Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Hello, welcome to the Strictly for a Cause podcast, sponsored by Highland News Media.
00:04My name is Rachel. I'm Chris.
00:06And today we have with us... I'm Becky.
00:09I'm Michael.
00:15Welcome to our Strictly for a Cause podcast.
00:18Hello. How are you both doing?
00:20We're good. I speak for both of us. I'm good. How are you, Michael?
00:23I'm all right.
00:25And you two are a wee duo.
00:27Yeah.
00:28What dances are you both doing?
00:29Okay. So we're doing an American Smooth, which is nice.
00:33It's not too bad, yeah.
00:34And what else are we doing?
00:35Jive, which is where my comfort zone.
00:39I really wanted to jive. I'm kind of regretting saying that.
00:44How many weeks are we on it now?
00:47We've actually only done two lessons for jive.
00:49Two lessons.
00:50Well, two for both, actually. So really, we're not really the ones to speak because it's going
00:55to be daunting anyway in the beginning. But yeah, it's a bit overwhelming, isn't it?
00:59Some of the steps is just beyond me. Right now, anyway.
01:03What does the jive actually involve?
01:05It's really kicky, isn't it?
01:06Kicky, fast, jumpy about for me.
01:09On your toes. Bouncy.
01:11I'm getting told off for stop jumping about and skipping.
01:14What did we say? We're like giddy up. That's what we feel like all the time. Giddy up, Percy.
01:18That's just what we feel like.
01:18It's still a lot of cardio.
01:20Yeah, it is a lot. We're sweating by the end. We go in and we're freezing. I'm like, no, don't go on.
01:24We're going to be sweating by the end of this. And we are every time. But it's a good workout.
01:28Yeah, because I mean, I don't really like, I don't like, lyrical is really slow. So it's not
01:34really quite, it doesn't feel like a workout. And I don't like show dance, which is my old dance.
01:38That doesn't feel like much of a workout.
01:39So musical theatre for me is a workout. It's pretty fast in my case. And she's
01:44slowed our music down at the moment. So we're not even doing it at full pace.
01:48Oh, goodness.
01:48I'm just really stressed.
01:49It's probably, musical theatre is probably really, and lyrical though,
01:52like mentally tiring as well.
01:54Because lyrical is more kind of like fluid.
01:57Well, it's fluid, but I think it's Laura. I think Laura wants us to get into that sort of
02:03the mindset of like, the emotions that she wants people to feel.
02:07It's the acting, I think, that you need to think about as you do it.
02:10Yeah.
02:12And he is so happy, as he got home last week, that he was really good at it.
02:19Which is then when we go into like, when we went into yesterday's,
02:22they called me out for my really bad cha-cha.
02:24Yeah, you're definitely humbled then, aren't you?
02:27That's how I felt.
02:28See, we were like that after coming out of the American Smooth. We were like,
02:31no, we've got this. We can do it. And then we've done the Jive and we're like...
02:35See, after the American Smooth, we went in thinking, we're not wanting to get into the
02:38final. Like, we're just wanting to enjoy it, not procrastinate.
02:41Are we not?
02:42But no, I was going to say, then after the American Smooth, we were like,
02:46we think we've got a chance. And after the Jive, we're like, never mind, just go back
02:49to how we used to be and just enjoy it. Because we're not getting into the final on this.
02:52But no, we're quite competitive now, aren't we?
02:54We're getting more competitive as time goes on.
02:56And you two are kind of just recently got paired.
02:59Yes, we're newbies, aren't we?
03:01Yeah. How has that been? Just because you've had to switch partners once or twice?
03:05Twice, yeah.
03:05Twice. You're a new permanent and how has that been?
03:08That's my second partner as well.
03:08Yeah, your second partner.
03:09Yeah, yeah.
03:11I know, I was a bit worried about that. I'm quite an awkward person, although I,
03:16obviously, as I said, do a lot of social media, so I don't come across,
03:19but I really am awkward around people. But actually, we got on really well.
03:23Not too bad, yeah.
03:23It's been...
03:24Pretty good.
03:25I just like to tell you what to do and you do it.
03:27I'm joking. I'm joking, poor Michael.
03:32No, I think we've got on really well. We've been quite lucky.
03:35No, it's been good.
03:36Because I think if you don't have that connection involved,
03:38it's quite hard to find that and you do need that.
03:41You really need that because you're really close, really intimate,
03:44spend a lot of time together. So I was really worried about that.
03:47But no, we seem to be...
03:50That's good.
03:51We're not pulling each other's hair.
03:52Oh.
03:53Yeah.
03:53There's no hair.
03:56Thanks.
03:58Can edit that better.
04:04That would be the thumbnail.
04:06Yeah.
04:07I'll take it.
04:09So what is it that drove you to do it?
04:16Well, I've done the white collar boxing three times.
04:19So I always like doing something for charity.
04:22And then I've done that three times, so I can't do it anymore.
04:24And the first two times was just for Cancer Research UK.
04:29And then last year, I'd done it for the Henley Hospice,
04:31which raised about eight and a half thousand pounds.
04:33So then I was like, and a few people have said to me,
04:36why don't you try Strictly?
04:37I was like, no, I can't dance.
04:38I think they just want to see me fluff it up.
04:42So I thought, I'll give it a go.
