WEBVTT - Woman’s Got It All Together 0:00:00.280 --> 0:00:04.240 Cheek a Keyboard is a powerhouse business woman, co founder 0:00:04.400 --> 0:00:08.080 of the Big Group alongside husband Bruce's mother to now 0:00:08.200 --> 0:00:13.040 adult children, author and media personality. But when you sit 0:00:13.119 --> 0:00:15.640 down to chat with Chica, you feel as though you've 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:21.079 known her for years. She is the real deal, authentic, 0:00:21.520 --> 0:00:26.320 fearless and utterly divine. I didn't want our meeting to end. 0:00:26.600 --> 0:00:31.360 We talk turning fifty, empty, nesting, and the liberation of 0:00:31.440 --> 0:00:35.680 learning to say no, enjoy. Woman's got it all together. 0:00:38.120 --> 0:00:41.120 Menopause, It's coming for you no matter what. 0:00:41.479 --> 0:00:43.479 Let's build a village of support. 0:00:43.640 --> 0:00:45.640 Why is it so damn hot in here? 0:00:45.960 --> 0:00:48.200 Menopause is so hot right now? 0:00:48.320 --> 0:00:49.880 I think I'm only in menopause. 0:00:50.159 --> 0:00:54.520 Women just want to feel hurt rage against the menopause 0:00:54.560 --> 0:00:58.320 as I'm so excited. I have the beautiful cheek at Keyboard. 0:00:58.720 --> 0:01:01.800 Who you might know from. I think you did three 0:01:02.440 --> 0:01:06.360 seasons of Housewife. I did Melbourne. But far more than that, 0:01:07.240 --> 0:01:11.640 you are an entrepreneur. You're described on your website Chica 0:01:11.720 --> 0:01:15.760 dot com, warm, kind, classy. I have been a fan 0:01:15.880 --> 0:01:19.920 of yours for so so long. Our paths crossed at 0:01:20.040 --> 0:01:23.640 lunch last year for Derby Day, and I had seen 0:01:23.680 --> 0:01:25.240 you at a few other events, and I thought, you 0:01:25.240 --> 0:01:29.720 know what, I'm actually going to introduce myself this time 0:01:29.800 --> 0:01:32.840 because I think you're so amazing Checker. So I did 0:01:32.880 --> 0:01:34.399 go up to you, and I was so I don't 0:01:34.400 --> 0:01:37.360 know what I was expecting, but I felt like i'd 0:01:37.520 --> 0:01:39.040 known you for ever. 0:01:39.440 --> 0:01:41.920 I love that. That's exactly what I like people to 0:01:41.959 --> 0:01:43.480 feel like. I think that's a nice thing. 0:01:43.800 --> 0:01:47.240 Well you are. You are warm, and you are kind. 0:01:47.080 --> 0:01:48.280 And you are cute. 0:01:48.360 --> 0:01:52.000 Gosh, you're classy. Know you were on Housewives. I thought 0:01:52.080 --> 0:01:57.040 that you just you held yourself so beautifully and elegantly 0:01:57.480 --> 0:02:00.040 and didn't get involved in the nasty. No. 0:02:00.360 --> 0:02:00.800 I didn't. 0:02:00.800 --> 0:02:03.240 And it's funny because I just that's who I am. 0:02:03.320 --> 0:02:05.520 I'm not that person to get into drama and to 0:02:05.720 --> 0:02:08.480 cause problems. And I found it really interesting watching that 0:02:08.520 --> 0:02:10.680 show and being a part of that show and seeing 0:02:10.720 --> 0:02:12.480 how they sort of made that all work and happen 0:02:12.480 --> 0:02:15.079 and obviously set off the fireworks, but I was like, Nope, 0:02:15.120 --> 0:02:17.200 that's not who I am. And also too, I had 0:02:17.200 --> 0:02:19.160 a business to protect. I was certainly not going to 0:02:19.280 --> 0:02:22.040 go out looking like I was the gossiping person when 0:02:22.040 --> 0:02:23.880 in fact, really that's not who I am. And I 0:02:23.880 --> 0:02:25.840 wanted to protect and make sure that no one thought 0:02:25.840 --> 0:02:27.760 that that's what I was doing when we're in someone's 0:02:27.800 --> 0:02:28.440 private space. 