1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: Cheek a Keyboard is a powerhouse business woman, co founder 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: of the Big Group alongside husband Bruce's mother to now 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: adult children, author and media personality. But when you sit 4 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: down to chat with Chica, you feel as though you've 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: known her for years. She is the real deal, authentic, 6 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: fearless and utterly divine. I didn't want our meeting to end. 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: We talk turning fifty, empty, nesting, and the liberation of 8 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: learning to say no, enjoy. Woman's got it all together. 9 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 2: Menopause, It's coming for you no matter what. 10 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: Let's build a village of support. 11 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 2: Why is it so damn hot in here? 12 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 1: Menopause is so hot right now? 13 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 2: I think I'm only in menopause. 14 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: Women just want to feel hurt rage against the menopause 15 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: as I'm so excited. I have the beautiful cheek at Keyboard. 16 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: Who you might know from. I think you did three 17 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: seasons of Housewife. I did Melbourne. But far more than that, 18 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: you are an entrepreneur. You're described on your website Chica 19 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: dot com, warm, kind, classy. I have been a fan 20 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: of yours for so so long. Our paths crossed at 21 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: lunch last year for Derby Day, and I had seen 22 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: you at a few other events, and I thought, you 23 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: know what, I'm actually going to introduce myself this time 24 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: because I think you're so amazing Checker. So I did 25 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: go up to you, and I was so I don't 26 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: know what I was expecting, but I felt like i'd 27 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 1: known you for ever. 28 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 3: I love that. That's exactly what I like people to 29 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 3: feel like. I think that's a nice thing. 30 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: Well you are. You are warm, and you are kind. 31 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 2: And you are cute. 32 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: Gosh, you're classy. Know you were on Housewives. I thought 33 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: that you just you held yourself so beautifully and elegantly 34 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 1: and didn't get involved in the nasty. No. 35 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 2: I didn't. 36 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 3: And it's funny because I just that's who I am. 37 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 3: I'm not that person to get into drama and to 38 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 3: cause problems. And I found it really interesting watching that 39 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 3: show and being a part of that show and seeing 40 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 3: how they sort of made that all work and happen 41 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 3: and obviously set off the fireworks, but I was like, Nope, 42 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 3: that's not who I am. And also too, I had 43 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 3: a business to protect. I was certainly not going to 44 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 3: go out looking like I was the gossiping person when 45 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 3: in fact, really that's not who I am. And I 46 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 3: wanted to protect and make sure that no one thought 47 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 3: that that's what I was doing when we're in someone's 48 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 3: private space. 49 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: So you're a class act. Thank you, of course, you 50 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: and Bruce, the beautiful Bruce, your husband of thirty two. 51 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: Thirty two, been together thirty four. 52 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: Wow, you run the Big Group, which is an international 53 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: hospitality group. Yeah, would that be fair? 54 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 3: Absolutely, It's been a journey and it's funny. We both 55 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 3: started that business to save up some money to go 56 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 3: backpacking through Europe, and then we sort of picked up 57 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 3: more and more work and then sort of got more 58 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 3: and more stuff, and then suddenly it was like, oh, 59 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,119 Speaker 3: that trip's not going to happen the way we thought 60 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 3: it was. We went on a six week trip, but 61 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 3: we just got so much that we just sort of 62 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 3: thought we better come back and keep going. 63 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: But you're a great team. Everything you touch terms to gold. 64 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 1: Everything is beautiful. No no, no, But the way you dressed today, 65 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: you'd never step. 66 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: You're so kind. 67 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 3: I love things like that though, Like I love fashion, 68 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 3: I love you know, decorating homes, I love beautiful food, 69 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 3: Like all those things are very much who I am 70 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 3: and have been who I've been all my life. Like 71 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 3: my I had two amazing grandmothers. One was a real 72 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 3: homemaker and the other one was actually an actress on 73 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: the stage during World War one and two. And I 74 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 3: feel like I've got both of them sitting on my 75 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 3: shoulders because I've got a bit of both of them. 76 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 3: And my mum's mum taught me how to fold cheets, 77 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 3: how to do flower arrangements, make the