The Hamster, The Flag and The Phallic Painting

In this week’s Hiya Babs, Chris and Lee drift from bizarre dreams and sleepwalking tales into a very real conversation about patriotism, flags, and the rise of toxic nationalism. From giant hamsters in hamster balls to Paddington as the ultimate immigrant icon, they unpack how symbols like the Union Jack have been twisted into emblems of hate, and what that means for LGBTQ+ people and migrants in today’s UK.

The chat balances heavy with light: there’s book talk (witch trials in Scotland, cats in space, grief counselling reads), a sprinkling of good news stories (Taylor Swift’s engagement, gender-role-swapping schools in Iceland, recycling wins), and the odd curveball about painting with your penis. Basically—classic Hiya Babs: equal parts funny, thoughtful, and a bit chaotic.