EP231: Nagging with Auntie Linny #26 – ageing is a privilege

Natalie Cassidy 0:02:08 Well, we've just started and it sounds like Stansted Airport. Welcome to Life with Nat on this lovely Monday morning. We have got the windows open again because it's rather stifling in the pod room. The aircon is a-coming. Bored of talking about it. I'm here with Auntie Lynnie, my beautiful sister-in-law. How are you?

Linny 0:02:27 Oh, I'm good. Hi everyone. Yeah, I feel like I've seen a lot of you this week.

Natalie Cassidy 0:02:32 You have seen a lot of me this week, especially on the hot days.

Linny 0:02:37 Goodness me. We did well on Sunday, but it was a nice aircon theatre, wasn't it? It was lovely. What a lovely venue.

Natalie Cassidy 0:02:44 So nice. Hartford Beam. Get yourselves down there. Yeah. They have so much on.

Linny 0:02:48 So much on. Lovely.

Natalie Cassidy 0:02:49 It's really lovely. Cinema, beautiful cafe, and then soap comedians, lots of plays, lots of children's shows.

Linny 0:02:56 Brilliant.

Natalie Cassidy 0:02:58 Definitely need to go ourselves.

Linny 0:02:59 One of my work colleagues said, what was going on in Hertford on Sunday? There was just hordes of women just pouring. I said, well, that would be our pod.

Natalie Cassidy 0:03:07 It was such a lovely show though, wasn't it?

Linny 0:03:12 The show was lovely. The couple of hours after was lovely. Yeah. Albeit sitting out in the sun. It was a hot one, wasn't it? It was just brilliant. What a lovely day to remember because it's slightly different to all the other live pods because we actually got to spend a couple of hours socialising. A few friends. With some of the listeners that had come along. Yeah. And our friends and yeah, Camilla obviously and Sam. Sam.

Natalie Cassidy 0:03:36 My Alice.

Linny 0:03:37 Bless her. Lovely girls. And yeah, Camilla got me a present. I haven't opened it yet 'cause it's not my birthday quite yet. So I will thank her personally. So it was lovely. What a great day. Cracking day.

Natalie Cassidy 0:03:48 It was so nice. Yeah. And everyone, I've had some lovely messages. Have you? From people just saying how intimate it felt. Mm. And how relaxed we all were. And maybe that was being local and not having to travel too far. And I know that lots of you don't live local to us, but it is nice. It does make a difference, doesn't it? The old journey of 10 minutes.

Linny 0:04:07 Oh my God. It was so nice to get in that cab and know you didn't have a 4-hour journey home.

Natalie Cassidy 0:04:13 You took a nice photo of me, didn't you?

Linny 0:04:14 Sorry, I had to, guys. She was very tired. She had a couple of bivverogies. Too many. The sun got to her head.

Linny 0:04:22 We didn't eat really, did we? No. That was our fault. I had one cheese and chorizo mochi. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Linny 0:04:29 I did much the same. Yeah, I remember getting, walking through the door and thinking, I've got some lasagna, leftover lasagna in the— I was starving alive. Dave was out. Opened the fridge door and the lasagna wasn't there. Oh no.

Linny 0:04:39 That awful feeling of like, I wanna start crying.

Linny 0:04:44 But no, it was such a lovely day. Yeah. And yeah, shout out to one of my clients, Lucy B, her mum Natalie. Oh yeah, lovely. come along as well.

Linny 0:04:52 I had a little chat with her today. She's, um, good.

Natalie Cassidy 0:04:55 And lovely Helen from Ware.

Linny 0:04:56 Yeah. With Tony Frequenzi.

Natalie Cassidy 0:04:58 I'll shout you out as well. The Joes, um, 2 Joes came along. So yeah, no, lovely. And all of you remember the 3 shows are now on sale for the end of the year, October and November. You can find the links in my bio on the Koami. Don't ask me what it is on the Koami. I've got no idea. It's all been set up. I'm absolutely so Jurassic when it comes to these things.

Linny 0:05:21 Well, it's just, Dulford's already doing well. I've got a lot of friends that have already booked tickets. Oh, that's good. And Lisa's already booked a load of tickets. Lovely. Yeah, don't leave it too long 'cause they, I mean, there's, it's a bigger capacity than Harford. It is. But they may well sell quickly, so.

Natalie Cassidy 0:05:35 Let's hope so.

Linny 0:05:36 Yeah, come and see us. We'll have some fun.

Natalie Cassidy 0:05:39 Your birthday next week.

Linny 0:05:40 Yeah, it's a shame, isn't it? Oh, I just, Yeah, it's not great, is it, at this time of your life? Unfortunately, guys, I don't wanna put a doom and gloom. Do you know what it is as well? I just don't wanna celebrate it. It's not that I don't wanna celebrate it, I just don't get what the big deal is.

Natalie Cassidy 0:06:02 Yeah, I'm not a massive—

Linny 0:06:03 I just like, and I feel like I'm doing Sunday. So this is the other thing, my dear friends out there.

Linny 0:06:10 So my birthday's Monday week, but Maria is away. Well, she gets back on the Monday, so I was gonna do something on the Sunday. And Dave is away. So I thought, well, I'll do it this Sunday. So to get the family round, you, Natalie obviously, and her crew.

Linny 0:06:28 But Dave's also away again this Sunday. So I've just had to bite the bullet and do it this Sunday. So at least Maria and the kids are there. Yeah. Just to get us all together to mark it, and more for the grandchildren.

Linny 0:06:40 But yeah, for me, I just—

Natalie Cassidy 0:06:42 Well, that's why we put a shout out today. I know.

Linny 0:06:44 We were like, what do we talk about? What should we discuss? Natalie said, oh, let's talk about ageing. Getting old.

Natalie Cassidy 0:06:50 Well, no, just ageing in general is such a big thing because it's not about getting old, it's how you feel about it. And we've spoken before at our live Grief Pod that obviously people haven't all seen, and that fear of missing out, which I think is very interesting that we should talk about. Yeah.

Linny 0:07:08 Well, I voiced that on the live show tonight. So, yeah. Which I think was quite appropriate.

Linny 0:07:13 My fear is, obviously, I'm the eldest one in our little family unit. When I say our family unit, I mean your family, Natalie, my family, Tony's family. Out of, like, the Cassidy side, I'm the eldest. Not by much, but I am the eldest. And I just think, oh, realistically, I should be the first to go because I'm the eldest, and that would be the right thing, and that's in the right order.

Linny 0:07:41 I just feel like I'd be missing out on everything you guys are doing. are doing. And I just find it weird that I wouldn't be here. And I'm a control freak like you. We wanna look after everyone.

Linny 0:07:52 We wanna make sure everyone's okay.

Natalie Cassidy 0:07:54 But life will still roll on without us.

Linny 0:07:55 Of course it will. Just like it has for us without— and our parents died way younger than us, than we already are. And we were younger. So yes, of course life goes on and everyone— the ageing process Is a really weird thing because it just kind of creeps up on you.

Natalie Cassidy 0:08:17 Well, let's have some messages.

Linny 0:08:18 Yeah, let's do it. And then we can talk off of those. Yeah.

