As I mentioned in my look back on 2024, ideally, I’d like to get back in the swing to the point I can start posting 5 Happy Things each and every month. But, for now, rather than overwhelming myself (and because my work has got me thinking about things on a quarter-by-quarter basis), I thought I’d look at the year so far that way too. Tell me you’re working on quarterly commission without telling me, right?!
I started off 2025 with a sense of determination. Although looking back as I mentioned in the previous catch up post, there were lots of positives to the year that I’d almost forgotten about, I’d easily call 2024 one of the toughest in recent memory. So I started this year with the sole mission to make it a far better year. Focusing on my health, both mental and physical, my general mindset, and trying to get back into the habit of finding positives in every single day. (Well, I mean, I used to fill out a gratitude diary and find 30 or so little positives for each month. I know Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I knew it was possible to get back to that again!)
So, on that, let’s have a look back at how 2025 started…
January
In what I thought was a weird sign from the universe, on the first of the month, my nose stud fell out. I had to wait until the 3rd for a new one to arrive. So, decided to swap it out for a ring and I’ve been a nose ring girlie ever since! I’d thought about swapping to a ring for a while, and I personally think it suits me a lot better.
Anyway, the second weekend in January rolled around, and it was time for DragCon UK with my friend Michelle. We were on the fence about going this year, not for any other reason than it had gone down from the usual 2 days to 3, thought this would make it far more busy than in previous years, and we were both behind on catching up on the latest US season. But we managed to score some last-minute tickets and had a lovely day catching up and meeting some of the very gorgeous and talented queens there.
The third week was the first Vegal Gang meet-up of 2025. We went to Unity Dinner, which was due to close at the end of January at this point. After a lovely evening of small plates, lots of laughs, and cocktails named after the tears of Piers Morgan, I was extra sad to know they’d be closing. However, luckily, after landlord negotiations, they managed to reopen in April and seem to be going from strength to strength since. (They’ve even launched London’s first vegan doner kebab!)
Talking of Vegal Gang, the end of the month also had a trip to Club Mexicana for their bottomless wings at their Shoreditch branch. A gorgeous night full of laughs, far too many spicy wings, and a good few spicy margaritas. Unlike Unity Diner, this East London branch closed for good in 2025. However, they are still open in 2 pop-up spots around London, as well as their flagship store in Kingly Court in Soho so you can still get your vegan taco fix. (They do seem only to be offering their core Mexican menu for now, though!)
In other wholesome activities for January, we had a weekend visit from our Danish family. Namely, my brother, my sister-in-law, and my two nephews. It was lovely catching up and having an excuse to enjoy the more touristy bits of London. Plus, it was a lovely excuse to have everyone round for a big family dinner. We so rarely do that, it felt rather special. Talking of wholesome, it was also January that Isaiah, Stuart, Tenneil, and I had the annual tradition of going to see The Apprentice – You’re Fired.
Finally, I capped off January by going to see Companion with Sophie. It’s always super lovely to catch up, and we hadn’t seen each other since before the holiday, so it was well needed. After we’d arrived and got ourselves a cocktail, we also ran into Luisa, which was a lovely surprise. The film was great, just the “good for her” vibes we all needed to cap off the month, and all in all, just a fantastic evening. Plus, Sophie and I got to put the world to rights, which is always a good time.
February
After a rather hectic January, I started February, starting to get a bit run-down. So I spent the first week of the month trying to make sure I kept warm and got myself well for my birthday. (I also started the Thursday Murder Club book series by Richard Osman, which I absolutely adored!). For my birthday, it was another fairly quiet one, much like last year. But this time it was very much by choice. I did my normal cake photo shoot the night before and then spent the day with my parents. (Yet another vegan, passionate fruit and raspberry one by Lola’s cupcakes, in case you were wondering, my absolute favourite one from a chain bakery!) Mum and I went out for a little wander round Westfield, for a glass of wine, and back home for a Dishoom take-out with Dad. Absolutely gorgeous if you ask me!
Part of the reason I rarely do anything for my birthday is that the weekend of it, or my birthday itself, tends to fall on Valentine’s weekend. So when I saw that Luisa was organising another Vegal Gang Vegalentines Day meet up, you know I was down. Especially when it was going to be at Tofu Vegan, one of my absolute favourite spots. We all pre-paid in and ordered a selection from the menu to share (plus any extras we fancied for ourselves), and my word, it was 10/10.
Talking of Tofu Vegan, as Lizzie couldn’t make it to the above, we decided to have our own girls’ night out with cocktails and Chinese food, also at Tofu Vegan. (This time the Islington branch!) We started off at Be At One, putting the world to rights over margaritas, and then split some of our favourite dishes. On which note, take this as a PSA that if you visit, you need to try the Smacked Cucumbers. (I didn’t know that cucumbers could be that tasty, and I’ve been trying to perfect my own version at home ever since!).
Finally, to finish the month off, I spent a little time celebrating both my parents’ birthdays. Much like me, they didn’t really fancy too much of a big one. So we settled of some nice cake, a few drinks and takeout. Oh, and February was the month I discovered that I do, in fact, enjoy overnight oats and ate them that often, I was almost sick of them by March. Oops.
March
The first of March was a very special day indeed, it was the first day Katie, Stuart and I were meeting up after Katie had been proposed to and we’d found out we’d be her bridesmaids. So all three of us, alongside Stu’s friend Zay met up at Clays in Canary Wharf for some clay pigeon shooting and cocktails. Sadly, I did not discover a hidden talent for target shooting, but I did laugh so hard I almost cried on a few occasions, which is always a plus.
The weekend after was also very special but for a completely different reason. Namely, that Aaron and I had our first proper date in Cambridge, spending the day by the river, chatting, people watching and having a few drinks (& of course, many many laughs!). We had a gorgeous dinner and some of the best dark chocolate gelato I’ve ever had, but the standout for me was being around someone I felt like I’d known my whole life, a feeling I don’t think I’ve ever quite had before. And well, the rest is history… (I mean, I think there’s only been one weekend we’ve spent apart since!)
Anyway, enough of being so mushy, the week after called for a debrief over tacos and margaritas, so it was only right that Lizzie and I headed over to the Club Mexicana pop-up at The Queen of Hoxton for taco tuesday. We were both absolutely gutted when, as I mentioned above, the Shoreditch branch had closed so we wanted to go support them in their newest home. (Plus, I’d been thinking about those wings ever since..). We timed it pretty well, as on said Tuesday it was also the Kiki drag night, so we got to spend the evening having a good old time with some of London’s very talented drag queens. As always, an absolute blast with fabulous company!
The rest of March was just as wholesome, but a lot less hectic. Aaron and I spent lots of time exploring the local forests and parks, and at the end of the month, I got to celebrate Mothers Day with the parents with drinks and nibbles in the garden. Honestly, the first quarter of 2025 was the start of something kinda special I think…
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