The Female Touch: From Zookeeper to 23 Years in the Decorating Trade

I sit down with Ria Kirby, a professional decorator with over 23 years of experience, to talk honestly about life as a female tradie and business owner of The Female Touch.

Ria shares her journey through multiple jobs, including being a zookeeper, before finding her calling in painting and decorating and building her own successful business. 

She opens up about the realities of running a business, from the importance of clear communication and transparency with quotes to managing client expectations.

We explore what keeps decorating exciting after two decades in the trade, including learning new techniques, materials, and products, and why no two jobs are ever the same. 

Ria also speaks openly about the physical demands of the job, womens health and how we should support women in the trades especially during the menstrual cycles we face. 

From balancing family life with running a business, and how she navigates work-life balance, we cover it all!

This episode offers real insight into the challenges, rewards, and resilience required to thrive as a female tradie.

Key Takeaways

• It's important to be transparent with clients to build trust.
• There's a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into being self-employed.
• Continuous learning is key in this ever-evolving industry.
• Don't be scared; there's so much support available out there.
• You can pick and choose what aspects of the trade you want to focus on.
• The community in the trades is supportive, not competitive.
• Using quality materials leads to lasting finishes.
• It's all about managing client expectations and delivering high standards. 
• Women are so supportive.
• It's important to check in on each other.

Follow me: 

Instagram: @lifeofafemaletradie_ 

Tiktok: @loaftpodcast

Facebook: Life Of A Female Tradie

Youtube: @lifeofafemaletradiepodcast

Follow Guest:

Instagram: @the_female.touch

Facebook: The Female Touch

TikTok: @thefemaletouch

Chapters

00:00 Ria's Journey into Decorating

02:03 Managing Client Expectations and Estimates

04:45 Work-Life Balance and Family Time

07:26 Physical Challenges in the Trade

10:15 The Realities of Self-Employment

13:03 Encouraging Women in the Trades

15:35 Courses and Skill Development

18:36 Spraying Techniques and Safety

22:58 Proud Transformations in Work

25:14 The Importance of Quality in Painting

28:57 Understanding Client Expectations

32:52 Adapting to New Products and Techniques

35:44 Navigating Social Media Challenges

38:07 Building Community in the Trade

42:04 Supporting Women in Trades

46:05 Navigating the Challenges of Womanhood in Trades

48:39 The Importance of Female Support in the Trades

49:27 Maintaining Authenticity in Brand Partnerships

51:22 Quickfire Questions: Insights and Preferences

01:00:53 Thank you's

Transcript

Ria (00:26)

So my name's Ria, I'm the owner of Female Touch and I've been a decorator for 23 years.

Laura (00:34)

Wow. Well, thanks for sharing your time with me today, Ria. It's great to have you on the podcast. As I've said, I've been wanting to get you on for a while. So yeah, let's dig into your story. where did it all start for you?

Ria (00:48)

So I've had many a job from I've been a zookeeper, I've been a swimming teacher, I've worked in offices, I've done baggage at the airport, you name it, I've sort of done it across the board. And I didn't like sort of the repetitiveness or going to the same place or having a boss. And my dad's a decorator and his dad was a decorator. And I always helped my dad when I was little. And then he sort of said, oh, look, just come and work with me until you find something else. And here we are 23 years later.

Laura (00:54)

Wow.

Blimey, 23 years, that's a good stint. You're not bored of it yet.

Ria (01:22)

No, I love it. I actually love it. I never get bored because like one week could be walking into just a quick refresh or a new build and then the next week it's something that can be not really daunting, but you know there's going to be a hell of a lot of work involved and it's going to throw up all sorts of issues and stuff. So I never get bored of it.

Laura (01:42)

That's good to know. How do you kind of tackle that? You know, when you start a job and say, from looking at it, there's not really any particular issues, maybe the odd hairline crack, but once you start getting into it and the paint starts peeling off and you dig deeper into cracks, how do you manage that time-wise?

Ria (02:03)

You know that is like the power of the terms and conditions for a start. So all of my quotes are actually an estimate with, obviously, as you say, haven't got X-ray eyes, but I would sort of put down that any unforeseen things will be fully discussed with you, the client, and a set plan and costing or whatever agreed before I continue. And then that also gets put on as an email.

Luckily, it doesn't happen that often. And to be fair, unless it's really going to run into a lot of time, I will try and swallow it in if I can. But if it ends up being days and days or a lot of different materials or happens to in a plasterer then that obviously has to go. But that is why it's an estimate. And I always tell people it's an estimate. And it's only once a year that something goes wrong, really.

Laura (02:50)

I think it can be quite, it's a topic discussed, I feel, a lot in the decorating world, the difference between a quote and an estimate. kind of you just explained it quite clearly there. The estimate gives you freedom to, well, the time to allow for unforeseen, doesn't it? And it kind of explains to the client that

this may kind of balloon potentially.

Ria (03:13)

Mm hmm. Yeah,

absolutely. Do know what I've been stung and again, everything I've been stung with over the years and I've made every mistake and it's important to make all the mistakes and eventually you can hone it down and I think the more transparent you are with a client and more trust is built as well, you know, there's some jobs that I walk in and I'm like, this is going to have to go on a day rate until we get to a standard where it's then just chucking a bit of paint at the wall because you can't tell.

⁓ There's a job that me and Sam have been looking after in Hampton for about a year now and it is just an absolute mix mash of new lime plaster, old lime plaster, crumbling walls. So I just spoke to him and I was like, look, we're just going to have to go on a day rate and then you're going to have to sort of stop me when your budget comes to that point. And we've just been working through it. And now we're at a point where it is literally just bits of painting that it can be priced for. So.

Laura (04:10)

Wow, okay. Yeah, that's a really good way to approach it. think, yeah, cause one of the big worries is that a job rolls into another and then you have to keep pushing clients, don't you? And I think that can be quite a big worry cause decorators can be booked up months in advance and you can't, you don't really like to push clients too much, do you? Cause you obviously don't wanna.

Ria (04:23)

Yeah.

Laura (04:33)

mess with their timetable as well as yours.

Ria (04:37)

Absolutely, I mean that is a struggle of mine. I'm booked up, what are we now? We're end of November. I'm booked up to next August and it's on turn in a way, so much work. But then again, I've got the likes of Sam who I can pull in and another guy who I work with now and then. But yeah, if something goes wrong, it's like that's when I end up working weekends.

Laura (04:45)

Wow.

Ria (05:00)

And for me, problem is, is if I finish a job on a Wednesday, I will book something in for the Thursday and Friday. Cause I just, I'll be twiddling my thumbs otherwise. I'd keep doing it. And you, and again, it doesn't usually happen, but now and then we'll run over a little bit. And, lot of my clients are quite good. don't, unless they sort of put me in because they're going on a holiday or something like that. but then that falls into working late hours and stuff to try and make sure.

Laura (05:09)

Hahaha

Ria (05:27)

previous job is done. But I'm guilty of it and I know I am. I don't think I'm ever going to change that. I like a little bit of pressure as well.

Laura (05:36)

is difficult to be strict with yourself when a job can throw up unforeseen circumstances, isn't it? I mean, it can definitely eat into your personal time. I mean, how do you kind of balance that with family? Because obviously you've got a little boy, haven't you? Or maybe not so little now.

