The indicators that time is passing are becoming more apparent: the grey hairs that continue to appear, the overgrown weeds on my Animal Crossing island, the unanswered WhatsApps, the memes that say “15 years since Miley Cyrus released Party in the USA” 1 the decaying apple in my fridge, the pile of laundry I haven’t dealt with yet, and the hundreds of TikToks in my DMs that I haven’t watched (sorry, friends). While I spend most of my days thinking about how fast time is moving, today—a typical Sunday—I’ve been savouring the moment. The sky is clear, the sun is shining (as it usually does in Dubai), I had an obligatory morning iced coffee while listening to voice notes. I went for a swim, ate some leftover pasta (always make more pasta than you need), showered, and I’m currently enjoying a bucket of mint tea.
I have to admit, though, that I haven’t been in the mood to write recently, probably because I spend five days a week typing, talking, and thinking. Whatever energy reserves you have left, you’re faced with the decision of how to use them, and energy can only be stretched so far. For the latter part of July and the start of August, I’ve been in “standby and restoration” mode. According to Google, restoration is: the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment; the state or fact of being restored; a return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition; restitution of something taken away or lost. Restoration comes in various forms for everyone, but recently, life has looked like this:
I am now in my gamer girl era (she was on pause for a few months). I have been spending a lot of my spare time playing Animal Crossing or watching island tours on YouTube (which, by the way, are soothing to watch even if you don’t play Animal Crossing).
I’ve been rewatching 90210 (the 2008 version) which is so shit that it’s good. I love revisiting old TV shows–I have watched Gossip Girl, Friends, the OC, Gilmore Girls and The L Word countless times. For someone who thinks deeply ALL THE TIME, revisiting an old show somehow has the power to switch off this part of my brain.
I received a letter in the post (a novelty in Dubai): a card with a hand painted fig and a sweet note on the back.
My partner and I booked a trip to Sri Lanka. We were so lucky to explore this magical island in February, and not gonna lie, I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. I can’t wait to drink fresh coconuts, breathe fresh air, drink lion beer, walk barefoot and indulge in my favourite breakfast at The Kip. A few weeks after we booked our flights, a TukTuk driver we met during our last trip messaged me (if this isn’t a sign…)
I bought peaches the other day which I LOVE but they are always so expensive in Dubai. It was a perfect juicy peach.
I’ve been really enjoying chamomile tea, specifically the Pukka one, which has fennel, licorice, vanilla and manuka honey.
Anyone who knows me well understands that I can’t function without a coffee in the morning (and yes, I know coffee on an empty tummy is bad, and yes, I have tried swapping coffee for tea, but it’s just not the same). Preferably, the coffee must be consumed outside (fresh air is a must). However recently I’ve been craving something different so my mornings have been starting with a coffee, dip in the pool and some sun. I’ve been loving it.
I think I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump… I have been trying hard to get through Butter by Asako Yuzuki. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. I’ve been tempted to give up, but my brain insists that I NEED to finish it. I just bought two new books–Alphabet Diaries by Sheila Heti and Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna (which I’ll be saving for my trip).
I’ve been spending more time on Pinterest and I’ve been having fun making silly little collages (see this one below). This has been a great replacement for mindlessly scrolling through Instagram (something I’m trying very hard to avoid these days).
I found the perfect pen last month, but unfortunately, my cat thought so too, and it’s now missing. I’ve been on a mission to find a replacement, which has led me to Stationery-Tok, and now I’ve got an Amazon cart full of 10 different types of pens.
Speaking of pens, I just bought an iPad pen, and I think it’s about to become my whole personality for a while.
I’ve been thinking about getting back into the pottery studio in September. I enjoyed it so much and it is such a friendly community. This time, though, I want to give throwing a go. I’ve been saving loads of inspiration on Pinterest so I actually show up with ideas instead of just going with the flow.
Thoughts from my Notes App
August is going to involve:
Morning swims
Vision mapping
More cups of tea
More YouTube (less IG)
More dilly dallying
More podcasts
More cuddles
More animal crossing
Setting daily intentions
Creating new rituals
ICYMI
Take Yourself on a Date
I’m a big fan of solo dates and I’m often quite surprised when a number of my loved ones say they’ve never been on a solo date (a trip to the hairdresser doesn’t count). Being an only child, I might be more accustomed to spending time alone (and enjoying it!), but I still think we should all prioritise quality time by ourselves. Though this is an article from 2022, it addresses our discomfort with solitary play, its value, and how solitude doesn't have to feel isolating.
