It's Hard For My Emotions To Be Contacted By My Brain...

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]I tell you what, in series seven, we're going to mud wrestle on people. Oh, yes.

[00:00:03]That's how we're going to sort it out.

[00:00:04]>> That'll be like one of those um cage fights that Donald Trump's staging.

[00:00:08]>> Very much so.

[00:00:09]>> Tastefully to mark the 250th anniversary. I tell you what, that is why we're on YouTube, isn't it?

[00:00:15]>> I wouldn't say I had a spring in my step, but I'm certainly less lethargic than I was last week.

[00:00:19]>> I'm not so clammy.

[00:00:20]>> No, I'm nowhere near as clammy. I'm almost motivated. There were lots of Arsenal fans heading back to Hertfordshire. Um and lots of upset kids and that's not nice. And um and you laughed.

[00:00:30]>> No, I didn't laugh. I just No, I'm not I'm not going to laugh at a poor child in an Arsenal shirt who's a bit upset.

[00:00:36]No, >> my mom has still got the same thermos flasks uh as we had when we used to picnic when I was about 6 years old Glennesque. And yeah, she keeps them all.

[00:00:52]>> I was going to say um that flask would have seen some wind breaks, but um but you don't take a windbreak up a hill, do you? No, there'll be absolutely no point. But Thermoses have changed, haven't they? Because hers have got that kind of funny almost mirrored glass inside them. I used to find them fascinating, >> but now the thermos seems to be different. We were just discussing my coffee cup here. And I will I'll buy you a little one so you don't have to have your branded coffee taken away from you, which >> has been taken away. That's very cruel.

[00:01:20]Very cool. Now, what is this? Where are we? What are we doing?

[00:01:22]>> It's visualization Monday.

[00:01:24]>> Yes, it is. Welcome to Off Air with Jane Fee. Hope you've had decent weekends.

[00:01:28]Now, in London, uh, well, the city has been a wash with celebrations with red.

[00:01:35]Basically, the whole of North London has just been covered in a vague dusting of red flare dust, if that makes sense.

[00:01:43]Because it was the Arsenal parade.

[00:01:46]>> Why are we getting emotion?

[00:01:48]>> Oh, yeah. Not not so much. Yeah.

[00:01:51]>> Do you want to just Do you want to let your emotions know?

[00:01:55]>> No. I mean, I yes, it's hard for my emotions to be contacted by my brain.

[00:01:59]Uh, particularly when it comes to football clubs like Arsenal. Um, who who didn't um can I just be honest? Um, they didn't deserve to win on Saturday night.

[00:02:08]Sorry. Um, I'm not a big fan of PSG either. Uh, I was watching on the train, which I don't normally do. I don't watch stuff on my phone normally, and the 21st century is brilliant, but buffering still happens.

[00:02:21]>> Okay. Um, and so I missed quite a lot of the match because buffering. Um, but you still feel able to say that they >> Well, I saw deserve to lose.

[00:02:29]>> I saw enough to know that Arsenal, what is the expression? They parked the bus.

[00:02:33]>> Okay. Did you not think that there was an enormous enormous amount of time uh spent on the ground uh on the floor?

[00:02:42]No, I thought more by PSG. I think I tell you what, we've something. We just literally just walked past an open studio that was about to record >> uh a gun steaming up. That has definitely rubbed off on us.

[00:02:54]>> Yes, I think it >> um Yeah, I mean, you know, you you've been to see way more football than I have, so I'll bow to your greater wisdom on this. I felt it was just such a it always is such a sad, vicious, brutal moment when a team goes out on penalties and the highs and the lows in North London where I live uh were just so extreme. They were so so extreme over the weekend. But what I really really love, Jane, is by Sunday, which was the parade >> uh to celebrate the winner of the premiership. I mean, every single Arsenal fan was just going Champions stuff. It doesn't matter. Here we are doing this. And I admire a football fan's ability to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat in that way. Nothing >> nothing was going to rain on that parade.

[00:03:50]>> Let's hope England fans are able to do that too, you know, couple of weeks time.

[00:03:55]>> But also, we should say uh no horrendous rioting. No, a good time was had by 95% of the people on the streets of London yesterday.

[00:04:05]>> Yes.

[00:04:05]>> Yeah. Which is good.

[00:04:06]>> Whereas on the streets of Paris and and this is what I don't get. They were celebrating. So why the uh intense rioting I think there were over 750 arrests.

[00:04:17]>> Yeah, I think they're probably wider social issues at play there. Um she said vaguely. Um but what I will say is I didn't want Arsenal to win. I'll just be honest. I know it's petty and pathetic, but that's that's what people are like.

[00:04:29]Um, but when I got back to Houston, which was at about I don't know half 8 9:00 on Saturday night, there were lots of Arsenal fans heading back to Hertfordshire. Um, and lots of upset kids and that's not nice. And um, and you laughed.

[00:04:41]>> No, I didn't laugh. I just No, I'm not I'm not going to laugh at a poor child in an Arsenal shirt who's a bit upset.

[00:04:47]No, not even I would.

[00:04:48]>> Well, I hope that they were coming back into London the next day to have a great great time.

[00:04:52]>> I hope so, too. I hope so. I mean there were hundreds of thousands of people attending the parade >> and the Arsenal women were on their own bus you know it was um it's just great to see it was very diverse crowd and as you say uh no real trouble so that's lovely >> that's what's wrong with that >> nothing out >> right uh shall we get straight into hair loss after that I think we should we've had some uh some very interesting >> emails about this because we punted a listener's problem out to the hive didn't we >> yes this is a Can you remember what the gist of the story was?

[00:05:25]>> The gist was that a woman had a lovely husband uh who's had quite long hair. Am I right? Am I right? Yes.

[00:05:33]>> Uh for quite some time, but he was losing it at the front, keeping the hair long. And she had begun to feel that other people were taking notice and were finding it funny. And she didn't want him to be mocked. She wants to protect him, which is very sweet. So, she was asking for how she might approach the issue.

[00:05:51]>> Brilliantly put. Thank you. Uh this remains anonymous. My partner has started to lose his hair through alipcia which was obviously very difficult.

[00:05:58]However, I decided to say nothing until he himself raised the subject. He would occasionally asked me what I thought and I would say that ultimately it was his decision. In the end, he took action and shaved his head completely. Although it took a few months to make that final decision, it is a very sensitive subject for men and I decided it wasn't my place to tell him. A few years on, it's completely normal. hardly ever gets mentioned. He does have to wear a hat more often though and put sunscreen on.

[00:06:26]Uh there was a lovely one, let me get to the right one from one of our other correspondents who said, "Actually, uh why not get a male friend?" I've got to do the mentioning. Brilliant.

[00:06:39]>> This is from Anna in Bristol. Um and her husband who's a wise owl said uh actually um you should get a mate. uh ask a male friend to say something. It need only be one quick but straight comment over a pint in the pub, but that's all it will take. That's probably true, isn't it? If we're honest, that a man bringing up the issue in a blunt but friendly fashion, just getting it out there. Men are sometimes better than women at this sort of thing, particularly when talking to other men.

[00:07:08]I think that might be a go.

[00:07:10]>> Yeah, I think that's absolutely brilliant if you can. Um and that applies to so many things, doesn't it?

