Mondays with Milly

In this special episode, Phill visits Milly in the UK and invites Milly’s great-granddaughter, Amy, to have a chat about the family connection to the RAF and the building of the Titanic. On one of sixteen year-old Amy’s weekly visits to her “GG” (Great Grandma) the was fascinated to discover some family photos and documents relating to the family tree and some important historical events.

Milly turned another year over this month and to celebrate I gave her a call and we caught up. And with perfect timing, MwM clocked up 125,000 listens on her actual birthday. Happy 94th birthday, Milly.

June 6th, 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion: the largest amphibious assault in history. Milly and I discuss the day itself and what it means; Milly shares her insights and recollections of the event which changed the world and cost so much.

Greetings loyal listeners! It's been a while since our last episode but here is our catch-up from Kirsten's recent visit home via Geneva for a flying visit to the World Health Organisation. Niamh performs a beautiful rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Songbird" (requested by a few of you via the MwM Facebook page). Thanks go to "Piano Matt" Heinrich for his work on the keys. Enjoy!

How does the coronation of King Charles III compare with those of Elizabeth in 1953 and George in 1937? What better way to find out than ask someone who was there for all three, right? In this episode, Milly gives us a great insight into coronation ceremonies past and present and speaks passionately about royalty, family and legacy.

It's been a while between episodes but Milly is back and this week we're celebrating the milestone of passing the 100,000 listens mark of MwM. We get Milly's reaction to your thoughts and messages of support, as well as discuss the upcoming coronation of King Charles. Milly is excited about witnessing her second coronation ceremony and has some interesting insights. Thanks to Niamh's year 12 music teacher, Ash Griffin, who provided the beautiful guitar accompaniment for "Bedouin Song" (originally by Lior).

Happy 92nd birthday, Milly! After a long and frustrating illness, Milly is back doing what Milly does best. This week we cover quite a list of topics: the loss of Sam (aged 102), Kirstens visit from late last year, Christmas, cruises and the thing that Milly loves more than anything - the arrival of family. This year Milly will be hosting a visit from Niamh and after more than three years I’ll be seeing her in August. And I can’t wait!

Welcome to this week's episode of the MwM podcast. Today we reflect on the life and loss of Milly's beautiful sister-in-law, Irene, with whom she shared a special bond. Join us on the MwM Facebook page for extra content.

Today we reflect... Queen Elizabeth II's death marks a significant in history so in this episode we spend some time reflecting on the way the country said its goodbyes. Milly has had an eventful stint in hospital and tells us what that was like. This week Niamh sings Renee Geyer's, "Heading in the Right Direction". Shout-out to her music exam accompanyist, Mitch, who joins us on piano.

In this episode of MwM, I catch up with Milly and her eldest son, Paul, who's visiting from Scotland. The love, warmth and natural humour between mother and son shines through in this light-hearted conversation. We talk about Milly's latest digital project, kindness and some hair-raising driving adventures. And thanks to Piano Matt for yet another beautiful piece for us to collaborate on.

Things are pretty tough in 2022 - the rising cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine and geo-political tensions. In this episode I ask Milly to ponder those times in her life where she can draw comparisons to the present day situation and in true Milly-style she offers some gems and the odd dose of perspective. Milly and I thank you all for sticking with our passion project podcast and if you're new to Mondays with Milly, check out S1 Ep1 to find out where Milly's story begins. Join the conversation via the MwM Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/368558144406079

This weekend Britain and parts of the Commonwealth celebrated Queen Elizabeth's 70 year reign - and Milly's been there for every bit of it. In this episode Milly ponders the mood of the country and gives us an insight into how so many people in Britain have marked the event and made lasting memories of their own. And it's only fitting that Niamh sings our rendition of Land of Hope and Glory.

When Kirsten finally went home to visit Milly recently they made up for time lost to lockdowns and managed some high quality time together. In this episode they reflect on what it all meant to both of them, including some interesting discoveries from the loft.

In this episode we hear the second part of Milly's and my conversation with Superfan, John. John's shared experience is explored further as we delve into the politics of the late 1940s, emigrating, home births and the arrival of telephones. Piano Matt joins us in this week's song and does an incredible job on the keys. Thank you for your ongoing support, Matt. It's greatly appreciated.

Welcome to our new episode of MwM. In this episode I invited a good friend of mine, John, to join us for a chat. John is a Superfan of the podcast and was visiting me back in January when his questions about Milly prompted me to say, "Well, why don't you ask her yourself?". John's parents shared similar stories with him growing up. This is part one of our conversation...

On any given Sunday, Milly heads off to church followed by tea and biscuits. But today was special. Milly was invited to visit The Doll's House in Carshalton Road, Blackpool (S9 Ep6) - known better for its modern day title: "Serendipity". The Harvey family welcomed Milly and Kirsten with open arms and Milly got to see the house she loved - 57 years on. Check out what happened (photos of the visit have been posted to the Mondays with Milly Facebook page).

Milly and Phill are back by popular demand. And on that same theme, so is Kirsten - who is on her way back to the UK for the first time in three years. Milly can't wait. In this new season we'll talk all things past, present and future. Thanks to all the loyal listeners who've shared questions, comments and sent messages of support for our podcast. MwM will continue on a semi-regular basis. Please join us on the MwM Facebook page and if you have a spare minute or two a review of the podcast is greatly appreciated.

Welcome to this special bonus episode of MwM. In this one we're celebrating a number of milestones... Closing in on 50,000 listens across 66 countries, Milly has been having an absolute ball talking to media in Australia and the UK over the past month. And today she turns 91. Happy 91st birthday, Milly!

After more than 65 episodes and almost as many songs, this episode is our last. What parting gift do you give to an amazing woman who has everything she needs and wants and whose longevity spans 10 decades? The answer is simple: you give her messages of love, support and gratitude. And that's what this episode is all about. Thank you Milly - for your warmth, your honesty and your gift of story telling. There are more than a few valuable lessons contained within and you've given your family a powerful legacy for generations to come. You've also provided me with a tremendous resource for the classroom. Thank you to anyone who's cared to listen - if only for a passing moment. We hope Milly's stories made you pause and ponder. And thank you to my wonderful and talented daughter, Niamh, whose willingness to pick up songs spanning eras and genres made me shake my head many times. As you get older you'll come to fully appreciate the power of what you've done for others, Niamh. The love and bond between you and Milly will endure. And if you're new to the podcast and wonder what all the fuss is about - I recommend S1, Ep1: Meet Milly from Moss Side, Manchester. Phill Cristofaro - December 25th, 2021

It's time to unmask The Voice behind the voice. Niamh joins us at the end of a very busy day doing what she loves most. You'll feel the love and affection between Milly and her granddaughter Down Under. We also discuss some of the things making news locally in the UK.