theescaperoute: Recent Episodes
GillHB
Welcome to THE ESCAPE ROUTE! Are you in a tech trap, that you may not even realise you’re in? With smart phones and social media use on the increase and with them both designed to keep you on there as long as possible. Even if people wanted to use them less, do they know how to? Have you stopped to question whether you are really living the way you want to? And whether technology is hindering you rather than helping you? Gill Harvey-Bush, psychologist and performance coach, and Janey Holliday, mindset and small business coach, are ready to switch up the narrative and inspire people there is a way to live life differently, BETTER - with far less tech! Digital dementia, information overload, anxiety and mental health issues are on the increase with people of all ages. We have a generation of children and young adults who are hooked to their phones and simply can’t cope with life. And social media for small businesses has become more time consuming than ever before, in the struggle to beat the ever-changing algorithm and stand out. Are we in a trap? We think so. But the good news is: we can get out! How do we escape? We’ll show you how!
Following on from the last episode Jamie and Gill chat a bit more about EV's and the problems they've come across in last couple of weeks. Jamie had an incicent with a student and when Gill was in Lyme Regis with Clive she saw an 'exchange' between 2 car owners - one in the charging space and one waiting to charge. It did raise more questions about owning an EV car.
Gill's husband had suggested they treat themselves to an ice cream. When they saw the rpices they realised how long ago they must have last bought an ice cream whilst out and about. It leads Jamie and Gill to chat not jsut about ice cream prices but about prices in general and how much they have increased. They both agree that in no way do they blame the business owner - but ultimately Gill only got her ice cream when they got home and she made them!
Jamie has been busy dismantling his tree house that he built for a TV show and says how he wished he hadn't bothered building it as it was so much hassle! He has got of bits of video he took whilst taking it down that he could edit to put on YouTube.
They discuss the effort and time it takes to make and post videos, how it has to be portrait for one platform and landscape for another. Gill says she will be posting a lot more in landscape now as she's working on a series for her YouTube channel which is best in lanscape. Jamie warns her about copyright music and some issues he has had in the past using 'free from copyright' music.
They talk about how people think it's quick and easy to make money either posting videos or working on collaborations with businesses - it isn't! It take a lot of time, andi n the case of YouTube can be a long time before you earn a penny let alone get paid. They both agree it can bring in an income but you have no idea why one month you get lots of views on a video and the next not alot!
In this episode Jamie and Gill are joined by a guest Andy Leech, founder of Fleet Evolution (EV cars).
Andy is a horse lover and somehow very early on in the podcast they start talking about horse s**t and the furore it can cause in a community. There are people who think owners and riders should clear up their horses mess the same as dog owners are meant to, Jamie of course is a dog owner. They chat about the diffiulties that would cause ot just out on the road with traffic but for the rider too having to climb back on - as Andy says at his age he'd need a step!
With Andy owning a company both Jamie and Gill are interested to kow more about his apprenticeship scheme and how it works compared now to many years ago. Jamie didn't do an aprenticeship but worked and learnt under a skilled / master craftsman. They chat about the benefits to doing an apprenticeship rather than everyone going to university and all agree about the huge positives of 'learning on the job'.
Not only does a young person learn the role but also what it feels like to go to work, be part of a team, earn while you learn and about how to communicate and take feedback.
Andy set up Fleet Evolution back in 2010 as a salary sacrifice scheme for companies. Neither Jamie nor Gill are fond of EV cars for a variety of reasons but Andy does a good job in convincing them of the positives, how it really is about adapting, planning in advance and a shift in mindset! Part of the planning is looking for places you are going to stop and charge which leads them to talk about the best Motorway services. Gill and Andy agree there really aer only 2 in England for them - the Gloucester Services on the M5 and Tebay on the M6 n Cumbria.
However Andy does admit that if you can't charge it at home, and there are plenty of people who can't, then it is more of an issue. He does say to Jamie that if you own your own car outright (both Jamie and Gill do) had it for several years and it's going OK with general servicing then that is the best form of sustainability.
Of course with the recent heat wave Jamier and Gill have to talk about the weather!
Jamie says that somehow he has been very productive doing little jobs on his list including lots of sewing. With the hot weather Gill's been busy washing everything like the sofa cushion covers, the mattress topper and getting them all dry in the sun. Letting nature do its work rather than dry cleaning!
Jamie confesses to turning on his air con in his workshop for the first time in over 13 years. His workshop is like a little tin box and he wasn't sure it would work but with students coming in he needed to have it on. It worked! He compares the cost of running it to impact on the amount of work he can actually get done when it's cool.
Gill mentions their solar panels would be perfect for running AC as basically wouldn't cost us anything but luckily living in a bungalow with loads of insulation she and Clive stay cool! She chats about how people tend to do the opposite of what they should to keep their homes and cars cool. It leads on to them talking about EV cars and sitting in traffic jams, more about that next episode of they ever manage to get their guest on!
Jamie tells Gill about the drinks he has been making using broccoli water with nettles and other ingredients to keep hydrated. Rather than just drinking water it means he also gets lots of minerals and electrolytes which are so important in the hot weather.
Lastly they talk about bird poo! Jamie has been scraping it off their cars whereas Clive and Gill were scraping it off themselves whilst on their normal Saturday morning walk in Budleigh Salterton. How one seagull could have such an impact and make such a mess literally from top to toe on both of them was beyond Gill! She smugly tells Jamie how she got everything clean without any chemicals being used.
Eleven days after an insect / spider bite Jamie has been to A & E as his ankle kept swelling. He was recommended to take some antihistamine tablets and went off to buy some. He was given a choice between a branded one tablet or a supermarkets own brand at a much cheaper price. Jamie of course took the cheaper one and no real differnce according to the person serving him.
It leads to a chat about the difference in cost between branded and non branded items. Gill says she has 2 friends who know a lot about plants and there medicinal properties. She wishes she could plug her brain into theirs to download the information as she knows she must have a lot in her garden that she could use. She tells Jamie about how, when she worked as sales admin in a cardboard box factory and had to deliver some samples to a customer, she was shown around the factory and saw various brands being made next to each other. The only thing that needed to change between them was one ingredient!
Jamie has also been carving a little mouse, copying it from a carver, Robert Thompson, well known for his mice. Jamie explains how apprentices are often told to copy something from a Master in that field as it puts you into the same frame of mind and makes you think about how to acheive the same result.
Gill jokes about how in a 100 years someone will appear on the Antiques Roadshow with Jamie' mouse thinnking they have a Robert Thompson mouse worth a fortune and be disappointed. Jamie explains that he will burn his own mark into it so that there is no mistake and when an apprentice copies a Master's piece of work it is not allowed to leave the workshop but is destroyed.
This leads them to talk about 'biting off more than you can chew' when learning a skill. Gill talks about a new willow weave she has been learning and it's defintiely not perfect but has helped her learn what she needs to do / change much earlier on in the process next time to make it better.
They both agree that it is good to remind students / newly qualified people watching or wondering how they came to certain decisions that they have years of experience of doing their jobs.
With AI and so little face to face communication these days Gill tells Jamie how a simple act of taking a photo of a flower high up on a wall became, what she's now calling, a 'touch point of human contact' and how she is looking to have more of them. Another one occurred when she wnet to pick up a pizza from the van that comes to their village and how it became moch more than collecting a pizza.
Having a dog Jamie says he gets plenty of these moments chatting to other dog owners and with his workshop in the Ruskin centre next to the cafe people tend to drop in to his workshop to have a look. They chat more about human contact and how important it is to us as humans. Jamie says he is now doing less videos for YouTube and as a result getting more done in the workshop and in future will only do videos of the things he enjoys making.
As a result of his shift in thnking about his work and making more of the things he wants to make he's decided to change his workshop around a little remvogn some things adding chairs. These changes in what he wants to do has also had a positve effect on the rate he charges for any work he does.
Jamie has also been busy in his garden removing ivy that was choking an old cherry tree and how having removed it the tree has already got new little shoots coming from the branches.
Gill and Jamie have something new for their next podcast a guest! They can't wait to see how that goes.
Jamie had seen some posts on Gill's Instagram accoutn about their cat Silvio and asked what had happened. Gill tells Jamie the sorry story. Silvio has been in a fight with another cat and had a badly injured, ripped open cheek which needed sititches. He is an outdoor cat and after 4 visits to the vet was still not allowed out! She said that right now she wasn't sure who's was more stressed him or her and Clive!
Jamie has a bit of a story of his own about his leaking water bed having woken up in the early hours to feel a damp patch on the side. Gill was surprised that he had a water bed and said not for her she'd rather sleep on the floor! Jamie said they had to drain it straight away and for a few nights sleep on a blow up mattress whilst they decided which bed to have next. His wife doesn't really like the water bed so he thoguht he'd give her the option to choose a new bed. He started to do some research into various beds but after a few nights not sleeping on the warmth of the water bed his joints started to complain.
Gill and Jamie chat about beds and consequently that leads onto discussing bedding as well and how they can impact your sleep to such a large degree and yet it is often one of the items we rarely think about spending a lot of money on. They discuss the toxic effects of beds and the more natural ones now being made.
Jamie and Gill start talking about technology and the reason Gill has never worn blue tooth headsets or i pods as she has had several friends who have had brain tumours - maybe a coincidence?? They discuss if the problem of now having to connect headsts etc by blue tooth or the 'old fashioned' wire ones via an adaptor could that be part of the reason so many people now have conversations and listen to things on loud speaker annoying everyone around them!
Jamie tells Gill he's made a change and wants to know how much mindset plays a role in the impact he's experiencing. He's changed his milk from semi-skimmed to organic whole milk and feels it is having an impact on what he now eats as well. He's using less sugar, wants to snack less and wonders if that's as a result of the change or that he believes it is making a difference.
They chat about beliefs and the placebo as well as the nocebo, effect and somemore about today's food in supermarkets. Gill talks about the chemicals in the things we now use everyday and the impact it has on our health and how difficult it is to know what's true even in the results of 'research'.
Jamie missed the time they were due to record this episode. He explained he had a lot going on in his head, not in a stressful way but in a good way, and had taken 5 minutes to sit in the garden and forgot they were due to record.
