Now, here’s a thing…

This podcast is not total improvisation. Yes, and occasionally we do prepare what we are going to say. Yes, and we are also comfortable with winging it. Yes, and today was a mixture of both inspired by "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Then we turn to a troubling matter, well for Tracy anyway. Lateness. According to this article Heather found, being 5 minutes late isn't really late..... hmmmm. Apparently no one will bear a grudge or be annoyed. Really? It becomes apparent that maybe Tracy should consider therapy. Or maybe everyone needs to make sure they are on time ;)

Welcome to "Now Here's a Brian Thing".This week Heather shared the top ten songs that have been scientifically proven to make us feel happier. We are not convinced, but we are not scientists. See what you think.Tracy wonders about the new blue economy, ie seaweed farming in Wales. Is regenerative ocean farming as good for nature as it is expected to be for the economy? We do hope so.And finally, Heather is delighted with her new Ring camera (and her neighbour Brian).

Heather is expanding her gardening experience with the help of Charles Dowding, her neighbour Brian (secret garden elf) and a calendar gifted to her by her husband. I can't believe she's not watching Gardener's World yet though. Her Friday nights are sorted from here on in.Poorna Bell wrote an inspiring book about women's strength which I can highly recommend but that wasn't my thing this week (although we need to give a quick nod to the inspiring Joan Macdonald). Instead, I focused on GoodGyms founded by Ivo Gormley, where participants combine volunteering with getting fit.Now we're off to lift weights and grow some spuds.

It's still series 1 and we have no plans to move onto series 2 at any point. It's easier to keep track of how many episodes we have published ;)Raging Grannies captured our imaginations this week thanks to Sharon Blackie, author of Hagitude. Social justice activists who dress up and sing protest songs. Sounds right up our street but there don't seem to be any gaggles in UK and we can't sing (but apparently that's not a requirement). One to think about.Having read an article in The Guardian about a rocket scientist who started acting professionally in her 60s, Tracy was interested to understand what drew Heather to acting at a more mature age (apologies for title Heather, I am not suggesting that you are elderly, honest!). I am hoping that Heather doesn't read this blurb....Heather's thing is an article with 38 images that change the way we see women, for better and for worse. Of course images don't lend themselves to podcasts, but she has a good attempt at describing these Protestors, Popstars and Pioneers.And then Heather wondered who decided that a sandwich and crisps is THE lunch food? And when did that happen? Beware nostalgia incoming.Right. Let's revolt!

In the absence of any credible preparation by Tracy on account of her being totally pre-occupied by a book she's reading, what and how we like to read is the first subject we explored this week. If any of you know what a "novel reader" is, as referenced in the actual novel "Spellbreaker", then please do contact either of us on social media. So far we have drawn a blank.And Heather brings up the subject of Swedish Death Cleaning which she read about this week. She did some actual prep work. Nice one.Finally, Tracy identifies Heather as a psychopath because of an uneaten chocolate bunny sitting on her desk!

Inspired by an article about an avant garde mother in The Observer, Tracy & Heather explore the nature of what it means to be an artist and when you can call yourself one. We also learn that Heather is often surprised to realise that she is indeed an adult. We both need to read this book called "When I grow up" by Moya Sarner just so that we can be prepared!Heather's "thing" this week was a social group event that she attended and was deeply moved by.

You may be disappointed when you hear that a slap around the face wasn't one of our "things" for this week. Nevermind, we proceeded to discuss the complicated languages of flowers and fans. That geraniums represent folly did not surprise us, but orange lilies meaning hatred did. But then we blew our own minds trying to negotiate the scenario in which you were presented with an upside down bunch of them! But trying to cool ourselves down by wafting our fans across our faces only made mattes worse - who knows what message we were sending.Then, inspired by the Apple TV programme Severance, we ponder on the benefits or otherwise of having no memory of life outside of work whilst working, and having no memory of work whilst not working. No clear decision is made apart from that Heather has no intention of watching the show.

Heather goes mad for royalty this week and Tracy exclaims a little too much (not being a massive fan of the concept) although admits to being slightly intrigued by the court circular and the finer details contained therein. And we were both enthralled/horrified/amused by the etiquette guide in Debrett's. And now we know the dangers of calling your child Richard (Dick) Head.It's good to know that no societies have been found to have no sense of humour at all (although some individuals may be lacking in that area). And so, humour is universal, but also culturally specific. We then explore the cultural differences in humour in our own special, clumsy way.