46. The China Diaries: Chaos, Culture & New Collections

[00:00:01]Welcome to the Love Laura podcast. Join us for all things fashion, fun, girls chat, and all the behind the scenes.

[00:00:09][music] This is what you will not see on socials. This is getting right behind the brand.

[00:00:16]>> Welcome [music] back, girlies. This one is for all you China lovers.

[00:00:21]>> What [laughter] language should we be saying?

[00:00:22]>> Ni hao.

[00:00:23]>> Ni hao. Xie xie.

[00:00:25]>> [gasps] >> We have just literally arrived back from China Friday morning. It is night Tuesday morning. We're sitting on the sofa. We are fully recovered, might I add. And we were away for a sourcing trip for Love Laura. Believe it or not, I think a lot of you thought it was autumn winter, but no.

[00:00:41]>> No, no.

[00:00:41]>> We are organized girlies this year for Love Laura. We have [laughter] moved at the speed of light this year, but we have realized that we actually need to be two seasons ahead. So, we have been doing spring summer, believe it or not, 20 seven.

[00:00:55]>> Yep.

[00:00:56]>> So, that's actually what the bulk of our work was in China. So, we were there for less just less than a week. Just shy of a week. Six days. And it was incredible.

[00:01:06]I'm home on a complete high. Yeah.

[00:01:09]>> Funny, I was just chatting to some of the girls who were off yesterday. Nora house was down chatting them this morning. They're like, "How are you?"

[00:01:15]Cuz last time the jet lag on us all was wild. And I said, "Honestly, that was a complete pleasure this time. It was fantastic from start to finish." And as Laura says, "We were there six days, but we had three and a half days of factory visits and then we were starting to travel home again." So, it wasn't that we were actually in working for the six days. A lot of that was travel. When you say that out loud, it sounds mental.

[00:01:35]>> Yeah.

[00:01:36]>> But even the travel, like I really enjoyed the flights and all. Like it doesn't >> Yeah, we didn't get the upgrade, girlies. Just saying. We just We leave past every time.

[00:01:44]>> Why?

[00:01:46]>> Okay, so >> going to this. Every day I was checking, you know the way you can bid. I don't know if you know this, but like the Letty, if you are booked on a long haul flight, well like Etihad, Qatar, any of the big ones like Emirates.

[00:01:59]Um even Aer Lingus I think do it. Do you know for longer New York flights? So if you book your flight, you can then like for the 2-week window coming up to it, they'll let you bid to upgrade. So I in my head was like, "Listen, if it's like 2 300 pound each, I'm definitely going to treat the girls, right?" Not that they're not worth anyone now, but I was [laughter] like, "This is crazy, right?"

[00:02:18]The freaking The least that I ever saw any of the flights This is per flight now. So we had two flights each together.

[00:02:25]Was 700. So I was like, "No." So then Kathy was like, one day I was like, "Do you think?" And she was like, "Laura, I am warning you.

[00:02:33]Do not. I repeat, do not. We do not have the money for this. This is mental.

[00:02:37]Absolutely mental." And I was like, "Okay, okay, okay, okay." But still in the back of my head like the two days before I was flat out checking and I didn't tell her, but I was flat out checking. That's why I was like, "Give me that Etihad I book and I need that download that app." Really didn't care all apart from the upgrade. So then no, nothing. Like the least we could bid was like I think it was right up at 800 900 per person per 7-hour flight.

[00:02:59]So then we got to the check-in desk. The guy was so So lovely like And then I was like, "Okay, if you don't ask, you don't get." So I was like, "Can we just check the price to upgrade if that's all right?"

[00:03:10]Yes. Yes.

[00:03:12]Five grand per flight.

[00:03:17]>> I I I I actually stood there and looked at him and thought he's going to start laughing here.

[00:03:21]>> I was like, "I'll happily put my flight socks on and sit with everyone else in economy. I'm happy."

[00:03:29]>> Actually, honestly, it is fine. I think if you obviously you'd love to go business class at some stage in your life, but I rate Laura slept the full first flight. Like it was Kathy sleeps like We'll watch movies. It was 100% fine.

[00:03:45]The only one I thought on this very last flight on the way home, it felt much smaller.

[00:03:50]>> Mhm.

[00:03:51]>> But I don't know if that's cuz we had been traveling for a while, but Cathy was like, "I just felt like I couldn't move or stretch out." And I'm like, "I think it was just we were getting to the like the end of the way home." But honest to God, I do enjoy flying.

[00:04:02]>> I me too. And you know what? This time I come back, I actually come back refreshed. I know that sounds really strange, but like I was thinking about this as a choir, you not absolutely exhausted. But for that whole week, we had nothing else to think about. Like I had no in here to think about. I had no kids, I had no groceries, I had no everything else to Do you have to organize and wake up when you're gone?

[00:04:22]>> I know.

[00:04:22]>> You just get laser focused on Love Laura, and you didn't think you read your book. That's it.

[00:04:26]>> I know, cuz Peter in the kitchen yesterday, you'd swear I paid that man 10 pound to do it. But he was sitting at the table psyched to talk about China.

[00:04:33]And honestly, the rest of them couldn't even half be arsed. Like they weren't really into it. Peter was like, "China."

[00:04:37]And he was psyched. So he was saying then Sinead was asking him a few questions and Ashleigh, and he says, "Honest to God, I was making tea.

[00:04:44]Honest to God, see the hours them girls put in? You wouldn't believe it." There was one night at 7:00 we're still in one of the factories doing it.

[00:04:52]And I was behind Peter, and I was like thumbs up and all the rest of them. And Sinead Sinead's like, "Bet you paid him to say that." And I was like, "No." He is right. And there was there was one day I honestly I was like, "Laura, I was starving." And I said, "Maybe say about dinner, Sinead. Laura, maybe you know the people want dinner more so than just us." And Laura was like, "Well, what time is it?" And I was like, "10 to 7:00." And she looked at me like I had 15 heads. She was like, "What What did you just say?" You have no idea.

[00:05:16]>> No, I swear if Holly had have told me it was 10 to 2:00 I literally I was like, "No, it is not 10 to 7:00. Are you in home time or what are you talking about?"

[00:05:23]And she was like, "It's 10 to 7:00. I'm starving." And I was like >> Oh my goodness.

[00:05:27]>> Laura's hit the nail on the head. Even back here now, we were just having this conversation before we started recording. There's so much going on, and we're so thankful to be busy. But with everything, it's just like you're pulled in every direction. And in your head, I don't know about you, but in my head in here, I literally go by the hour, and I'm like I have 4 hours left I go home.

[00:05:45]I need to get this done. I've only got 3 hours to get this done. I need to get this done.

[00:05:49]And then before you know it's home time you're like, "Right, sure. I'll just finish that at home or I'll just come in tomorrow and do it." You're always thinking about what you have to do next.

