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Expert guests from the Construction Industry explaining how to Retrofit your home in an easy to understand way.
00:00:05:21 - 00:00:12:21
Unknown
So, folks, how you doing? You're welcome. Back to another episode of the Behind the Walls podcast with Pete and Ferg.
00:00:12:23 - 00:00:34:19
Unknown
He loves the community. And and today we told you we're going to talk about all the different subjects. When it came to retrofit. We've I've had experts in from all different fields. Today. We have what everybody who's listening to this podcast, once we have got a good looking, honest face here. And he's a homeowner who is going through the retrofit, process as we speak.
00:00:34:19 - 00:00:41:11
Unknown
We have the one, the only, mister Eric Donovan, former European boxing champion.
00:00:41:11 - 00:00:55:19
Unknown
He is a psychotherapist. LA and Diana. Eric. Yes. And counselor, a father, a husband and, a homeowner. Eric Donovan, how are you? And thanks for having me. Thanks for those lovely words. Every one of them are factual and to the point.
00:00:55:19 - 00:01:12:05
Unknown
Then hit the nail on the head. There with the good looking part. Yeah, but you're a good looking robot. So let's be honest, you know. Well, that's the biggest compliment they can get. Because someone said to me, you don't look like a boxer. And I said, that's great, thank you. In a good so obviously we're here to talk about retrofit.
00:01:12:07 - 00:01:33:02
Unknown
And, you are very close to finishing a retrofit. You're literally in the final, final week of it. Yeah. And I know that that's, outrageous to even think of that, especially the way the current climate is in Ireland, the housing crisis and everything. So for me to be 40 years of age and actually just a couple of days away from moving into our first forever home, hopefully.
00:01:33:02 - 00:01:51:06
Unknown
And, just to see everything that has been done thanks to and via a bed and all the other contractors and builders that we had, we're moving into a beautiful home and we can't wait. Yeah, it's amazing because, you know, you briefly touch on it where we were having a quick chat beforehand and you're basically saying that, you know, your your wife, Laura, I've met Laura.
00:01:51:09 - 00:02:08:24
Unknown
Thanks be to God. Eric met Laura because she is the steady hand and he needs a steady hand. But, you were saying that you are you are really dying to jump in and boy, boy, boy, you just get a house and move in. And Laura said, no, let's wait and then you bought, a house that needed a complete retrofit.
00:02:09:01 - 00:02:29:12
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. Like where we are now. And we're very lucky as well. We live in the back of Laura's parents house, and, we're renting there, and. But a small enough, you know, it's like a two bed apartment. And, you know, you know, over time, you know, I've. I've two boys from a previous relationship, and, I mean, Laura, I have two little girls.
00:02:29:14 - 00:02:44:14
Unknown
And, you know, when the six were sitting there, like, it was just it was very confined and it was tight. We always hope and I always had our eye on the on the, on the market. And you're looking for something. And, I remember saying to Laura, like two, two Christmases ago, I said, I'm not to spend another Christmas here, you know?
00:02:44:14 - 00:03:00:00
Unknown
And, of course I did. And then the next night I was like, that's it. That's the last one. Let's spend another one. And of course I did, because Laura kept dragging her heels, you know? But all I wanted to do was just get out and get into a bit of space and buy a house. And I suppose that's that's something probably in my nature as well.
00:03:00:00 - 00:03:19:04
Unknown
A little bit impulsive, like, you know. Yeah. But I'm glad that Laura drag the heels into this, as you said, steady hand. Very, very, very strong and strong minded. And I'm very consistent and lucky enough. Then, you know, a house came up, not far from where we are, about two kilometers away from where we are in the countryside.
00:03:19:06 - 00:03:40:04
Unknown
Lovely place, Lynch's Cross Mary, Fantasy Island. And, you know, we went to see it and, lo and behold, within, within a week of visiting the house, you know, they, they got back in touch with us and just witty with that all and all important kind of information. Look, we're happy to say this. We're happy to sell and we're like, absolutely.
00:03:40:04 - 00:03:52:08
Unknown
And it was just brilliant. And then that's the start, you know what I mean? Like while we're homeowners like, well, we knew it was an old house and we knew that a lot of work had to go in. So then we were like, right, where do we go from here? Because me and Laura, Laura's very sporty as well.
00:03:52:08 - 00:04:11:06
Unknown
And she was like, she's a teacher. And she was in sport most of her life, sports science background, and then me as well become an even though I come from a family of my dad, my brothers, they're all in construction. They're all working in that area. I even I would have been like, you know, like a, an idiot abroad on a building site like you know what I mean?
00:04:11:08 - 00:04:43:02
Unknown
So I had no clue, but touch base with the likes of Fergal Laird and via a bit and, they just start. They just started saying all the right things, and then the best thing about that is you can just hand it over and their project manager at your house, and before you know it, this old house that has four chimneys is starting to kind of like transform and, move into a very modern, beautiful home that is, just has all of the, I suppose, all of the perks now that we're going to talk about today.