0:02:28.520 --> 0:02:30.800 So you're a class act. Thank you, of course, you 0:02:30.880 --> 0:02:34.280 and Bruce, the beautiful Bruce, your husband of thirty two. 0:02:34.200 --> 0:02:36.160 Thirty two, been together thirty four. 0:02:36.400 --> 0:02:40.200 Wow, you run the Big Group, which is an international 0:02:40.600 --> 0:02:42.480 hospitality group. Yeah, would that be fair? 0:02:42.560 --> 0:02:45.720 Absolutely, It's been a journey and it's funny. We both 0:02:45.760 --> 0:02:48.400 started that business to save up some money to go 0:02:48.480 --> 0:02:51.480 backpacking through Europe, and then we sort of picked up 0:02:51.520 --> 0:02:53.400 more and more work and then sort of got more 0:02:53.440 --> 0:02:55.560 and more stuff, and then suddenly it was like, oh, 0:02:55.600 --> 0:02:57.119 that trip's not going to happen the way we thought 0:02:57.120 --> 0:02:58.600 it was. We went on a six week trip, but 0:02:59.200 --> 0:03:00.800 we just got so much that we just sort of 0:03:00.800 --> 0:03:02.400 thought we better come back and keep going. 0:03:02.639 --> 0:03:05.840 But you're a great team. Everything you touch terms to gold. 0:03:05.919 --> 0:03:09.080 Everything is beautiful. No no, no, But the way you dressed today, 0:03:09.200 --> 0:03:10.720 you'd never step. 0:03:11.080 --> 0:03:12.600 You're so kind. 0:03:12.800 --> 0:03:15.600 I love things like that though, Like I love fashion, 0:03:15.760 --> 0:03:18.919 I love you know, decorating homes, I love beautiful food, 0:03:19.000 --> 0:03:20.760 Like all those things are very much who I am 0:03:21.120 --> 0:03:23.240 and have been who I've been all my life. Like 0:03:23.320 --> 0:03:26.359 my I had two amazing grandmothers. One was a real 0:03:26.400 --> 0:03:28.440 homemaker and the other one was actually an actress on 0:03:28.480 --> 0:03:30.880 the stage during World War one and two. And I 0:03:30.880 --> 0:03:32.560 feel like I've got both of them sitting on my 0:03:32.560 --> 0:03:34.359 shoulders because I've got a bit of both of them. 0:03:34.480 --> 0:03:38.040 And my mum's mum taught me how to fold cheets, 0:03:38.120 --> 0:03:41.000 how to do flower arrangements, make the perfect roast. All 0:03:41.000 --> 0:03:43.920 those things were absolutely who I am. So it's truly 0:03:44.120 --> 0:03:45.680 in meat, deep and deep. 0:03:46.360 --> 0:03:48.920 I look at your website. Your house is just always 0:03:49.040 --> 0:03:52.240 so it's the house everyone wants. I need you to 0:03:52.240 --> 0:03:56.160 set all this argument. So before Christmas, I found this 0:03:56.320 --> 0:04:00.040 most beautiful door wreath. Yes, but I'm one of the 0:04:00.240 --> 0:04:03.880 people that loves a wreath all year round, right, Like, 0:04:03.960 --> 0:04:07.040 I think it's just that's beautiful, not Christmas themed. I 0:04:07.160 --> 0:04:10.280 just think it's hey, the Newmans live here. We're a 0:04:10.320 --> 0:04:13.800 happy and we're happily and we're come inside and put 0:04:13.840 --> 0:04:17.440 your feet up. Anyway, my husband and daughter don't agree. Anyway, 0:04:17.440 --> 0:04:19.440 I found this beautiful wreath. As I was saying, it's 0:04:19.480 --> 0:04:24.120 almost like a pink heather and very very full, like 0:04:24.440 --> 0:04:26.840 very very full, and you can barely close the door 0:04:27.000 --> 0:04:30.040 for it, like it's just exceptional, and I want to 0:04:30.160 --> 0:04:34.280 I'm trying to find like a pink waterwave, taffeta ribbon 0:04:35.040 --> 0:04:35.960 or velvet ribbon. 