Gill and Jamie chat about how they approach tasks or chores in various ways that they don't want to do and 'future pace' the results like Jamie and tidying his woodstore to make things easier in the winter.
When it comes to work it's sometimes means saying 'no' to jobs even if you want to do them or putting in a your own 'end date' and taking control of your life rather than feeling pressurised.
They chat about how funny it is that the things they love to make are often the most popular items to sell as if they have a different energy in them. Gill tells Jamie about the TV show 'Take it to market' as a great example of that.
Jamie and Gill talk about how teaching is the best way to learn a subject and how important it is to learn how to do the job properly before learning the 'cheats' or 'shortcuts' as there will be times when a cheat won't work.
Gill brings up the subject of being adaptable and able to flex quite easily, like Jamie not turning up on line to record this episode and how you can respond to similar situations to avoid getting frustrated or angry.
How far would you travel to see a professional you trusted? Jamie has broken a tooth and doesn't trust the dentists local to him but has located his old dentist and is happy to travel to herknowing how skillful she is.
Jamie and Gill chat about skills and how good it is when someone you are teaching reaches a certain skill level or as a learner you feel you reach a certain level and ready to move on. Jamie is creating a 'pathway' for his students so that when they reach a certain level they can decide which direction they want to go in next. Gill talks about running her willow course and how when learning something new you really get to appreciate the skill involved and often that changes your view of what the price should be, which is usually higher! When you are buying something it isn't just that product or teaching hour you're paying for but all the hours of practice that were involved for the teacher / trainer to become so skilled.
Jamie has been asked to repair a writing box and made the customer fully aware of how he charges and potential time frame. The customer was fully onboard with the cost and adament he wanted Jamie to do it no mattter how long it took. Gill and Jamie chat about how, when a sole trader and in certain professions, there is a tendency to keep prices stable and not to increase fees in line with rising costs espeically for longstanding clients particularly if you know they are struggling to make ends meet already - but everyone has increased bills to pay. Jamie has decided to tell his students that there will be a yearly increase but if they can't afford it to talk to him.
Jamie and Gill talk chat about how they get ourselves into things without meaning to?!
Gill explains that she's found herself running a willow obelisk workshop for her village 'allotmenteers' having been asked by her neighbour but didn't think she'd actually said yes so not quite sure how it happened. Gill describes what is involved in preparing for the workshop especially when you don't have the right equipment to start with!
Jamie shares a similar type story involving a stair gate and his accountant. When peole ask for things they rarely take into account how much tiem is involved prior to actually starting the work if the client even agrees.
They chat about how people expect skilled people / speakers etc to do something for nothing, travel to the venue maybe accomodation required and offer very little in exchange without thinking they have bills to pay as well!
With everything going up in price since the start of the Iran war Jamie has been looking for new tyres for his car, as he works through the 'advisories' from his car's recent MOT. He describes how shopping around can save a lot of money. Gill comments how she has been mentally working out the cost of veg as she shops and thereforer how much growing her own food actually saves her even though she buys some compost each year.
On the same lines of saving money Jamie also mentions that he has noticed the views on his free fuel biquette videos have increased in recent weeks with people looking to save money especially on things like heating. The impact of more viewings means that the money Jamie earns from YouTube will increase slightly but it all helps.
Jamie and Gill have both been busy in the garden. Gill has been clearing their wild flowers area in the garden which has became overgrown with deep rooted plants like: nettles, cleavers and dock leaves whilst the clay soil is wet enough to get them out. Jamie has been busy removing ivy covering a tree at the end of his garden.
The mention of ivy leads Gill to talk about making laundry liquid from ivy leaves and Jamie is keen to know how to do it and says to Gill 'Don't tell me that it must be that Nancy Birtwhistle again!' Gill, beign passionate about the environment and keen to do her bit, goes on to tell Jamie how to clean patio stones without using chemicals again "Nancy Birtwhistle style'.
Gill suddenly has an idea that due to the delivery of 3 copies of Nancy's latest book which were faulty she suggests they run a competition for someone to win a copy (repaired by her). Jamie comes up with a plan that means if you'd like to enter you'll have to listen to this episode.
They finish by chatting about comparing their experiences of selling items on both Ebay and Facebook market place. Gill has been busy clearing her sister's flat and attempting to sell furniture items. She admits that she is by no means an 'Ebayer or Marketplace expert', and experienced all sorts of issues with buyers. Jamie has been busy selling an item and explains how he has gone about it
Gill starts the episode by sharing a piece that her friend Justin Buckthorp posted on how our fitness regimes change as we age and for good reason. What we could do at 25 and get away with we can no longer do at 45 and for good reason.
Jamie and Gill chat about how health, for them, has become the number one driver as they age. They very much think about and are far more aware of what they do, how they do it and why, from exercise to eating. Gill no longer goes to a gym but gets her exercise out in her large garden or moving around on the floor when she is willow weaving. Jamie says he does similar in that he no longer syas he'll spend hours in the garden but just go do a bit when he can and not push it beyond what he knows will impact him in a negative way physically later on.
The conversation naturally leads onto what they both eat adn actually when they now eat. Gill tells of her experiences whenever she is questions around her eating and drinking habits by asked by a doctor or nurse and the looks of disbelief she gets. Jamie has been medicine free for 6 years now and how he's doing things differently but wants to do more.
Finally shock of shocks - Jamie shares he ate a Starbar recently, they been his favourite chocolate bar for years and years, but discovered he no longer likes them and apparently it's all Gill fault!
Jamie and Gill thought they'd see if they could have 2 random topics to talk about and if they could somehow get from one topic to the other linking them together.
They both agreed that being typically British they had to talk about the weather and Jamie had said he wanted to talk about smoking - well giving up. The challenge was set!
They started, as agreed, with the amount of rain everyone has been experiencing and how that was impacting their ability to get out in the garden. This lead very nicely into talking about potholes and cars.
Cars allowed Gill to bring up the subject of parking lights, the old ones you used to clip on the driver's window and plug into the cigarette lighter. Jamie admitted he'd never heard of them until he saw one for sale and wondered what this egg-shaped thing was with a lead hanging out of it.
The mention of the cigarette lighter in the car (what's one of those younger listeners will ask?) of course meant they could talk about cigarette machines. Which gave Jamie the opportuntiy to talk about his smoking habit and how he gave up smoking at 19 having started at 12 years old.
They somehow acheived the challenge but being Jamie and Gill there was a lot of digressing along the way into freezers, bodies and even being a 'little bit Polish'!
Back to talking about AI again.
Jamie tells Gill about his use of ChatGPT and what he sees as the positives to for a one man business. It's helped him with his YouTube videos and to be more eloquent when messaging an ill friend when he didn't know what to say in his message.
Whilst Gill can absolutely see the benefits of AI in lots of areas she share her concerns around AI, including environmental ones that people can't see, vast buidlings to house the servers, and huge amounts of water being used.
Gill also asks is AI actually dumbing us down, removing our personalities from interactions / social media even more because we no longer have to think things through? She shares her own little theory about the impact it's having on people with neurodiverse conditions. Is it along with social media actually making them more prominent now particularly in the rise of adults that have been diagnosed? People's attentoin spans are reducing and life is moving fast and does this just mean it'll move even faster?
On another topic Jamie has re-organised his week, changed his routine and it's really helping. Gill shares that people forget how the basic little things that used to do really helped them like starting the day a bit earlier but a lot slower. When people return to the easy and quick habits they used to do how it really impacts their day.
A new year and episode 80 of our podcast!
Gill wishes Jame Happy New Year but wants to know when do we stop saying Happy New Year to people?!
They chat about family adaptability over the festive season and how that changes over the years esepcially as the family grow up. Somehow this leads to Jamie saying he has had to contend with snow and ice going up a hill. He tells of how he managed to get around a taxi that was having real problems and his thoughts on why electric cars also struggle and younger drivers. Many 'younger than us' who drive will rarely have had an opportunity to do so and have no idea how to drive in snow.
Jamie then asks Gill if she sets new year resolutions. They tell each other why they don't set new year's resolutions as it applies too much pressure. Instead Gill says she likes to think about what she wants to focus more on during the year ahead. For Jamie it's focussing more on the work he wants to do now rather than has to and Gill it's doing more with her willow weaving and the ideas that she has.
With many people complaining about January and how long it is Gill has a theory about why so many people think January is soooo... long. Jamie asks Gill what she thinks of the old fashioned idea of keeping Christmas decoarons up until Candlemas day at the start of February.
A quick moan at the BBC about the timing of Jools Holland's programme on NYE's and finally they have a discussion about baths in bedrooms! What is all that about??!! Jamie has a theory on the current trend.
It's Christmas this week Jamie and Gill decide to chat about their memories of Christmas past and how we've changed how we feel about it now.
Gill can remember lots of her family traditions based around Christmas including the last one she had with her Dad before he died in the January.
Jamie admits he struggles to remember anything of his childhood Christmases other than his Action man tank which he still has in the attic. He tells a funny story about how he somehow sat on and rode his new tank down the stairs.
As Gill talks he slowly recalls things he had forgotten. They both remember being at work and the excitement of everyone being 'let go' early on Christmas Eve - that alone felt like a big present.
They talk about how your feelings change about Christmas as you grow older. The childlike excitement gives way to being with your friends as well as family and going out to work. Then as you get a family of your own it changes again. Gill explains how she still loves Christmas but for very different reasons these days.
Christmas is just one day and for some it is a hard time of year especially if they find they are on their own, have lost someone close during the year or have other challenges to face. Where ever you are in life avid comparing yourself to other people's Chistmas and make Christmas your own - Happy Christmas.
This episode it's Jamie's turn to sound sexy as he's got a sore throat!
Apart from his sore throat he's really happy as he's sold the crocodile that the made a couple of years ago for a panto. (Look at his video of it on his YouTube channel The Worcestershire Cabinet Maker). He could have sold it for a lot more, as one person told him, but he is happy with the price and explains that he found a balance with the purchaser based on his values of 'pay it forward' to another amateur dramatic society. Jamie is concerned that these societies are getting far too technical with one person knowing how the technical side works.