04:45Why can you not do the boxing well in three times?
04:48Is that just a rule?
04:49For the white collar, yeah.
04:50Interesting.
04:51What's white collar?
04:52It's where you get eight weeks of training,
04:54a bit like Strictly, but you get eight weeks of training,
04:56and then you get put in the ring with someone.
04:58And it's more because of like,
05:00Because probably after, after,
05:02no, probably just after three times.
05:04They think you're a pro.
05:06You're not classed as a pro.
05:07I am.
05:08You went to week 17 of this.
05:11Are we telling you what to do?
05:14He used to dance in a round boxing ring.
05:16I know, oh God.
05:17He did say, you said this is harder.
05:19This is.
05:20Yeah.
05:20I think this is a bit more challenging.
05:23Like, I don't know why.
05:25Just.
05:26You say that now, so I think we'll be fine.
05:28Is that just because of jive, or?
05:29Yeah.
05:31We're traumatised.
05:33But I suppose the first time I'd done the boxing
05:36was my granny died of cancer.
05:37And she never went to the hospice.
05:40She died in hospital.
05:40So it was like,
05:43the hospice, no matter if you had someone go in there
05:46or you know someone,
05:47you kind of feel like it plays a part
05:49in everyone's heart, doesn't it?
05:50So.
05:51And at some point it's going to touch someone's heart.
05:53Exactly.
05:54Unfortunately.
05:56What about you, Becky?
05:58I turned, did you say you turned 40 this year?
06:01Put that in there.
06:02She's bald.
06:0340.
06:04Come on, what else do you want to say?
06:06You went over to the party and you were lucky.
06:07Failed marriage.
06:11No, I don't think we've got a reason to celebrate.
06:14No matter what, I turned 30 this year.
06:16So I wanted to start off the year
06:20trying to do, push myself out of my comfort zone,
06:22do things that I wouldn't normally do.
06:23I don't know why we have this, like,
06:25everyone makes this stigma around 30, don't they?
06:27And you're like, well, I have to get everything done
06:29by the time I'm 30.
06:30And unfortunately, I can't really get rid of that.
06:31I'm just, so I'm trying to like tick things off
06:34and see if it'll make me feel better about turning 30.
06:37But last year I lost three family members, actually.
06:41And two of them were to cancer.
06:43And one was my grandda, who I was very close to.
06:46And we spent a good few months in the hospice.
06:50And I'm aware that a lot of people go through this
06:52and a lot of people are in the hospice
06:54and spend a lot of time there.
06:55But I don't think I really understood
06:57or knew what they'd done until I was in there every night.
07:00And I was just thinking, the staff are godsend.
07:05Like, they're just angels sent from bloomin' heaven.
07:08The way they were with my grandda,
07:10even though they didn't know him,
07:12they made me feel like they did know him.
07:15And they had his best interests
07:17and they were just his friend.
07:18And they celebrated his birthday.
07:20And we went in on his birthday
07:21and he had cake and balloons and everything.
07:23And it just made us feel like
07:25we weren't the only ones he was relying on.
07:26Because every day they made him feel like he had the company
07:30and that he wasn't in a hospital
07:32where he was only just getting looked after.
07:34He was kind of just like friends with everybody.
07:37So as soon as we came out of the hospice
07:39when my grandda died, we were like,
07:41yep, we're going to try and do everything we can.
07:43And my dad was like, yeah, I'm going to skydive.
07:44I'm going to do all these things.
07:46And then the new year came and I was like,
07:47wait, what are we going to do for the hospice?
07:49And dad's like, what are you going to do?
07:51Because I'm not doing, I'm not skydiving.
07:52I'll do this in a home.
07:53I'm not doing anything.
07:55So I didn't actually apply when it came out
07:57in October or November last year.
07:59And then when they were looking for somebody in January,
08:02I was like, okay, just go for it.
08:03But probably not get in.
08:04But at least I could say, oh, you tried.
08:07One of those things like, well, I can tell people I tried.
08:10That's me done my job.
08:12And then you get in, you're like, oh, sugar.
08:14This is real now.
08:15So yeah, that's my reasons for doing it.
08:17And I feel like because I'm doing it,
08:19I don't know, it's making me cope better with the grief.
08:22Because I feel like I'm doing something for him now
08:25that he would be proud of.
08:27So I'm not dwelling at home and crying myself to sleep every night.
08:31It's just giving me a good reason to get up every morning.
08:34Yeah.
08:35Give something back.
08:36Yeah.
08:37Give something back to them.
08:39Although I did get a big fright when I found out
08:41that the hospice themselves need eight and a half,
08:45a thousand pound a day to wrap.
08:47And I was thinking, oh, yeah, my little £200 will help.
08:50Although it does.
08:51Every little helps and every little adds up.
08:53But yeah, that's when you really realise the work they did.
08:58The stuff they need and the equipment they need
08:59and the medication they need and everything.
09:01So you kind of touched on it.
09:03There's a house to fundraising through.
09:06Don't tell them the picture I sent you earlier.
09:08She's boasting.
09:10I'm boasting because I was ahead of you by two pounds.
09:12Yes, very good.
09:14He messaged me the week I've been like.
09:17Well, I thought I was showing my dad.
09:19And I'm going, look how much everyone's raised already.