0:04:36.040 --> 0:04:38.359 I can tell exactly where to get that because I 0:04:38.400 --> 0:04:40.560 get a lot of my ribbons from a company in America, 0:04:40.960 --> 0:04:43.679 and the Americans have everything, like if you want to pink, they've. 0:04:43.520 --> 0:04:45.560 Got forty pinks. You can choose from any. 0:04:45.360 --> 0:04:48.920 Shade, any thickness, wire, you know, velvet, grow grain, whatever 0:04:48.960 --> 0:04:49.640 you one, I'll give. 0:04:49.480 --> 0:04:51.719 It to you because it's I think a ribbon really 0:04:51.720 --> 0:04:53.080 does make it look free. 0:04:53.200 --> 0:04:55.480 And like I said to Chris, I've got this vision, 0:04:55.520 --> 0:04:57.640 and he said, no, it's got to go down now Christmas. 0:04:57.880 --> 0:05:00.000 I'm like, no, I'm going to ask check. 0:04:59.800 --> 0:05:02.120 Or it doesn't sounds like it's very Christmasy. Anyway, I 0:05:02.160 --> 0:05:03.400 think it's a beautiful boat. 0:05:03.400 --> 0:05:05.920 It looks stunny, and we've got this beautiful big burgundy 0:05:06.839 --> 0:05:09.800 timber front door and it just got in the bricks 0:05:09.880 --> 0:05:13.120 kind of burgundy. And after contrast, yeah, and I thought, 0:05:13.160 --> 0:05:15.559 you know what, Chica will set me on the street. 0:05:16.320 --> 0:05:18.839 In America, they always have wreaths on their doors. Lots 0:05:18.839 --> 0:05:20.719 of homes, whether it's auto or it's spring. 0:05:21.200 --> 0:05:23.320 I love it. I think it's keep it. It's beautiful. 0:05:23.560 --> 0:05:24.720 I'll tell him you said that. 0:05:24.839 --> 0:05:27.080 Do you tell Chris that from me, because. 0:05:26.800 --> 0:05:29.440 You've now you've done one of your rooms up recently, 0:05:29.880 --> 0:05:31.400 all that beautiful bottle green. 0:05:31.600 --> 0:05:31.800 Yes. 0:05:31.880 --> 0:05:34.000 So we put a conservatory on our house down on 0:05:34.040 --> 0:05:37.000 the peninsula, and it's funny. It's not the biggest room 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:38.560 in the world, but it kind of gave us the 0:05:38.720 --> 0:05:40.880 entrance that we never really had, and we were doing 0:05:40.880 --> 0:05:42.000 the garden at the same time. 0:05:42.120 --> 0:05:43.760 I can't tell you how I love I am with it. 0:05:43.920 --> 0:05:47.120 Like our whole house is sort of black and beige 0:05:47.160 --> 0:05:48.480 and a bit gray and bruce. And said to me, 0:05:48.520 --> 0:05:50.520 I wasn't allowed to put nicknacks because I do love 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:54.960 my cutter, and slowly, slowly I have found its. But 0:05:55.040 --> 0:05:58.360 this new green room has got all my beautiful white china, 0:05:58.440 --> 0:06:01.000 and I'll collect you named I've got it. 0:06:01.080 --> 0:06:02.240 Napkins place mats. 0:06:02.480 --> 0:06:05.720 Love showing it off, and I don't mean showing it off, 0:06:05.720 --> 0:06:06.880 I mean like just showing. 0:06:06.600 --> 0:06:08.400 It so you can see you have been enjoying it. 0:06:08.480 --> 0:06:10.560 Yeah, And when you can see it away, you use it. 0:06:10.720 --> 0:06:12.599 And I'm all about people using what you've got in 0:06:12.600 --> 0:06:14.719 the cupboards because we all just use the top five 0:06:14.800 --> 0:06:17.359 things and that's it. So this new green room is 0:06:17.400 --> 0:06:19.440 my love and I love it so much and it's 0:06:19.480 --> 0:06:21.480 so pretty and it was fun to decorate for Christmas. 0:06:21.520 --> 0:06:23.360 When I looked at it and I thought, gee, that's nice. 0:06:23.440 --> 0:06:26.160 It is it is like green everywhere, but it's the 0:06:26.160 --> 0:06:29.080 best green. Yeah, and we got those tops that those 0:06:29.200 --> 0:06:31.440 tiles are from Morocco. But because I've done all this 0:06:31.480 --> 0:06:33.640 green outside, it just brings it always that. 0:06:33.880 --> 0:06:35.200 It just feels gorgeous. 