Ria (05:42)

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, yeah, He's

He's 14 and we're not cool apparently. thinks we're not cool, although we are cool. Do you know what? And again, there's always stuff that comes up and we do do stuff together and try and have quality time. But to be honest with you, the only thing I ever want out of life is traveling. And I do go on sort of four or five holidays a year. And then for me, that really is proper quality time.

Laura (06:12)

Yeah.

Ria (06:18)

I also get to rest and recharge. I'm the wrong side of 40 now, so the body's feeling it. So I do, and everyone sort of says, oh, you've gone loads of holidays. And I'm like, yeah, but that's what I put my spare money to. And then I really do get that quality time, because if I'm getting home at five or six o'clock at night or even later, everyone's quite tired, and because the boy is still in school, we're not up till nine, 10 o'clock at night having big family discussions.

and stuff. But we do, we try maybe every other week we'll go and just do like an hour at the driving range or cinema or a Nando's or something. We do try and get it in, but he's quite happy doing his own thing now at this age as well.

Laura (07:01)

Yeah, I bet. It's nice. mean, it's one of the, again, another big topic of burnout and work life balance amongst the trades for your mental health and your physical health. With being a female on the tools, how do you find that the trade treats your body? Do you have a lot of aches and pains and how do you manage it?

Ria (07:26)

You know what, from 35 to 42 I am now. I'm hell of a lot more physically tired. The brain's still going and stuff, but I remember years ago I'd go and do like a job like eight or four. I'd nip home, something to eat, and then I'd go and do another job in the evening just for a few hours, a bit of extra money. No problem, I could do that for months and months and months.

I just can't do it now. suffer with something called weekend migraines. And it's where I've been working and arms up and physical week when you kind of stop at the weekend and you relax, all that tension shoots up into your head and it's called a weekend migraine. And that's been about the last three years. It's so weird. went to the doctors about it and he said, and I am still physical. We do loads of walking or but even on my rest days, I should still try to be moving quite a lot.

Laura (07:57)

Okay.

Wow.

Ria (08:21)

but yeah once one of those comes on it's like here we go this is what it is the weekend if I've got time off.

Laura (08:26)

No way, I've never heard of that.

Ria (08:28)

Yeah, yeah, really weird.

I was going to say again, like with having the four or five holidays, like every Christmas we go away. So we're off to Egypt for two weeks and we'll be doing bits and bobs, but that is my time to rest and recharge. And I really need that a few times a year because I'm dreading getting to 50. ⁓

Laura (08:44)

Yeah.

No, mate,

don't. I turn 40 next year. And to be fair, I'm not even really dreading it, but when you're approaching that sort of 40 around that mark, you do start to notice more aches and pains, the joints. Yeah, it's something you've got to keep an eye on, isn't it?

Ria (09:01)

Mm-hmm.

definitely. I mean, I used to be able to go to the gym as well. Like, so I'd go and do a day's work and I'd go to the gym for an hour or two of an evening. And then we were going to one in the morning, it was like circuit training, but with weights and everything. And I was doing that like, sort of 645 till half seven, I was done for the day. I couldn't like it was actually detrimental in

Laura (09:24)

Yep.

Ria (09:33)

my in how much energy I had left a lot of people go like do you not go to the gym I physically can't do it like it just does me in

Laura (09:39)

Yeah.

I'm one of them. I don't know how people can go to the gym in the morning before work. I've just started going in the evenings. So I'll get home i'll eat and then I'll go to the gym like three times a week. And to be fair, I've noticed a hell of a lot of difference in my strength and yeah, and even my joints as well. Cause I was getting a lot of joint pain from being on your knees.

Ria (09:49)

Yeah.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

Laura (10:05)

doing skirtings

Ria (10:05)

Yeah.

Laura (10:06)

and sanding and stuff and up and down and everything. And I've noticed that strength training has really helped me. But yeah, don't know how you can do it in the morning. I'd be done as well.

Ria (10:12)

to

I can't, like the thought of finishing work and

going in the evening now, I can't, can't do it. Yeah, definitely.

Laura (10:20)

It does take some, does take some. There

are some days where I'm like, I really can't be bothered, but I know I'll feel better afterwards. It's one of them. Absolutely, absolutely. So obviously you're a self-employed decorator. What do you think is the hardest part of being a self-employed tradie?

Ria (10:28)

better after it 100 % that's it

keeping on top of everything because a lot of people think you'll just go and do like your eight to four or whatever hours you do. And it's on top of that, the quotes, finding time to go and do quotes. I'll go off the work if it's like on the way home, but I'm just outside of London. So that sort of rush hour traffic, what can be 10 minute drive on a clear day is an hour and a half on that rush hour traffic. So then I'll take like one Saturday a month.

and booking four or five quotes. And then it ends up being that whole weekend of making sure you get the estimates out and making sure you've got all your materials and products. Because I'm not one for like popping out in the day to go on, oh, I need more filler, I need more of this. I mean, I like to have it all there and I don't need the property unless there's an emergency. So it's just making sure all of that is fine tuned. And again, I suppose it comes quite easy to me because I've been doing it for so long.

But it adds hours and hours and hours across the week. And you've got to be on top of it. If you're not sending quotes out when you say your estimates when you say you're going to do it, customer then starts to think, hmm, what's going on? You're losing the trust already with that. So yeah, it's a lot. It is a lot.

Laura (11:41)

Yeah.

Yeah, definitely.

Yeah, I mean, it's quite easy for people outside the trades, think, to forget all the behind the scenes work that we have to do. Like you say, the extra time that it all takes to do your books, your quotes, your estimates, as we've established, they're two different things. Buying your materials, making sure that your general stock is also stocked up.

Ria (12:16)

Yeah?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Laura (12:23)

because you don't generally buy a singular tube of caulk with every job or a singular bag of or tub of filler for each job. It's something that you generally always have, isn't it? So there's always things that you've got to be thinking outside of each singular job, isn't there?

Ria (12:36)

Yeah, absolutely.

I mean even driving to the paint shop that shuts at five. If I'm like finishing a job at half four but the paint shop is in that bit of traffic I'm not going to get there so I'd have to finish a bit early or go on a Saturday morning it's balancing act

Laura (12:59)

Yeah, and then you've got to fight the traffic, like you say, to get there before it shuts.

Ria (13:03)

Exactly, exactly.

Laura (13:05)

So for anyone looking to get into the trades, specifically a woman of any age, what would your bit of advice be?

Ria (13:13)

Don't be scared, like it can be daunting, but there's obviously something if it's drawing you to the trades for whatever reason. And I think the community out there now, again, jumping into especially Instagram, it's such a good platform. And I've always got people asking me questions and I'm always willing to help and give answers or advice. But you've also got, I've been doing some courses there with Dulux Academy. So I've just done my, was speaking to you about that at the show the other day, like the spraying and stuff and they do

Laura (13:39)

You were? Yep.

Ria (13:43)

Like I'm not great at wallpaper and I don't enjoy it and everyone's like, you're just a brush hand, but I can pick and choose. But even things like that, I've been going for so long, but I'm going to go back and do a wallpaper refresher and even do real basic courses like color consulting and how to do estimates and that. So there's so much support available out

try and find a local decorator in your area where you can just jump on and get a bit of hands-on and stuff as well. That's always... A lot of people, I think, start with doing their own house and just doing friends and family and then they think, I could actually get into this. But there's never a better time now with all the support that's out there. And again, something that we're talking about doing. When I was at the show, I was speaking to them at Dulux and they're planning on doing a women's day. Just probably...

