? Always collecting for Nostalgia Fest! What’s brewing with the Nieces - AGEING & non-negotiables Things we’re nagging with Linny about - More lateness stories and some cleaning questions, please! The Tony talks chatter - Keep your DIY questions coming. What are your favourite films & albums? Nat and Tony's big life changes clinic is open for advice questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Very hot in here, isn't it? Very warm, that's why I wore a t-shirt. You and your mum were melting in it last night. Why is it so warm? Don't know. It's a boring subject. I need to get air-co. I'm lovely and cool here. Oh, it's a niece that tonight, everybody. And Els has had a shocker.

I've let the team down. Sorry, gang. That's all right, darling. Life happens. Things happen. What can we do? Do you want to explain to the old listeners? What's happened? Well, I don't really know what's happened. Just multitude of not having, well, I know mum said she would pop over and have James, but I don't want to bust people's balls, but also he's not feeling very well.

He wants mummy. He just wants me, so that's what we're doing. Well, you're going to be missed this evening, but you will be calling on us. Oh, I will, in many ways. Thanks very much. Thanks very much. Did you have a nice time at the tulip farm? It was wonderful.

It looked very nice. Not great for the old hay fever though. That was my first thing that I was going to put when you sent the picture of the field. I thought, how's the old pollen count over there that was brave? Oh my God. Awful. Really awful. But it's all right.

It was beautiful. What a lovely place. Oh, you'll have to take me. But what did you do? Just had a walk. There's some animals there. We had slunch. It's funny, isn't it?

These places now. What do you mean? Just make you, my, let's grow some tulips. Cracking. No, it's beautiful. I know, but it is. And also, it's good for the gram. Yeah, exactly.

Well, as you asked, I have to tell you. Go on. I cannot believe the amount of people I saw with tripods. Yeah. just in the flowers, doing videos with their friends, their colleague, whatever they are, just videoing them, taking picture after picture after. It was crazy. Yeah, it's all for the ground, honey.

It's weird actually because I was thinking that earlier. I don't know why I was looking on Instagram. And I don't know what, yeah, the fault coming to my head of, what would life be like if people didn't feel like they had to do stuff for fucking Instagram 24-7? Well, it would be like 1980s. Be like the 1990s. No, but it is like some of the stuff I think you would never do that. You wouldn't dream of doing that.

No, I know. It's crazy. Would you, as an adult, two occasions, there was a tractor. Yep. Right? There was an adult sat on this tractor for about 10 minutes and all James wanted to do was play with it. So I'm keeping having to pull him away because the adult is having a photo show. Wow.

Yes. I'm like, just, you can see he wants to go on it. I'm not saying, I just think it's for a child. All right, you might want to sit on it and have a photo. Then my friend put her little boy on the tractor and this other woman was lingering and like, as if to say, can you hurry up now because I want to do my photo shoot. I was thinking, it's for a child the thing. It's an insane world we live in.

I saw a fantastic post today on Instagram about the Masters, the Gulf. I don't know if you saw it but I follow the Masters Obviously I'm a bit of a freak Because that's the only golf competition I watch a bit like the darts at Christmas But it's my favourite golf tournament to watch And you're not allowed your phones there

So when you see Rory McElroy winning Every single person behind him Is screaming Is screaming, looking at him cheering No one's got a phone And it's very special You're in the moment But if you look at Messi's first time

Of going on a pitch For Barcelona Everyone's got their phone The basketball They showed all the sports events where everyone, it's just phones, whereas the Masters is no phones. Yeah.

Yeah. Bastard things. Well, no, today we had full on massive cameras, which, look, don't get me wrong, it's beautiful. I get that beautiful place to take photos, but it just blew my mind. And I just think, like, hats off to you. I watched a girl with a tripod sitting there,

sipping her coffee, playing with her hair, smiling. About 10 times she did it. Well, it's a job, isn't it? It's not easy either, I have to say, when you get into that influencer business, that is a ball lake. Yeah. Yes, not for me.

That's why... And just the confidence, because you're surrounded by other people, like, look, you know, they're not looking at you. Oh, yeah, you've got to have no fucks given, do you know what? But it is a lot.

What am I going to do today? It's a pressure. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. It's... That's why my Instagram and nothing really grows, because I don't do a lot. No, but it's the thing is, right,

the reality is it might look on the surface that it's exciting and interesting it's fucking dull oh awful anything anything not being rude anything you do

that you do day in day out it becomes dull yes do what I mean it's then like what can I do then you've got to go somewhere

and you can't be over to go well you've got to do your makeup and your hair because you've got to do some video like I know not everybody does that that's what I've done tonight I've got all glams up tonight Oh yeah, I bet

Like, do you know what? I was going to put my eyebrows on And I thought I couldn't give a fuck I'm not doing it I actually puts the makeup on For the first time in two weeks You look lovely I look lovely

I thought I thought I'd give it a bash Because I've got to go into work In the office tomorrow So it's my first time going out like Oh, you look lovely Thanks I'm really nice But I just wanted to feel a little bit normal

To see how tomorrow will go Yeah, because this week I haven't felt normal Must be all that money you're earning from the pod mug To get your surgery Oh the old The rain is back I love it

I love it You know what I said ill I said at some point In the future You know people have these Patrions Or you know bonus episodes Which you couldn't do it on the normal pod But we could have a whole

Special bonus episode All about those comments Wouldn't it be brilliant And you know what would be amazing about that? That would then earn us more money and then I could get more plastic surgery. I love it. I love it. Oh, you've got a laugh.

You have got a laugh. Before I go, can we just talk about the old Strugganoff? It looked absolutely banging. It was sensational. And I'm very shocked at the response. Oh, why? Because just a lot of people were here for it. But I just, it's not something you really hear about.

No, ever says, oh, I'm having a Strugganoff for dinner. So I thought it was going to be like, no, absolutely not. I know. But yours is not just a Struganoff. It's an Enia strugganoff. And an M&S struggle. Why? Because all the ingredients.

But what's the sauce? beef stock cream don't give it any more away that's for the cookbook oh shit okay so it's not a jar you've made that

no okay fine you're taking the piece sorry else I don't know I do do my curries out the jar don't I but

it's not right for me it did look lovely it's the rice element for me why fuck that is weird

see if she served me that in a bowl with some nice crusty bread. You say that about everything. I'm all over it. What do you mean? Everything.

But this is very interesting because when you're looking at recipes and we had quite a few messages, like not with rice, but with mash. Oh, I could get on board with that. Yeah, I could get right on board with that. With mash. I love mash. It's my favourite potato. I bought some leftover mashed.

Mary can't speak. I don't know what's wrong with her, but I wish you were here because it might be an awkward 45 minutes because I don't know what's happened to her mouth. No, sorry, it's not, it's that, and because I just said I bought leftover mash around to Ilias on Saturday. Is that weird? A little bit.

