Vlogmas #4 "Nadia & Dina's Chalet Causes Upset; They All Visit A Xmas Event That's SH*T, If You're NOT 6." Cue the dancing gingerman, as I try to slog through another of these Xmas vlogs.
Mark is out
and the sisters are unwrapping their wood panel wallpaper. They have cleared out the foyer, taken down the art, but Nadia says it needs a Hoovering. Dina puts the woody wallpaper against the wall. Nadia suggests using some spray mount and Dina says no, they aren't doing a proper wallpapering. Chi Chi is jumping around with her Xmas pud jumper on, Nadia has put on the dinner. She goes to the foyer to see the right hand side of the kitchen doorway papered. "OHMYGAWD! Oh. My. Gawd. Dina!
tit man!" Dina says chalet, "it's good innit?" Nadia says they are going to be in for a shock. Progress as Maddie is behind the camera, as Dina continues to staple, yes staple, the paper to the walls. Dina figures that Mark is going to like it, but not want to say that he likes it. "I'm impressed with myself" says Dina has she as a little wine after her work.
It does look like a proper chalet and an improvement on those basic blank walls. Dancing Santas.
Toffee is barking at the door and that can only mean that Mark is home.
Did you grow up in a home where the thought of dad coming meant, look out Mr. Miserable Fun Sponge is home? I was having latter childhood flashbacks. He comes in, looks around, has a nervous smile on this face as Dina cackles in the background. In her best geezer bird she says to Mark, "It's a chalet, what'd you mean doh, what is it?" Nanny Di comes from behind as Nadia says "Oh look at those two miserable faces." Di says she doesn't like it.
Nadia says it's not finished yet, "Its the Christmas village on crack". She goes on to say they are in the village and it is experiential.
Has Nadia being doing 18th Century philosophy on the sly? A bit of Descartes perhaps? Big word for her. Must have got it from Dina. Some mention of Mark getting leiderhosen and Nanny Di starts slapping her thigh. "Mind you don't break your leg" says Nads. Mark says it reminds him of the 70s, where there was fake wood everywhere. He doesn't know what he is talking about. Those are wood logs on that paper, not wood panelling that has been sliced and treated. Mark asks what the girls think and Nadia says they love. He sticks his head into the kitchen as says "Oh do you?" Well, it looks like he can't rely on his daughters to tag team with him on this one. Talk about details like the real tree and the skis.
All this talk about skis has made me think of that Ski yoghurt I remember as a kid at my nana's. The frist yoghurt to contain fruit pieces. I see they were taken over by evil Nestle and they had bits of rubber in batch in 2020. Figures.
Yeah, so Mark is amazed that Dina was able to staple all that wallpaper in less time than it takes him to make and down an espresso. "Where's the fuckin art gone?"
Dina come to the camera and says he said it, he said it! Nadia tells Mark he will be wearing leather leederhausen and Dina is on eBay right now. Mark sulks in front of the camera as he says he hasn't done anything. "Whatever you think, keep it to yourself" says Nadia. Mark says "It's like a large man named Pedro has smoked 5,000 cigarettes in the hall and it has stained the walls." He goes on to say that he hates it, it is horrible. Nadia says when the girls came downstairs they found it "totally magical" and she tells him to put his magical hat on and keep his mouth schtum.
He says he has no say and she says tough. More whinging from Mark.
OFF TO BALHAM. "This Oliver Bonas used to be tiny and it's now massive" Nadia tells us. They are here to film some Xmas present ideas for the subs. There is a sparkly black cardigan, it's like some black nail polish I have with silver flecks in it. Dina was going to get Nadia it, but she says she will never wear it. Leopard print coats, more sparkly tops, a sparkly beret that Dina models. Nadia says she always looks good in hats. Mugs, coasters, trinket dishes, candles that Nadia calls foo foo la la. Xmas ornaments, Xmas tree table toppers, wild animals on door mats, picture frames and mirrors. More sparkly dresses and accessories. Sparkly gun metal chrome look seems to be all the rage this Xmas. Tonnes of stuff with initials on them. Dina picks up a card with Michelangelo doing the Sistine Chapel, with 1 man saying to the other "Should we tell him we wanted it magnolia?"
From 8:24-1124, you can browse in your comfies at Oliver Bonas.
