The Mess Around

Andrew is in lockdown . As he lives in a tall building , Richard  fixates on his lift arrangements .
 He's not happy that the doors open directly into the apartment . Andrew tries to reassure him.

How is lockdown going for Andrew ? Well, there are some signs of cracking in the elite team he lives with .

Mask wearing is covered ,Richard has tried novelty ones and advises against it . Masks aren't meant to be wacky & for that matter , neither are some professions .

Somehow that gets Andrew to audio of emergency dental work .

Richard is glued to the Olympics and asks ,"which sport would you be worst at ?" A long discussion follows as there are so many that they cant do . Richard is quite passionate about his inability to attempt pole vaulting.

How is Andrew's film ? Well , lets just say the fund raising aspect has a way to go . 

Food , particularly take away, is discussed at length . Possibly because Richard is in Lockdown again .
Andrew is vegetarian & Richard is fascinated with his late night eating choices .Particularly on the Gold Coast where there is not much ....at all .

Venn diagrams feature heavily , Andrew realises he is caught between mocking carnivores and rabid Vegans . Richard is delighted there's another Venn diagram analogy .

Chinese and Japanese traditional weaponry some how becomes a topic .In particular the 3 section staff and Nunchaku . Richard explains the hidden trap in using a Nunchaku .

Stuck in Lockdown Richard turns to Andrew for advise on a cycling trainer and app . Andrew doesn't cycle but his brother is a triathlete and Richard is a big believer in passive knowledge gain .

Finally Richard tells Andrew of the most unlikely club in the world . He goes on to share a heart-warming story from his childhood .They both agree that nether of them want to be a member .

Richard throws himself into the second year of the podcast with a rodeo reference because it turns out he likes them . Although not for the reason you may think.

It turns out he has some other well advanced thoughts for crowd entertainment as well.

Meanwhile ,Richard is starting to think he has let his car go beyond accepted levels. He turns to Andrew for advise. After a short discussion its found that yes , he really needs to lift his car maintenance game .

On a roll , Richard now asks Andrew for advise on something else .How many apps/programs is normal to have to keep your eye on ?
People seem to message Richard on a bewildering array and are getting shirty when he fails to notice.
He feels there's just too many and turns to Andrew for judgement .This could almost be a new feature of the Podcast .

Andrew is delirious as he attempts to make a short film for Uni . Despite the best efforts of his elite team it is not moving forward at the required pace .

A passing reference triggers a poorly remembered moment in Australian TV , which leads to the question has Richard ever lost it on TV?
No is the the answer , but he has got payback 

Well here we are at Episode 52 which means that the Mess Around has been going for a full year of weekly podcasts!

No one could be more surprised than our intrepid heroes ,but before any celebration can happen the fact that Andrew is in lockdown and Richard isn't has to be dealt with.

Richard is somewhat childish in his glee but then has the gall to suggest to Andrew that he has become mature in his ways.  His evidence is choosing not to use a stupid joke at an inopportune time .

Andrew is in a bubble between lockdown and Uni work & hasn't followed any news .  Richard gives him the important bits , which is mainly the story of 2 sunbakers startled by a woodland creature .  Questions are asked ,theories are advanced ,no one is any wiser as a result.

Andrew is now part of a team of Uni students making a film . Richard asks what motivational speech Andrew is thinking of using . Several alternatives are put forward ,including one Richard has clearly been keeping for just such an occasion.

Strangely the art of sumo wrestling is discussed . Richard shares the best way to enjoy watching sumo and when to pick the winner .
Some how the conversation turns to another ancient art , that of celebrity spotting . 
As both Andrew and Richard have had celebrity encounters while at work , the rules were these were spottings that took place in the wild .
Richard is not a fan of asking for photos , his partner is . While in the US this lead to getting a unique set which even he appreciates .
Occasionally Richard has broken his own rule .
Andrew is quietly envious , especially as he recounts a terrible celebrity spotting which is only slightly redeemed years later by current events .
Richard has had an awkward encounter with a then very famous tennis player
If clothes maketh the man , what then of shoes ?
Richard has been wearing the new shoes his partner got for him & he has noticed a certain change in himself .

The magic of communication thru different languages is discussed. Except it only seems like magic to some Australians , a lot of people speak more than one language ,this is also discussed. 
This topic came up as Richard confessed that during lockdown he has achieved nothing . Certainly, he hasn't learnt a language .
He did try to help his partner in her unending war with the possums who eat her plants .
His partner didn't ask for help , it turns out that Richard has actually made things worse .
Andrew is completely unsurprised . 
Andrew lives on the bare minimum number of shoes . His method of choosing shoes will astound you . Caught between young folk  and older staff at Uni, he turns to Richard for guidance in the world of appropriate new shoes .
For last weeks podcast , a picture of a "spork" was used to promote the episode on social media . Richard is a huge fan of the combo device .
It may explain where his idea for something innovative in the bedroom came from .
Listen and be amazed at the majesty of the Shanket .

Richard is not his usual self .
 His city has had to go into its fourth lockdown while Andrew skips around . Richard is taking it badly , it actually gets quite dark. Suffice to say, don't tell him he's got this .

Andrew begins to talk about emotional eating ,Richard agrees he gets emotional whenever he eats too .

Trying to change the subject Andrew explains the pitfalls of not being in lockdown .He manages to makes something ordinary the act of a madman .
This leads into song lyrics , then concerts ,then buying a memento t-shirt at the concert .

Richard has got wind of a change to World Vision and its more than his fragile mindset can bear . Andrew manages to completely misunderstand the main message of World Vision .
Desperate to again change the subject before Richard starts weeping , Andrew topically brings up some world news regarding China .
They both offer their insights.
This goes about as well as you'd imagine .
Caught in the whirlpool of Richards ennui , Andrew is dragged in and starts to lose control about the goings on at his beloved football club.
His misery does manage to cheer Richard up .