Gill and Jamie chat about the cost of something v. the time it took to create and Jamie thinks this is a missing link in the programme 'The Repair Shop' that they don't say how long a repair actually took in real time creating unrealistic expectations. They both agree it would be helpful to have labels on crafted / handmade items saying how long they took to make as it may help buyers appreciate and understand the price.
Finally, Jamie has a rant about the increase in the use of palm oil instead of milk especially in chocolate and how that's having such a negative impact on dairy farmers with many giving up. Again it comes down to the price people are prepared to pay and often can't afford the better quality chocolate. We discuss the amount of 'crap' going into and onto our bodies and how we hope more peole will return to growing and making their own.
Gill and Jamie chat about why, after some research, they've decided to stop posting their podcast (and Gill her other podcast too) onto Spotify. Spotify are getting wealthier by the day and the average creator is struggling with musicians getting between £0.0024 and £0.004 per download. With the introduction of AI being able to use any content on the platform creators will end up becoming obsolete!
The conversation turns to other big companies like Amazong which Jamie is not a big fan of! He explains how when looking to buy some tools it lead him to take a deep dive into the product and discovered somen interesting facts. We chat about the impact this has had on manufacturing in the UK and how old steel works and buildings are being demolished to make way for bland housing (and yes I bring up the book 'Less' again!).
Lastly I tell Jamie about the challenge I had trying to pump up my tyres at the garage early this morning and how did something that used to be so easy become so difficult and complicated!
Following an observation from Gill's husband on last week's episode she apologises to Jamie for talking so much at the start of the last episode. In her defence she says she was praising Jamie about his skills.
Talking of skills Jamie is a bit 'miffed' as he was asked to become involved with a tree removal at a local church. He was asked to use his skills to make some things, stool, benches etc. from the wood of the tree being felled to help parishioners accept it had to come down. He was also promised some of the wood.
It's another tale of mis-communication with a number of people including with Jamie who ended up with very little wood!
We change the topic and Gill talks about her recent experience to do with Smart meters or what turns out to be not so smart meters! She was flat sitting for her son as he needed to have his meter changed and again due to computers and mis-information the slot he had chosen had been messed up!
In the process of chatting to the man changing the meter she discovers that her son will still ahve to do monthly meter readings! It's a tale all about mis-information being given to customers to get them to change their meters.
Talking of computers... Gill and her husband discover something that makes them wonder if they have been victims of ID fraud. She digs deeper!
Gill has lost her voice with the dreaded lurgi that everyone seems to be getting but Jamie thinks it makes her sound sexy!
Gill starts this episode by giving a shout out to Jamie and his expertise as she wanted a particular sign for a present - Mary Poppins Patio, and knew just the man to make it for her! She explains the reason behind it in the podcast and how people don't see the expertise and time that goes into making something.
Jamie says how busy he has been with an elephant currently on his bench - which Gill jokes about. They discuss how when you are creating something, whether that be an project plan to making something with your hands, how you can spend a lot of time thinking about it and planning it before you start work on it. Often this isn't included in the time we charge for an item.
Gill refers back to the elephant and the image she saw in her head when Jamie talked about it being on his bench. She uses it as an example of how mis-communication can happen so easily between people and therefore how important it is to clarify things.
Finally they chat about how self employed people, especially those who have been out of a salaried role for a long time can lose track of how much people earn now. It's also important that we charge the correct fee for our expertise and any materials used rather than from looking at it from our own personal financial situation. This finishes with them chatting about living within your means.
With it being cancer awareness month Gill questions are companies simply doing, what she's calling, 'pink-washing' similar to 'green-washing' the public?
Jamie and Gill discuss the irony of companies going pink, printing pink ribbons on their packaging to promote cancer awareness month when those same companies use known carcinogenic chemicals in their products! How can that be right? They chat about how they would prefer companies not spend part of the their marketing budget on going pink for a month but to do something to remove toxic chemicals from their products. Jamie talks about candles and how toxic they are but there are no regulations aroudn what they use to make them. Gill says she watched a programme with Joe Wicks and how he made a protein bar out of nothing but chemicals and it was totally legal for him to sell it to the public.
It leads us on to discuss all sorts of things and what we can do to help ourselves. Gill again refers to the book she has just read called 'Less' by Patrick Grant and how it has made her think about the impact just one small thing/habit we have has on the wider world economy. Jamie and Gill go back to talking about one of their favourite topics - how being creative has so many benefits for us, even making something basic. Research is showing how much happier people are when working with their hands or creating something like a piece of music.
The added benefit we can have on the local economy by working and selling our skills and products locally is huge. Jamie is doing much more than simply teaching students, they're learning about themselves and the pleasure you get from creating something. One of his students who has been coming to him for a while has created a beautiful carved owl out of an old gate post. As Jamie said he needed very little imput as the student seemed to get into a flow whilst carving it (see Jamie's recent YouTube video). By running his classes he is helping the local economy. Gill talks about the willow course she has booked on NEXT October which is already sold out and as a result of the course has also booked into a local B & B and will no doubt buy a meal or 2 in the evening in the local area. Hence a great example of a local economy benefitting from one person passing on their willow weaving skills face to face.
A cough from Gill at the start of the recording opens up a discussion about editing both this podcast and Jamie's videos. That discussion then leads into talking about being authentic and how people seem to be slowly returning to a need to see what is actually real rather than acted 'reels' on IG.
Gill wants to talk about a particular topic to do with sustainability, which in part has come from the book she reading 'Less' by Patrick Grant, and the use of terry nappies! They chat about the pros and cons of terry nappies v. disposable ones not just on the environment but also on the child. Gill firmly believes that it does have an impact on when toddlers are clean and dry.
She describes how in the book so many things are lead by big companies and their marketing and PR to convince people to use them. Jamie talks about an article he's read about the importance of touch to babies and how they learn from it.
They end up discussing the cost of electricity and question the various reasons why we're not seeing more solar panels on buildings etc.
It seems Gill's turned into an Agony Aunt for Jamie in this episode!
Jamie had several things, problems he wanted to ask Gill about to see if she could help him work out what was going on in his brain!
They talk about the possible reasons for Jamie's washing up obsession and how he's been training not only his brain but his family! His family are now expecting him to do certain tasks - Dad's jobs - like the washing up, emptying the bins etc. Whilst he doesn't mind he wants to know ho wto stop the family taking it for granted they are 'his' jobs!
Gill explains, in very basic terms, about how the brain will protect us and how it doesn't know the difference between real and imagined. They chat about how that can be a positive and a negative and how athletes will use it.
Jamie then owns up to his Cadbury 'Starbar' wrapper collection and his theory as to how it helps him avoid eating them now. Somehow this leads them on to talking about the up cycling of old wine boxes into shelves in his shed!
Jamie has been pondering on the chat he and Gill had in episode 69 about ironing and had an 'Aha' moment about why he doesn't iron his shirts. He realises it goes back to his days of working on boats and having to be in meetings with management one minute whilst also working on boats the next. An unironed shirt seemed to cover both situations well - smart enough for a meeting but not too smart to have the Mickey taken out of him when woking on the boats.
Gill goes on to talk about compost and her recent experience of finding a LOT of large, small, solid and thin bits of plastic as well as other rubbish in peat free compost. She's found very small pieces of plastic in well known brand names as well. She's also discovered that even organic compost is not guaranteed plastic free!
As a result, having a large garden she is investing in a Hotbin (they are quite expensive) to speed up the composting process. Jamie explains to her how he's made his own home made version of a hot composter using 2 old recycling bins that their council no longer uses.
They chat about the cost and Gill explains her justifications for spending the money. Talking about all the rubbish in the compost, mainly all sorts of old chewed up bin liners, leads them to a discussion about bin liners and do we really need them as they end up in landfill or Gill's compost?!
Jamie had sent Gill a link about Freud versus Adler and had society been following the wrong theory?
They chat about the differences in approach to helping people - Freud looking back to childhood traumas and Adler looking forward. After chatting about the various types of therapy they both decide they're more in the Adler camp but recognise that what works for one person may not work for another.
Gill talks about how she suddenly realised that she had an updated, better solution to carrying the bird food into the garden than she had been using for years as a result of learning to willow weave.
They chat about how often we do things because we've always done it that way. We forget that we're constantly learning and changing and that it's good to occasionally review things from where we are and what we know now. By reviewig things from a differnt perspecitve we can often find better more updated answers / solutions to a problem.
Jamie and Gill wanted to start the episode by giving a big shout out and dedicate this episode to Alex Holden https://www.holdenconcertinas.com/ for no other reason than they found out he has listened to every single one of their episodes! If you are a maker, listened to our podcast and would like a mention let us know.
Gill had a couple of big questions for Jamie as part of her 'research': Did Jamie use a top sheet on their bed? Did they iron their sheets? Gill explains why she likes a top sheet and why she likes ironed bedding. Jamie explains why he doesn iron although admits he does like sleeping in ironed sheets. Gill, unlike Jamie, likes to iron and sees it as a from of meditation / time to think. She tells Jamie about how nylon sheets became all the rage back in the 1970's and brushed nylon in the winter (the company she was trying to remember was Brentford Nylons and they were actually based in London not as she thought in the midlands - clue in the name!)
They chat about what might have influenced their choices of 'to iron or not to iron' not only bedding but their clothes as well and why their different approaches say something about their lifestyles.
On the same theme Jamie admits his obsession with washing up continues and part of his excuses (reasoning) is he says the warm water helps his hands and joints. He then goes on to talk about being medication free for the last 5+ years and how he thinks his change in his mindset / approach has helped that process.
Jamie asks Gill if she has noticed an abundance of fruit this year when out on her walks as he's seen a huge amount. She says she has but how only one of her three apple trees has a lot of fruit on and possible reason as to why. Jamie tells a funny story of him with a sheet (back to bedding again??) and collecting fruit which sounds more like an episode from 'Only Fools and Horses'! He tells Gill he'll be making a lot of different flavoured gins this year with all the fruit.
This may sound like a dark episode but it really isn't, it's more about taking stock of your life and who you are. Gill and Jamie define the difference between an obituary (the written word usually in a newspaper announcing someones death with a bit about their life) and a eulogy (usually spoken at a funeral / memorial service about someone's life but can be written down).