0:06:35.760 --> 0:06:37.640 I'm so happy, like I cannot wait to get in 0:06:37.640 --> 0:06:38.840 the car and drive back down. 0:06:39.200 --> 0:06:43.159 Yeah, I'm a happy place. I bet you also have collaborations, 0:06:43.200 --> 0:06:44.840 don't do illusion. 0:06:45.080 --> 0:06:47.000 Yes, it's a beautiful shop, which you know what. 0:06:47.120 --> 0:06:49.120 They came to me a couple of years ago and 0:06:49.400 --> 0:06:50.800 the first thing they asked me to do was to 0:06:50.800 --> 0:06:53.080 do a photo shoot in New York with Iris Apsoll, 0:06:53.160 --> 0:06:55.839 who has always been my idol. Yes, and I was like, 0:06:55.880 --> 0:06:59.200 are you serious? And we had the most extraordinary dal 0:06:59.240 --> 0:07:02.159 I'll never forget it. It was truly to meet that extraordinary 0:07:02.200 --> 0:07:04.159 woman and have time with her and just to talk 0:07:04.200 --> 0:07:07.480 to her about style and design was amazing. So yes, 0:07:07.520 --> 0:07:09.920 I'm doing that I've got another really exciting one coming 0:07:09.960 --> 0:07:13.000 out with Mecca, which is really. 0:07:13.160 --> 0:07:16.480 His favorite shop. It's gone from like Smiggle suddenly to 0:07:16.920 --> 0:07:20.440 Mecca and no in between. It's just all of Christmas 0:07:20.520 --> 0:07:21.600 was Mecca vouchers. 0:07:21.720 --> 0:07:23.440 Don't you Just when I see a mechat box under 0:07:23.440 --> 0:07:27.280 the tree, I'm like, oh, please for me. So yeah, 0:07:27.280 --> 0:07:29.880 I've got some really fun things that I've got coming up, 0:07:30.000 --> 0:07:32.400 like some food brands and do you know what? Every 0:07:32.480 --> 0:07:34.200 year starts off not knowing what's going to happen, and 0:07:34.200 --> 0:07:36.400 then you get all these sort of questions asked, and 0:07:36.440 --> 0:07:38.600 I'm like, let's just do it at the age of 0:07:38.600 --> 0:07:40.520 my life now where I'm like, I'm not gonna not 0:07:40.600 --> 0:07:42.600 say yes. I'm going to give it a go, see 0:07:42.640 --> 0:07:44.080 what happens and take it from there. 0:07:44.200 --> 0:07:47.400 Throw it to the wind. Don't you think I've spoken 0:07:47.440 --> 0:07:50.960 the first series? For me? It was once I turned fifty. 0:07:51.320 --> 0:07:53.720 There is a bit of no fucks given, isn't it? 0:07:53.880 --> 0:07:56.760 As you throw caution to the wind anything, Well, what's 0:07:56.800 --> 0:07:58.880 the worst that could happen if I fall flat on 0:07:58.920 --> 0:08:00.800 my face? It leads out I know I've how to go. 0:08:01.720 --> 0:08:04.360 I think we've got more confidence when I turned fifty 0:08:04.440 --> 0:08:06.480 My new word was no, because I felt like I 0:08:06.560 --> 0:08:09.400 said yes to everybody all my life and then suddenly 0:08:09.440 --> 0:08:11.200 I was like, I don't want to do that, so no, 0:08:11.280 --> 0:08:14.120 thank you very much. And I felt so liberated when 0:08:14.160 --> 0:08:15.840 there were things happening that I didn't have to go 0:08:15.920 --> 0:08:18.480 to or where I just sort of decided it wasn't 0:08:18.520 --> 0:08:20.040 what I wanted to do because my week was already 0:08:20.040 --> 0:08:22.560 really busy, and I've just been kind to myself and 0:08:22.760 --> 0:08:24.840 it's been incredibly liberaated. 