Five Tips for August 2026
choose your own Pantone colour of the month, connect with Hockney, what me time has to do with print media and trying to keep cool on your travels
My dear reader, I am back from my European adventures with the family, a couple of weeks that went by like a crazy, sometimes exhausting, but truly joyously memorable whirlwind, making me feel sad that it is all but over and I am back to the usual routine for the time being, a mountain of clothes awaiting to be washed and ironed.
Driving always makes me feel nostalgic about past trips, when my kids were little or when I was a child myself, going on road adventures with my parents. Road trips are the polar opposite of travel influencer economy, as they allow you to go off the beaten path, discover new places and people and not feel like you are one of a thousand people elbowing each others out to take a perfect shot. This trip was full of new discoveries and adventures, coupled with a reunion with the closest friends, much light mischief late into the night, the night itself never becoming fully dark. I also travelled right into my childhood, with years peeling back and giving me a glimpse into the time when I was a little girl, but I think I would write about it separately, experience both moving and profound, tears and laughter colliding harmoniously. Now I sit on my kids old Stokke chair in the kitchen, writing this monthly post and listening to the songs of my youth in the background, present moment preciously precarious, the heat in London palpable in the air, France and Spain, countries I love dearly, still on fire, livelihoods destroyed, yet we all need hope to anchor us and help guide our journey into tomorrow.
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1. As August is the last month of summer (sorry!), why not focus on what makes you feel good and let go of excuses not to do it? Of course it is easier done when on a holiday, but even if you are working, try to bring some small pleasures into your daily life. Ice-cream for lunch? Why not?! Spurr of the moment drinks with a girlfriend or spontaneous dinner in a new place that is local? Early night in bed with a book that everyone is talking about? Well, I am sure you get the point - give a go to spontaneity and see what happens. I tried reindeer pizza in Copenhagen and watched the funniest changing of the guards I have ever seen anywhere in the world in person, went biking straight after a long car journey in Holland (the bonus being a swim in the sea before cycling back to the hotel - I silently swore under my breath on the way and cycled care-free, salty water drying ups on the skin, on the way back) and bought a new gadget to grate food - chocolate, ginger, chilli - for my best friend, in her favourite colour, while she did the same for me in Porvoo.
2. Support and appreciate the youth tangibly, engaging and encouraging them. I have met a lot of young people working in hospitality during the trip and have to say that they were brilliant. The enthusiasm of youth, absence of fear - sometimes good, when you are working and learning the ropes, confidence in what they already know and do well. We had a funny encounter at a hotel in the Netherlands, where the young man, who took our order misunderstood the number of croquettas dishes and brought over twice the number. Hungry we were after a long day on the road, but we repeated the order twice, as we also wanted to try other dishes on the menu and in some restaurants I know this would have escalated in the wrong direction. In this instance mistake was easily acknowledged and corrected, we ended up talking to the young man later, listening to him describe his work experience in other hotels and restaurants and we all left with positivity in our step. Kindness and openness, attention to detail and being customer driven is important in hospitality, but so is being a kind and thoughtful client, rather than an inflated diva, who disrespects staff. I always thank staff and acknowledge things when they are done with grace and desire to make your stay memorable.
3. If you are in London, don’t miss what turned out to be the last exhibition of David Hockney at the Serpentine North that runs until the end of August. It still lingers in my mind after I went to see it with my nephew in July. “A year in Normandie and some other thought about painting’ includes portraits, still lifes and passages in Normandie, abstractions and beliefs colliding with nature and artistry that won’t be mistaken for anyone else’s work. You walk through the slightly darkened rooms drinking in nature and colour, smiling and also feeling sad that this remarkable artist got tired of life on earth and departed for another universe unseen to human eyes. I have been to many Hockney exhibitions over the years, but this one, on a steaming hot day, nearly moved me to tears.
4. Why not lean into buying things in your favourite colours, irrespective of what is ‘in Pantone yearly fashion’? I have several favourite colours, but July was spent under the theme of colour yellow. I bought a sweater, a top and a cardigan in yellow, my bestie bought me the yellow grating gadget, as well as the Moomin oven glove and crocheted me a surprise gift, a bag that I think is a testament to the precious craft not manufactured by a conglomerate. Oh, also a shout-out to Essie for the perfect mellow yellow shade of nail polish called ‘Summer Solstice’ - it lasted two and a half weeks almost without chipping or re-application and I had a ton of compliments about it. What colour will YOU make your colour for August is what I want to know now .)
5. Buy some print magazines and read them on your travels. I had a stack of British, Spanish and French (French Vogue has been on fire this year, with editorials and imagery, well done Claire Thompson-Jonville and team) magazines with me and I inhaled a big stack, much to the amusement of my kids - ‘wow mum, you’ve been silent for the long stretches, are you ok?’, which made me reply ‘that’s how I take my me time with you but away from you, while you listen to the music or watch things on the iPad’. I am saddened that both the editorials and the stories aren’t as good as they used to be a decade ago - I miss big editorials and stories in Vogue, Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Tatler from around the world that lingered in the mind long after I finished reading the article or interview, but give credit to HTSI team, as well as The Gentlewoman, who continue to inspire the eye and the mind, so will continue to champion and support print media with quiet enthusiasm.
the image above was featured in Vogue Fr and is by one of my favourite photographers Bruce Webber, dating back 1988 and featuring Christy Turlington. I am lucky to have photo albums by my favourite photographers, but I miss such beautifully memorable and powerful editorials that magazines were so abundant in.
I hope August provides you if not with what you want, but with what you need to fill up your cup, inspire or soothe the head, delight the heart and strengthen the body. We thrive when we balance moments of solitude with meaningful engagement with those we love and work with. Stay safe and if you are travelling, may your travels be not disrupted too much. And if things don’t go to plan, keep a calm head and try not to lose your cool. Focus on what you can control, not what is beyond your control!
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