[00:05:55]>> Yeah.

[00:05:55]>> But over there, you had the peace to just do Love, Laura. It was honestly a joy.

[00:06:02]>> Yeah. We'll all come back in a complete high.

[00:06:03]>> And the suppliers like, honestly I'd say it time and time again, but the Chinese people I think that if the what people like a lot of questions were like, you know, "Did you feel safe? What is China actually like?"

[00:06:14]>> Mhm.

[00:06:14]>> But I truly believe like if myth busting China right here, right now, they are the kindest, yeah, most loving, generous country enough for you race, and they're actually like they're not an aggressive race. You know, you just I don't know what you think China is, but it's not what it's absolutely not what you think it is.

[00:06:34]Um definitely difficult with the language barrier. Like there is no doubt. I am so grateful for our suppliers because without them I think it would be incredibly difficult. Now, you could manage and you could do it. And this time we definitely were a wee bit more independent.

[00:06:49]>> Oh, 100%.

[00:06:50]>> We didn't have a translator with us the whole time. Last time we did.

[00:06:53]And we didn't like Like I think this time as well, we were a lot more confident. Whereas the first time you go, it's a like it's a face for the senses, and I think you're being more mentally tagged you're like, everything is new. Whereas this time it wasn't as new. We knew what to expect. And well, we traveled this time we traveled into Hong Kong, and then we got a car, a driver to take us to cross the border like on road at Shenzhen. Um and then it was 2 hours, 2 hours transfer to our hotel then from there. So, actually it was really, really good as well.

[00:07:25]>> Yeah, cuz I was dreading that car journey. I thought this is going to be terrible, but I just like settled in.

[00:07:29]>> was like wasn't the most pleasant as in like it's you have to get out of the car, take all your luggage into the car.

[00:07:34]>> my mind in that I was like like we give the passports over and it was like one of the toll bridges over here. So, we were just sitting waiting and then they come out and they check the car and they do your temperature checks in the car and all, and then he was saying to me, I was like, "Does he tell us to get our luggage out of the boot?" I was like, "What?"

[00:07:49]And he was like, "You leave your bag, but take your luggage." And I was like, "What?" So, then your suitcase has to go in through the scanner and all again.

[00:07:55]Like, your full suitcase.

[00:07:57]But, it didn't actually take us too long, which was great, but it was just like, "Huh?"

[00:08:03]Huh, I'll give you a giggle, though.

[00:08:05]Peter McPoland and I'm fairly convinced it's going to happen is adamant that he could drive next time in China.

[00:08:10]No, I don't I mean I mean that he keeps saying if we hired a car, and I'm like, "We're not hiring a car, not a chance."

[00:08:16]>> Did you want to drive in China?

[00:08:16]>> No, no bother. We we could. Like, we know now where we're going. We could hire a car, definitely.

[00:08:21]I'm like, I'm What?

[00:08:22]>> Now, in his defense, there's probably about 70% of the road signs have English.

[00:08:28]But, that's only when you get into the main bits, and we are not in the main >> We are not in the main bits.

[00:08:32]>> main bits that we need to be in. And I'm going, and he just kept saying it and saying it, and in my head I was like, "Lord, please please, on my nerves. You make me jealous upon me if he drives."

[00:08:40]Definitely not. But, then we saw the driverless cars, as well.

[00:08:43]Driverless cars, and we saw a real-life drunken driver. So, you know the ones you've seen on TikTok, and they cycle around on bikes.

[00:08:49]>> It's okay.

[00:08:50]>> they which I was saying, so they cycle around on bikes, and then you book them, they put the bike in your car, they drive you in your car home, take the bike out, and then they go. You pay them.

[00:08:59]Makes me laugh. However, who's going to get drunk in China? Cuz we could not even get wine.

[00:09:04]This was my thing. I was like, "Who is getting drunk in China?" Cuz I didn't know where they're drinking.

[00:09:08]>> So, we were in a Chinese hotel.

[00:09:10]A beautiful hotel, but like like, no English, no staff had English, nobody.

[00:09:16]Had to We had a like translator on our phone for our coffees in the morning and stuff. It's no problem, but just be aware, it's you know, if you're going there, there's no like you You're not going there a tourist or you're You're not going exploring. No, no.

[00:09:28]But, they They're so lovely. Like, they want to help you.

[00:09:31]But, it's so funny because they don't like this bar like have this beautiful big lobby, all the seats, this gorgeous Like it looks like a bar, looks like a coffee area. It's beautiful. Not a hotel in Ireland would touch it. No. Right? So we're like, "Oh, happy days. We're going to have a glass of wine." You know, just to wind down in the evening cuz you've had the longest day.

[00:09:49]No, they don't serve. Gin fizz, that's what they gave us a gin fizz. It took her at least 13 hours to make it cuz she squeezed every lemon she could find in China.

[00:09:57]>> No, it was beautiful.

[00:09:59]>> But I mean, to the point where Laura was like, "Did I definitely order that?" And I was like, "I can see her with lemons."

[00:10:04]Peter had a coffee. He drank his coffee.

[00:10:06]Then he sat yawns and he's going to go to bed and I was like, "We still haven't got the bloody gin fizz." Bearing in mind there was beautiful red wine bottles sitting behind her, but we weren't allowed them. It's just not the done thing. And you look round and it's Well, it's like we are the only westerners there definitely by a million mile.

[00:10:22]And they're not like they're having tea.

[00:10:25]They're not having a glass of wine in the evening. So maybe like up in the restaurant like but even at that it was like when we ordered it. Yeah, because whenever we went the first day we got there it was Sunday. Like it was between afternoon and evening so we were so hungry. They'd stopped serving their lunch but they weren't serving dinner.

[00:10:40]But we just we basically stood our ground until we could get something. We were so hungry. And then he just gave us the iPad and we found wine on it so we ordered up. And they brought us this big bucket of wine. So I was like, "Happy days." That's the only wine we got. Like that was it, do you? I was like, >> [snorts] >> "We literally had it in this hotel." But anyway, it was fine. It was actually 100% and I think >> your negative experience with China?

[00:11:01]>> Well, I was kidding. You get wine.

[00:11:02]>> [laughter] >> It wasn't really that handy to get wine.

[00:11:05]That's really like So don't go if you're a wine lover really, you know.

[00:11:08]>> We were sticking to Italy.

[00:11:09]>> I am just letting the people know.

[00:11:12]Honestly. But I survived. I'll have you all know I survived, no problem.

[00:11:15][laughter] >> Actually, we had You know the Jared was like, "This is not like a van, like not fun." But I was like, "Jared, I'm going to tell you something. The most wine The most alcohol we had was at the airport >> [laughter] >> before the flight home."