00:04:43:07 - 00:05:04:19
Unknown
So something very important about the popping up, you actually do a little bit of work. I actually was listening there and says, Fergal does things right sometimes. Well, before we go on, I have to know you could cut the bromance in this room with, you know, a blond bombshell like Sam hasn't even started. It hasn't even started yet.
00:05:04:21 - 00:05:24:08
Unknown
The two lads reunited again after their week in hell. Yeah. Myself and, I'm sure some people know, but if not, when? We haven't met. When we are both competitors. Hell week, ultimate hell week, especially for Special Forces. Yeah, I was there some some crack was like, I was crap. We really tough and we bonded, obviously.
00:05:24:08 - 00:05:42:22
Unknown
Yeah we did. We met. Actually met on the beach. Semi-naked training. I mean, I've been up we've pretty much our lives have continued very similar. Yeah. You know what I am. So Eric reached out to yourselves and, what was to be your rating of the was actually can you remember like it was very low, I presume, because it was a, it was a ni.
00:05:42:22 - 00:05:59:11
Unknown
I think, or, or something along those lines. I think maybe it was definitely an end and it was a vacant home as well. Is that correct. So do you get the bacon home. Yeah. So that's the other thing. But we didn't realize it at the time. There was such a again, it goes to show like sometimes I think you have to thank God for unanswered prayers.
00:05:59:11 - 00:06:20:08
Unknown
There's a really there's a guy approach song like, I was I wanted to get into this new house, this new old house, but because there was retention issues with the house that we had to wait. It was a bit of a delay and I was going bananas. Like I was like, yeah, you know, I'm ready. So I hadn't have I haven't spent another Christmas where I was like, even though, even though that was never part of the plans.
00:06:20:08 - 00:06:39:14
Unknown
But what happened was, which is completely out of my control, and our control was the retention issues that were going on with the house and then around this site, Mark and and sight lines and all that kind of stuff worked out in our favor because we we then passed the threshold for the fake vacant homes grant and that was a game changer for us as well.
00:06:39:16 - 00:07:01:17
Unknown
Yeah. So combining both DCI works and the grants and then the vacant homes grant, it just really made things a hell of a lot. Yeah. Metaphorically. Yeah. Yeah. And then I would you probably you could do a really good job instead of going bit by bit over time, you could actually go in and go aggressively at it and get, you know, we got, you know, new floors, new roofs and everything.
00:07:01:17 - 00:07:18:04
Unknown
So I was able to yeah, we were able to do a lot of good work and yeah, it we're just we're still chilled about like and that's, that's where it is. From your point of view, I use got connected like directed Eric reach out to us or what way did that work? I'm obviously oblivious to the process.
00:07:18:06 - 00:07:42:15
Unknown
I think it originally came from, another our mutual friend of our mutual friend in Cork. Dermot. Correct? Correct. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I didn't I forgot to shoot yourself in there and touch. And then we got to talking about the entered the home energy upgrade side of things. The and it's it's great to have you, Eric, because, a lot of homeowners wouldn't know about the vacant property grant.
00:07:42:17 - 00:08:01:18
Unknown
And the other thing is, probably one of your MythBusters here is that you can combine both grants. Yeah. The thing that's important, and I would have spoke to Eric about this early on in the journey, is to make sure that you're not overlapping to get the maximum benefit of the bought grants, was there. So that's why I don't put any of the energy works in under the.
00:08:01:18 - 00:08:22:16
Unknown
Yeah. Can property grants and vice versa. Because if you use them to and maximum was bought out. Yeah it's it's a it's a that was a nice help. No that was really good advice as well because like you know initially you're taking righteous places with the bromances going around. But as I said yeah. Like, you know, we trust people.
00:08:22:16 - 00:08:44:19
Unknown
If you don't know, you don't know. And it's very, very important to, to have to be have a consult to people that is going to give you a straight up, you know, I mean, good guidance and, you know, you did you did give us good guidance because I would have made the mistake of using the vacant homes gone for maybe some energy upgrades and, and then not actually being able to maximize that and utilize that in the same way that we did.
00:08:44:19 - 00:09:06:09
Unknown
So that kind of stared us right. And, and and we got to, you know, we were able to give it a full whack and get, you know, really honestly, I can't, I can't we cannot believe how fortunate we were and how lucky we are and at all with how everything has unfolded for us. So you bite home, you realize then that you're you're you're eligible for grants.
00:09:06:11 - 00:09:24:16
Unknown
You apply for the grants, you get an approved, and then the work starts. Is that the process? Yeah. That's it. You kind of reach out to a couple of contractors and, you know, you're trying to get quotes off them. And, you know, before you know it, like, you know, we had a few people lined up and we initially we we thought that was going to be a big challenge because it's very hard for people to get contracts.
00:09:24:16 - 00:09:39:08
Unknown
You know, it's very hard for people to get any sort of tradesmen, because they're all tied up in different jobs and you get you get them, but you have to wait for them, you know what I mean? So, but we were very, very lucky that we got, we got to go build and is able to get in fairly quickly.
