Bentley Priory Museum is undoubtedly one of greater London’s hidden gems.  Located near Bentley Priory nature reserve, this grade II* listed mansion was the Headquarters for Fighter Command during World War 11.  Acting as an intelligence filter on incoming air raids, RAF Bentley Priory helped us win the Battle of Britain and maintain the free world. Intrigued, I took an afternoon off to find out more.  close up of fighter pilot at Bentley Priory What is the history of Bentley Priory? Founded in 1170, Bentley Priory’s first residents were Augustinian Friars who lived there until ..read more

Do you take 10,000 steps a day?  I recently attended a wellbeing webinar at work which highlighted the important of reaching this lofty goal.  We all know the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle but how easy is it to fit five miles into the average working day?  And do we really need to reach 10,000 steps a day to reap health benefits? Read on to find out more. Woman walking 10000 steps up stairs Where did 10,000 steps a day come from? The 10,000 steps a day goal started by accident in Japan in the 1960s when a clockmaker mass-produced a pedometer.  It was called the 10,000 st ..read more

Making up for the lack in weekday suit trade, the Eataly London opening has generated throngs of weekend visitors to the City. Attracting 7 million visitors a year in New York, the Italian food emporium injects fresh inspiration into the Square Mile’s retail offer. Deprived of a trip to Florence or Rome, I decided to grab a slice of la dolce vita right here in London. display of tomatoes at Eataly London What is Eataly London? Eataly London is an experiential food market/restaurant hybrid where you can shop, dine, learn to cook or simply kick back with an Aperol spritz. This is the first UK op ..read more

As 2020 draws to a close, it is time to reflect on the crazy year when everyone left the office. While this year has certainly had its challenges, it has given the precious gift of time to be able to engage in creative pursuits.  From paper printing to fermented vegetables, I’m amazed at the range of new skills I’ve learnt this year.  Planting Horatio’s garden at the spinal injuries unit in Stanmore New skills gained volunteer gardening Desperate to find an outlet for my annual leave, I joined the charity Horatio’s Garden in June.  The charity creates and cares for accessible ga ..read more

So here we are again in lockdown 2 but this time we’re old hands at incarceration. As we adapt, it is easier to see the silver linings to our new way of living. JOMO is the new FOMO. While nobody would have wished for another lockdown, there are undeniably some benefits in winter.  Here are my own personal reasons to celebrate the joy of missing out on office life during lockdown 2. aerial photo of woman using laptop and smart phone on a wooden table 1) Getting up in the dark: this is the first time in twenty years of office life that I can wake up in daylight during the winter. And ..read more

What are you missing most about office life? After four months of incarceration at home, I’m dying to get back to the office.  Ennui has set in and I’m completely over working from home.  Pining for the stimulation of my former life, I have compiled my top 14 things that I miss most about office life. Here’s hoping for a vaccine soon! modern office reception 1) Sharing the milestones in people’s lives: office life is all about relationships and I really miss sharing the milestones (big and small) in my team mate’s lives. From completing a 5K run to having your first child, sharing th ..read more

The government has announced that office workers can go back to work at the discretion of their employer from the 1 August.  But official government advice is still urging office workers to work from home if we can.  While many of us will continue to do so – what happens if your home circumstances suddenly change? As I’ll be facing this very predicament shortly, here are my top tips for staying safe during Coronavirus while riding the tube to work.  Tube commuter train Stay safe by avoiding busy times During my halcyon pre-lockdown days, I used to beat the crowds by jumping on t ..read more

Is it a bird, is it a plane, no it’s cinema via socially-distanced boats. As creative ideas go, the Parisians have certainly pushed the boat out in 2020.  This outdoor cinema extravaganza marks the inauguration of the Paris Plages 2020 celebrations. As part of this annual summer festival, artificial beaches pop up along the Seine transforming the City into a trendy beach resort.  Paris Plages outdoor cinema event What is outdoor cinema on water? Outdoor cinema on water (cinema sur l’eau) kicks of the celebrations on Saturday 18th July with a special screening of the aptly titled “Le ..read more

Did you know house plants can improve your productivity by up to 15%?  This astounding fact has led to a whole new trend in office design.  Garden walls, house plants as room dividers and even “plant” allowances for staff have all gone mainstream.  But plants are not just for the office. They’re also the perfect companions for home workers – providing a myriad of wellbeing benefits to keep you at the top of your game. Plant next to bookshelf to help remote working Plants help clean the air During photosynthesis, houseplants remove carbon dioxide from the air and replace it with ..read more

With the grim prospect of no foreign travel this summer, we’ve got no choice other than to holiday at home this year.  Forced to use up my precious annual leave on a staycation chez moi, I’m determined to make the best of it.  While these holiday at home ideas won’t compete with two weeks in Santorini, they may help to make holidaying in your own pied-a-terre on the costa-del-home feel that little bit more special. ice cream flake to enjoy during holiday at home Rediscover your neighbourhood while you holiday at home It’s a sad fact that until lockdown, few of us knew our neighbourho ..read more