From the faraway & nearby /July’26

I remember someone saying to me: why do you make your flowers so large? And I said: but you don’t ask me why I make the river so small

I guess it’s never a bad time for a little reflection and those above words are not mine, but by Georgia O’Keeffe’s. I recently watched a documentary (linked here) produced in the late 70s and many of her words stayed with me since.

I had the pleasure of seeing some of her paintings in Paris and New York, but I only now started to explore her as a person. That being said, I guess I shall plan a trip to New Mexico next!

A print of one of Georgia’s paintings I own (left), Whitney Museum, NY (right), 2024

2021 Centre Pompidou, Paris

Talking about trips, I took a little vacation to Sicily this month, which I spent partially on the beach, and at the wedding of a family member in Corleone. Yes, it was dead hot, but still better than London this year and I even ended up getting dressed a few times (by getting dressed I mean I was able to put a pair of pants and cowboy boots on, as opposed to what I usually live in there, which is a bikini and a pair of Levi’s shorts).

dress is thrifted and had tags removed when I bought it for a full £7 in my local charity shop / somewhere on the coast of Marsala

Corleone

While walking one evening in a place I won’t disclose the name of, because, just as Georgia O’Keeffe said:

I shouldn't say too much about this because other people may get interested and I don't want them interested.

…I met Francesca, a sweet Sicilian lady who asked if I was Americana (based on my hat). We then exchanged a few words and she said she’d always wanted to try one of those on. She didn’t hesitate when I offered to try mine on (though I never ever let anyone touch my hats).

Another day I met Gioacchino, who approached us at the rocks in Marsala (which is an ancient Carthaginian port) saying he knew the best place to make a tuffo (that’s for a plunge). He didn’t lie, though I am not brave enough to jump into the sea (let’s save that story for another time). Gioacchino is an ex navy captain who said he's been everywhere but he'd never seen a sea so beautiful anywhere else and so he keeps coming back here every year.

I’ve been traveling to this region of Sicily for over 10 years now. It’s great to see the city changing (for the better, needless to say), but as a historical nerd I do love to see those old walls, vineyards and artifacts, including a remnant of the boat from the third century BC - so roughly 2.500 years old. It cracks my brain anytime I think about what that same place I’m currently sitting at, reapplying my 21st century SPF, meant to people not so long ago. Time is a funny thing but I’m too sober now to delve into it.

Back in the city, London was so pretty in the early morning light. Getting up to work at 4 and walking my dog around the hood meant that I got to see the sunrise and a family of friendly fox cubs - which, if you know me, I wanted to adopt immediately. Another day, again, somewhere around my house, I met more fox kids and because I’m not the deaf type when the universe is calling, the next time this happens, my dog is gonna have ginger siblings!

Summer at Portobello is chilled and slow, so if you’re the type that likes to spend time browsing and taking your time, those are the best weeks to do so. As always, best pieces sell early early.

When I shop personally, I love the thrill of making sure I arrive at the location before anyone else. Some call it being competitive, I call it being strategic.

Just as I did when I went to the pop up hosted at the Flyers in Soho, which brought some of the best UK shops and traders together - I knew I wouldn’t miss it and that I would be the first customer that walks through their door. You bet I did. To the point that the boys from Salvage & Sawdust were still ironing their wares. Five minutes later I had a shirt in my hands I knew was coming back home with me. Follow for more tips. Shirt is by the one and only (well, actually there are two of them in the team) Old Things Make Friends, the sweetest Dorothy and Larry who have an insane curation of true vintage.

End of the month flourished with the wild blueberry craze. Remember what I said above about the universe calling? I ain’t skipping it. I put on my workwear (not the fancy one I pay $$$ for, but clothes I won’t cry for when they get juice stained), plus a pair of boots to protect my legs and went into the bush. Quite literally, because the places I harvest at are rather hidden from the public eye and often hard to reach. 3 days of work resulted in a freezer packed full and over 40 jars of jam, which will last me a year. Call me Martha Stewart of Nottinghamshire.

And that’s a wrap of a sweet and short July. I’m typing this while my mum is cooking delicious veggies straight from her garden. Shop is closed until August 14. Thanks for reading! <3