[00:11:29]We shared a bottle of red wine between three of us. And we would have had a drink in about 20 minutes [laughter] cuz then Peter was like, right, party's over. We need to go to the gate cuz it was >> And I don't know if it was like because we were all [snorts] in a high, the wine tasted like the nicest wine. And I was like, I don't even want to get on this flight. I'm happy enough. Let me sit here.

[00:11:45]>> It was so honestly everything about it was just such a lovely experience.

[00:11:50]And yes, the days were extremely long, but they did not feel exhausting.

[00:11:55]>> No.

[00:11:56]>> Yeah. Because we were just so like >> And because they have been working with us, we have been working with them, they nearly get to know us. So like the first time was very much like going to them fabric markets and you're tripsing through maybe four or five sample books before you find the one you want. They literally brought us directly what we wanted this time. I was like, that's incredible.

[00:12:13]>> Cuz they know you. You know, like it's so like they know your tone. They know your Whereas like at the start it's very much like you're dancing around the room being like, you know, trying to be like, what do you think they're making out of us? And what are we, you know, you're always trying to kind of weigh each other up and understand body language and all. But this time we're like, we know these people. We know >> You know, don't wait. It's so funny because I'm super pale anyway, but in China I'm quite large for the people. Okay, I've said this before and people are like, no, you're not. And I'm like, it's like, no, it's factual, isn't it? Like it honestly is. And it's a good job I don't take offense.

[00:12:46]>> It is a good job, right? Cuz even the suppliers now they're like >> [laughter] >> They're like, Holly, Holly, you try. You try. Holly, Holly, you try.

[00:12:55]Thanks.

[00:12:56]>> So there was a beautiful top.

[00:12:57]>> token big girl of the world anyway.

[00:12:59]>> So funny like we just >> You know what I mean? But there was a beautiful top Laura had pulled out.

[00:13:02]And she was like, oh my god, I love this. And the supplier started laughing.

[00:13:05]She just went, Laura, no, no, and handed it to me. And I was like, I'm going to come off the back of her head before I [laughter] leave here. I swear to god.

[00:13:11]But actually >> I'm pretty sure that Anna, our supplier, fancied you though. She was like She was definitely was in awe of Holly.

[00:13:17]>> know what I painted my face with? And I was like, no, I have no makeup on. And she was like, what do you put on your face? And I'm like, this is natural. I'm actually blue behind all the time.

[00:13:26]They'd never heard of fake tan. We had to try and explain to them that when I'm back home I'm orange. They were like, "You paint your skin darker?" And I'm like, "Yeah, girl." They paint their skin white like they do.

[00:13:34]>> It's mad.

[00:13:35]>> They don't And if between 11:00 and 3:00 they're carrying an umbrella outside.

[00:13:39]Yeah, it's mind-blowing to see.

[00:13:41]>> And also, we said it last time and I said it this time, but the suppliers didn't. They were so good. They stayed with us the full day and they didn't break until breaking point to be like, "We need lunch." But at 12:00 or between 12:00 and 12:15 >> all the lights go out in the factories and they just pull their beds out and go for a sleep. And I'm like, "That's actually a genius idea. That's why they all look so youthful."

[00:14:01]>> That's why they don't have blemishes or anything.

[00:14:03]>> But they I'll tell them the funny story about Yeah.

[00:14:08]>> Which one?

[00:14:09]>> Oh, there's that many. But Well, yeah, well, that one.

[00:14:11]>> this one, didn't I?

[00:14:12]>> No.

[00:14:12]>> That's right. So, I was going to tell them, but I told them I told my mom last night >> I'll do that after.

[00:14:17]>> Laura, I I couldn't. I would have been vomiting. I was like, "I know. I don't know how she didn't." I Anyway, that's a different story.

[00:14:23]>> At the same the same day, I was going to the toilet and in the hotels, there's beautiful toilets that are an actual toilet, but everywhere else in China, shopping malls, restaurants, factories, there's squatty potties.

[00:14:36]>> And you actually so appreciate a toilet.

[00:14:37]Now, every toilet you Even now at home, I'm like, "Thank god it's a toilet."

[00:14:40]>> Honestly, I'm like, "This is dreamy."

[00:14:43]So, we went to a new factory.

[00:14:46]And we'd seen their showroom the last time we went and then we'd been in contact and do you know what I'm going to say? Their samples have been incredible. So, we were really excited to go. But I walked in and I was like, >> [sighs] >> "Oh, the factory just didn't look like the one." Like, it wasn't >> Sometimes they have VIP toilets.

[00:15:01]>> So, they Right. So, I was bursting for the loo.

[00:15:05]So, we went in, done our pleasantries and all this. "Please, can I use the toilet?" So, I don't even want to say his name, but our friend was showing us around to the toilet.

[00:15:14]And he was like, "Yeah, yeah, I'll bring you to the the call it the VIP toilet," which makes me giggle. But as we're walking around, he says to me, "Ollie, you look different." And I was like, "Do I, really?" I was like, "Oh, I've no tan on cuz it was like sort of winter last time, so I could have had tan and layers, but this time I was see-through blue, not a pick of makeup, and it wasn't the Poco Beauty on my face, it was sweat, right?"

[00:15:36]So, I was like, "Oh, yeah, not in the mood." He was like, "Yeah, last time Last time you much bigger." And I was like, "Oh, no, please." I was like, "Really? I definitely think it's went the opposite way, but thanks.

[00:15:46]You know, [snorts] we're done."

[00:15:47]And he was like, "Yeah, what You must be 10, 12 lb down." I was like, >> [laughter] >> "No, but I'll take it. Thank you."

[00:15:56]>> [snorts] >> To which then he said, "Last time you had lots here." And started like pull his chin. I was like, "I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. Oh my god."

[00:16:04]>> What do you not hear him to me either when he said when I come out in the jeans?

[00:16:07]>> And he said, "Oh, yeah, you need those to take 4 LB OFF YOU."

[00:16:13]>> [laughter] >> I HAVE TO GET HIM OUT OF HERE. It was so funny. So, then I was like, "Oh my god."

[00:16:19]So, we walked this long hallway to go to the toilet, and I just knew. And he was like, "Here you go, here's your VIP toilet." And I looked and I thought, "Huh, there's going to be a camera comes out and says you've been pranked, right?"

[00:16:30]So, he was like, "Do you want me to wait?" I was like, "No, you can go back.

[00:16:33]Thank you. I'm okay."

[00:16:35]So, I go in and I'm like, "No place."

[00:16:37]Which by the way, I swear to god I feel like this needs to be the caption of the vlog. If you can survive China on your time of the month, you can survive anything in life, okay? I don't know how you did it, honestly.

[00:16:48]So, I went into this toilet, and I actually stood outside the door with my hand on my face thinking, "Can I do this?" Cuz when I went into the toilet, there was a lovely fresh number two sitting, right? And I And a squatty potty, okay? Not a toilet, a squatty potty on the floor. And I was like, >> Look at the thing, right? And even around this, right?