Jamie had read an article - link here: https://magazine.catapult.co/dont-write-alone/stories/meg-dalton-writing-your-own-obituary-can-teach-you-how-to-live which got him thinking about how he wanted to be remembered and writing his own obituary! As Jamie explains he doesn't want someone to stand up as his funeral for example and say 'He was always grumpy and miserable and had no friends' and have nothing else to say about him!
Gill says for her it's a bit like pressing pause, checking in with herself to see if she is creating a life that she wants to be remembered for. For her it woudln't be things like 'she worked hard, had a lovely house and car and went on exotic holidayss...' not that any of those apply! She wants to be remembered for things like her character and personality, hopefully in a poistive way!
Jamie and Gill discuss do people remember us for the material things we owned? How hard is it to make the changes starting now? Do we complicate our lives? Is life more complex than simply making a few changes?
And some how they end up talking about thier pants and socks drawers as only Jamie and Gill could!
Being British of course Jamie and Gill have to comment on the weather which has been hot in the south for quite a while.
Luckily in the South West where Gill lives it's not been too bad whilst others, particulary in the South East have been melting! Jamie and Gill share various tips they learnt or heard of over the years to help keep cool from putting your feet in cold water to opening up your attic hatch at night.
Jamie raises the topic of less is more and somehow this leads them to talking about weddings. They discuss the vast sums of money people spend, that they don't have, on a wedding and honeymoon. Is it really necessary? When did weddings get so big and exepnsive with a reception AND then an evening 'do'?. For some the tide is turning back to small, micro weddings (both Jamie and Gill had smaller weddings) that don't cost a fortune and are often much more intitmate and nicer.
Jamie has been suffering stomach type cramps and tells of his search online for a natural cure and how his family nag him to drink more water! Gill and Jamie chat about how various aches and pains can be as a result of something you've been doing or not doing (like drinking water when hot!) the previous day.
Gill tells Jamie about the GillHB & Friends podcast she did a few years ago in her 'gardening mini series' with Rich Pennock from Haws Watering cans and a piece of good advice he gave her to help prevent back and posture issues.
Changing subjects Gill wants to talk about bugbears! Jamie has a few around the washing up and stuff left in the sink drain cover! For Gill it's about people queueing at petrol stations when there is an empty pump just because their petrol filler is on the other side to the pump and how American spellings in British books drives her nuts! They discuss the dilemma of which spelling to use - do you use the spelling according to the nationality of the author or the publishing company? What are your bugbears in everyday life?
One of Jamie's daughters recently got married in the Lake District and that involved Jamie hiring a car, which he was not impressed with and taking various grand-parents with them. It was the first of his daughter's weddings for him as father of the bride and was held in a hotel overlooking Lake Windermere.
It was a small wedding, 20 people in total which these days is apparently known as a 'micro- wedding'. Jamie describes what a wonderful day it was and how his duaghter had removed a lot of pre-wedding stress with the arrangements.
He was worried about his speech which he had started to write some weeks before until one of his students suggested using ChatGPT to help him write it. Gill and Jamie discuss the pros and cons of using ChatGPT and Gill is not a fan but acknowledges it is a case of workgin with technology as it's here to stay!
Jamie also talks about his need for a drink to help take the 'edge off' and how it helps him be the best version of himself. Gill asks 'What does he mean abut being the best version of himself?' They discuss people's need for alcohol, drecreational drugs etc and the possible deeper reason behind people needing them at certain times. Jamie thinks it is to do with his lack of confidence and probably being bullied at a young age.
Finally Jamie wants to wish his dog Po a happy 10th birthday.
Gill loves the Chelsea flower show and has been lucky enough to go a couple of years ago. However reading a post on Instagram made her consider things from a different point of view. Firstly she asks, how did she get to her get and not realise that the RHS was a charity?!
Jamie and Gill chat about the positives, not so positives and maybe areas that could be improved around Chelsea. They both agree that a lot of work and effort goes into making Chelsea happen but to what extent are younger people from the local area involved?
Running events takes a lot of effort and Jamie tells how The Ruskin Centre where he has his workshop will no longer be hosting the Glass Festival. Again they look at possible reasons behind it.
Jamie divulges how he spotted a chair on the pavement and took it home which leads Gill to comment on a photo of Jamie's taken from relaxing in his chair at the end of his garden and they chat about those special moments to be had here right on our doorstep.
Finally Jamie says he has something big to talk about on the next episode!
With the VE celebrations last weekend Jamie went to see his Mum who had her 6th birthday on VE Day and she shares what she remembers of the day. Gill went down to join in the village celebrations on the green with over 300 people, sandwiches, cake, scones and a cuppa. Clive was also playing with his village ukulele band and it was freezing! It was so cold the ukulele players could hardly feel their fingers and playing in big coats wasn't quite the plan!
Jamie also went to 'Yoga in the Park' and describe what it was like doing yoga in the rain, including lying on the mat for the relaxtaion bit at the end. For Gill it's her worse nightmare wearing wet clothes and she says she'll beleive Jamie when he's says he drove home afterwards (in wet clothes!) buzzing.
Jamie is learning Japanese and tell so his progress and how he's doing it. They chat about how important it is to have a hobby or learn new skills alongside your career as you never know when they may become a way of earning money and the role it plays in helping with your self worth. No skills are ever lost and you can often use them when you least expect it.
One of Jamie's daughter's is getting mariied soon and as Jamie puts it the stress is climbing in certain areas. We decide that sometimes the best thing to keep stress levels down in life is to 'just go with it'.
Gill starts off by apologising to listeners as they should have released an episode last week but with Easter, family commitments and time flying there simply wasn't a mutually convenient time.
Jamie and Gill discuss the 'options' going forward do they do an episode once a month, stay as it is with every 3 weeks or go back to every 2 weeks? Jamie 'does a Gill' as he calls it and they decide to go back to releasing them fortnightly so that it is current but with a time limit of 30 minutes! Jamie will set a timer to make sure they keep to it.
Jamie talks about a Japanese book he's reading and his plan to go to Tokyo in 2027 so is learning Japanese using an app. which he says has been designed like a game and therefore makes it more addictive to learn. They chat about the app and the difference between playing games and Gill says she doesn't see Suduko and crosswords as games.
Jamie had taken his dog for a walk before recordingthe podcast and mentions collecting nettles to dry as it's the right timeof year. Gill warns of her very recent experience of putting too many in their breakfast smoothie thinking they are so healthy and the side effects she had!
Chatting about nature and flowers Jamie mentions how glorious the wisteria is and all the blossoms this year. He says thinks that when you buy a house you have to think in advance about what plants, tres and busshes you want as they take time to grow whilst you are 'doing up your house' they can be maturing. Gill raises the topic of gardening as a fantastic form of exercise as she was moving heavy bits of wood around at the weekend and the added bonus of actually having acheived something tangible at the end of your 'exercise' session which brings another hit of the happiness hormones. She also updates Jamie on the saga of their ongoing subsidence repairs.
After a busy Mother's Day being around lots of mothers Jamie was enjoying the calm. As his computer is playing up he's decided it's time for a new computer which prompted Jamie to consolidate his 'bits of paper' that he works from so he can work smarter.
Gill is also having a sort out at home and tells Jamie about why she and Clive (her husband) are slowly doing it now so that they can take their time selling / finding new homes for things they realistically don't want anymore or need to just get rid of - like old diaries you put in a drawer and before you know it have 10 years worth of them! She recalls how hard it was when her Mum had died, not knowing what was important to keep or just rubbish her Mum had never actaully cleared.
Jamie had put on IG something about the mind needs to be creative other wise it goes weird. Gill says that for her and in her experince that means it creates it's own chaos! Chaos can be anxiety, stress, worries and fears. They chat about what constitutes as being creative and why it is so important to both of them to find that time to aloow for some creativity in their lives. Somehow, as it does with Gill and Janie it leads to Jamie talking about coffee grounds and the PH of coffee for the garden. As part of being creative Jamie has foudn a lovely technique to enhance the grain of wood whilst making a stool and Gill has been busy learning some new weaves for her willow weaving.
The mantra from today's episode is: Create time to be creative!
Recently both Jamie and Gill have both had a few bumps and potholes to navigate in life.
We they start by having a general and then more specfically about the increasing prices in all areas of life and more importantly how Jamie feels ands struggles with himself over increasing prices for his students.
They explore Jamie's 'catch 22' that if he had a bigger workshop he'd save time so could take on bigger commissions as well as keeping his t4eacing going. The downside then of course is his rent and bills would increase along with the pressure to find the work to pay for it. the question then becomes it worth it or are there other options?
Jamie admits he spends a lot of time in his head overthinking things and recognises this isn't always a good thing but sometimes he feels that is all he needs as a strategy to work things through.
They talk about overthinking and the different strategies people have to cope but how important it is to review your current strategies as those that might have been relevant now or previously worked might no longer be effective in the future. Gill describes how she has a major review / reset between Christmas and New Year and does 'mini resets' through the year checking that waht she needed previously is stillrelevbant and works now.
Jamie tells Gill he has 'YouTube envy' over her husband's Clive recent video that for some reason, unbeknown to Clive, has become viral with now over 117,000 views!
Gill's excited to report that 3 years on from subsidence happening on their house the underpinning and repairs have started! Jamie tells the saga his Mum has been having with a builder and sub contractors and how he's had to put a stop to the work. Gill can't sing high enough praise of the team that did their refurbishment.
We chat about the lack of due diligence people do these days (which a guest on Gill's last 'GillHB & Friends' podcast was talking about) and when would you take a personal referral or what can you do to check someone out.
Gill brings up the topic of wondering why people avoid going into a shop / cafe that has no customers in it and tell Jamie that when they owned a cafe if it wsa empty no one woudl come in but if just one person sat in the window suddenly they'd be busy.
Finally they talk about living in an older house with beams versus living in a newer house. Gill admits that she used to want to live in an old house and did live in an Edwardian one and likes 'oldie worldie' houses to stay in but having now lived in new houses wouldn't want to live in one.
Having seen so many post on social media moaning about January Gill decides it's time to stick up for it! There are another 6 months with 31 days in them and you never hear anyone complaining about them. Gill makes the case that it's not January's fault that you overspent at the end of last year!
