Bali Highlights

Bali Highlights

Monday, 12 January 2026

And with that, another Bali trip comes to an end. I worked out that my recent Christmas visit was my 7th trip to Bali and I'm still not quite bored of it yet. Here were this times highlights:

The White Palm Boutique Hotel

Three of the four hotels I stayed at were amazing but the room at The White Palm particularly stands out as a favourite. It's a small boutique hotel with just a few rooms bordering a pool. The aesthetic was very black and white which is right p my street and the rooms themselves were super simple and very clean. I was upgraded to the suite which had a lot more space and added a lot to my overall enjoyment of the place! Sadly, there was construction next door so whilst the room was perfect for outside the hours of 9-5, spending time by there pool was a no go as not only way it loud, but it was very overlooked by the builders.

Lazy pool days

I didn't let that stop me enjoying my pool days however. I love to swim whilst I'm on holiday, and that was all I really wanted out of this trip so I spent most of my days lazing around the pool at the previous hotel I'd stayed at which was a 3 minute walk away. 

It was more of a traditional, island resort type place with two pools and a restaurant so I picked my favourite of the two and set up on a shady sun lounger. Between swimming, sleeping, reading and drinking one iced tea after another, whole days disappeared. 

Hiring a photographer

This was a case of serendipity I think, because usually I really enjoy taking my own photos on holiday, but this time around, I just couldn't be bothered. 

The first hotel I stayed at offered a free photographer session and I was really happy with the outcome. A week later when I realised I hadn't taken any holiday photos, I reached out and asked if she'd come to my new location and take some photos for me. 

The results was a fun afternoon activity, and some great, professional looking memories!

Spring Spa

I usually like to find new, niche salons and I did a couple this time around but often, I'm disappointed so I've realised that sometimes, it's best stick with what you know. 

Spring Spa is a popular chain in both Bali and NZ and have never failed me before. They'd opened a new location in Bingin since my last visit so I got the benefit of trying somewhere new paired with the quality I have come to expect from them. 

I booked in for a reflexology session on my penultimate day and it was great. I had a male therapist and his thumbs were so strong. After a bit of research, I now understand why I enjoy reflexology so much - it's all about nervous system regulation. Fine, makes sense. Anyway, it was so good that I went back the next day for another half hour on my feet and a wonderful facial just before I left for the airport. I'll definitely be doing that again next time. 

Flight upgrade 

I was adamant that I was going to fly business at some point on this trip and it was a definite highlight; of the year, not just the trip. I've flown upper classes before but I was so proud of myself for the first business class flight I had bought for myself. 

Ice tea

I get hyper fixated on food in Bali. In the past it's been smoothie bowls, but this time around, it was iced tea. You never know what you're going to get when your order an ice tea in Indonesia, sometimes it'd get sugary, sweet milk tea, other times it was refreshing lemon iced tea and quite often it tasted like jasmine. I'm not quire sure what that one was but either way. I enjoy them very much.

Yoga Class

I did three yoga classes whilst I was away and I probably would have done a couple more if I felt like my back could handle it. My favourite class was Morning Light Yoga at Uluwatu surf villas. Their open air shala was overlooking the ocean and surrounded by palm trees which meant gentle stretching to the sound of the waves!

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Jetlag

Jetlag

I'm back from my trip to Bali and jetlag has been kicking my butt this week. 

I always struggle with it, but this time was bad. Coming back to dark, snowy London probably didn't help and of course forgetting to eat (something I've been doing over and over) makes everything worse. That being said, going away for Christmas was one of the best ideas I've ever had so I won't let it put me off. 

With all the Christmas and New Year holidays, it worked out that I had five days to recover before life officially started again in 2026 but we're almost two weeks down and I'm only just starting to feel normal again. 

My biggest learning is this: upon return, I was completely out of whack on my day to day routines. Working from bed, afternoon naps and random headaches; but I'm taking this self awareness as a good thing. Before my trip, I was understanding more and more how important my routines are so this experience has simply reinforced that. With this knowledge, I've been making an effort to listen to my body and do all the little things I know will help.

I did a big food shop yesterday and have been making sure to eat breakfast before 10am. I took a couple of mornings off of work which really helped and have made sure to get out of the house at least once a day, even if its cold. Yoga on Sundays, Volunteering on Wednesday and Therapy on Thursdays. Slowly but surely, I feel like I'm coming back to life!

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Volunteering with Age UK

Volunteering with Age UK

Monday, 1 December 2025

In an effort to expand my life and do something good, I decided to sign up for some volunteering.

"Age UK offers a Telephone Friendship service that connects older individuals with volunteers for regular phone calls, helping to combat loneliness and social isolation."

I'm only four calls in but I've just put down the phone for this weeks call and felt a genuine glimmer of happiness. I signed up to do something good for someone else, but it's been really good for me too - more than I'd have ever expected.

A lot of the old structure of my life has fallen away recently and whilst spending a lot of time soul searching, I’ve realised that connection is at the centre of who I am. Meeting new people, listening to their stories, understanding their feelings and their emotions; it's all I want out of life at the moment, and in doing this, I've gained a very wholesome, new connection.

The application process was very simple. Just a few questions and some online training. I was a little bit nervous before our first call and had written a list of conversations starters but I needn't have bothered. Steve and I got paired up because we have a lot in common so the conversation flows easily. We have already bonded over our love of food, plus he is full of useful advice for me.

This tiny routine with someone I’ve never met has given me a little anchor to base my week around. It's one of few things that allows me to escape from my day. Particularly as my phone is at my ear so I can't mindlessly scroll. Instead I’m fully in the moment, invested in someone else’s world for half an hour.

I don’t know how long we’ll be telephone friends for, but while it lasts, I’m enjoying every call.

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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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