Laura (14:34)

Wow.

Ria (14:34)

Yeah, just like a bit of a rather than a whole day's brain a whole day papering. Just doing a day where you can sort of have a bit of a look at all the different courses and options out there. So I'm quite excited. and it is good. I'd love to encourage other women to come in to the trade and stuff. So why not? It's good. We're all we're all friendly over here.

Laura (14:45)

That sounds great.

Absolutely.

That's it. We are. There's no animosity amongst us. We're all supporting. We all want to see each other win. competition, is there? It's all we're just supporting each other. And I think that's why I love it so much.

Ria (15:00)

Exactly.

Nah, nah.

Absolutely. Facebook's a bit trolly, but honestly Instagram is brilliant and like being at the painting and decorating show and just having such a laugh and a good time and exactly, you need any help or that kind of stuff, it's really good. I do know and I think some people see it as quite daunting as well, the jobs, but let's say if there's a woman in a

Laura (15:16)

yeah.

Ria (15:35)

30s, 40s, 50s who wants to come in. She can hone in on just wallpapering if that's what she likes or just like these new builder states where it literally just needs painting. So it's not a case that you're having to climb all over scaffolding or really get in and start skimming walls and that, you you don't have to be doing that real ugly dirty stuff. can pick and choose. There's so many options within.

Laura (15:56)

Yeah.

Ria (16:00)

all the gilding and the gold leafing and stuff. There's so many options depending what they want to go in. And if you come in and then sort of find what you like doing, just hone in on those skills and there's a market for everyone.

Laura (16:11)

Definitely, definitely. It's nice, it's a good way of looking at it like that when you break it down into segments instead of a whole trade for new people coming in. Yeah, I like that tip, honing on a specific part to start with and then if you want to, you can branch out from there, can't you? Definitely. I was actually gonna ask you about the courses you've been doing, because I've noticed you've done a few over this year so far.

Ria (16:23)

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, definitely, definitely.

Yeah,

yeah, yeah.

Laura (16:38)

One of which that really drew me and has been something that I've been looking at is the repair care. How have you found that?

Ria (16:44)

Yes.

You know what, I've actually only used it once out in the sort of real world, but I thought what a good skill to have because looking at some of the people that use it and then it does save you having to bring in a carpenter. And the idea with the repair care, they used it on like Big Ben and stuff and they did all the refurbs on Big Ben. Yeah. So you say like, if you've got an old timber window that a lot of people might think, God, that's past its sell by date.

Laura (17:03)

No way! Wow!

Ria (17:13)

and it tends to only really be the bottom bit that's rotten. It's all saving the planet as well. So you can rip that out and then put in a new wooden window or UPVC. But it's like what it does to the environment as well. The actual process of having to make the new window, have it installed, the cost and stuff. It's quite incredible what that repair care does. And they do like the two levels. I've not been on the level two yet, but that touches slightly into the carpentry.

cut the bottom bar out, put a new bar in and repair care it into place. So again, it opens you up a little bit more with what you can do, especially if you're doing exterior work, can be used inside as well on various bits. But I just love the fact that it kind of is saving the environment. was on the course, explain it all and it was quite incredible. So it was really scary and I kicked and screamed my way through it. I hated doing the job. I actually hated it, but

Laura (17:45)

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Did ya?

Ria (18:08)

Again,

I had a lot of support. One of the repair care guys, he jumped in and was like, look, if you need me for anything, and two or three other decorators that use it a lot, I was chatting with them about it. Again, the client, she's a regular, she knew exactly, it was my first time. And it came out really well in the end, but it was one of those, my God, how hard is this? So now I'm on the flip side, I'm glad I did it. But it can be scary to approach it and

You can go and do the course and once you're out there it's that, god, here we go. But no, I'm glad to sort of get that under my belt and I would like to go and do the level two for sure. Yeah.

Laura (18:37)

Yeah.

Awesome. Yeah,

it does look like insane stuff. And I have to admit, over the last couple of summers, I've had a few customers wanting external work, whether it be on like conservatories or like full wooden greenhouses that they've still got but wanna keep. And you look at the level of like spots of wood rot and stuff in...

Ria (18:57)

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Laura (19:10)

I was like, I don't know if I've got the skills to tackle this properly, to give it like another 10, 15 years, but this is why I've been looking at the repair care stuff. Cause yeah, it looks insane. Yeah. So.

Ria (19:15)

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

It is brilliant,

but even inside, let's say if there's like a bit of skirting board and there's been, you know, sometimes with the tall skirtings in the old houses, they're like notched out where there was an old socket and the socket's been moved or a radiator has been fitted in there. So you got it. You can like repair all of that directly into the shape. it's, it doesn't sag like normal filler would or a lot of the, ⁓ the wood fillers and stuff. They, they blow after a little while hot and cold and stuff.

Laura (19:34)

Yep.

Okay.

Ria (19:50)

That's old news, whereas this is a bit more flexible. So even that kind of stuff, you get a lot of people who only do interior stuff, but they will use that. it's well, again, if you go and do the course and you've got it ticked off, at least you've got the skill. And then it doesn't mean you necessarily have to go out and do like 50 windows straight away. Just start with little small bits to get the confidence up.

Laura (19:59)

Okay.

Yeah.

No.

Definitely, definitely. on the, sticking on the courses, how are you finding your spraying now?

Ria (20:19)

You know what? I did an initial video. So my friend had built a beautiful, like, orangery garden thing. was like another house in his garden. it's massive. He's a good friend of mine and I've done loads of work for him. so I was prepping it all with the intention just to paint it. And the next minute he brings out a sprayer. He's like, we're going to spray it. I was like, no, we're not. You just built this beautiful thing. he said, I've never even seen one, let alone put it in action.

Laura (20:29)

I saw that,

Haha

Ria (20:48)

And he was like, look, what a perfect place to try. And I just made a stupid video out of it. And then I spoke to Dulux and popped down and did their introduction course. And seriously, even just from the introduction course, from that first video I put up to the next video, it was unreal, the difference in the one course. I yet couldn't believe it. One of the teachers on there, James, he's brilliant. I speak to him quite a bit if I need any help and stuff.

Laura (21:05)

Wow.

Ria (21:15)

But so I the introduction, which shows you a little bit of the airless, which would be for the ceilings and walls, and then the HVLP, which would be like the wood, your spindles, your built-in furniture. And then I did the next course up from each of those as well. But once again, it's that now I've got to take it out into the real world. I bought a sprayer. I just, and you know what they say, like, don't wait until like you've got the right job.

Laura (21:27)

Okay.

Have ya.

Ria (21:41)

for it, but it is a little bit, what actually scares me is not the spray in it, it's the protection of everything and the carpet and the windows. That's the scary bit for me. Although again, they showed us how to do it on the course and we did it all. So I'm not waiting for the right job to come up, but there is, it'd be a few months yet. It'd probably be in my house. I'll try it first. Trial and error.

Laura (21:47)

Yes!