This opens up the chat for Jamie and Gill to talk about money management, or lack of it these days and how many people are actually in a lot of debt. It is also not being taught in schools and peole jus need basic money managemnt skills.
As Gill had signed up to a webinar about running a business off social media they discuss is it even possible? Gill wil report back!
Jamie's daughter was showing him an old photo on line of the house he grew up in and as they enlarged it he saw in the corner of the garden a figure that was his Dad. One of the positives of modern technology.
Gill tells Jamie that she and her husband were watching a documentary about Carole King and James Taylor were wondering when it was filmed. Gill thought it must be pre 2012 as there was a distinct lack of people watching it through their phones. Shec checked the date fo the tour and it was 2010 - how different things were back then!
Finally Jamie asks Gill hwo their RSPB bird watch went at the weekend having seen a post of Gill's as they settled to do their hour...which was right when a storm came overhead! Jamie said his wife was aprticiaprting but after half an hour gave up as she hadn't seen one bird!
As both Jamie and Gill are into up-cycling/recycling, Gill was very excited to learn more about Jamie's new project for 2025 having seen his post on IG and watched his video on YouTube (The Worcestershire Cabinet Maker)
Jamie's taking an old, somewhat flimsy workbench and basically rebuilding it into a much sturdier one using a lot of bits that he has rescued and are in his workshop like old drawers and other bits of wood. He'll be filming every step so people can learn from what he is doing and see how to reuse other items they might just have thrown away.
In her own workshop (aka garage) Gill has been working on a couple of up-cycling pieces and sold a small cabinet last week - not making a profit but at least covering her costs. She explains to Jamie that she doesn't do it to make money (although that would be a bonus of course!) but because she really enjoys it and wants to save things from landfill - currently over 30 items of furniture - by giving them a new life. Plus she couldn't keep stock piling all the finished items in her workshop as she was runnning out of room!
Meanwhile 2025 for Gill started with a bang and a horrible burning smell - her trusty, old washing machine sounded like it had pebbles in it and was emitting an acrid smell! She'd had it for years and it had finally died so it was time to do some research.
Wow, she discovered how things have changed and thinks she'll need a computer science degree to do her washing! Begs the question how many people use ALL the programmes and various options? Seriously do people need to start their machines from an App on their phone?? And, as she says to Jamie to think she used to believe her washing was clean years ago when she had an old twin tub and wooden tongs to transfer the washing from washer to spinner!! She'll be reporting back as to how she gets on.
Jamie slipped a disc since the last podcast whilst putting his socks on and was in agony. He went to the doctor who prescribed a combination of medications that he's never taken before. Jamie talks about how he thinks doing these podcasts and chatting to Gill has really helped him change his mindset and he can now control his thoughts in a more positive way. Gill double check is he sure it's not the medication and talks about how importnt reframing is and that eventually your change in mindest becomes teh automatic default response.
Gill chats about a fun post that was put on a group she belongs to asking the members to name one thing they like about themselves. She explains hwo she struggled to come up with one thing not because there isn't anything she liked about herself but because she just likes herself and that made her realise how lucky she is to be in a very contented place in her life.
Gill gets asked a lot, how do you manage not to take on clients problems / issues?
She was pondering this question when out for one of her walks and realised that is actrually how she copes - by getting out in nature. By going for long walks it helps clear her head and gives her time to reflect. If not ime to do that it's important to create small 'gaps' between one thing and another.
Jamie and Gill discuss how it's not just trained coaches / therapists that deal with people's problems but often hairdressers, PT's or people like Jamie working one on one or in a small group. Jamie has an Aha' moment about ho wit affects him and has various examples of how that happens in his workshop.
With a recent commission for a client Jamie has found that the space they are developing has a lovely calming energy and he has realised that it would be good to spend more time out of his workshop working in nature or simply sitting in the space they've created.
Gill and Jamie have both had pressurised jobs in the past with bigger incomes but question at what cost do people chase financial freedom and is it actually freedom or just more stuff? They discuss when is enough 'stuff' enough?
Jamie has completed a letter engraving project in a font the client wanted and explains why it could have been so much better but ultimately it was what the client wanted and they were happy with the result. Gill says it's the reason she asks the experts/trades who are doing something for her what they would suggest. She can then decide to take their advice or not but can at least make an infomred decision.
Jamie has a pair of Bose hedphones he loves but the ear pads are worn out so he's decided to repair/recycle them. He's found a 'cool 1970's' brand for 99p on Ebayand is going to amalgamate the pair by taking the Bose workings and put them into the 1970's external covering.
Gill has a moan about the filthy state some properties are left in when they've been sold. The contracts state properties 'will be left clean and tidy' which is very often not the case! As she and her husband found out when they moved into their current home and her son has just found out on his first home purchase last week which took the edge off the excitement of moving in. The oven was unuseable caked in baked on grease and grime and the shower was in a simiiar state! As Gill found out when buying their house there appears to be no real comeback on the seller if they don't agree to refund some monies and she knows from other friends it happens a lot! When you've cleaned the house (including appliances) you're selling and have to spend hours cleaning the one you're moving in to!
The only option appears to be, if the seller won't agree compensation, is to take them to the small claims court and who wants that hastle! But it ruins the excitement of moving into a new home when it's filthy and the first thing you have to do is clean it! Jamie and Gill chat about what other possible options there could be in this situation.
Jamie had read this quote by Sir Anthony Hopkins:
"My philosophy is: What people say about me is none of my business. I am who I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. And that makes life easier. We live in a world where funerals are more important than the deceased, marriage is more important than love, looks are more important than the soul. We live in a packaging culture that despises content".
that he wanted to discuss. Interestingly the part of the quote that had caught Gill's attention was different to the part that had caught Jamie's attention. Gill has a slightly different view point about "what people say is none of my business" in that she thinks it is more about how you react to what people say about you and what you can learn about yourself.
Jamie's attention was focussed on 2 other parts of the quote "...marriage is more important than love..." and the final sentence: "We live in a packaging culture that despises content." In essence both Jamie and Gill agreed with the quote but also agreed that it can be interpreted in lots of different ways depending on the situation and person.
Jamie was in 'grump' mode to start with on this episode but he and Gill got talking about the root cause of it which Gill pushes back on. She reminds him that he was in a bit of grump when the festival of glass was on but that after a chat with her on the phone they had found a solution and reframed how he was approaching the day.
That lead onto them talking about the day and how some cultural information he had been given about the chairs, he mentioned in the last episode, had changed his view on them and how they had been made.
Both of them love to restore, up-cycle and reuse things. Jamie talks about 'trading up' which one of his students is good at and how it makes a lot of sense. He has seen 4 good quality wooden chairs for sale so is going to 'trade up' his old chairs.
With Gill just having started a channel they chat about YouTube and how Jamie has discovered, from a couple of comments from subscribers that they aren't seeing his videos! As they chat about it Gill says she's not getting any notifications from the channels hse has subscribed to wither. They realise that people aren't hitting the notification when they subscribe. So as well as asking people to 'Subscribe' they need to be reminded to 'HIt the Notification bell' as well if they want to know when a new video has been relased! Probably very obvious to those who use YouTube a lot but there will be people, like them, who don't know or forget.
Gill raises the topic of the pressure couples face over their decision to not have children having seen a post on IG where a young couple, in response to comments about the sound of tiny feet, told everyone that they didn't want children and asked people not to say they would change theri minds. Jamie and Gill talk about how something personal ends up involving more than just the couple making the decision including thier parents, family and friends.
Gill tells Jamie how she's already getting the comments from friends who are now grand-parents about 'I bet you can't wait to be a grand-mother' when actually she's not bothered either way and when she tells them that they say 'you'll feel differently...' Gill says if she has grand-children then great but she doesn't want her son to feel any 'unspoken' pressure from her for him to have them if he and any future partner decide otherwise.
In the second part of the podcsat Jamie talks about the patio he has been making and how it is actually a joy not to rush it but to take your time. Gill tells Jamie how she now leaves a piece of furniture for a while before up cycling it, taking her time to decide what she wants to do with it and what feels right. They both talk about how taking time to make decisions impacts on so many different areas of your life from designing your kitchen to choosing furniture.
Gill has been busy learning how to weave a willow basket. She tells Jamie about how she made several mistakes and had things go wrong like weavers snapping at the wrong time etc. or the base not looking quite as it should be on the video.
She explains to Jamie how it made her think that 'failures' are rarely mentioned these days as she was posting photos of her 'mishaps' on IG so people could see the reality and process of learning a new skill.
Jamie and Gill chat about the need for everything to appear to be perfect in these days of social media and the pressure people put on themsleves to be perfect at something the first time they try it. The discuss how important embracing failures are and how they see it very much as a part of the process of learning.
Their chat leads them into talking about how patience is also something else that is lacking these days and is all part of the fear of failing. This fear then means people either don't have a go at something or give up rather than practice, practice, practice.
Jamie and Gill both agree that the feeling of acheivement when you do manage to do something (and it still might not be perfect!) is worth all the effort.
Jamie shares with Gill that he was feeling down last week and this was compounded by struggling with some tech issues. They discuss about the challenges that men, particularly younger men face nowadays finding where they fit in the world.
Which leads Gill to tell Jamie how she'd love to offer sharing her garden and gardening with someone who's struggling with their mental health or has S.E.N.D. but has no garden. They chat about the potentail issues that brings as Gill's aware that if she simply posts on social media she'll probably get some negative comments like: 'So you want a free gardener then?' 'How much are you going to pay them to do your garden?' 'Do you have the necessary safeguarding checks in place?'.So she's decided, as well as doing a bit of research by contacting charities, to 'put it out to the universe' and see if anyone naturally comes along that she can help or offer their carer some respite for a few hours a week.
Gill discloses how she goes about writing her shopping list which Jamie finds absolutley fascinating! He drills in wanting to know more, when and how did she start this? Was it connected to eher work. Gill has never really thoght about it as it jus tseemd logical to her but does say it may be linked to her having been cabin crew many years ago. Gill is sure she can't be the only one tha tdoe sit like this!