0:08:25.080 --> 0:08:27.200 I was about to say, it is so liberating. I 0:08:27.200 --> 0:08:29.400 think at first you feel like I'm going to miss 0:08:29.440 --> 0:08:32.160 out on something. I'm missing out on opportunities because you're 0:08:32.160 --> 0:08:34.440 always told to go for it. And you know, I 0:08:34.440 --> 0:08:36.480 think too, as a woman, sometimes it is a bit 0:08:37.000 --> 0:08:39.280 fight for the bone, like you really have to be 0:08:39.400 --> 0:08:42.760 out there. But you're right, it's liberating. Once you turn fifty, 0:08:42.800 --> 0:08:45.839 something happens, something washes over you. Yeah, like it's okay. 0:08:46.040 --> 0:08:48.040 I've got this real theory in life too, that these 0:08:48.080 --> 0:08:49.800 sliding into all moments. Whether if you say no to 0:08:49.840 --> 0:08:51.920 something then you can't look back and regret. If you 0:08:51.920 --> 0:08:54.720 say yes to something and it's absolutely the best thing, fantastic, 0:08:54.720 --> 0:08:56.679 and if it doesn't work out, just learn from it, 0:08:56.960 --> 0:08:59.160 and that's okay too, to sit back. And I really 0:08:59.160 --> 0:09:00.560 feel like we need to do this more that we 0:09:00.600 --> 0:09:02.760 sit back and go that didn't work because of but 0:09:02.840 --> 0:09:04.720 that's all right. Or I should have done something differently, 0:09:05.080 --> 0:09:07.080 but that's all right. Like we have to give ourselves 0:09:07.120 --> 0:09:08.120 a little bit of leniency. 0:09:08.480 --> 0:09:11.520 And how hard is it to say no? Because as 0:09:11.559 --> 0:09:15.520 a woman and as a mum, its hard to turn the. 0:09:15.720 --> 0:09:17.559 Which is why it's liberating to be able to say it. 0:09:17.960 --> 0:09:19.600 Yeah, and you think, oh, that's all right. No small 0:09:19.640 --> 0:09:21.199 children were harmed in the saying. 0:09:22.360 --> 0:09:24.280 Yes, my no? Is it going to save or change 0:09:24.320 --> 0:09:24.679 the world? 0:09:25.360 --> 0:09:28.520 So where? Tell me? Where are you with your menopause journey? 0:09:28.559 --> 0:09:29.440 Well, it's really interesting. 0:09:29.520 --> 0:09:33.240 I actually don't know because I started at forty nine, yep. 0:09:33.520 --> 0:09:36.680 And I my mum had a really tough time with 0:09:36.760 --> 0:09:38.840 menopause and that was when I first knew what it 0:09:38.880 --> 0:09:41.520 was about. And she was all over the shop and 0:09:41.520 --> 0:09:43.960 I remember she sent me some flowers to say I'm sorry, 0:09:44.559 --> 0:09:46.720 and that's when she went on too HRT. And you 0:09:46.760 --> 0:09:50.320 know how long ago we talking. Mum's eighty two a 0:09:50.360 --> 0:09:53.440 long time ago. Yeah, And there was a whole thing 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:56.280 about you know, the different risks that HRT had. But 0:09:56.320 --> 0:09:58.640 I always said, if and when that happens to me, 0:09:58.720 --> 0:10:01.480 I will jump on board stra away. So when I 0:10:01.520 --> 0:10:04.320 started feeling a the sweats and you know, feeling the 0:10:04.320 --> 0:10:06.840 anxiety and all the rest of it, beautiful Bruce said 0:10:06.840 --> 0:10:08.679 to me, sweetheart, do you think it's time you went 0:10:08.760 --> 0:10:11.960 to the doctor? And I thought, okay, I'm obviously not 0:10:12.000 --> 0:10:13.360 being gracier so. 0:10:13.480 --> 0:10:15.839 Of being a bit like me do so perhaps. 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:20.280 So my I love my doctor. She has been with 0:10:20.320 --> 0:10:23.280 me since I got married. Correct, She's been through the 0:10:23.360 --> 0:10:25.200 journey with the kids and all the problems that they've 0:10:25.200 --> 0:10:27.680 all had. And I just sat with her and said, 0:10:27.720 --> 0:10:29.720 tell me what to do, and you know, they're very open. 0:10:29.800 --> 0:10:32.280 Here's some options you choose. And I said, well what 0:10:32.280 --> 0:10:34.440 are you going to do? And she said, oh, no 0:10:34.440 --> 0:10:36.000 one's ever asked me that before. And I said, well, 0:10:36.040 --> 0:10:37.720 what will you do? So she told me and I said, well, 0:10:37.760 --> 0:10:39.000 I think I'm going to do what you're going to do. 0:10:39.120 --> 0:10:39.360 Yep. 0:10:39.640 --> 0:10:42.680 And so at forty nine, I did the Marina. I 0:10:42.679 --> 0:10:45.959 started on HRT and it was literally. 