This bank holiday weekend, I wanted to take a break from the hustle and bustle of London for a day trip. After considering a few places, I decided to head to Richmond for a day trip that was equal parts boutique shops and cheery pubs, and nature-filled walks with views of parks and rivers. I wanted to share my itinerary—although I feel like I did … Continue reading The Perfect Nature-Filled Slow Day in Richmond, London
Next week is the Easter Bank Holiday, and the longest bank weekend of the year. I love this time of year for travel—Spring is already in full swing in most places in Europe, bank holidays lend themselves to special flight deals, and Christian-majority countries sometimes have fun themed events for the Easter holidays. This bank holiday, my partner and I have different ideas for what … Continue reading 3 Day Trips to Take This Bank Holiday Weekend
I’m introverted by nature, and although I love travelling, sometimes being in a new place can feel like a “heavy lift” mentally. All of the things taken for granted in my regular life—that I’ll know what all the street signs say, how to order a coffee, and what way to look before I step into the street—all go out the window. It can be challenging to question things you take for granted. Continue reading Free Peaceful Places to Rest While Travelling (That Aren’t Cafés)
Sometimes I think I’m becoming addicted to my phone. This gadget is my camera, my bank, my list-maker, my television, my music-sharing device, my gateway into my friend’s lives (via social media), and my communicator for my loved ones. So it’s understandable that there’s a draw to it—but I worry that I’ve started going full days without being able to put it down. This becomes … Continue reading How to Disconnect From Your Phone While Travelling (4 Simple Analog Tools)
I’ve been in a job that’s been nearly 100% remote since the pandemic. The company I’m with was in the fortunate position to have an ending lease during the pandemic, and the one they replaced it with is much more creative; open-air community spaces, meeting booths, and a coffee-shop style setup. If you need to come in, there’s a hot-desking system that works on a … Continue reading What Working Remotely Taught Me About Slow Travel
We have a friend staying with us this week, who took advantage of a last-minute deal to fly to London. We’re psyched he’s here; a last-minute trip is such a thrilling way to shake up life a bit! Having said that, our friend mentioned he wished he’d had more time to research London before travelling. He was making lists of things to see from the … Continue reading How To Research & Plan A Last-Minute Slow Trip
Sometimes you don’t need a big trip to re-energize—you just need a few quiet days. Life lately has been feeling chaotic, and the impulse to get on a plane and forget about everything for a short-term trip is very tempting. When I imagine it, it feels simple. But I know that’s just because I’ve become too used to city breaks that they feel easy to … Continue reading What to Pack for a Slow City Break (and Why Less Is Better)
Lately I’ve been thinking about how cities dictate the direction our lives take. The places we live and work don’t just shelter us—they present options for us to live our optimal (or less-than-optimal) lives. An elevator ensures that I’m not panting by the time I get to my fifth-floor office. Having a gym I can get to in under 10 minutes makes working out infinitely … Continue reading The Architecture That Trains Londoners to Live Differently
This week marks over 13 years of living in London. It was an adjustment, certainly—although I’ve written about how hard it was for me emotionally, some of the hardest culture shock moments actually happened gradually, as I was living in London as a Canadian. Culture shock in London can sneak up on you; there many things I never thought were unusual in my hometown of … Continue reading Culture Shock in London: 23 Things That Surprised Me After 13 Years
This week, I’m celebrating 13 years of living in London—what started as a post-university trip to get an internship became a full-time job, and although I’ve travelled a lot, London is the place I’ve called home for over a decade. I’m not a big history buff; it was never my favourite subject in school, and I can’t say that it’s something I go out-of-my-way to … Continue reading 3 Ways London’s History Shapes How the City Feels Today
No Small Wander 