Speaker H 0:08:21 Hey, Nat and Linny. Not a first-time listener. I've listened from the beginning, but first-time voice noter, and actually first-time any message. I love yours and Linny's podcasts. I haven't actually got a favourite because I love them all.

Speaker H 0:08:39 I always think, do I love the nieces or you and Mark, Linnie, Tony? But I actually love them all. Just your note about ageing, I am 56, I'll be 57 next year, and I lost my mum last January. So until that point, I was sort of embracing it and I felt good for my age going out and doing stuff. But Mum passed quite suddenly.

Speaker H 0:09:10 She thought it was a chest infection, turned out to be cancer. It was ovarian cancer, and she was only 75, um, and we only had her for about 6 weeks. So it was quite a shock. But the thing— I think the point I'm trying to make is, until that point, I just thought my mum would live on until like she was 90. My nan lived into her 90s on that side, and I just thought my mum would be like that and then I would be like that.

Speaker H 0:09:35 But since my mum's gone and my dad passed away as well when he was 70. I just keep thinking, am I not gonna get, you know, am I finally got like 20 years left? It's really weird. But yeah, so ageing, I don't feel as confident as I did prior to Mum. But yeah, I sort of embrace life.

Speaker H 0:09:56 I work full-time, bit like Linnie, always busy. We love our holidays. And most recently I've really got into a skincare routine and using some proper products just to make myself feel better, I think. But yeah, I just wanted to make that point about, you know, until my mum died, I was literally thinking, you know, everybody's living into their 90s. And because she passed, which I think is quite early at 75, it's got me thinking.

Speaker H 0:10:25 But I don't want to be morbid, but that was my thoughts on it. Loving the pod as always. And, um, yeah, I hope you're enjoying the heat now. Sorry, I don't think I said my name. My name's Tracy, age 56.

Linny 0:10:39 Bless her.

Natalie Cassidy 0:10:41 I think that is a really good point. And I think because of our losses, death is in our lives. So we, we weren't fortunate enough to have really elderly grandparents. Really, I never knew a granddad. My nuns died before I was 11.

Linny 0:11:00 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:11:02 You know, losing people does make you aware of mortality.

Linny 0:11:05 Oh, absolutely. Yeah. And like Tracy said, her mum was only 75. Now, to a young person, 75 seems ever so old. She's right, Tracy. 75 is no age. You're still young. I don't feel whatever it is you're meant to feel when you're fast approaching 63. Stavros at work today was talking about having a game of padel. Yeah, I'm right up for that. It's so good to be surrounded by young people, 'cause I do think that keeps you young.

Natalie Cassidy 0:11:32 I do do a lot of exercise.

Linny 0:11:33 genuinely believe there is a thing in that. The girls at work will say, you're very young for your age, not just physically, but mentally. My approach about life, how I, I'm not invisible at work. I'm, you know, they have a little— one particular young man has a little joke about my age. James Chigurhillo.

Linny 0:11:51 Oh, right. I thought it was— It's like the boss's son. He will always— he's a bit ageist, but he's only doing it because he knows he doesn't believe it because he talks to me like we're mates. So I think, again, I'm very blessed that I work with quite a young crowd. You know, average, they range in age from 24 to 41, 42.

Linny 0:12:13 So it's quite a young group, and that keeps me young. Having the girls, having Dominic, having Annalisa, you're surrounded by young people. You, Natalie, you know, we're very close. You're 20 years younger than me.

Natalie Cassidy 0:12:25 Of course, yeah.

Linny 0:12:26 So that all It all keeps your mindset young and equally physically young.

Natalie Cassidy 0:12:32 I think there's a really good saying, and I can't remember what it is, which is a real shame. But it's to do with the people you surround your— you're as good as the people you surround yourself with. Exactly. And that, I think you're right. And I think this is why really young people going into elderly care homes, for instance, is amazing. It does something for both of them. It's amazing, really, who you surround yourself with. That can change your— just the way you feel. Oh, just— And the way you think.

Linny 0:13:05 Yeah. But that's in any aspect of life. Yeah. Your brother David has always said, if you surround yourself with the right people, enhances your own life. That's true even with the age thing to a fashion. You know, if you're— You know, if all of, say, your friends are way older than you, and that's all your circle of friends, you're naturally going to, not morph into, but you are, you'll think more—

Natalie Cassidy 0:13:32 You'll be doing the things that they're doing.

Linny 0:13:35 Whereas with younger people, you're kind of trying to keep up with them, and the banter is young. Yeah, I, a billion percent, do not feel my age. Physically, there are times when I think, God, but then again, when I break down what I do, I do as much as my kids do.

Natalie Cassidy 0:13:53 Oh, you're joking.

Linny 0:13:55 And some. And some. I've got 7 kids around tomorrow.

Natalie Cassidy 0:13:58 Yeah, it's crazy.

Linny 0:13:59 You know?

Natalie Cassidy 0:14:00 You're like the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Get yourself one of those old cars.

Linny 0:14:05 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But I wanna embrace it because in 10 years' time, I might not be able to do that. So you've gotta take life by the horns and you've gotta do as much as you can while you can.

Natalie Cassidy 0:14:17 Absolutely.

Linny 0:14:18 It's very true. Age is just a number.

Natalie Cassidy 0:14:20 Yes.

Linny 0:14:20 And I think we've got so much better with it in the workplace, in particular, where, you know, you can't be seen to be ageist.

Natalie Cassidy 0:14:29 Well, also, people are working for a lot longer.

Linny 0:14:32 People are working a lot older. But I— someone of— and I'm sure you'll be reading out shortly, someone wrote in or voice noted in about how you become invisible. And I never quite understood it.

Linny 0:14:45 'Cause I never made my dad feel invisible. No. And he was— he died at age 2. And he was great company. I loved his company.

Linny 0:14:56 So I never quite understood when people used to say that, but I sort of feel it a little bit at times. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Predominantly with— Maria's not gonna like me for this. But say when, like, you girls might be chatting and I'll say something and I just feel like, am I actually— I'm not being heard or listened to or—

Natalie Cassidy 0:15:14 No.

Linny 0:15:14 'Cause you've got free— no, that's not criticism, but I kinda get it. 3 young women, all of the same age, whether you're discussing the pod or whether you're discussing a holiday or whether you're discussing what to wear, whatever it may be, that whatever you— and I don't mean you 3 in particular, whatever that crowd is that's chatting, you can't—

Natalie Cassidy 0:15:33 Your opinion isn't—

Linny 0:15:34 Isn't valid because you're 20 years older. Well, no, actually, been here longer, been there, done it, got the t-shirt, and probably got more experience. We have more knowledge. more life skills. Older people shouldn't be invisible.

Natalie Cassidy 0:15:48 No.

Linny 0:15:49 Older people—

Natalie Cassidy 0:15:50 Are wise.

Linny 0:15:50 Are wise. And you know that because you like listening and chatting. Oh yeah. And the stories and— but I get how— why it happens. But young people could learn from that.

Natalie Cassidy 0:16:05 Absolutely.

Linny 0:17:51 Now, because we're having this discussion, when I reflect back to my relationship with my dad in his latter years, and his brother, who was 11 years younger than him, I felt like they were my age.