Yeah. Gross. I'll make a good mash though. But I love mash. So yes, that with mash, that's for me. Well, what about people serve it with pasta like papadelli? Fuck that. Oh, I understand that.

Okay. Because it is a creamy sauce. Yeah. So you're making it into a strogan-off sauce? I kind of get that. Yeah. Mash I do not get. Why?

No. I would be very happy with just the crusty bread, lovely. Yeah. Because I only had a little bit of rice. I'm not overly bothered about the rice back. Oh, no. The rice whigs me out. Can I tell you a secret?

Oh, no. Do you what I did today? What? Do I have for lunch? Oh, God. What she had? I got a slice of sourdough. Yeah.

toasted it. She sounds like me. She can't speak tonight. My teeth, we've gone, the two. Oh, toasted it, a sourdough, yeah? And then I heated up in a pan on microwave, leftover bolognese. I put that on top.

Wow. Some cheddar cheese. Lovely. Really good. Lovely. How good is that? I was thinking, like, for a starter, you could do that little.

mini Bolognese bruchettas, how good would that be? Beautiful. Do I say that wrong now? Brescetta. Pruchetta. That's good though, isn't it? Really good. Yeah, it was bane.

But I did think that's pretty rogue for a little lunch. I mean, it's quite extra for a Tuesday, but that's okay. If that's what we're doing, we're having Strugganoffs on Monday. So, no, that was the other thing. It was a Monday, but I just got in my head and I couldn't let it go. No. When, what day would you have a Strugganoff, sorry? Thursday.

Thursday. It's a Thursday It is a Thursday Did you have a glass of red? No Oh, okay No But really Monday's our sort of salmon

Or see, you know, fish night So now fish is tomorrow We have to swap it And also you shouldn't really eat fish on a Monday Why? Because all the fish shops are closed Like this Obviously you can

But I'm saying it Back in the day Restaurants and fishmongers They don't work, do they? on a Sunday, so the fish is never fresh. So you shouldn't eat fish on a Monday is the sort of rule. So what about meat? Is that how much you're saying?

The butchers are working. I think the butcher's all right. The meat's butchered. I don't get it, but the butchers aren't really open on a Sunday. Well, no, that's what you've just said. No, because it's about being fresh out of the sea. Oh, I see. I know, but we're not really buying it.

Fishmongers, so I won't worry about it. Fair enough. Right, well, we've done 12 minutes with you, and I love you to bits, but it'll probably sound like shit, so I better go. Oh, no. I need to go and catch up on last night, so I'm a celebrity here. It's all been kicking off with David Hay. So good.

I have caught up today, had a little scan through. So we're going to have a little chat about it now, but Gemma falling off the hammer. I can't cope. She is comedy fucking gold. And she's coming across really well. I like her. a lot.

Me too. She's cracking. She's great much. And what was it? One of them said she is just a walking meme. And that is exactly what she is. Brilliant. Very, very good.

Right. Well, I love you and leave you. All right. Love you, Loads. Stop apologising. The show can't be there, but I will return. We'll try our best to keep it up there. Thanks.

Keep the wheels turning and all that. All right. Yeah. All right, guys. Loads of love. And I hope James sleeps well. Good luck. Thank you.

See you. Love to you. Bye, bye, bye, bye. Right, so seriously. Can you? Oh, no, no, no. That's not what I'm doing. What are you doing?

Like, cheese, grommit. Show your bottom teeth. I can't do that. Why? You've not having anything done to your teeth, have you? As well. What is it then? I know.

Whatever I've had done is affecting. So that's you smiling. Oh my God. I think it will come back. What if they've Nick too much? You can't... But it's really weird. So when I'm talking, it gets caught.

Right. And then these teeth come out. Lovely. I'm hoping that will calm down. And I hope we get through the pod. Oh, honestly. Also, you know, you said about your eyebrows. Yes.

It reminded me the other week or a few weeks ago, I don't know what possessed me to do it, actually. In the morning before work, I thought, oh, Elia, you know, Elyas said she tints her own eyebrows. I got stuff. So I thought, I'm going to tint mine before work. Yeah. So I did it, took it off, get to work. The girls were like, your eyebrows look lovely.

I said, oh, I've just tinted them this morning. Yeah. Anyway, I said, do they look a bit dark? I don't know. No. I said they're dark, but they're fine. I said, okay. And then after lunch, they went.

They look really dark. So I looked in my camera and I was like, the fuck are they so dark? I said, how would you wipe them off? They were like with water or something. I said, oh, I only used a dry cotton pad. You've left the tint on? No, you haven't.

So it's been developing hours, hours, hours. You won't do your hair, would you? With a dry towel. Exactly what they said. Exactly what they said. They said, so when you dye your head, you just rub it with a dry towel. That is brilliant. I said, I hope so I've gone to the toilet tissue and water.

I'm trying to rub it down. What an idiot. They look alright though now. Oh, I know. It's three weeks ago. Oh, right, okay. That's funny. So I'm just sitting there and these eyebrows are just getting darker and darker.

I could timp mine, but I haven't got any. Yes, strange. It's a shame, isn't it? Do you know what you can get that? The 90s? No, the 90s did that to me. Oh, I know. Plucking them.

See, I never did that. Very, very thin lines. They never grew back. And when I have the tattoo, as we've mentioned before, It doesn't. You can get extensions. Sorry? Pardon?

Eyelash extensions. Eyebrow. Eyebrow. Eyebrow extensions. How are we popping those on? I don't know if they like... With a tape or... No, no.

Just sort of... Or a bead. Just beads, are not. No, I think they're like... I don't know if they inject... I've seen it and they're really long and then they cut them all. I'm sure it's not AI. I think I'll use an eyebrow pencil.

I'm quite good. The one thing I'm good at is with an eye... I can actually do my eyebrows. Thank God for that, eh? Thank God that I've got something. I did think today, if I was glamorous all the time, do you think it would be better? Yeah, just that if I do a shoot and I've got all my hair done,

like tomorrow I'm going out, so Molly's coming to do my glam. And I thought, people in the public eye, do that every day. and sit down with their makeup artist and hair and they get that done every day for two and a half hours I think for me I mean I'm terrible the makeup I wear to work is what I wear when I'm going I can't really do it so I just do the basics

and that's me yeah so it's not that I'm when I'm just doing going out that's just the way I do makeup because I don't know different if I'm going out of an evening but there is something nice about when you are getting dressed up or going to a wedding and you get it done, you feel different, you feel lovely. You must, if you get it done to that high standard every time,

you must never feel, just feel the same, do I mean? There's never that special occasion where you feel like, oh, wow, I actually feel glamorous, or I feel... When I do mine, Molly and Sophie, I'll be fine and they'll be doing it, and they do my hair, and then they start my face, and then it gets to a point, they're like, you've had enough, haven't you? I just get... I hate it.