TIME FOR A LONG SLOW SNOG AT THE BACK OF THE CINEMA. It the dancing faerie break. They are in the car, Mark singing his own version of Rudolph. Nadia is busy getting tech neck, scrolling away on her phone. He says they are off to the old bauble factory with a special guest Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Nadia says no it's Lisa. Mark is walking and talking to the camera saying he is feeling furry and horny.
Dina catches up and they are off to catch the train. Dina imagines there is going to be a little train and Mark says made by Thames Link. Dina replies "Christ, we won't get there." Mark is wearing his reindeer hat and this Xmas guinea pig shirt. Another one of Mark's soliloquies on how he is more festive than the sisters. "They're talking about girly stuff. I don't like being in a herd. I don't really feel like I get heard and I'm a herd anim...am I a herd animal? Is reindeer a herd animal?"
"Next station is *pause* Herne Hill." Nadia pulls out the light up star earrings she got for Dina. Dina switches them on. Chat about "Polar Express" and Dina has never seen it. Mark says Dina's earrings are strobing. He makes his stupid faces and speeds up the camera. If you have a neurological condition, suffer from vertigo, or you are just nauseous at looking at Mark, you need to skip 15:40-15:47. He goes on about having the festive spirit and Nadia says he will have children sniggering at him again.
Mark says he has his cool reindeer hat on this time. Nadia wacks on some more mascara.
Dina asks about the drinking bauble and Nadia mentions that the Bailey's last time wiped them out. Dina says she could have put rum in it. Mark spots another reindeer. They get off at London Blackfriars and Mark is happy he is not getting off on the Bakerloo Line. Dina says she doesn't want to go through the Elephant, she hates that station. Mark says how it depresses him and fills him with dread. Dina says it has a lift and you have to snuggle up to people.
Does the lift work consistantly? On the TTC you have these dumbass able-bodied asshole buggering up the lifts for people who need them. As if we don't know already, Nadia says she does everything to avoid the tube station. "I bet Sophie Ellis doesn't get the tube" says Mark. More bitching about Elephant and Castle, Mark says it is so up and coming and Nadia says it is taking forever to clean up the place. 'Babe, it's the elephant in the room" says Mark. Ha. Ha. Nadia says a woman made a face looking at Mark.
Oh come on Nadia, don't act like it's not a regular occurence. Nadia has lost her senses and says "it's big dick energy."
"It is." Nadia says everyone is smiling at you. They are walking along, I think the Thames, it's dark with Dina's earrings flashing. Mark wants to know where are all the Xmas lights on the trees. He figures they need Sophie to come and turn them on. Waterloo Bridge is all lit up. More walking. Mark shows us the side of building that has a woman who looks like Carmen Miranda. The stop by Marie's Cafe to check out the menu. The press their noses up against the glass at Vaulty Towers. Nadia doesn't think they are at the right place. Mark says it's called a map and Dina says Nadia doesn't do those. "Where's she gone? What's wrong with her? Oh, Dina." Dina says "Kids!" This thing they are going to is apparently meant for kids.
They sit themselves down to have something the eat. Dina is thrilled about finding Marie's Cafe. Nads and Dina have pocket cocktails. Who is this woman in black walking down the street. IT'S LISAAAAAAAA! Nads goes to give her a hug and Lisa says "Five minutes my fuckin arse!" Mark goes into full attention-seeking little kid mode. "Do you love my ears Leece?" Lisa is wearing her sparkly skull shirt. They go in and Mark says the kids love his guinea pig top. "Darling, you are hot to trot in you guinea pig top."
The three *ahem* ladies get their pics taken. Mark's inner child is out in full force as he says they are getting on a train. Lisa asks if the train is moving or not. There is some chick dressed as an elf yapping and Mark is a bit bored now. Nadia tells him "Well it is for 6-year-olds." Storytime over and into some rooms with Xmas lights and stuff, I don't know how to explain it. Lisa asks if Dina is having fun and she say yeah. "WHEN I SAY REIN YOU SAY DEER! REIN! DEER! REIN! DEER!" They have this radar looking things in this interactive room. Another room and more activities. Mark asks Dina if she has enjoyed and says uhhhhhh. "I'm trying to look at it from a child's point of view." Footage of them stomping around and Mark swinging his head back and forth.