Natalie Cassidy 0:18:08 Well, I did with Dad. We had our ups and downs.

Linny 0:18:11 But you—

Natalie Cassidy 0:18:12 As you do. But I liked the company, sitting playing Scrabble, watching the golf, having a drink, listening to music. He was my friend.

Linny 0:18:21 Yeah. Well, how lucky were we?

Natalie Cassidy 0:18:23 Very. So lucky.

Linny 0:18:25 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:18:25 Because I don't think a lot of people have that.

Linny 0:18:29 I never felt like my dad and his brother, who lived in different countries, I hasten to add, I never felt like I'd go to Italy, say, and my uncle would go, right, where do you wanna go? And I'd go, all right, where should we go today? I would like to go and visit this auntie. I'd like to—

Natalie Cassidy 0:18:42 But it wasn't a chore.

Linny 0:18:43 I loved being with him. If he had said to me, me and you are gonna go to the beach for 5 days, just me, I would've been so happy. Yeah. I loved his company.

Natalie Cassidy 0:18:53 Yeah.

Linny 0:18:54 And he was young in himself. He was active. He was, you know, he had a— I could see so much of me in him. And very good company. So, Yeah, they shouldn't be dismissed. I know some, you know, as you get to a certain age, you might get a bit cantankerous and you might, you know.

Natalie Cassidy 0:19:14 Yeah, and I think that—

Linny 0:19:15 And you might not grasp IT as quick as a 24-year-old.

Natalie Cassidy 0:19:19 No, but also you get older, you lose your confidence a little, you get a bit slower. Going out is harder. I'm talking about, you know, octogenarians now.

Linny 0:19:28 Yeah, of course.

Natalie Cassidy 0:19:29 It's a busy world. And the world has changed so much. No, it's interesting. Listen to this. Hey Nat and Auntie Linnie, growing old. Hmm. Well, I'm 64 on the 1st of June. Well, happy birthday. Yeah. Because it's today. Thank you.

Linny 0:19:44 Oh, happy birthday.

Natalie Cassidy 0:19:45 Thank you for listening and happy birthday. How the hell that happened, I have no idea. The way I look at it is I can't stop it, so you have to roll with it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:19:55 I try and keep fit with walking, but I weight train every day as that's so important for us girls. I don't want to be a couch potato with 3 grandchildren, soon to be 7, 5, and 4. I need to be active. Plus, like Linnie, I work full-time too in a pressurised job. My life's not been an easy one, but you can be a survivor or a victim, and there's no way I'm being the latter.

Natalie Cassidy 0:20:16 Domestic abuse, then you couldn't make it up, but coercive control and bullying with another ex. Had my 2 reasonably young, so got my life back when I was still young enough to enjoy it. Mm-hmm. This ain't no dress rehearsal. Live life every day.

Natalie Cassidy 0:20:31 My cup is always half full. That's a positive in everything. Sometimes that you may not see that, but life's taught me that. Lastly, I no longer chase people. You soon find out who true friends are.

Natalie Cassidy 0:20:42 Lots of love to you too, but also to the whole family who keep me so entertained. And that's from Jane. What a brilliant—

Linny 0:20:50 Jane, we could be twinnies. I'm a year younger than you though, Jane. Soz. What a lovely message.

Natalie Cassidy 0:20:59 It's great.

Linny 0:20:59 And so much of what she has said in her message resonates with me. Resonates. Not the coercive part and all of that. Oh no. Thankfully. So sorry that you've had to go through that, Jane.

Natalie Cassidy 0:21:09 But again, she's had 2 relationships, obviously, obviously awful. Got back up on the horse and bounced.

Linny 0:21:13 Well, you can tell she's a glass very full. Yep. Woman. I love the fact that she's walking, exercising, embracing life. Full-time job.

Natalie Cassidy 0:21:21 Grandchildren.

Linny 0:21:22 But I, again, I am a true—

Natalie Cassidy 0:21:24 I'm sure you've not messaged me.

Linny 0:21:25 No, I know. No, no, it doesn't. She's very, we have very similar outlook. And she's spot on. And I do truly believe that the more active you are, the younger you, it does keep you.

Natalie Cassidy 0:21:40 Lynne, I have to say to you, I have times where I feel so tired and drained. But that's okay too.

Linny 0:21:47 I know.

Natalie Cassidy 0:21:49 But then I'll have a really busy period like last week.

Linny 0:21:51 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:21:52 Doing all the press for the doc and all of that. Up at 5 o'clock every day.

Linny 0:21:55 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:21:56 Busy, busy. Got more energy.

Linny 0:21:58 Yes.

Natalie Cassidy 0:21:59 The busier I am—

Linny 0:22:00 Absolutely. The more energy I have. Completely. I do believe that is a— must be a thing. Because as soon as you slow down, you just get used to a certain pace of life.

Natalie Cassidy 0:22:15 I think you're right.

Linny 0:22:16 Whereas when, I mean, yeah, 'cause your brother says it. Your brother says, please rest. And I go, but if I stop, that's it, I'm done. So I'm just gonna keep on going.

Natalie Cassidy 0:22:25 Yeah. No, I get it.

Linny 0:22:27 I mean, it is in your makeup to a degree. You're either that person or you're not. But I think it's good for you. And as you get older, I think it's so important as well because—

Natalie Cassidy 0:22:37 But also you don't, you're not stopping, but you, you find time for yourself each day with the walking. And that is your therapy?

Linny 0:22:45 Massively.

Natalie Cassidy 0:22:46 It's huge for you. It's important.

Linny 0:22:48 A, I need to be moving because I've been sitting on my backside for 9 hours. So it's important that I do some exercise. Yeah. And I enjoy it. And I'm out in the fresh air, whether it's raining, snowing, or sunny like it's been today. With or without my friend Tina, I will walk. I enjoy it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:23:05 Walk tonight?

Linny 0:23:06 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:23:06 With that on?

Linny 0:23:08 Yeah. And trainers. Trainers.

Natalie Cassidy 0:23:10 You've got a waistcoat on though. It's 26 degrees.

Linny 0:23:14 It was all right, I know. Oh, you did take it off. No, no, I don't think it— I think the temperature— well, I think the breeze has been lovely today.

Natalie Cassidy 0:23:22 Yeah, no, it has been nice.

Linny 0:23:24 No, I literally finished work at 6. Well, I have to shoot off a little bit earlier because Tina now gets off the train at 20 past 6. By 20 past 6, I've met her. We do our 45 to an hour's walk.

Linny 0:23:35 I'm then go home, I'll see to the dog, I do X, I do Y, I do Z. I've come here, I'm on the go. It's go, you know, tomorrow I've got a day of it. But as you say, then when I get that opportunity, so like your brother's going away Friday, Friday night I'm on my own, I will rest Friday night. Mm-hmm. But then I say this, and Amy said to me the other day, 'cause I said to her on Monday, 'cause obviously we had a busy Sunday, I had a busy Saturday, I said, and Monday, and I'm a sun worshipper, which isn't good for people of any age, but I am.

Linny 0:24:05 So I've gotta have a vice, haven't I? And I said to Amy, I'm gonna lock myself in on Monday.

Natalie Cassidy 0:24:11 Yeah. All right.