Yeah.

Yeah.

Ria (22:02)

But yes, it's been absolutely

brilliant. And it's another string to the bow. And I'm sure once they get going with it, it just opens up. Yeah, I can spray this. can do your kitchen or if it's just like a door or whatever. Yeah. And the finish is you'll never beat the spray finish with them. Yeah. So good. Yeah.

Laura (22:18)

Really? Wow.

It does look insane. mean, again, another scary aspect to add into your skillset, I think, because you're using a machine that you've got to know how to use safely, because, yeah, they pump some power out, don't they?

Ria (22:35)

Absolutely.

They can be quite dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. You can get like injection injuries off the paint. But again, they teach all the safety aspects of that kind of stuff as well. The dos, the don'ts and what to do if you do get it. So yeah, it's quite nasty.

Laura (22:43)

Mmm.

get yourself on a course if you want to do the spraying then.

Ria (22:58)

Definitely,

yeah, yeah, for sure, 100 % of course. Definitely.

Laura (23:02)

There we go. Cool.

sticking on like the jobs that you've done, what would you say is one of the most proudest jobs that you've done to date?

or biggest transformations.

Ria (23:14)

good. Do know what? I used to do lot more building work as well with my dad and stuff. So some of the jobs, I don't really do it much anymore. But like we would literally go in and completely rip the rooms apart, pull the ceilings down. I'm actually a qualified plumber as well. So I'd like move, yeah, I'd move like radiators. I can do little bits of electrics and stuff. So moving sockets from here to there.

Laura (23:19)

Okay.

Wow. No way.

Ria (23:38)

fitting skirting boards, so like a full transformation like that. They were quite cool from start to finish, but trying to deal with maybe a different electrician who I'd have to bring in for stuff that I might not know about, trying to arrange a plasterer to come in and stuff it. I just left it all behind because I've got a bit too shouty with those trades. They were not sort of doing what I'd asked them or yeah, it got quite stressful. all of that sort of work was lovely, but

Laura (23:57)

Yeah.

⁓ no.

Ria (24:06)

now I just I mean I did one there my friends were away I did their massive kitchen diner and it was just a refresh white to white and then we bought in a couple of dark colors but I call those like wow spaces with the sort of pitch roofs and everything and they're amazing to work in there they're lovely to work in

Laura (24:22)

yeah.

Ria (24:26)

I just love all the different jobs for all different reasons. Even just going in, I've had a few clients, so it only needs a lick of paint and I'm like, don't just do a lick of paint. It's going to get a full sand. And as much as they thought it looked good before, when they see it after they are like, wow, I've had clients cry at me before, for like the finish or just saying how me and Sam, we were working together earlier this year and the lady had had a couple of dodgy, all different trades in.

Laura (24:43)

wow.

Ria (24:53)

and we were doing various bits and at the end of the job she cried bless and we were giving her a cuddle and she was like so nice having you guys in the house you're so respectful you haven't got music blaring there's just so many things that like that I love and but I can't pinpoint a single job to be proud of as such been a long time going so

Laura (24:54)

Okay.

Mmm.

That's fair enough. That's fair. Do know, that's probably an even better answer that, you know, that they're all amazing. And you just mentioned the point of a customer saying, it just needs a lick of paint. But you said That's not you. You don't do that. How do you explain that to a customer and therefore justify

Ria (25:19)

Yeah, yeah.

Laura (25:38)

the price that you give them and stuff, because I think I get a lot of that with potential customers where they're happy with how the walls are, they just want a different color, they want it to be sharp, they want it to be fresh. They don't necessarily want the full sanding works. How do you stick to that if that is how you produce work?

Ria (25:59)

You know what, it's, I mean, it sounded so black and white when I said it. I have got some lovely clients who might be OAPs or single moms and stuff. And again, it's just being very transparent with them. Like if I go in somewhere and they're like, I just want to look at the walls are shocking. I'm like, well, are you planning on doing this every year? And they're like, no, no, no, I want it like it's going to be for.

For me, I will work to like a level. It's not trying to say, that's bodging it. But if I can see that just a lick of paint isn't going to make it look any different, I can't do it. They're not my types of jobs. And ultimately, I have got a price point. And sometimes it's too expensive for the client. But again, I have got my little old

Laura (26:37)

Yeah.

Ria (26:46)

OAPs and stuff and there will be bit of paper peeling in the corner and we will just stick it back and it is a hard balance but again a lot of people I suppose used me because of my level of prep and stuff so I kind of have got my clientele is that way if that makes sense so it is yeah it is

Laura (27:04)

Yep. That higher end finish. Yeah.

Ria (27:08)

Again, it's a hell of a lot of repeat work that I get or recommendations from my regular clients who know that standard. And they obviously maybe have a of a discussion about the level of finish and or they'll come into their friend's house and be like, wow, that looks amazing and stuff, you know, so that I get a lot of jobs where I've been too expensive and they can't afford it. And that's OK. But unfortunately, it's just not my my demographic of work, really.

Laura (27:37)

Yeah, yeah, I get it. I do. It is hard. don't, you want to help everybody, don't you? You want to take on all the work you can that comes your way. But sometimes the customer expectation level doesn't meet your work. Well, standard, guess it is, isn't it? Yeah, it is.

Ria (27:46)

Mm-hmm.

It is standard. is a standard.

Because if you think now, like as you said, the walls are like really broken, you're just going in and putting a coat of paint in there. Friends who were coming in over the next year or two are going to be like, yeah, that looks nice. But in their head, they're like, bloody ell who did that? And they might not have that conversation with the friend, but it makes you look like you've not done a proper job because they won't know the ins and outs. So I'll always try and have the discussion.

Laura (28:17)

Yeah.

Ria (28:27)

with them about the finish, the level of prep that needs doing, the way that we have to deal with the cracks rather than just poking a bit of filler in and hoping for the best. I've also had quite a few people who were like, you're the most expensive, but you've been so open and transparent and you've shown us exactly what you're going to do that we would actually like to go with you as well. So there's always around it really. So it's a lot of trial and error and it has been a lot of trial and error over the years, you know.

Laura (28:37)

Yeah.

Nice. Yeah.

Definitely, cause like you say, with the level of standard that you're used to providing, people I feel think that painting's an easy trade. You just whack the paint on, job's a good one, it looks fresh. And when you get these conversations going, I think you can put out there the stages of work that is required.

Ria (29:10)

Okay.

Laura (29:21)

to provide such a high level of finish. And we're not just talking million mansions and stuff. We're normal people homes, aren't we? But with cracking finishes, know, top level stuff. And when we get the opportunity to explain what is involved in providing that top finish, it definitely,

Ria (29:23)

Yeah,

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Yes.

Mm-hmm.

Laura (29:45)

opens people's eyes to what we actually do as decorators, you know.

Ria (29:49)

Definitely.

Even down to like the paint, again, I never let the client supply the paint. That's just not happening. So I will supply all of the, I will supply all of the paints. And again, I'm like, this is a durable paint. You can wash it. Obviously, kids are drawing marker pens and that over it. That's a different story. But if you go out and get a tub of Wictone and it was blue, it's probably going to look pink in three months. If you look at it for too long, it's going to fall off the wall.

Laura (29:56)

I tried that, yeah.