perfect roast. All 78 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 3: those things were absolutely who I am. So it's truly 79 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 3: in meat, deep and deep. 80 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: I look at your website. Your house is just always 81 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: so it's the house everyone wants. I need you to 82 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: set all this argument. So before Christmas, I found this 83 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:00,040 Speaker 1: most beautiful door wreath. Yes, but I'm one of the 84 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: people that loves a wreath all year round, right, Like, 85 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: I think it's just that's beautiful, not Christmas themed. I 86 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: just think it's hey, the Newmans live here. We're a 87 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: happy and we're happily and we're come inside and put 88 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: your feet up. Anyway, my husband and daughter don't agree. Anyway, 89 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: I found this beautiful wreath. As I was saying, it's 90 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: almost like a pink heather and very very full, like 91 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: very very full, and you can barely close the door 92 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: for it, like it's just exceptional, and I want to 93 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: I'm trying to find like a pink waterwave, taffeta ribbon 94 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: or velvet ribbon. 95 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 3: I can tell exactly where to get that because I 96 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 3: get a lot of my ribbons from a company in America, 97 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,679 Speaker 3: and the Americans have everything, like if you want to pink, they've. 98 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 2: Got forty pinks. You can choose from any. 99 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 3: Shade, any thickness, wire, you know, velvet, grow grain, whatever 100 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 3: you one, I'll give. 101 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: It to you because it's I think a ribbon really 102 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: does make it look free. 103 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: And like I said to Chris, I've got this vision, 104 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: and he said, no, it's got to go down now Christmas. 105 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: I'm like, no, I'm going to ask check. 106 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 2: Or it doesn't sounds like it's very Christmasy. Anyway, I 107 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: think it's a beautiful boat. 108 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: It looks stunny, and we've got this beautiful big burgundy 109 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: timber front door and it just got in the bricks 110 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: kind of burgundy. And after contrast, yeah, and I thought, 111 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,559 Speaker 1: you know what, Chica will set me on the street. 112 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 3: In America, they always have wreaths on their doors. Lots 113 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 3: of homes, whether it's auto or it's spring. 114 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: I love it. I think it's keep it. It's beautiful. 115 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 1: I'll tell him you said that. 116 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 2: Do you tell Chris that from me, because. 117 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: You've now you've done one of your rooms up recently, 118 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: all that beautiful bottle green. 119 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 2: Yes. 120 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 3: So we put a conservatory on our house down on 121 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 3: the peninsula, and it's funny. It's not the biggest room 122 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 3: in the world, but it kind of gave us the 123 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 3: entrance that we never really had, and we were doing 124 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 3: the garden at the same time. 125 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 2: I can't tell you how I love I am with it. 126 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 3: Like our whole house is sort of black and beige 127 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 3: and a bit gray and bruce. And said to me, 128 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 3: I wasn't allowed to put nicknacks because I do love 129 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 3: my cutter, and slowly, slowly I have found its. But 130 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 3: this new green room has got all my beautiful white china, 131 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 3: and I'll collect you named I've got it. 132 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: Napkins place mats. 133 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 3: Love showing it off, and I don't mean showing it off, 134 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 3: I mean like just showing. 135 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: It so you can see you have been enjoying it. 136 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, And when you can see it away, you use it. 137 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 3: And I'm all about people using what you've got in 138 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 3: the cupboards because we all just use the top five 139 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,359 Speaker 3: things and that's it. So this new green room is 140 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 3: my love and I love it so much and it's 141 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 3: so pretty and it was fun to decorate for Christmas. 142 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: When I looked at it and I thought, gee, that's nice. 143 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 3: It is it is like green everywhere, but it's the 144 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 3: best green. Yeah, and we got those tops that those 145 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 3: tiles are from Morocco. But because I've done all this 146 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 3: green outside, it just brings it always that. 147 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: It just feels gorgeous. 148 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 3: I'm so happy, like I cannot wait to get in 149 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 3: the car and drive back down. 150 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm a happy place. I bet you also have collaborations, 151 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 1: don't do illusion. 