00:09:39:10 - 00:09:55:22
Unknown
It was just timing. It was just timing for us, you know what I mean? So some things work out. So some. That's what I was saying about the things working in my favor. If I had to get my way initially, I wouldn't. I got into the house, I wouldn't have availed of that, wouldn't have been able to avail of the vacant homes.
00:09:55:22 - 00:10:14:05
Unknown
But because I didn't get my way, you know, so did the universe kind of was rewarding us. And, yeah, it just worked out. Just work though for us and have it is great. So find you have pick your friends as well. Pick is doing a lot of good work in the house. Really finishing up? No. Today I just putting handles on the doors and stuff and like so yeah, it's yeah, it's good to paint.
00:10:14:05 - 00:10:28:22
Unknown
There's a tremendous have been in and there's just a little bit work more. But we were due to move in the end of this week. You know what I mean. Have a little bit of work to be done around the outside and all that. But no, it's great. Even the external wall insulation, like, that's something like we were kind of like, what do we do?
00:10:28:22 - 00:10:48:23
Unknown
Do we go internal wall insulation or do we go external? And that's a big question for people like, you know, well, the internal something the internal is more it's more effective because that's where the heat starts and hits the internal wall first. And and then, you know, when you're upgrading your house and you have a new floor, you know, your roof is, is, is all done.
00:10:48:23 - 00:11:09:01
Unknown
And then you have, your external wall insulation, your air to water heat pump, which is unbelievable. Just something like it's unbelievable. I genuinely mean that because no matter what time you walk into the house or their doors, windows and everything can be open, and it is where in the winter now, you know, so and it can still be very cozy.
00:11:09:01 - 00:11:24:09
Unknown
Yeah. You know that crusty feeling in there like it's really nice. Well, do you mind? Let's break it down so you don't the one stop shop. I'm right in saying do. Yes. Yeah. So you've got external wall insulation. What else started with a home energy assessment as that's what we're saying all the time that that's your starting point.
00:11:24:11 - 00:11:49:11
Unknown
And from that the recommendations came back. Now obviously with walls you have a choice of internal or external. I'd be a fan of external lighting. It's a better, insulation. But esthetically it also gives you a kind of a branded finish. I yeah. So there's, there's kind of bonuses with that. Sam. Yeah. So we would have went with a suite of measures that were recommended.
00:11:49:13 - 00:12:14:21
Unknown
And as long as we were achieving the one stop shop criteria, Eric was free to choose whatever he wanted from those measures. But you signed up for the whole deal. Yeah, but, like, you know, and I'm glad we did go this way. Because, the external wall insulation as well, it allows us it first of all, it number one is it does give your your home a facelift and you're looking at a, a beautiful modern home from the outside.
00:12:14:21 - 00:12:35:15
Unknown
Like it's really, really nice and eyecatching. And you can pick whatever color you want. You can pick your windowsills. And so it's really nice. And then also the rooms are larger because you're not, you know, reducing the loos. And yeah, if you go for the internal, you know you're going to lose some space. So we've, we've got plenty of room on the inside as well.
00:12:35:15 - 00:12:52:14
Unknown
And as I said to you about the air to water heat pump, that's a, an unbelievable device like, you know what I mean? And I think every home should have one. I genuinely do, because, yeah, it just keeps your, your, your house temperature and room temperature just level all the time. Yeah. I was going to say that.
00:12:52:14 - 00:13:14:07
Unknown
Yeah. That's the big difference that you would notice. What it is is the evenness of the temperature within the home. But I do think it's very important. It to talk about the external wall installation rap as opposed to the internal dry lining, because if you internally draw a line of home, you still kind of have an awful lot of, cold bridging coming in, because obviously you can only draw a line up to a wall.
00:13:14:07 - 00:13:28:17
Unknown
So unless you were torn that on the inside and again, you can get the cold coming in from the outside. Whereas if you wrap the whole outside of the home like you do with an external wall insulation wrap, you're getting a full envelope basically. You know, obviously you get your your roof installation done as well. Yeah. You know, new windows and doors.
00:13:28:17 - 00:13:46:09
Unknown
So straight away you've, you've, you've wrapped the home. That's right. And then you're getting your so you've got it, you got to the home, you know, to the right. Breaking on the right energy efficiency to then maximize your air to water heat pump. Yeah. So your actual our heat pump gives you our 24 hour, our hot water.
00:13:46:09 - 00:13:59:02
Unknown
So any time me today, you can in no rush out. Yeah. And I was talking to my Irish an ornament. No it's right that's it. That's it. Like no matter how many arguments and houses are over the hot water, like, you know, seriously though, like, you know, and you never have to worry about that. There's always going to be hot water there.
00:13:59:02 - 00:14:14:09
Unknown
Well, you have to wait for that. Yeah, yeah. You know, so, Yeah. No, it's it's a, it's a great thing and it's just going to make a lot of things easier and more convenient, you know, and, Yeah. No, it's it's. So if it was your call. Nicole's you. What does that even is the temperature, isn't it?
