Not An Indoor Dog

Here I am. Healthy, happy and…indoors. As a freelancer, I’m already pretty accustomed to working from home. I have my routine down and enjoy it fully. I’ll admit however, that the hardest part for me is the lack of socializing. As my former flatmate once said to me “You’re not an indoor dog…” 

No pubs, means no quiz nights, no shows or dance parties, no fancy cocktails in Soho, no theatre, no museums, no tube. For a city built around the frequenting of pubs, this doesn’t come easy. Especially for this city, these are our community centres, our refuge after a long day, or a short day, a place to see your friends or to make new ones, a place to eat or get pissed, a space to figure out your next move or forget it entirely, a place to scream, cry, and laugh from sheer dry wit. These epicentres of social life will be missed for the foreseeable future.  

All this said, we “keep calm and carry on”. I have always despised this statement, after it was overused by bookstore giants on every pencil, notebook and coffee cup nearly a decade ago. Perhaps it took living in this British city to come to appreciate it. The UK amidst all the chaos has done just that (for the most part, we aren’t above the grocery hoarding after all). After weighing the options, I have decided for the moment to remain in the UK. It took me a solid number of months to get settled and I wasn’t about to tear that down in a number of days. Things will normalize eventually, but in the meanwhile I’m keeping the faith and carrying on best as I can. We are lucky to live in the age of technology, where friends are just a screen away. On many levels, I feel this forced global pause will do some real good. We are all being called to live in the present moment like never before. While the future hangs in the balance, we can find solace in the generosity of the now. This is a gift. Rest, relax, better yourself, or don’t. There is no wrong or right way to take on quarantine. And for those who are not granted the same privilege, thank you for being so essential in this time of mass crisis. 

On a brighter note, here’s a little something colourful from a couple weeks back when things were less heavy and the pandemic hadn’t fully wreaked havoc on the world we know. I present to you “Out Of The Blue” the Designer’s Guild exhibition at the Fashion And Textile Museum. Perhaps this can serve as some inspiration as we dream up the interiors we truly want, especially as we spend unprecedented amounts of time within them. In short, Designer’s Guild is a luxury home and lifestyle company started by Tricia Guild in 1970. The company is known for its rich colour palettes, plush velvets and endlessly modern floral prints. While I used to rep for a rival company years back, I have always held an admiration for their distinct style.    

Also pictured below are photos from the Cecil Beaton exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. “Bright Young Things”. A spotlight on the socialites of the 20s and 30s. Very cool and fashionable bunch. What I would give to go back in time and attend one of their parties. I’m happy I was able to view it before the city shut down. 

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