[00:07:15]It would be easier for men to have a word with men than it is for women to have a word with men sometimes. Uh Pipper joins us from Sydney. A very good day to you, Pipper. I was listening to your segment yesterday about whether a wife should mention her husband's hair loss. My view is a definite yes based on a similar experience of my own. Years ago, I walked into a dermatologist room for a routine skin check and the doctor bluntly asked, "Can you see with such overhanging eyelids?" I I I thought I read that email and I actually didn't know this issue existed.

[00:07:48]>> Oh, it does.

[00:07:49]>> So, so he wasn't being unfair and pointing to some facial issue that you're born with and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.

[00:07:57]>> No, it can become a real problem.

[00:07:59]>> Yes. When your when your eyelids actually start curbing your vision. And you and I have talked about this before.

[00:08:06]>> Okay.

[00:08:06]>> Because Lord, >> yes. because because I thought that I'm probably going to need that myself in a couple of years time because my eyelids are really really sagging down and and I do remember we were on the stage once and I said that I was very taken by the fact that Patty Ashdown had had his done and and I didn't realize quite how odd that sounded, you know, that I wanted to have cosmetic surgery based >> as recommended by the former leader of Britain's Liberal Democrats.

[00:08:35]>> Yes. I think uh I think looking back on Patty Ashdown's time, never has a headline done such a damaging thing to a person.

[00:08:44]>> Well, it's the first thing that comes into your mind.

[00:08:46]>> Yes, it is, isn't it?

[00:08:48]>> Just ought to remind people. Patty pants down.

[00:08:51]>> He had an affair. Um he did >> which in Britain and in politics is still a big story.

[00:08:56]>> But I can't I suppose I mean it is up there with up yours Dors and all of those very clever headlines. It was a Sun headline, wasn't it?

[00:09:03]>> That was Yeah. Yeah. But it properly properly stuck with him personally, didn't it? He could never shift it.

[00:09:09]>> Well, he was um in many ways it's a shame. He was rather a good communicator.

[00:09:13]>> Oh, I think he was a brilliant politician.

[00:09:14]>> Yeah. And he'd been in the um special boats squadron.

[00:09:18]>> Yes.

[00:09:18]>> Which is the u naval equivalent of the SAS. And who's the other notable individual who I think has been in the special boat squadron who's now quite often mentioned in a in bizarre streams of messages to the media? Is it Penny Morton? It's Al KS.

[00:09:35]>> Is it Al K? Friend Al Kerman permanently on maneuvers. Uh but most people have never heard of the man. He's a Labour MP. Uh people talk of him as a possible leader and he he has all these fans who come out of the woodwork and email in and WhatsApp us when we're live on the radio saying we order the sit consider.

[00:09:51]I think he's been in one of the special services. I can't remember which one.

[00:09:55]Might be the boats.

[00:09:56]>> Very good to know. Can we get back to to the rest of >> Go for it. Hipper's email. Uh, so we're in the doctor's surgery and the doctor has said, "Can you see with such overhanging eyelids?" I hadn't really noticed them before, but after that comment, I became incredibly self-conscious. I started hating photos and felt constantly embarrassed by how I look. Fast forward 5 years, I finally had a centimeter of skin removed from both eyelids. I'm so glad I did. It turned out the condition was severe enough that the procedure was even covered by the public health system. I didn't even know a fix existed until that doctor spoke up. While the listener's husband might feel a bit stung initially, I think in time he'll be grateful and realize the observation came from a place of love. Okay. Uh and this is from Margaret. Uh she's in what she describes as sunny Hoy Lake. Uh mercifully, the temperature in the UK has plummeted over the last couple of days. Is that right? Things are much more comfortable, aren't they?

[00:10:51]>> We're about 10 degrees cooler today than we were this time last week.

[00:10:54]>> Yes. And I don't know about you, I wouldn't say I had a spring in my step, but I'm certainly less lethargic than I was last week.

[00:11:01]>> I'm not so clammy.

[00:11:02]>> No, I'm nowhere near as clammy. I'm almost motivated. I mean, in fact, Fee, I've ordered a leaf blower.

[00:11:08]>> No.

[00:11:08]>> Yeah. No, it's only when I'm not optimistic.

[00:11:12]>> Well, it is quite cheap.

[00:11:13]>> So, does that >> You're going to plug it in. What What else would I do with it?

[00:11:18]>> Get a broom.

[00:11:19]>> I've been doing a broom. I no I have no do the leaf blower. I can't I just >> But what's wrong with them? Noise.

[00:11:26]>> The noise.

[00:11:27]>> Yes. But I'm motivated by the fact that the neighbor had got one.

[00:11:30]>> So quite honestly um >> So you're going to have to compete.

[00:11:33]>> Well, I won't do it very often, but leaves and detritus on the easy grass can be very difficult. I've got a rake and I spent a good two hours yesterday afternoon buffing up the garden. It'll never be a paradise, but it's marginally less terrible than it was on Saturday morning. And um I just think I could make my life easier.

[00:11:51]>> Okay.

[00:11:51]>> But I did get a bargain once, so it probably probably won't work.

[00:11:54]>> Probably won't work or last or last or work. But anyway, um so I know what you mean about and this is our own fault, isn't it, for having astro turf, but unless you brush with the grain, it can be uh a pointless labor.

[00:12:10]>> It's sisphus, isn't it?

[00:12:11]>> Yes, very much so. But I do I I do remember thinking that it's just an incredibly good workout for your upper arms. I so I never resented it. I did rather enjoy my couple of hours of tidying the garden yesterday. What passes for a garden? Uh and it did feel like an achievement, but because the neighbors had been making quite a racket with their own leaf blower, I thought, well, just get a bigger one and make a louder noise.

[00:12:32]>> I've got a smaller, cheaper, and probably less effective one.

[00:12:35]>> I bet it's noisier, though.

[00:12:37]>> I I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll I'll fire it up and I'll record a bit and we'll play it out later in the week.

[00:12:42]>> Fun time.

[00:12:43]>> If you want to send in your own leaf blower noise, uh please do. You know, you can pop us a You can do it on a voice note, can't you?

[00:12:49]>> Yes. Or maybe you could send that to a different podcast.

[00:12:52]>> Send that to a gardening podcast. Back to Hoy Lake and Margaret. Uh, I was attempting to get my husband to cut his hair shorter. God, 40 years ago, I used to blow dry his mullet.

[00:13:02]Margaret, happy days. It reading between the lines here, it seems those days are somewhat behind uh both Margaret and her husband. Um, I clearly have taste, she says, though, because obviously any woman who's blow-dried a man's mullet, they've got taste. So, he went to the hairdressers uh back in the day with instructions to get it shorter like Terry's. When he came home, I said, "You look more like Derek from Corey." Not kind, I know. I think that was Derek who was married to Mavis. He went straight back to the hairdressers or barbers probably, I assume, and had his first number one. It set a real trend. That was before such a thing was so common.

[00:13:38]We went to a party that night and he got nothing but compliments. What a result.

[00:13:42]Still married after 56 years and he's got a great tanned head says Margaret on the on the whirl sunny Hoy Lake where of course as we know the sun beams down relentlessly on God's own country.

[00:13:56]>> Yes. Uh that's good to know. Uh I do think bold men really will have to be careful with the sun.

[00:14:02]>> Oh they do.

[00:14:03]>> I mean yeah. So it's a factor 50, isn't it?

[00:14:05]>> No. And I think it's a it's a very uh it's a very well-known thing.

[00:14:09]>> You can't get burnt through a hat, can you?

[00:14:11]>> Well, it depends on how thick the hat is.

[00:14:13]>> Okay.