Yeah, yeah. I'm like, right, okay, how are we getting on? They're like, oh, she's done. She's finished now. Yeah. Hurry up. Yeah. I don't enjoy sitting there of that experience.

No. I'm getting better at it. I'm getting better at it. But it is a funny one. I'm a celebrity. I'm obsessed. You told me today, I'd not watched any of it. What, have you binged it all?

When I say binged it all, I've kind of gone for a few, skipped a couple, watched last night and sort of just scanned it. What are you thinking? I am thinking. when Sanita started talking to Gemma about being a joke Oh Bless, she took it really well

But why planet Sinita on? Oh, I mean, who knows? Who fucking knows? I like her, she's quite sweet Take me there, as what I'll say And when she had her music She chose her song Yeah, that was lovely

Yeah, she's on a different planet But I like her But also Very honest About the whole Simon Cow thing But is she? Is she? Did you hear it?

No, I'm just saying, really, is it been 40 years on and off? Or is it what she just says? Because he's really famous. Oh, I don't know. Come on. But I think she was even saying that she was holding on to, she was romanticising. Is that the word?

Yeah, romanticising it. So maybe, I don't know. I don't know. I just think it's a way of talking about Simon Cowell. Maybe, maybe. I don't know. I'm sure that she had a soft spot for him back in the day. Yeah, I think she probably massively did.

Yeah. But, I mean, yeah, bless her, she's staying relevant, isn't she? She's done the celebs go dating. Oh, is she? Oh, no, I think she was on, I remember seeing her on some of it. I mean, when you think about the 80s and that we still know who Sinita is, she's done a great job of staying around. So good luck to him.

I love Sean Walsh. He's funny. Really like Sean Walsh. I've always liked him, actually. I like his stand-up. Surprised he went back in, actually. Really? But good for him.

I think it's great. And him and the whole human gem of things fucking funny as well. Absolutely brilliant. Bev Callard, I love. Is she brilliant? Just brilliant. Says it how it is. When she said the other night, yeah, she might have won the jackpot.

But she got the booby prize. Very good. But what are you saying about women? You can't do that, David. But... I know he did... I know what he was saying. Yeah.

But I just feel like in this day and age, you've got to be careful. I know, but it's quite funny. It is funny. I mean, it's not that... I know everyone's going in on even. It's like... But also... And then there's have a...

people going, why are they all laughing, Scarlet and everyone? They should have just told him what, so it's all of that. No. No, it was, they're laughing at him because they're like, you're talking shit. What planet are you on? I sort of understanding what he was trying to say, but he wasn't articulating himself very well at all.

No, but you can't say on television that all pretty girls are thick. No, of course. That is outrageous. You absolutely can't say that, unfortunately. I mean, I'm very intelligent. But I get to. know what? The thing I...

No, I think what he was trying to say is when you're stunningly beautiful, you don't... It's effortless. It's effortless. You don't feel like you have to... You can just stand in a room and be seen. And be noticed, exactly.

I get that. I get that. Whereas if you're not, or you feel like you're not, I don't know, everyone's version of what's pretty and that is different as well. And that's the other thing. Yeah. Everything is relative to your standard. Exactly.

Or what you want. Exactly. But not being rude, but you know what he sees as beautiful and what he doesn't. Yeah. But I must say I'm a celebrity. Kudos to them. They did very well of then. Was it the next step or was it that ep where he was then tucking Gemma into the hammering.

Oh, yeah. Gentlemen gentlemen. Very good. Let's edit this well. They saved him there. Blessing. And that did made a very good joke. They did. You've got to take it like hard at the end of the day.

But also people are in there. I was going to say people are in there and they have opinions. As long as you're not being detrimental. And also, he wasn't singling anyone. He's not saying who he thinks is, or what his interpretation is of stunning or ugly. But yeah, I mean, funny shit to say. It was the way that it was said.

I knew what he was trying to say. It was just the way he did it. Oh, yeah, he completely boised it out. Whereas I actually know, because I've never been one of the pretty ones. So I actually get, I've always been the funny one, the laugh, doing things for people. I understand what he means. Yeah, I do. You just look back to your school days.

Exactly the same as the playground. It was the same then. It's no different to when you go in the nightclub. It's the same shit. But yeah, I do think times have changed a little bit now. Yeah, I agree. But it's very good. I'm enjoying it.

No, it's brilliant. I think Gemma Collins is, she does make it. Comedy girls. Whether you like it or not. She's brilliant. She's a sweet. girl. She gives like obviously her bravado but she's a sweet girl and she's a walking meme was it was it Adam Thomas? Walking meme. That cracked me up. But also Scarlet, lovely Scarlet.

I was only in Newcastle with her a little while ago but she's so lovely down to earth. A really good group actually. Old robot horse man. I like you. He's funny. He's good. Did you watch a eating challenge? No, I haven't seen it. That was brilliant. Really good. Yeah. No, Excellent. And I'm watching, I'm really into it at the moment. So I'm watching, I'm a celeb. Yeah. The assemblies back.

I haven't seen any yet. choir on the other day. It was so lovely. Like all the other boys' choirs that have been before. It's just lovely to see boys of that age singing and enjoying it. Yeah, I'll take that. And what some of them get up to. No, I know.

And then at home with the furies. Oh, she started that next door. The old human that lives in the bedroom. In the dungeon. Yeah. She said it's very good. It is. I mean, that is mind-blowing TV.

Yeah, I need to watch that. You have to. Why, though? Because. I don't really know anything about them. I've not seen anything. Because they are... What I like about them and what I like about him is,

he just fucking says it how it is. There's no heirs and graces. They're travellers. He's done very well for himself. They follow the travellers way still. That's what they, you know... That's their... That's their belief.

They don't derive from that. They all have their morals and what they stand by. I mean, there's hundreds of kids. They're hilarious. I mean, they're young, they're swearing. It is, but they get told off. It's like I'll have on Sunday afternoon. He's a multi-millionaire.

He's still got a clapped-out car that he's trying to, like, he's just bought the old style. What are they called? I don't know what you're talking about. The car, you know, the wagons, like the old style wagons. He's just got turned up with one of them. They're on the dry. He's one of them.

Because she said he's got bipolar. Right. So he's 100 miles an hour. And this is about him retiring, which obviously we know he will come out of retirement. And how he's got to keep himself busy, you know, if he's not training every day. And it's chaos in it. They've got seven kids. I don't know.

They're going to have more. You've got the eldest daughter. It's just fascinating. But he's an interesting character. and he's a bit like the eldest daughter is like getting into influencing. He's like, if you don't want to do that, you don't do it. But if you do want to do that, fuck it, I'm famous. Earn off it if you can.

Why not if you've got a foot in the door? And I'm like, do you know what? At least you're just saying it. Because I know everyone goes on about this whole nepoism and but. Well, no, absolutely. Listen, if you can help your children. You're going to, aren't you? Yeah.