Linny 0:24:11 And I'm not going anywhere.

Natalie Cassidy 0:24:13 All the best.

Linny 0:24:14 Yeah. That didn't happen. I hasten to add, and Natalie can vouch for that. I ended up being an unpaid chauffeur for the kids. But listen, I guess if I didn't wanna do it, I wouldn't do it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:24:25 Of course.

Linny 0:24:25 And I do grab the opportunity to rest when the opportunity's there. Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:24:31 We need a nice spa, couple of days, don't we?

Linny 0:24:33 Oh, we would love that.

Natalie Cassidy 0:24:34 Nice when we go. I'll sort one out. We do need to do that.

Linny 0:24:36 See, that's a lovely switch off.

Natalie Cassidy 0:24:38 Really nice.

Linny 0:24:39 Yeah.

Speaker M 0:24:39 Hi, Nat. I've just seen your message. It's Judy from Rayleigh here.

Natalie Cassidy 0:24:44 Ah.

Speaker M 0:24:45 Happy birthday early, I think, for, uh, Lynnie.

Linny 0:24:48 Oh, thank you.

Speaker M 0:24:49 Just to say about ageing, I think it's really, can be the other person's point of view.

Natalie Cassidy 0:24:55 I find, Having turned 60, it's people's sort of judgement. And I think really it's your own state of mind, you know. If you keep young and you keep active, health permitting of course, it's your outlook on life. But I do find that other people's judgement in terms of if you try and change your job, oh, it's a bit late now, you might as well hang on.

Speaker M 0:25:18 Well, that's all very well, but that's like another 7 years now, isn't it, now they've moved the retirement age? Right. In regards of leaving children and that behind, when, you know, it's your turn to go, you can just make them as independent and strong as you can, and, you know, you know they'll survive and that you'll live on in them. But, yeah, like you say, it's a big subject and there's lots to unpick there. But, yeah, I think sometimes people are quite judgmental with age. Oh, she must be over here, or we won't include her, or she's not this, she's not that, or him, whatever. Loved Sunday, love the pod, and happy birthday, Lynnie.

Natalie Cassidy 0:25:53 Take care. Bye. Lovely Julie.

Linny 0:25:55 Oh, so she came to the live? Yes, she did. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She was great, Julie. Thank you, Julie. And again, she's picked— she's honed in on something which you kind of— people dismiss you. Isn't it awful when— if you actually— so put yourself in this situation. Look what you are to the UK.

Natalie Cassidy 0:26:13 Yeah.

Linny 0:26:14 You're known to most people in the country because of EastEnders. You're an integral part of the family unit. unit. The kids adore you. My grandkids adore you. You've got your brothers, you've got sister-in-law, you've got it all going on. And then in 20 years' time, you're just sort of not that important anymore because you're 60.

Natalie Cassidy 0:26:34 I think it's, I think it's changing.

Linny 0:26:37 It needs to change.

Natalie Cassidy 0:26:38 It's changing dramatically.

Linny 0:26:41 Yeah, I don't know.

Natalie Cassidy 0:26:41 Because I think you are right in your first comment of age is just a number and you have to Keep yourself going, keep yourself out there, and just make sure you're making a load of noise so you're not invisible.

Linny 0:26:53 Yeah. Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:26:54 Because as women, we have to do that enough throughout our whole life.

Linny 0:26:58 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:26:58 So the age thing, I think, is just another thing for us to deal with. But we're very, very strong as women. And I think it is changing.

Linny 0:27:06 It's a tough one, isn't it? It's a tough one because of all the changes that we go through mentally and physically.

Natalie Cassidy 0:27:14 Of course.

Linny 0:27:15 Prior to coming here, I was like flicking through my photographs, 'cause I'd taken some, I don't know what, it may have been your brother's 60th. And you feel like you haven't aged, and then you reflect back on some of these photographs and you think, crikey.

Natalie Cassidy 0:27:28 Really?

Linny 0:27:29 Yeah, some, I don't know, in some I actually think I look better now than when I, what I did then. But yeah, you, it's the speed at which this time, I feel between 40 and 60 for me has gone. It blows my mind. I just don't know where those 20 years have gone. I cannot comprehend that we are going to be celebrating Maria's 40th. For those of you that didn't know that, she may have mentioned it once or twice. I can't believe that—

Natalie Cassidy 0:27:58 You've got a daughter who's 40.

Linny 0:28:00 Yeah. I still remember my 40th like it was yesterday. I've still got the dress I wore for my 40th in a box. Nicely folded up, I will keep forever. I feel like it was like 3 years ago.

Natalie Cassidy 0:28:16 Yeah, I do think time flies. We know that though, don't we?

Linny 0:28:19 It's— that's why—

Natalie Cassidy 0:28:20 Look at this year. We were halfway through the year. Oh no, it's mad.

Linny 0:28:25 And I just wanna slow it down a little bit. I know. And that's the other thing with when you're busy. When you're busy, life just whizzes by so much quicker. Yes.

Natalie Cassidy 0:28:32 But I feel like my, Now I'm not at work 100 miles an hour, but it does feel slower.

Linny 0:28:39 Does it, Natalie?

Natalie Cassidy 0:28:39 Life feels a bit slower. Yeah.

Linny 0:28:40 Or is it polar opposite? Because I'm doing nice things. Yeah. At a slower pace, maybe more time at home. Just organising things and— Oh, yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:28:50 You know, look at the last 2 days. I've been absolutely blessed to be able to just sit in the garden with Elia. Oh. With the children. I'm not saying we're not, you know, you're running after them and cooking for them.

Linny 0:29:01 Organising around half term for the kids.

Natalie Cassidy 0:29:03 But, yeah, I've organised my, So this week I'm around. And yes, last week was a really busy week, but I knew I had this coming. Whereas before, it was just a gerbil wheel of, it's just relentless.

Linny 0:29:14 And I guess that's the other thing, isn't it? It's that, but when you get to this sort of age, you feel like you've got to have the right balance. Obviously there are, like the lady said earlier, you know, many women have got to work now till they're 67 because that's when they get their state pension. Of course.

Natalie Cassidy 0:29:28 Absolutely.

Linny 0:29:28 So certainly no one should be ageist at work because some people have no choice but to work until they're 67. Some people choose to work until they're 67.

Natalie Cassidy 0:29:35 And also, again, the ageing thing, something we haven't spoken about. And I know you've watched all the care. But if you look at someone like in episode 4 of my programme, Lisa and Gary, and Lisa was my age and she has MS and life has completely changed. And there are so many people living with things.

Linny 0:29:59 At a young age.

Natalie Cassidy 0:30:01 At a young age that you, you do forget, I think.

Linny 0:30:04 Well, again, we were very fortunate. in many ways. And, but again, that couple, Natalie, they've embraced what's happened to them.

Natalie Cassidy 0:30:12 Oh, they were amazing.

Linny 0:30:13 They're just getting on with it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:30:15 I just cried all the time.

Linny 0:30:16 No, I saw. Like, it's brilliant. It's, for those of you that haven't watched it, you wanna have a little binge watch, you can watch all 4 of them in one go like I did.

Natalie Cassidy 0:30:25 Well, tonight, today, sorry, the next 4 are out. So there'll be 8 on from today onward.

