Back in Britain. Our Thoughts on England after 16 years abroad

Back in Britain. Our Thoughts on England after 16 years abroad

Author: Liz Deacle and Brian Deacle November 6, 2025 Duration: 59:41

After 16 years away, husband and wife Liz and Brian have returned to old Blighty, England, for a three-month stay.

Today, the couple reveal a few home truths, including misconceptions about England, how Britain compares to New Zealand, an in-your-face struggle they encountered at a café, and what they think will happen if their young adult children decide not to come home to New Zealand. 

We know you'll love this episode. 

At the end of this week's podcast, Liz also shares another reading from her soon-to-be-released book on grief, loss and healing. If you are struggling with any kind of loss, this book will help you. I will let you know as soon as it is available.

Until then, know that our hearts beat with yours, and remember.

There is so much you know.

Kia Kaha,

Liz and Brian x

PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, thousands of trusted confidants, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. Including details of my upcoming book. You can sign up for my FREE Front Row Newsletter HERE.

❤️Join my inner circle. Liz's free newsletter is here: https://itsadrama.com/frontrow/

❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and review the It's a Drama Podcast here, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue!

🇳🇿 Remember! If you are thinking of COMING TO NEW ZEALAND and want to know more about the country, SIGN UP below for our FREE 5-DAY VIDEO GUIDE to Life in New Zealand. https://itsadrama.com/ilovenz/

You can watch the video version of this podcast HERE on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@ItsaDrama

Brian and I are able to travel the world (not because we are billionaires with famous footballers as parents) but because we HOUSE-SIT.

Housesitting has saved us approximately $30k in accommodation around the world.

Read this post: How we save $$$ in Europe by housesitting to find out more. And then, if you want to join us in using TrustedHousesitters to travel the world, use our exclusive discount code to get a WHOPPING 25% off HOUSESITTING yearly membership. It's cheaper than one night's stay in an Airbnb! 

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🚗 Looking for the best deals on car hire? We use love and trust Discover cars.  Brian refuses to use anyone else. Check out the best CAR HIRE here: https://itsadrama.com/carhire

 

 


You might think from the title It's a Drama Podcast that you're in for some heavy theatrics, but it's actually the opposite. Hosted by world traveller and best-selling comedy author Liz Deacle alongside her husband Brian, this is a space for the gloriously unfiltered and often hilarious conversations that happen between two people sharing a life and a suitcase. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair at their kitchen table, where the topics roam freely from travel mishaps and cultural observations to the everyday dramas of family, food, and navigating the second half of life with a sense of humor. Liz and Brian’s candid dynamic is the heart of the podcast, offering a blend of laughter and genuine honesty that makes the personal feel universal. You’ll find yourself in the middle of stories that are both frank and funny, often accompanied by the clink of a wine glass and the admission that adulthood isn't always a dignified affair. It’s less about destination and more about the messy, joyful, and relatable journey, making this a uniquely comforting listen for anyone who appreciates real conversation served with a generous side of comedy.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

It's a Drama Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Tears in the Toilet. Returning to New Zealand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:40
Liz and Brian are back in New Zealand. They flew from Chiang Mai via Bangkok and China and, thirty hours later, were home in Taranaki, New Zealand. Tucked up in bed. But flying home to NZ didn't go smoothly. In fact, it…
Teeth Fixed, Bones Bent. How we Saved $$ in Thailand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:11
Trusting our Teeth to Thailand and paying to be pummelled. After three weeks in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Liz and Brian are smiling from ear to ear. Their bones have been pummeled, their teeth nicely drilled, and they have a…
Losing it (all) in Thailand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:01
Combining much-needed dental work with a holiday, Liz and Brian left New Zealand and are in Thailand for a month. Brought to you from their bedroom in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, they are ready to share the story of h…
Drama in Vegas. (Over) worrying about our 23-yr-old son [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:40
Is it Just Me? Wouldn't every mother be the same? Our son is on holiday in Vegas. And of course, there've been a few dramas. What was interesting, though, was how Liz and Brian reacted differently to some worrying news.…
Hor-Moans. Taking Testosterone & resisting the URGE to edit your life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:43
There's been a bit of a to-do in New Zealand this week. A shortage of HRT. Scary stuff... Talking about taking hormone replacement, Brian shares why he takes Testosterone, and the couple discuss their battle to stay true…
Staying. In New Zealand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:58
Stay. This week we were given a huge reminder. Something that changed the way Liz sees things. The stars aligned. Questions were answered. On one sunny morning in New Zealand, suddenly everything made sense. This podcast…
A Month in Thailand? What's to Dread? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:11
Sign up for Liz's FREE 5-day LETTERS. When we booked our month-long trip to Thailand back in May, it seemed like a grand idea. Get away. Change of scenery. Leave the kids. And now, when it's almost time to leave, we're h…
Is this NORMAL? What I wish I'd known about Grief [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:48
Sign up for Liz's Five Letters here. Be the help you needed. That's always been my motto. My blueprint. My words-in-guiding-armour that help me forward whenever I feel stuck. Especiaslly in these terrifying times of deep…
Can I stay home forever? Braving normal life while GRIEVING [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:37
It's the first time in eight weeks I've left the house. Apart from getting groceries, walking in nature, and spending an hour or two working at our local cafe, my safe place to grieve has been at home. Alone. In this epi…