March Highlights

March Highlights

Thursday, 2 April 2026

I cant believe it's April already, this year is flying by - it feels like yesterday I arrived back from Bali but that was four months ago now. March was an interesting month for me; big changes, new routines and I found it quite hard, but looking back on everything I did this month, it was actually quite a positive one. Funny how things feel better when you take a step back and look at the bigger picture. 

Dim Sum Masterclass

Another LOTI excursion; I headed Tao Tao Ju in Chinatown to attempt to make my own dim sum. It started well, with very simple custard buns, which was a good start considering the staff couldn't speak English but it went downhill from there. As the techniques became more and more intricate, my initial confidence quickly faded.

That being said, I enjoyed the experience very much, and even if the result wasn't quite the prettiest basket of dumplings I've ever seen, they were just as delicious.

My first 5K run

With the sun shining, I decided it was time for my first outdoor run! I'd been toying with the idea for a couple of weeks and when I woke up on Sunday with no immediate plans, I decided to give it a go and ran by the river for 32 minutes to be precise! My legs were sore, but I'm excited to try again! 

Eating Out

The sun came out for a few days at the start of the month and that was all the encouragement I needed to visit my favourite summer spot - Seabird! Apart from that, I ate at some awesome places this month. A visit to Annabel's, prompted a quick return for a repeat experience of one of the best steaks I've ever eaten. The Cadogan Arms on the King's road set the scene for one of the best roasts I've ever had - a sharing patter of lamb, beef and pork accompanied by copious glasses of champagne and a girls brunch meant I finally ticked off trying the croissant benedict at Fallow.  

Al Fresco Wine!!

As well as the food, there was a lot of wine consumed through March. I enjoyed a return to The Ship - showing new friends, an old favourite spot (walking distance home is a definite plus.) A sunset glass on a pedestrianised street that felt like mid summer in Europe; and my first (and second) glass of wine from the mini golf hut at the park with my neighbour!

Help! I've sexted my boss Live

Jordan and William have become a big part of my day to day routine so I really enjoyed the opportunity to see them live at Wembley as they took Help! I've sexted my boss on tour!

Roller Skating at the Barbican

It's been months since I've been able to go out skating, mostly because of the weather, but this indoor event, meant I could practice rain or shine. I headed out east to skate inside the Barbican centre which was pretty cool. It was a small rink, but I got there very early so I was able to take advantage of the space before it got busy. It was great to see some of the marshalls from Flippers, where I used to skate, running the event and they were really helpful in giving me some tips for my spins - which improved exponentially as the day went on! Plus I made a couple of new skating friends along the way!

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Pottery Painting at Phresh, Battersea

Pottery Painting at Phresh, Battersea

Monday, 8 September 2025

Having made it my mission to expand all areas of my life, I've been researching wholesome, fun things to do with my time.

I realised I get a lot of relief from just being creative at home, scrap booking, knitting, whatever it is so my search started with looking for local creative hubs; and I quickly came across pHresh.

Run by friendly mother and daughter duo, the cafe itself is a peaceful, healthy haven on Lavender Hill in Battersea. I assumed was just a juice bar at first glance but it seems they now have a creative arm next door in the form of a very cute little pottery cafe.

Offering everything from candle holders to plates, the pottery room is full of natural light which is perfect for painting. They'd just had a delivery of new ceramic pieces and had a lot of things I'd not seen before which was fun, we took a long time to decide what we wanted to paint. I went for a classic bowl in the end but it seems the cute little honey pot is their most popular piece at the moment. Someone else picked one up whilst we were there!  

My mum used to take me to these pottery cafes all the time as a child so not only was it peaceful and quite therapeutic but also very nostalgic.

I also loved that they had stencils, stamps and other tools dotted around so there were lots of options. Mimi went with one of the stencils whilst I took a risk and went freehand with a pencil, a paintbrush -  and many screenshots of inspiration I'd found online.

By the time we'd looked up to take a breath, we had been there for two and a half hours! It was such a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning and I was both please and incredibly surprised that it came out looking how I'd have hoped.

Now just to wait for them to glaze and fire it before I get to see the end result! 

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Learning how to be alone

Learning how to be alone

Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Bank holidays have always terrified me, it’s sad but it’s true. I remember being in a relationship when I was much younger and crying every time one came around because we never did anything fun, it would just be another boring day. Worse than that, being single altogether on a bank holiday - the thought was just terrifying. I had that ahead of me last week. My first single bank holiday in over a year.

I've put a lot of mental work into this breakup. Analysing what went wrong and why, seeing multiple therapists and journalling every day but this time, I've also started to focus on putting effort into rebuilding myself - which is the step I always miss. Having had a wonderful bank holiday weekend, just flitting around, doing normal life, I think it’s actually been working.