Hahaha

Ria (30:15)

So it's worth paying that little bit more. It's a false economy. You if you put it on and that job that I went to look at yesterday and they just bought a beautiful house. Now I did work for them back in, I said to her, how long ago was it? And she was like, it 2019. She was like, it's still immaculate. And that's the two sort of kids that have grown up and stuff as well. She was like, yeah, we can just sort of wash the walls down and.

Laura (30:15)

He

Mm.

wow.

Ria (30:43)

I can ram the Hoover into the woodwork and it doesn't all chip and that sort of stuff, know, so there's levels to it, as you say for sure. But if you can explain it to the client what they're going to get, then they're going to get the lasting finish. It's worth the money at the end of the day.

Laura (30:46)

Yeah.

Definitely.

That's it, that's it. And again, the product knowledge that is involved as well, the ever evolving paint formulas and new brands that coming out. So it's a mind field, isn't it?

Ria (31:12)

It's mental. That is like

a full-time job. And you know what? That's where my socials, especially my Facebook, have lent to. So I sort of had the Facebook page for eight, nine years. And it was just before and after photos. And I saw Joanne Hay, I know you've had her on. She's brilliant. I love her. And Paint Warrior, Kev. I saw them doing videos on how-tos and a few bits. And I thought, like that. So my Facebook page is

Laura (31:27)

Mm.

She's been on yet.

Mm.

Ria (31:40)

turned into like a DIY help book. And I get so many people, whether they literally are just homeowners wanting to do their own thing, new decorators or handy people. And they're like, I love the way that you explain this product or review that product. Now I know I can try that, or that's the best way to deal with the crack and stuff. But coming from being like old school, all the old oil paints and various methods and ways to

Laura (32:01)

Yep.

Ria (32:06)

really trying to teach myself all the new stuff, which sometimes screams at me, no, and I don't like, don't do that. Just stick to the old ways. It's been a journey and I've really enjoyed it. My dad now he'd still look at me and be like, what is that? And I'm like, yeah, this is the new like gardz, and things like that. When I've heard about that. And I was on speaking to Russ, I'd messaged him. was like, Russ, how do we use gardz and what's it for? So yeah, just forever learning and being able

Laura (32:14)

Hehehe.

Ha ha.

Yeah.

yeah.

Heheheheh!

Ria (32:31)

pass that knowledge on and then being able to make even longer lasting finishes in people's houses with the new products, which I don't know, juries out on that a bit. Some of the old ways and products are still, but some of the new stuff is amazing and it's sort of blown my mind how good it is being quite new products and materials, but yeah, different ball game again.

Laura (32:53)

Yeah,

I think one of the biggest discussions or noted things in the decorating world is how to deal with a crack, isn't it? Using the old peel stop, the flexi-fill, the skim, all of that, yeah. So I think when different decorators put out how they deal with it,

Ria (33:01)

gotcha. Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Laura (33:16)

Yes, it may have been done before by another decorator, but you still you reach in different people. So the fact that you've obviously just mentioned Russ and Joanne, they've got their own audience and you'll have yours. So, yes, it's the similar content, but it will still reach different people. So the fact that you're you're putting how you do stuff out there definitely reaches more and more people. And I

Ria (33:28)

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Definitely.

Yes, for sure.

Laura (33:44)

I definitely take bits from yourself and Joanne and other people as well. Because again, everything is changing so much constantly year on year. Whether it be the substrates we're working on or the products that we're using, it's great that people like yourselves are making those how I do how-to videos. Definitely.

Ria (33:53)

Definitely.

yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's it.

And that's how I've learnt some of the stuff that I've learnt. I'll always try to try it in my own house first before taking it out into the real world. Or I'll have a discussion with the client of, I'm going to be trying this method, et cetera. But it's even like the roll-on fillers now with the skimming blades. I've not tried it yet. But it's like, OK, so now we can be, not yet, not yet.

Laura (34:15)

Yeah?

Yeah! Haven't you?

Ria (34:33)

It's like, okay, so now we can be plasterers, can we? Almost, you know, so unreal. When it can all the work, the repair care, we're carpenters, we're now plasterers. But don't forget, if you can piss you can paint.

Laura (34:37)

I know. Yeah. Yeah.

This is it!

Well, this is it, don't you forget it! Oh, mate.

Ria (34:51)

It is good though,

and being able to keep a lot of it all in house with these products and the skim fillers and stuff rather than having to pull in a plasterer for that or whatever, it makes it easier for the client as well, you know.

Laura (34:57)

Mmm.

Definitely. And it keeps the job rolling, doesn't it, for you as

the finishing trade? You don't have to start and think, damn, I've got to come off that for like five days. I've used that roll-on filler, a couple of different brands, and it's genius, mate. It's so easy to work with. Yeah, get some and just play about with it. Even if it's just on a really small part of a wall, just to level it out, it's genius. It's so good. Yeah.

Ria (35:14)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Really? Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah.

definitely the next one on the

list to try for sure.

Laura (35:35)

Nice,

nice. So you touched there on social media and Facebook particularly. You got hacked on your Facebook not too long ago, didn't you?

Ria (35:44)

Yeah, so it was my Instagram went first, then my Facebook went, but they were slightly, yeah, they were slightly different times. So again, I've had the Facebook for years and years and years, and it really was just to have the reviews and the local stuff. And then I started up a business Instagram, it'd be two years Easter coming, So what we were about 18 months in now. And Sam actually, she started hers up at the same time. And that's how we met through Instagram anyway.

Laura (35:48)

Did it! ⁓

Mm.

Ria (36:11)

Yeah, my

Instagram got hacked and I was on like about 980 followers. I was just like, what the hell? But they didn't delete it. They just changed all the passwords and page is still there. The page is, yeah, yeah, yeah. They've done nothing to it. So it's still sat there. It is so weird. So I actually had to set up a whole new Instagram, which was a little bit soul destroying.

Laura (36:17)

⁓

No way!

That's mad!

I bet, yeah.

Ria (36:38)

And then we were going to Marrakesh for Laura's birthday and I was at the airport and I was just going to be like, I can't get into my Facebook. I just had to put it down. Then I was out right, we're away. And luckily because I had the Instagram verified, the new Instagram, Facebook will get your Instagram back. They managed to get it back for me. Thank God. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, but that wasn't very nice.

Laura (36:50)

Ugh.

nice. Yeah.

No, mate, I think as we've said, like having social media is such a useful part for us to share what we're doing. So the fact that you got hacked like that, that's, oh yeah, soul destroying.

Ria (37:16)

yeah, but I mean, I think everything sort of happens for a reason as well when I was trying to upload old videos or stuff across from Facebook and it had the watermarks and it was actually Kev Paint Warrior, he was like, stop, slow down. And he gave me some really like useful tips and stuff. And yeah, I've sort of put all of that behind me now and it's doing well. It is. I just enjoy it. I don't take it too seriously. I'm not a polished person. What you see is what you get.

Laura (37:31)

Okay.

Ria (37:41)

being a crap job or if I'm, I did a video the other day just off the back of the painting and decorating show and it had been a heavy two days and my hair was all, people were like, you look like, I was like, yeah, but the video's got to come out, you know? Yeah, yeah. It has been good.