[00:17:08]>> Toilet. So, you're you're squatting, you spray, right? It's just like you can't help it, right? [laughter] So, then like hundreds of people work in these factories, they also spray. The spray turns into like black dirt because then you're coming in and [ __ ] >> And can I say, right?

[00:17:23]>> All of our sliders, by the way, we all forget we have no more sliders. Ben wouldn't take them from China.

[00:17:27]>> I have to say, China is such a clean country and see the hotels, you would you could honestly be so hard pushed to find any kind of dirt or anything.

[00:17:37]The toilet. See them squatty potties. Oh god almighty. So, I go in and I'm like, oh I really need the toilet. And I was like, well I won't I? So, I had to really talk myself into it and I went into the toilet.

[00:17:49]>> But I mean Holly is the fussiest person out of all of us, right? So, any of us would have been wouldn't have liked it, but we actually could have coped a bit better, right? So, she just stood there for 5 minutes calling whoever was previously in the toilet a lot of names, okay?

[00:18:02]>> And I was like, this is wild. Because also, there's bins that are open bins and not a lot of them flush the toilet paper. So, you deal with that, okay?

[00:18:09]>> allowed to flush the toilet paper.

[00:18:11]>> Well, I flushed the toilet paper, let me tell you, okay? I flushed it all.

[00:18:15]So, anyway, I go in and I'm like, right, I just have to do it. Come on, Holly, big, brave girl, you got this, you can do this. Didn't bring my phone, unfortunately, cuz I'd have rung one of them to be like, down here and help me now. So, I was like, it's okay, you got this, Holly, you got this. Turned shorts down, got into some kind of position.

[00:18:33]And as I was about to pee, I was like, I can't I can't do this. It's I just can't do this. So, I was like, I'll flush cuz when I flush, it'll be gone and it'll be out of my head.

[00:18:43]>> [gasps] >> So, as I'm squatting, I turn around and flush.

[00:18:47]Uh the water, it all just starts coming up the wrong way.

[00:18:53]THE [ __ ] AND ALL.

[00:18:55]>> SLIDERS, SHE HAS THE SLIDERS ON.

[00:18:57]>> I HAVE THE sliders on, so I'm squatting, you need to go to YouTube for this one.

[00:19:00]I have the leg up, I'm letting out a like I'M LIKE, OH MY GOD, [screaming] ROARING, holding the leg up as all of the human feces of every kind is coming up around me. But then I go to fall, so I have to slap my down because I'm like I'm going to fall in the pit.

[00:19:14]Honestly.

[00:19:16]I said, "Forget this." Pulled the shorts up. Stormed out of the bathroom and I went down into the wee room and Laura had water wipes on the table and Cathy had just gone into the makeshift changing room. Well, I grabbed the wipes and I went in.

[00:19:26]>> Just straight in. I was like, "I'm just going to have a pee." Cathy's like, "Are you okay?" And I was like, "Cathy, I can't do this. This is disgusting."

[00:19:32]>> So meanwhile, I knew something altercation was taking place cuz the changing room is a makeshift, like it's not exactly. And I was like, "Keep talking." I was like, "What?" Cuz it went on.

[00:19:40]So and then she just goes dead silent and then to the point that my dad picks up on it. He's like He had crossed the table. "Holly, Holly, you're very quiet.

[00:19:48]You all right?"

[00:19:49]>> I actually said to him, "You're very pale yourself. Are you all right? Is something happening?"

[00:19:53]>> the heart to tell him it's cuz I've shat in somebody's actual human poo, Peter.

[00:19:57]Oh, Jesus. So then I seen her with the water wipes then I was in the laughter.

[00:20:01]I was like, "Something has happened.

[00:20:02]This is too funny." So then you're trying not to cuz then it looks like you're raging, you know what I mean? And see when the three of us start there's no stopping it. Like you have to I you'd have to walk out of the room. So it's like and then that happened the last day as well. We were getting the giggles with our one of our really >> [laughter] >> nice flash.

[00:20:19]>> I was getting the giggles with our So no, we can't tell that story.

[00:20:23]>> And I was like, "I literally I we need to stop this right now or on the last day they're going to leave with such a bad impression of us." But I was like, "Where the tears?" I tell you the tears were rolling down my cheek. She was in the changing room and I I was like, "I want in that other changing room. I need to get away from her right now."

[00:20:39]>> [laughter] >> And Cathy was like typing like, "Stop it. You straight stop."

[00:20:42]>> She was the mom trying to control us.

[00:20:43]>> But basically that was my only horrific horrific >> And then I did feel really warm and they kept trying to offer me water and I was like, "I'm not drinking water cuz then I'm going to need to pee again and I'm not going to ask for a potty potty. Like there is no chance." So then I was down and I seen her and she was all wet in herself and she's like, "Well, where's your sliders?" I was like, "Where's my sliders? My sliders are in the bin."

[00:21:01]They're in I >> Maybe I bet mine too cuz I said to mom last night. I was like, "Mom, it was just a thought because every time you went to the best bill in the world, like unless you're some sort of pro squatter, like there is a wee bit of spray comes up, because it's not even like a hole, it's actually like a long bit and then a hole.

[00:21:15]>> It's a full >> toilet sink click, imagine a sink with a big hole.

[00:21:19]>> On the ground.

[00:21:20]So, like and I was like they have sliders, I can't look at them. Been been this sat in the bin.

[00:21:26]In China, I was like see you.

[00:21:27]>> So wild.

[00:21:28]>> And then we like they were so nice, we didn't even end up staying that long with them. They got us beautiful gifts and all, like they were so nice. for dinner as well. And then I was like I needed to explain, I was like I don't want to come across rude, I really appreciate you offering to take us for dinner, really really I do.

[00:21:43]But I was like we need to get home, obviously.

[00:21:45]>> Because we usually when we So we were finishing with them and it was about 5 or 6.

[00:21:49]>> 6, yeah. It was the earliest day we'd finished.

[00:21:52]But it was an hour to get to the restaurant and then it was a further hour maybe an hour and a half then from that restaurant to the hotel. So by the time we'd have got there, got dinner and then we needed to pack and everything and we were like no, we've been out every night, let's just go home.

[00:22:03]So then whenever we were in the car and then back Peter he's like are all of you very quiet back there?

[00:22:08]Were you all right? So then I had to try and explain to him about the toilet situation and I'm sure he thought she was exaggerating and I know I'm dramatic and I know I exaggerate.

[00:22:16]That was bad.

[00:22:18]>> That >> the I I went to that toilet.

[00:22:19]>> trial.

[00:22:20]>> It was bad. It was bad like I'll not lie, but I just went and I just like right okay, I need to go like and I need to pee all the time, so I don't have a choice, I just need to get over it.