It's the same as if you want to pick them up at night to try and help him get a job. You're going to. What are you going to say? Oh, no, I can't do that. Yeah, exactly. But yeah, they're just very, it's just funny. He's got, like, the big, he's taking her big pink Chanel bag to the gym, the father-in-law, his dad's, like, what the fuck's that?

He's got it thrown it across her. He's like, that's 10 grand. I'm like, oh, my God. Fascinating. I left to have a little bit of it. Yeah, it's a fascinating watch. So that's me. That's what I'm binging at the moment.

Excellent. Very good. I'm just going from you because I haven't been much. watching a lot of telly at all. I've been quite busy in the evenings. You know, when you're a minicab now, you're doing pickups, drop-offs all different times. Yeah. And you smashed out your book, didn't you?

I couldn't believe it. You loved it? Loved it. I need to take it off you because I started listening to it on audio. Which, because it's her reading it and it's about her life, it's like listen to a pod. It's easy. That's right, yeah.

But I do fall asleep at night. That's my problem. So you can do both, aren't you? Exactly, exactly. Yeah, brilliant. Well, that was a great intro. Sorry, I went off on a tangent. That was good, that wasn't it?

That's what it's all about, little tangents. But we have had so many messages regarding what we were talking about last week, which was the moving, moving away from family and stuff. Oh, you know, so many messages. So many, so let's try and rattle through some. Mm-hmm. So this one is quite a long one, but I wanted to read it. Hi, Hi, Nat and everyone, I hope you're okay.

This is a message for you. Maria, I hope you're recovering well. Oh, thank you so much. Here we go. So Joanna said, 30 years my dad worked in Salvation. Arabia. He came home three times a year and missed him so much. He's back in Wales now. When I was 36, 11 years ago, I moved away from my immediate family from mid to South Wales on my own with a six-year-old and an eight-year-old. It's a strange one, isn't it? On our own.

I did it because the town I lived in was getting worse for opportunities and nothing there from my children and I wanted a better life for us, especially as I am a single parent. Amazing, John. So she got a job transfer, which is fair enough. My parents are both from South Wales, huge family like yours. We're all quite close. So we live midwales, half down here, half down there, but not far away. They're like us. And then in 2019, she lost her job due to her disability now.

However, we still live in South Wales, but she cannot express how lucky she is because she got to spend the last few years of her life helping her grandmother out so she helped to care with her auntie for her grandmother and it was something her 12 other grandchildren couldn't do so she got that and she was blessed to lose her job and then do that job so that was amazing none of them could go to the funeral because it was COVID

so that was awful and she says she's got an amazing auntie she doesn't have any children so she's She helps her out all the time of her and her kids. Sorry, I don't do that for you. I've got my own kids. I've got an amazing auntie until he said that. Got my own kids to think about.

They're growing up soon and you'll be able to. Yeah. Loads and loads of cousins who helped me as well. She's engaged to the nicest guy ever. Congratulations. Been together for three years. We live separately at the moment, but for lots of reasons. Did you hear that chat with me and Mark?

There was a message on our pod that was talking about they've been together for, I don't I don't know. Those are people. And they don't live together. Loads of people. But I get it. I can't imagine living with another guy now. The hardest thing about...

You get used to being on your own. You do. Setting your ways, like things in a particular way. I get it as you get older. You do get set in your ways as you get older, don't you? Yeah. Anyway, what the mic drop is, is Joanna's eldest daughter is going to uni in Glasgow. go seven hours away.

And she said, I wanted to do what she wants to do with her life, but at the same time, I want her to be close to me. And now I know how my mum felt and still feels. So it's funny, it's bit of sweet, isn't it? It's so tricky, isn't it? So you do things for your children, you move away from the people you love to help them find better opportunity, but that's what you've done, Joanna. Yeah, exactly.

You've broadened her horizons. And also, it's university. She might still come home. Yeah, that's true. I mean. Yeah. Fingers crossed. We've had so many messages on it and it's actually mind-blowing, you know,

just what people do, what people sacrifice for some reasons that can't be helped or like you, Joe, that just, yeah, wanted to move away to you. And I get that. You can't help where you're born sometimes. No, that's right. So you might look at different countries or different areas of the country and think there's more opportunity or I want to live by the seaside because it's a bit, you know, nice, a slower pace quality of life or.

want to move out the city, it's expensive, or people want to move in the city because there's more opportunities. I got thinking that, well, something we didn't think about, though, and what we didn't talk about was when Ellie was saying about mum and dad moving away, say like your elderly parents that retire

and want to move away, lovely. But then I know of people that their parents have done that, they get older. Oh, it's terrible. They're on their right. What about granddad? Linger chair. And then that's hard for the children

because how are you meant to be there and care for them? So I know, I'm not saying like you've got to, I know you can't live your life like that, but you have got to, that is an element of that. I just think you should have some plans in place. Yeah. And think about the future. So you could go and do that. But at a certain point, 75, God, I mean, that's amazing, you know, if you're healthy,

I think, maybe move into a little bungalow near. But it's all money, that. A family. That's money. That's stamp duty. Yeah, no. When you move to places like when growing down at Lincolnshire, so much cheaper than around here. Of course. So then to move from there to back here, it's hard going, right?

Yeah. So it's not that easy. So you have got to sometimes. And it's funny, like. But you say that some people just want to live their life. No, but also. Not think about that. It's grief.

Granddad did that on a win when we lost nanny. Yes. Grief does funny things to people. Yeah, it does. Or like anything, any trauma or people do. Not saying it's. But you say that, he did have a nice time. Oh, and we, it was beautiful.

But in, yeah. genuinely did enjoy those years. And towards the end of his life, he would say they were some of my favourite years. Don't get me wrong, he missed mummy. But at the golf, sitting, watching the sunset, peace and quiet. And he made some lovely friends. He made some lovely friends. So that part of his life was a special part.

And how often did you go there? Can you remember? Not as much as I should have. But then you're busy doing stuff. I was young. I got up there. It wasn't far. I'd go up for weekends.

have a night there. I mean, I remember doing it, yeah, and staying. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But there you go. Yeah. And Gary always used to go and stay with you. Yeah, he loved that, didn't you? So, it was good.

Listen to this one. Nikki said, not that crazy or wild, but I have moved to Stantsted from Bath, where all my family and friends are, because my boy, you're right there? On. Were that loud? Oh, my gosh. Is that loud? Yes, it was.

Sorry. Not that crazy or while, but I've moved from Stantzsted from Bath, where all my family and friends are because my boyfriend has ties dependent family and work this way. We spoke about living in the middle, but what does that achieve? It's true.

Loes of people do that though. I know, but what's the point? Because then you've got no one around you. I know, it's funny though. That is, yeah. That is a bit silly. I'd rather have one set of family nearby than it being a competition of all right.

