I realise it has been five months since I last wrote here. At the end of May, I met my (now) boyfriend at a friend’s boxing match. Whilst Vogue has officially declared that having a boyfriend is now “uncool”, I can honestly say I’m the happiest I’ve been in a while, and I’ve never been cool anyway. Before meeting him, though, I was channelling my inner Elizabeth Bennet on a self-imposed dating ban until September, so I really wasn’t expecting to meet anyone. I suppose the best things have a way of catching you by surprise.

Naturally, priorities have shifted a little. So much has happened, but I haven’t had much time to put it into words. After the boxing match, summer quickly spiralled into a blur of travel, from the beautiful coasts of Cannes and Antibes to the pristine mountains of Switzerland, the rocky shores of Montenegro to the artistic streets of Paris. Somewhere in between, I even made it to a Sam Fender concert where Olivia Dean debuted her part in Rein Me In, which instantly became my song of the summer.

It has been busy, exciting, new and unexpected at times, but honestly, the longer I went without writing, the guiltier I felt. So here I am, pressing rewind and catching you up, recommendations included along the way…

June

So let’s pick up from where I left off: 1 June. I kicked off the month at the Epsom Derby, which also happened to be the moment I finally caved to my boyfriend’s calls. After a week of stubbornly putting my foot down and telling him to wait until September, I ended up drunkenly calling him after the races. LOL, sue me.

Anyway, I headed to the Derby with a couple of friends, expecting sunshine and jugs of Pimm’s. In true British fashion, though, it was grey and rainy, so maybe my judgement was clouded, but honestly, I just didn’t enjoy it. Between being catcalled every time I went to the bathroom, feeling completely out of place in a dress and fascinator (absolutely not me), losing too much money on bets, and feeling awful for the horses, I just couldn’t see the appeal.

What I did love in June was the simpler stuff: long walks in the Surrey countryside and trail runs through the fields near my house. I spent far too much time scrolling Pinterest, and weekends often revolved around brunch and a fresh gel manicure at Banstead Nails (the best in Surrey), nothing short of perfection. It still is, to be honest. While I may now be deep in my pumpkin picking, Sunday roast and autumnal London park era, that will always be my favourite kind of weekend.

But long walks and wholesome weekends quickly became a thing of the past as Cannes Lions completely upended my routine. Absolutely worth it, of course, though I honestly think I am still trying to recover!

Cannes Lions

For those of you who don’t work in advertising, marketing or media, you might not be familiar with the Cannes Lions. In short, it’s a global festival celebrating creativity in advertising. Think of it as the Oscars of the ad world. If you’ve ever seen Burger King’s “Mouldy Whopper” campaign, that’s exactly the kind of bold creativity that tends to stand out.

Every year, my company, System1, heads to Cannes to network with brands and agencies and to host our own series of events. This year, we had the iconic Rory Sutherland take on Scott Galloway, joined by e.l.f. Beauty’s legendary CMO, Kory Marchisotto. It was incredible. As chief merch officer, I was there to help organise our beautiful tote bags and fans, set up the venue, capture content throughout the week, attend Palais tech checks, chaperone press opportunities and, of course, do a bit of mingling myself. My boss, Jon Evans, even shared the stage at the Palais with Alix Earle, which was a pretty surreal moment.

But the one thing about Cannes is that it is full on. Early mornings, days packed with content, serious heat, endless walking, and late evenings that almost always end up at the Gutter Bar. As a tourist visiting that week, I can only imagine how surreal it must seem. The promenade is lined with activations like Pinterest Beach, where you can get tattoos, customise caps, and make dinky little matchstick boxes, or Sport Beach, where you might casually bump into Mo Farah. We even spotted Professor Green and managed to snap a photo with Josh Duhamel, which felt like something straight out of a fever dream. It’s glamorous, it’s inspiring, it’s an absolute whirlwind, and I feel so lucky to have experienced it.

Beyond all the festival chaos, my roommate Beth and I still managed to carve out a bit of downtime. Some of my favourite “me” moments were early morning runs along the beachfront, followed by coffee and a croissant, or sneaking back from presentations before dinner to take a dip in the sea and then get ready. I loved how close it brought the team together and all the connections we made along the way.

The cherry on top was the final night at Cheer Mama with the System1 crew. I had my digital camera at the ready as we laughed, ate amazing Italian food, and toasted a fantastic week. It was the perfect mix of joy, relief, and just a touch of sadness that it was over. Cannes cuisine can be a little pretentious, but this night was relaxed, casual, and exactly what we needed, with great food and even better company. It was one of those moments when you realise how incredibly lucky you are to be exactly where you are.

Misc

Once the dust finally settled from Cannes, June turned into a mix of everything, from birthdays to goat yoga. My boyfriend and I officially got together after just two weeks, which says a lot about my willpower, (so much for a dating ban) and from then on we spent most weekends together. He even helped me bake a white chocolate, raspberry and pistachio cake for my friend Ana’s 26th birthday!

Goat yoga was maybe the weirdest, but most wonderful activity I did in June. Deen City Farm, Morden offers summer classes where visitors can learn yoga whilst feeding, and being jumped on by goats, which was great fun. A bit like puppy yoga, it’s not exactly a serious class as you’ll no doubt be distracted and preoccupied in between moves, but for something unique and quirky to do on a summer weekend, I couldn’t recommend this enough!