Linny 0:30:30 Oh, right. So I can watch the next 4. Oh, amazing. I'm gonna do that. So yeah, there's 8. Yeah. So it was a very good, it was brilliant actually, Natalie. You were amazing in it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:30:39 It's just very real, isn't it? It was so real.

Linny 0:30:41 You took the words right out of my mouth, actually. It felt very real. It just felt like, yeah, I wasn't even watching you on a screen. And just all the different scenarios. And the young girl that you were at college with— Tilly. Tilly. Oh, bloke, she'd come across very mature, but look what she's having to do. And she's doing it selflessly, wants to support and help her mum, adores and loves her mum.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:05 Cared from such a young age for her mum.

Linny 0:31:07 And how must her mum feel that her daughter's having to look after— could you imagine?

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:11 But then she's chosen.

Linny 0:31:13 To do it for a profession. To do it for a job. Yeah, I know.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:16 The empathy that people have.

Linny 0:31:17 That's why you have got to be a certain type of person, don't you think?

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:19 Yes. Well, you have, it's the empathy.

Linny 0:31:21 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:22 It's the experiences you've gone through.

Linny 0:31:23 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:24 How much you've loved doing that.

Linny 0:31:26 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:26 That you wanna continue to do it.

Linny 0:31:28 And I guess how rewarding she must feel, Tilly.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:30 Absolutely.

Linny 0:31:31 So she probably thinks, I could actually do this now for a living. 'Cause I find it so fulfilling. Yeah. So rewarding.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:36 And that's why we have the situation where the money's not very good, in my opinion. Because these people have so much empathy and want to do it.

Linny 0:31:47 And it's a hard job to do.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:49 But it's not about the money for them.

Linny 0:31:52 No.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:52 It's about fulfilment.

Linny 0:31:53 Yes. Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:54 So that's why it is the way it is. And it shouldn't be.

Linny 0:31:57 No.

Natalie Cassidy 0:31:58 We should be rewarding these people.

Linny 0:32:00 I know. But again, that's no different with nurses and— That's it. No, all of the OTs. Physiotherapists.

Natalie Cassidy 0:32:06 All of what I've experienced and the people that I've seen, all of them. And then you go to a bigger level, all the volunteers that do it in their spare time.

Linny 0:32:17 Yeah, amazing.

Natalie Cassidy 0:32:18 Charities, that, they're squeezing it in. It is, I can't believe it.

Linny 0:32:24 I always remember chatting to a client years ago. He'd come in, he was discussing his property, and he said, oh, I'm retired, but I do, and he drove, his vehicle and he would drive elderly people to and from hospitals, which was a service that the NHS provide, and he would do that. And I was like, oh, what a lovely kind of thing. There are so many people. But you don't realise, do you, out there, the roles that there are for people.

Natalie Cassidy 0:32:53 It's like St John's Ambulance.

Linny 0:32:54 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:32:56 It's unbelievable. That is so ridiculous how naive I didn't know that St John's Ambulance was a charity.

Linny 0:33:03 Charity, yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:33:04 I really didn't. I'm sorry.

Linny 0:33:05 No, but why would we?

Natalie Cassidy 0:33:06 You just see people, you see paramedics at things, you see vans. I really didn't know until I did this course. Giving up their weekends.

Linny 0:33:15 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:33:16 To go and look after people. You don't know what you're gonna face.

Linny 0:33:18 No, no.

Natalie Cassidy 0:33:20 Go to work all week. That's, yes. Special.

Linny 0:33:24 I guess we've had a little taste of it, and I mean, I'm not comparing it to what they do, that all these people are doing genuinely. But our grief pods, for me, the feeling I get once when we do a grief pod.

Natalie Cassidy 0:33:37 Yes.

Linny 0:33:37 That from our tragic experiences, and they were tragic.

Natalie Cassidy 0:33:42 We are.

Linny 0:33:43 We are able to just maybe give something back.

Natalie Cassidy 0:33:46 Well, open that conversation and make people feel that they can talk about grief, which is brilliant.

Linny 0:33:53 So imagine how they must feel.

Natalie Cassidy 0:33:55 Yeah, if that's how you feel doing that.

Linny 0:33:57 Imagine for them, based on what they do. And it's hardcore what they do.

Natalie Cassidy 0:34:02 Incredible.

Linny 0:34:04 It genuinely is.

Speaker U 0:36:49 Hi, Nat and Lenny. Yvonne from County Cork in Ireland here. Ageing, it's a privilege.

Speaker U 0:36:56 I'm 51 and I've had 3 spine surgeries in the last 15 years, and yesterday I had a melanoma removed. Wear your SPF in the summer. I was always the person hiding in the shade and it still caught me. And nothing makes you think about ageing or mortality more than having a medical reason to. I'm not bothered about wrinkles or grey hairs.

Speaker U 0:37:13 I have them and I'll use the lotions and the potions to try and stay healthier looking and a little less wrinkly. But the good side of ageing is that I don't give a shit anymore what anyone thinks about how I look. I worry about the people I leave behind if I did die. Of course I do. I don't have children, so I don't have that, but My husband would be lost without me.

Speaker U 0:37:32 He hasn't got any family nearby, and neither of us have many friends, just each other. A workmate of mine who was in his 70s and still working always said, every day I can get up and pull on my own trousers is a good day. And that's not a bad motto. Do things while you can. Don't keep putting them off.

Speaker U 0:37:49 The day might not come. Sorry if that's a bit morbid. Love the pod. Love listening to Tuvi and all the others— Tony, Mark, Love it all. Bye.

Linny 0:38:01 Bless. Again, another cracking voice note.

Natalie Cassidy 0:38:05 As long as I can pull on me trousers and that's it.

Linny 0:38:08 Good day. Yeah. And she don't give a shit what she looks like. What— and that's the one, that's the one nice thing about ageing. Mm-hmm. You—

Natalie Cassidy 0:38:19 I dunno what I'll be like then, 'cause I don't give a shit now.

Linny 0:38:21 Well, you are quite, you're quite, you're quite unique. Yes. Because when you're younger, you do, don't you? You give a shit about everything. How you look, what you're wearing, your hairstyle, how many people like you at work or like you at school or don't like you.

Natalie Cassidy 0:38:36 No, I've never ever had that.

Linny 0:38:37 You've not? No.

Natalie Cassidy 0:38:38 Ever.

Linny 0:38:39 No.

Natalie Cassidy 0:38:40 Never experienced it.

Linny 0:38:41 Not at all? Ever?

Natalie Cassidy 0:38:42 No.

Linny 0:38:42 Wow. Trying to think if I have. Yeah, I think I have to fashion.

Natalie Cassidy 0:38:47 The one thing, school. Actually, secondary school, trying to fit into a group so you're not bullied or, you know, trying to find that group to fit into.

Linny 0:38:56 But after school, you didn't ever feel like—

Natalie Cassidy 0:39:00 No.

Linny 0:39:00 No. I don't believe I was particularly felt like I had to be with an in-crowd. I remember always as a young girl being really scrawny, skinny little thing. You know, developed later on, you know, much older. Whereas I'd have some girlfriends that were very voluptuous and looked their age, if not 5 years older. Whereas I looked my age or 5 years younger. feeling a little bit inferior and nagged about. Maybe it always worked for me.