152 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: Yes, it's a beautiful shop, which you know what. 153 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 3: They came to me a couple of years ago and 154 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 3: the first thing they asked me to do was to 155 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 3: do a photo shoot in New York with Iris Apsoll, 156 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 3: who has always been my idol. Yes, and I was like, 157 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 3: are you serious? And we had the most extraordinary dal 158 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 3: I'll never forget it. It was truly to meet that extraordinary 159 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 3: woman and have time with her and just to talk 160 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 3: to her about style and design was amazing. So yes, 161 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 3: I'm doing that I've got another really exciting one coming 162 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 3: out with Mecca, which is really. 163 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: His favorite shop. It's gone from like Smiggle suddenly to 164 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: Mecca and no in between. It's just all of Christmas 165 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: was Mecca vouchers. 166 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 3: Don't you Just when I see a mechat box under 167 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 3: the tree, I'm like, oh, please for me. So yeah, 168 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 3: I've got some really fun things that I've got coming up, 169 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 3: like some food brands and do you know what? Every 170 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 3: year starts off not knowing what's going to happen, and 171 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 3: then you get all these sort of questions asked, and 172 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 3: I'm like, let's just do it at the age of 173 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 3: my life now where I'm like, I'm not gonna not 174 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 3: say yes. I'm going to give it a go, see 175 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 3: what happens and take it from there. 176 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: Throw it to the wind. Don't you think I've spoken 177 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: the first series? For me? It was once I turned fifty. 178 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: There is a bit of no fucks given, isn't it? 179 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: As you throw caution to the wind anything, Well, what's 180 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: the worst that could happen if I fall flat on 181 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: my face? It leads out I know I've how to go. 182 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 3: I think we've got more confidence when I turned fifty 183 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 3: My new word was no, because I felt like I 184 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 3: said yes to everybody all my life and then suddenly 185 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 3: I was like, I don't want to do that, so no, 186 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 3: thank you very much. And I felt so liberated when 187 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 3: there were things happening that I didn't have to go 188 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 3: to or where I just sort of decided it wasn't 189 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 3: what I wanted to do because my week was already 190 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 3: really busy, and I've just been kind to myself and 191 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 3: it's been incredibly liberaated. 192 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: I was about to say, it is so liberating. I 193 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: think at first you feel like I'm going to miss 194 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: out on something. I'm missing out on opportunities because you're 195 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: always told to go for it. And you know, I 196 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: think too, as a woman, sometimes it is a bit 197 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: fight for the bone, like you really have to be 198 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: out there. But you're right, it's liberating. Once you turn fifty, 199 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,839 Speaker 1: something happens, something washes over you. Yeah, like it's okay. 200 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 3: I've got this real theory in life too, that these 201 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 3: sliding into all moments. Whether if you say no to 202 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 3: something then you can't look back and regret. If you 203 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 3: say yes to something and it's absolutely the best thing, fantastic, 204 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 3: and if it doesn't work out, just learn from it, 205 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 3: and that's okay too, to sit back. And I really 206 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 3: feel like we need to do this more that we 207 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 3: sit back and go that didn't work because of but 208 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 3: that's all right. Or I should have done something differently, 209 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 3: but that's all right. Like we have to give ourselves 210 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 3: a little bit of leniency. 211 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: And how hard is it to say no? Because as 212 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: a woman and as a mum, its hard to turn the. 213 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 2: Which is why it's liberating to be able to say it. 214 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you think, oh, that's all right. No small 215 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 1: children were harmed in the saying. 216 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 2: Yes, my no? Is it going to save or change 217 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 2: the world? 218 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: So where? Tell me? Where are you with your menopause journey? 219 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 2: Well, it's really interesting. 220 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 3: I actually don't know because I started at forty nine, yep. 221 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 3: And I my mum had a really tough time with 222 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 3: menopause and that was when I first knew what it 223 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 3: was about. And she was all over the shop and 224 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 3: I remember she sent me some flowers to say I'm sorry, 225 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 3: and that's when she went on too HRT. And you 226 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 3: know how long ago we talking. Mum's eighty two a 227 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 3: long time ago. Yeah, And there was a whole thing 228 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 3: about you know, the different risks that HRT had. But 229 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 3: I always said, if and when that happens to me, 230 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 3: I will jump on board stra away. So when I 231 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 3: started feeling a the sweats and you know, feeling the 232 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 3: anxiety and all the rest of it, beautiful Bruce said 233 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 3: to me, sweetheart, do you think it's time you went 234 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 3: to the doctor? And I thought, okay, I'm obviously not 235 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 3: being gracier so. 236 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 1: Of being a bit like me do so perhaps. 