[00:22:28]No, I think I used at least Laura's full pack of water wipes and Kathy she took into the giggles then and she was like what are you going to like what are you going to do? I was like >> Don't drink anything, don't go to the toilet, just don't go to the toilet Kathy. That's all I kept saying to her, but that will take that if that's all that happened, that's fine, we'll take it like >> It was so good like and then we came back that evening and had dinner at we ordered dinner ourselves from a non like completely Chinese menu might I add.

[00:22:51]Do you have Oh please. And I and then that's when we really took the giggles, do you remember?

[00:22:55]>> [laughter] >> At the table.

[00:22:56]>> At the table, cuz they were like the look at you with six heads when you come in, because I honestly just we are just we come back right and we are like just loaded down with bags. We look like we are literally selling stuff from bags.

[00:23:08]And we are like gypsies at this stage at this really fancy hotel and they have these really fancy restaurants in the hotel like it's all these private dining. Do you want to see these places?

[00:23:17]It's like just dripping in marble, everything that you can imagine. So we are like this four like you just dangles dangles is the only way you could describe us arriving in after a day. We're all sweating.

[00:23:31]She's covered in SH1T. We're like [laughter] And then the set of dying and we were like we can't [ __ ] eat anything in this menu. Read the menu also. Nothing.

[00:23:41]Then she starts to call out the menu.

[00:23:42]Right. So then she woman get me an iPad.

[00:23:45]Everything's on a menu so she gave me her iPad because I was just like trying to diffuse the panic being like this it's actually hilarious.

[00:23:53]And I knew this restaurant had wine so I was like all right, we'll definitely get her wine here. So then I was reading the story and Kathy was there before us so fussy God help her. She's not fussy. She just doesn't like fashion. Everything's specially a double up. I was like all right. So I started to read through this menu. I was like oh and I have a screenshot of one.

[00:24:09]And when I said this Kathy was gone.

[00:24:12]I was like would anybody like some unnecessary braised original shark's fin with dried scallop and vegetable gallbladder? And Kathy she took into the giggles. Laura took into the giggles.

[00:24:21]And we knew we can't giggle because so the tears are coming and you're like this and then the girl is so lovely trying to help you and not a word of English and I'm like we need to stop this cuz she's going to tell us to get out next. Or uh anyway it was so And actually it was delicious the food. It was beautiful.

[00:24:37]And then she kept saying to me you sure? You sure you want two rice?

[00:24:42]And I was like sure.

[00:24:44]I look at us crouched. We need two rice.

[00:24:47]Yes. We are big eaters. Not Chinese eaters.

[00:24:52]And she was like no no I don't recommend. And I was like okay but usually people just get one rice for two people. And I was like, "No, no, no. We ate every last >> Planned it.

[00:25:02]>> Swear to god, one healed up. Flipping lovely. I've some questions that come through then from China that I feel like um are fantastic for Nisa. We will put them through. The main one which you already touched on which I I get this question all the time too and it blows my mind, but what I have thought of before we went, maybe. Do you feel safe in China?

[00:25:19]>> Yes, absolutely.

[00:25:21]>> in China than you would down in Belfast these days.

[00:25:24]>> 100%. Now, would I feel a safe if I didn't have the suppliers on board?

[00:25:30]>> Mhm.

[00:25:31]>> I don't It's not unsafe. There's just a certain level of it's very new. It's so new and you have to be you have to allow yourself to be open to the fact that it's not going to be English, that they're not going to react the same as you or they're not, you know, I think and the more you travel, the more you realize that. But in terms of safety, like you don't like there's cameras everywhere. Good luck doing anything bad in China because >> There's no chance.

[00:25:54]>> absolutely.

[00:25:55]>> No chance of a double bounce.

[00:25:56]>> There is no chance. Like there's just It's very safe. Yeah, it is. It really really is, honestly.

[00:26:01]>> Um do you worry suppliers will give your designs to others and do you put paperwork in place?

[00:26:06]>> Yes, we have contracts absolutely in place with >> But I think it's worth pointing out that it's only now >> It's only now >> Yeah. You could get at the start you're not doing the quantities that would warrant them to honor a contract.

[00:26:17]>> It's not fair to say though cuz >> Yeah, but this was a totally different experience this time as well because Wenky, one of our good like our lovely lovely suppliers, she met us the first day. She wanted to come to the hotel to meet us even though we were all like wrecked.

[00:26:30]>> I did her work hours my dad.

[00:26:31]>> This is on a Sunday and she was like, "I have so much good news to tell you." And she got a promotion and they have moved to bigger premises and she was like, "This is because of your orders." And we we were like, "Really?"

[00:26:44]So, they're just so aren't they they're so thankful and they couldn't wait to show you their beautiful new offices and they've bigger like they've moved to two bigger factories as well. So, she was just and she now looks after both factories, which is incredible.

[00:26:58]>> Yeah.

[00:26:59]>> So >> us to the factory, the new one and all.

[00:27:01]It was just you'd be so delighted for her too. Yeah.

[00:27:04]>> [laughter] >> I just thought it was class.

[00:27:07]And there was another one related there that I thought was fantastic.

[00:27:11]What has been your biggest learning curve when dealing with Chinese factories?

[00:27:18]I think probably I was a wee bit more scared of them at the start, but I think now I know there's nothing to be scared of. I suppose it definitely depends on the supplier. I've definitely heard horror stories. I really, really have lots and lots of horror stories, which touch wood, we have never came across.

[00:27:36]We've been very lucky.

[00:27:38]But again, like I do think it's what you do, what you put in, how you treat your suppliers, how you build a relationships, how you open and honest you are with them. And I do think like it is worth I know people say that's an awful lot of expense taking for you to China.

[00:27:51]But the value we get out of that trip >> That's what I kept asking myself. I was like, is this definitely worth it?

[00:27:56]>> Oh, all day long because they know us, they know how we think, they know how we operate, they know what we like, they know in person is just so, so hard to beat. That and it's a speed of which they can operate. That's an also one that just I knew they were fast.

[00:28:13]The speed of which they operate, the technology that they have and the machinery that they have is like world-class. You will not get it anywhere else. They have the capabilities to do whatever you want.

[00:28:26]So, like there's nowhere and I have been to Turkey, I've been to Portugal and there's nowhere that touches them in terms of their expertise, their technology and their capabilities. I don't >> I would definitely agree, but I'm going to say this and hope you don't be raging at me for saying it. There's like everything Laura has said a million percent over.

[00:28:45]But one of the factories they were in would be more of our like the cost price and of it's a lot higher and we can never really get them down overly much with the pricing, but when we went to their factory, I was like, okay, I can understand this.

[00:28:57]Because their QC, their quality control it's women and men sitting down at a table.

[00:29:05]>> I feel like I mean like the size of this warehouse own quality control room, so you know that's good.

[00:29:09]>> So like they did actually have some of our current autumn winter stuff coming in. They were doing it as we were there.

[00:29:15]>> mad >> so >> of that whole room was Love Laura.