09:20You know, like we're all like, oh, how are we going to do this?
09:23But when you see everyone's together, it's a lot.
09:26So I showed my dad and I was like, oh, Michaela's in front.
09:28And I was like, Chris, where's he came from?
09:31He was on top.
09:32But then today I put money in from raffles.
09:34Now it's two pound above you.
09:36So I screenshotted it and said to Mike,
09:37my mum and dad knows I'm screenshotting this
09:39because this won't happen for long.
09:41At least I can say I was on top for like a day.
09:44So you're going to like up 25% or something like that?
09:46Well, I've done my targets five grand.
09:50Oh, yeah, same.
09:50Oh, did you?
09:51Yeah.
09:51Yeah, 5,000.
09:52Although now I'm like, I should have put it to 10.
09:55Well, at least you've done that.
09:56My dance partner's done that.
09:59I just don't want to get to five.
10:00And then for me to feel like, OK, I can relax.
10:03And I don't need to cry anymore.
10:05I want to keep pushing and pushing as much as I can.
10:07So I think if I change, maybe I will change it.
10:10But then it just looks so, you know, when you see the percentage,
10:13it's like you've only done 10% of it on.
10:15Yeah.
10:16What about you?
10:17Have you been getting on?
10:18Ah, it's not been that great, to be honest.
10:21I've not been pushing it.
10:22But last year, when you did the boxing,
10:24you were the same.
10:25You didn't push it, right?
10:26I didn't push it.
10:27But I always feel like January, February is pretty slow,
10:30no matter what.
10:31Even like businesses don't like spending money.
10:34You know what I mean?
10:35So it's...
10:36I mean, I was feeling uncomfortable about it,
10:39thinking January, I can't let January go by and not do anything.
10:41So I was just panicking, like how many people,
10:43how much people earned last year and stuff.
10:45So I thought Burns Night would just be a quick little win.
10:48Yeah.
10:48And it was.
10:48It was.
10:49Yeah, you did really well.
10:50Yeah, I think it's good.
10:51No, it's very well.
10:53Top of the leaderboard for a while.
10:55But now I'm starting to think to myself,
10:57have I like misallocated my time?
10:58Should I have been like, at this point,
11:00should I have been planning February or March?
11:02That could have been bigger than Burns Night.
11:04Yeah, but you've got one out the window and you've done something.
11:05Yeah, but should I do another one?
11:06Like, you've done something before any of us even have.
11:08You've done an event.
11:10And you've raised...
11:11How much did you raise in one event?
11:131,000,000 pounds.
11:14Exactly.
11:14Which is really good.
11:15It's crazy.
11:16Not good enough, but yeah.
11:17No.
11:18It's like the slow donkey at the back that just shoots forward.
11:20Yeah, I know.
11:22That's what I'm hoping.
11:23I'm like, wait, I have to scroll, like show more people.
11:27And I'm down there.
11:29What do they say?
11:29Slow and steady wins the race.
11:30Slow and steady wins the race, exactly.
11:32I've just been focused on the dancing.
11:34I know.
11:34And prepping my fundraisers behind the scenes.
11:36Yeah.
11:37It's hard to like...
11:39I want to make sure I'm enjoying the dancing as well and embracing it.
11:43And it's really hard when you're doing both.
11:46I think it would have been good if we maybe started fundraising for January, February,
11:49March and then got like the April and May to just concentrate on the dancing.
11:53And just to...
11:54I think everyone's going to be having that big push sort of April, May.
11:57Yeah, definitely.
11:58Definitely.
11:59But by then we'll be pro dancers, so we'll need to worry about the dancing.
12:03Have you got a plan for fundraisers?
12:06You want to go?
12:07I've got a few.
12:08Okay.
12:09I've got a quiz night in the local hall.
12:12Everyone's got a quiz night.
12:13Yeah.
12:14And I'm trying to do like...
12:15I'm doing two or three quiz nights, so it's kind of capturing different people, different areas.
12:19Yeah.
12:19Because you'll feel like...
12:20I live out in Croy, so they're not going to come to Inverness.
12:24So I've got one in Aldern as well.
12:28My friend's dad owns a 1645, so she's going to do one in there.
12:31Free advertising.
12:32There you go, Chris.
12:36I've also got one at the Foundry.
12:39I've got Craig Robertson going to do singing there.
12:42So it's going to be good.
12:43That's next month.
12:45And then I've got a big one on the 10th of May, the week before,
12:48which is Scooty and the Skyhooks at the Dramassi.
12:50Oh, very nice.
12:51So that is going to be pretty big.
12:52It's even the best to last.
12:54One last push.
12:55That's the 10th of May.
12:57Yeah.
12:58So I was messaging Carrie saying,
13:01when does the money have to be sort of all counted for?
13:03And she was like, at the 12th.
13:04I was like, sorry, I'll be down the bank on Monday morning.
13:09You can't have any hangovers.
13:10So I'm not drinking until Sunday.
13:14Until you win.
13:14Until Sunday.
13:16Until we go out.
13:16It's a hell of a week though, isn't it?
13:18Yeah, it is.
13:19Especially, I work from home.
13:21I feel quite lucky that I work from home.
13:22Because I'm like, if I had a job I had to go to a place of work to do,
13:26I would never be able to fit all this in.