237 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 3: So my I love my doctor. She has been with 238 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 3: me since I got married. Correct, She's been through the 239 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 3: journey with the kids and all the problems that they've 240 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 3: all had. And I just sat with her and said, 241 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 3: tell me what to do, and you know, they're very open. 242 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 3: Here's some options you choose. And I said, well what 243 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 3: are you going to do? And she said, oh, no 244 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 3: one's ever asked me that before. And I said, well, 245 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 3: what will you do? So she told me and I said, well, 246 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 3: I think I'm going to do what you're going to do. 247 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 2: Yep. 248 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 3: And so at forty nine, I did the Marina. I 249 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 3: started on HRT and it was literally. 250 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 2: A game changer. 251 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 3: But now I'm fifty six, and I said to her, 252 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 3: the other day, when do we stop this? 253 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 2: You don't have to. 254 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 3: Oh wow, you can keep going. You can do whatever 255 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 3: you want. You can you know, obviously I'll take the 256 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 3: Marina out. But like I sort of this is the 257 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 3: year I'm going to investigate all of that, sort of 258 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 3: see where I don't need to keep. 259 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: Doing prioritize yourself. 260 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: Yeah a bit. Yeah, because I feel fantastic, Like. 261 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: You look fantastic, glowing. When you came into the studio, 262 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: I thought, my god, this woman's got it all together. 263 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 2: Just had a nice holiday. 264 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: No, but you do. You look relaxed and refresh can 265 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: On top. 266 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 2: Of I feel really good. I feel good going into 267 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 2: this year. 268 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 3: Actually, so I've had a lot of happy times over 269 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 3: the last couple of weeks, which I think also makes 270 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 3: you feel good, feels your cup. 271 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 2: But the whole HRT thing for me has been the best. 272 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 3: So I just feel like I'm at my normal keep 273 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 3: going and doing what I need to do without any 274 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 3: sort of. 275 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: And you've got like you've got a madic routine. You 276 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: can be flying all around the world. Yeah no, but 277 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: you can yes absolutely different time zones and really your 278 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: life has not. 279 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 2: Bruce had I had a conversation and said, okay. 280 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 3: So at fifty five we both talked about what the 281 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 3: next five years we're going to look like, and then 282 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 3: we said, we're having this chat again at sixty, so 283 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 3: we kind of know that the next what's happening in 284 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 3: the next five years. Both kids live overseas, so it 285 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 3: is literally just about us, our beautiful otto and that's 286 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 3: what we're doing. 287 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: And I think it's working really well for us. 288 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: Your daughter is now thirty and your son is twenty eight. Yes, 289 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: and getting married next year, yes, which is so exciting. 290 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: Oh my god, that will be the wedding of the century. 291 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: Oh wait, do you know what? 292 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 3: We have literally done thousands and if not hundreds of 293 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 3: thousands of weddings, And to have the opportunity to do 294 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 3: something for your own child and their beautiful partner, it's 295 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 3: the greatest gift in the world. 296 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 2: And we Brice and I. You should hear us. 297 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 3: You're excited, like and they're so cute, the two of them. 298 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 3: They're like whatever you think. 299 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,079 Speaker 1: I'm like, okay, well, of course the experts are in. 300 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 2: Do give an inch, you'll take a mile. No. 301 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: I was just thinking empty nesting. How did that coincide 302 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 1: with you going through perimenopause and the kids leaving, because 303 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 1: it seems like for me, it's a life collision where 304 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: you've got elderly parents whose needs are greater, so you're 305 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: getting stretched in that direction. For me, it's a teenage daughter. 306 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: It's not the restrictions but the demands of breakfast radio. 