If you can, I can't have mine. We'll just go in the middle. Yeah. I sort of understand it. Anyway, so here we are settled in the stunning Essex countryside. it means I spend a lot of time on the road trying to make it to the special occasions but also trying to get balance

of forging a life here what's the point in being here if I'm always away? In terms of seeing people it means it's always on occasion no longer just popping in and I miss that a bit but I will say when I am with people

it does result in more quality time them staying with us or me with them sometimes spending time doing nothing in particular but together now I've adjusted I do really like it. Although we're a close family like yours and all the years living closely together we're lovely too. Thanks, Nikki. It makes sense. And also like if your partner's family are like yours or you might come from a smaller family, your partner's family might have

more going on and they might have brothers and sisters. You don't mean? You don't know. So it actually might work out better. I agree with you. Nice for you. I don't know. Yeah. It's a minefield. Listen to this one. This is good. Hi, Nat, I love the pod. I've been listening from the start. I heard you talking with the nieces last week about people who had moved away from the UK and what it's like and I felt I had had to message. I moved to Nairobi in Kenya in January, 24, for two reasons, a job and a man.

I'm now married to my Kenyan husband and we have a one-year-old little boy. I am working as head of music at an international school, which has its challenges. and I am so much happier living here than I was before I made the move. Different members of my family had very different reactions to what I had expected, but in the end everyone is just as happy that I'm happy. I always listen excitedly when you and Mark discuss where your listeners are in the world, but I haven't heard you mention Kenya yet, and I'd love to know how many people here listen to you.

I will have a look, I'll make a note and we'll do it on scraping the barrel, Lucy. If you fancy doing a live pod in Africa, I will tell you. definitely be there. It's quite a trick. I know, but we could do Safari. It'd be so good. Oh, it'd be so good. We'll put that on the bucket list, that one.

Be so good. Even if you just turn up on your own. Or we just do Safari and we'll just do a pod to Lucy. That's what I mean? Be well happy. That's amazing. Isn't it? Your pod helps me so much whenever I feel a bit homesick,

especially the chats about Marks and Spencer and Sunday roast. Oh, it's lovely. Thanks, Lucy. Oh, can you imagine being that in love with someone that you'd move? Incredible. And all that way. And for a job. And for a job, yeah.

And this is a thing, careers and jobs, yeah, they can take you. They can take you anywhere. I just want the children to work up the road. I mean, we're going to have to start our own business or something. We're going to have to do something. What could we do? Why don't we buy the village shop? Because it needs to do it up.

No. We haven't got a shop in the village anymore. Should we do something? Yeah. A shop. And then we can get all the children. children in there. They can work in there.

Paper rounds. Child labour. No, it'll be brilliant. We should, we need to think of something so they stay. So they stay nearby. I've just dribbled my wine. Oh, sorry, I'm like that guy. What guy?

The dribbling guy. In the film? You don't watch films. Not really. Just, is it just go with it? The one we'll, everyone else will know. Fine. We've, um, Jennifer Anastain.

and Adam Sarnla when they go to the party with the guy of all the plastic surgery and he's drinking it out of he was just pouring out of his mouth so that is what you're like that's what you've turned into

I don't even have plastic surgery no I know you ever you've had something done fucking honestly it's not my eyes I don't know it's affecting my mouth no it's so strange

it's where they've pulled it all no I don't know what they've blooded He's done, I don't care, either. Maybe I did things that I didn't know. Well, I do you know, you're knocked out. They could have had a right, I would laugh. It's all been filmed anyway.

Sorry? He wanted to film it for his YouTube channel. Sorry? Mm-hmm. Sorry. When you're not awake? No. That's going on his YouTube.

I think so, I don't know. Did he pay you for that? No. I'm on drugs. No, no, not that sort of drugs, but I was... No, I was just excited. I don't, I don't know. But anyway, oh.

Moving on. And we're having to go out people sitting in tulip fields, getting videoed. No, I know, but I said, you can film, no, no, I get what he wants to do it for. For his business, so people feel. So people feel comfortable with the procedures. Yeah, I bet he does, yeah. Why have you got to do it? I just said, don't put my face in it.

So your breasts are in there. we can have a cracking bonus set. Guess the breasts. Guess which body yours is? I said, can you not get the toes in except my beauty. Oh, it's going to be an app. I can't believe it. I'm not going to tell anyone who the surgeon is, though.

I have to be honest. I couldn't think anything worse. Why do I watch that? Although Cat wants to watch it apparently. Oh, God. No, I couldn't. I said to him, I'll show you, I say I've got no interest. Thank you.

none at all. Have a listen to this. Hi ladies, just listening to the most recent Nats nieces, I think episode 47, and just thought I'd share my story about moving away from home. So my parents and two of my brothers are still in Climuth, where I grew up. One of my brothers moved away to Brighton. My sister lives in Australia. And I moved three years ago to live on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Wow. Do I miss my family? Of course.

I love them. I'd say we're all pretty close. But for me, living in Madeira, the whole package was just a better way of life. And that's what me and my husband decided to do. So we did decide somewhere in Europe because it wasn't too far away from home. Like, comparatively speaking, I wouldn't, for me, Australia, I don't think would ever be on the cards where my sister lives. it's too far. So we go and back and visit, like, fairly regularly. We have

friends and family come to see us because it's not too far away, and there's flights every day. But yeah, for us, it was just the better quality of life. I know it's not for everyone, but it works for us. Love the pot as always. Bye. Oh, I'm glad it's worked out for you. Me too. I'll be so scared. I do. I'm a scaredy cat. I just think, I don't know why.

my brain doesn't operate in the way that it's a whole wide world out there. And there's some beautiful things you can see and amazing places to travel. I know. Part of me just feels like I was born here. So, do you know what I mean? Is that weird? I don't know. I just don't think I've got a lot of drive for certain things.

Travel isn't one of them. Really? When people say I want to see the seven wonders of the world. I just go to get a book I love books I just watch Cold Pilkington I'll just get a beautiful book

and look at it all No I get what you mean And read all the facts about it But me sometimes I'm like The idea sounds so good And then I've done I don't think I've seen a I've seen things

And then just like Oh Is that it? Do you know what I mean? Yeah And I'm sure I'm sure there'll be Travellers out there

Who say that I'm raving mad and it's brilliant. But for me, some of the most special things are walking up the road to the Bluebell Wood and walking down it with Joni, James and Alfie for 10 minutes. Yeah, we're sad. We need to get out more, I think. Possibly. It's a possibility.

Should we go to China and do the Great Walls? I can't give a fuck. Don't want to. I'll get a taste of China and play Scattergris. So true. Be happy doing it. rather like, we'd rather all be here watching Glastonbury. And the living room, they'd be in it, Glastonbury.

I would. Better coverage. Can hear what you're doing. And when you flick over, you can see a Lannis mama set, 17 times! Oh dear. Maybe that could be a new show we could do. Basic bitches. No.