13:28When I'm at home, I can cram things into when I'm at home,
13:31so that I can leave, you know,
13:33everything's done by the time I leave.
13:34Whereas when you're at your nine to five job, you can't do that.
13:37I don't know, I can't speak up.
13:39I don't know what I was reading.
13:40Yeah, we have lots of communities.
13:43And does your boss watch this?
13:45I do.
13:49We do do our work, but we also...
13:52Yeah, I mean, it's a full-time job in itself, isn't it?
13:55Just like doing all this fundraising and...
13:57It is contacting people.
13:59Yeah, it is.
14:00Because I live out in Elgin, so I've got dance lessons Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.
14:05And it is Monday, if I'm not mistaken.
14:09Because we don't get finished until...
14:10I'm not back home until 7 o'clock on Sunday,
14:13then I'm back up at 6 on Monday.
14:16Then dance lessons tonight, I might get in until 10 or 11,
14:19and then repeat on Tuesday.
14:21We're quite lucky with ours, because ours is on Wednesday.
14:25Then we've got a break until Sunday, and two of ours are on Sunday.
14:28That's quite nice.
14:29Yeah, it's great.
14:29You've got a big chunk of time between your one on Sunday, though.
14:32Yes, but we've always managed to fill that.
14:35So, well, we had our pictures, and then I just think I'll make a conscious effort
14:40in that hour and a half to maybe focus on my fundraising,
14:43because I'm there anyway, and I've got the time.
14:45And although it's so hard not to get distracted from other things
14:48and not to speak, just to catch up with people.
14:50Start speaking to people.
14:50That's a valuable hour of our time that we can do work.
14:54I'm sure we'll get into it.
14:56I really mean that.
14:56Although, saying that, we might be practicing.
14:58If we find somewhere to practice between that hour and a half,
15:00we could just use it to...
15:01Which you can do.
15:02Yeah, and that's our jive, so that's important to practice.
15:06Oh, my goodness.
15:07Get that in.
15:08Now, you're going to take annual leave, then, for the week that we have to dance?
15:11Yeah.
15:11Yeah, for the full week?
15:12Yeah.
15:13I'll take time.
15:14Yeah.
15:15No, he's not getting it.
15:16He's not going to take time.
15:17I'm not taking time.
15:17He's refusing.
15:19Okay, so you'll be Casper, and I'll be Implom.
15:23What will that look like?
15:24No, you're going to go with some bits, eh?
15:26Or do you think your tans are there?
15:28Not too bad.
15:29Wait, I can't wait.
15:30Have you seen the fake tans?
15:31No.
15:32Have you seen them?
15:32They're pretty strong.
15:33Oh, yeah, they're strong.
15:34Are they bad?
15:35They're strong.
15:35They're dark.
15:37It's hard to smell a fake tan.
15:38I'm not a fan of, like, the...
15:40Waxes.
15:41As someone who's never had one, I don't really think I'm going to be able to,
15:44if I'm being completely honest.
15:45Yeah.
15:45Yeah, you'll get afraid.
15:46I'll end up being like Ross from Friends.
15:49I've got a 12.
15:51That's what you will end up with, not wanting a tan.
15:55Yeah.
15:55Is that optional?
15:57I didn't think it was, but when you were saying...
15:59I don't know.
16:00Who were you saying it to?
16:01You did say somebody.
16:02Somebody, and they said, oh, well, yeah, maybe.
16:06So it must be optional.
16:08I think they were saying, all the lights are on you in the dance floor,
16:11so they just don't want you to be...
16:13Yeah.
16:14They want you to kind of stand out and look healthy.
16:16Yeah.
16:18Not only shaking.
16:21They don't want to see the sweat dripping over your head.
16:24Yeah.
16:24Oh, my goodness.
16:25Do you reckon your cellular ticket's quite easy?
16:27No, who knows that many people?
16:29Not me.
16:30For what?
16:31The table is about as fast.
16:32The table is about as fast.
16:33The table as well.
16:34We'll tell them easy.
16:35Whatever, Mr Popular.
16:35Everyone wants to see me.
16:37Well, yeah, that's true.
16:38People just want to come and see you, don't laugh at you.
16:40Yeah.
16:40Maybe that's me I can sell it to.
16:41No, I've got quite a lot of good friends,
16:44Yeah.
16:45like customers that are friends as well.
16:47They all came to the boxing.
16:48Oh, my goodness.
16:49I think I had like four tables at the boxing.
16:51So I was like...
16:51Very good.
16:52Is that four tables as well?
16:54Ten, I think it was.
16:55Yeah, but can you share some of those people out with us?
16:58Yeah.
16:58I was just thinking, I'll just take everyone's spare seats,
17:01and then I can like have people dotted all over.
17:03Yeah, with like a little secret war zone.
17:04Cheering.
17:06Well, I think we can share tables.
17:08Do you know that?
17:08Yeah.
17:08You can share tables with your partner.
17:09So I can have like a table of two,
17:11and you can have every other seat.
17:14You can fill them all.
17:15But no, I was like 36 people.
17:17That's a lot of people to try and fill.
17:19And you want to fill them.
17:20You do want to fill them.
17:20Because you want the support,
17:23and you want people to vote for you.
17:25So going on the back of the Sunday performance,
17:27the group dances,
17:29do you reckon there's anyone on Friday night to look out for?