[00:14:14]>> But I think the the top of a man's bald head, his paint, uh is a very very vulnerable place for skin cancers. So, yes, definitely. I wonder if footballers because a lot of footballers got shaven heads. Would they routinely wear factor 50 when they're playing?

[00:14:30]>> I very much hope so.

[00:14:31]>> Yeah, I would hope so, too. But you don't never seems to be mentioned. Would it be mentioned?

[00:14:36]>> I'm mentioning it now.

[00:14:37]>> Okay. Yeah. If you know any professional footballers or unprofessional ones, uh, let us know. Um, >> but all of the sports people must be covering themselves in unants.

[00:14:47]>> Yeah. You think that I mean they Yeah.

[00:14:49]They certainly exfoliate now.

[00:14:50]Footballers, don't they? Because some of them advertise those products.

[00:14:53]>> Yeah.

[00:14:53]>> Uh, but we don't hear. And presumably in the States and in Mexico, they're going to and in Canada over the World Cup, they're going to need all sorts of sun protection, aren't they?

[00:15:01]>> Well, they might go for the zinc stuff.

[00:15:03]We've got uh John Barnes on tomorrow.

[00:15:05]>> We do. My god.

[00:15:06]>> Former England hero.

[00:15:08]>> I did one of the worst interviews of my life with John Barnes.

[00:15:11]>> Oh, well. Okay. Okay.

[00:15:13]>> Yep. Right. What What >> Well, so it was when he was he a manager at Celtic for a while. I think he was.

[00:15:21]>> So I think they'd had a difficult match and they hadn't won and he came on. It was in the five live days and I asked him a series of questions along the lines of what happened to which he answered we lost.

[00:15:34]>> Uh you know why why do you think that was? Because we didn't score as many goals as the other team. I mean it just okay it became quite legal.

[00:15:41]>> Everything I've got is clenching.

[00:15:43]>> It was really uh unbelievably unbelievably painful.

[00:15:47]>> Oh I look forward to chatting to him tomorrow.

[00:15:49]>> What what do you what do you think went wrong? They didn't play well enough. I mean, it was really >> I I do think interviewing footballers, football managers, sports people generally in the moment after they've just lost all one.

[00:16:03]>> Awful >> is a Mug's game because there's a real limit to what you can ask them.

[00:16:07]>> Uh, you know, how important was that third goal? Well, we were we were drawing two, so yeah, it really was important. It's I can't think of any better questions, but I sometimes despair of the questions that are asked, if that makes sense.

[00:16:19]>> And I despair of the answers. Yeah.

[00:16:21]because actually, you know, it's it's part of your job. So maybe >> pleasant at least >> maybe don't punch down. I mean, they're they're relevant questions to somebody.

[00:16:32]>> Well, anyway, as I'm saying, as I saying, really looking forward to speak job.

[00:16:37]>> Did you see Laura Coonsburg in conversation with Nicola Sturgeon?

[00:16:41]>> Yes. Yes. Now, so did I. So, um I'd be really interested to hear from listeners in Scotland about this or or elsewhere.

[00:16:49]First of all, um I I've interviewed Nicholas Sturgeon a few times. I always found a really decent person to to, you know, in contrast perhaps to some people we've spoken to, uh someone who was prepared to have a pleasant ding-dong and at the end really happy to shake your hand and be on her way. She was more defensive when I talked to her about her memoir, which came out not that long ago. So the timing around that is quite interesting in terms of what's now happened with her husband or is he actually former husband husband?

[00:17:22]>> So she referred to him in that interview as my former husband.

[00:17:25]>> All right. So well let's go with that then. They're they're not married anymore. He is now um pleaded guilty to embezzlement the figure of £400,000.

[00:17:34]It's not inconsiderable, is it? And we've talked about his bizarre spending on a whole range of items. Anyway, what she said in that interview yesterday was that she will not be responsible for the crimes of a man. And in that respect, I I sympathize because we do see this a lot. And it's not just about it's not just about husbands or partners.

[00:17:58]Sometimes women are held responsible for the sins of their children. You know, oh, it's the parenting. Uh it'll be the mother's fault. that the father usually, not always, gets off with rather less judgment, but women are often blamed.

[00:18:12]>> But in this case, I I'm not sure I'm just not sure it washes, Nicola. I'm really not.

[00:18:17]>> Why?

[00:18:17]>> Uh because he was the chief executive of the political party. She was the leader of the country and the leader of the party. I just think she should have asked more questions. If she genuinely didn't know, which we're led to believe is her truth and her version of events, then I don't believe she was asking the right questions about what was going on.

[00:18:39]The thing that I don't understand is the big missing link of accountancy. Yeah.

[00:18:45]>> Because it's a lot of money, albeit over a 10ear stretch. And I suppose maybe we should think about uh where that makes the percentage lie of money that was coming into the S&P.

[00:18:58]>> What percentage was 400 grand? Yeah.

[00:19:00]>> So over 10 years, let's say that's four grand a year, you know, is it possible >> uh for that to really not be picked up?

[00:19:09]I mean they were definitely getting a larger volume of donations during some of those years because that reflected the urgency that was felt about the independence campaign. Um, so I don't know whether as leader of the SMP you do have accountants report to you about the funding of the party or whether you see the books. But I think within the within the actual family home, Jane, I don't know.

[00:19:39]I think I mean some of the items that he bought are so dared and they're very very expensive, but they look so cheap.

[00:19:47]>> Well, that's a valid point. He might not always recognize the leak salt and pepper grinder was coming in >> and all of that. Presumably, he was earning the kind of money where he could have been generous with his gifting >> towards her. Uh so she might have just thought that all of his money was being spent on gifts for her, not the motor home. I mean, that's just absolutely insane.

[00:20:13]>> That was the funny bit of the interview.

[00:20:14]But also, Jane, if we were going to look kindly on it and believe her truth, then doesn't it also just say that the the communication within their marital home was incredibly poor. And not everybody behind closed doors is having fantastic coms, >> aren't they?

[00:20:36]So, um, I don't know whether I want to be quite as condemn of her, but I don't understand the literal accounting thing how that wasn't showing up.

[00:20:49]>> No, I mean, I think anyone who's ever been married will take your point about the coms behind the scenes.

[00:20:54]>> Maybe they hadn't got on for years, Jane, and were living quite separate.

[00:20:57]>> Quite possible. Um, but sharing quite expensive salt and pepper shakers.

[00:21:01]>> But honestly, have you seen the salt and pepper shakers?

[00:21:03]>> Yes, I have. They're not. I mean, I defy anyone to not think that you could have picked those up, you know, on TU for $2.99.

[00:21:09]>> I know it's a it's not a petty point, but people have gone on about the motor home. The thing about that is you and I are, you know, we're shortsighted. Let's face it, we're short women. We're short-sighted. Neither of us would have missed the motor home. Now, her defense in terms of the motor home was that it was slightly down a driveway that could have belonged to a neighbor and you know, but when you visit your in-laws and there's a great big thing that wasn't there last week or last month, whenever you like, you are going to ask, aren't you? I mean, I'm a neighborhood Nelly. I notice things going on in my street that are nothing to do with me, but I certainly notice them and I talk to other people about them. So, I don't I don't buy the motor home thing. It wasn't like No, I I think it was hidden down a driveway. It could have belonged to someone else. I didn't think to ask about it.

[00:21:55]>> I'm sorry. No, that's that I don't buy that.