[00:29:18]>> They had our I'm going to our tuxedo blazers that's coming in. They're amazing.

[00:29:22]But it was two men that both had massive big buckets like on wheels that we have here in the warehouse. Buckets is a wrong word, but like a big container.

[00:29:30]And they were hand steaming all of the lapels before they got cut into shape.

[00:29:35]Like I was like And then there was a it wasn't ours, but there was another supplier's it was like a denim shirt style top, but there was four women at a table and they were manually slicing all where the stitching had been, they were slicing through all the buttonholes. They were checking all the beating. They were checking all the buttons and I was like Like that's the manual process of it and that's the bit that people don't see and that's the bit that we pay for that we can never get down and understand why.

[00:30:01]But even at that it blows my mind that you know, the the level of detail. You think in my head before this I probably thought a lot of that was automated. I don't know what I thought to what extent I thought it would be automated.

[00:30:15]But actually when you see the factory you realize that the cost to them, the cost of the amount of people in that room alone, only quality control. So this was at the very end of the line.

[00:30:26]How many people would have been in that room that day? We have videos, but like >> I have videos that I could probably count back and check, but each Well, there was all the ones at the top were on all the sewing machines.

[00:30:33]>> Yeah, so there was at least 10 up there on the sewing machines. If not more, Laura.

[00:30:36]>> Really?

[00:30:37]>> Yeah. There was definitely five five five five, so what's that? 25? Yeah.

[00:30:42]Plus another if you say this is just in quality control.

[00:30:46]And the So, I think for me as well, I was always thinking, "Oh, well, you know, are they're buying to get down on price?" But see when you see the factory then you also appreciate you cannot push these people down on price. They are working at capacity. The detail that go through, the people that it needs, the back and forth that those needs. So, imagine like that's being steamed, the lapel's being steamed, right?

[00:31:05]Then they do the buttonhole. They place the button. Then it needs to go back to be steamed again.

[00:31:10]It's crazy, you know what I mean?

[00:31:12]>> the slip bags, there were slip bags and it was a beautiful texture top that's coming in for autumn, which I was so excited to see cuz I'm buzzing for it.

[00:31:19]But then I was like, "Oh, can we get a picture, you know?" And we just grabbed the slip bags with the items in them and we were taking pictures and I was like jumping up and down and we set them back down. I was like, "Oh my god, they're actually putting the Just like we do in our warehouse here cuz we're like Surely they didn't come in better packed than that. Oh, we need ask them for this. We need to get them to do that. No, it's these two people then So, all those tables are filled and there's just two people at the end of the line and they're literally are putting stuff into your slip bag, squeezing all the air out of it and putting it into this desired box. I was like, And in the factory, in that room, the only other brand that was there I was This floor is never over. I was like on a high. I was like, "Girls, can't you just [ __ ] believe that?" And I didn't want to get so excited in front of the supplier cuz I was like they're going to think, "Okay, well, our quality's not as good." It is, but the brand You're not going to believe the brand. I'm not going to say the brand cuz it isn't fair to them, but our clothes our Love Laura sat alongside the only other brand in that room that day was a really, really high-end French brand.

[00:32:21]And I was like, "Do you think this is real?" I kept saying them to think this is real.

[00:32:24]And they were like, "Yes, of course it is." And they acted. I was like, "Oh, we have You work for this with this brand?"

[00:32:29]And she was like, "Yes. Oh, yes, they have their own quality control team as well come in." Um so, yeah, you need So, I was like that that's how you know it's a good factory because the quality control there was sensational. And then every factory I went into cuz I'm like always thinking like how does Shein do it? I'm like how do they make the clothes for this price?

[00:32:48]Cuz it really bugs me.

[00:32:50]So I keep saying how does like you know Shein everybody But a lot of them don't even know Shein like they don't really they're not aware.

[00:33:00]So um then Anna the good supplier was able to tell me she was like oh yeah the factory across the road does work for Shein. And I was like Anna how? And she said they don't quality control. They do not. They just don't quality control.

[00:33:13]And now if I see the factory that's where the expense is in really really getting into the detail in the fabrics. They don't quality control and they deal with the cheapest fabrics. And that makes sense absolutely. So she was like there's a reason that they do it. They turn the stuff and they turn it out. But I can listen fair enough and it has its place in the market I'm sure but you really really notice like China gets this rap of oh it's from China. I'm like you go and you design Chanel. They're all designed in China because the technology is there if you know what I mean.

[00:33:43]>> I've been in my bonnet and I see if somebody if I can get a glimpse of somebody's face scrunching when I say China I'm like what's wrong? Like what's your problem? Where [laughter] do you want me to start?

[00:33:51]>> It is you get what you pay for. If you want to be Shein and you don't want quality control and you want your stuff winged in boxes no slip bags no checking really bad fabrics go for it. You know you can absolutely do that. But we don't want to be that you know what I mean? That's as far from where we want to be.

[00:34:08]>> Actually there was somebody had asked this question here because you were wearing it and it kind of touches on what we're talking about because it's the only >> [snorts] >> probably negative experience we had which we now have learned but you know the beautiful red summer dress somebody asked about it here.

[00:34:21]The one you wore in the real or that we end up we couldn't do anything with.

[00:34:26]>> So you know the Lovura summer dress the V-neck poplin one came in white and came in and Yeah. We also ordered it in this beautiful summer corally red.

[00:34:37]So this is Winky's factory that do do this for us. And honestly and fairness to Winky and I'm so glad cuz see before we even have Cathy was like here I'm going to send these samples to you and I was like look push it mostly to um make an Anna push all that stuff to make an Anna cuz I'm really worried following our color issue with Winky. But now when I see Winky's sincerity in terms of what they have done to improve and how they've grew with us. I think when we originally went to Winky she probably didn't think that we wanted the quality that she was able to give.

[00:35:08]Anyway you get the picture.

[00:35:09]So anyway this summer dress arrived in and the red we knew immediately that the color was going to run it was rubbing off the red was rubbing off on our hands.

[00:35:18]It is absolutely beautiful. But when you wash the dress like I wore it in China and loved it like >> You said to wash it once maybe twice.

[00:35:24]>> All my cousins are going around in it [laughter] because I'm like girls like this is and they are like Laurie you need to sell that dress there's nothing wrong with I was like no I can't obviously it color runs.

[00:35:33]But we had a brainwave when we were away and I was like do you know what we should do is like sell it like at a crazy price right like I don't know 10 20 pound I don't know what that looks like and give all the donation to Daisy Lodge like cancer fund for children just fundraise for it because it is the most beautiful dress and every time you wear it everybody is like oh my god is that Love Laurie is that coming soon you're like no it's not coming because can't get it but it just goes to show >> have to wash it first before you wear it don't come back for us.