0:10:45.720 --> 0:10:46.360 A game changer. 0:10:47.040 --> 0:10:50.000 But now I'm fifty six, and I said to her, 0:10:50.040 --> 0:10:51.600 the other day, when do we stop this? 0:10:52.240 --> 0:10:52.840 You don't have to. 0:10:53.000 --> 0:10:55.040 Oh wow, you can keep going. You can do whatever 0:10:55.040 --> 0:10:56.959 you want. You can you know, obviously I'll take the 0:10:57.000 --> 0:11:00.280 Marina out. But like I sort of this is the 0:11:00.360 --> 0:11:02.320 year I'm going to investigate all of that, sort of 0:11:02.320 --> 0:11:03.760 see where I don't need to keep. 0:11:03.559 --> 0:11:04.840 Doing prioritize yourself. 0:11:04.960 --> 0:11:07.480 Yeah a bit. Yeah, because I feel fantastic, Like. 0:11:07.679 --> 0:11:10.800 You look fantastic, glowing. When you came into the studio, 0:11:10.840 --> 0:11:13.320 I thought, my god, this woman's got it all together. 0:11:13.360 --> 0:11:14.360 Just had a nice holiday. 0:11:14.960 --> 0:11:18.080 No, but you do. You look relaxed and refresh can 0:11:18.240 --> 0:11:18.840 On top. 0:11:18.679 --> 0:11:21.000 Of I feel really good. I feel good going into 0:11:21.000 --> 0:11:21.360 this year. 0:11:21.400 --> 0:11:23.679 Actually, so I've had a lot of happy times over 0:11:23.720 --> 0:11:25.480 the last couple of weeks, which I think also makes 0:11:25.520 --> 0:11:26.640 you feel good, feels your cup. 0:11:26.760 --> 0:11:30.840 But the whole HRT thing for me has been the best. 0:11:31.080 --> 0:11:33.640 So I just feel like I'm at my normal keep 0:11:33.679 --> 0:11:35.720 going and doing what I need to do without any 0:11:35.800 --> 0:11:36.160 sort of. 0:11:36.120 --> 0:11:38.680 And you've got like you've got a madic routine. You 0:11:38.720 --> 0:11:41.920 can be flying all around the world. Yeah no, but 0:11:42.000 --> 0:11:45.280 you can yes absolutely different time zones and really your 0:11:45.320 --> 0:11:48.000 life has not. 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:50.480 Bruce had I had a conversation and said, okay. 0:11:50.840 --> 0:11:53.120 So at fifty five we both talked about what the 0:11:53.160 --> 0:11:54.760 next five years we're going to look like, and then 0:11:54.760 --> 0:11:57.040 we said, we're having this chat again at sixty, so 0:11:57.080 --> 0:11:58.880 we kind of know that the next what's happening in 0:11:58.880 --> 0:12:01.200 the next five years. Both kids live overseas, so it 0:12:01.280 --> 0:12:05.240 is literally just about us, our beautiful otto and that's 0:12:05.240 --> 0:12:05.720 what we're doing. 0:12:05.760 --> 0:12:07.400 And I think it's working really well for us. 0:12:07.679 --> 0:12:12.440 Your daughter is now thirty and your son is twenty eight. Yes, 0:12:12.760 --> 0:12:15.520 and getting married next year, yes, which is so exciting. 0:12:15.520 --> 0:12:17.640 Oh my god, that will be the wedding of the century. 0:12:17.840 --> 0:12:19.240 Oh wait, do you know what? 0:12:19.400 --> 0:12:22.040 We have literally done thousands and if not hundreds of 0:12:22.040 --> 0:12:25.560 thousands of weddings, And to have the opportunity to do 0:12:25.640 --> 0:12:29.199 something for your own child and their beautiful partner, it's 0:12:29.280 --> 0:12:30.640 the greatest gift in the world. 0:12:30.679 --> 0:12:32.080 And we Brice and I. You should hear us. 0:12:33.160 --> 0:12:36.400 You're excited, like and they're so cute, the two of them. 0:12:36.400 --> 0:12:37.320 They're like whatever you think. 