As his briquette videos are gaining interest on YouTube Jamie has been making a press from everyday things you can find in the kitchen for his briquettes so anyone can make them. We chat about willow weaving, blackening wood, how to tie a knot that doesn't require 'borrowing a finger' and Gill's discovery that lemon trees have thorns! Who knew?!
Oh and Jamie finally gets Gill to reveal that she's very quietly started her YouTube channel GillHB-LIFE!
It's all about being outside on this week's episode.
Jamie's been on an adventure - to collect some fence panels he bid on some 60 miles away for his garden.
He's decided it's time to clear the end of his garden including keeping some dreaded bamboo under control. He's also removing his tree house he built for George Clarke's Amazing Spaces a fwe years ago
Meanwhile Gill has been on the hunt for wood to attempt to make a natural hurdle - hazle and willow being the main ones. She hates to admit that she's got to her age and can't identify a lot of the UK's native trees. First step - learn how to identify them (and now she can't stop seeing them even in her own garden!)
Gill explains to Jamie the reason she doesn't wear headphones / earphones on her walks in nature and consequently wanted to be able to identify the different birds she can hear singing. She's discovered a great app 'Merlin Bird Id' to help her identify birdsong when out on my walks and is now addicted to using it even in her back garden. Jamie gives the other viewpoint as to why he does wear earphones occasionally.
Jamie has also been finding another possible use for his briquette mixture - growing mushrooms and is busy experimenting!
Gill and Jamie start by saying how they've already had enough of the General Election so the only time they are mentioning it is now to say they vow not to talk about it in the coming weeks!
They cover a real range of topics in this episode but typical of Gill and Jamie they are somehow all linked. Although Gill apologises, as she seems to be doing most of the talking in this episode about her passions!
Gill explains her experience and reality of selling the furniture she up cycles and when you see people on social media selling items how easy it appears and how much you can make! She explains that it's important not to compare and to keep in mind the extra work other sellers do to have a ready made clinet base. Money is not Gill's main reason for up cycling things but a bonus if she can make a profit. She also says why she believes it is important not to be afraid to ask the buyers for advice and feedback e.g. as to where they would tend to look for her type of items and style. Jamie clarifies what he sees as the main feedback to take on board going forward.
Following on the last episode Gill did buy some chisels, with Jamie's expert help, for an idea she wants to make. Jamie has offered to do a basic chisel sharpening YouTube video for Gill - but hopefully other 'real beginners' will find it helpful as well.
They continue to chat about how important it is not to compare ourselves as we are all very different. Jamie tells of his yoga experiences after Gill gives an example using her sister!
Gill, having got some alpaca wool, wants to try out sheep's wool on the garden as a slug / snail deterrent. Having spoken to Graham Hull from https://www.wool-pots.co.uk/ on her GillHB & Friends podcast about the fate of most wool she asked locally if anyone had some wool. Helen a local farmer said: 'Come help yourself we've got 300 fleeces you're welcome to!' Helen tells a similar tale about her wool and how little they get and that's got Gill thinking!
Jamie and Gill are both passionate about reducing waste and sustainability.
In this episode they cover a range of topics from Japanese blacksmiths to how they do what they can to reuse things but are always looking to do and learn more.
Jamie starts by telling Gill he has bought some very good chisels made by Japanese blacksmith Masters and how they recycle old iron from discarded bridge frameworks. Gill is wanting to purchase some chisels and had immediately gone to Amazon to look for some. She's learning from Jamie about how to find used items that are actually better value than simply hitting the 'Buy" button on websites like Amazon.
Gill has some books she'd like to get rid of or 'pass on' including some that aren't really in any condition to read now but isn't sure what to do with those. She had considered selling on line but with postage costs that hardly seems worth it - Jamie comes up with a viable solution! They discuss how they think it should be much easier to find out the best way to recycle all sorts of items.
Jamie mentions the plastic rope Gill has recently made and she admits that as an ideas person she is always coming up with different ways to do things and sometimes her head explodes with all the ideas she has!
The discussion around waste reduction and sustainability is to be continued!
Being British Jamie and Gill just had to chat about the weather but it had allowed Gill to get out in the garden over the weekend and Jamie into his shed for a short while.
Jamie tells Gill he really likes her new raised beds, having seen lots of photos on socila media of her making them. He says they remind him of previous times. Gill explains the reason for posting so many photos on Instagram of each stage is that so many peole have asked her in the past how she does them and to explain what the no dig method is and how to do it.
Gill brings up one of her bug bears for discussion and admits that she's also guilty of over using the word 'So' and it drives her mad! So she asks Jamie, "when did we start answering every question with 'So'...?"
Another current bug bear for Gill is that of house buying as several family and friends have been going through the tortuous process. They chat about how complicated the house buying system is here and how stressful it can be.
Finally Gill is intrigued to knwo from Jamie what prompted his recent post about Japanese artwork. Jamie gives some backgournd and explains what it has inspired him to do, or should that be that he has got his Mum to do?
Gill and her husband Clive like to support small independent businesses when they can. Recently they spent a couple of night's away in 2 different pub type accommodation. The second one was holding a private 30th birthday event and their room right above it overlooking the glass dome in the ceiling. Consequently they got to 'enjoy' the disco lights and loud music! Gill and Jamie discuss the dilemma of a small business and the pros and cons of should they pre-warn guests when they book or what could be done to mitigate the situation.
Gill goes on to tell how they made the best of the situation and the next day, with little sleep, they visited Rushmere Country Park (near the village of Heath and Reach in Bedfordshire) in the pouring rain. From heron watching to doing the sculpture walk and discovering all the beautiful sculputes hidden in amongst the trees, finishing off with coffee in the cafe she highly recommends it.
Gill's been having quite the time with the car with this time the rear break light not working even after changing the bulb a few times. She bemaons the fact of spending a few hours waiting for it at the garage only to find after paying the bill for diagnostic work that it's not been fixed as they can't get the part and no idea when it will arrive!
Jamie has been busy testing out his various versions of his briquettes and showing the result on social media as well as doing the 'day job'. They chat about whether making videos and being on Youtube are it. Jamie explains how he sees it as a 6 year experiment with YouTube to see if he can make a living from social media. This has lead Jamie to make the decision to join Patreon and they discuss the various ways of using it. Nothing is ever as simple as it looks when your not technically minded!
As Gill's son was born on this day she can recall every detail about day, even the weather. Jamie and Gill chat about 'time lining' and how we use specific incidences, like covid, to help us pin point when things happened and we cross reference that with other people's time lines. Jamie uses an example of how we might use things only specific to us so you might say 'no it had to be before then because I remember I was in my old car'.
Jamie gives an update on his next briquette experiment and Gill is happy to report on some progress with their our subsidence issue and all that it will involve! She explains how they are thinking in advance of the work so have been busy moving some water butts and will have to move some plants. Jamie asks about the garden and how it's progressing ready for Gill's veg growing which leads her on to talking abiut wanting a circular saw. Jamie clarifies does she mean chop saw? Mitre saw? And needing a saw for several jobs has made her realise how she really needs a vice. Jamie offers up several solutions but in the end they both decide a work mate will do the job!
Jamie overslept so was a bit late for recording this week's episode. Hence Gill and Jamie chat about how important sleep is to our minds and bodies. A lack of sleep can lead to other conditions being misdiagnosed which are actually symptoms of being sleep deprived. Gill tells Jamie about the book she was given for her birthday, 'Teaching the World to Sleep' by David Lee, following the webinar she had booked onto last year. Jamie asks about the type of books Gill likes to read which is quite a range from: fiction and non fiction, particularly biographies to more science based, philosphical books.
Gill wanted to talk about the use of resin, which seems to be growing in popularity - both in items for the home such as furniture and coasters to driveways. She tells Jamie that she and her husband had considered it for their drive but after researching a bit more realised it was just adding more 'plastic/micro plastic' to the world! Jamie has a similar his view on it as well and avoids using it in any of his wood working that he does. He also explains how people end up using even more chemicals on driveways as it cracks to kill weeds and moss. Gill thinks that people need to think beyond single use plastic and consider the wider impact of using resin - an interesting topic for discussion!
Jamie wants to talk about 'socks' and how many pairs he has and gets given (classic male present!). Whilst he loves colourful socks he explains why thin socks are not for him but for men who work in offices. He is very impressed iwth a new pair his wife has given him made from alpaca wool. He vows to go sort out his sock drawer that is currently rammed with socks!
Having had an 'advisory' for new brake pads on its service Gill booked their car in to get them replaced only to discover it needed a new caliper as well as the old one fell apart!
The price of parts has rocketed and Jamie and Gill discuss the 'pros and cons' of new cars, buying them on finance and how buyers can be left horrified at costs to replace basic parts like tyres! We discuss the knock on impact of these rising costs as to why everyone's car insurance has increased so much.
They discuss some of the possible reasons why cars are so differnt nowadays and need to be so big. With safety being a major issue cars have had to incoporate lots of safety features and part of that is the size of the required child seats now needed in the car - gone are the days of sitting on an adults lap! Not only have seats increased in size but so have the prams and pushchairs that would no longer fit in the car boots of yesteryear.
Jamie has also been busy repairing his daughter's car and he often buys parts, after doing lots of research on the internet, from sites like Ebay to save money.
We chat about the need for things to be more sustainable and Gill menaions her recent podcast on GillHB & Friends where she's been chatting to Sarah, a young entrepreneur who runs the online magaine, Lumera, that looks at sustainable fashion brands.
Gill explains why she doesn't do new year's resolutions but takes time to reflect on the year gone and focus on what she did achieve rather than what she didn't. Too many people end the year thinking about those things they didn't achieve! Jamie agrees and says it's better to simply let them go and look focus forward.
Jamie asks Gill about how she finds people respond to her when she goes for her walks without a dog. She explains how it still means that she gets to chat to people for that very reason as they ask where her dog is and she's made several new friends.
Jamie says he's realised (whether it's an age thing or not) that he perefers to be around less people these days and going to a noisy pub isn't for him as he enjoys more quiet time.
Gill picks Jamie's brains about an idea she's had of how she wants to use a pile of logs, currently just piled up in the garden and asks his expert advice on how best to dry them. Seems a lot of patience is involved to get it right before she can start to use them for her projects!
