Amanda Prowse and Penny Dommett nattering around the kitchen table, chatting about all things random. Are we sitting comfortably... here we go! We are the New Year Grinches!!! Both go to bed early without any fuss... neither of us are enamoured with the whole build up and it all feels a bit flat. Maybe we are old people!! Penny shares a terrible tale of New Year that went disastrously wrong many, many moons ago! We talk about our glorious trips to New York; cue snow! Romantic and wonderful, the great times we've had in that city that never sleeps... We compare Christmas presents - Mandy finally got her perfume - phew! We talk the weather, of course we do, and marvel at how little clothes the kids wear! We talk hypnotherapy and Mandy shares her surreal night out with Led Zeppelin - yes, really! Penny is afraid to get hypnotised incase they take over her brain!
We are still working our way through leftovers... bit of Brie anyone? Penny has a nocturnal plant muncher - she might be setting up a camera to catch the culprit! We think it might be a squirrel which leads us to discuss the Tufty Club, anyone else a member?
Mandy has a new book out on January 7th!!! We are excited for This One Life to be born. Our launch event is going to be LIVE on January 11th - see Tea Leaves and Reads on Instagram tickets and details X
So, if you fancy it, pull up a chair and join us for a delightfully irreverent chit chat about life and all its random tangents - bring a cuppa. Cake optional...

Amanda Prowse and Penny Dommett nattering around the kitchen table, chatting about all things random. Are we sitting comfortably... here we go! We are in our post Christmas fug and neither of us can look at a Quality Street or a bit of cheese! Do we eat cheese with Christmas cake? Weird! Did we all have a lovely time? Penny and I discover we both dislike Christmas pud and mincemeat - at LAST something in common!!! Who makes there own pastry? Who has time for that?! Penny, apparently. Penny's recommendation for watching is - Black Doves - Mandy watched and agreed it was epic! Little bit throat cutty at times, so peer from behind a cushion, but SO good - Keira Knightley - she's marvellous! We talk gifts - we both got everything we wanted - Mandy got perfume (finally) and Penny did very well too. Bulb planting - yep, more good planting advice! We talk the wisdom and joy of spending time with older people - so much to love and learn! We talk about Mandy's book An Ordinary Life - Molly is 94 and has a fantastic story to tell. We take a deep dive and sudden turn into WWII - and the importance of sharing those stories and experiences, lest we forget! Including our own family experience. We talk about our hopes for the coming year and the horror of January birthdays!!! The joy that is Snowdrops - something that heralds new beginnings. The value of close friends as get older - how lucky are we! ...we share a moment when Penny makes me howl with laughter - so what's new!
And don't forget - January 11th - OUR LIVE EVENT at Weyhill near Andover - tickets from @TeaLeavesandReads save the DATE!!! X
So, if you fancy it, pull up a chair and join us for a delightfully irreverent chit chat about life and all its random tangents - bring a cuppa. Cake optional...

Amanda Prowse and Penny Dommett nattering around the kitchen table, chatting about all things random. Are we sitting comfortably... here we go! Have we noticed how Penny's voice gets higher when she gets excited - we love it! How lovely was it when we were read to as children, audiobooks are a lovely replica of that! We look at the process of reading and recording an audiobook - it's a lot! Mandy sings all the way to a recording to open up her pipes - it works! We get a ping from my dad, as usual and he's had a pasty - yay! We talk about the lovely people you meet in a waiting room - if you are brave enough to chat to them... Mandy met Norman and he was just wonderful! We think motion is the lotion and the more you move the younger you stay - right? Penny gives us good advice on bulb planting - now is the time apparently! We talk about being ready for Christmas and how we are both terrible at leaving things til the last minute for the festive season- let's hope there's still sprouts on the shelf. Penny hates coloured Christmas lights and anything too kitsch - Mandy is the opposite! We talk about the joy of houses decked in lights - it's wonderful that people do that for others. Neither of us are massive fans of Christmas and we are both asleep long before Midnight on New Year's Eve!!! Bah Humbug! Party animals we are not... Do we still send Christmas cards? Have we seen the price of postage?? We talk about the things you can do for free over the Festive season - and the starting of traditions - the lovely things we all remember! Penny had the joy of Monty's nativity - not a dry eye in the house! It reminds us of our own nativities of our childhood - which weren't always successful. Penny is flabbergasted by a Terry's chocolate orange - yes, really! Happy Christmas one and all, we send you love.
And don't forget - January 11th - OUR LIVE EVENT save the DATE!!! X
So, if you fancy it, pull up a chair and join us for a delightfully irreverent chit chat about life and all its random tangents - bring a cuppa. Cake optional...

Amanda Prowse and Penny Dommett nattering around the kitchen table, chatting about all things random. Are we sitting comfortably... here we go! Are we looking forward/ready for Christmas? We talk about the fact that it isn't always fairy lights and fabulousness! How to deal with the commercialism when times are tough, is the answer making traditions that cost nothing? We talk about our favourite presents from our childhood. Penny misses the good old days of the toffee hammer! Did you know that deer love roses? Me either! Do we remember Heartbeat, The Royal, Z cars? - We show our age and spend a while trying to figure out the phonetic alphabet without much success. Mandy discovers that some people have more than one perfume - who knew? She only ever wears one! Do we remember the White Musk or Dewberry days of our teenage hood? Which were you? We talk about smoking... we aren't fans and remember all those years ago when everyone did it!
So, if you fancy it, pull up a chair and join us for a delightfully irreverent chit chat about life and all its random tangents - bring a cuppa. Cake optional...