17:31Yes, but we're not saying.
17:32Are you hoping that they see you?
17:34Sorry, Chris.
17:37I'll be watching you next week.
17:38I mean, I wrote...
17:40I don't know, did I write to you my predictions?
17:42Yeah, you did.
17:43Yeah.
17:43Well, have you written them down?
17:44Yeah.
17:45Yeah.
17:45Oh, they're on the text message.
17:47And I wrote predictions, and I wrote this,
17:49so I can type it back and go back to it.
17:51Yes, I told you so.
17:52I think I could probably...
17:53I think I would know who would be like,
17:57first and second and third.
17:58From the Friday night or overall?
18:01Friday.
18:01Yeah, I would say...
18:02Well, no, one of the couples from Thursday,
18:04I think you're like,
18:06I think 17.
18:08Correct.
18:08I was trying to say 17 couples.
18:10I'm joking.
18:10See, you didn't mention them.
18:11I'm joking.
18:13There's one couple from Thursday.
18:14No, two couples from Thursday, actually,
18:16there might be, who I think might be quite...
18:17Is it Liam and Martin?
18:18Yeah.
18:19Yeah, they are.
18:19Yeah, very good.
18:20They were on last week.
18:21And is it Billy and Kellyanne?
18:22No, I haven't seen them dance, though.
18:24They're very good.
18:25Oh, great.
18:25So they're doing a show dance with me.
18:27So that's another couple to be...
18:29And I keep watching them,
18:30because obviously you get sent through the videos,
18:32so, you know, I just keep watching them.
18:35Yeah.
18:36I think...
18:37I'll just say it here.
18:38I think Michaela and Gavin will win.
18:40Yeah, they've got the moves.
18:41Yeah, they've got the moves.
18:42They're very serious about it.
18:44Like when we're laughing and everything
18:46at our group class, they're like...
18:49And they're correcting us, aren't they?
18:50They're like, Peggy, fit back.
18:51I'm like, OK.
18:53And the fundraising as well.
18:54They're very popular people.
18:55They know a lot of people.
18:56And I've known Michaela for,
18:58well, since I was a young girl.
18:59I'm good at dancing.
19:00I'm popular.
19:00Sorry, sorry.
19:02I'm not trying to put us down.
19:03We'll be close.
19:04We'll be fine.
19:06I saw Gavin gyrating his hips and I was like...
19:08Exactly.
19:09He's better than me.
19:10Yes.
19:10We don't even get a glimpse into the Friday.
19:12We just don't know.
19:13We don't get a glimpse into the Thursday.
19:14I know.
19:15I'm only judging by what people look like.
19:17That's a bit weird.
19:18I look...
19:18There was a girl we met at the...
19:19You're going to have to move by it's cover back there.
19:20I know.
19:21Just watch me.
19:22There was a girl that we seen on Friday
19:23and I was like, she looks like she'd be a good dancer.
19:25Michaela's like, what?
19:26I'm like, I don't know.
19:26She just looks like she'd be a good dancer.
19:28I can't have to look at her.
19:30I don't know.
19:31I could just...
19:31I don't know.
19:32I think a lot of it's about confidence too, isn't it?
19:34Yeah.
19:35It's not necessarily how you move, but it's how you...
19:38Present yourself.
19:38It's odd that you say that, because it is...
19:40Because when I...
19:41On the group one, on the last one we did,
19:44I did just sort of throw myself into it
19:46and I think after I threw myself into it,
19:47I was a lot better than when I was just sort of marginally
19:50just holding myself back, I guess.
19:53That's what she said.
19:53She said...
19:54What did she say?
19:55Whatever you're doing, just do more.
19:56Yeah.
19:57Something like that.
19:58Nobody's ever been told off.
20:00Like, she's never said to anyone,
20:02you're doing too much, you know?
20:03So she's like, so just...
20:05She'll never tell you off for doing too much,
20:07if anything, that's a bonus.
20:08We should just all try and give her our all
20:10and then be like, no guys, just calm down.
20:12Yeah.
20:14Yeah, you'd rather talk to calm down.
20:15Yeah, but then a lot of lawyers who does our lyricals
20:18said something, like, which you don't really think of,
20:20which is they're not going to let you go out.
20:23Yeah.
20:24And you're not doing moves like...
20:26Well, there are some moves where like,
20:27oh, we just look pathetic.
20:28I feel like week 16, you'll be looking for a new partner.
20:33The one that I find really difficult on Sunday,
20:34I mean, I find the cha-cha really difficult,
20:36is when you've got to spin on the spot
20:37and you've got to push down on your hands.
20:38I'm just...
20:39Too many things, trying to do this, trying to do that.
20:41You look too much away.
20:42Okay, that wasn't much.
20:43Oh, did you hear me getting told off on Sunday?
20:45Because I wasn't shaking my bum enough.
20:46Yeah.
20:47Imagine that.
20:49I got star of the week for that, like...
20:53And there was so much pressure, I was like,
20:54oh, I can't shake my bum.
20:56So, tell us about your fun days.
20:58Is there work you got planned?
20:59Oh, yeah.
21:01I have a wellness kind of yoga retreat day
21:06planned in Alness in March.
21:08I went to a retreat day two years ago in...