0:12:37.320 --> 0:12:40.079 I'm like, okay, well, of course the experts are in. 0:12:40.440 --> 0:12:43.080 Do give an inch, you'll take a mile. No. 0:12:43.280 --> 0:12:47.800 I was just thinking empty nesting. How did that coincide 0:12:47.880 --> 0:12:51.680 with you going through perimenopause and the kids leaving, because 0:12:52.000 --> 0:12:55.560 it seems like for me, it's a life collision where 0:12:55.559 --> 0:12:59.240 you've got elderly parents whose needs are greater, so you're 0:12:59.240 --> 0:13:03.280 getting stretched in that direction. For me, it's a teenage daughter. 0:13:03.600 --> 0:13:07.760 It's not the restrictions but the demands of breakfast radio. 0:13:08.040 --> 0:13:11.560 And it does feel like this collision course of everything 0:13:11.800 --> 0:13:14.680 at once. And then I'm also grappling with not being 0:13:14.679 --> 0:13:19.080 able to sleep and going through I'm still perimenopause like, 0:13:19.240 --> 0:13:21.079 and then you've got the kid like everything. 0:13:21.360 --> 0:13:21.920 It's a lot. 0:13:22.360 --> 0:13:24.760 It's a lot, and it always happens at the same time. Yes, 0:13:24.840 --> 0:13:27.560 because then my two children left. In fact, Jess's been 0:13:27.600 --> 0:13:30.560 living in America now for ten years. Bj went and 0:13:30.600 --> 0:13:33.480 did college over there, came back, went back again, so 0:13:33.640 --> 0:13:35.360 it's not been five or six so. 0:13:35.320 --> 0:13:38.280 Actually probably they missed the worst of it. 0:13:38.480 --> 0:13:39.120 Yeah, but. 0:13:40.640 --> 0:13:41.959 It is interesting how it all happens. 0:13:42.000 --> 0:13:44.439 And then suddenly you sit in bed and go, oh 0:13:44.440 --> 0:13:46.240 my god, I don't have to jump out of bed 0:13:46.240 --> 0:13:48.679 and make breakfast for anyone, or worry about dinner tonight 0:13:48.800 --> 0:13:51.320 or who's been picked up dropped off? So yes, it does. 0:13:51.360 --> 0:13:53.880 It changes everything, and I supposed to a degree Bruce 0:13:53.880 --> 0:13:55.880 and I have been quite selfish in the fact that 0:13:55.920 --> 0:13:56.920 it's just about us. 0:13:57.040 --> 0:14:01.800 Yeah, but again I'm finding that even though fourteen this year, 0:14:02.280 --> 0:14:05.800 I'm sort of finding that reconnect with my husband again 0:14:05.840 --> 0:14:09.640 because she's even more independent, becoming special. So it's like, 0:14:09.960 --> 0:14:11.800 and you know what's really nice. I just thought the 0:14:11.840 --> 0:14:13.880 other day, because you know, when you you feel like 0:14:13.960 --> 0:14:16.680 ships in the night and it is like tag team, 0:14:16.720 --> 0:14:19.640 even though we've only got one child, it's sort of 0:14:19.680 --> 0:14:21.720 like you be here, you be there, I'll do this, 0:14:21.800 --> 0:14:24.440 you do. There's never there's no date nights a lot, 0:14:24.600 --> 0:14:27.240 not enough, No, but it is nice to come back 0:14:27.240 --> 0:14:30.960 to that point and think that connection is still there. 0:14:31.120 --> 0:14:33.040 And it's scary after all those it. 0:14:33.000 --> 0:14:35.000 Is and the number of my friends who have separated 0:14:35.120 --> 0:14:37.600 after their children have left because they're looking at each other. 0:14:37.480 --> 0:14:39.080 Going, who, I don't know you anymore. 0:14:39.680 --> 0:14:41.000 That's why you got to make your date nights. 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:44.200 Yeah, because Bruce and I always had date nights because 0:14:44.400 --> 0:14:47.920 we're obviously working together, living together, children together, and I 0:14:47.920 --> 0:14:50.200 think sometimes to go out for dinner and just talk 0:14:50.240 --> 0:14:50.920 about a couple. 0:14:51.040 --> 0:14:52.000 Nothing like no. 0:14:52.080 --> 0:14:55.800 Work, not business partners. Yeah. God, he's so cute. 0:14:55.960 --> 0:14:56.440 I love him. 0:14:56.440 --> 0:14:57.440 So he looks great. 