[00:21:58]>> No, I mean this is Is it also fair to say that you know there does seem to be a certain pattern of behavior >> uh within the S&P? Alex Sammon's behavior had been >> well up for query for for years >> 100%. But people keep voting for them.

[00:22:14]So it's the cause that so many people are invested in. And let's acknowledge that the other political parties, they could have defeated the S&P if they got their act together presumably. Um they haven't been able to. So that the Labour and the Tories in Scotland and the Lib Dems are all enjoying all this. But if people wanted to vote for them, they could have done. They voted for the SMP instead. So what does that tell us?

[00:22:35]Yeah. that there are some people who still passionately believe in the cause and donated to the party and it was spent on >> may may have been prepared for the not to be as much scrutiny of things going on within the party as there might have been a >> if they weren't all heading towards the independence cliff.

[00:22:51]>> Yeah, it's um I it's really difficult. I mean I I I can't say I was unsympathetic to Nicholas Sturgeon at the end of the interview because she was tearful at times and that's not good to see. Nobody want I genuinely don't want to see that.

[00:23:04]I don't want to see children crying in Arsenal shirts and I don't want to see former first ministers of Scotland reduced to tears either. Um, and I think if you do enjoy that kind of thing, then that's doesn't really show you in a very good light.

[00:23:15]>> What do you think her future is?

[00:23:18]>> Well, I think she's rumored not to be living in Scotland anymore. And um, it will be interesting. I mean, I want she'd actually make um I wouldn't put broadcasting out of her out of reach for her. Um, I think she'd probably be rather good. Don't you think?

[00:23:34]>> Yes, I think she would be.

[00:23:35]>> Yeah, I think she'd be uh a feisty phone in host.

[00:23:40]>> Yeah, I'm sure there'll be people lining her up as we speak.

[00:23:43]>> Well, God, I mean, does the world need another tell it how it is short woman asking questions?

[00:23:49]>> Uh, no. There are two here, so we we don't need anymore. I just want to mention Glenn who's made me laugh. Um, on Thursday's Glenn often makes us laugh. We're very grateful for his contributions. On Thursday's edition, Fee said that back in the day, before social media and other digital diversions, young people never spent any time in their bedroom because of the der of things to do. You did say that.

[00:24:09]>> I did say that.

[00:24:10]>> I counter this, says Glenn with the example of Tracy Barlo from Coronation Street.

[00:24:15]>> That's a great point.

[00:24:16]>> Second reference to the street today, who took to her room in late 1988 and wasn't seen or heard of again for two years. A mother, dear Barlow, always insisted that Tracy was listening to tapes in her room, but I'm now wondering if she was actually inventing the internet. If so, more recognition is needed. Um, you're you're so right, Glenn. It was they were they were between actors, weren't they? And so, Tracy, >> when she came back, she was about 25 years older than when she went up to a room to make a mixtapz.

[00:24:45]>> But I do um my children just sort of disappeared up to their bedrooms at a certain age. That does happen, doesn't it? It's very hard to control that.

[00:24:53]>> Definitely.

[00:24:54]>> Um that kind of family mingling just sort of ceases and they creep upstairs.

[00:25:00]>> And did you allow them to keep their bedrooms as their kingdoms?

[00:25:06]>> Did I allow? Well, yeah, I do. To be honest, I don't go in and I don't tidy and I I don't know what's a foot most of the time for just as well.

[00:25:14]>> Yeah, I think they're entitled to their guidance. But then you know the downside is is now uh you know they have got a dangerous companion in the room. So >> well yeah >> yeah we still don't know how to tackle that. No.

[00:25:29]>> Uh now can you take this one from Adam which is titled the mildly disagreeable one and Liverpool let down.

[00:25:35]>> Yeah I've read this and I'm incredibly >> unforgivable. I'd have to have a sip of water. It's definitely >> this studio studio structured watch they did to limbo.

[00:25:45]>> It's scent. It's scent with love. You all right?

[00:25:48]>> I'm not sure it is.

[00:25:49]>> Yeah, it is. Uh rather like passive smoking. My husband from Taiwan is forced to listen to your podcast and radio program. I religiously listen every day as the afternoon segs into tea time and I prepare supper for him. He says that in Taiwanese media shows there's often a presenter who plays the role of a provocator. Oh. who's slightly disagreeable in order to enrich the conversation. Nope. He was wondering if Jane or as he describes the wonderfully erodite but slightly more grumpy one plays this role. So I thought I'd ask.

[00:26:19]It does seem that you Jane do often take the contrary view to feed just because and Adam very much enjoys it where we both have a slight contramp. But I tell you what, in series seven we're going to mud wrestle. Yes, that's how we're going to sort it out.

[00:26:32]>> That'll be like one of those um cage fights that Donald Trump staging. very much so.

[00:26:36]>> Hastefully to mark the 250th anniversary. I tell you what, that is why we're on YouTube, isn't it? Are >> because we're just we're gearing up for the fight.

[00:26:45]>> We so are.

[00:26:46]>> Adam says, "On another point, it was my husband's first visit to the Fulcrum of the world, Liverpool, last year, and sadly he was disappointed. He thought it didn't match the bustle and starry lights of Manchester."

[00:26:58]>> Rubbish. By the way, >> I shush. I love Liverpool, especially the magnificently ornate The Vine, says Adam. He did enjoy the Williamson tunnels, but I thought rather cruy suggested the best of Liverpool may be found only underground. How could I persuade him to give Liverpool another chance? Thanks, and please keep on going. Well, we certainly will, Adam empowered by you.

[00:27:20]Um I I'm not just saying this because but I don't think Manchester compares to Liverpool. I I just don't. Sorry. I really don't.

[00:27:28]>> What are the Williamson tunnels?

[00:27:30]>> Oh, this is they're quite eccentric.

[00:27:32]There were tunnels and I think I'm I somebody will know much more about this than I do. They were tunnels built by a a sort of benefactor in Liverpool uh underground to provide work for people who didn't have work, but they're not they don't go anywhere.

[00:27:45]I think that's the story.

[00:27:47]>> Okay.

[00:27:47]>> They're still open. You can visit them.

[00:27:49]I mean, they're a real rich man's eccentricity designed as a gift to the workless poor.

[00:27:57]>> Wow.

[00:27:58]>> Yeah, I know. Isn't that odd? I'm going to have to do more work almost.

[00:28:01]>> Do you know which century we're talking about?

[00:28:03]>> I am think I think the 19th century.

[00:28:05]>> Okay. There must have been work above ground that needed doing.

[00:28:09]>> That wasn't enough.

[00:28:10]>> Okay. Yeah.

[00:28:11]>> Well, this is absolutely intriguing.

[00:28:13]>> Have we got time for me to Google them?

[00:28:14]>> Yes. I'll just I'll read the next one >> because I' I've displayed my ignorance which >> very slowly but unusual. That does sound intriguing. But I suppose what does I mean Manchester is a very very vibrant city. I thought it had closed, >> especially now, isn't it?

[00:28:31]>> Nonsense.

[00:28:32]>> And there is quite a lot to see and do.

[00:28:34]But Adam, if it's okay with you, because you've identified a slight difference uh in our temperaments, I'm just going to leave it there for now. I'll pick it up tomorrow.

[00:28:44]>> This one comes in from Emily uh who is our Locker 53 correspondent. Do you remember locker 53? This is so spooky.

[00:28:51]>> Yeah.

[00:28:52]>> Dear F and Jane, I hope you're sat down.

[00:28:54]I know you will be. Do you know what?

[00:28:55]One thing we're never going to do Yes.

