Like most things at the moment, I am delayed, but something is better than nothing. I am pushing myself to write more, and actually publish things, regardless of their perfect/imperfect status. I haven’t done one of these since lockdown, and so much has happened in the interim.

What a (lack of) summer it has been. I started shooting weddings again in September, I travelled internationally for the first time since the pandemic, I lost my grandfather, the season flew by, I started going on dates again, friends have had babies (or are currently pregnant and patiently awaiting babies), and I have been ghosted by a hundred boys, lol. I’ve discovered my new favourite almond butter and peanut butter flavours (coffee and maple, please and thank you), and I learnt that SSDs are the way to go (no more portable hard drives because you will lose all your data).

Yes, the floods and cyclones happened. I went to Bali to shoot a wedding, got stuck there for a few days, I travelled to the Philippines to see my family again, I shot alongside epic filmmakers, I went day drinking and wore pink, I shot two of the best gay weddings ever, and I got some ocean time.

My dear friend Nisha moved in from January til March, and we had a hench girl summer. Lots of workouts, dancing in the lounge, and me actually learning to rely on someone else and trusting my dear friends. I fell in love with spin at Westward cycle, and I did a lot of F45 classes.

So, in an attempt to remember this chapter, here are a few things from life, lately.

“Any conversation about death is really a disguised conversation about living. It’s about how we want to live our lives.”

MUSIC

Okay, I am a convert and I love house now. Send me all of the electronic music because this is all that’s playing in my earholes. I’m obsessed with: Fred again.. 😍

BOOKS

My love for Harry Potter fanfiction continues. Lately, it has been focused on Hermione Granger's Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run + Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love
I finished reading The Vegetarian by Han Kang (thanks to Katie for recommending this to me!)
I tried reading the Anthropocene Reviewed but, I haven’t had the urge to come back to it yet.
Making my way through Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People
Where the Crawdads Sing took my heart (I heard the movie is awful though).
Currently reading: Sleep, The Artist’s Way (obsessed), and next that I want to read is Atomic Habits!

PODCASTS

My friends started Big Mistake Podcast!

I also enjoyed these episodes:

Really thought provoking ideas in this one.

Featuring Chelsea Kauai - my ultimate life inspiration.

And of course, a bit of Esther Perel!

PATTY Y PAN

Oh my god I had this incredible pastry the other day I can’t remember where it’s from!!! I shall come back to this thought.

New discovery: Pastrami and Rye’s seeded sourdough. Oh fuck me senseless it is divine.

PATTERY

Discovering stripes by using tape, and practising bigger bowls, and refining my vase shapes.

Some plates and dog bowls incoming as well!!! Once I finish my editing, I will release the new website, and actually sell more of this (wonderful) shit!!

MOVEMENT

I tried a SALSA dance class + stayed on for their social dancing and absolutely loved it.

Honey Pot Thursday 8:30pm - highly recommend for all you humans who want to shake your booty and do some sexy dancing and twerking (optional)!

I am now obsessed with SPIN. I first tried The Trip with Rich at Les Mills, but I’ve been consistently going to Westward Cycle. It’s on Class Pass* too if you’re that way inclined.

BREWING

Still loving Coffee Supreme’s Organic Blend or Brazil.

COOKING

Still in love with Sam’s recipe of mushroom, eggplant, and cumin plus white sauce pasta.
I really need to learn to spread my wings and cook other things… Send me some recipes?

APPS

How We Feel - my friend Maegan referred this app to me, and I love how it keeps a journal of my well-being. I can even add photos, voice notes, how much sleep and exercise I’ve had, and the reports at the end of the month are phenomenal.
Things - Incredible referral from Rich. You have to pay for this app but I feel like winter is going to be full of organising my whole life and then, thanks to Things, my to-do list will be so on point, well-segregated, and I will be superhuman in my nerdiness.
YNAB - Another thing to try and sort out once wedding season has died down: BUDGET. I’ve downloaded this but I haven’t sat down to truly look into it. Soon.
School of Life - Instead of mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or Reddit, Sophie recommended downloading this app. So much to learn. I love Alain de Botton so much.