307 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 1: And it does feel like this collision course of everything 308 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 1: at once. And then I'm also grappling with not being 309 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: able to sleep and going through I'm still perimenopause like, 310 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 1: and then you've got the kid like everything. 311 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: It's a lot. 312 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 3: It's a lot, and it always happens at the same time. Yes, 313 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 3: because then my two children left. In fact, Jess's been 314 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 3: living in America now for ten years. Bj went and 315 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 3: did college over there, came back, went back again, so 316 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 3: it's not been five or six so. 317 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 2: Actually probably they missed the worst of it. 318 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, but. 319 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:41,959 Speaker 2: It is interesting how it all happens. 320 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 3: And then suddenly you sit in bed and go, oh 321 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 3: my god, I don't have to jump out of bed 322 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 3: and make breakfast for anyone, or worry about dinner tonight 323 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 3: or who's been picked up dropped off? So yes, it does. 324 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 3: It changes everything, and I supposed to a degree Bruce 325 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 3: and I have been quite selfish in the fact that 326 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 3: it's just about us. 327 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, but again I'm finding that even though fourteen this year, 328 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: I'm sort of finding that reconnect with my husband again 329 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: because she's even more independent, becoming special. So it's like, 330 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: and you know what's really nice. I just thought the 331 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: other day, because you know, when you you feel like 332 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: ships in the night and it is like tag team, 333 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: even though we've only got one child, it's sort of 334 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: like you be here, you be there, I'll do this, 335 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: you do. There's never there's no date nights a lot, 336 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: not enough, No, but it is nice to come back 337 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: to that point and think that connection is still there. 338 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: And it's scary after all those it. 339 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 3: Is and the number of my friends who have separated 340 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 3: after their children have left because they're looking at each other. 341 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: Going, who, I don't know you anymore. 342 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 2: That's why you got to make your date nights. 343 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, because Bruce and I always had date nights because 344 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 3: we're obviously working together, living together, children together, and I 345 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 3: think sometimes to go out for dinner and just talk 346 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 3: about a couple. 347 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 2: Nothing like no. 348 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: Work, not business partners. Yeah. God, he's so cute. 349 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 2: I love him. 350 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 1: So he looks great. 351 00:14:57,920 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 2: I say, do you know what? He is living his 352 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 2: best life. 353 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: He looks fantastic, happy's shape. 354 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 2: Do you know what? 355 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 3: After COVID, which is obviously an incredibly tough times for 356 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 3: many people, but it was really tough in the hospitality industry, 357 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 3: he really showed up to a lot of people with 358 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 3: He did lots of Instagram chats and all the rest 359 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 3: of it. And I think he's at a really great place, 360 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 3: a bit like what we're talking about, how we feel 361 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 3: like at fifty you can say no, Yeah, he's at 362 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 3: that stage where he knows what he's good at, what 363 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 3: he's capable of, what he wants to do more of, 364 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 3: and he's just going for it. 365 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: And I love that about him because his face says it. 366 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, he looks he's naughty. 367 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: Well thirty plus years thirty two, that is, that's a great. 368 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: How did you meet? 369 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 3: Oh my god, we met on a plane going up 370 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 3: to Queensland. We were both working for a caterer called 371 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 3: Peter Rowlands. Yes, and Bruce used to go up and 372 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 3: do the Brisbane bed football lunches every second week and 373 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 3: one day the girl that used to go couldn't, so 374 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 3: I went and that was. 375 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: Its fuck and the rest is history and. 376 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 2: The rest is history. 377 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 3: And then we thought no one knew that we were together. 378 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 3: And there was a big drum or a big marquet 379 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 3: had blown down, a big society wedding down in Flinders, 380 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 3: and we got the phone call from Peter saying, can 381 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 3: you please go and go fix it? He said, and 382 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 3: can you make sure Bruce is with you? And I'm like, 383 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 3: how did he even know we're together? 