[00:28:57]is do the podcast standing up to give it more vibe. That's not our thing at all.

[00:29:02]I have a deeply troubling update from Locker 53. Four months on, not just one, but two new peanuts. They've bred. It's almost like the universe sensed you needed the gift of content quite literally dropping out of the sky. I recently caught some remarkably long discussions about pan lids in two successive episodes. Well, people have liked this. Emily, a friend suggested I send photographic evidence with no explanation, like one of those Victorian spirit images. She might be right. The peanuts now speak for themselves. Please see photo for details. Current explanations from others have been painfully benal. Perhaps someone's been eating peanuts, which to be honest is not the kind of thinking that we're after. And thus I turn to you, says Emily. PS. For the avoidance of doubt, I'm only joking about finding the panard segments anything but riveting. I've actually bought one of those special organizers off the what's it to stop mine clattering and rolling around the drawer. Highly recommend. A reminder, I'm only 35. With chat like this, I look forward to finally reaching my prime in retirement.

[00:30:02]>> God, you've got such a lot to look forward to.

[00:30:04]>> You have, but you're on Absolutely.

[00:30:06]>> You're on the right path already. And well done you. So, you're definitely in the right lane. Just keep on trucking.

[00:30:13]So, there are those two peanuts. And the mystery of locker 53 is super sealed.

[00:30:19]and Emily doesn't eat the peanuts. How are the peanuts getting into the locker?

[00:30:24]You've also you've got some very, if you don't mind me commenting on the other things in your locker. So, you've got your trainers, you've got a couple of tote bags, I think you've got some leggings, and then you've got this extraordinary cream, uh, which is called Booty Gains.

[00:30:39]>> What? Uh, >> bum, hips, and stomach firming cream.

[00:30:43]>> How does that work?

[00:30:44]>> Well, I'm here to tell you that's a waste of money.

[00:30:46]>> Yeah, I was going to say >> it doesn't. It it it I mean it'll make it moisturizing, but there isn't a cream that can hold in that, Emily.

[00:30:54]>> Well, there can't be.

[00:30:55]>> There can't be.

[00:30:56]>> The Williamson tunnels are a series of extensive subterranean excavations in uh Edge Hill in Liverpool, thought to have been created under the direction of a local tobacco merchant and philanthropist um between 1810 and 1840.

[00:31:10]So, I was sort of that's about right.

[00:31:12]Although popularly described as tunnels, the majority comprise brick or stone vaultting over excavations in the underlying sandstone and the purpose of the tunnels isn't clear. Uh remains a subject of heavy speculation, but suggestions include commercial quarrying, a philanthropic desire to provide employment and Williamson's own eccentric interests, but they're incredible. I have never been and I really would like to go. Um and it's the fact that no one really knows why he did it.

[00:31:40]>> Yeah, that is weird. Um I think he was a bit bonkers.

[00:31:44]>> Yeah.

[00:31:44]>> But um in at least in an interesting way.

[00:31:47]>> Okay. Uh well, let's have a little bit of a Liverpool Manchester off and see where we get.

[00:31:53]>> Yeah. I always in Manchester I'm not It does rain a lot. It has occasionally been known to rain in Liverpool. There's something about the Manchester skies.

[00:32:02]They're quite low. That's all I'll say.

[00:32:04]Sorry.

[00:32:06]Okay.

[00:32:06]>> Uh I haven't been for a while. The last time I went to Manchester, it was one of my karaoke nights out.

[00:32:11]>> Well, I don't want to get involved in this very very fierce debate. So, >> it's all to do with the >> leave you to I'm going to stick with Basing Stoke versus Winchester. It was a very elegant fight. Yes. Where everybody wears a bonnet.

[00:32:23]>> Um, keep youngsters out of their rooms.

[00:32:25]Uh, from Cammy, um, I'm glad you raised the issue of the teenage bedroom culture. My elder son is at uni and has managed to find a couple of weeks work over the summer for an events company.

[00:32:36]This is the thing about uni holidays.

[00:32:38]They are so >> like they can be up to four months and if you have got work that's brilliant but if you haven't god it's boring and at the moment I wonder whether um apart from hospitality where else would a student find find employment at the moment. Um it's pretty tough isn't it? I think uh we know that people who are beyond university are also finding it hard to get work.

[00:33:04]Anyway, uh Cammy says to keep him occupied and productive, he's also volunteering for a big stately home uh in the area. I'm just not giving him the option of staying in his bedroom. He'll get his holiday with the family, and outside of that, he needs to make himself useful. She sounds quite firm, doesn't she? Uh but I'm not disagreeing with you, Cammy. I think it's probably sensible. He's happy to enjoy it. He enjoys meeting people and learning new things. And even though he doesn't say it, I know he also likes the recognition and pride that we have in him. If teenagers are in a privileged situation where they don't need to fund their lives, they should volunteer. It helps society, adds to their experience and CV and builds their self-esteem.

[00:33:44]Um, yeah, that's true, too. But I don't even think volunteering is all that easy at the moment. I'm sure there must be some sectors that are crying out for volunteers, but as you say in your email, um, you need to be fortunate enough to be able to do it for nothing.

[00:33:56]>> Yeah.

[00:33:57]>> And I think just incredibly difficult if you are if you live in somewhere quite rural. Yeah, >> you know, the the university long university holidays can be fun if you're living in a city, you've got a decent place to go back to, you've got plenty of >> uh you know, hospitality venues that might need some summer skills, but you know, if you come from a a smaller place, then going back for 4 months must be really quite hellish for everybody involved.

[00:34:25]>> Yeah.

[00:34:26]>> So, and and you know, this is finally being tackled with vigor, isn't it? Alan Milbour's review into the life of the neat not in education, employment or training uh has delivered quite a punch and I think it's a very it you know it's it's about time that this feeling that people had about what had gone wrong in a generation was actually turned into fact so it can be tackled better. So I hope it will be and you know other countries do do it differently Jane and other they don't have long holidays >> no you know they have different forms of community work don't they and I think a slightly different attitude towards young people working we have definitely made it difficult for under 18y olds to be in employment you know the amount of uh regulation that you now have to get through the minimum wage is a fantastic thing and of course it should have been brought in but there is also an argument for being able to go and, you know, work Saturday mornings in a shop, you know, when you're 15 years old for not very many quid. You know, there I think there are just a lot of things now that can be very off-putting to employers and, you know, everybody's losing out there.

[00:35:42]>> So maybe we just need to row back on those and the national service thing. I mean, I'm not >> I knew you were going to mention bring back national service. I'm not saying bring back national service, but the idea that you could have a whole uh wellrespected volunteer force I don't think is a very bad thing to have a think about.

[00:36:05]>> Wonder is there isn't one, is there?

[00:36:07]>> No. No. Maybe somebody will point us in the direction of something that currently exists that could be thought of in a as a kind of not a national service but national community service.

[00:36:19]There's nothing like that.

[00:36:20]>> No. not not organized by central government for the whole country.

[00:36:24]>> There's always talk about bringing back national service and offering a different option for those young people who don't want to go into a military situation which I completely understand it's it's not for everybody.

[00:36:35]>> Yes. Although in some parts of the world it is >> well whether you like it or not. Yeah, that's true. But but I just think if you are one of those uh youngsters, a word you know that I don't know when I started using it and I wish I didn't uh who is struggling to find gain for employment doesn't want to spend you know the rest of their life just heading towards the benefit system and being stuck in it. actually having something that is already there for you that you slip into that means you do get out of the house every day. You are part of something, you know, I don't think it's to be sniffed at. I think it just needs to happen very quickly.