21:13It was down in Argyll,
21:14because you don't really get them here, strangely enough.
21:17But I think it's just because it's...
21:18Well, where I live, especially in Alness, it's so small.
21:20I don't think they'd be very popular,
21:22but when I went to one,
21:24it was a life-changing experience, just amazing.
21:27So, we have two yoga instructors
21:31and a lady that comes out and does a sound bath and meditation.
21:35And they're actually both doing it for free for the charity,
21:38because unfortunately,
21:39one of the ladies lost her daughter to the hospice last year,
21:44which I don't like taking anything for free off people either.
21:47I'm like, no, I don't mind discount,
21:49but I want to pay for your services, your time.
21:52But she said this is what makes her feel good,
21:55because she feels like she's giving back to her daughter,
21:58which I totally understand,
21:59because I'm doing the same for my grandda,
22:02so I know how she feels.
22:03And it's probably very rewarding for her to do that.
22:05So, that's in March.
22:06And I've got a ladies race night planned,
22:10which I don't know if it's ever been done in Imbrogordon,
22:14but I'm doing that in April.
22:16That's the only events I had planned,
22:18but now I'm like, do I need to...
22:20I think that would be good.
22:20These nights apparently are very good.
22:22Yeah, someone says that.
22:23I've never been to one.
22:24Never.
22:25I think the target ship were drunk, isn't it?
22:27Yeah.
22:28Well, I said I'm going to make it ladies day,
22:29but they were like, well, the guy was like,
22:32there's the men that spend a lot of money when they're drunk.
22:36So, I might need to open up for both.
22:37Both genders.
22:38You could do different ones.
22:39Yeah, yeah, true, true.
22:40But imagine how rowdy it would be for men.
22:43My, shout out to my LUSH technician.
22:47She said, what about a traitors theme tonight?
22:51Oh, that sounds great.
22:52I know, but I just looked into it.
22:53It's just a lot of work.
22:55What a good idea.
22:57How would you do that in a night?
22:58I know, I don't know.
23:00They do board games and everything,
23:01so you could probably just take inspiration
23:03from their board games and card games.
23:04Just maybe, as everyone walks in,
23:06people get their cards or something.
23:10Yeah, yeah.
23:10Who are your sponsors then, going into this?
23:12So, my sponsor is my own business,
23:16mine and my dad's business is Belter Competitions.
23:18It's a competition website.
23:19You can enter for as little as 5p
23:22and you can win prizes such as cash,
23:24holidays, vouchers, gadgets and everything.
23:27So, that's our new business.
23:28So, it's a good opportunity to give it some advertisement,
23:32especially because my friends are very passionate to push that.
23:35So, yeah, that's who my sponsor is.
23:39Mine's one of my mates, Gareth McLaughlin.
23:42He owns a company called Cat Track International.
23:45So, he sells machines, diggers, stuff like that.
23:47So, he's my sponsor.
23:52Opposition of the company that I work for.
23:54I don't work for him.
23:55We sell machines.
23:56But no, he's a good mate of mine.
23:58What are your day jobs then?
24:01I work from home doing, well,
24:04Belter, I don't really work from home,
24:05I work from an office,
24:06but Belter Competitions now.
24:08So, because me and my dad have that together,
24:11the business together,
24:12but my dad's like the silent partner
24:14because he does nothing.
24:16He's not tech savvy at all.
24:18And obviously, a lot of it relies on social media
24:20and advertising and marketing.
24:22So, he's hopeless about it.
24:23He's good at word of mouth
24:24because he'll tell everyone,
24:26he'll speak to everyone about it.
24:27But I'm kind of behind the screens.
24:29He's going to watch it now.
24:30No, he won't.
24:33That's what she's saying.
24:36He's not going to watch it.
24:37So, yeah, I spend all my time
24:39behind the computer screen right now,
24:41which is really draining.
24:43As you probably know,
24:44a wee bit of human interaction is good.
24:48It's actually good to get out for the training
24:50and see other humans
24:51and speak to other humans.
24:52And I work for a company
24:54that sells machines for quaddies.
24:57So, a company called Molson.
25:00And I sell the product Finlay,
25:02which is made in Ireland.
25:03And yeah.
25:05It's a big business.
25:06It can be, aye.
25:08It's a bit quiet now.
25:09It's a bit up and down,
25:10especially at the start of the year.
25:12And it also goes with the way
25:13the industry's going, you know.
25:14So, if there's an up and down
25:16in the building trade
25:18or anything like that, it can be.
25:20But we've had not too bad.
25:22Have you got all our rocks
25:23for houses from Scotland?
25:25No.
25:33No, there's quaddies all over the world.
25:36But Scotland's got some
25:37of the hardest rock quaddies there is.
25:41Anything to do with dancing.
25:43Promoting my job here.
25:45Finlay, Scotland.
25:48So, I guess, what are you most worried about
25:50when it comes to the dancing?
25:52Is it falling on the night?
25:53Not raising enough money?
25:55What's the biggest fears
25:56for the next few months?
25:58Contestant, you go first.
26:01No, I don't really have any fears.
26:03Just getting my tan too dark.
26:04Yeah.
26:05Being forced into a fake tan.
26:09I'll be all right.
26:10Any lifts then or anything like that?
