Ten happy things – February 18

I have so many things to be grateful for so I’ve decided to have a new monthly blog post where I reflect on the month that’s just gone and choose ten things that made me happy and that I’m thankful for.

A work trip to the Channel Islands

I love what I do and I’m so thankful that I’ve found a career that I love. I genuinely don’t mind Mondays! So when I get to combine my love of travel with work, it’s just the cherry on the cake. At the beginning of the month I travelled to Jersey to deliver a workshop on behalf of Lloyds Bank Foundation Channel Islands, stayed over and had a wonderful meal at Number 10, then flew to Guernsey (in a tiny plane!) the next morning to deliver the same workshop. It was brilliant.

My birthday

February is my birthday month! It’s so odd though because in South Africa, where I grew up, my birthday usually consisted of a pool party and ice-cream cake and now that I live in the U.K, the weather is usually pretty awful. Last year my birthday fell on one of the days where London was enveloped in fog and this year it rained all day long. Still, I had a fabulous birthday because my husband treated me to a night at The Crown in Amersham  and dinner at one of our favourite restaurants, The Artichoke.

Dinner with old friends

London is the kind of city where, even with the best intentions, it’s hard sometimes to see friends and have a good catch up. The last time I had seen Cath and Nadia was at Nadia’s birthday dinner in September… We were housemates when we were in our twenties and we’ve stayed friends ever since. It was great to see them and catch up over eat some delicious food from Pizarro in Bermondsey.

Lunch at Dishoom – finally!

I finally ate at Dishoom! I know, I know… where have I been hiding, right? And I only went because one of my lovely clients treated me to lunch and OMG, was it good! I’m already planning to go back and experience their breakfast menu.

I read the most amazing book

I’ve always been a voracious reader but over the last few years, I’d started reading less and less. I decided that needed to change and have been happily consuming novels again and actually making time to read. Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman had me savouring every word and rationing my reading time just to make it last longer. If you’ve not read it, get it. It’s amazing.

Valentine’s Day

Now you probably think I’m going to write about some romantic dinner but oh no. This is about the beauty of half price roses the day after. I purchased some from M&S for £4 and just threw them away today. They lasted two weeks and a day. BARGAIN.

I tried three new restaurants

This month I expanded my London restaurant list and tried three new ones: Dishoom, Pizarro and Luca – and only one was Italian!

I was on BBC Radio 3 Counties

I was asked to be interviewed live on BBC Radio 3 Counties for work and before I let fear get the better of me, I said ‘yes’. I was pretty terrified but actually it went really well and now I’ll be less nervous the next time round. Sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone but it’s also ok to say ‘no’.

Holly’s baby shower

My lovely friend Holly is expecting baby number two any day now and chose afternoon tea at Gallery Mess at the Saatchi Gallery for her baby shower. Very civilised! It was a lovely, sunny afternoon and the afternoon tea was delicious.

I met a Royal

I was invited along to an event by The Cranfield Trust and City Bridge Trust in my capacity as trustee of the Small Charities Coalition and in attendance was HRH The Princess Royal. After the event, Princess Anne met with some of us and I got to shake her hand and tell her about the amazing work that the Small Charities Coalition does.

So that was my February! I’d love to hear what you got up to.