Natalie Cassidy 0:39:26 Maybe because I had a job and a place and a home.

Linny 0:39:29 Yeah, job from a young age.

Natalie Cassidy 0:39:30 Again, friends of all ages and having conversations, you know.

Linny 0:39:34 Yeah, you were mixing with every age group.

Natalie Cassidy 0:39:36 Every age group from a very young age. So I think that was—

Linny 0:39:38 Yeah, of course. And again, coming from maybe older parents.

Natalie Cassidy 0:39:42 Yep. Having older brothers.

Linny 0:39:44 Yeah, yes. Sister-in-laws, all of that. Yeah, yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:39:47 Very interesting.

Linny 0:39:48 But it's true. You, when you get to a certain age, it's not that you don't care, you feel the confidence to be able to say it how it is. And if people don't like it, who cares? And the whole friend thing, chasing or having to work hard.

Natalie Cassidy 0:40:05 Oh, listen. No.

Linny 0:40:06 You wanna be my friend or you don't wanna be my friend. Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:40:09 And then your friends will know.

Linny 0:40:10 Absolutely. If they're your friends. They'll know regardless of whether you speak to them once a month. Once a year.

Natalie Cassidy 0:40:15 Every day. Doesn't matter.

Linny 0:40:17 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:40:18 You haven't got a lot of those in life. Do you know what I mean?

Linny 0:40:22 No, true friends, no. But no. But you'd rather have one true friend.

Natalie Cassidy 0:40:27 Absolutely.

Linny 0:40:28 Than 100, yeah, acquaintances or supposed friends or—

Natalie Cassidy 0:40:34 Absolutely. Yeah.

Linny 0:40:35 Yeah.

Speaker V 0:40:35 Hi Nat, just sending you a message about your pod tonight with Auntie Lynnie. Hi Lynnie too, about ageing and if we worry about not being here or whatever.

Speaker H 0:40:46 To me, it doesn't worry me about not being here. I think there's a natural progression as you start getting older and you see people sadly passing away, something hits home. But what does worry me is being immobile, not being able to do things for myself, being totally dependent on other people. So I guess it's about ageing well and living life, you know, to the full, to as long as you can, really.

Speaker V 0:41:12 Interested to hear sort of what you and Linnie think about that.

Speaker H 0:41:15 And obviously you've both had experience of being around older people, you know, what you've seen works and what doesn't. Look forward to hearing the pod. Love you all. Bye.

Natalie Cassidy 0:41:24 Oh, lovely. I also got a message that said, PS, and I'm so sorry if this isn't Michelle, but my messages are a little bit unclear tonight. Loved Sunday's show. The beam was so intimate You looked at home with the audience, second show and loved it more. Thank you. So hopefully that was Michelle. If not, sorry. Thanks, Michelle.

Linny 0:41:46 So she's saying she's— it's the second show she's been to. And loved it more. I love that.

Natalie Cassidy 0:41:50 But yeah, again.

Linny 0:41:51 Yeah, I mean, again, it's quality. Ageing well. Quality over quantity. Yes. Isn't it?

Natalie Cassidy 0:41:55 Yeah.

Linny 0:41:56 And it—

Natalie Cassidy 0:41:57 And again, it can be, it's luck of the draw though.

Linny 0:41:59 I'm— I—

Natalie Cassidy 0:42:01 Look at my Nanny Liz.

Linny 0:42:02 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:42:03 A stroke at what age? Early 50s?

Linny 0:42:05 Yeah. And she lived to what age?

Natalie Cassidy 0:42:07 Oh, 80. In her 80s. Early 80s.

Linny 0:42:11 I mean, she was well looked after by your mum. I mean, she was a carer for many years. Quality of life might not be entirely true to say she had, but she was very well looked after. She was very content.

Natalie Cassidy 0:42:25 Yes.

Linny 0:42:26 She always was fed, watered, And your mum washed her every day. I mean, she always— She had her telly on. She had every— she had a little Guinness. Was it Guinness she used to drink? Guinness on a Sunday, yeah.

Linny 0:42:38 She had paper, company. She didn't want for anything. No. And that probably suited her. I mean, my goodness, what a— I will never forget meeting her for the first time, walking into her bedroom and thinking, wow, a nice beautiful bedroom with a little en suite.

Linny 0:42:55 Oh, it was lovely. Oh, God. You know, so it is like the— you know, I used to always say with Dad, because obviously losing Mum so young, we was— I was so protective of Dad. And Dad was like me. He was a grafter.

Linny 0:43:11 He worked up until he couldn't anymore. And I remember I used to literally say to myself, please, God, whatever you do—

Natalie Cassidy 0:43:20 Don't let him suffer.

Linny 0:43:22 Don't let him not have his independence. Please, please, please don't let him not have his— because he did everything.

Linny 0:43:28 everything, Natalie. He raised 4 kids, he run the home, he cooked, he worked, he had his allotments. And then he had a stroke. Mm-hmm. And he lost all his independence.

Linny 0:43:38 Everything I prayed for him that I didn't want for him. But during that time, he constantly had a smile on his face. But he did, he lost everything. He couldn't eat, he couldn't move, he couldn't do anything for himself. I mean, I dread to think mentally for him.

Linny 0:43:54 Hopefully, he didn't recognise or realise what was going on. Yeah, I wouldn't want that for me. But then I look at that year we had with him, he was still wonderful. I got to have a lovely time with him.

Natalie Cassidy 0:44:08 I don't think there's a right or a wrong.

Linny 0:44:09 No. No, it's destiny. Whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen. But yeah, we just, yeah, we just don't wanna, you don't wanna see loved ones Well, you don't want to see anybody suffer, do you?

Natalie Cassidy 0:44:25 That's the point.

Linny 0:44:25 Ultimately, no. And in your, and for yourself, for that to come, you know, I couldn't imagine.

Natalie Cassidy 0:44:31 Well, you don't wanna be a burden.

Linny 0:44:32 No.

Natalie Cassidy 0:44:32 I always remember Dad saying, I'm becoming a burden. Yes. Yeah. He didn't like that.

Linny 0:44:36 Like it. Yeah. 'Cause again, he was independent.

Natalie Cassidy 0:44:37 That was very, and also very near the end, but he would be saying, I'm a burden now.

Linny 0:44:42 Bless him. And yet he was so, he was independent right till the bitter end, wasn't he? Right till the bitter end. Yeah. Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:44:47 But I think again, mind's a powerful thing.

Linny 0:44:50 Yeah. Yes. Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:44:51 Mind's a powerful thing.

Linny 0:44:52 And interesting, a lot of the messages have been more about getting to an age, at what age you're gonna get to your demise, as opposed to ageing and, you know, being concerned about ageing, your skin.

Natalie Cassidy 0:45:06 No. It's been absolutely taken on that. Yeah.

Linny 0:45:11 As opposed to physically ageing. Yes. You know, putting on weight or everything's sagging and grey hair or—

Natalie Cassidy 0:45:21 I am so grey.

Linny 0:45:22 Are you? You're the Cassidys. Well, it's the Bellamys, isn't it? It's your mum's side.

