Joyful June
Thursday, 2 July 2026
June was awesome, and not just because it was full of exciting things. It was also really balanced, which is something I’ve struggled with in the past. There were rooftop cocktails, late nights and making the most of every warm evening, but also a few slow days, resting, listening to my body and embracing the quiet in between. That being said, looking back at everything I got up to, I'm not sure how I managed to squeeze any rest days in.
I love steak, and clearly I go to Gaucho often enough to be on their invite list for cute events like this. To celebrate the arrival of summer, Gaucho Richmond have created 4 new summer serves, which tasted even better enjoyed in the sunshine on their terrace. The Pink Hugo - with a hint of pomegranate molasses - was a clear favourite for me. As the mingling and live music died down, we grabbed one last cocktail, a table by the river & a couple of blankets and stayed until the sun went down.
The World Cup Begins
Apparently the World Cup started this month. Whilst I don't usually enjoy football, when England are doing well it completely changes the atmosphere in London and I am here for the vibes. I also got to try a new South West London spot, The Leather Bottle, which has a huge beer garden and was the perfect place to watch the match on a sunny Wednesday evening. The girls and I somehow found four chairs in front of the screen, grabbed a few jugs of Pimm's, and settled in for the evening. I may *or may not* have stayed for the whole game.
Apparently the World Cup started this month. Whilst I don't usually enjoy football, when England are doing well it completely changes the atmosphere in London and I am here for the vibes. I also got to try a new South West London spot, The Leather Bottle, which has a huge beer garden and was the perfect place to watch the match on a sunny Wednesday evening. The girls and I somehow found four chairs in front of the screen, grabbed a few jugs of Pimm's, and settled in for the evening. I may *or may not* have stayed for the whole game.
Tennis at Queens
Paige lives in West Kensington and since her road got shut down for the tournament, she got free tickets to the events. I know less about tennis than I do football, so again, I was just there for the vibes, but we had a great time eating ice cream and watching the early afternoon women's game.
A Battersea Staycation
In an impeccable turn of events, I ended up staying at a hotel with a rooftop swimming pool on one of the hottest days of the heatwave. And as a completely unrelated coincidence, I had booked the afternoon off, which meant come midday, I was laid on a sunbed in 34 degrees next to a rooftop pool in central London. I couldn't have timed it any better!
Having spent the afternoon solo, switching between swimming lengths and hiding under a towel in the blissful heat, when Alexandra finished work, she came to join me for a cocktail. Once the sun went down, it was a luxurious night's sleep in the air-conditioned room before doing the same again on Saturday.
Bucket List Tick
I have all sorts of things on my bucket list, but a disproportionate amount of them involve getting to experience certain types of transportation. A hot air balloon, a helicopter, a private jet, and this month, I was able to tick one off: a red ferrari, AKA super car. Tick.
A few other highlights
Drinks at Sonny's
- A rooftop, riverside (two of my favourite things) bar in Kingston with an amazing view of the river.
Sea Containers
- Dinner and drinks, followed by a stroll along the (eastern stretch, oo) of the river.
Terrarium Workshop
- Another creative class with Well Crafted
M&S picky bits
- Two M&S picky bits picnics! Both times opting for a house over the park because it was so hot that I was worried about access to toilets and drinking water hahaha.
Taste of London
- Regent's Park food festival! We didn't last too long because it was very hot.
Little house Balham
- Al Fresco dinner
Lilibets
And finally I also managed to tick off the newest addition to my restaurant list, Lilibet's. It's been ages since I've had a big night out (eating, not partying) in Mayfair, and considering it's one of my favourite things to do, I very much enjoyed it.
Starting the eve with a glass of champagne, the waitress seemingly underestimated us as is she was a bit unsure as we started reeling off dishes, as well as an emergency last minute order of oysters because we forgot, but alas, she was wrong. We got thought it all.
Lilibet's was standard Mayfair vibes. Very cool, very fancy and a very enjoyable evening! I didn't take any pictures whilst I was there, but what I do have is a picture of my outfit, and it would be a shame not to share that because I wore my favourite pair of shoes!
