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 reflection on the month and when I feel moved to put finger-to-keypad to share something (somewhat) worth sharing. It’s always a bit of a freestyle in terms of seeing what springs to mind to write.
I thought I would share a bit about connection and why I think it is the secret sauce of overall happiness. Connection can come in all different forms. Be it connection with purpose in the form of meaningful work or contribution towards something that you feel is worthwhile. It can be connection with nature. Connection with loved ones: family, friends and our partner (and pets). In many ways, the modern way of living has engineered a lot of connection out of our lives.
Over the last year or so, I tried to maximise connection in my life in as many areas as possible and I am a lot happier and more fulfilled as a result. I may go into this in more detail but that’s another blogpost for another day. As they say, how your life feels like more important than how it looks and the small things are the big things.
Sunny sea views on a trip to Tenby.
Tranquil scenes at Bosherston Lily Ponds.
Golden hour in the garden.
Beach days in Pembrokeshire.
Rhubarb forcers.
Hottest day of the year spent at Dyffryn Gardens.
Sundown in the countryside.
Margam Park.
Nothing better than sea views and ice coffee.
Lavender-time-of-year.
Out for a hack.
My attempt at a fancy rose apple tart. Needs work but still pretty happy with how it turned out.
Exploring the most incredible castle ruin at sundown.
Breaking out the knitwear for what feels like an early autumn.
Exploring Oxford
My father hails from Oxfordshire so I have been to the county countless times. That said, never had I been to the famous university city of Oxford. It's been on my list for way too long and with a few days off in the form of a bank holiday weekend, it was decided that...
Hay-on-Wye – UK
Sometimes, we all need a little escapism from the minutiae of the day-to-day, and for me there are presciently two ways that I like to do just that: an adventure somewhere new or disappearing into something all engrossing, such as a book. On this occasion I decided to...
Life lately #13
All too soon, the summer 23 chapter has come to a close. Despite a gasp of late sunshine a few weeks back, I am sure we all feel as though we didn't really get a proper summer this year. Now that autumn is upon us and with the feeling of transition into a new season,...
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...
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...
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...
A weekend at Thornbury Castle
I had the privilege of spending the weekend at Thornbury Castle in Bristol during the summer months. Staying in a castle was definitely something to cross off the bucket list, especially as I am someone who adores historic architecture. Dating back to the 1500s,...
Northern dining and nightlife favourites – UK
Having lived up North (many moons ago), over the years I have been lucky enough to get a taste of what the region has to offer in the culinary department. Whether you are fortunate enough to call the North your home or are simply planning a trip there in the future, I...
Top 10 unmissable attractions in Cornwall
My favourite place in the world will always be Cornwall. Admittedly, I am somewhat biassed having grown up there but even so, I am convinced this would be the case regardless. Cornwall brings a combination of coast, countryside and culture giving it unmissable...
Up and away in a hot air balloon
We were up and out the door at the ungodly hour of 4am to head over to Ragland in South East Wales to cross something big off the bucket list, to fly in a hot air balloon. I have my brother to thank for this truly unforgettable experience as he had initially...
6 top-tier gardens in Cornwall
Cornwall is home to some of the country’s finest historically and horticulturally significant gardens. Who needs a holiday when Cornish gardens often bring New Zealand, Mediterranean and South African vibes to the fore, instantly transporting you to far-flung climes....
Salcombe, Devon – UK
Though I grew up in Cornwall, the neighbouring county of Devon is very much uncharted territory for me and up until recently, I had yet to explore it in any meaningful detail. Though there has been a long-standing (albeit friendly) rivalry between the two counties,...
Life lately #4
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...
Clifton, Bristol – UK
Bristol has got to be one of my favourite UK cities. Having spent a stint of time there in my early 20s, I have fond memories of it. Bristol is the largest city in the South West so it was always seen as a place of fascination and excitement for us small-village folk...
Brecon Beacons National Park – UK
South Wales is one of the areas of the UK that I have yet to explore in any real detail. Now I am very much in the process of remedying that and loving what I have seen so far. Said to be one of the UK's most beautiful national parks, the Brecon Beacons are an...
Castle Combe, the Cotswolds – UK
Charicertised by its beautiful honey-coloured stone chocolate-box cottages and leafy surroundings, there is little wonder why Castle Combe has been dubbed ‘the prettiest village in England’. The overwhelmingly beautiful Cotswold village is nothing short of...
Northumberland National Park – UK
We had been so lucky with the weather on our recent visit to Scotland that it was decided that we would extend the trip a bit longer and head over to Northumberland National Park. I find that it is very often the case that the best memories are...
Edinburgh, Scotland – UK
When it comes to my favourite UK cities, I am sure I am not alone in considering Edinburgh right up there at the top of the list. As a city, Edinburgh has all of the makings of a top-notch destination. It's sizable, has a rich history with picture-perfect historic...
South Downs National Park – UK
Since visiting the South Downs National Park for the first time, it has become one of my favourite destinations in the UK. I was lucky enough to have my brother (who lives in the area) to show me around and it did not take me long to absolutely fall in love with it....
Chipping Campden, the Cotswolds – UK
I have to admit that I only visited the Cotswolds for the first time relatively recently. It had always been on the list for me, especially as without exception, you always hear great things about it as a destination. Largely prompted by the pandemic like many others,...