[00:35:57]>> I think every time we make a mistake they learn harder than we learn cuz they really want like they are so let down by that and the first thing they'll meet you with that Sunday when Winky arrived was like firstly I have to apologize again I'm like Winky you know you apologize like this this I'm going to apologize and apologize and apologize and I was like listen these things happen. It's fine.

[00:36:16]Like we deal with that's gone like one in how many 300 products this year the color fastness was an issue dead on like it's not the end of >> we know then that we need to look for that then need to look for that like with a beautiful stripe dress coming in that is late coming in because we had an issue with the fabric of it, too. So, until we got it right, but now we know all this, like and as Laura says, they learn with us, we learn what they learn and it works. So, yeah. They want to know when that dress was coming out.

[00:36:43]I don't know, we might do that, it's only an idea.

[00:36:47]Okay, there's actually loads of questions come through this time, but I want to keep them as much China based as I can as possible. But, um I'm going to go for Please do an amazing dressy coat with a hood, maybe in cream or green. It's really hard to find and you currently have all my money these days. I'm loving the podcast and listen to it on repeat.

[00:37:10]So, there actually is beautiful jackets coming in. I'm very excited cuz I'm a winter baby. And we seen one of the jackets getting QC'd when we were there and I was like, Do you know, I'm going to tell you, I cannot remember the colors in the puffer coats. Mind blank for this year.

[00:37:26]No, neither can I.

[00:37:29]But, I'm not thinking of the puffer >> It's that long ago. What are you thinking of?

[00:37:32]>> The lovely, she says khaki or cream. You know, the beautiful >> Oh, yeah.

[00:37:37]>> jacket with a hood.

[00:37:38]>> Oh, with the hood. A hood? Oh, yes.

[00:37:41]Sorry. Oh, Jesus. Honestly, my head.

[00:37:43]Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:37:44]>> So, yes, there is some coming. There's loads of people asking about coats, which also I would love you to comment >> I would love you to comment underneath now, though, and let us know when you want to start seeing coats because that's the big debate we were having at the minute in the boardroom as to when to launch our coats. I feel like we've been quite late in previous years, but actually if we launch them any earlier, who's going to buy them? So, when do you want to start thinking about your coats?

[00:38:07]The girls in the shop are so fab. Can you do more outfits of the days from them to get ideas on how to style your outfits? I would love to do that cuz they just love to see me coming into that shop.

[00:38:17]>> I love that it I love to see them because I don't be in the shop as often as that like. I actually love watching.

[00:38:22]>> I know.

[00:38:22]>> Cuz they're all so gorgeous.

[00:38:24]>> I called in on Saturday cuz I haven't seen them obviously and Charlene was working I didn't even realize. But they were all wearing the beautiful asymmetric tops and I was like, "Lord, every single one of these look absolutely gorgeous." It's just a pleasure to go into that shop on a Saturday. The vibes are so >> are so good. I love them.

[00:38:38]>> was back in the Saturday.

[00:38:39]>> Apparently so, yeah, I missed her.

[00:38:40]>> And stayed for 3 hours telling customers. That's like for Arlene.

[00:38:44]Genius. For >> When is the heart dresses being launched? Music to your ears. This is actually this week.

[00:38:51]>> After recording.

[00:38:52]>> After recording, yeah, tonight. It's Wednesday when this is going out, isn't it?

[00:38:54]>> It's going out on Wednesday. And the dresses launch on Saturday. Two colors, petite and regular.

[00:38:58]>> And I have a very special party on Saturday night and I am wearing the heart dress, just saying.

[00:39:03]>> Cutesy. Very cutesy. I can't wait.

[00:39:07]Right.

[00:39:08]I just want to make sure I've got all of my China ones here because like I said, there was so many. But this one person has asked two good questions. So any more China trips on the horizon this year and any sneak peeks of colors or trends for autumn winter?

[00:39:24]>> I I'll honestly and I would like to say in my mind cuz we were doing spring summer. I'm not in autumn winter mode.

[00:39:28]We were away doing next spring summer.

[00:39:31]But autumn winter >> The olives coming through really big.

[00:39:34]>> Olives really big. A lot of bright stronger colors like red is still staying strong like your cobalt blue is you know, your pops of color for winter as well or not going anywhere. Prints.

[00:39:46]A lot of print. Love a little bit of print.

[00:39:50]>> Prints beautiful and the the changing prints this season.

[00:39:53]Which are lovely. And what else have we got? Velvets.

[00:39:57]>> Yeah. The velvets are gorgeous. There's a lot of tailored kind of styling coming through for autumn winter. So yeah, back to love lure roots. Really beautiful classy pieces but also we have the fun prints as well. So I feel like we've got a really good mix.

[00:40:09]>> We've got a really good mix but just in general even coming through in the runway shows and stuff as well is the tailored seems to be really taking a big leap forward for autumn winter.

[00:40:18]>> Yeah, treasures and stuff like that. But the olive, yeah, I'm very excited about the olives and the greens because they're going to be really, really big.

[00:40:24]And green is a beautiful, like it suits so many colorways or like even like suits so many colorings, doesn't it?

[00:40:31]>> Oh, 100%.

[00:40:33]There was a good question here as well of any update on extending the sizes from maybe a 20 to a 24.

[00:40:38]>> We did. We tried to try a few styles up to a 20 this season. Next in spring summer, yeah, so yeah, we're on it.

[00:40:44]Yeah, we're just going to go slowly because don't forget girls, that's a big risk for us cuz we we don't know if we have a following to justify that just yet. So we just need to build up very slowly to that. So it's not that we don't want to do it, but we need to know that we have a customer base for that type of sizing cuz historically we've always been known for really small fitting and just with the Walk in Wardrobe stock. So we're we've been trying to move away from that and re-educate for Love Laura, but we're just not there yet with the 20 to 24, I don't think.

[00:41:16]>> We'd love to be, but we're just not there yet.

[00:41:19]I think that's fair. I had plenty of other questions, but I'm going to keep them for the next episode cuz they'll be a bit more personal and we wanted to keep this one solely based on everything China and more. Do you know what you should chat about before we finish is the melatonin?

[00:41:31]>> Oh, yes.

[00:41:32]>> travel long distance, they'll love that.

[00:41:34]>> So I had said it on a podcast and thanks to wonderful Jolene, Life with Mrs. Jo, she had messaged me to say that she had got melatonin when she was in America. I hope I can say that. But you can't get it over here, so >> drugs.

[00:41:45]>> anybody that's been away, you'll be able to get it when you're away. Pretty much Laura completely threw me off there. Um So if anybody's going to America and stuff like Ashley and Jay's going again here and I'm going to be saying just get me some when you're over there because they're incredible.

[00:42:00]I didn't take it on the flights in the way over as I was advised to cuz I was feeling really good and really fresh and I was reading my book and I was happy enough. So by the time we went to bed in China on the first night, we had been awake for 36 hours from our time back here.