00:14:14:09 - 00:14:28:09
Unknown
Like, you know, so you've got your trimmers out in, in, in each room. Yeah. So, like, let's say if you prefer the bedroom to be a bit cooler, you can turn to turn. That's room to room. Yeah. Whereas your general heat within the home can be at another temperature as well. Yeah. You're in control of it like you know and that's a good thing.
00:14:28:09 - 00:14:45:18
Unknown
Very user friendly as well, which is a very important thing as well because. And that. Don't touch me. All the voice that I give everybody when I'm handing over the keys at the end of the job is now we see our heating system. Don't touch. I remember saying to go to the commode to commission it. Like I said, listen, what do I do if I, for heading off on holidays or a week or whatever?
00:14:45:18 - 00:15:02:24
Unknown
Like, do I plug it out with. No, no, you go, so if you're going off and I'll just turn it down and it goes, so if nobody's using anything no water. No. Like it's just a, you know, it's so, self-sufficient, like, you know what I mean? And, and sustainable in that way that, like, you're not it's not using any big energy.
00:15:03:00 - 00:15:19:24
Unknown
Nobody's there. It's fine. It's fine. Just leave it. And that's a good thing as well. You just leave it. Let it be, you know. Works independently. Brilliant. And we've come across this an awful lot where, we've all grown up with an oil or gas boiler, which is an on off system. Yeah. And it does take a lot to get your head around some.
00:15:20:01 - 00:15:38:00
Unknown
It's just like we used the word available. Yeah. It's another thing that people think is that it's on all the time. Yeah it's available already which is a big difference. Big difference. Yeah. Yeah. And as you said it prioritizes hot water. So it's a it is great that way. Yeah. None of this immersion or who left the resource.
00:15:38:01 - 00:15:55:04
Unknown
Yeah. Yeah that's great. And you'd wonder even like about turning on and turning off like, what do you know the amount of energy that goes into starting up something, shutting the thousand back up something as well. You're never going to immersion. That goes well, I leave it on. That's right. Yeah. Cos it goes to heat up to a cylinder again.
00:15:55:06 - 00:16:14:03
Unknown
And then of course parkland and the other part that, that we weren't even aware of at the, at the, at the outset was that like, you know, we're going to, you know, just solar panels are part of this one stop shop, project as well as the scheme as well. So, and, and now that we have them as well, that will even take the pinch off.
00:16:14:05 - 00:16:35:10
Unknown
Yeah. You know, because of the costs as well. And like, you know, so again, just another protection, another, you know, events, what you call it. Not advancement in your, in your whole. Yeah. No system. So you bought a house that was obviously completely inefficient in terms of its terminal value. You've you've, you've invested in getting it to the, to the right standards.
00:16:35:10 - 00:16:51:04
Unknown
And you've put in your heating system, which is going to be run very efficiently now. And then you've also got your solar panel. So it's a it all sort of synchronizes, you know, I mean with your home. And okay, again I know you've got, you know, young family as well and you're going to be able to relax and enjoy the home.
00:16:51:04 - 00:17:10:11
Unknown
Now. Yeah. So I think it's a it's an excellent investment for someone in your position. And I know again, you're, you're saying that, you know, we have like two quarters of an acre, you have a detached house, you've got your own going to space and you've rather than doing a you've now got a home that is fully ready for you to just live in.
00:17:10:12 - 00:17:33:19
Unknown
Yeah. No. That's right. And, I honestly go to that, that probably is the most, I think the, the, the best part of it all is that you were able to just call in somebody like, who could oversee everything. Yeah. And line it up because you have a, a lot of people have a lot of work to do with roles and responsibilities.
00:17:33:19 - 00:17:56:20
Unknown
You mentioned at the start being a father, a husband, and yeah, the line work that I mean, availability is pretty scarce, you know, so when you can and it's such a big project and it's such a big it's an important one too, because it's your home, you know what I mean? But when you have guys that are dealing with this week in, week out, I literally just say to them, okay, you know, I leave it, I leave it in your hands.
00:17:56:20 - 00:18:14:01
Unknown
And we're lucky enough that we're able to leave it in. Fergal. It's unavoidable. It's hands and they've come up. Tom Snell in fairness and we're very happily so in terms I know you've been through a fair few challenges in your life in boxing addiction now I still don't I won't take I'm not taking the job to pay neither.
00:18:14:03 - 00:18:42:09
Unknown
I got a challenge. I had. So how stressful was the process? You told me I was like, I, I tell you, it's very stressful in the sense of that, like, you know, you want to get in there in a certain time, like you want to get in there. It's like the organization of things wasn't really stressful, but like, what's what's stressful is actually move and stuff and getting ready and prepared and went went to move this went with that, all that kind of stuff.
00:18:42:09 - 00:19:13:12
Unknown
And it's just it's part and parcel I suppose, because with people I will always say it is like, you know, if you're moving house is one of the most stressful things and that's just something you cannot escape or you cannot avoid. For what is really a lovely thought is that you know that where you're going and you're going into your forever home, and it's going to be somewhere that you're going to have your best days, the best days, best family memories are moments ahead of you, like, and, and you're going to have all of your space and I suppose, yeah.