Friday night I was a little worried. I know I’m worst in the mornings and have realised if I don’t have something to get up for, I’ll lay in bed and just get more and more depressed as the hours pass so the night before, I found a yoga class and decided I’d have to go to that, even though I really didn’t want to, at least it'd get me out of bed. But then I thought a little harder about what would really make me happy.

I realised I haven’t had a pedicure since leaving because I would never even have thought to treat myself to something like that. I went from monthly pedicures courtesy of my boyfriend to breaking up and reluctantly painting my own toes because I didn’t think I was worth spending £15 on. Well, I decided that I was, in fact worth spending £15 on. I booked myself in the next morning and spent the rest of the weekend absolutely elated that my toes looked so pretty. What a mindset shift!

This weekend really reminded me how much I love where I live and how pleased I am for dragging myself through hell and back to be here. On one of the days, I popped to the park, the riverside and home three or four times and thought nothing of it because it was only a couple of minutes walking each time. The big supermarket is five minutes away, there are places to skate everywhere and Wandsworth Park has been my happy place since I first visited it.

I went for a walk along the river one afternoon, skated at my favourite spot on another and made the effort to join a Facebook girls group for drinks one evening. I wasn’t really in the mood for it but I know how important finding a new group of friends is for me at the moment, so I made the effort to join.

I bought myself a bunch of flowers at the supermarket, although this is something I've been doing now since I've moved out and it really lifts my mood. I didn’t realise just how little I thought of myself until the last couple of months. It really has been a revelation and goes quite a long way in explaining why I feel so low so often.

One other thing I saw a huge improvement on was how I dealt with plans changing. Often I have a total meltdown if plans change, particularly if it was something like this time when it was a whole day activity and I had nothing to fall back on - but it was one of my favourite days. When my afternoon plan got changed, I grabbed a blanket, my headphones, and a book (trying - and failing - to get into reading. First step - take book with you) and headed back to the park. Within a couple of minutes, I’d bumped into my friend walking his dog. We ended up getting some takeaway wine from the mini golf hut and spent the whole afternoon drinking in the sunshine. It was awesome.

Choosing myself again and again is hard, especially when I didn’t even know I hadn't been doing it for the last 32 years. But a whole weekend of self-aware choices added up and seems to have made an impact. This bank holiday felt like a milestone. I’m slowly building something I should have started working on years ago, and this weekend is proof, maybe, that I can create happiness for myself in ways I never used to believe I could.

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Four SW London Spas for a rainy day

Four SW London Spas for a rainy day

Wednesday, 20 August 2025

For a long time, I could never justify going to a spa in London. Possibly for a special occasion; a birthday, an anniversary, but it’s expensive and somehow it made more sense to wait for my twice yearly trips to Bali.

More recently though, things have changed. Or maybe I’ve changed. I've started to understand the importance of self care; not just in terms of the act of a massage, but more the fact of me, being 'worth it.' Worth the time, worth the money, worth the effort to make my life easier, happier, whatever it is. 

If I pay for a gym for my body, and therapy for my mind, then why shouldn’t I invest in something that soothes the soul every now and then too?

We’ve had a good run of sunshine lately, but when a rainy Saturday rolled around, I found myself heading to a spa. It was the perfect way to spend the day and the rain makes it all the more Bali reminiscent! 

So I thought I’d share a few places I’ve discovered recently. Here are four spas in South West London that are perfect for a rainy day, a tough week, or a much-needed moment of peace.

Spa and Massage - Various Locations

If you're looking for a consistently good massages in London, then Spa & Massage have spots all over - I've been to a couple now.

They all seem to be just another store on the high street, somewhere you'd walk past a hundred times but as soon as stepped foot inside, even just the reception area, I was transported away from the hustle and bustle on the street and into the serenity that was to follow with incense sticks, calming music and warm tea from the get go. 

I've been to both Chiswick and Bayswater now and you are able to book by therapist which is great if you have a favourite; although each new person I've encountered have all been very good. My most recent session, was a deep tissue massage with Roxy at the Bayswater branch, which I booked in as a per birthday treat (guilty) and it was the perfect start to my relaxing weekend. 

They always have amazing deals, so I'd recommend signing up for their newsletter and keeping an eye out for promotions.

Silver Moon - Various Locations

I am hugely into reflexology and spend a lot of time having my feet rubbed, cracked and pressure pointed when I am in Bali. I find you don't quite get the same intensity from reflexology in the UK and often it's just a foot massage by another name - but I've actually found two very good places recently.

The first one is called Silver Moon Therapies. 

Louise works out of Clapham & Chelsea and I visited her at Reflexions on the Kings Road. I arrived mid breakdown (other people have public meltdowns sometimes too right?) and the staff there were so lovely. They took me into a private room, which I had not booked or paid for, and calmed me down before my very relaxing treatment started. I felt at ease right away and got the deep reflexology session I was after. What I also really enjoyed about this was the explanation afterwards, Louise talked about what she could tell from the way my feet interacted with her. Fascinating.

