Birthday month

Birthday month

Friday, 4 September 2026

August is my favourite month because it's birthday month yay! and 2026 did not disappoint! I can't believe it's come and gone already and I'm writing this as I watch the rain fall outside!

I actually did have a little dip at the start of the month because it felt like the best summer ever was coming to an end but that was quickly forgotten with the help of all the great people I have worked so hard to have in my life now - and of course the sunshine did continue for the most part so no need to be sad about it! 

Girls Weekend at Oakley Court 

Birthday month started strong, waking up extremely peacefully in the Windsor countryside with Alexandra. We had a lovely weekend away at Oakley Court.

Painting by numbers

I spent a lot of time at home with my arts and crafts during the dark winter nights, and in an attempt to bring our winter activity into the sun, Paige and I have spent the month taking Amazon specials to the pub to paint whilst we have our Friday afternoon drinks in the beer garden! 

Skating

I managed to go skating a couple of times this month which was nice and something I really miss having access to! Paige decided she wanted to try quad skates so we had a fun afternoon picking them out at the shop and going straight to Hyde park from there. 

Battersea Power Station also had a pop up rink so we checked that out too!

BBQ

I finally had my first BBQ of the year, and maybe my only by the looks of it now! At least I managed one before the summer was out. Being home also meant I got to hang out with my parents and Molly. Plus my mum did my nails for my birthday!

Well Crafted events

I helped Alexandra out at a few more events this month, and our first one in Chiswick! It was a paper flower crafts night at High Road house and the space was my favourite of all the events I've been to with her. We arrived early to set up and have some food (wine and steak tartare have become tradition).  It was a small private room with a big table and with the windows open, it was bright and airy, overlooking the high street; a lovely place to spend a summers evening. Also, the pretty bunch of sunflowers she got for my birthday! 

Pints of Knowledge

I have been wanting to go to one of these for months. The last one I bought a ticket for got moved to (scary) East London so when I saw it being repeated more locally, again in Chiswick, I got myself another ticket. It actually fell on the same day as the eclipse, which as timing allowed, I was able to watch before heading inside. 

The talk was called "Kinks and Connection: A Scientific Guide to Sex and Relationships” by Dr. Ashley Brown and I feel like I learnt a whole lot about communication within a relationship. It very much did reinforce all the issues I have come up against in the past. If someone isn't willing to tell you how they feel or what they want, then you've got no hope. 

Lots of swimming

August was hot and swimming was the only form of exercise I could manage so I made it my mission to seek out swimming pools wherever I could find! London, Windsor, Lyon, St Tropez & Monaco. Nice. 

Afternoon tea

Birthday week started with afternoon tea at Raffles - one of my favourite hotels in London! I didn't take many photos, but I did drink a lot of very fancy champagne. The OWO has a crazy wine list and I was able to two two very expensive glasses. What a treat. 

Yasmin

Birthday! Yay! I spent the afternoon on a sunny soho rooftop with my mum, brother and aunt. We're all big fans of middle eastern food so Yasmin was the perfect spot. We got there at midday and they didn't leave until almost 10pm!

Ekstedt at The Yard

At 6pm however, I left my family on the roof and headed to Old Scotland Yard for an incredible tasting menu at Ekstedt. Described as a Nordic fine dining, I didn't have a clue what to expect but it was all very unique and I learnt about some new cooking techniques. Stand outs were absolutely their signature flambadou oysters which we were invited into the kitchen see being made, and the Swedish candy at the end. I love a handmade jelly sweet.

South of France

Two days after my birthday, we were off on what turned out to be an incredible road trip around the South of France and Monaco. What a dreamy way to spend the my first week as a 33 year old. 

Summer party

I haven't been to a house party in years but my friend decided to throw and end of summer party and it was a great send off for the sunshine! It rained all afternoon, but that didn't actually bother us all that much, we kept the vibes in the kitchen (with the snacks) and did manage to grab one group photo when the sun came out for a couple of minutes.  It's been a long time since I've been in a room full of people that I don't know but I made some new friends and look forward to building on those going into the winter.

Notting Hill on Carnival Weekend 

I didn't actually go to the carnival but I did visit a friend who lives in Notting Hill over the weekend and it was quite the spectacle.

Anyway, until next month! 

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A Girls trip to Oakley Court

A Girls trip to Oakley Court

Friday, 14 August 2026

I've spent my last few years in London, creating and cultivating female friendships and last week, one of my new friends and I decided to go for a little weekend away.

I seem to have accidentally documented the transition (here, on the blog) from meeting Alexandra at one of her creative events, to becoming friends, so she's a familiar part of my world at the moment. I made such a big effort at the start of the year to fill my life with fun, new activates and love that in doing so, I made a new friend!

It was another warm Friday so I took the afternoon off and I headed out to Windsor early to make the most of the booking. 

Oakley Court is a Victorian mansion, set on the banks of the river, in Windsor. It took less than an hour to get there from London, via a little stroll around the town. 

The room wasn't ready when I arrived so after a wander around the grounds, I went straight to the wellness centre. I had visited the Soho house pop up there last summer, but didn't realise the hotel itself was so gothic and majestic. Very cool! 

