#29 A Weekend Well Spent.

A weekly recommendations newsletter featuring my London faves and some things I'm loving that week.

Weather report:

When I was in Greece, I was in awe of all the butterflies. They fluttered around the pretty plants surrounding our hotel and around the blooming flowers and bushes that lined the roads. Since being home in London, my sightings have only continued! I’ve seen so many this summer. The BBC reported on a surge in butterflies at Kew Gardens due to the hot weather we’ve been having. They are truly summer girls! There is something still so special about seeing a butterfly. They feel so otherworldly and magical and full of hope. They, of course, symbolise transition and change, and in a sweet turn of events, I found out I got a job I had been interviewing for while we were in Greece, just a couple of weeks before my last contract was ending. I feel like it’s a good omen for what’s to come, I hope.

When I was writing last week's newsletter, I realised that I have been doing the very British thing of opening by talking about the weather or reflecting on the season in some way. It is painfully unoriginal, but I love talking about the weather. I love checking the weather, I love making fruitless future predictions and I love the power it has to unite people through a delicious collective whinge. While also being fun small talk for me, it does feel quite meaningful to the way we move through the world. The season and the weather play a part in how we choose to spend our time and how we experience a place or even a specific time in our lives. With this in mind, I thought I would give a name to what I’ve kind of been doing already, and each newsletter will open with a personal weather report of sorts, which will include a thoughtful reflection on the elements or season (I promise no small talk or whinging!)

In other news, I’ll be starting that new job next week, and as I find my feet and settle in, I’m going to temporarily transition A Weekend Well Spent from weekly to monthly instalments, where I’ll do a round-up of all my weekend activities and favourites from the month. It’ll still be short and sweet, but just a little juicer with more to cover! I hope to be back on the weekly schedule soon. I hope you stick around <3

On to the good stuff!

Doing:

I grew up going to the Heath and it’s one of my favourite places in London. It’s idyllic and historic and just so vast that it kind of demands that you embrace a sort of calm energy. It’s incredibly special, and the ladies’ pond in particular is just magic. I managed to make it for not one but two swims (getting a spot when the weather is nice is no small feat, let me tell you!). It’s one of those places that feels a little like medicine for the soul. You’ll find yourself swimming alongside baby ducklings, surrounded by big, beautiful old trees, before sunbathing in a grassy meadow surrounded by wildflowers. Heavenly! It’s extraordinary that you can experience something like this in such a big city and we’re very lucky to have it.

Eating:

After a swim, Nellie and I headed east for lunch at Leila's. It’s a grocer with a beautiful cafe next door. We opted for two delicious, bright veggie dishes and shared some bread and butter while we chit-chatted and gossiped. A dream day, really.

Drinking:

I caught up with my friend Vio at Forza in Peckham for a glass of wine and a light dinner. I’ve been to the National Theatre location with Josh before and loved it, so I’ve been keen to try this rooftop one in Peckham for a while. It’s such a nice spot with a beautiful skyline view. It would be a good place to bring someone visiting London!

Caffeinating:

I had some time to kill on Saturday morning, so I grabbed a quick cappuccino at Leo's on Chatsworth Road.

Wearing:

I underwent the dreaded task of reorganising my clothes drawers, which was equally infuriating and satisfying. One great thing to come out of it was finding this new summer outfit combo I like and feel nice in.

Reading:

My friend Pat lent me Strange Pictures by Uketsu, and I flew through it. It’s a who-done-it/murder mystery and a very fun (and quite scary!) read.

That’s it for this weekend! x