Shirlie Kemp says Martin is 'gone for hours' as pair make 'exhausting' change

Wales Online

13 hours ago

Shirlie Kemp says Martin is 'gone for hours' as pair make 'exhausting' change
Martin and Shirlie Kemp have been keeping fans up to date with the major changes they've made to their Hertfordshire home in recent years, on Instagram
Martin and Shirlie Kemp have been keeping fans up to date with their progress
Shirlie Kemp has opened up about an "exhausting" chapter in her home life with husband Martin Kemp. A few years back, the couple moved into a new home in Hertfordshire, and have since been renovating their garden.
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The pair regularly provide updates about their progress on an Instagram page dedicated to their renovation, which has gained 185,000 followers.
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During a chat with BBC Radio 2's Scott Mills on Monday morning, Shirlie admitted working on their home had come with "blood, sweat and tears".
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"I work hard on it, I mean, it's exhausting," the 63-year-old shared.
"I am up very, very, early what with this hot weather and the drought, and having to keep everything alive."
Shirlie was speaking alongside her bandmate Helen 'Pepsi' DeMacqu, who is currently living with the Kemps.
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Shirlie Kemp said renovating their garden had come with 'blood, sweat and tears'
Since staying with the couple, the singer said "it's been lovely" witnessing the pair's progress.
"I open the window and there's Martin with the hose, hosing the grass and there's Shirlie in the background in her little area," Pepsi shared.
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"It's idyllic and it's what they've created, it's gorgeous, there was nothing there. What they've put there is...", she continued to say before Shirlie chimed in: "Blood, sweat and tears."
Quizzed on how much involvement Martin, 63, has with the garden, Shirlie said he spends "an awful lot" of time out there.
"He'll be gone for hours and hours, yeah he loves it," she told Scott.
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Last year, Martin said he had a newfound love for gardening after previously finding it "a chore".
Speaking to County Living Magazine, the ex EastEnders star shared: "Pruning that tree or raking those leaves is like a meditation.
Martin Kemp said gardening is 'all he thinks about'
(Image: INSTAGRAM/MAISONNUMBER9)
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'It's all I think about. I head out in the morning and, the next thing I know, I'm getting called in for dinner.'
Martin went on to say he has taken some inspiration from Gardeners' World for their outdoor space, and has been learning the do's and don'ts along the way.
In their latest update on Instagram, the couple posted a picture of the vegetables they had grown in the garden.
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Alongside a snap of the likes of tomatoes, carrots and courgettes, they wrote: "It's been great to have the space to grow veg this year and so lovely to be able to walk-in to the garden and pick it all.
"We have learnt a lot, especially what not to do, it was our first proper veggie patch so we were very excited to make sure it was abundant with veg.
"But in our excitement we over planted and didn't create enough space between each veg, but it looked stunning especially the kale & cabbages with their gigantic, jungle like leaves.
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"My favourite thing are the courgettes easy to grow and easy to cook."