Issue #29 - Anticipated delights
From diaphanous scarves to black sheep. ♡
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Hello lovely people,
How can it be April already? Christmas and festive things feel as though they were only yesterday and already clocks are changing (not here, to be fair but in the rest of the world) and I suspect there is a tinge of Spring excitement in the air. The ‘coming of summer’ hits differently when you are so close to the equator but in preparation for our impending move, I’m trying out that mindset for size. And in general, I’m starting to ponder more on the things that I’m looking forward to about a life in the UK; my ‘anticipated delights’. As always, take what you like, share what you love and leave behind the rest. ♡
It’s predictable when you’ve been living in a place that is almost always just varying degrees of hot, that embracing seasons feels exciting. Yes, I relate to the excitement of autumnal leaves and frosty mornings but in parallel, I also notice that without seasons, it’s hard to feel as though you are progressing through the year and most definitely to remember where you are in the year (the light and the weather are very strong cues). What I’m most excited about, however, is the prospect of being cosy; experiencing intense cosiness … open fire, heavy curtains, socks, a John Lewis fluffy dressing gown. I’ve lived in a hot climate for 17 years and, honestly, in that time I have not 100% mastered the art of dressing for intense heat. A lot of that comes from the fact that I love all the garments that just don’t work here; sweaters, scarves, woollen fabrics, overcoats. For sure, I am romanticising the weather differences but putting to one side a fair amount of torrential drizzle and horizontal sleet, I’m still rooting for some cosy moments.
And, while I’m dreaming of being cosy, there is a specific delight that requires a category of its own …
From light and diaphanous, to warm and woolly - I love them all and I am excited to be able to give my extensive collection a significant airing.
And of course, with seasons (and much rain) comes the green of the UK countryside, alongside the fresh air that I have truly missed. I need to get myself equipped for inclement weather but apart from that, I am looking forward to being outside and loving it.
Yes, there is culture wherever we choose to make our home but there is something special about the arts and history of the UK that creates a unique cultural environment.
With its wondrous mix of everyday items and special treats, it’s a destination that always hits the spot for me. Some aspects of M&S feel as though they have lost their way since we left the UK, but their food offering has perhaps gone from strength to strength. Picnics for dinner will take on a whole new level of excitement.
An occasional Gregg's sausage roll, warm, eaten out of the bag and with the acceptance that you will finish covered in pastry flakes and need to follow with an enormous drink of water. I’m in.
All fruits taste better in the UK than they do here. I’m sure that many of them have done their own lengthy journey to reach their destination but whatever happens en route to Dubai seems to strip them of most of their flavour and much of their joy. Decent apples, delicious strawberries, and blueberries that are tasty as well as colourful - I’m coming for you all.
I visited a friend the other day and took these ‘Happy Easter’ tulips for her. It reminded me how much I love cut flowers in the house and in Dubai they have such a short life that they are only ever an occasional purchase. I’m excited about buying myself flowers (to quote Miley Cyrus - did I really just say that?!) - especially tulips.
The water that comes out of the taps and the showerhead in the UK is very different to that of the UAE. There are plenty of issues around its sourcing that feed into these disparities and, admittedly, things do vary from the UK’s north to south etc, but the bottom line is that my hair (and Hella’s too) would choose UK shower water over its Dubai cousin any day. If you know, you know and if you are blessed with much hair (as we both are), these things matter. Sadly, my hair also does very badly in rain and/or drizzle so you win and you lose.
You know, those barely discernible but sometimes joyous mini conversations on a regular day; that joke with the ticket collector at the train station, the one-liner with a barista in the café, the ‘Hello!’ with the person walking their dog in the park. I feel as though this is a societal strength in the UK and I love it.
Please, please share this email with anyone who might be even a tiny bit interested. It could be just what they need to receive today. ♡
I was born in the UK, but I’ve spent much of my adult life overseas and I expect I have only actually visited a fraction of it. I’m excited that as a nation, it's big but not so expansive that it’s overwhelming and I look forward to exploring. Liverpool seems to keep cropping up for me; I’d like to give the Lake District more attention; I’m curious about the Isle of Skye and there are always new bits of London to discover.
I love the concept of train travel; buy the ticket, book your seat, bring a few snacks and a coffee for the journey, get to watch the countryside/cityscapes out of the window, listen to a podcast, read a book, have a bit of a doze … but have been surprised over the last couple of summers, at how expensive it can be. Honestly, though, it was a game changer to discover how straightforward the process is to claim a full or partial refund if the train is even a little delayed (and I think we all know that this is not a rarity). As someone, who loves to get great value for money, I was sometimes even pleased when delays/cancellations struck, especially if I was in no particular hurry. I shall enjoy this mode of transport but do you have any great tips for getting the best value fares?
And while we are on the topic of travelling, I am a fan, when I’m driving, of the whole UK motorway service station experience. I love a Pret; adore an M&S Food outlet and if there is one of those Cornish Pasty kiosks, well - journey made! Gloucester seems to be the UK’s most well-loved service station; I shall be sure to incorporate a stop there at some point. And in the meantime, I look forward to discovering my own favourites.
And to finish on a very niche anticipated delight, I adore the Black Sheep Cafés and in particular their Portugese tarts (crispy pastry and a custard that is not overly sweet). They seem to be located in all of my significant cities; Manchester, Chester, Edinburgh, London and so I am delighted that I will be able to visit them with relative frequency.
What am I missing? Please do tell me what other UK delights I should be anticipating with excitement. All suggestions very gratefully received. As always, take what you like, share what you love and leave behind the rest. ♡
Sending you all the hugs,
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