00:19:13:14 - 00:19:30:23
Unknown
All of the again, the perks that comes with it and hopefully it's, I do think I hopefully know this, this will be really settled in the house by this Christmas. It's going to be a lovely time. I love forward it. Yeah. So like if we're speaking to a man here who was in the last week at a project, you're very calm for a man on the last week of a project.
00:19:31:00 - 00:19:50:02
Unknown
And how are you how you took the time to come to our podcast and just leave your poor wife a home? What's going on there? So there's a home kit in the house. Was that the way it is? I know, I have to say, I know I've been very, very fortunate that I'm that we had very good, a good company working with a good company and a very rapid and have helped us out immensely with everything.
00:19:50:02 - 00:20:09:24
Unknown
And, you know, when Fergal asked me to come on today to the podcast, I said absolutely no, because, you know, that's that that's how things work. You know what I mean? People look after you. You look after them. And, I want to try and also get the message out to people to, to consider just open their mind to consider about retrofitting their house, upgrading it.
00:20:10:01 - 00:20:27:24
Unknown
Because even if it is a bit of a, even if it is a little bit of a cost in the short term, in the long term, it's going to pay a back tenfold. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, I'll just call it a win win win situation. Yeah. First of all you're getting the grant. Second of all you're doing your bit for the environment.
00:20:27:24 - 00:20:45:19
Unknown
Yeah. And it's such a massive investment into your home that you can have for the long term. So there's no loser in the situation you know. And again the fact that there's government money available, you never know how long those things are going to last for. Sometimes you know, the carrot and the steak is what I got while I was going on about what at the moment are motivating people to to operate their homes.
00:20:45:19 - 00:21:01:20
Unknown
But there could be a period of time when that becomes something else, where if your home isn't at a certain standard, then yeah, start to penalize you for criteria. Yeah. So maybe I just get on touch, get on board, bring up one of the local authorities or ring up one of these, one stop shop guys and then talk you to it.
00:21:01:21 - 00:21:17:16
Unknown
You know that. That's the thing. You know, any questions you have, they'll be answered. And even if you, I suppose, are just kind of like even thinking of the possibility or not knowing what way to turn or what way to go about it. It's no such thing as a stupid question. Get in touch and they'll take it from there.
00:21:17:18 - 00:21:31:24
Unknown
Yeah. What? I think you're quite honest. You said that you're not someone who is savvy. You want to go to instruction. So, you know, you are probably going into this a bit blind, Jerome. Yeah. So it was good to have someone to go along the way. So I think it's worth adding in there. Effect. Yeah, I just agree it's actually never too early to ask the questions.
00:21:32:03 - 00:21:48:18
Unknown
You don't have to do anything. You're not so stuck. Was with going ahead with works and just by finding out and that home energy assessment is very important because it gives you a roadmap. It's something that you could be planning for the next 5 or 10 years. But that's all saying that you can't put a price on comfort.
00:21:48:24 - 00:22:13:12
Unknown
Yes, you can Hahahahahahahaha. Very good, very good. Yeah. So you're living under water? I watch our social media. You're drawn to the United fan. I am a big giant fan. And we're still in the running for maybe a place in Europe. One game left to go. We need a couple of other results to go away. But we're playing, we're playing boys in the final game of the season, though.
00:22:13:12 - 00:22:28:18
Unknown
Yeah. At this weekend. So looking forward to that now. And, and they're in the running as well for Europe. So that's going to be a big, big game. Yeah. And I just hope we can do it and get over the line. Because I know your wife Laura work for the. Yeah, we've we our. Stephen.
00:22:28:18 - 00:22:46:20
Unknown
That's a lot of work together for a period of time. Yeah. But, Yeah. So as she as she hooked you into the into the soccer world, I know, like it, like I did. I remember when I used to come up when we were living in Carlow at the time. Laura, we go back up to John every now and then, and I think she showed me, a picture come up on her phone.
00:22:46:20 - 00:23:06:13
Unknown
Did it their memory six years ago. So when I went to my first game and I was home for that very first night, and I think the League of Ireland, like, is, is really it's something special in the sense of like for live entertainment. And you don't have VAR, you don't have something that's going to like you know, interrupt the game for so long.
00:23:06:13 - 00:23:22:11
Unknown
Some decisions go for you as some go against you. But in terms of live entertainment on a Friday evening all through the summer, it's absolutely great and it's brilliant. Yeah, and some good football as well. I was just about to say the in terms of the quality of the football, the world. Well it's like it's obvious like it's actually a lot of stadiums are sold out these days.
00:23:22:11 - 00:23:40:06
Unknown
You know what I mean? And I do think it's beginning to slowly catch up with the what did you say and. Yeah. Yeah. The, the support they have. So boxing obviously was a huge part of your, your life. It's probably like our most well known for European champion lives there that nice. Yeah. That was, that was so sends a tingle down what you always find.
00:23:40:06 - 00:24:00:00
Unknown
That was such a tough you and you really a real come from behind me. And that was. It was amazing. So how was life been since, you know, you've retired? Yeah, it's been mad. Life has been mad. Like, for a while, though. It kind of went to a bit of a kind of a strange transition in, like, you know, where you're kind of, again, trying to figure out who you are, what you, what your purpose in the world is.