Gill starts off the episode relating the story of hwo she very nearly falling for a scam whilst advertising her refurbished furniture on FB Marketplace. As a result of multiple attempts at the same scam she's deleted the adverts and going to research another avenue to sell them that feels much better to her. Flea amrkets and independent stores are on her research list - they take her furniture as stock, display and sell it and get a commission.
Jame has possbily had a little too much fun taking a flame thrower to his furniture turning the wood black! And now seems to want to have a go at a lot more! And on the same theme of fires and flames he shares some exciting news that he has been contacted by someone in America wanting to find out more about his composting coffee and wood shaving briquettes that they can then implement with their city waste prgramme. They have a plan involving employing homeless people and creating compost and fuel and apparently Jamie is the only person they can find that has done this.
Watch this space to see what happens in 2024!
Jamie has discovered that one of his videos on YouTube has suddenly get a lot of views and he has no idea why. He mentions how a chat with someone made him realise he was earning the equivalent of a mini pension from his channel.
We discuss how fast things can change and what we think may earn us money in our old age with social media may well not even exist with the way technology marches on with things like AI taking over a lot of roles.
With all the electric we now need or will need we swap stories about log burners and the future - will it involve returning to the things we did in the past? Gill admits even she's surprised she's turning into an up-cycler and eco warrior - using conkers to make laundry liquid thanks to Nancy Birtwhistle!
Jamie and Gill both listened to Diary of a CEO's podcast with Tim Spector on ultra processed foods and how this impacts on our lives these days. They chat about how clever marketing from big corporates can havre us fooled into believing things are healthy when they're not.
As they discuss modern life Gill talks about a webinar she attended all about sleep - it was entitled "Sleep in people living with the symptoms of menopause'. However it went into depth about sleep and how we need to get the 'scaffolding' around sleep correct to aid women suffering with symptoms of the menopause. We are a society now where a large number of people are sleep deprived which results in all sort of issues from mis-diagnosis of ADHD in some people to depression. Gill learnt how some of the things we think will help us sleep are actually myths.
Jamie mentioned at the start of the podcast that he has a story about his washing machine! So to end the podcast he tells his tale of woe that actually ends up with a good outcome for the planet and no new washing machine purchased!
Jamie jokes about the number of listeners they have and decide they aren't using the right title to create click bait to increase numbers! He explains why click bait is so important and how he has fallen prey to it on YouTube many times only to find the video is terrible - so it does work! Many of the videos are created with great technical knowledge and Gill and Jamie discuss how long it would take them to achieve similar!
Gill starts a discussion about how angry and anxious people seem to be all over the world these days and how many additional stresses we now deal with. Gill says she thinks it's really important to find more balance in things that happen to us and life in general.
Anyway they're checking out their 'click bait' title to see what happens and if they can dramatically increase their listeners!
Being typically British Jamie and Gill start by chatting about the weather and how it's creating challenges over the last couple of years for us growing veg! Jamie's tomatoes haven't been ripening and he's discovered that he shouldn't be watering them as much so Gill gives him some extra tips to speed up the process.
They finally get round to chatting about friends and friendship groups and how they can change and the stresses that they can create. Jamie says he doesn't really have many friends as he has big family whereas Gill chats about how she see friends move in and out of my circles - sometimes in a close circle others further away.
Gill's been thinking about what does inspirational mean for her and maybe others. She chats with Jamie about how people can see things very differently: one person posts about how they've coped in a 'trying time' in the belief it will 'inspire' others but it can actually make some people feel worse about themselves. How this can then lead us to compare ourselves with others without really knowing the other person's full story.
Jamie went away to Bath for the weekend and bought himself a 'pre-loved' jacket. He loves it and says how he's been comparing it to the prices of new ones, which aren't for him. Will his purchase unintentionally inspire others to buy 'pre-loved' items? Gill and Jamie also discuss their lack of the 'need to go on holiday' compared to others and how some people, like farmers, never even get the chance to have a holiday.
Jamie has been busy sorting out, organising and de-cluttering which has left him with a dilemma about what to do with the items. He has a complete set of classic novels but as a set not worth very much, however, after some research, selling them individually they are worth more. Or does he offer them to his daughters? We chat about the problem of sorting things out when someone has died and doing it now with our own 'stuff'. Also can you pass things on that you might not need instead of throwing them out? Jamie is using some old paving stones from hsi borhter to trim aaournd an edge and in exchange he had some old iron downpipe and guttering that was perfect for his brother's house.
Jamie was celebrating having reached 2992 subscribers and Gill had commented that she wanted him to get another 8 subscribers. Jamie didn't quite understand why to start with then did the maths then understood why Gill had said that. It's all about seeing things from a differnt point of view. They talk about why they think it is important to see other people's point of view as that helps you to understand them better.
Continuing on from our 'men only' discussion in episode 31 we are joined by Honor Davis-Marks who runs a women only online membership club and retreats at her gites in the South of France.
She shares what she thinks for women and why. How her retreats are as much a holiday as a safe place to share stories and feelings - interesting observation is that it is enough often around the table at meal-times that women open up. She's had men commenting how they would love to have a similar experience - but is this the answer or is it far more complex?
Jamie shares his experiences of running social woodworking clases and what life is like being the only male in a family of 5 females and how sometimes he can feel shot down in flames so retreats.
Gill and Honor question are we, as women, part of the problem, could we do more to acknowledge what men deal with? Do men find it easier to talk to women in the right space? Would they come to a retreat / workshop facilitated by a woman?
They all discuss the many natural ways in the past that enabled both men and women to open up and chat have disappeared, even family habits have changed that mean those opportuniteis to open up have disappeared as well?
As Gill says ulitamtely the only way we'll know or find a range of answers is to ask a range of men / males of all ages as there is no one way fits all.
Jamie and Gill talk all things boxes. From Jamie talking about old cardboard boxes to making a memory box / frames for two of his Dad's pipes his cousin has just found. Talking boxes reminds Gill of when she worked as a Sales admininstrator in a cardboard box factory and the trauma of the Tiny Tears boxes!
18mins 50 secs - Jamie remembering his Dad and the emotions that brings leads them into chatting about what prevents men from opening up and talking about their concerns and feelings in the way women do? Gill mentions her friend Honor (@honestlywithhonor on Instagram and Youtube) who runs 'Women Only' retreats in her gites in France and what would need to happen for that to work for men? Traditioanlly men went to the pub to chat but what do they do now as suicides are on the increase? What sort of environment would encourage them to open up? Is it easier for them when they are doing an activity like golf, woodworking, gardening at the allotment?
Both Jamie and Gill have got jobs to do which involves mixing cement! Gill had an 'Aha' moment when weeding between the large number of flagstones she has that instead of weeding she could just re-do the mortar between the flagstones! Whilst Jamie is busy sorting out his patio to aovid flooding.
It's also Gill's turn to have a real rant about litter! She explains that she walks up her lane each day and is forever collecting litter that people just throw out their car windows - with Budweiser and McDonald currently at the top of the litter leaderboard. Gill is shocked at the amount of unused sauce packets that are discarded and they chat about the amount it must cost the various fast food companies as well as the enviromental impact!
Talking of her walks she also tells Jamie about her surreal conversation, early on Sunday morning, about black-out blinds and sound waves with some illegal ravers on the Common that had kept her awake all Saturday night.
Jamie attempts to persuade Gill about the benefits of nettles from nettle tea to nettles on her pasta!
They chat about the benefits of foraging for your food or simply picking it from the garden straight to the pot, not only are there benefits in doing so to our mental health but also to our physical health.
And being British they can't avoid talking about the effect the weather and climate change have when you're growing your own food.
Jamie and Gill both agree that nature holds a lot of answers and remedies for our health over taking a pill. Talking of nettles reminded Gill about the perils of going for her early morning walk along country lanes!
It's all about shows and festivals in this week's episode!
Gill was lucky enough to be given tickets to go to the Chelsea Flower Show with her husband Clive for the first time this year. Jamie, having seen it on TV, wanted to know what it was like for real.
Gill and Jamie talk about the various show gardens and how the gardens have changed over the years to reflect helping nature and how people are changing their perceptions around how gardens should look. Jamie describes what he's been doing differently with his garden and how they are both bringing more wildlife into their gardens.
Gill goes on to decsribe the amazing displays in the Pavilion one of which was a bonsai display that made her think of Jamie - as he has an interest in all things bonsai. Jamie enthuses about his growing passion for bonsai and what he has learnt about 'air layering bonsai' from watching Peter Chan (HeronsBonsaiUK) on YouTube.
Jamie and Gill chat about their different perceptions of time particularly over the last 2 weeks, they've rushed by for Gill but seem to have gone more slowly for Jamie. They wondered why there is a difference in perception, both of them have been busy but what had happened to each of them in those two weeks changed the speed at which they perceived it had passed. Gill talks about a friend and her new partner and how different generations can have a view about time on the same subject - their elderly parents thinking they should hurry up to the next stage and not waste any precious time, whilst their adult children think, what's the hurry there's plenty of time it only seems like yesterday you met.
Gill and Jamie chat about how we live in a 24 hour society and how many people are always living in the future, desperate for their next holiday, the next thing in their lives and getting burnt out int he process. In comparison Gill and Jamie compare notes about how they have chaned their lives and make time to press pause, go for walks, explore their local area, notice things in more detail and do something creative as their form of meditation in a crazy world.
After the weekend celebrations Jamie and Gill have a quick chat about the coronation before Jamie shares his good news! Having been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis some years ago Jamie is now symptom free but as he says he is still work in progress. He describes what he did and how looking back he can understand what the triggers were and how important it is not to ignore them.
Jamie and Gill chat about what they do now to keep their stress levels low including gardening, being in nature and for Jamie learning the art of sashiko stitching or in Gill's case darning socks!
Jamie has been busy restoring a plane that was originally made in Germany and they chat about the importance of doing some research around the items you buy. He is also thinking of doing some carving on it and making it bespoke.
This reminds Gill of a 'team building' day she went on many years ago and the lesson she has always remembered about how important it is to ask your potential customers what they want and like. Too often companies do what they think will work with their customers.
From accidentally making compost out of his wood shavings last year Jamie has been on a mission to improve his briquettes and has been testing out various 'mixes' to see which burns the longest and gives out most heat.
