Family Time. Perfect Peace or (Mega) Pressure??

Family Time. Perfect Peace or (Mega) Pressure??

Every year is the same. October rolls around, and, without fail, the same futile conversation takes place. 

“Let’s make a pact!” Me and Bri say cheerfully as we slurp on our pumpkin soup, “This Christmas, we will… 

1: Not go overboard on presents. After all, the holiday season is about being together, not scanning the presents like scavvy vultures to see who’s spent the most. Hurray!

2: Keep the meal nice and simple. No foo-fah for us.

3: Turn off all devices. We will play board games and talk after dinner. Be like the Waltons.

4: Go easy on the alcohol. (Not sure why). Just because it’s more organic and healthy. Yippee!

5: Smile and be happy. Always. 

And every single year, the same thing happens.

We…

1: Spend shit loads of money, then get mad when each child doesn’t fall at our feet with gratitude and say,  “Wow! Thank you! I know how hard you work. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this box of Ferrero Rocher.” 

2: Spend all day slaving over the stove making a stupidly fancy creme caramel recipe that is far too hard and involves separating eggs. Which, when served at dinner, is assumed to be shop bought.

3: Take out the phone a billion times a day and say. “Oh wait! let me video it! I’ll need to remember this when you leave home, and I’m sad and dead”.

4: Sulk because the kids don’t say how wonderful and scrumptious your creme caramel is.

5: Get pissed.

6: Get in a mood. Cry. Be miserable. Moan. Feel guilty for mentioning death at Christmastime. Cry a bit more.

 


 

This is the last podcast episode of 2022, so we thought we’d go out with a band. No holding back with this one…!

Today you will discover the reality of the holiday season in the Deacle family household, Brian’s French run-in with the runs and why Liz will never feel the same about a certain perfume ever again…

Sending you many and much of everything lovely and bright.

Liz and Bri x

 

A married couple. Husband and wife podcast about travel, life in New Zealand and family!

Oh, dear…I know that your heart was in the right place Bri, but this perfume reminds me of…

 

Links Mentioned in The Show: 

 

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Here is the D&G Perfume “Pour femme” that we talked about! (It’s actually a beautiful perfume!)

 

Email us!

Remember! if you would like us to tell the story of the Parisian dinner party, then email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. We personally reply to every email! Drop us a line to say hi!

 

We LOVE Housesitting. Want to Try it too? 

If you have been following this podcast for a while, then you will know that we have just returned for six months in Europe and Asia. While we were there, we did a lot of housesitting. We are constantly asked how we did this and if we can share the website that we used. So here it is:

The initial ‘looking part’ is free. You can oggle all of the beautiful houses around the world that are waiting for YOU to look after them. Take a sneak peek here! (As I say, looking is completely free, so gander to your heart’s content).

Then, if you are serious about using Housesitting as a tool to travel the world for free (as we do), you can use my exclusive discount code to save yourself 20% by Clicking here.

Still not sure about paying for a Housesitting membership? Remember that the cost of a yearly membership (approx $80 using the discount code above) will be paid back (and more) on the first housesitting night. It really is that simple!

 

Liz Deacle

 

 

 

The Ghost of Brian’s Past…

The Ghost of Brian’s Past…

For years, Brian and I have disagreed over what Christmas morning should look like. What traditions we should pass down to our young children. Presents wrapped or unwrapped? Gifts given or hidden? Tree artificial or real? Mummy sloshed or sober? 

Decisions, decisions…

In this week’s Christmas special, we let three ghosts out of the bag…Take a skeleton out of the closet and treat you to a third reading of Liz’s book. This is a snippet from Chapter one, where Liz introduces you to her kids and tells you why she threw everything in the air to backpack the world on a shoestring with the family.

Whatever you are doing this holiday season, know that we send you peace, love and happiness and wish nothing but the best for you in 2023.

Enjoy!

 

 

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A Ruthless Response

A Ruthless Response

I’m still trying to figure out if telling someone that they’ll never amount to anything makes them stronger and more determined, like a lioness on rollerskates or defeated and beaten. Like a tired old bow-wow.

This week Liz was picked to pieces by someone she respected. And it hurt. 

 

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Can’t Shake it off

Can’t Shake it off

Typical.  All around the world without so much of a sniff, and then you come home and get Covid. And not only that, you’re not coping with being home as well as you thought you would…

I’d never really given much thought to what is known as the vacation blues. Until now, that is.

We warn you. This isn’t the most uplifting episode. But it’s real. And that’s all that matters.

 

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The Harsh Realities of Returning Home

The Harsh Realities of Returning Home

We’re back. After six months of complete freedom, swanning around Europe and Asia doing exactly as we please, we are back home to New Zealand. And boy did we land with a bump.

In this weeks show we wanted to share the realities of long term travel. Give you a glimpse into the nitty gritty truths of what returning home to normal life after being on the road for six months looks and feels like.

This show is dedicated to our beautiful girl Pandora. The best cat a family could ever ask for. RIP sweet girl.

 

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It’s Scary But it’s Done

It’s Scary But it’s Done

This week’s episode is brought to you from Chiang Mai in Thailand. As this will be the last episode that we do while on this six-month trip, we thought that we’d make it an extra special episode for you.

We have decided to do/say/talk about/share a few things that make us both feel rather uncomfortable. Especially me. But. You will love it. We know you will. And that makes the uncomfortableness all ok.

So sit back, enjoy the show and let us wow you with what we are about to share!

PS: Can we just say a HUGE thank you! thank you for being here with us for the past six months, for sharing our highs and lows and for supporting us along the way. You are wonderful. Thank you x

Remember that you can email us at any time. We love it when people reach out. Why not say hi and let us know what you thought of this week’s show? – I’ll wait for you!  [email protected] 

 

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