Natalie Cassidy 0:45:27 So grey at the moment.

Linny 0:45:28 Well, look, your brothers are, well, Dave's white. Tony's a mix. Maria's got a bit of grey hair.

Natalie Cassidy 0:45:35 Oh, I know. Yeah. Yeah. She's just, Becky needs to pull her finger out. She's too busy to see me. Unbelievable.

Linny 0:45:40 But does that bother you?

Natalie Cassidy 0:45:42 What? No. Only, no, it doesn't bother me. I just like my colour, my hair to be coloured. It's like my hair's not done. It's fine when it's stuck up like this, when it's been so hot and I don't do anything with it.

Linny 0:45:53 But the fact that you can see grey hair, what troubles you, worries you?

Natalie Cassidy 0:45:57 Never.

Linny 0:45:57 No?

Natalie Cassidy 0:45:58 No.

Linny 0:45:58 You just want your colour? No, I just want my colour. Not to cover the greys then, to have your colour?

Natalie Cassidy 0:46:03 Yeah. No, I just don't want the grey hair. No.

Linny 0:46:06 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:46:08 I don't ever think, oh, it's because of age.

Linny 0:46:09 No. It's just the colour.

Natalie Cassidy 0:46:11 Yeah.

Linny 0:46:12 Yeah. No, I get it. Yeah, it's a lot for women, isn't it?

Natalie Cassidy 0:46:18 Very funny. I mean, so many people— Imogen from Cardiff said, I feel it's a privilege to age.

Linny 0:46:24 And it is a privilege. And it is. Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:46:26 So many people die young, aren't here. And I do think, yeah. But again, there are people that live to their 100s, so, you know, everyone, each to their own.

Linny 0:46:37 Judith Chalmers passed away, didn't she?

Natalie Cassidy 0:46:40 Oh, did she? Yeah. Was that whilst you were here?

Linny 0:46:42 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:46:42 Ah.

Linny 0:46:43 This week, I think it was, yeah. How old was she? Don't know. Oh, yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:46:47 Oh, bless her.

Linny 0:46:48 And it's again, it's— Nostalgia, isn't it? Yeah. And again, always looked glamorous and— Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:46:54 Aw. Ah, Nat, talking of getting old with Linnie, I turned 60 on May the 8th. 60 going on 19.

Linny 0:47:03 Excellent.

Natalie Cassidy 0:47:04 Go on, girl. When we were young, 60 was like a 90-year-old. Yeah. But I've just done a parachute jump and I bloody loved it.

Linny 0:47:11 Well done, you.

Natalie Cassidy 0:47:11 I am so lucky to still have both of my very independent parents. Wow. And we had a great celebration in Wexford. It's a privilege not many have. And tell Ro-Ro that she's just a baby at nearly 40. Love you all, Nat. Thanks for the love and laughter. Blanche from Peckham via Ireland. Oh, lovely.

Linny 0:47:29 Well done, Blanche. Cool. How was your birthday? I love that name. Blanche. Blanche. Don't hear of too many Blanches anymore, do you?

Natalie Cassidy 0:47:36 That was the Golden Girls, wasn't it? Yes, that's it. Blanche.

Linny 0:47:39 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:47:40 It's a lovely name.

Linny 0:47:41 So she, at 60, she's chucked herself out of a plane.

Natalie Cassidy 0:47:45 And she's still got her parents.

Linny 0:47:46 I mean, you lucky girl.

Natalie Cassidy 0:47:49 Amazing.

Linny 0:47:49 It's just incredible. But look, this is what I love. Yeah, it doesn't matter. You can, if you wanna do a parachute jump at 80, if you are physically up to it, then absolutely go for it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:48:00 It's fantastic.

Linny 0:48:01 Yeah. You, geez. Yeah. It's a lot to be said about embracing life. And she's right, we're privileged. We're very privileged. Yeah. Parachute jump. Might have to get cracking.

Natalie Cassidy 0:48:13 What do you reckon? Fancy a bit of a bungee jump or something?

Linny 0:48:16 Yeah, you know I love all the old roller coasters and all that.

Natalie Cassidy 0:48:19 Yeah, you're an adrenaline junkie. Yeah, I am an adrenaline junkie.

Linny 0:48:23 Throwing myself out of a plane, as long as I was strapped to some nice 6-foot— Sorry, Dave.

Natalie Cassidy 0:48:32 What about a bungee? Just off, off top of the building, the elasticated one.

Linny 0:48:39 I, you know, I love all of this, but heights, thing and just the whole looking over the edge of a cliff or throwing myself. Oh, I dunno.

Natalie Cassidy 0:48:49 Not sure.

Linny 0:48:50 I would do it 'cause I'm up for a challenge. But my God.

Natalie Cassidy 0:48:55 I'm gonna get all the grandchildren to buy you that for Christmas and say, Nana, we want to watch you. And then you'll have to do it.

Linny 0:49:02 And I would do it. I know you would for them.

Linny 0:49:04 Even without the bungee.

Linny 0:49:08 In the car on Monday when they were here, And I was taking them home. I don't know how they got on the subject of age. They're a bit obsessed with age. They're always asking. Alfie in particular, love him.

Linny 0:49:18 Anyway, something came up about age or my birthday. It might have been my birthday. And Ruby's gone, how old are you, Nonna? I said, well, how old do you think I am? She went, 21.

Linny 0:49:26 I went, that's it? And then Alfie went, ah. He said, I thought you were older than my mummy. Bless his little heart. He's trying to work it out.

Linny 0:49:37 It's interesting, even at that age, they're quite intrigued. to understand.

Natalie Cassidy 0:49:42 It's quite a natural thing.

Linny 0:49:45 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:49:45 That at that sort of age, 7, 8, 9, they become aware of numbers and aware of ageing a little bit and how old the mums are and how old are the dads. And yeah, it's an interesting one.

Linny 0:49:57 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:49:57 Yeah. Developmental thing, I think that is in the brain.

Linny 0:50:00 And when they do the whole, like, they have that fear of, oh, if you're such an age, are you going to, you know, have you done this before? Oh, will you be going to heaven soon? Like it's already something he's worrying about. Yeah. So we have to, you know, we reassure him. So endearing, bless him. But yeah, no, I tell him I'm the cool nonna.

Natalie Cassidy 0:50:17 Yeah.

Linny 0:50:18 And I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. Yeah, I've asked for lots of creams and lotions and potions. Have you? The girl said, what do you want? Anything to make me look young.

Natalie Cassidy 0:50:29 Did you not use a certain thing?

Linny 0:50:32 I'd use anything.

Natalie Cassidy 0:50:34 You would? So you just try different things, whatever?

Linny 0:50:36 Yeah. A, I get bored of the same thing. B, I think your skin gets used to it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:50:40 I think, you see, I think your skin gets used to it.

Linny 0:50:43 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:50:43 I agree with you.

Linny 0:50:45 Yeah. It's like shampoo. They say you should never use the same shampoo consistently.

Linny 0:50:48 You should chop and change. Mm-hmm. 'Cause your hair gets used to it. And I think it's the same with face cream. But also, I'm fortunate, again, I'm not one of these people that as soon as I change, I come up with a rash, or I've got allergies.