26:13So, I don't know if we're allowed to.
26:15No.
26:15There was supposed to be something.
26:16But we're not too sure
26:17what we're going to do yet.
26:18It got taken out
26:18because of insurance purposes.
26:21Yeah, it must be extreme.
26:22I don't think it was that extreme.
26:25Not for me, wasn't it?
26:26Yeah, we're capable of anything.
26:28But yeah, we were actually,
26:29when she first said it about the move,
26:31we were like, no.
26:33But then we were like,
26:34actually, this will be cool
26:36and it'll be really fitting
26:37and it'll be like a crowd pleaser
26:39and we'll be like,
26:40it was supposed to be
26:40at the start of the dance time
26:41and we'll be like,
26:42kind of drawn in.
26:43But yeah, it's changed now.
26:45No, we don't know exactly
26:46what we're doing yet.
26:47No, we're still...
26:48You'll find out in the night.
26:49But the American Smooth,
26:51she said, has lifts.
26:53We haven't done any yet though.
26:54But she did say...
26:55Oh, so we should go down.
26:56That's my dance now.
26:57Is it?
26:59Are we?
27:01Yeah, we haven't learned
27:02any of that stuff yet.
27:02Well, that's...
27:04Yeah, that'll be...
27:06I think I'm less nervous.
27:08I'm a bit of a perfectionist,
27:09so I just always want to
27:10do the best at everything.
27:12I'm aware you can't really...
27:13I found that out already.
27:14Yeah, sorry.
27:15Week two.
27:16I found that out in the hard way.
27:18Yeah, I can't really
27:19stretch myself that far,
27:21I've realised.
27:21So I just need to try
27:23and bring myself back
27:24and realise I'm doing this for fun.
27:26I'm doing it for the fun part of it
27:28and doing it for the charity
27:30and trying to do good for them
27:32and not put so much pressure on myself.
27:33But I just have to keep
27:35reminding myself of that every so often
27:36because it's very hard.
27:38To, yeah, not to get
27:41really focused on, yeah.
27:44Especially when you've got
27:45competitors like...
27:46I thought you were about to say
27:47especially when you've got him.
27:49That's the way they hand to him.
27:50No, I'm here too.
27:51Especially when I've got him.
27:53Ah, cheers.
27:58For a week.
27:58What have we signed up to?
28:01You're talking about...
28:01And it's two lessons a week
28:03you're on about doing like
28:05dancing in between the classes
28:07and another day, so...
28:09Yeah.
28:10Are you up for that?
28:11He's going to have to be.
28:13She's been told.
28:15We weren't actually going to
28:16do extra practices, were we?
28:17Yes, because we were like
28:18we don't know the dances.
28:19And obviously everyone was like
28:20signing up for extra classes
28:21and we were like
28:22should we be doing this?
28:23And then we set up on Sunday
28:25and she was like, well, yeah
28:27I would recommend everyone to do this.
28:28We were like, okay, we need to do this.
28:30Yeah, I think my partner and I
28:31were going to do it maybe a little bit
28:33closer in time to the actual ones
28:35because we were both just like
28:36really crazy busy at the moment.
28:38And you've got a new partner.
28:39I got a new partner, yeah.
28:41I did get a new partner
28:42and I've decided to move house as well.
28:44So it's been pretty crazy this year.
28:46Not that I follow it much, but
28:48going by the conversations
28:49it's like people's like...
28:50Lives are just like...
28:52It's been like wife swap more than...
28:56I know, I think once people sign up for it
29:00I think it's all the fun and games
29:01when you're signing up for the excitement
29:02and then when you're in
29:03you realise the commitment actually is.
29:05It's a lot of fun.
29:06And I feel like it can be
29:07probably quite daunting to some people
29:08and I can understand that.
29:11But I suppose if you just...
29:12if you're signing up
29:13you kind of need to be willing to
29:15be able to put yourself out there.
29:17And I think it's better
29:18if people have dropped out
29:19if they are at the start
29:21rather than like three months in.
29:22I wonder if that happens.
29:24Kyle, we're yet to find out, aren't we?
29:26Because we're only two weeks in
29:27but even if that happened now...
29:28Feels longer than two weeks.
29:29It does.
29:32All consuming, what was life before Strictly?
29:35And even the time we first met...
29:38Well, I didn't meet at the...
29:39I wasn't at the pairing night
29:41but the first night I met you is all.
29:44The training didn't start till the week after
29:45or the week and a half after for us
29:47and I was like, oh that's so far away.
29:49I've got a whole week and a half to wait.
29:50I just want to get into it
29:51and I'm like, what?
29:51Where did that happen?
29:54It's made January go really quick actually
29:55which is good because usually January is a drug.
29:59I'm having to be really organised with life
30:02and I actually have a diary that I'm using
30:04except I've lost it now.
30:06So like...
30:06What's going on?
30:07Oh, what's going on here?
30:09I'm reading a friend's diary
30:10because I keep missing things.
30:12I don't want to have an organisation.
30:16That probably sums up your January.
30:18I am sorry.
30:18My January.
30:20Yeah, forget you.
30:21So when I asked you if you have training tonight
30:22you don't actually know.
30:23I don't.
30:24I know it's a Tuesday and a Thursday.
30:26I do know when my training is.
30:27And Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday.