I went for a quick swim, which was wonderfully refreshing given the heatwave and then enjoyed an array of Cowshed products in the shower afterwards. 

If you know anything about me, you'll know that the river is my happy place so I was very pleased to follow it further outside of London and see it surrounded by the English countryside, rather than, erm, Fulham haha. 

I spent the next few hours on a comfy garden chair, under a tree watching the boats and the ducks go by. All very whimsy. All very content.

Alexandra arrived at about 4, which was perfect timing for a cocktail or two. I couldn't quite decide what I wanted so I tasked the barman with making me some kind of strawberry spritz and he did an excellent job. Sweet, fruity, and most importantly, cold. 

When it was time to check in, we excitedly explored the room and all the freebies (plate of cookies, more Cowshed products and a picnic basket full of snacks) before dumping our bags and heading back out to the restaurant for dinner. 

We both ordered crisp glass of white wine and the miso black cod, which happens to be my favourite dish ever - I always get excited when I see it on a menu! Our lazy afternoon, turned into a lazy evening as the sun slowly, set over the riverside. 

Back in the room, we grabbed the hotel robes, raided the box of snacks and put on a film before I fell asleep at 9pm, which is pretty on brand for me. As far as I'm aware, Alexandra stayed up and had a bath.

The speckled rays of sun, shining through the leaves and into the room was a very gentle start the next morning. We woke up to the sound of nothing, which is an absolute treat when you live in Central London.

After a few hours of faffing around in the room it was breakfast time! A little buffet, set up in the back room, opening out into the courtyard. The staff were very attentive, I seem to make a habit of ordering annoying drinks, but they were happy to oblige and got it right first time when I ordered my go to - an iced, coconut milk, hot chocolate. 

In typical Alexandra style, she had brought some arts and crafts supplies so after breakfast we took a few steps down to the river and got painting. It was so nice to really switch off for a few hours.

I had plans back in London that evening, so I dipped off for another swim and then caught the train home refreshed, and relaxed!

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July

July

Monday, 3 August 2026

I was a little bit apprehensive going into July this year, because last July was probably the hardest month of my life, both physically and mentally. This year however, was the total opposite, it was just one fun day after another and it was awesome. I think appreciated it all the more. 

Aqua Kyoto Rooftop

I kicked off the month at an OG rooftop bar, Aqua Kyoto. It was very warm and very busy, but I was quite happy - as expected with a glass of champagne in one hand and a pair of chopsticks in the other! 

White City house

I spent most of last summer at White City House but having moved back to Putney, its a lesser, and totally different style occurrence this year. I spent most of last year in the underground gym but this week, I had a wonderful Friday night, frolicking in the pool and with a pizza and an array of different frozen cocktails until the sun went down. 

and a similar situation at 180 House! 

Boat days

Boat days on the Thames are my favourite of all the summer activities and this month, it was actually warm enough that I got in for a dip on a few occasions! We also stopped off at The Anglers in Teddington on one trip, which meant another SW London pub ticked off my list!

Long Table with Mixtons

I first came across Mixtons at Taste (four years ago!!) and they have been on my radar ever since because their dragon mojo - an exotic take on the mojito became one of my favourites canned cocktails. 

This month, they started a series of "long table" events across SW London and having missed the debut, I managed to get myself a spot on the second one which was very conveniently held in Battersea park. 

Following the music that was coming from behind the shrubs, I found the most whimsical, picture perfect picnic hidden in the trees! The theme was orange, to celebrate the fact they had just launched in Sainsburys! Go Mixtons!

HYC

The Hurlingham Yatch Club is just a ten minute walk from me and after it blew up all over Tiktok, I had to go and check it out. Think old sports club bar, meets riverfront views. Basically the best cheap drink to good view ratio I have come across.

A Solo Retreat

As you can see, it was a busy month, so I decided to take myself away from the chaos for a couple of nights and head out to Surrey. 

This weekend was about switching off. As soon as I fell asleep, for another two hours after breakfast, I knew the countryside was doing what I went there for it to do. I slept, I swam, I napped in the sun, and after a long hard day of being awake, I ordered room service and watched a film in bed.

Misc:

- There was a family day out with my mum and brother which consisted of drinks at the OXO tower and bringing them back to Wandsworth to see where I live my life. 

- A calm, friday night in doing paint by number in Paige's garden 

- Dinner at Chez Bruce! Decadence unlike anything else I've seen locally and a 7 minute uber home. 

- Having an American friend this 4th July, meant I got homemade banana pudding which was so exciting! I haven't been able to find anything quite like it since my trip to the East coast! 

- The sunshine inspired me to try something new with my toes this month so I went for fluorescent orange and I loved it! As ever though, it did not survive the jacuzzi.

Champagne Road Trip

A little road trip took us to the French countryside for a weekend of wine tasting and vineyard hopping. We ticked off four very well known champagne houses - Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot. Starting strong by accidentally ordering six glasses of champagne because I didn't realise 12cl meant 120 ml. More photos here.

What a difference a year makes.

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