They could send us to different countries, see how long we last. Oh, well, that'd be good, like Carl Pilkington and. fucking Stephen Mulhom now doing the same thing would be us now do one with vaginas in it that's original here's the next one

hi Nat just listening to your pod the Nat's Neat's number 47 I love that people say the numbers I'm a little bit behind it's been the school holiday so I've been not driving around so much

so I'm just catching up you've asked a question about being out with family friends whatever having meals and how you're splitting the bill? Well, we go out quite a lot with family and we split the bill between us apart from when we're out with my mother-in-law

and father-in-law because they literally go down to the penny on what they have spent. They won't split the bill. They won't just put in 30 quid. They will have to make. sure they've only paid for what they've had. And there have been times when they have gone up and paid before they have had their meal

to make sure they only pay what they've had. I just find it really bizarre. Really, really strange. And my mum and dad, seeth about it. Absolutely sieve. As soon as they've gone, my mom and dad are sitting there, absolutely bitching about it. It's a topic of conversation

for at least the next 30 minutes. Yeah, it's hard work. I mean, if you're going up there, pay for the whole bill, mate. You're going up to pay for your food when you've not eaten it. Yeah, no. I bet when they walk back,

they're like, get back to the table. Oh, come on, guys. Listen to this. I don't drink. I love, can I just say that the use of this word coming up is one of my favourite things that's been said on the pod.

Go on. This is from Marie in Galway, so imagine a fantastic Irish accent. I don't drink and have been shafted every time I am in a group setting paying for others booze. One ball bag I work with. What one?

Shaft it. I love shafted and ball bag. Fucking both brilliant. One ball bag. What a great term. Great terminology for a human being. A ball bag. Absolute.

Ball bag. I'm going to use it. One ball bag I work with, Downs Brandy, and order steak every time. I've now stopped going out with them. I moved to UK when I was 20 to join my boyfriend at the time. Was there four years, moved home to Ireland when he ended it with me. It was a blessing, as I always thought I was gay, so I explored that, and I am now 10 years married this year, 21 years together,

to my amazing Cockney wife who moved to Ireland 13 years ago, Marie from Galway. Love that. Love that. Excellent. Ball bag. Bull bag. Fucking ball bag. I mean, yeah.

You can't be ordering brandies and steak when you know you're splitting a bill. Absolutely not. Again, I think it's like with us when we go out. It's us. So we know, yeah, it's just, yeah. I remember when I was younger and going out clubbing, I'd always be the first one at the bar. get in the round of drinks

then the next one and there'd always be that one that would get out of it who would be like round seven I can't stand it and would just forget to do it or it would all be too pissed to remember

and I'd be getting shots that's me all over I'm a moron I do it I'm a nightmare generous I think is the word no yeah but then I'd get carried away

and I'm like yeah and I don't know I'm just I'll do it now still go out of people I'm like I'll get the bottle of wine.

Yeah, it's all because I'm loaded or anything, Lorraine, just because I'm generous. I once paid £30 for a pizza. Exactly as Elia mentioned, I joined my friend for a meal out with her work friends. The group was huge. The table was long, so I didn't really get to speak to or know anyone else.

And when they all split the bill at the end, I felt they wouldn't know that. I didn't have a starter or a dessert or drink any alcohol, so I didn't say anything. I learnt my lesson though and said to myself it never happens again I must speak up

from verity 30 quid for a pizza's a liberty isn't it? Oh liberty kicking the ball bag that one It really really is Okay

When I sell my business I want the best tax And investment advice I want to help my kids And I want to give back to the community Ooh Then it's the vacation

Of a lifetime I wonder if my out of office has a forever setter. An IG Private Wealth Advisor creates the clarity you need with plans that harmonize your business, your family, and your dreams. Get financial advice that puts you at the center.

Find your advisor at IDPrivatewealth.com. Frey Bentos. Oh, my goodness. Me and your mom had a lovely chat on the last pod regarding Frey Bentos. What does she have to say? Very good stories.

Very interesting. Interesting. She used to love them. So, yeah, very funny conversation. But we've got one here. Oh, my God, Frey Bentos, my hubby used to have them and love them. To me, they're an absolute abomination rank. Tim Peaches, though, heavenly.

Also, I'm married to an ex-soldier. I'm from Germany and met him whilst he was stationed there. After four years, as I had just turned 22, we travelled wherever the forces took us for the next 30 years. We mostly lived in the UK and Germany over that time, but did have nearly three years in Hong Kong. Kong. Not for everyone, but he and our two boys and I loved every minute of it, best times of our lives. We didn't seem family lots, but when they did visit, we always had really special

times. I loved being an army wife. Once aid was ready to leave the army after 39 years, we settled in Wales, which is his home and now mine too. One of my boys live near us with his family, and the other is in Portsmouth with his girls. Love you guys and love the pod. From Dagmar, lovely Dagmar. You always message you. Yes, yes, lovely. Yeah, I mean. Imagine being an army wife and travelling around. Incredible, isn't it?

You don't realise. You really have to think about all of the occupations out there and all the jobs people do. That's it, and this is it. Different people everywhere, you know, have such different lives. And you know what? And some people are benefiting because they're getting to see different places in this beautiful world that we live in.

Absolutely. We fucking stack it. We can't leave there. No, I can't. Sorry, just going back to Frey Bentos. Yes. We have had some messages, though, and people saying it is it she like dog food.

Queen Elizabeth II reportedly enjoyed Frey Bentos tinned pies during long haul flights in the 1990s. Her former pilot, Graham Lorry, revealed in a Channel 5 documentary, ah, that ain't true then. Oh.

Fucking Channel 5 documentary. That the royal family used to love the tin pies, finding them a pleasant change from elaborate first-class food. Oh, yeah. Why don't they serve them on aeroplanes? Fraybentos.

Yeah. I could get on board with that. Our lovely friend, is it thrifty, thrifty green? Trifty green. She wanted us to do a little tastest. I said that you, me and else, should do a little fraybentos special.

Again, that's a bonus app, and it's a bonus. Oh, this bonus, bonus. No, no, but I do feel like we need to step our game up. Have a few bonuses knocking around at some point. The two are weak and fabulous. People love it. But if there was a few cheeky bonuses on the site.

What are you afraid bentons? Talking about your teeth. Not my teeth. What are you doing rude for? I don't know. That's really rude. Sorry. Teeth.

It's my jaw. That's ridiculous. We've got to congratulate lovely Vicky. Vicki Hughes. She completed her marathon. Half marathon, sorry. She never thought she was going to She's listened to us

We got her around That's soon isn't it It's next weekend So it's next Sunday So everybody this week Is eating pasta tapering Not doing a lot I don't think it's going to be

As hot as last year guys I hope not You won't nearly die Like my brother What's it saying Sunday Oh no Oh go on

baking No All right Drizzle and a gentle breathe Perfect Perfecto Apart from the squishy feet when your feet get wet in the puddles. But that's not London.