"Well, that was, different" says Mark. He didn't get to talk to Father Christmas and Sophie Ellis-Bextor wasn't there. He mentions that they have a t-shirt of the ride, puts his sulky face on and Nadia tells him to stop giving away all of his material. Mark says he is a bit sad. Nadia asks "Are you a bit sad because you're a plonker?"
He asks why he is a plonker and she says he didn't check if they could film and had to do it secretly. Mark asks Dina what her honest opinion was and she tells him. "What the
duck was that all about?"
Mark says he owes them all a drink. Nadia says during the whole thing, Dina was acting like a teacher. When Nads and Lisa were sniggering, Dina was telling them to shush and stop it. Dina wanted to know what the
duck was the story. Mark wanted to know what happened to the robin. Nadia wondered if a single child comes out of that knowing what the story was. Dina says the train should have moved. Dina says it was a 6yo age limit max. Mark says it was alright until the robins disappeared and then he didn't know what was happening. They walk out of the Bauble Factory and Dina says they were conned, not one bauble was seen.
Lisa says as eloquent as ever "There was not 1
bleeping bawbull!" Dina mentions that in the merch there weren't any baubles for sale.
Report them to Consumer Affairs, for false advertising and baiting and switching. I came for baubles, I want baubles dammit! Lisa thought they were going to be making baubles and Nadia says so did I. Mark thought they were going to be travelling through baubles. Nadia said they wanted to escape, it wasn't what they thought it was going to be, etc. "Thank God it was only an hour!" Final thoughts: 29 quid each and Dina says no. Nadia says "You're
bleeping joking!" when she finds out how expensive it was. Her face at 35:12 is priceless.
"Not for kids as well?" Lisa chimes in that it goes up, depending on what colour wristband you've got, to 49 pounds! Different experiences.
Sounds like a right rip-off to me.
Mark says the story wasn't sophisicated enough. Lisa saw kids yawning and Dina said the story was rubbish. "It started off as robins in a factory shitting wishes..." "And where did they go?" asks Nads. Dina said she went to sleep on the train and Lisa needs a cocktail. Mark chunters on to the camera about being disappointed, wanting to be in a bauble. Mummy Nads gets Mark a double espresso because that is exactly what you need in the evening.
Lisa is exhausted. More debriefing over the
crappy Bauble Factory Experience. "No magic. Would you say it was one of the shitiest things you've been too. Lisa bursts out laughing. Dina tries to be charitable. "In the beginning, that little boy beside us was so excited to get the wish box, he was about 5, of course he was excited. There were red shiny balls in a box..." Mark has to say he loves red shiny balls in a box.
Nadia doles out the mini cocktails in a can. Dina has a spicy Margarita, classic cosmos for Lisa and Nads. Dina says thank God they had a drink before and doesn't know how Mark managed it. Mark says the factory was
tit. Lisa says it was
tit Lisa is unusually subdued this evening. Nadia: "If you've got a faktri in the title, everyone's gonna think they are going to make something. But like you said, maybe when you go through the silver door and pay good money..." Mark interjects with "Maybe they're all making baubles?" "Aw man, we've been rinsed" declares Dina.
Mark apologizes, but says at least they had a nice time reminiscing about the kids when they were younger. Nadia enjoyed watching the other children, though she was worried other people would think she was a weirdo, living vicariously through the kids.
No, they thought what the hell is Nadia Sawalha off the telly doing here with no actual kids in tow? Mark says it as disconnected. Nads says Dina is pissed off about it; the story didn't work, didn't continue. Mark time again. As the lahdeys chat, Mark says he is disappointed with no Father Christmas and no Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
WTH? She's 11 years younger than you and has a musician husband, you have NO CHANCE! "If you're a family of four, that's 130 quid." They are still talking about the Busted Bauble Company. Lisa says "You could see the blood draing from the parents' faces going 'This won't
bleeping work.'" Nads says an adult daughter was trying to make her mum feel like they were having a better time than they were. Lisa tells us the story of when she kinda forced her mum to go to panto. "Kinda like what grandmothers should do." She hated it. Lisa's sister sent their mum a text asking how the panto was. Mum texted back saying, "What a load of
tit," but she didn't send it to her sister, SHE SENT IT TO LISA!
Dancing gingerbread men. Fin.