Laura (37:54)

Ha

Do you find

Yeah, I was gonna say, do you find that it's good to connect with people as well and make friendships as well as sharing like you work?

Ria (38:07)

Yeah, absolutely. Like the community there. So again, as I said, me and Sam, we both sort of started up about the same time and I was working on my mother-in-law's place. So Sam lives about 40 minutes from me and she would be a lot closer to my mother-in-law. So I said to her, come and help me out for a couple of days. We've been speaking on the socials and we've turned into this like brilliant team. You know, she was sort of working for builders and it was a bit hit and miss. So said, look, just come work with me now.

Laura (38:19)

Okay.

Ria (38:34)

You're to have to travel to me, unfortunately, a bit. And then we sort of got her going and through her social, she's getting quite a lot busier now herself. But that's like a brilliant connection there. I actually love the community side of it. I mean, I've got my own friends outside of the decorating community, but it's almost given me like a little bit of purpose with the sharing on the socials. then actually there's

everyone who's on there has really got a drive and everyone, as we said earlier, wants to see each other do well. And I've like stepped into this world where before the socials, I was like, nah, I'm a dinosaur. I'm not going to get into spraying. I would have been like, no, repair care, what? And now I'm with the support and the rest of it, it gives me the kick up the backside as well to just

Laura (39:04)

Yeah.

Hehehe

Ria (39:20)

do better, be better and surrounding yourself with people who just want to keep going. Where we're going? Nobody knows, but the journey is brilliant, you know, so it's lovely. It really is nice.

Laura (39:28)

That's it.

Yeah, yeah.

And the things like the decorating show that we all went putting faces to Instagram profiles is mental. Yeah, it's in a really amazing way. it's crazy how you feel like you know somebody from their Instagram profile and then you meet them in person. Yeah, it's crazy.

Ria (39:38)

Mm-hmm.

Absolutely, yeah.

That's it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's it.

I find that so weird because I'm actually quite shy in nature when I'm in like big groups and stuff. And it was mine and Sam's first time the year before and we were like together and we were like, my God, there's that person and that person. And then this year round, so I was working on a couple of the stalls and loads of people are coming up to me and they're like, my God. And I'm like, who are you? Who are you? And then, yeah, and there's some people I didn't get to see and I'm like, no, I really wanted to meet you and stuff. So.

Laura (40:13)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Ria (40:23)

But again, everyone's

so friendly and it just brings everyone together. It's great. I love it. like a little family.

Laura (40:28)

Yeah, it was, it

is great. It is definitely. It's really positive. And again, reinforcing the fact that everybody just supports each other and wants to see each other do well is, yeah, it's a big thing as we've touched on with Facebook and there's some nasty comments going around, it can be hard to stay upbeat, can't it? When you're working all the hours to make ends meet and

Ria (40:40)

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Laura (40:54)

make a successful business. Being part of a community like the Decorating Family on socials is, yeah, it's a great support for everybody. yeah, anybody that wants to come into the trades, definitely connect with others and don't be scared to ask questions, isn't it?

Ria (41:00)

Mm-hmm.

Really is.

For sure.

No, that's it. mean, Laura came with me my other half and she was like, I'm not going to know too many people and what if I'm bored? And she's like, I cannot wait to go back. Even like she was with you and your dad and I think she got a bad coffee and then your dad was going to go and sort it out. She's just like, everyone's so nice. You know, she was just chatting to loads of strangers and playing the games on the stalls. didn't hardly see her.

Laura (41:25)

She was.

Yeah, yeah.

She was off gallivanting, yeah, it was lovely. Amazing.

Ria (41:39)

Yeah, bless her.

So, no, it is good though. And that's the way it should be. Like, what's the point in being jealous of this person or that person? Stay in your own lane. If you've got questions, ask them, and let's all just keep growing together and just make it a nice place to be. Because it is, you can get a little bit like working on your own and the socials is you can just have a chat. You're all right, mate, as you go in and all of that. So, it is good. ⁓

Laura (41:57)

Absolutely.

Yeah, it is.

And I think you come across every now and again, in certain periods of the year, people are brave and post something about them struggling. We all know how mental health is a big thing in the trades, specifically for men. But I do feel now there's more women coming into the trades, that it's also something we should be talking about.

Ria (42:17)

Definitely.

Yeah.

Laura (42:31)

for women as well, taking anything away from the fellas because there's obviously a big thing to tackle there for them and fully support that. how do you think we can help support each other so that, because obviously we come,

Ria (42:32)

100 %

Mm-hmm.

Laura (42:46)

into our own difficulties as women in a male crowded trade and having the social media can be a positive and negative. How do you think we can help support each other? That's quite a hard question to answer.

Ria (42:51)

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, it's, you

know what, it is difficult and I mean, things like this, like you have in the podcast where people can just talk openly and stuff and like with what Russ is doing, obviously for mental health in general, it is amazing. He is doing amazing. I find the women are so supportive anyway, in general, but it is a case of putting yourself out there to sort of say, I'm struggling. So I look, I'll be frank with you when it comes to that time in a month.

Laura (43:13)

Ugh.

Yep.

Ria (43:28)

for me, I am in bits and I'm so tired of no energy, oh, my stomach pains and all of that. And that's not something that's sort of spoken about so much. And then people would jump on my socials and they'd be like, why are you not in your whites? And it's like, do you know what I mean? Stuff like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Laura (43:41)

Yeah.

Mate, I know what you mean. Yeah, that's why I don't wear whites. I don't,

yeah, you know, it's something we don't talk about, but this is a women's podcast, right? And as a woman, you shouldn't feel the pressure to have to wear white trousers, especially when it comes to the time of the month, you know? And...

Ria (43:55)

No, exactly. Absolutely.

I think I've heard

with site work and that as well is kind of, there's no facilities for women on there as such or I've never done site work but I've heard it's not great things and not to sort of touch on too much on like Sam's stuff but she's the same, she's been doing a couple of externals in London where she's not really had

Laura (44:19)

Yeah, that's got to be tricky.

Ria (44:26)

access to a toilet and stuff and she's having to walk around London to go and find a McDonald's or somewhere to go toilet and yeah, mental. And there's another girl I recently connected with on Facebook, Mel, she's from Liverpool, she was at the show with purpose. She suffers with something to do with all of her period and that and she gets it really, really bad.

Laura (44:29)

No way.

Blimey.

Mmm.

Ria (44:51)

she'd put something up the other day and she was quite tearful and that. But it shouldn't be a stigma at the end of the day. I think the men should know that the women struggle through that time. We obviously know it ourselves, but if you're working with another lady on site and she's a bit short with you, have a second think to it, or if she's a bit slower or nipping off to the toilet, it's, you know.

Laura (45:00)

Yeah.

That's it. And I think

it's not even just the, need in the, the loo and the stuff like that. It's just, it's brain fog. It's, it's energy levels, you know, the older we get up until the menopause sort of point where it kind of cuts off, there's so many different, symptoms that we have to deal with and joint pain, you know, ⁓

Ria (45:21)

Oh god yeh

Yeah ⁓

Yeah, yeah,

Laura (45:38)

Mate, yeah. All of that.