Here’s a challenge for you: go out on a solo date, and then DM me to share what you did and how it made you feel.
I Wasn't Sure How To Celebrate Turning 70
I love this story. A woman turning 70 decided to mark the milestone by asking her loved ones to suggest a new experience for her to do that year. She committed to logging 70 experiences throughout the year with her loved ones—all she had to do was say yes. I think it’s a beautiful concept, as it gave her the chance to try new things, spend meaningful time with those she cares about, and extend her birthday celebration for an entire year. I’m seriously thinking about doing something similar for my 30th… though I’m a bit worried about what ideas people might suggest lol.
An Unlikely Superpower
I had a faint recollection of hearing about this story before (I’m pretty sure it made headlines a few years ago), however, recently, I listened to a podcast about a Scottish woman named Joy Milne, who discovered she has the ability to detect Parkinson’s through smell. What struck me most was her discussion on how she navigates the moral implications of this power—would you really want to know what your future holds? I’m not sure I would. And if you had the same power, would you feel inclined to tell people?
What to watch this week
This is on my watch list for this week. All the long nights is a Japanese drama directed by Shô Miyake: “Misa, battling PMS and stigma, starts anew at Kurita Optics. Amidst work and sweets, she meets Takatoshi. Despite his quiet demeanor and struggle with panic attacks, a deep bond forms.”
Trusting My Intuition and Doing a Natural Building Workshop in Morocco
I’m currently Cam’s biggest fan. She’s a precious soul. I adore all her videos and am gradually working my way through her entire channel. This one is about her trusting her intuition and going on a solo trip to Morocco to take part in a natural building workshop. She’s an architect by trade (and a content creator) but has felt unfulfilled by her 9-5 so sought out a new experience. I thought it was a great example of how we should continually “invest in ourselves” and enrich our lives with new experiences (something I’m trying to slowly apply to my own life).
Perfect Days in Tokyo
My favourite travel duo, Sam and Victor, are back in Japan! This 37-minute video is pure heaven – cafés, shopping, food.
Turning 30 in The Art Islands
Naoshima and Teshima are two small Japanese islands, often called the "art islands." These islands are a haven for lovers of art, architecture, and nature. I can't wait to visit them someday.
Things that should be on your radar
Here’s another dreamy spot to add to your list: Numeroventi. It’s a residency, boutique residence, and research-oriented platform that sparks creative dialogue between artists, cultural institutions, and communities.
I’ve been following Martina Calvi for a while now because she shares my love for trinkets, nostalgia, and even crumpled receipts. She’s just released a book titled Memory Collecting, which is going straight into my cart. The book features 15 craft projects designed to inspire you to preserve those memories you’ve got tucked away in boxes and drawers.
Alighieri
I’m completely in love with this cutlery set that jewellery brand Alighieri just launched. It’s so extra.
Alphabet Diaries by Sheila Heti
Disclaimer: I’ve only started reading this book so this isn’t an official rec.
Sheila Heti kept a journal for more than 10 years; she then extracted sentences from the pages and arranged those sentences in alphabetical order. The book proceeds from A to Z: in the first chapter, each sentence starts with A, and the second starts with B, and so on-with no paragraph breaks (which I found odd to begin with). I haven’t made it far yet, but so far, it seems like this book explores the chaotic nature of our thoughts.
I don’t think I’ve ever shared a recipe here, which is surprising given my love for food. As a big fan of chickpeas, I’m always on the lookout for new ways to enjoy them, so I’ve bookmarked this one for my private chef (partner) to whip up for me one day. It seems like the perfect summer picnic/BBQ salad, yum.
Cherry Rice Pudding
I need to make this ASAP. It looks absolutely divine.
FYI, you can read past letters here.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this letter please share it with a friend, neighbour, lover, stranger 💋
For context: I went to Sri Lanka in February and met this TukTuk driver on my last day. Since then he has messaged me about 3 times asking when I’m coming back.
oh how i love dillydallying!✨