Chanle - Nine Elms

This is the second reflexology place I mentioned. It's just opened on the ground floor of one of the high rises in Nine Elms and the facilities are spotless. 

They sat me down in a big armchair with a built-in foot bath which was filled with petals and Chinese medicinal herbs. 

It's not often I get a male therapist but I am always so impressed when I do. This guy in particular had such a firm hand. I wanted deep pressure points and stronger thumbs - and he did not disappoint. 

Yue Float - Wandsworth

Sensory depreciation pods. They sound terrifying but actually it's one of the most peaceful and serene experiences I've ever had. 

Just off of Wandsworth roundabout you'll find Yue float, and independent wellness centre that does saunas, massages and the pods. 

They have two pods, each in a private room with a shower, complete with products and waterproof earplugs. You lock the door, turn off the lights and lower yourself into the salty, body temperature water, closing the lid if you're brave enough. Once you're settled, the lights go off, the music goes off and you spend the next 50 minutes, floating in silence. 

As someone who spends a lot of time scrolling and often fills every moment with activity, I really enjoyed this time to think, properly, and totally undisturbed for an hour. Leaving afterwards, I felt at ease, slow and peaceful. And my hair was super soft from the salt. If you're looking for something different to try, it's definitely worth a go.

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Moving Out, Moving On

Moving Out, Moving On

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

My last post mentioned I've been living in Chiswick for a few weeks but until this weekend, that wasn't the full story. 

On Sunday, I gave my notice and picked up the last of my stuff from my room in Wandsworth. 

It's a happy story, I'm moving in with my boyfriend and that, I'm very excited about, but closing the front door for the last time caused some totally unexpected emotions.

Leaving the house, I cried. I know I was unbelievably sad when I was living there, but that room was my safe space, away from the world and everyone else.

I moved in with my mum's help; and Charlie, my plant. Mum agreed to take the tube, but as soon as we reached the station, she decided one flight of stairs was one flight too many and insisted we get an Uber across London. I remember driving past the Shard with Charlie by my feet.

Within ten minutes of arriving, we almost smashed the window. The room was so small that moving my single bed meant pushing it halfway through the old, wooden frame. We unpacked my suitcase, went for lunch, and then she left. That evening, I built up the strength to end a relationship I had been trying to escape for six months, that is why I moved in the first place after all.

After that, I didn't know what to do with myself. For the first three nights, I ordered Too Good to Go bags because I didn’t know how to put a meal together.

I never really got the hang of that. Instead, I built a life so busy that I was never home for dinner anyway.

For the first six months or so, I had the most magical summer. I’d work from a little desk with the window wide open and the sunlight streaming from the south-facing garden. It was boiling that year. Even isolating with COVID wasn’t too bad, I’d spend hours on my single bed with my legs hanging out of the window enjoying the sun.

I experienced real friendship for the first time that summer and with the whatsapp chat going 24/7, my room is where we built it. I loved getting ready for a night out in the tiny space I had, in front of the cheapest mirror I could find, with my music playing as loud as I wanted. 

Being so close to the nightlife meant I was able to afford an uber home. I felt like a joy like no other ubering home, drunk and content, waiting for Deliveroo to bring KFC after a night of chaos at Northcote Records with the girls. Excitedly dragging myself out of bed the next morning for brunch.

In those three years on Haldon Road, I grew up. I learned to look after myself and to figure things out. I now know how to use a washing machine.

But after a wild, single, summer with the girls, I was cold, we all were, and I was lonely, worried that it was going to be like this forever. I felt like I was just waiting for life to begin.

Trying to run away from the sadness, I started going out every single night, finding any excuse I could do not have to shower at home because it was too cold. 

I went from very happy, to very sad but I was always relieved to come back; it just meant I needed to exercise for 20 minutes before got into bed in the winter.

After exhausting myself all week, I’d seek refuge on Sundays, going to bed at 4pm. During the week, I’d sit there and cry my heart out, day after day, at precisely 10:15 am, just after I'd taken my work break to write in my diary. I learned a lot about myself in that time, but I think I healed huge parts of myself too.

I recovered from the breakup, received life - changing medical news, booked holidays on a whim and heard that my granddad had two weeks to live - all on that bed in my little room in Wandsworth.

The winters were brutal, especially the first one. I had to pull out my summer duvet because even my winter one wasn’t warm enough on its own. I wrapped myself in two dressing gowns at a time and wore the boots I’d taken to a snowy wedding in Norway around the house just to keep warm whilst I worked.