Ria (45:38)

Hot sweats and all of that. couple of my friends are like going through menopause, perimenopause in all different like office workers, hairdressers and all the rest of it. And they are literally like, I feel like I'm going insane, you know? So if you're then trying to go out and do a full day's work, do a quote, not make a mistake, make sure you've got this and that. So hard. So hard to sort of deal with, you know? So I'm not quite there yet, but that's going to be.

Laura (45:49)

Yeah.

Yeah.

You're

Ria (46:06)

difficult to

Laura (46:06)

lucky. Yeah, I've noticed the start of symptoms. So you're quite lucky. You're a little bit, only a little bit older than me. But, you know, when you start thinking, why did I forget that? Or, you know, I don't, can't quite get on point today, you know, or you're just feeling just so drained of energy and you can't figure out why because you've not done anything different.

Ria (46:13)

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Laura (46:33)

Yeah, it's a lot to deal with along with trying to keep your business successful, it's, yeah, it's tough.

Ria (46:38)

Exactly. Even like with women,

even when they're not actually on their period, all the different cycles, there'll be like a week where they're super energized and they're ready to go. And then like the week before, so that each week, even though it's like just that amount of time being on your period, there's something different going on. Like you with the gym, Laura notices it, she gets, she hits like personal bests she's like...

Laura (46:46)

Ugh.

Ria (47:04)

does even better at the gym when she's in that phase where she's got all that energy. And then there's other times where she's just like, I literally couldn't even lift anything today. And it's all, so then when you're trying to be up ladders or lift even 10, 10 litre tub of paint and that, know what I mean? Lugging that up and downstairs and the rest of it, it's, yeah.

Laura (47:07)

Yep.

Yeah.

It's it's one of them things that can get overlooked. I think the more we talk about it, because it is it isn't necessarily something everybody wants to hear about. But all as women go through it, you know, pretty much 99 percent of us will go through it and will the more we talk about it, the more it is normalized and is easier.

Ria (47:38)

is what it is, isn't it? Exactly. Yeah.

Mm hmm.

Laura (47:48)

to talk about.

Ria (47:49)

Exactly that. Exactly. But dya know what I think going back to your initial point of like how the women support each other, I know that in some industries, it can be really bitchy and stuff, but I've never had any issue in the trades amongst women and especially on the socials and that it's still always jump to my defense if there's a troll or

stuff like that, you know, it's never the women sort of doing the trolling. And again, it's not just, it's all men. I've got loads of really supportive men and stuff as well. But in terms of actually talking about females, don't be scared to jump into someone's inbox and just be like, I'm a shit week or whatever it's, we all go through it and we can all be an ear to listen, like, you know, listen to each other and just share the load a little bit. I think we're a lot more emotional maybe than some men and sometimes we just,

Laura (48:19)

Yep.

Yeah.

Definitely.

Definitely.

Ria (48:40)

the vent a little bit.

Laura (48:41)

Yeah, yeah.

And there's nothing wrong with showing your vulnerable side either. know, again, it makes you stronger to be honest and talk about how you're feeling and effectively, well, hopefully will then make you feel better that you've voiced your feelings, because sometimes just voicing something can make you feel better instead of working over in your head all the

Ria (48:46)

Absolutely.

Absolutely. mean even when I'm not working with Sam, she doesn't really like working on her own so much whereas I'm neither here nor there. But I'll check in on her a couple of times a week and we'll have a little 10 minute phone call or whatever and just be like, right, if you need a chat or whatever. Yeah, it's important.

Laura (49:24)

Nice, I like that.

stuff. So have you got any big announcements or big brand deals that you can share with us?

Ria (49:31)

can't talk about it. I talk about it. I'm joking.

No, I mean, I've got a few. No, I can't really talk about them. they might not even come off and stuff. So did.

Laura (49:43)

Watch this space.

Ria (49:44)

Do you know what, again, with the Dulux thing, I'm working with them a lot, but it was a natural, organic thing. And I've just actually done my first advert with them talking about courses. But it's not like all of a sudden I was doing courses of a different company and then it's like now, so that's a natural thing, but that's scary, like getting paid to do an advert or something. It feels, I feel so weird doing it, but at the same time,

Laura (49:55)

Yeah.

Ria (50:09)

It's been such an organic journey for me doing my courses with them and talking about the courses that I marry up with the brands like that. So I will hopefully be doing some more stuff with Dulux in the future. But again, it's going to benefit me in my journey as well as make it aware that people can go and do the courses. And there's this option and that option available as well. There's a couple of other products and stuff that I'll be doing bits with.

Laura (50:18)

Yeah.

Definitely.

Ria (50:37)

But that sounds so stupid, I hate that.

Laura (50:39)

It is what it is. wanna do it properly. You don't wanna get ahead of yourself or anything like that. I respect that, it's fine. I just...

Ria (50:44)

Nah.

I'm just grateful for

all of it as well. I don't expect anything to come. And as I said, my socials are not all polished up. You're just gonna get me and you're gonna get, we're doing it this way and that way and this is why we're doing it. just like, yeah, exactly that. So...

Laura (51:01)

It's real, innit?

Ria (51:05)

But then there are some likes of some beautiful accounts out there who are completely polished with so many followers and that. And I love to watch those accounts. they get different companies that want to work with them for that sort of thing. So, yeah, it's all good.

Laura (51:22)

Awesome. Right, we've come to the point where I like to do a bit of a this or that quick fire question round. so you ready? or coffee?

Ria (51:30)

I'm ready.

all day long.

Laura (51:35)

wallpapering or painting.

Ria (51:37)

Painting, I hate wallpaper and I'm just a brush and me. ⁓

Laura (51:44)

Now, this one might seem a bit left field, but bungee jump or scuba diving.

Ria (51:51)

I've done both, I've done both. I'm gonna elaborate on this a little bit, if that's all right. So we went to Bali a few years ago. I love the sea and I love snorkeling and I'll do anything, may chuck me out the plane, fine, whatever, bungee jump, yep, all right. And I was like, really wanna try proper scuba diving. So we were on this beautiful island just off Bali and...

Laura (51:55)

Go for it.

Wow.

Ria (52:15)

It was the perfect place. The whole island was full of dive shops. And so me, Laura and Tobias, we all got in the pool and started doing that stuff and felt really comfortable looking forward to it. And then after lunch, we went out to the sea. It was a qualification I was going to be doing. And when I sort of got off the boat and I couldn't really settle my heart rate and I'm trying to sink myself and I was panicking, panicking.

and I was just holding the group up. Anyway, I had nightmares for a year. I got in the pool the next day to try and do the pool stuff. Couldn't do it. Panicking, couldn't settle, couldn't get my breath. I felt like I was in a box. Like you're looking up and you can see the top of the sea and it's so quiet. had nightmares for a year, honest to God. But I was like, if something like that defeats me, I'm like, nah, it's going to happen. So when we went to Egypt,

Laura (52:44)

No way!

mate

Ria (53:07)

Not last Christmas, the Christmas before I went in and did, it's called like a fun dive. You've got the instructors with you. Don't go deep. There's no pressure to do a course and pass this. And I'm a bit of a control freak. Again, he was like, he went to try and sink me. I had a massive freak out in the water. Laura's on the boat going, leave her alone. Anyway, I just said, look, hold my hand, let me sink myself and we'll, and I absolutely loved it. And I did a few of those types of dives.

Laura (53:28)

my God.