That's here. It's different in London. Let me see. Have a little look. Oh. Go on. 16. Sunny intervals and light winds.

Perfect. No? Still quite warm, isn't it? 16. Well, last year was like 20 something, isn't it? I know. I know. No, it'll be perfect for everybody.

But yeah, I do hope whoever is running the marathon. This week for you now, just take it easy. That's all you'll be thinking about. Just take it easy. you're going to have the best weekend of your life. Take it easy. What does that mean? Just take it easy. So what, you don't run?

You shouldn't really. You should or you shouldn't? A little bit. You should move, but you're not doing any long runs. They're all done now. A few little cheeky five-k. Yeah, exactly. Lovely.

Eating, stocking up on bits and pieces. I'm going to start running again. So am I. This is what I do. It's this time of year. After the marathon, I'm like, I'm running. I'm definitely going to run. Are you going to run?

Yeah. Yeah. When are you going to run? I can't run for another. How many weeks? Three weeks. What is it three weeks? Is it three weeks today?

I think so. Oh, three weeks. I can start light jogging. Light jogging in three weeks. All right, I shall join you. I won't start before. Is it unfair if I do? Yeah, please don't start before.

No, I won't. Thank you. As if I'd do that to you. It's absolutely fine. Someone did send us this. which I think we should listen to, because it may solve everyone's problem of bill splitting. She's found an app.

Good morning. It's Karen from Bath here. I've just listened to your podcast where you were talking about splitting the bill, etc. I don't actually drink that much, and it really annoys me when people that are drinking a lot at the end just drunkenly say, yeah, let's split the bill. And I need to get better about standing up for myself for that.

But like you say, it can just be embarrassing. Anyway, the main reason, I'm sending your quick voice note is I discovered an app through a friend a few months ago called Splitwise. Basically, it works well if you're maybe away for the weekend with a few people that one of you might buy some coffees, the other one might buy dinner, and each time you just make, buy something, you put the amount into the app. And at the end of the weekend, it'll just split everything up equally for you and tell you who owes what to whom. We just find out works really well, saves any embarrassment, one person's not buying more than the other.

Obviously, it only works in situations where you need to be happy to split everything equally. But like I say, for holidays and things like that, it's just perfect. Just thought I'd share that bit of information with you. Great podcast, as always. Speak soon. I mean, it's a brilliant idea, but if you were going away with me, darling, I'd be going to the off licence and getting six bottles of son-safe for 40 quid each. So that would be a problem.

It would be an issue. I'm just going to throw it out there. Josh. Just extra. No, but I'm just saying... No, I know, but she's saying if you're with people that are on, if you're just diet on a little girl, a couple of nights, a little weekend. No, it's a very good idea.

It's really good. I'm just joshing. Yes. Just trying to joke, by the way, everyone. But yeah, I'd be the same. I'd be like getting the shots and the cocktail. I mean, yeah. But no, it's good.

That is a good. It is hard. It saves out who's doing what. so if it's all, you're just at the end go, oh, I mean, we did it. We've had the old 40th this year. You're not like in these places, been like, you can't split the bill three ways. So one of us will pay them at the end of the night. You're trying to, or not the end of the night, next day, you're trying to work it out.

He's got a pingo. It's annoying. So, yeah, that is good. I had a, oh, I can't really say it. Yes, you can. No, all I'm going to say is it's not my business, because I wasn't there. But I heard a story of someone's birthday. and then the next day

someone's paid the whole bill and then the next day people are trying to sort it out and then they didn't pay them. They just didn't pay the money. So someone said, I'll get it now when I saw it out tomorrow and no one's, or someone's arguing, go, no, it wasn't that, it was this, knocking four quid off. That's bad.

Just remembered. What? You haven't paid me? You haven't paid me? No, it's my assistant's birthday tomorrow. Oh. I'll have a card downstairs. I can get a card.

Oh, fuck. Ella, sorry. I love you. I love a candle downstairs. No, I've got money from people. I need to get a present. See, that, that stress at work. You could take a nice designer.

Can I give me the money? So that thing as well at work, when you've got to do all the collection. Never done it. Don't want to. Never have. Everyone does collections. I'm never the one. Kelly used to be the one.

Kelly was the best. I'm not surprised. Collection, she'd do the collections. It's like at the school. Teachers collections at the end of term. I'm like, oh my gosh. I'll go on the low. No, thank you.

I just, thank you very much. I know I should probably, but I don't want to go to boots and get a hamper. The we go out for our teachers. Do you? Yeah. I get some lovely bits. No, I know. They deserve it as well.

I always thought I would do that. I'd be that mum. I can't. It's a time. It's a time thing. I can't believe we're over an hour. We've got so much to talk about. No.

We have got so much. But what? Quickly. But what? Just quickly. I wanted just for you, actually. Just from the pod I did with your mum, I wanted your opinion on it. We were all about working from home in the holidays, childcare.

And your mum went into how you all helped each other. Your mum helped. Oh, I've got, no, I had loads of help, I must say. But forget all of that and what we did. we did, do you think, it's just a question that I want to put out there, do you think it's acceptable to work from home with your children at home? No. Because for me, I know people sometimes haven't got a choice, but how are you concentrating?

No, it's hard. Or are you, your child's there. I've done it. But I've done it. Don't get me wrong, I've done it. I've done it on numerous occasions with important Zoom calls. and then they come in there talk to you, you're snapping at them.

It's not there for. Natalie, Natalie, I've had it before where, I remember one Monday, my after-school club, I don't know what I did. Yeah. They weren't booked in. I'm like, fuck's sake, I've got to pick them up. And I told my managers and so, I'm so sorry, I fucked it up.

They're like, it's fine. They were good as gold. As soon as I got on that call. It's the same as when you're on the phone. They're there. I'm like, you don't need to be here. It's mad. It's when you're on the phone.

Yeah. Same thing. Yeah. So times have changed The working from home thing Of course It is definitely And also like through COVID

Kids were at home There was nothing you can do Yes Working from home If so I've had it Where I've worked with men Yep And their wives

Maybe don't work They're picking up the kids From school at 3 o'clock The kids walk into the room Hide that It happens At the end of the day They're working from home

The kids, it's their home What can you do? So look I don't know. I think you have to... I just think it's a very interesting one. I think it's company dependent. Yeah.

It's your bosses who you report into. Again, they might be more understanding if they've got children or they get it. Times are a bit different now. Life is hard. It's... Child care is so expensive. The half terms and stuff, look,

every day, I don't think that's acceptable. No. Personally, I don't. I don't think it's fair on the children. I don't. I don't think it's fair on you. I don't think it's fair on your employer. They're not paying for you to be at home and look after your children.

You might have different, I don't know, again, it's all different. It's all goalposts, isn't it? I think on the odd occasion, allow it. Everyone will do it. And I think as long as you're getting your job done. I mean, for me, I just have no idea. I would probably now, being out of EastEnders, so as I say, I've had Zoom calls at home. Yeah, yeah.