[00:37:10]I' I'd want it to be there.

[00:37:11]>> Yeah, I think it would be great if it was there. Maybe it will come. Maybe something will happen.

[00:37:15]>> Yeah. She said >> somebody could come along and uh and spare you the leaf blower because as an old person, one of the elderly now, you might qualify to be the recipient >> of some youthful help. I mean, do you know it beggars belief, doesn't it? But there used to be that thing called Boba >> Boba Job Week. I mean, and it's terrible, isn't it? But the Brownies didn't do it because little girls couldn't go up and knock on doors. No.

[00:37:40]>> Except, you know, that only dawned on me really recently.

[00:37:42]>> Well, it turns out that lots of scouts couldn't either.

[00:37:45]>> Well, I know. But but but the it wasn't even considered for the girls anyway.

[00:37:49]God, this is grim territory.

[00:37:51]>> It is, isn't it? It is. It is. Now, diaper parties. We still need to clear this up because Kathy's been back in touch. And thank you for the email cuz I know I mean I didn't mean to be rude about her handwriting because mine's terrible, >> but her card was quite hard to read.

[00:38:03]>> It was quite hard to read. Yeah. Uh, huge apologies for my handwriting, says Kathy. Uh, I can barely read it myself and I was clearly still jetlagged when I wrote it. But I wanted to share the beautiful print exhibition I went to in Toronto's fabulous art gallery. Of course, the moms weren't present at this manly gathering. This is the diaper party.

[00:38:21]>> New fathers.

[00:38:22]>> Yes. My daughter provided food and then left them to it in the large barn at the end of their garden. The invitation said 3 till 7, but the chaps were still there at midnight. I suspect drink was taken.

[00:38:32]Uh Kathy says also cannabis is now legal in Canada and the son-in-law is allowed to grow just three plants outside his barn. Say no more. The only benefit from this custom is that mom doesn't need to wash a load of nappies or even boil them on the stove as I did as a new mom in the early '7s. And do you remember buckets of napisan? Happy days. Best wishes Kathy. Now what we wanted to know though is where the baby is Kathy.

[00:38:56]>> So we had assumed that the men just got on with it. Yeah. And they all brought some diapers and that's absolutely fantastic. I wonder whether they liaz over sizing. I hope so. Yeah.

[00:39:06]>> Uh and we get that, but we just wondered whether it still meant that the mom was left holding the baby.

[00:39:12]>> Well, men after child birth, men do need a rest. We we we know that. So, we must we must give them a chance to get together. And actually, in all in all, >> I think it's a great thing if they're if they're sharing stories of the front line of parenting. If a man who's already had a couple of kids comes along and talks about sleepless nights and teething and that's wonderful. Prepares the new dad for what lies ahead.

[00:39:37]>> But you're right. The question is who is actually holding the baby >> when this grand event is occurring.

[00:39:44]>> Yeah. So Kathy, another email.

[00:39:46]>> Yes. You're going to I'm sorry Kathy, we're asking you to do more. Yeah.

[00:39:49]>> If you can bear to. And her PS your correspondent talked about her ability to find parking spaces. Canadian son-in-law has the same gift. On the other hand, I have the knack of waking up just as you read out my emails or badly written cards. Well, look, sweet dreams, Kathy. You can you can nod off now. Uh, but just make contact again with that vital nugget about what actually happens to the baby.

[00:40:11]>> Uh, Antonia, I'm currently on the Northern Line, wilting in the heat, and there are three men in very short shorts. This must be last week. Sitting opposite me with their legs spled open as if inviting inspection. No holds barred, manspreading. We've been here before, haven't we, Fe? I suspect we'll go there again. Uh, thankfully, no testicles appear to be touching the seats. I'm studiously typing this out while averting my gaze. I'm sure this has been discussed many times, but are we any closer to understanding why men do this? Apparently giving no thought to the space and room they take up. In the middle seats between them are two women, arms crossed, legs crossed, as if trying to make themselves smaller. It is a perfect illustration of the difference between the sexes. I wish I could get away with taking a surreptitious pick, she says. Antonia, thank you. The Northern Line, not always a nice place to be. Uh, but I'm on it myself quite frequently. So, >> I'm amazed it's got Wi-Fi.

[00:41:09]>> Uh, does it?

[00:41:10]>> It has now. Yes. Isn't that interesting?

[00:41:12]It has quite recently.

[00:41:13]>> Yeah.

[00:41:14]>> Uh, so I'm able to Yes. to um to find out what's happening in the news when I'm on the Northern Line. And as you know, no one can afford to go more than 10 minutes without finding out what's going on in the news.

[00:41:25]>> Well, you can't at the moment. No.

[00:41:27]>> I think later on today, uh we're going to have more of Peter Mandelson splattered all over us, aren't we? So, I think there's a thousand pages.

[00:41:35]>> Yes.

[00:41:35]>> Of documents, some of them pertaining to rather embarrassing descriptions of Kier Starmer >> between Peter Mandlesson and other Labour MPs. I I almost don't want to I just don't want to know really. Jane, >> it's all rather unpleasant, isn't it? I I hear what you say about being sprayed with more mandles. It's a bit like that farmer who got angry about the people parking on his field and got the slurry gun out.

[00:41:57]>> So, I did feel this morning. I just thought, okay, it's kind of like, you know, it's like going to paintball coming into work. I know.

[00:42:03]>> It's just, you know, yet more Peter, >> we we didn't know Peter Manderson, did we? But he did. No, we didn't.

[00:42:11]>> No, he he hadn't extended the warmth of his hospitality in our direction at all.

[00:42:16]>> But we will we should acknowledge that he did occasionally come into our workplace.

[00:42:19]>> Well, he did. He was on podcast.

[00:42:21]>> Yeah. And he just wasn't he wasn't someone who you would he wasn't someone you'd exchange a smile with, was he?

[00:42:28]>> No. I couldn't catch his eye at all.

[00:42:31]Could you?

[00:42:32]>> No.

[00:42:33]>> No. Uh, right. I think we know what we're saying. Um, Lisa the Posty says, "Don't bother finishing two weeks in August. It's ridiculous. I battled through as I felt or hoped it must improve, but sadly no. It just got more ridiculous and reckless, including debortch parties in the middle of nowhere with random people acting out, cars breaking down, and then miraculously restarting without the AA."

[00:42:56]Okay. And an entire Oh, I haven't got to that bit. You've That's a spoiler, Lisa.

[00:42:59]Right. Okay. Um, I'm sorry. I'm still enjoying it. This is on the eye player.

[00:43:03]Two weeks in August. If you're about to go to a Greek island or you just like to be on one, um, it ticks some boxes for me and it's about a group holiday.

[00:43:13]Everything that could go wrong does, including things that you wouldn't expect to go wrong, they also go wrong.

[00:43:19]Um, I think it's worth a look and I am going to stick with it. Are you still on it?

[00:43:23]>> I have stuck with it and let's talk about it when you get a bit further down the line.

[00:43:27]>> The debortch party I didn't enjoy. No, I it was deeply deeply worrying and it seemed to have been inserted from a different series. I mean, it suddenly went from >> Well, it's like they found a massive budget.

[00:43:40]>> Yeah. From being a very kind of domesticated drama about, you know, some rather rather stereotypical uptight Brits going on holiday together and suddenly it met Eyes Wide Shut. It was just like God Almighty. I know that.

