THERE ARE many ways to measure time – by years and by minutes, by months and by days. Perhaps with each falling second, or the small everyday moments as they unfold, or big once-in-a-lifetime events of grand importance. Perhaps time is marked by a first kiss, or the first time you knew you loved someone; or the anniversary of an important milestone, maybe even with that person.
IN THE SECOND week of May, just after the Bank Holiday, we decided to spend some time back in London. We normally visit several times a year, but since 2020 was the year of the Great Lockdown, the last time we had been was the May previously to meet up with a friend from Spain—it was hot then and perfect for traipsing about. P had heard that there would be a heat wave this time around
Used to compose my weekend thoughts and new year‘s messages while out walking our dog, a Dalmatian rescue who was a good listener. Now writing does not come quite as easily, which is why it is one of the things I’ll be working on this year. Last year’s New Year’s Resolutions really seemed to resonate with many of you and I am happy to report that I conquered all of them in 2019, especially reading more and getting better sleep ...
IN LATE MAY we went on holiday to the south of France for a few days, and then to Scotland for nearly a month. During that time, we ventured to England on day trips, and it was during this time that we fell absolutely in love with the English countryside and thought it might be fun to have a look at places that might be available in any one of the very quaint and utterly charming villages and towns we found along the way...
"Have you ever thought that you would be living in Spain?" It's a question that P asks often, and my answer is always the same: no, never in a million years had I ever imagined that we would, on a whim, move here, having never visited before, and to this particular city, as opposed to the more predictable choices of Barcelona or Madrid. Not because it's not a wonderful place to live, to be sure, but because I (like many others, it would seem) had never even heard of Valencia before.
IT IS THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER here, and all the days are draped in a wonderfully sultry heat. A time for roaming the winding city streets in billowy lilac-coloured chiffon dresses and espadrilles, drinking cava on leafy terraces and picnicking on strawberries and raspberries on the beach in front of the glittery Mediterranean. Here are a few favourite moments of life lately ...
ON A BRIGHT THURSDAY MORNING about two weeks ago, while browsing through our Instagram feed over coffee, happened upon a photo of the Mercado Colón by Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino‘s longtime partner, and wondered what he was doing in the city.
June 6 marked the one year anniversary of when I first began working out three times a week, every week. Quite an achievement, given that my relationship with physical fitness of any kind has always been a difficult one, having always been slight with little or no effort. There is a thought in our circles that you are either in business or you’re fit — said, of course, in jest — but the sub-text is that keeping fit takes an enormous amount of time and energy, and if you are running a successful business, you most likely do not have the time and energy that it takes to sculpt a perfect body. And perhaps there may be some truth to that.
This letter arrives months late, but with good reason, for it has been the most eventful past few months ever, we can assure you! Life-changing in many ways, both personally & professionally, the year 2015 will go down in history as one to remember always.