00:24:00:02 - 00:24:17:03
Unknown
So don't throw it out the window. So, for their 30 years in the game and then to have my final, my greatest night in the ring, my, my last fight, I think it was very poignant time and up time to just kind of bow out, like, you know, bow out on top. And not everybody gets a chance to do that.
00:24:17:05 - 00:24:35:10
Unknown
And my last fight will always be my my greatest night. And it's great to be able to look back on that. Very fond memories and a lot of hard work and sacrifice to get to that point. But but I kind of now just, I suppose probably over the last couple of months, maybe even this year, I've really kind of came accepted where I am in life, you know what I mean?
00:24:35:10 - 00:24:55:23
Unknown
I kind of realized that I have a different, you know, purpose, different roles. But boxing is still something that will always be close to my heart. I took up the, the head coach role of the boxing club, back in September. And, I have a team of coaches around me, you know, picks one of them, you know, Stephanie Allen and, Gabby as well there.
00:24:56:00 - 00:25:10:24
Unknown
And, we have about 45 or 50 kids three nights a week. The Lowe Championships around the end of November. So that's going to be our first real test as a club. First real outing anyway, you know, but like, look, it's all new and it's great. And again, I'm just very lucky to be able to give back to boxing.
00:25:10:24 - 00:25:24:07
Unknown
Boxing give me a great life. And the people involved in it, are a great coach and I just want to give back. I think that's a very important thing to be able to do. Yeah. But also, I think it's great that you're giving back to the community as well. Like, obviously you've, you've taken one of Brodeur's greatest assets.
00:25:24:07 - 00:25:37:21
Unknown
And your wife, Laura. Yeah. All joking aside, oh, you're living in the area, so, you know, to to to become a coach and and be able to, to, to to share some of your knowledge to the local kids, I think is a brilliant thing. So, so well done for that, you know. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. Good man.
00:25:38:02 - 00:26:01:18
Unknown
So you're also, working now. You went back and studied and, you're working as a counselor, and I was like, correct. Yeah. Psychotherapist now. Yeah. So we're a couple of days a week and force one's therapy and wellness in the league. Brilliant. Yeah, yeah, it's good to good center. And it's, it's a great spot. You know, there's a therapist there early for everything, and, it's, it's just a couple of ways of looking at it, like, you know, it's a sign of the times.
00:26:01:18 - 00:26:17:03
Unknown
Like, you know, you've got gyms and coffee shops and health and wellness centers opening up, pubs closing down. What we have changed as a country, you know, we are more health conscious and, I think it's a good I think it's a good thing, you know what I mean? But, the stigma is still there slightly, but it is lifted.
00:26:17:03 - 00:26:35:13
Unknown
It's lifted more and more and I think, yeah, I genuinely do think like that. It should be the most normal, natural thing in the world to ask for help with your mental health because you're able to ask for help for your physical health or for your eyesight or for your teeth. You know, whether you're going to a dentist or an optician or GP and it's no problem.
00:26:35:15 - 00:26:50:06
Unknown
So why, when the when the mind is and the brain is the most complex thing on the on the human body, that should be the most natural thing to use to go for a little bit of help and support that. That's a, that's a good thing. And I think the more we can promote that and make that normalized, that, that that's okay.
00:26:50:06 - 00:27:13:11
Unknown
That's a very good thing. Then, you know, I think we'll be, moving in the right direction. Yeah, I think definitely the world has changed a little bit, like what you say, if I get reminders around building sites. Back in the day, you had a oh, you did enjoy, but it's probably changed now. Absolutely. But sure. Isn't this as we it's a contradiction in itself in terms of it's looked at as a weakness and it's probably a bigger strength to ask for help.
00:27:13:11 - 00:27:31:16
Unknown
It is. It is really is. Yeah. Wait opens worked on and then. Yeah I mean and again it sounds marble them excuse me doing this podcast getting to meet you know experts in their field. And every week has been brilliant because you know, I as a builder I would have a very good knowledge of the whole picture, I suppose is the best way to put it.
00:27:31:18 - 00:27:45:21
Unknown
But to get to the detailed information, and I've always been very good at that actually, is reaching out like, you know, people will say, oh, you know, we are brilliant craftsmen because I see my work on television. But the reality of it is I have absolutely no problem telling. Tell them that I'm not even the best carpenter in my company, you know what I mean?
00:27:45:21 - 00:27:58:07
Unknown
Like, I've got people who are excellent at doing what they do, and I will absolutely go to them for advice and I'll make sure that they literally jobs, you know. So but what I feel all you do well as I link to people together and I think again, a bit like and where it will be, I think that's a big thing.
00:27:58:07 - 00:28:16:05
Unknown
It is. So having somebody who can look at the whole picture, knows the timing and knows the sequence and and knows how to link the right people together is, is actually hugely important, Gino. Very much so. Yeah. Just reminding me of all jokes. There's a smile on his face there. When I was saying to us, I knew something was amiss when you said you weren't the best character in the company.