[00:43:54]Yes, that Yes, it was. That was that the film with Tom Cruz and >> Yes.

[00:43:58]and the mass ball and all kinds of things. Yeah.

[00:44:02]>> Yeah.

[00:44:03]>> Anyway, um I will finish it. Uh Lisa, I hear you, but I'm going to plow on.

[00:44:08]>> Okay, you do that. Um Frankfurt may be in Germany, but MSL certainly wasn't German. Belinda, huge apologies. I don't think I'm the only person to be caught out by this, but I should have known better. I've just been catching up with your podcast of the 13th of May in which you mentioned the Frankfurt kitchen and gasped out loud when fe said it had been invented by the German sacrilege. So Frankfurt may well be in Germany. It refers to where the kitchen was built.

[00:44:35]Uh but the architect Margaretta Shutter Lotsky was an Austrian architect, an incredible woman who was also a communist activist and resistance fighter imprisoned by the Nazis between 1941 and 1945.

[00:44:51]She died in the year 2000, only 5 days before her 103rd birthday.

[00:44:57]>> Wow.

[00:44:57]>> And the kitchen is named the Frankfurt kitchen as it was designed as part of a public housing scheme in Frankfurt in the 1920s. But the person behind it was very definitely Austrian. As Fee has mentioned, she'll be coming here in the summer. I wouldn't want her to be turned back at the border for missitizenizing one of the country's most extraordinary women. Well, Belinda, thank you for sparing me that embarrassment at border control. Uh, I can't wait to get to Austria. Actually, we're going to one of the very, very big lakes in Austria, Lake Worth and Sea. And I don't know whether you do this, but you know, in the in the kind of months before a holiday, I tend to look at the website of the hotel we're going to every day.

[00:45:35]Every day I check it and I've pulled it out. I've seen, you know, which sundown to be on. See what's in the buffet. Yep.

[00:45:42]>> I can't wait.

[00:45:43]>> It is. It is funny that it actually is part of the enjoyment of it. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:45:47]Very much so. Very much so. It's funny, isn't it? You can you can start enjoying yourself even before you've left the country.

[00:45:53]>> Yes. And now we have uh the terrifying long range weather forecasts. No, that's a little bit problematic actually because it does look like we might need mackintoshes.

[00:46:02]>> Oh, >> yes. Rather than sun cream.

[00:46:04]>> We'll keep off the long range weather.

[00:46:05]Just linger on the buffet.

[00:46:06]>> Yeah. Okay, we'll do.

[00:46:07]>> Um I just wanted to quickly mention Vicky who is in Oakville in Ontario. Uh she said says they're currently enjoying um spring-like weather. Um the kind of stuff you normally get in the UK whereas you're having Canadian spring weather because Canada gets very hot, doesn't it? I think it gets very hot very suddenly and then gets really cold quite suddenly as well. Correct me if I'm wrong. Um, I'm sitting on my deck with The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Stout, recommended by Jane last week. It arrived in soft cover here. I think she's enjoying it. Uh, there's a light breeze. It's about 23 degrees. I wanted to thank you both for all the book recommendations and Netflix stuff you've enjoyed and the interesting interviews.

[00:46:46]You're keeping me laughing and up to date and just connected to life as I recover from a total hip replacement.

[00:46:52]Nine weeks ago, I had to stay in restbite and it was a bit lonely and painful, but I knew that you would both make me feel more grounded and secure for those eight days for eight days during those two weeks. Gosh, that's that's a long time to spend in restbite after it's still a major operation, a total hip replacement. So, um, take it easy Vicki and I very much hope that you continue your recovery. Uh she says she enjoys hearing about your man Najgerie Fee as she had a similar household at one point including an iguana, a baby crocodile, a pet duck, and a squirrel along with many cats and a number of dogs. I miss them all, but I'm 76 now.

[00:47:31]Decisions were made to be animal free.

[00:47:33]Some good points in the Canadian winters, but I do miss them all. Well, what an extraordinary combination, and I'm amazed that some of them survive living in close quarters with the others. Well, did a pet duck really get along with the crocodile?

[00:47:47]>> Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.

[00:47:48]>> Yeah. And I don't know where iguanas stand on pet ducks, but uh >> Well, I think an iguana would would an iguana be a carnivore?

[00:47:56]>> I don't know. These are big questions.

[00:47:59]Um Vicki, um thank you for that. Um and I I totally appreciate that at 76 perhaps you feel you've done you've done animals and it sounds like you had quite a lot going on there. So I think you're probably very wise to to be animal free currently. Certainly, >> it must be really difficult though if you've had a lifetime of loving animals and having them around you all the time.

[00:48:20]And it's very rare, isn't it, if you then move into sheltered housing to be able to have a pet with you.

[00:48:25]>> Maybe that changes. Do you think that changes under the Renters Rights Act?

[00:48:29]>> I don't know.

[00:48:30]>> Because it's the time in your life when surely a cat or, you know, a little peak knees or a parrot is really much more essential to your life. I think cats are allowed at my the sheltered housing where my dad lives. Uh but I'm not sure that anybody currently has a cat because actually um for all for all the issues with cats there they are companionable.

[00:48:52]>> Oh yes.

[00:48:53]>> If you get the right one >> well even if you get the wrong one as I did um it's still um there's still something about their presence that just I don't know. Um, yeah, I I do find them. They're just a presence, which, you know, I I I now realize that I'm going to have to be a cat person for the rest of my life. It's um >> And you're never going to become a dog person.

[00:49:13]>> Well, I just don't think I think they're much more of a responsibility. They are a tie. It's very hard if you've got other responsibilities. I I saw our local cat walker out the other day walking her cat and you know, the cat had just stopped in the middle of the road. I mean, it it wasn't really a walk. And I've spoken to this lady in the past, but I just thought I won't I won't have a chat this morning because she's clearly wrestling with the cat.

[00:49:38]There was no indication from the cat that it was enjoying the walk. It had simply sat in the middle of the road.

[00:49:42]>> Yeah. I I'm not I'm not a big fan of catwalking.

[00:49:46]>> I'm sorry. I I think it I think if cats wanted to be walked on a lead, it just would have caught on more.

[00:49:52]>> Yeah.

[00:49:52]>> And I don't think over time it has done.

[00:49:54]No.

[00:49:54]>> So, no. Uh can we just do a couple of parish notices before we go? So Kirsty who's normally in Norwich but is currently sending this from >> KFU.

[00:50:07]>> I know. So she has very much enjoyed the interpreter of malades which is our short story book by Jumpa Liheri. Uh she says never read short stories before, never read short stories before but absolutely loved these. You get to know the characters quickly and really feel for them. I didn't think that would be the case. It also made me want to learn more about Indian history in the last century. I love a book that sparks an interest in something I don't know enough about. And as with all history, it's so much more interesting and memorable when you think about the human experiences. The book should be studied in school. Thank you for choosing it.

[00:50:44]Well, well done you, Kirsty. We won't be talking about that, I think, until after we return from some summer holidays to give people enough time to dig into it.

[00:50:54]>> It's a good summer project for people.

[00:50:55]Yeah, I've got a copy by the bed, but I'm not currently reading it, must be honest. I am reading um Maggie Farrell's Land >> because she is on Tuesday.

[00:51:04]>> Thursday. She's on Thursday. Yeah. So, it will be uh really interesting. It's a it's a I read a review of it yesterday, quite a short one in one of the news, one of the newspapers, not the Sunday Times.