[00:42:15]So, I was tired, but I had the complete fear of that jet lag from the last time that I thought I cannot cope with this.

[00:42:20]So, when I went to get into bed, washed my face and all, I thought I'm going to take a melatonin.

[00:42:26]So, I get into bed and I had my Kindle and then I was like, "Oh, I'll not read it. I'll just lie here."

[00:42:31]I woke up the next morning to my alarm with my Kindle still in the same position than the night before. Now, do I think I would have slept without it that night? I don't know. I feel like I've given myself a false sense of security cuz we were so tired, but I slept great and I felt great.

[00:42:44]And then I didn't take another one, I don't think, until we were coming home.

[00:42:48]So, on the flights on the way home, I gave Cathy one for the first flight.

[00:42:52]And at one stage, it was the funniest funniest thing. Laura got up to go to the toilet and Cathy was in the middle of us and me and Laura just looked at each other and looked at Cathy and Laura was like, "The melatonin worked."

[00:43:02]>> [laughter] >> I mean, Cathy, the neck pillow, the earphones, the glasses were off the head but down and she just stayed in that position the whole time. So, then on the second flight, Laura was like, she toyed with the idea the whole time. Laura was like, "I don't know if I want to take one or not."

[00:43:14]She's so funny about it. And then she was like, "Oh, I'll just try one." Well, the exact same thing happened. She didn't The only time she woke, she just lifted her head and she was like, "When the cabin crew come around, will you get me a water?" And I was like, "Yeah, no problem." So, then the man came, "Can I have a water?" And I was like, "Laura, nope. Never mind, no water for Laura." KO'd again. She slept the full flight and she felt great for >> I didn't even get off the runway. Like, I the minute I sat my bum on that seat, I was gone.

[00:43:40]>> Dead to the world and I got off the flight in Dublin.

[00:43:44]Felt great. 7:00 in the morning, up the road, got a wee coffee and came home.

[00:43:50]Drove the van. Came home. Mum made eggs and toast for us when we arrived home and then I had and you had to get the suitcase and all. I was like, "Oh, I need to collect Nuala at playschool at 12:00."

[00:44:00]Everything done.

[00:44:02]Washed myself. Did a fresh layer of the Balmain undergraduate tan. Everything.

[00:44:06]Did a face mask. Everything. Whipped the face mask off. Out to collect girl and then I had his wee friend Shea. So I took them to the park and we're on point. Then collected Charlie. We had a great day. We felt and like no I wasn't bad at 6:00 literally asleep until 6:00 the next morning that Friday night. But I like I am melatonin pro melatonin.

[00:44:25]Yeah no I definitely did like Peter he said yesterday as well that probably took him to yesterday to the Monday to feel kind of a normal. I was groggy like the first night I went to bed I can't remember what time I went to bed at but I woke like from half four I was lying reading my book and then the next night I went to bed at half eight woke at half five again but I slept from half eight to half five.

[00:44:44]So it was nowhere near like the last time but you do still feel like you're on a long haul flight you know what I mean. But I will caveat that with I sleep on flights anyway so I don't think like if you don't sleep on flights it's not going to just knock you out. I sleep like that's not unusual for me to sleep a full flight either. So I just think maybe you know I feel like you can't sleep when you have the pressure you have no one like no like on a Friday morning I need to be you know I was like I need to sleep that cuz I really need to sleep. You know sometimes when you need to sleep you don't sleep.

[00:45:13]But apart from that yeah it was all round China was incredible.

[00:45:18]Sorry. I watched two films across the four flights. One was The Housemaid and then on the last flight on the way home Laura and Kathy were like oh. I was like oh I've never seen A Star Is Born it was on the thing. They were like oh you should watch it it's so lovely.

[00:45:31]Lads I screeched I screeched.

[00:45:34]Oh my god I bawled my eyes out on the flight. There was a wee Chinese man across the way looking at me and I was like couldn't breathe and Kathy's like what's wrong what's wrong? I was like >> [gasps] >> A Star Is Born and then Laura's just like this here. Oh no it's sad isn't it?

[00:45:48]Leans back again. I was like no I I you know when you hiccup crying and all bawled. That was so good. And I have I didn't watch one film.

[00:45:56]No Kathy watched Monster in Law from across three flights. Every time we >> [laughter] >> got on the plane I was like hang on both flights >> Both times on the way out or in, I slept the whole time. Slept the whole way, pretty much.

[00:46:07]>> No, did you not watch The Handmaiden?

[00:46:09]You watched that. You did. You watched The Handmaiden.

[00:46:11]>> No, I didn't.

[00:46:12]>> You did watch The Handmaiden, Laura, cuz I had it on my screen and then you had it on yours and we were both watching the same film at different parts.

[00:46:17]>> Handmaiden, remind me. What's it about?

[00:46:19]>> a thrillery style one, the nanny in the house.

[00:46:21]>> Jesus, I did.

[00:46:23]>> [laughter] >> Christ. Oh my god, my head. I definitely answer I need grating, please, somebody.

[00:46:28]Hook it to my veins. My head. I did.

[00:46:31]>> Yeah, you watched The Handmaiden.

[00:46:32]>> I literally would have sat on this chair and been like, no.

[00:46:35]>> [laughter] >> The only reason I know is cuz I was my screen and your screen were slightly different, but we're watching the same movie. You did.

[00:46:43]>> We joke million percent in here. I always the time we went to the airport.

[00:46:46]>> We went to the airport. Then we need to go That's a really funny story. So, we were going to London. We're only going to London. I had two cases cuz we were bringing samples and we're seeing us fly again. So, we were walking. So, usually you go into the airport and you go check at the check-in desk, but Laura had us going up the elevator. And Cathy was like, "Laura, I why are you going up here?" She was like, "We don't We're just bringing everything up here" or something. And Cathy was like not wanting to tell Laura she was wrong. And I was like, "I don't think this is right, but what would I know cuz I'm useless at airports." So, I was like, "Okay."

[00:47:16]Cathy, Laura, are you sure? No, I don't think this is right. And she's like, "Million percent. Dying to say million percent you bring your suitcase down here." So, we were walking and as we were walking down the security man just looked at Laura, put the hand up, and turned her. And Laura just turned around and goes, "So, turns out it was actually wrong." Well, we took into our own hands. So, everything now we always say million percent.

[00:47:34]>> Million percent. [laughter] >> Million percent did not watch a movie on that flight.

[00:47:38]You could not believe a word I say, honestly.

[00:47:40]>> Too funny.

[00:47:41]>> But look, let's actually call that quits now.

[00:47:43]>> Yes.

[00:47:43]>> Anyway, it's been lovely to catch up and chat. Now, please, please, please comment, like, and subscribe. You know it really, really helps us and it means that we can sit on this sofa for another half an hour without having to work.

[00:47:54]It's great.

[00:47:58]>> [music] >> Hey.