My mum suggested a hot water bottle, but I didn’t even understand the concept. How blessed I was to have never been that cold. She bought me one for Christmas, and it changed my life.

And candles. When it was cold, those little flames kept me company on miserable, dark days working from my room. But they remind me of happy times too - the nights when I finally started feeling content with staying in on my own. Getting into bed, lighting a candle, and watching the sun go down through the open window. And every time I blew one out, I made a wish.

The dressing gowns, blankets, and snow boots that kept me warm when I couldn’t afford to turn the heating on, I don’t need anymore, because those candles made my wish come true. And now I’m in a place where everything just feels right. My life is different now. I’m happy again.

Looking back, that time in my life was so unbelievably miserable, yet it was such an important phase. 

I moved in with one suitcase and left with two cars full. 

I moved in scared, but I moved out confident that no matter what, I can look after myself. 

I moved in single, and out in a relationship with someone I'm excited to spend the rest of my life with.

I built my life there. I built myself there. I’m a much more well-rounded, confident, and capable person than the girl who moved in three years ago.

So, an ode to my little room in Wandsworth. Thank you for everything.

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My experience making new friends as an adult in London

My experience making new friends as an adult in London

Tuesday, 15 October 2024

Making new friends in London is tough hey.

I've just moved to a different part of town and I don't know anyone. Again. My old friends are long gone and whilst I still have people dotted around, it's not helpful for last minute dinners or popping out and sharing a bottle of wine after a hard day.

But this isn’t the first time I’ve been in this position, so where do I start?

The same place I started last time. The internet. 

I’ve done it before, and I will do it again. At least this time, I have some direction and some motivation because I know it works. Facebook groups are the answer. Bumble BFF has also worked in the past, as has just going up to someone I thought might be interesting, in a bar but Facebook is my go to. 

There are thousands of other girls, like me, in these groups looking for people to hang out and build a connection with and this knowledge has changed my approach to making new friends. It’s no longer an impossible task, just one that will take a bit of effort in return for a big reward.

I've been in Chiswick for six weeks now and am very proud of myself. I’ve been proactive and arranged two group dinners (this is great because I get to pick the restaurant and explore the new area at the same time) and a few one-on-one outings and slowly but surely I am coming across people who I think I would like to be friends with.

It’s hard at the beginning because I don’t want to sit around making small talk, I want to have friends I can talk to in depth, about stupid things, intense feelings, emotions and opinions, good, bad & ridiculous, about people and things that are happening in my life, and vice versa. 

Whilst it’s always a little frustrating in the beginning, you can’t rush the process. Building real friendships take time, effort and lots of shared experiences - plus getting to know someone in the process, is fun in itself!

It's a very odd situation to be in and I can only compare it to dating. It's exciting but also scary. Did they like me? Do I want to see them again? Should I text first?!

And as well as being scary, it's hard work. You have to put in a lot of effort to make friends from nothing. Sometimes you can’t be bothered to explain who XY&Z is, or sometimes its raining and you just want to stay in bed. But staying in bed isn’t good for me and not having friends isn’t good for my mental health.

Because life in London is hard enough without having people you care about to offload on and share it with.

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Birthday Week

Birthday Week

Wednesday, 7 September 2022

My birthday celebrations lasted almost the whole month this year and I had the best time ever. 

Birthday week, however, was absolutely jam packed. In between family, work and other bits and pieces I had three big days out with the girls.

The first came on the weekend before the big day. We started at Neverland, which is nicknamed 'Fulham Beach' making it the perfect location for a 33° day in London. 

There was lots of prosecco and sparklers -  the girls even bought me a cake which was very cute. My little unicorn just about survived the heat and made it out to the table with his horn still in tact. 

After a few hours on the north side of the river, we crossed Wandsworth bridge to SW London's favourite pub - The Ship - for tequila and sunsets. 

 I always leave early and go looking for food so the night ended for me at Mcdonalds whilst the rest of them continued to some other bars in Balham.

Our next big outing was my actual birthday - the 18th and also the day that the new Simmons in Clapham launched. And if you know anything about the Simmons takeover currently happening in London, then you know that their launch nights involve two hours of free alcohol. 

Since a couple of us finish work pretty early, we headed straight there and ended up being right at the start of the queue. After making friends and eating doughnuts, we were the first in an stayed to watch it fill out. After that, we hopped around Clapham between Venn Street Records, just across the road and then some free birthday cocktails at the London cocktail club. We finished up back in Simmons because the music was just too good!  

and in case you were wondering, this time it was KFC. A birthday treat if you will.

Birthday week ended at Gunnersbury Park a few days later. Electric City was my first festival and I had an awesome time. EDM, wine and glitter in the sun with my friends? sign me up! Not a bad way to spend my first Sunday as a 29 year old. 

Did I leave early? Absolutely - with a plate of special fried rice no less!

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