They chat about their experiences of making compost and what Gill does to make her compost that she uses in the garden.
Gill has a rant about the number of discarded dog poo bags she's been seeing on her walks and the thing owners do that really annoys her most! Jamie, having a dog, puts the other side of the argument forward about cats - knowing Gill has two!
Jamie wants to talk about barriers both mental and physical ones that prevents people from doing things they want to do. He describes his barriers and together Gill and Jamie work out what he actually does that allows him to remove any barriers and how that can be duplicated to removing other barriers.
As is usual with Gill and Jamie they then somehow end up talking about buying friends presents and Gill shares what she did a few years ago to overcome that barrier and the impact it had on others.
Gill has had a few clients recently who are working out when is enough actually enough and what does having enough really mean? Jamie and Gill chat about their different perspectives on having enough and the choices they made to enjoy life now and stop chasing 'enough'.
They also talk about what they are both reading at the moment and how they both prefer 'real' books to using a device. Jamie explains why he won't be watching the film 'A Man Called Otto' having just finished reading the book it's based on 'A Man Called Ove' by Fredrik Backman.
At the start of the podcast Jamie is busy applying E45 to his head and Gill tells him that she found out she was allergic to it whilst going through her cancer treatment. This lead to them chatting about having cancer as Jamie's wife has also been through it. Jamie tells what it was like for him supporting his wife and Gill explains the very different approach she took and how that lead to her writing her book 'Beliefs Bing and Me. The Active Role I took to tackle Cancer'. They chat about how important they think taking a slower path in life is over being in the 'rat race', especially these days.
Jamie and Gill decide that a good dose of positivity is needed as it's so easy to get caught up in all the negativity in the world at the moment.
Jamie is pleased with his auction piece win and explains why it is important in this case to make comparisons.
Gill was reminded at the weekend of how good it feels when you 'save up' for something and how much more it then means to you when you buy it. She's been saving up for some power tools which she went and bought. She tells Jamie how even that experience made her chuckle!
Jamie announces he's making big changes to get better results from his YouTube channel. He's been doing some research by listening to Steven Bartlett's podcast 'Diary of a CEO'. Learning from those that have already done it is always a good place to start! Gill and Jamie chat about the importance of being clear on the reasons you are doing something so you avoid any potential stress. It leads into a discussion on comparison and people comparing themselves to others. Gill explains when she thinks it can be a helpful.
Gill has a bit of a rant to Jamie about the tactics some dentists use in an attempt to persuade you that your smile needs fixing in some way and you need to invest in having the 'perfect smile'! They both agree dentists have improved since they went as children. Talking about memories Gill explains why she'll never have the currently trendy, small white tiles in their house because of their link in her mind to old smelly, public loos! They chat about a TV show on the way to have a long life, which they both agree with - live a much simpler one! Finally Jamie shares why he finds staying in bed to work is so good.
Jamie and Gill welcome in 2023 and chat about crocodiles on Christmas Day and people working through the festive season. Jamie mentions more mature people being recruited as cabin crew and Gill explains how they were the first airline to lift the age at which you could apply and the benefits that brought. They also chat about trials of being a creative following an email Gill received and she shares the reason she loves the 'bit' between Christmas and New Year.
Gill warns of the dangers of younger generations not being used to different forms of heating after a friend had a close shave with teenagers and a halogen heater! Jamie and Gill talk about the stress buying Christmas presents can create and how they've both scaled back on who they buy for and how they still recycle cards into labels. Jamie shares how doing these podcasts has helped him and Gill shares her visualisation technique she uses when working with clients.
With it getting colder Jamie chats about the impact on his arthritis and taking control of looking after yourself. In today's world self care is so important and being able to recognise the signs early enough to stop burn out from happening. As energy prices soar Gill has dug out the Smart meter reader they were given a few years ago and finally plugged it in out of interest to watch the usage. It's made her realise how much energy we do waste simply by leaving things, like 4 way plugs, switched on at the wall!
Jamie is back in the kitchen cooking again, or should that be experimenting, with some free veg from an allotment. Gill chats about a post she has seen from a farmer concerning the eggs supermarkets reject. Being an 'ideas' person who hates waste, she shares her vision for helping farmers and preventing waste and Jamie makes added suggestions. As is normal for Gill and Jamie, somehow their chat leads to various things including thought programming followed by how you can make one good thing out of two broken ones, in this instant a woodworking plane.
Jamie talks very honestly about his struggles with mental health and how the dark times he has experienced in the past have actually shaped how he works today. He and Gill discuss how he has created a space within his classes and workshop that is as much about people being comfortable to share their feelings as it is about learning woodworking. They chat about how important it is these days to be able to 'open up' about what you're dealing with in a non therapeutic type environment.
Both Jamie and Gill share how proud they are with what their children have achieved as adults and the battles they faced on the way to get their dream jobs. They discuss the steps you need to take to turn a dream into reality and there are many ways to achieve a goal. Gill and Jamie talk about their frustration at people knowing about climate change but actually not really do anything if it affects them personally, from the beauty and fast fashion industry through to the dreaded cruise ships.
Jamie wants to know more about Gill's up-cycling projects and how she achieves the finish, particularly her 'car-ffee' table range that she has started to make in collaboration with her son. They discuss their various views on up cycling and why saving things from landfill is so important to them. Jamie shares his story about how he sought help when he was at a really low point in his life and why giving people the space and confidence to talk is crucial these days.
Gill and Jamie chat about what living through a piece of history means to them and the changes they'll have to get used to! Gill tells how the felling of their field maple tree lead to an encounter with a snake and this leads into a talking about bug hotels and reusing the wood. Jamie tells of the race between his tomato and sunflower plants and the mistake he made when cooking his tomato chutney and what damson gin has to do with it! Technology crops up again with Gill finally being forced to update her and her husband's 6S iPhones and how it is never as easy as 'they' say!
Jamie describes the Festival of Glass and how well it went with lots of people coming into his workshop but how quiet the centre then felt on the Monday. This leads Gill and Jamie to discuss the underlying stress that people now live with. Having watched his wife chatting with her friends Jamie believes women have got it right and wishes men could open up more without their egos getting in the way! Chat about the energy crisis brings up memories of wearing vests, extra jumpers and cooking things on the fire!
Having literally just finished refurbishing their new home Gill and her husband started noticing doors not closing and large cracks appearing in walls! They have discovered, that due to the extremely hot summer and large oak tree in a neighbour's garden, they now have subsidence! She tells Jamie the saga of what has happened so far and why it will take until Oct 2024 to sort out!!! Jamie explains why tidying his workshop to create the environment he really wants to work in and for his students to enjoy has been so important and helped motivate him.
Jamie has a rant to Gill about: social media, men, corporates and not being able to get in the shower! Gill talks about a couple of books she's read over the years: 'The Purple Cow' by Seth Godin on how to be different and standing out from the crowd and one that looks at anger from a very different perspective, 'Anger Management. Understanding. Healing. Freedom' by John Crawford - not that she thinks Jamie might find it useful after his week! :-)
Jamie and Gill chat about the trials and tribulations about being self employed. When you work on your own you have no other departments like: sales, IT, design, PR or customer service to support you - you are all those things! They discuss the benefits of starting your new business alongside your current role. This leads on to Gill telling Jamie that when she saw a photo of his new recycled 'mini' shed she thought it was going to be a compost toilet! Other topics include: country smells, growing veg and help with tomato plants.
Gill explains how she is at fault for the current heat wave and lack of water due to her new water butts! This opens the discussion about how house builders could be made to do more to help climate change when building new homes. Jamie tells of the old oak chest he's had for years and why he turned a table into some sought after chopping boards. From 'wu wei' moments, to learning new skills, driving and glass blowing Gill and Jamie cover it all.
Jamie talks about how he starts his day with a walk in the woods, and they chat about the benefits of being in nature, books they are reading and Gill becoming a trustee of Cultivating Change a new charity. Gill then finds out about Jamie's jeans, his 7 reasons for wearing odd socks, Gill explains one is similar to a well known technique for reducing anxiety. Jamie finding an old Corona bottle leads onto them chatting about a simpler life and how some things from the past would be good for the planet now.
Gill starts by talking about her new solar panels and Jamie finishes the podcast talking about tea bags. Somewhere in between they chat about: electric cars, dealing with customers expectations and the knock on effect to other work, how to make those calls you don't want to make, the difference between training and coaching, beetles, tomatoes, horse manure and finally tea bags!
Jamie has been battling with technology this week, including being able to record this podcast and that's where this episode starts. Only Gill and Jamie could link the woes of technology: to The Hay Festival, weeding the garden as a form of meditation, the impact of social media giants, Jamie's experiences with YouTube, talking about extremes of wealth, caring for the planet, collecting items and...link it all back to technology!
Gill and Jamie give a flavour of what their new podcast will be about. They talk about how the podcast came about and what you can expect in future episodes - from chatting about socks to what's going on in the world! Plus they will be inviting guests to join them. You never know what you're going to learn!
What has been happening since the last podcast? Life has been busy personally as well as professionally for both Janey and Gill. Janey and her children moved house before Christmas and she now also has a regular weekly spot on GB News Great Breakfast show. Gill has been finishing off her house refurbishment with a new roof! And they've both still been doing their 'day job'! They chat about:
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how the break from social media has changed Janey's approach to it and how she is using it differently rather than being off it completely
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how you can use it as a notice board for your business and avoid getting caught up in the algorithms and never ending changes
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and the problems being caught in the tech trap create as well as the impact on a family.
It's been two months since Janey decided to dramatically reduce her usage of social media for her business. She explains the different emotions she's experienced, how it has impacted her life both professionally and personally plus what she is doing differently now to promote her business. Gill shares her feelings on getting a post card and her hate of the 'watches' people now wear!
Gill and Janey chat about their concerns over the addictive nature of social media and the 'unconscious' impact it is having on people in lots of areas of their lives. They talk about their reasons for starting the Escape Route and why they want to take back control and do things very differently both personally and in business.
Gill and Janey give a short introduction as to how 'The Escape Route' idea came about. They talk about the reasons they think it's time for a big change in how we use social media and technology.