Linny 0:51:00 Of course, yeah. I can use anything, Natalie. It doesn't— yeah. So yeah, the whole, as a couple of the other listeners have voice noted and said, the— I am slightly more attentive towards, you know, making sure I cleanse my skin properly and use balms and oils and not necessarily expensive stuff, but I am very conscious of trying to look after my skin. I do wear the SPF now, which I've always been very bad with in the past.

Linny 0:51:29 'Cause I think also if you feel good, that gives you more confidence.

Natalie Cassidy 0:51:34 Well, I completely agree with you.

Linny 0:51:36 If you look good and you look in the mirror and you think, hmm, that's okay.

Natalie Cassidy 0:51:40 No, I completely agree. 'Cause I can go as like today, no makeup on, hair up, I still feel fine. But if I go to work, Molly's been over, she's done all my hair and makeup. You just have an extra spring in your step.

Linny 0:51:53 Completely. You do. It's important. It's like anything, isn't it? It's like when you go to an interview.

Natalie Cassidy 0:51:57 Yes.

Linny 0:51:57 Or you're doing a pod, a live pod on a stage. If you feel good and you look in the mirror and you're happy with how you look, you're gonna ooze a bit more confidence.

Linny 0:52:06 What about my hair at Hertford? Oh, guys, what an absolute— I mean, I've spent the whole bloody morning in my bedroom that was like a sauna, stressing, putting on a shirt, then trying on a dress, then sending the girls photos. And that's one thing I really miss, 'cause when the girls were at home, I'd go, girls, what about this? What do you think about that? Yeah, yeah.

Linny 0:52:31 No, no, no, no, no, no, no. And Dave used to have a go at me because if Maria said something didn't look good, I'd take it off. He'd go, no, if you like it, you wear it. You don't have to listen to what Maria says just 'cause she's in fashion. And I still do it.

Linny 0:52:42 And anyway, there was messages flying around. Ellie was showing us outfits of hers and I'm saying everything looks lovely. And anyway. And then we get to the blooming show and you just had a bit of a mare with your hair. But that's what I love about you, you just—

Natalie Cassidy 0:52:58 It's the heat though.

Linny 0:52:59 No, no.

Natalie Cassidy 0:52:59 Ellie curled it all for me, bless her, before the show.

Linny 0:53:01 But you sweat, don't you?

Natalie Cassidy 0:53:04 Yeah, not as much as I used to, funnily enough.

Linny 0:53:07 Has that slowed down? You're not drinking as much then? Or has that just naturally slowed down?

Natalie Cassidy 0:53:12 I actually think it's weight, because years ago I used to be really, really sweaty.

Linny 0:53:16 Yeah, you used to go above your lips. Yeah. You know, your lips go away. Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:53:19 But that was when I was quite a bit bigger.

Linny 0:53:22 Right. So where you've lost the weight.

Natalie Cassidy 0:53:23 I think so. Yeah.

Linny 0:53:24 You're not as, just not hot. So it wasn't, you were just, yeah. But no, what did it was, you know, when you—

Natalie Cassidy 0:53:31 I'll tell you what did it.

Linny 0:53:31 Everyone— 32 degrees.

Natalie Cassidy 0:53:33 That's what did it. My hair can't cope. Molly says it. What I'll do is I'll curl it again. I said, stop it. Oh really? You'll be curling it all day.

Linny 0:53:43 Well, it just goes. It just goes.

Natalie Cassidy 0:53:45 You can curl it and curl it and curl it. But then, you know, when you, you're not happy with it, something and you just start messing around with it.

Linny 0:53:51 I know. It just makes it so much worse. It was borderline starting to get greasy.

Natalie Cassidy 0:53:54 Oh, darling.

Linny 0:53:55 Oh, we did have a laugh. I mean, at one point she was coming on stage with her knickers and bra.

Natalie Cassidy 0:54:00 I was so hot, I thought, what if I pop out like this and say, sorry guys, I am who I am. I mean, you wouldn't have needed that. It wasn't a horror show.

Linny 0:54:09 It would have cleared the auditorium.

Natalie Cassidy 0:54:12 Thanks very much, you fucker. You said that at the time. Oh, that would be a laugh, I think you said.

Linny 0:54:19 Oh, we did have a laugh as well.

Natalie Cassidy 0:54:23 Oh gosh. There we go.

Linny 0:54:26 We are what we are. We just gotta not judge. Never judge a book. It's all about what the person has in their heart.

Natalie Cassidy 0:54:35 Wise words, Linda.

Linny 0:54:37 Coming from the old girl. From the old girl. I'm gonna be 63 on the 8th of June.

Natalie Cassidy 0:54:42 Oh, it's young, isn't it? Oh, it's awful.

Linny 0:54:45 How's that happened? How does it ha— how, how?

Natalie Cassidy 0:54:49 Well, it's scientific. There's a simple time. I'll tell you what I'll do.

Linny 0:54:53 I don't want it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:54:54 We'll, we'll ChatGPT it in a minute and I'll just teach you the basics. But on that note, we're gonna go. Thank you for all of your voice notes, all of your messages. So many.

Linny 0:55:04 We haven't got through half the amount we were gonna get through. As usual. There really were loads. Again, flooded. Amazing. Really. And, and also guys, If there's anything you want us to talk about, because sometimes we struggle, don't we, as to what we can—

Natalie Cassidy 0:55:16 Well, we just wanna make sure that we are talking about stuff that you're gonna be interested in.

Linny 0:55:21 Yeah. So if you— anyone listening, if you've got a topic you want us to cover, as long as it's not too rude.

Natalie Cassidy 0:55:27 She's a bit of a prude.

Linny 0:55:29 I am a bit of a prude. Yeah. Let us know and we'll happily chat about it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:55:37 Chat about anything, I think.

Linny 0:55:38 Yeah.

Natalie Cassidy 0:55:39 07788 20 19 19. Follow, subscribe, tell your friends. We are now on YouTube, Life with Nat Pod. Instagram, Life with Nat Pod. Facebook, Life with Nat Pod.

Linny 0:55:52 Let's just get all these balloons out the way. They're just in the way. Um, no balloons. Um, hold on, there's a cake coming out with candles. Bear with. Oh no, there's no cake. I'm just joking. I'm joking.

Natalie Cassidy 0:56:04 We've got a week yet.

Linny 0:56:05 I don't even wanna celebrate it.

Natalie Cassidy 0:56:07 Oh, we've got a week.

Linny 0:56:08 No, you're all round on Sunday. I can't wait.

Natalie Cassidy 0:56:10 It will be lovely.

Linny 0:56:10 That'd be nice.

Natalie Cassidy 0:56:11 Get you some lotions and potions to cook with. Make me something. Some cream, some coffee, kahlua.

Linny 0:56:20 Making you all your favourites. Don't you worry yourself.

Natalie Cassidy 0:56:23 Excellent. Excellent. Right. Well, thank you for tonight.

Linny 0:56:25 No, a pleasure.

Natalie Cassidy 0:56:25 And I'll see you on Sunday. Will do. See ya. Thanks everyone.

Linny 0:56:29 Bye everyone.

Natalie Cassidy 0:56:30 Bye.