I feel like I am well and truly settled back in the UK now. It feels good to be immersed in greenery and nature once again having been away from these things for so long whilst out in Dubai. During the entirety of my time out there, I never got the chance to visit home back in the UK. As funny as it sounds, when I first got back from Dubai, even trees looked so alien as I had become so accustomed to towering concrete. This came as a reminder that I will always be a country girl at heart and though I adore the trappings of city life, I always need to come up for air in nature to recenter myself. 

“Quiet the mind and the soul will speak” 

I feel like it has done me a world of good to simply slow everything down for a bit. It was so easy to get swept up in a flurry of new places, new faces, cocktail-sipping late nights and cortisol and caffeine-fueled early mornings. In some ways, it can be easier to live in a bubble of perpetual distraction. 

They say “disconnect to reconnect” and this certainly resonates with me right now. When you take yourself away from the buzz, you are forced to sit with your thoughts and feelings, uncomfortable though that may initially be. But the feeling of peace and clarity that you arrive at is unparalleled. Which is exactly where I’m at now.

So, here are a few snaps from the month. Until next time!

Bluebell woodland - Winkworth Arboretum

Nothing says ‘spring’ quite like the arrival of the bluebells. 

Bluebell woodland - Winkworth Arboretum

Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey.

Bluebell woodland - Winkworth Arboretum
Wisteria in Bath

Twee scenes in Bath.

Visiting Bath
The Mumbles - Wales
The Mumbles - Wales
The Mumbles - Wales
Clifton Suspension Bridge - Bristol

Days in Clifton, Bristol. 

Colourful buildings in Bristol
Drinks at Avon Gorge Hotel, Bristo

Rose and views at Avon Gorge Hotel, Clifton.

View from Avon Gorge Hotel, Bristol

Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Colourful flowers in Bristol

College Green, Bristol.

Slow evenings in the Brecon Beacons.

Henrhyd Falls. 

You can’t go wrong with a proper Cornish pasty. I have been buying frozen ones and keeping them stocked in the freezer. If you are planning a trip to Cornwall, be sure not to miss out on my lineup of ‘must-eats’. 

Dinner outside in the summer

Making the most of the milder weather by dining al fresco at every possible opportunity.

Dinner outside in the summer
Winkworth Aboretum

The deeply-saturated colours of spring. 

Life lately

Sometimes nothing beats a good film night. 

Life lately

Cardiff Castle. 

Life lately
Life lately

An espresso martini never goes amiss. 

Rolex SailGP Championships Dubai 2024

Rolex SailGP Championships Dubai 2024

The Rolex SailGP championships recently came to Dubai and I just so happened to be in town - so of course we were going to join in on the action. I've always maintained a level of interest in sailing - some of my happiest childhood memories were sailing trips with my...

Life lately #17

Life lately #17

I think we can all agree it has been a shocker of a summer and for the first time since I moved back to the UK, I’m genuinely missing life in Dubai - namely the weather! I am back with a flurry of blog posts that I have not had the time or chance to put up until now....

Life lately #16

Life lately #16

This blogpost has been sitting in my drafts for far too long and is massively overdue. I feel like the last few months have just flown by in a bit of a blur and summer is slipping away all too quickly. I’ll keep it short and sweet for this month’s instalment, in the...

Exploring Oxford

Exploring Oxford

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Hay-on-Wye – UK

Hay-on-Wye – UK

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Life lately #14

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Life lately #13

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Life lately #12

Life lately #12

Hello, hello! Another chatty blogpost is coming your way in the form of a 'life lately' instalment. Well, it's been an interesting few weeks with countrywide puzzling about where the British summertime went.   I usually write these life lately blogposts as a...

Life lately #11

Life lately #11

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Escape to the Cotswolds

Escape to the Cotswolds

In the blink of an eye, a few months have passed since I last wrote and it's safe to say that I'm out of the routine of writing once again. So I'd make my return by sharing some snaps and recommendations from a recent long weekend in the Cotswolds. From the...

Reclaiming your attention – setting better boundaries with tech 

Reclaiming your attention – setting better boundaries with tech 

In this day and age, it's safe to say that the majority of us clock up some pretty hefty amounts of screen time each day. Many of us stare at computers at work, only do the same with our phones in our free time. In a bid to improve my overall wellbeing, I recently...

Cornwall drinking and dining favourites – UK

Cornwall drinking and dining favourites – UK

There are countless good reasons to visit Cornwall. It’s my favourite place in the world so I could easily spend all day extolling its virtues. But let’s get right to the good stuff. The food. If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed when in Cornwall, it’s that you’ll...

Life lately #10

Life lately #10

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Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway – the book that changed my life 

Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway – the book that changed my life 

We all have that one influential book that changed our lives, and for me, it’s Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway by Dr Susan Jeffers. This book does what it says on the tin. During a time when I suffered debilitating bouts of anxiety while at university, this book...

North Wales favourites

North Wales favourites

As I grew up in Cornwall, I’ve always had a soft spot for Celtic destinations. Among the famous Celtic lineup is Wales, a land of castles, rugged coastline and stunning mountainous national parks. During my time living up North, North Wales was one of my favourite...

100 quotes, sayings and affirmations

100 quotes, sayings and affirmations

With it being a fresh New Year, a sprinkling of light and wisdom never goes amiss, especially as many of us will be hoping to make positive changes in our lives around this time of year. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know I’m partial to a good quote or saying...

Life lately #9

Life lately #9

It’s not long at all before we turn the page on the chapter that was 2022. Looking back on the year, it could not be more different from the year I had previously. Largely because I moved from the bedazzling Dubai back to the British countryside.  I’m someone who...

Life lately #8

Life lately #8

It's hard to believe that there are just five weeks left of 2022 - this year felt like it has flown by. Moreover, that Christmas is right around the corner. This year, I am grateful to get to spend the festive season with my parents, having not been able to due to...

The best pools in Dubai 

The best pools in Dubai 

Sometimes, a bit of rest and relaxation by the pool is just the ticket. There are swimming pools aplenty in Dubai - most residential buildings are kitted out with luxury swimming pools and it goes without saying that this is also the case for pretty much all of the...

Exploring the UAE

Exploring the UAE

The UAE is an incredible destination. Though Dubai tends to get the lion’s share of the spotlight when it comes to international tourism, there is plenty to see and do in the UAE’s other emirates. I have put together a roundup of some of my favourite highlights...