30:29What dance is it tomorrow?
30:30Tomorrow it's lyrical
30:32and then Thursday I've got musical theatre.
30:34Are we allowed to know any of your songs?
30:36Are we allowed to know any hints?
30:37Is it fast? Is it slow?
30:38I don't think anyone's allowed to tell anyone anything are they?
30:40I know.
30:40This is what's so hard because you...
30:42It's a slew.
30:42I think we can give it away.
30:44I think lyrical is slow.
30:45Musicals, upbeat, fast, very female empowerment.
30:50Okay.
30:50Because I'm in an all-female duo.
30:53Oh cool.
30:54Yeah, I don't know why I agree with that.
30:56I think yeah, lyrical...
30:58It's interesting.
31:00I was really cynical about it.
31:01If I say this every podcast,
31:04it's not something I really wanted to do and I've given it.
31:06And it's the type of thing I'd roll my eyes at
31:09if I was having to watch it.
31:10And now I'm having to do it.
31:11Now he knows he's a natural.
31:13But now I'm a natural on it.
31:14So I'm like...
31:14Yeah, we were very cynical.
31:16The real rest of us were like,
31:18secretly, really, to be honest.
31:20But he was just like...
31:21Sorry, he's letting himself down on Sunday, right?
31:23Yeah, yeah.
31:26Do you know the reason why I think I'm okay here?
31:27I assume you know about this.
31:28I mean, the only reason why I'm okay
31:29is because before I did this job,
31:31I used to make films.
31:32And so I kind of understand the acting she wants you to do.
31:36So you're usually this side of it,
31:38watching it, that you've now got to be...
31:40I think she's just trying to get us to act.
31:42It's more of an acting dance, is that what it is?
31:44To be fair.
31:47No, that's really intense.
31:50It is intense,
31:50but I think we have a little bit more room
31:52for a bit of error too, though, which is bad.
31:54And you know,
31:55because you can kind of get away with something...
31:58Yeah.
31:59And it's a lot of the lyrical dance, like, separate
32:02or with your partner, right, a lot.
32:03Separate.
32:04It is quite separate.
32:05And so is my musical theatre one.
32:06So when we got our photos done on Sunday,
32:09he was like, like...
32:10That's as close as you can get.
32:11And I was like,
32:11we haven't actually touched each other yet.
32:15This is so awkward.
32:17The photos were awkward, though.
32:18Especially if everyone was standing watching.
32:20Watching.
32:20It was very awkward.
32:22I'm still...
32:22We're still yet to see those photos, aren't we?
32:24On your application,
32:25when you applied to do Strictly,
32:26you get a question of like,
32:27what's the secret you've not told anyone else?
32:29Oh yeah, that was there.
32:30Did you just have to do that?
32:31What was yours?
32:33I don't want to say.
32:38I can't remember now.
32:41I think that was probably the same as the sentence
32:45where describe yourself in a sentence.
32:47I put it was far too early in the Christmas,
32:49the festive period,
32:50to be answering that kind of...
32:54It would actually be good if somebody
32:55actually wrote the application for you.
32:57I think like a family member or a partner.
32:59Martin's brother did it for him.
33:01He hadn't even applied,
33:03but his brother did it for him.
33:04That's like John.
33:06Do you know John and Mags?
33:07Yeah.
33:07John's...
33:08But Ailee, who's in Team Friday,
33:11she actually did his application for him,
33:12I'm pretty sure, as well.
33:14And Alicia, her work colleagues did hers.
33:17I think that's better, though.
33:18You can't really sell yourself as hard.
33:20We didn't have to do the application.
33:22No.
33:22Oh.
33:23Yeah.
33:23They just saw us and they were like stars.
33:26Yeah, he got scouted.
33:27He's going to get a lyrical.
33:30So if you two,
33:32this is our last question for you,
33:33if you were going to be stuck
33:34on a desert island together,
33:37what three items would you each bring?
33:39Oh my word.
33:40Landy go.
33:41Three megs.
33:42Yes.
33:43Because you need sugar and food,
33:44so that hits both of them.
33:48Can you bring a bath?
33:50Yeah, you can bring a bath.
33:51I'm just talking about myself here.
33:53Yeah, that's for each.
33:54For each, yeah.
33:54I would need a bath, definitely.
33:56It's not a bath for you to both share.
34:00Three megs, a bath and my son.
34:05See, I was going to say my two kids,
34:06but then I'm thinking,
34:07nah, desert island, two kids, nah.
34:10And all you have is a bath and two megs.
34:12Nah, I don't know.
34:13No Gamescom, so there's nothing.
34:16Yeah, I'd have to take my kids.
34:17I'd have to say that
34:18because they're going to watch this.
34:19And I'm going to have two.
34:20Aye, yeah.
34:21Does that count when I do it?
34:22We'll give it as one.
34:23I'd probably have to take two mobiles
34:24because they want my mobile each, wouldn't they?
34:30They would be the ones that need the three items.
34:31We would be fine.
34:32I would be fine in the desert island myself
34:34with my three megs.
34:35It'd be the entertainment.
34:37Yeah.
34:38The peace, the quiet.
34:39It'd be the entertainment for Tommy
34:41that would be the problem if he came.
34:44Well, thank you both so much for coming out
34:47and being on Strict with My Coles.