[Long Read]

Hey yummies,

A lot has changed in the last few months, an unexpected consequence of this is that I haven’t had much time or energy for writing this blog (my hands do still work though, luckily for you!) So anyway, I’m easing my way back into these not so frequent updates that I’m not sure anyone reads…

Keeping me busy recently has definitely been my fitness schedule. I’ve always been a gym bunny and it’s an important part of my life. I used to sprint when I was younger but sadly (or happily depending on who you ask), I filled out and my career as an athlete was cut short by the rather inconvenient appearance of DD breasts. Little did I know at the time, that as the door to athletics closed, the door to getting flown to the Maldives opened, so as they say, every cloud has a silver lining 🤣 I never enjoyed team sports because I guess I’m the sort of person who likes to die on my own sword as opposed to someone else’s. Do you know what I mean? I think if you make a bad decision or mess something up, it’s easier to accept the consequences than when you’ve relied on someone else and the mess is all their fault. So I always did athletics because I liked the process of training and winning by myself.

Over the last 10 years I’ve done mostly weight training. For how much I work out I really should be leaner than I am but dammit I love dining out, pastries and cocktails 🤣 If mojitos had the same nutritional value as chicken breasts I’d be built like an Olympian 🤣 Weight training has probably been the most beneficial thing I’ve ever done. I’m lucky that I genuinely love going to the gym so it doesn’t feel like too much hard work. About 2 years ago I added boxing, and several months ago I added reformer Pilates – which has become a very trendy workout practice for women in London. It’s very girly – you wear a cute outfit and hip-thrust to Beyoncé; but it’s good for flexibility and core. I hate cardio with a passion buttttt I’m trying. My tactic is to pause on runs to pet dogs and stop at bakeries. Unsurprisingly, this has been ineffective from a fitness perspective but great for overall happiness 🙂

Speaking of food – I’ve done some fantastic dining recently with friends and with dates. Everything from the new basque pub in Belgravia – the Prince Albert, to Dosa, the Michelin star Korean restaurant in the new Mandarin Oriental (I absolutely loved it), to The Cocochine, my favourite fine dining restaurant in London, and the sort of restaurant anyone would love even if they don’t usually like fine dining. I’m still learning about wine (very slowly), but was invited to a tasting at Berry Brothers that was very enjoyable and inspired me to really try to improve my knowledge about wines this year. I never think about the wine much, usually I nudge the wine list to whoever I’m with and hope for the best. I’ve been fortunate to taste some rare and outstanding wines but if I’m being totally honest I’m not quite there yet with having the best palate. Deep down, under all the posturing, I’m a Sauvignon Blanc girl in a Montrachet world. That means we’ve got lots of work to do – let’s get drinking (hehe!)

One thing I do know a fair bit about is Champagne. One of my favourite experiences I’ve had as Billie was being invited to visit the Champagne region for a few days of tastings and dining. Oooo! Such a “me” experience I absolutely loved it! I’ll be returning in a few weeks for a more intensive tour that focuses on smaller producers, I’m really looking forward to a more intensive tour depth experience. If you know me you know I’m a massive Francophile. I already decided that if it all goes wrong and Trump crashes the world economy then I’m going to retreat to France and renovate an old water mill (these are rather affordable as nobody wants them). By the way my recent trip to French prompted me to try and improve my French, so I’ve been working on that using Duolingo. Now all I need is somebody to pay for the water mill….

I’ll also be travelling to Copenhagen to tick off some of my ever growing fine dining list. I’ve done most of the big names, this time I’ll try Koan, and Jordnaer, I’m excited about both. To balance the gastronomy, will also be visiting the legendary Gasoline Grill – famed for its burgers and nuggets etc. Well, not really a burger person but, I’ll make an exception as it’s a local delicacy 😉 City breaks are some of my favourite experiences. 4 days for me is the most perfect amount of time because really it’s 3 full days when you factor in travelling and settling in. You can learn a lot from someone when travelling with them. The most revealing is definitely levels of organisation. I would describe myself as an organised and very capable traveller: I’m the one rolling my eyes at airport security when the whole line is being held up because someone has put a whole 500ml bottle of Evian in their clear plastic bag and is attempting to walk through the metal detector with scissors in their pocket (or whatever). I’m not sure when this happened as I used to be an anxious traveller, but for a long time now I’m very confident travelling and getting around. When it comes to packing, this falls apart totally and my suitcase packing technique (it’s not a technique) is to pile 2.5 outfits per day into my case, bodyslam it to flatten it all down, then zip it up and hope for the best. Upon arrival I usually realise I’ve got 14 handbags and no underwear. Rarely do I hang my clothes (started doing it more recently), never do I iron my clothes before packing – I prefer futile last minute attempts to steam my clothes using a hot shower, and under no circumstances would I ever do something as logical as work how many pairs of shoes I might need. Broadly speaking, I take a wild guess and double it (it works!). Even when doing hikes or outdoors activities I still like incorporating glamour into my wardrobe with Fendi sports bra and Jimmy Choo hiking boots. One of my favourite parts of being a woman is of course to express my femininity through how I present myself.

The other day I saw the most beautifully packed case. I think men are much much better than this than women and to me men who are extremely tidy and organised in this way is inexplicably sexy. You should have seen this case! Who knew such a way of packing existed! Little pouches and packing squares for all the ties and belts, everything ironed and immaculately hung in the wardrobe, hmmm that is sexy! Meanwhile my suitcase looked like a bomb went off in Harrods 🤣 A lot of people tell me they thought I would be OCD level meticulously tidy. Not true! Whilst I’m not a total barbarian, when it comes to travel, I’m typically the person who’s spent all their time and energy finding THE hidden roof bar with the best view of the sunset, or THAT little taverna that’s usually just for locals but makes an exception for ladies with pretty smiles. Wait, back to packing for a moment (chaos suitcase = chaos mind 🤣), I just remembered someone told me if you take the top suite at the Dorchester you get a butler and when you leave they pack your case for you, putting Dorchester tissue paper between all your shirts and so on. Not sure about this – I really struggle with being waited on in this way it makes me uncomfortable. Even when my cleaning lady comes I do a quick clean of the flat before she gets here so she doesn’t know I’m untidy 🤣

Let’s talk about politics… actually let’s not. Instead let’s talk about how spring is here. I LOVE this season – for food, for flowers, for European escapes, and for the first few Aperol spritz of the year. Let’s talk about lobster linguine on a terrace in Italy, encounters that change your mood, the joy of romance, the warm glow of a freshly spanked bottom. Let’s talk about a welcome break from those people in our lives who wish to change us or to drain us (I will drain you but not in that way 🤓), the joy of not being sensible. Let’s talk about a bottle of rosé, then another, some peace, quiet, a siesta, a kiss, a laugh, a blowjob….

Won’t you join me for an adventure?

RSVP ASAP 😘

Billie ❤️