00:28:16:07 - 00:28:36:24
Unknown
He used to be. No argument of those who was the best drummer in the world. And someone said, Ringo Starr. They said he's not even the best drummer today. Yeah, yeah. So Ringo, often here, here. Well, we got many things I've never really. That's the only one that really sticks. So just getting back to to the house.
00:28:37:01 - 00:28:50:17
Unknown
So, as you were saying, Christmas is common. The the family are, you know, are you saying to you there in a month's time, I know you're in the final throes of the last week, and there's bits and pieces to be done, and you probably say to yourself, Our God, will we ever get it done? Well, are you saying in a month's time it'll all have settled?
00:28:50:17 - 00:29:09:20
Unknown
You'll have the kids around you. You'll have people coming after the house to be able to relax and enjoy. It must be nice to have that little moment to look forward to. It is. And we're actually looking forward to the little trip that it's going to take to go from the living room to the actual kitchen to make a cup of tea, because at the moment we're living, we're living in a kitchen and sitting room all in one, and we've been there for the last six years.
00:29:09:20 - 00:29:27:14
Unknown
Again, I have to reiterate, we're so lucky and so blessed that we had that place. But again, it was it was just starting to become a little bit confined for us. And, so we're actually looking forward, I think, you know, we may even be offered the other, a cup of tea. Yeah, but I was there just to go for the walk.
00:29:27:14 - 00:29:43:23
Unknown
It was just to be able to walk down the hall. The big, long hall is lovely, like, you know what I mean? But, Yeah. No, we're really looking forward and and and even the girls, like, you know, and the boys, they'll have their own rooms and, they're, they're super excited as well, so. All good. That's class.
00:29:43:23 - 00:29:48:10
Unknown
That's class. If you want to be in for Christmas, move in in November. I think that's the that's the.
00:29:48:10 - 00:30:04:04
Unknown
It is because you can't. Yeah. And so some people are saying like, you know, Friday is the day to move in. And like, you know, apparently there's I don't know if it's superstition or whatever, but like, there are a lot of people that are so adamant that you have to move in on a Friday. So we're kind of like, okay, well, it's got to be Friday.
00:30:04:04 - 00:30:26:08
Unknown
So so we're hoping this Friday just over to be Halloween day. And funny enough, it will be 11 years to the day we met. Oh yeah. Yeah. She still hasn't taken off the mask but. So you can be for that for she definitely will. Yeah. So so again, like, I suppose you're not you're not not there yet, but you're very close to the very end of, of the journey.
00:30:26:08 - 00:30:41:19
Unknown
Like again, can you just give anyone advice on it? Like I know you said, you know, probably the best of all is to commit to it and go for it. But like, what would you say to someone who was considering a because obviously that's who we're talking to here is people who are considering retrofit and are tuning in and try and get some advice offers.
00:30:41:21 - 00:30:57:09
Unknown
Yeah. Well, I mean, I would say go right ahead is not going to cost you to even ask the question. Stephanie, I've got a question. I ask the question, but at least we ask the questions. You get the answers and then you know where you stand. And then of course, there is going to be an element of of just going for it as well.
00:30:57:13 - 00:31:11:03
Unknown
Because no matter what you do in anything, you kind of have to say, right, let's go for this, you have to commit to something like, you know what I mean? And it will be, again, there going to be a cost. Of course there is. But like anything there's going to has to be a cost. But in the long run this is going to pay you back tenfold.
00:31:11:03 - 00:31:32:09
Unknown
And, so I actually would encourage people to go and do it like, you know, we, we, we, we rang up invite a bit and we had a, a b r rate and E house, you know what I mean? So we're going to walk in to our house at the end of this week. And just the final touches are being done on the house.
00:31:32:11 - 00:31:47:23
Unknown
And we're going to be like handed the keys back. And the house is going to be a minimum B plus, you know what I mean. Brilliant. And near to B plus. Yeah. Or like that's incredible. Like we're organizing that minute but it's going to be a strong. Yeah. It's going to be strong I know I know.
00:31:47:23 - 00:32:07:03
Unknown
But that's kind of what it says on your on your because that's the criteria. But I'm I'm in no doubt that it's going to be an absolutely no I think I think and and that's another thing that I mean what's written on a b r statistic is, this is a piece of paper living in the house area because what's the importance.
00:32:07:03 - 00:32:24:22
Unknown
That's right. And, that's right. You know, and and you're, you're not fully living in the house and you're talking about the air to water system already in there. You're walking into a constant temperature with doors and windows open again. So cozy. It's unbelievable. Yeah, yeah, it'd be great to live in it and, it's tough and really, you know, it's it's it's a game changer for us.
00:32:24:22 - 00:32:44:18
Unknown
It really is. And I think it's a game changer for the energy system in, as a whole, you know what I mean? I think everybody will be and I know everybody will be eventually going down this way, but as you were saying, there may be criterias that we change in qualifying, qualifying criteria and change. So, you know, my advice would be to get it, you know, ASAP if you can.