0:14:57.920 --> 0:14:59.600 I say, do you know what? He is living his 0:14:59.640 --> 0:15:00.000 best life. 0:15:00.200 --> 0:15:02.880 He looks fantastic, happy's shape. 0:15:03.160 --> 0:15:03.560 Do you know what? 0:15:03.680 --> 0:15:07.120 After COVID, which is obviously an incredibly tough times for 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:09.640 many people, but it was really tough in the hospitality industry, 0:15:09.960 --> 0:15:12.040 he really showed up to a lot of people with 0:15:12.440 --> 0:15:15.000 He did lots of Instagram chats and all the rest 0:15:15.040 --> 0:15:17.800 of it. And I think he's at a really great place, 0:15:17.960 --> 0:15:19.600 a bit like what we're talking about, how we feel 0:15:19.640 --> 0:15:21.480 like at fifty you can say no, Yeah, he's at 0:15:21.480 --> 0:15:23.720 that stage where he knows what he's good at, what 0:15:23.800 --> 0:15:26.080 he's capable of, what he wants to do more of, 0:15:26.360 --> 0:15:27.560 and he's just going for it. 0:15:27.600 --> 0:15:29.800 And I love that about him because his face says it. 0:15:29.880 --> 0:15:31.200 Yeah, he looks he's naughty. 0:15:33.440 --> 0:15:37.160 Well thirty plus years thirty two, that is, that's a great. 0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:37.960 How did you meet? 0:15:38.200 --> 0:15:40.560 Oh my god, we met on a plane going up 0:15:41.160 --> 0:15:43.600 to Queensland. We were both working for a caterer called 0:15:43.600 --> 0:15:46.200 Peter Rowlands. Yes, and Bruce used to go up and 0:15:46.240 --> 0:15:49.160 do the Brisbane bed football lunches every second week and 0:15:49.200 --> 0:15:51.400 one day the girl that used to go couldn't, so 0:15:51.440 --> 0:15:52.760 I went and that was. 0:15:52.720 --> 0:15:56.320 Its fuck and the rest is history and. 0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:57.120 The rest is history. 0:15:57.160 --> 0:15:59.560 And then we thought no one knew that we were together. 0:16:00.160 --> 0:16:02.120 And there was a big drum or a big marquet 0:16:02.160 --> 0:16:05.040 had blown down, a big society wedding down in Flinders, 0:16:05.280 --> 0:16:08.240 and we got the phone call from Peter saying, can 0:16:08.280 --> 0:16:11.200 you please go and go fix it? He said, and 0:16:11.240 --> 0:16:12.720 can you make sure Bruce is with you? And I'm like, 0:16:12.720 --> 0:16:14.080 how did he even know we're together? 0:16:14.600 --> 0:16:16.520 So it was just one of those funny things. But 0:16:16.600 --> 0:16:18.560 now as a business own now you know everything that's 0:16:18.600 --> 0:16:18.960 going on. 0:16:19.080 --> 0:16:21.640 Yeah, but your soul mates teasted me that you. 0:16:21.880 --> 0:16:23.840 And I feel like we've grown up together like we 0:16:23.840 --> 0:16:25.640 were young. We were twenty three when we got married. 0:16:25.720 --> 0:16:28.160 So I really feel like between having the big group, 0:16:28.160 --> 0:16:30.400 which is we always say our first child, and having 0:16:30.520 --> 0:16:33.280 our two children and just everything that's gone on in 0:16:33.320 --> 0:16:37.000 the world of you know, what we've been doing, it's 0:16:37.040 --> 0:16:37.640 been great. 0:16:38.480 --> 0:16:40.680 There have been times where I wanted to, you know, kill. 0:16:40.560 --> 0:16:42.000 Him, Yeah, but that's that's natural. 0:16:42.760 --> 0:16:45.240 But he's not the best and I can't imagine walking 0:16:45.240 --> 0:16:47.760 into the last half of my life without my best 0:16:47.760 --> 0:16:48.520 friend by my side. 0:16:48.720 --> 0:16:51.640 That's beautiful. Tell me what was his how important was 0:16:51.680 --> 0:16:55.800