Now You’re Asking with Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn, Radio 4
As a devotee of problem pages – the long-ago Jackie answered every teen dilemma from zits to French kissing – here’s a radio show with a warm, beating heart.
Irish presenters Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn invite you to pull up a seat beside a fire and chat.
How could you not pour out your heart to two such understanding women. How could you not end up having a laugh with them too?
It’s never a judgy listen. These two are gentle, thoughtful and, above all, compassionate with a side helping of divilment. They’re not so much agony aunts as big sisters.
The emails sent to them are called “asks” – not problems – and they muse over the issues raised and chat about their own issues.
Take the dad writing about his son who hasn’t a girlfriend or a boyfriend. He loves him dearly but wonders is there something. Is he gay... not that it matters. But what should he do?
“Sounds like a gorgeous, loving, father-son relationship… some people don’t have those at all,” say the women.
How could you not pour out your heart to two such understanding women. How could you not end up having a laugh with them too?
Let him be whatever way he wants to be. People love a label but don’t put a label on him, is the advice.
Another ask came from a woman in her mid-30s who is child-free. She said she missed the times before her friends had babies – the ease of having friends through good times and bad.
Now it’s difficult to see her friends, what with toddler tantrums and sleep schedules gone awry.
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“Part of me wonders if I should have a child just to have a new social life surrounding play dates etc,” said the woman.
Absolutely not, came the response. Tara – child free by choice – said there could be a superiority among mothers.. like they’re saying “Poor you, you don’t know true, profound love.”
It’s as if those who are happily child-free are deemed unnatural... snow women.
It’s a topic that’s rarely discussed and Tara’s was an interesting take on the subject.
The chat turned seamlessly to making a decent cup of tea and the ritual and Irish judginess of tea making.
One email lamented the loss of the ability to make a decent cuppa. Just make coffee or drink elderflower cordial, said the women.
Honestly, what planet are they on?