00:32:44:20 - 00:33:03:23
Unknown
Yeah. And again all you all get asked this question about when is the right time to build. And to be honest, there's never a rogue time to wait to build, you know? Yeah, like our price is going to come down. I genuinely don't know how they have settled. Will they ever reduce again? I couldn't put my hat on it and say yes they will or no they won't.
00:33:04:00 - 00:33:26:06
Unknown
Again, our grants going to go up. Are they going to stay the same again? It's very hard to tell because there's so many, you know, wheels in motion on all types of. So I would always say to someone, if your lifestyle is at, if your life is at that moment when it's the right time to buy or to build our time to retrofit, that's the right time to do it, because you can't spend your life waiting for the right moment to come along.
00:33:26:11 - 00:33:42:01
Unknown
You have to be proactive. And you've you've been proactive at this for three years now. You know what I mean? And now you're you know, it's a common goal for you now. So, you know, I do think that, you know, your voice is dead, right? Go for it. Like, yeah, I know there's a lot of fear. There's a lot of unknown, but there's a huge amount of information out there now.
00:33:42:01 - 00:34:08:19
Unknown
There's a huge amount of of guidance, a huge amount of help, and it's quite transparent. So I do think that now is the right time for people to to go for something if their life is in that mode. Yeah. Because no matter how stressful or how difficult or how time constrained and, or, you know, even, confusing it actually is, you are going no matter what, when you get through this little bit of, you know, work stress or whatever it may be, or the project stress, you are going to end up in a better place.
00:34:08:19 - 00:34:28:00
Unknown
Yeah. So, you know, like anything, if you want, if you want something that's really worthwhile, you kind of have to go to it's not you know, it's never a a straight line get there. You kind of have to go for it. So like, you know, invest, go for it. Leap of faith. And you know that no matter what, you're gonna end up in a far better place.
00:34:28:00 - 00:34:44:20
Unknown
And then at that point there, it's going to keep rewarding you. Yeah. And stuff so that we're we're coming to the end of the interview. Thanks, man. Eric for for okay. So what's happening with Eric Donovan at the moment. Is there anybody you want to give a shout out to there. Anything that you want to caution not just them.
00:34:44:20 - 00:35:13:00
Unknown
Again, I just want to thank Viterbi for all that work. And thanks to, Boing Boing boing, Boing builders as well points out builders as well for all of their work on my friend PCB and all the painters, Vince and Matthew and all the guys that contributed, on the house. Alan as well. Your guy, you know, because I know everybody had to contribute and everybody played a part and we're just very grateful.
00:35:13:02 - 00:35:34:23
Unknown
And even though there was times when you can be, you know, not happy with time or when things are going to be done that's natural. That's that's part of par for the course for anybody. Yeah. But you know that when it's when it's all done, dusted, it's going to be a lovely, finish. And so we can already see it and it's going to be happy ever after.
00:35:35:00 - 00:35:58:22
Unknown
I love it. And you were apparently I know you're on Instagram and did you want to mention as well where you're working as well doing the counseling. Yeah. First one started being wellness in the league. Yeah. You can get in touch with them if you want to book an appointment. I'm working with, mental health addiction and recovery and as well as many different areas in and around the area of mental health.
00:35:58:24 - 00:36:22:05
Unknown
Happy to have a chat with you and work with you if you're interested. And, other than that, wish you all well and reach out and get your house retrofit. You won't be disappointed, I tell you that. Come on. Anything you want to do just to thank Eric very much for coming in. Great to see you and best of luck in your new cozy home.
00:36:22:05 - 00:36:40:24
Unknown
Thanks. You'll have to come up for a cup of tea. Absolutely, definitely great stuff. I'm going to give one story about Eric as well, because we were, we were all after meeting for Halloween, remember this. And they are giving us the gear and we don't like a photo shoot kind of thing. Before literally we were about to be kidnaped by the what DSLRs, and we were all buzzing and having to crack, you know, we were in this quarry.
00:36:40:24 - 00:36:54:19
Unknown
It was really cool. It brought us to this quarry to, to get these photographs taken. And I don't know why, but the song you don't know. What's this coming over the hill? Is it a monster? Eric started singing this, right? And he was singing away and everyone's going chase. He's a bit mad at me, so he did it anyway.
00:36:54:19 - 00:37:12:24
Unknown
I was walking up the hill. It is going, what's this coming over the hill? And next minute he tripped and he stumbled your foot down the. So, every time I hear that song, all I can do is I just. I fell into Hellwig and I fell over. For this one. Listen, as always a gentleman. Eric is a pleasure to see you.
00:37:12:24 - 00:37:31:06
Unknown
I'm. Thanks very much for coming on board. I mean, I want to understand, given all our listeners and viewers, your your story of the retrofit. And as always, folks, if you have any questions that you would like us to ask Eric, reach out to us and tune in to the next episode. Coming soon of Behind the Walls podcast with Pete and Fergus.
00:37:31:11 - 00:37:33:24
Unknown
Cheers, folks. Thanks, man. Sir. Thank you.
00:37:34:21 - 00:37:44:00
Unknown
Oh! Oh!