---

July

July was busy, busy, busy. The month kicked off with Mad//Fest, a marketing festival held each year in Brick Lane, before I made the most of the rare UK sunshine with good food, outdoor drinks, and even a bit of pickleball. I also managed to sneak an invite to my boyfriend’s sister’s wedding, which was both exciting and slightly nerve-racking, considering we’d only known each other a month at that point (digital pics from the after-hours fun below).

July in a Nutshell:

• Beigel Bake (Brick Lane) for top-tier pastrami bagels. The meat literally melts in your mouth, and the bagel is soft, bouncy, and just perfect.
• Mother Kelly’s (Bethnal Green) for drinks and celebrating. I headed here for a colleague’s birthday, and it was such a lovely, relaxed spot. Next door, the pizza restaurant Fatto e Mano serves incredible Napoli-style pizza, and you can even order it straight to the bar.
• 1910 (Balham) for the best Mexican food in London. I’ve been before and I’ll 100% be back again. It’s one of those spots everyone I send there ends up messaging me after like, “that was such a class recommendation.” This visit was extra special because my boyfriend, without me knowing, had preordered spicy margs for me and my friend before we even arrived. I honestly thought I’d somehow charmed the waitress lol.
• Peckham Rooftop Film Club for a first “official” date with a screening of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (the best romcom of all time). It was in the most beautiful setting at Peckham Levels, with great food and super affordable tickets. There’s loads to do nearby afterwards too, like heading up to Frank’s Cafe or Multi Story.

Switzerland

July came to an end with a hiking trip to the Jungfrau region of Switzerland with my mum. We stayed at the Maya Caprice in Wengen and spent the week indulging in delicious cheeses before rounding things off with a final day in Basel, which was a pleasantly surprising city.

Throughout the week, we mostly dined at the Maya Caprice and had drinks at On the Rocks, but we did manage to try a new spot in Interlaken, a lovely Italian called The West-End, and went for drinks at Spatz, a beautiful bar by the riverside. Beyond our foodie adventures, we explored trails we hadn’t tackled before, leaving new footprints in the mountains, from the Lobhorn hike to Schynige Platte.

I’ve been lucky enough to explore the mountains of Switzerland, as well as the beautiful city of Bern, on multiple occasions. My dad used to own a hotel in the region, and I’m so grateful to still be able to return. There’s definitely an element of over tourism now that wasn’t such a challenge when I was growing up. The gorgeous town of Lauterbrunnen, for example, is far busier than it once was, and it’s starting to take its toll on the locals and independent restaurants.

I still absolutely recommend visiting, it’s one of those once in a lifetime places. Yes, it’s pricey, but plan your trip and factor that in. I just urge anyone who goes to respect their surroundings: don’t drive if you don’t need to, don’t litter, invest in local shops and small businesses, and take the time to truly soak it all in rather than chasing the perfect Insta shot. The most breathtaking views are often the ones less travelled, the ones you have to climb and work for, so bring your boots and get walking.

Switzerland Highlights:

• Maya Caprice, Wengen – Words can’t describe how fantastic the views and staff are at the Maya Caprice. The team are truly lovely, with a special shoutout to Danny and Sanya, who always make us feel so welcome. The view is hands down the best in the region, and with relaxed dining, a convenient location, and even a jacuzzi spa, you’ll absolutely love it here.
• Schynige Platte – Take the train up to Schynige Platte and explore the alpine gardens and mountain ridge trails. I’d recommend saving this one for a bright summer’s day to get the most out of the views. You can even extend your hike to First, which is about a seven-hour walk. It’s truly magical up here and feels like something straight out of a fairytale.
• Maanlichen to Trummelbach – This is a tough but incredibly rewarding hike behind the Trümmelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen. It’s definitely challenging and can be a bit hairy at times, with narrow paths and steep climbs, but it’s a true mountain trail for experienced hikers.
• Grindelwald Glacier Canyon – This was a totally new experience for me, and honestly, I can’t believe this hidden gem has been under my nose for 26 years. I highly recommend a visit; it’s absolutely mesmerising. We went on a sunny morning, and the waterfall bounced off the canyon walls like beads of glass. It didn’t even feel real, it was so stunning.
• Hike to the Lobhornhütte – Another absolutely spectacular hike that I can’t recommend enough. The hut at the top is the perfect reward after a long climb, with homemade cake and soup served in bread bowls waiting for you. It amazes me how they even get the ingredients up there in the first place! The views along the way are breathtaking; you’ll catch glimpses of snow-capped mountains through the trees and follow rivers that wind down into the valley.
• Exploring the city of Basel – Despite passing through Basel for over 20 years, we’d never actually taken the time to explore it properly, and I’m so glad we finally did. For fashion thrifters, there are plenty of second-hand shops stocking vintage Kookai and quirky Custo Barcelona pieces. The architecture is beautiful, and the winding side streets are full of charming cafés and independent shops to wander through. I can’t wait to go back and see even more next time!

---

Though I’m not quite finished catching you up from June to now, that’s a wrap on June and July. Stay tuned for more plans made easy with my August and September updates coming soon.