384 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 2: So it was just one of those funny things. But 385 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 2: now as a business own now you know everything that's 386 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 2: going on. 387 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, but your soul mates teasted me that you. 388 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 3: And I feel like we've grown up together like we 389 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 3: were young. We were twenty three when we got married. 390 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 3: So I really feel like between having the big group, 391 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 3: which is we always say our first child, and having 392 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 3: our two children and just everything that's gone on in 393 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 3: the world of you know, what we've been doing, it's 394 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 3: been great. 395 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 2: There have been times where I wanted to, you know, kill. 396 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: Him, Yeah, but that's that's natural. 397 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 3: But he's not the best and I can't imagine walking 398 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 3: into the last half of my life without my best 399 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 3: friend by my side. 400 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: That's beautiful. Tell me what was his how important was 401 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: his support. You said that he instigated you. Maybe, yes, 402 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: see the GP. 403 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 2: He was amazing. 404 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, and he's been incredible, Like he's not every day 405 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 3: how I am, but he absolutely is across it. 406 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 2: And you know, I'm tell him things and he's interested. 407 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 2: He listen. He doesn't brush it away. No, And I 408 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:08,439 Speaker 2: think that's. 409 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 3: A thing about menopause and perimenopause. Most guys don't know 410 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 3: much about it, no, so I think it is important. 411 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: A lot of women don't know about it. I came 412 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: into this and I was so unarmed, cheeker. I thought, 413 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: I don't think I'm I'm not a dumb person, but 414 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: why aren't we talking about this? I don't know enough 415 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:26,639 Speaker 1: about it. No one's talking about it on the podcast. 416 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 2: I love that you have got it. 417 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 3: And I was telling quite a few people that I 418 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 3: was doing this today and so many were like, oh 419 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 3: my god, that is so good to hear because there 420 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,360 Speaker 3: is not much enough information out there. There's not enough 421 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 3: understanding that we're all different and we want to do 422 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 3: it differently. But it's also important to know we can 423 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 3: feel back to our normal selves. 424 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: So yeah, that's the thing I remember saying to my GP. 425 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 1: I said, am I going to feel normal again. Yes, Like, 426 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: I don't know, it's such a funny thing, my journey. 427 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: So how's this so coming off the back of Christmas? 428 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 1: So I think it's when we stop down on survey break, 429 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: we have a We're very very lucky, very fortunate in 430 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: that we have five or six weeks off and that 431 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 1: is a time for your body to just completely relax. 432 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,360 Speaker 1: So I went, this has happened three years in a row, 433 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: eleven months without a period. So I thought, Wow, this 434 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: is it. I'm finally like high five after a lifetime 435 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: of you know, pcos and endometriosis and all that. I thought, 436 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: you know what, this is it. This is the next chapter. 437 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: And then always when I'm off in that survey break, 438 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 1: I get a period. Yeah, so I go back to 439 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 1: square one. 440 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 2: Is it a real period? Though? 441 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: Well, the first one certainly was. It was like the 442 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: gates of hell, Yeah, that's horrible. And then it was 443 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: like a bit of a puff the second. The second 444 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: time it happened. And then so this December, that's just happened. 445 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: I said to my husband, we were about to go 446 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 1: up to the WIT Sundays for our break, and I said, 447 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: you know what, I was really pissed off. I said 448 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,199 Speaker 1: to Chris, can you believe I think I'm going to 449 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: have to go and get some tampons because I am 450 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: pretty sure that my period's coming. He's going no, and 451 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: I said, no, I'm serious. Like even cheek are the 452 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,640 Speaker 1: saw boobs And they got sore each day, and then 453 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: I started to get the cramping, and I thought, you've 454 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 1: got it like I was. 455 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 2: So that would make me furious. 456 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: I just stormed into a west Damn these damn tampons. 457 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: And if you enjoyed this episode with Cheeka, download part two. 458 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,880 Speaker 1: If your menopause journey is making you feel disempowered, I 459 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: highly recommend Back in Control, where she talks about how 460 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 1: she took charge of her journey and inspires other women 461 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 1: to do the same. I'm Petrina Jones strage against the 462 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: menopause