[00:51:14]>> I do occasionally stray. And this one said that she was I think the quote was she's challenging her readers which I I thought was almost a bit much because you know Maggie O Farrell is she's uh she's quite a significant writer. It was as though she normally appealed to one set of readers and this time you're going to have to use more of your brain to to read which I slightly take issue with. But anyway, um I actually am enjoying it. It's um I suppose it it's uh it's slightly different to other stuff that she's she's written without question. And um I suppose perhaps it is more of a test of your commitment, but I've nearly finished it.

[00:51:53]>> Well, I think she's I mean she's written in different genres and periods before.

[00:51:57]So obviously Hamnet, you know, is is not a book set in the London of the 2000s, but she's written about uh some of her books are set in at the end of the last century. Uh, some of them are abroad, they're here, they're about families.

[00:52:12]She's written non-fiction as well, hasn't she? About her own near-death experiences. And I think she can turn her hand, I sense she can turn her hand to almost everything, >> maybe apart from science fiction or maybe vampire novels, but that may come.

[00:52:30]Do you know I was in a bookshop the other day and um the young assistant was asking me if I wanted to get another book, you know, half price, whatever it's called, one for the half, what's it called?

[00:52:40]>> Well, uh get one buy one get one half price.

[00:52:44]>> And and it was a youngish uh bloke and he he just took one look at me and he pointed to one of those, you know, dragon sex books and I just thought >> not for you. No, >> no. Do you I did a screenwriting course once when I thought I might want to just take off and stop doing this and just write things. Uh and I mean it was attended by really really interesting people.

[00:53:09]>> But the guy who was taking it, he just kept on telling us uh about his, you know, real experience of the world of script writing and saying that it was incredibly difficult. You never made any money. Nobody ever really wanted to read your scripts. And basically what were we doing bothering him on a Wednesday evening at an adult education center and we're all a bit like >> he didn't he didn't know what he was doing this like we were a bit like okay well we're quite enthusiastic about it.

[00:53:37]who we were. And then somebody actually on on the kind of third evening uh asked him what it was that he had, you know, actually come to fruition and he had written one script that had been picked up and made into a film and it was a vampire lesbian comedy.

[00:53:56]>> Okay.

[00:53:57]>> And I stopped going after that. Did you?

[00:53:59]I don't have anything against vampires or lesbians or being made to laugh, but I just felt I didn't really want to be dissuaded. I didn't want to have my enthusiasm sucked out of me and be dissuaded from putting thoughts onto paper uh by a guy who had literally gone, "What three things can I combine to make some money out of this career that I've chosen?" I just thought, I just don't want to have anything to do with you. That just sounds absolutely ridiculous. Well, I mean that wasn't that film relatively a success.

[00:54:29]>> Oh, no. It wasn't a successful, wasn't it? No, no, he he hadn't written the successful one. I mean, there are some Yeah. I mean, there are some incredibly successful vampire lesbian films, >> but that wasn't it.

[00:54:39]>> No, but he had literally just gone, that's the genre that people are kind of buying at the moment, so I'm going to write a script in this, and I'm going to tell all of you to not become script writers just in case you're better than me, and then you knock me out of a job even more. It was just a soul destroying experience. It's just like, why are you teaching this course? Don't do it.

[00:54:58]>> It's like someone, I don't know, a pottery evening class, um, taken by someone who just starts breaking pots as soon as you walk in.

[00:55:05]>> No, very much. Or someone who says, "Pottery, what's the point? Use Tupperware."

[00:55:09]>> Yeah.

[00:55:10]>> Just look, we're all very different. And that's one of the wonderful things about this podcast and about life in general.

[00:55:16]But the whole fantasizing about winged creatures thing, I just I don't get it.

[00:55:21]I respect you, but I I don't get it. I re I really don't.

[00:55:24]>> No, I I mean I'm I'm with you. And >> I'm not expecting you to suddenly say, "Oh, but Jane, I do fantasize about >> No, I don't. Um, >> you know, I'm just I'm I'm realizing how much of a prude I am. There's a recent sex scene in Rivals that I just thought, oh gosh, I mean, that's Rival.

[00:55:42]>> That series too, cuz I haven't watched it. Well, based on that, I won't be watching it. I just couldn't really have watched it with either of my kids in the room. And that just it just you know and it and it comes at you without warning and I you know there's a high possibility that I would have watched season 2 Rivals with my mom and we we both would have been we would have found that difficult.

[00:56:10]So right can I >> of course I'm desperate to know what happened in that scene but don't don't tell me >> no and and oh what else I don't I don't want to come across as hij judgmental. I think I'm just a little bit uh What am I?

[00:56:24]>> Um Oh, I don't know. That's too big a question.

[00:56:26]>> It is. It's only Monday. Yeah, I am Mary White House about things.

[00:56:30]>> I'm a bit Mary White. I had a bit of a spicy Thai meal last night sometimes.

[00:56:33]>> Is it repeating?

[00:56:34]>> Well, it's just it's making its presence felt. Let's put it that way. Can I just say that I've only read one of the short stories so far and I am looking forward to reading more. It's given me a a little bit too much of a taste for short stories. So, I haven't managed to actually read a novel for the last couple of weeks at all because I got very stuck into Curtis Sittenfeld's short story book, too. Uh, which is superb. I mean, that she can exfoliate, moisturize, and energize all at the same time on a page. That woman, I think she's absolutely superb.

[00:57:10]>> But if you get that product in a bottle, you'd make a fortune, would you? And if you could firm up bucks along. Yeah.

[00:57:15]>> Yeah. It doesn't firm them up, does it?

[00:57:17]>> Well, thank you very much for taking part in this fee. Thank you for coming.

[00:57:20]>> Well, thank you for coming.

[00:57:22]>> Thank you.

[00:57:22]>> Thank you. I mean, you are paid to do it, but thank you for coming in anyway.

[00:57:25]It's very kind of you. Congratulations to Arsenal. And sorry, not going to repeat. And uh let's move on.

[00:57:34]>> Sorry, Fringe by >> Oh, Fringe by the Sea. Sorry, we should say Eve's off this week. Yeah, which wouldn't need an explanation if you'd heard Eve last week. She was in such good form because her holiday was getting ever closer. So Hannah is in charge today. So thank you Hannah.

[00:57:48]What's that reminder about Fee?

[00:57:49]>> That reminder is that tickets are available now for Fringe by the Sea where we are part of a stellar lineup of cultural excitement uh in North Beric.

[00:58:01]We are appearing in the Big Top with Jan Ravens as our special guest on Friday the 7th of August. Come if you can.

[00:58:08]It'll be a laugh.

[00:58:09]>> Yes. and we met loads of you last year and it was lovely and I know quite a few of you intend to come again so please do tell your friends uh Jan is she is very good very funny um she does come from the whirl she does a superb Nicholas Sturgeon >> she I think we'll have some fun yeah yeah because I remember last year it was just before Nicholas Sturgeon was due to come on to talk about her memoir and I mentioned that she was going to be on and the reaction was I think it was mixed would be a fair >> I think it was a bit further >> worse than mixed of mix.

[00:58:40]>> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, I mean, we can't say this often enough. It's North Beric.

[00:58:45]Don't get confused and go to Beric upon Tweed, which is lovely and about 40 miles away. That's the That's the problem.

[00:58:51]>> Yeah.

[00:58:51]>> We will look forward to seeing you there. Tickets available on the website now.

[00:58:55]>> Thank you. Bye. See you. Bye. Bye. Bye.