Ria (53:35)

And then Christmas last year, I bit the bullet and I did my open water dive. So I've got the qualification that I'd wanted from four years ago. And we're going to Egypt again this Christmas. And the thought of it terrifies me. The thought of getting in and doing the initial sinking and it's not even a drowning, it's like the goggles all steam up. And so it's when I think of it, I'm like, I'm going to go in and do it again. So.

Laura (53:39)

Yeah?

Nice one!

Yeah.

Ria (54:02)

If I had to pick one or the other, would always be the scuba dive because it's a constant thing. But me and Laura, we did a tandem bungee jump together. I'd like to do the higher one up from that. And then when Tobias hits 16 we're all going to do a plane jump together. So yeah. I love it, me. Yeah, absolutely.

Laura (54:17)

Oh wow, amazing. So you're a bit of a thrill seeker then.

Yeah, you won't catch me doing a bungee or the scuba diving, I'm afraid. Nah. Yeah, I don't like the look of the bungee bouncy thing. No, me, my bloody leg will come off or something, you know? And I'm not a fan of deep water, so you'll never get me in the scuba diving stuff. I'm a bit of a wussy.

Ria (54:27)

No? Really?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's it

No.

Yeah.

Fair enough, fair enough.

Laura (54:52)

Alright, so next question. Driver or passenger?

Ria (54:56)

driver all day long.

Laura (54:57)

Dealing with peeling paint or rotten window frames.

Ria (55:02)

Peeling pain, it's what I know, it's what I

Laura (55:04)

Sprayin' or brush and roller?

Ria (55:07)

The thrill of the spray and the fact I haven't got it mastered. So it's like, I don't want to call it a monster, but it's like, I'm still tussling with it. Every time I do the bit of spraying it fascinates me and it's amazing. It's a lot easier on the body. So eventually I'd like to push a hell of a lot more into spray. So I'm going to say spray.

Laura (55:17)

Yeah.

Okay.

Cool. This one's probably easy for you. ⁓ Dogs or cats? Are ya?

Ria (55:36)

Dogs. I'm allergic to cats. don't, I don't, like,

I don't mind them. They're a bit weird when they sort of want to stroke you and then try and bite you. But I'm actually allergic to them. So I have to be careful if I'm working in people's houses with cats and stuff. Yeah.

Laura (55:50)

⁓

there you go. And last but not least, Laura's homemade lunch or a meal deal.

Ria (55:58)

Homemade lunch all day long. Everyone's badgering her to set up the Instagram page to do it. So food's amazing. couldn't, I don't really eat a lot of bread and stuff. a meal deal is a bit dead to me, to be fair. I just, I look after my nutrition quite a lot. So yeah, always home cooked. It's cheaper anyway. It works out cheaper. It's more money for holidays.

Laura (56:01)

Hahaha!

This is it, this is it. Awesome.

Ria (56:27)

There's one for

you that I've seen you ask a few other people, skiing or snowboarding. Both. Both. Yeah. So I grew up as a skier and then Laura and Tobias hadn't done sort of anything. And so while they learnt to ski, I thought, a good opportunity to learn to snowboard. So hard, though. So hard. It is so hard.

Laura (56:32)

Yes, go on. Yeah? Sick.

It looks hard. Yeah, I've heard

I've heard you spend more time on your ass doing snowboarding than you do skiing. Yeah, it does. It does look cool, though.

Ria (56:56)

yeah, definitely. 100%. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But again, a nice challenge.

But Tobias, he swapped them from skiing to snowboarding. He's just like, kids just pick it up, didn't they? So yeah, but all of that sort of stuff. I love it. The challenge, it keeps my brain active, trying to learn and good.

Laura (57:09)

Yeah, they do.

It's great

that you've got that because I think a lot of people shy away from wanting to learn and challenge themselves. But the fact that you're still you've still got that drive to learn new things and master them. Yeah. Love it. Love it. Yeah.

Ria (57:25)

Yeah.

Yeah, That little argument in my head I have with myself, it's like, can't do

it. It's like, you will be able to do it. Yes, you will.

Laura (57:41)

Brilliant, nice one. So last three questions for you that everybody gets. If you could be a different trade, what would you choose and why?

Ria (57:52)

I've heard you ask this to everyone else and I've always thought, I don't know. So I'm a qualified plumber as well, but I hate it. It's a rough job. Yeah, yeah, getting under the floorboards, soldering pipes and used to do a lot of like kitchen and bathroom fitting and stuff and it's quite hard on the old body. You're laying in bed wondering if there's been a leak and that kind of thing after you've done your work.

Laura (58:01)

Do ya.

Okay.

Ria (58:15)

I like the idea maybe of plastering because again, that's a skill that you really have to sort of master over the years. I'd probably say plastering, maybe carpentry, it looks so pretty when it's all done and these intricate stuff, but I never got the patience for it to be honest.

Laura (58:21)

Mmm.

It does do that.

Fair play, fair play. So what trade or who do you think I should have on the show next?

Ria (58:39)

God, there's so many good people. I'd love you to get Sam on, actually. It'd so interesting. Yeah, another decorator, quite new to it. Well, I say new. She used to be an accountant, but I'll say no more. Yeah, there's too many to sort of name. There's so many good tradeswomen out there across the board. It's... They all fascinate me, so the more you can get on. But yeah, try and get Sam on. Badger her. I'll badger her as well.

Laura (58:43)

Yeah.

Mm.

I'll get onto it. We've been chatting a lot to be fair. yeah, let me just, yeah, yeah, we have. And she was actually parked next to me on the second day at the trade, at the P &D show. So I left her a little something on her windscreen before I left, but I don't know if the rain, I don't know if the rain washed it away before she got there. yeah, yeah, that's brilliant. So Ria, where can people find you on social media? What are your?

Ria (59:08)

Have you? Yes.

Okay, yeah, yeah

⁓ no!

Laura (59:33)

handles for people to find.

Ria (59:35)

Good. Female touch on the Instagram, it's different now. There's two, but the one that got hacked, but my one's got my face on there. So Instagram, think it's the underscore female dot touch, something like that. Facebook, just stick the same thing and you'll see my ugly mug. And TikTok, I'm quite new to TikTok. I've only been doing that just under a year now as well. So you'll hear my voice no matter where I am.

Laura (59:55)

Yeah.

Amazing. Well, I'll make sure all the right links and everything are in the show notes for people to click on and go straight to each of your pages. But yeah, I've thoroughly enjoyed speaking to you today, mate. It's been great.

Ria (1:00:08)

Perfect, appreciate

Yeah, and I'm glad to be honest.

I've been watching you sort of grow it. You sort of said you were going to do it quite a while ago and I see the thing pop on Instagram and I'm like, when's it coming? When's it going live? So yeah, well done to you for making it all sort of come to life and stuff. It's a good achievement and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes for you.

Laura (1:00:18)

⁓

I did.

Hahaha

Thank you.

Yeah, there's plenty to do still, plenty to improve and yeah, we'll see what next year brings.

Ria (1:00:39)

like the journey, innit?

Laura (1:00:40)

It is, it is awesome. Well, thank you again. It's been great. And I'm sure we'll chat again soon and yeah, enjoy your weekend. Cheers, mate.

Ria (1:00:50)

Real mate. Right, thanks a lot. Take care.