Even when we're doing this, Being your mum touched on it. She was right. She went, you're working from home. Yeah, yeah. You're working from home. I said it's different. It's family.

It's not an important professional meeting that I'm in. I think it depends on what job you do, who you're talking to throughout that day. But I had to go to EastEnders. There was no... No, certain people do, yeah. I had to go. Yeah. But no one could cover me.

No. At any point. No. Do you know what I mean? Mm. You know, my dad died. on the Saturday, and Wednesday we had Harriet Rednapping for a scene, so I got called him to do it.

No, no. It's the only day he was there. Yeah, yeah. No, for me, like, personally, sorry, I don't mean to upset or offend anyone, but truly, I do think if it's a permanent thing where you're saying, oh, every Monday and Friday I'm going to work from home and have the children, look, maybe you can do it and your job is pretty chilled, fine, but personally, I don't, number one, I don't think it's fair on you,

How can you give 100%? I know what it's like. I've done it on the other occasion when they're sick. You know what it's like. You're trying to work. Like you say, you're getting up with them because they're frustrating you. That's the bit I don't like. And then you can't give, they want to help.

I remember once out of life as like, can you help with the Lego? I'm like, no, I'm working. I know. It's really, it is really hard. But even if I'm at home doing emails after school. So this week, I've picked, I picked Joni up. Yeah. Getting at home at half three.

Yeah. But I am actually, I've still got things that I need to do. Things are coming through or whatever. Yeah. And it's hard to say, look, and also I'm sat on my phone. Yeah. Because I do everything on my phone. So it actually looks like I'm Eliza, to Joni.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. She doesn't realize you're working. But I am doing my emails or I'm answering someone or I'm getting something through or I'm looking something up. And it's, yeah, it's hard. Whereas I would actually rather her, as mad as it is, I actually would rather her have an after school club to quarter past four. So when she comes home, I'm not on my phone. And also, Nat, it's like, so we're talking about if you're working about if you're Working from home, so school holidays and that, I get there's got to be a little bit of flexibility here.

We all take the little cheeky day. But we have to. Of course we do. It's mental. I like to put mine in clubs and whatever. I know it's expensive, but again, it's for them. They enjoy it. I don't want to sit it at home.

What are they going to do day in, day out? It's, you know, but when you're talking about working from home, your kids, if they're not at school, they're young, aren't they? That's hard. Yeah. Like, how are you doing that? I don't know. It's all hard. Child care is very expensive and a nightmare to find.

Absolutely. But again, clubs are expensive. Pre-COVID, working from home wasn't really a thing. No. So what did everyone do before that? So I do think there is an element now of people do take the piss. But at the same time, life has changed. And we have to be, everyone's learning.

I just think we've got to be supportive as well. Absolutely. And I had the conversation funny enough with mum the other day. And I said to her, it's not that deep. As long as people are getting their job done. As long as the work's being done. It's irrelevant, isn't it?

Yeah, it's true. Long as the work's being done to a good standard. Exactly. People choose how to bring their children up. If you're happy for your child to be on an iPad all day or whatever, if you're working. Or watching a film or a teller. That's up to you. Joni doesn't stop watching the telly.

She's a tele addict. No, I've got an issue. She's gone from, she likes the telly, but now I'll run the bar for the iPads on the sink. I said, what are you doing? We're having a bath. She's, and we've had a, she's been good today. I said, this has got to stop. Everywhere you go, there is a telly.

It's in a series of the traitors that she's watching. And it's going everywhere. I said, no, no, no, this can't be right. Eating the dinner, I'm bored. I said, no, I'll switch the tele off in the kitchen. I've switched it off. So we're not having it. Well, it's funny that I let the kids watch the trailer for the new toy story

film last night. Because it's the toys versus a, the lily pad and Alfie's height. But, but, but, what if, what if, what if they're watching the iPad

to learn things? I said, that's fine. I said, but not all the time. I said, because then the toys are upset because they're not being played with.

It was, I could see his brain ticking, thinking, but they are, my kids are players. They play, they play.

Alfie now, he's, they went for a phase, he went for a phase of iPad heavy. Even now, he's back to all the dinosaurs. That's good.

That's good. And that's what I was saying to him about the film. I said, your toys will be sad. I said, your toys are there for life. You have to look after them and play with them. I know it's hard. When's that out, toy story? Some, I don't know.

I'll finish June, June, I think. I said to him, we'll have to watch them all so we can remember the story. Also, why haven't we seen, we should have taken the kids to see the magic faraway tree in I Blighton? Oh, I didn't know. It's on at the cinema. I didn't know. I've done how I've missed it. But when it comes out.

We'll have to have a night here. Yeah, lovely. I love the faraway tree. It was one of my favourite in the Blytons. Bexies as well. I mean, you can't make it up. She messaged you other day, listen to bet. She said, I'm just going to go and see the faraway tree

because it was one of my favourite books, such as you, yeah, and mine. Oh, yeah, I've not seen that. No, it's meant to be really good. Jennifer Saunders is in it. Oh, wow. Yeah, it's meant to it. It was the Easter film. I bet somehow it passed me by, I don't know.

Anyway, it'll be out soon. On the telly, we'll do it. We've got so much more to talk about. Thursday Zep is a very special two-year anniversary all the guys are going to be involved yeah you'll hear from all the family it'll be lovely I've had fantastic voice notes from you all I've had two poems

Oh, fools I'd have to knock one out Not one out well if you like Oh dear So please once you've listened to this If you want to wish us a happy anniversary Send me a little voice note That'll be lovely

And also going into We can't just sit for an hour saying Oh, isn't it lovely to have two years? Oh, yeah, two years. So we're going back to what we do best, the mundane things in life. How'd you take your tea? Beans on toast. So much to say.

Is it fantastic? Or is it dog shit? How do you have it? Beans on toast. Weather. Do we talk about the weather too much? Do you start conversations with the weather? And sorry.

Sorry. Sorry. Oh, sorry. Oh, excuse me. Sorry. Are you all right there? Would you like some more? Oh, sorry.

We say sorry quite a lot. So all of those things and anything else that makes you feel English-stroke British on St George's Day. Brilliant. We've got lots to do. 0-7-8201919. Thank you so much. Tell your friends, please subscribe.

Subscribing's really important because it helps me pay my mortgage. I better subscribe then. Tell your friends. And my plastic. For Lorraine only. Love you lots. We've got loads and loads of messages there also, which were very earlier-oriented.

We'll get her back next week, hopefully. We'll get her back. Missed her very much, but at least we heard her. Beautiful tones. Maria, thank you so much. Thank you. Love you. Love you loads.

All right. Thanks, everyone. We love you. We'll speak to you all on Thursday. Woo! Tadda! Ciao.