Amanda Prowse and Penny Dommett nattering around the kitchen table, chatting about all things random. Are we sitting comfortably... here we go! Penny admits she's stopped saying the word SUBSCRIBE because she can now say it! We talk about Penny's wonderful wreath workshop - Mandy is panicking because she is artistically challenged! Real versus fake Christmas trees - what do we think? Which is actually the most sustainable? And are our trees up yet? We talk cut flowers and bulbs and how to decorate sustainably. Penny laughs at my beautiful crochet blanket which my beloved nanny made, until she knows the history of my favourite blanket. We talk home grown herbs and the lovely value of plucking something to use in your cooking! We take a deep dive into the collective experience of women who make things together - the beautiful world of women crafting together - it's ace! Mandy's collects embroidered art and is very proud of it. We debate using salt in cooking - it's all about balance! How are we already in December - where has this year gone? We end on bus travel and we laugh a lot, welcome aboard. Penny gives Ocado a big old plug and we discover that Penny has never eaten a Monster Munch - how? But she does rather like a farm shop - who knew.
And don't forget - January 11th - save the DATE!!! X
So, if you fancy it, pull up a chair and join us for a delightfully irreverent chit chat about life and all its random tangents - bring a cuppa. Cake optional...

Amanda Prowse and Penny Dommett nattering around the kitchen table, chatting about all things random. Are we sitting comfortably... here we go! We keep the royal theme going and talk about Penny's fashion share with Lady Di! Mandy expresses her inability to take criticism, and Penny shares details of Monty's first Beaver parade! We talk remembrance Sunday and how moving we both find it. We talk about Penny's snoring - she could wake the dead! Did you know it was world kindness day - how did we celebrate? Mandy bought Walnut Whips and was most disappointed - they are now so tiny. We hear of Mandy's Gucci clog experience - they might have been knock offs... Penny too has succumbed to designer footwear and they've fixed her feet - hello Madam Birkenstok! We talk about Josh and Sara's wedding plans. SO exciting! Penny frowns as Mandy is going to wear her old dress that she's had for ten years. Penny has been busy making Christmas cakes and has enjoyed Stir Up Sunday! - Never heard of it? Me either! Mandy's book Very Very Lucky is up for an award - whoop whoop! Fingers crossed! Penny makes Mandy feel sick talking about food yuks! And if that doesn't make you sick, you can hear all about a woman who sells her sweat... yes really. And January 11th - save the DATE!!! X
So, if you fancy it, pull up a chair and join us for a delightfully irreverent chit chat about life and all its random tangents - bring a cuppa. Cake optional...

Amanda Prowse and Penny Dommett nattering around the kitchen table, chatting about all things random. Are we sitting comfortably... here we go! Will our blanket dampen down the banging that interrupts our podcasts? We shall find out! Penny turns up looking fancy, dressed as Princess Anne circa 1974. Turns out she was named after Princess Anne! Who knew? We remember children's party games - like sleeping lions and musical chairs! And Mandy learns about wrapping small children in loo roll to make a mummy - sounds like fun... said no one ever. The great almond debate raises it's head again - Penny is learning to say it properly. Mandy is delighted to receive the gift of Chrysanthemums which she loves but Penny hates! Penny banged the table first - we keep score! We get insight into Joel on I'm A Celebrity Unpacked and Penny talks about his early days. Mandy has been Londonbound and is so glad to be back on the farm. Penny travelled to Stroud and is still jet lagged. We talk loo hygiene - we are very fussy and talk about our public loo habits - quite fascinating. We touch on good luck charms and superstitions. Penny reveals her love of a good crystal. We tell you all about our Chit Chat Christmas Wreath workshop!!!! DO come along!
So, if you fancy it, pull up a chair and join us for a delightfully irreverent chit chat about life and all its random tangents - bring a cuppa. Cake optional...

Amanda Prowse and Penny Dommett nattering around the kitchen table, chatting about all things random. Are we sitting comfortably... here we go! Quite a foodie episode! Mandy confesses she's never been to Nandos - shock horror! What is she missing? We try to understand and explain the world of "Influencers!" it's quite amazing! We talk award shows and the fabulous Pride of Britain. We take a deep dive into monsters under the bed, that universal fear. Is the age of fancy dinner parties over? Penny is thrown by Mandy's favourite "Breakfast for Dinner" menu! Is there a right or wrong way to poach an egg - stay tuned... Is lobster overrated? What's all the fuss about! Penny talks her favourite tapas, while Mandy is happy with beans on toast. Penny and Rob Fireman Finger celebrate their 30 year anniversary - whoop whoop! They had date night. We both confess to being last minute Christmas gifters - it's all bit of a rush.
So, if you fancy it, pull up a chair and join us for a delightfully irreverent chit chat about life and all its random tangents - bring a cuppa. Cake optional...