During the Easter holidays we decided to visit The Elephant Trail at Battersea Power Station in London. We love a public sculpture trail, especially an animal one, and lunch at Battersea Power Station sounded pretty good to us too. We left the teen at home to revise for his exams and headed into London with the other teen and the dog. The Elephant Trail at Battersea Power Station Battersea Power Station is always a fun destination, but the sculpture trail was an added bonus. We downloaded the free app so we could collect the unique code on each sculpture, and also just in case we needed help to find them. Fortunately the sculptures were both large and colourful, therefore easy to find. It was a lovely warm day so we were pleased to be outside in the sun, as well as heading indoors for the shade. We’ve followed a couple of sculpture trails around Battersea Power Station now. It gives us a great reason to visit, and I admit we visited a few of our favourite shops too. It’s all dog-friendly so we could all take part, no-one had to stand outside with the dog! The trail is free to visit and remains in place until the 26th April. As you collect each unique code you can add it to the app and collect rewards. We found 13 of the 21 sculptures dotted around the place. The trail supports the wildlife charity Elephant Family, who protect Asia’s most endangered wildlife and the precious habitats they depend on. Why not take a look at some other sculpture trails we have explored recently: Snoopy in the City Penguin Parade Sculpture Trail Paws on the Wharf art trail Corgi Trail SmileyWorld art trail at Battersea Power Station The Little Egg Hunt Trail Scenes in the Square, Leicester Square Walking with the Snowman, London Bridge City Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel, York Road, Waterloo Colourwalk around Notting Hill, London Elephant trail at Spitalfields Market London Kings Cross Monster Trail The Tusk Gorilla Trail Covent Garden

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Starting my week with the Weekly Edit is a ritual I’ve kept for years. It’s my favourite Monday morning anchor—a chance to slow down, celebrate the ‘small wins,’ and gather the smiles from the week behind us. Part reflection and part record-keeping, it’s my way of documenting our family’s adventures before the next chapter begins. The Weekly Edit {Week 15/2026} We took the week off to spend some time with the teens who had a two week Easter break. We decided to stay close to home with some days out and we ended up being really busy. We took the teens and the dog boating at Cliveden. This has been on our list for a long time and we managed to pick the warmest day of the year so far. Unfortunately our boat had battery troubles and we ended up being towed back, and given a voucher for a trip another day! We saw there was a new sculpture trail at Battersea Power Station featuring elephants. This is now one of our favourite areas with good shops and places to eat. The weather was warm and sunny when we visited, so we were able to sit outdoors and enjoy our lunch in the sun. My teen saw an advert for the Mundo Pixar Experience in London and wanted to visit so we did that too. You can immerse yourself in Pixar’s world and enter the worlds of your favourite characters from Cars, Coco, Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Up, Finding Nemo. This was a fun immersive experience with plenty of photo opportunities. I finished reading Bricks and Mortar by Helen Ashton which I really enjoyed. It’s a novel about the life of a London architect from the 1890s to the early 1930s who realises that he may have married the wrong woman. I enjoyed the mentions of architecture and buildings. I also loved the fact that the architect was described as moderately successful, yet the was enough for him to be able to afford public school fees and send his useful son to Oxford. It’s been a while since we watched anything at the cinema but we squeezed in two trips to see The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Hoppers with my daughter. Both were really good. Such a busy week off with the teens. Let me know if you’ve done any of these things in London.

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I’ve written before about The Magnificent Seven, the seven private cemeteries which were laid out in London in the 1830s and 1840s, as a solution to London’s overcrowded churchyards. I love learning about the history of London and these cemeteries are an integral part of life and death in London, they are also a great place to walk and explore. A visit to Brompton Cemetery (The Magnificent Seven) Brompton Cemetery opened in 1840 and was designed by Benjamin Baud to be an open-air cathedral and colonnades flank the central drive leading to an impressive domed Chapel. Uniquely the cemetery was nationalised in 1852 and the Grade 1 listed landscape is now managed by the Royal Parks. Several famous people are buried here, and there are many fine monuments. The buildings and gardens were enhanced by a major conservation project in 2018. You can visit Brompton Cemetery for free and dogs are welcome too, on leads. There is a designated path for dog walkers from the North Gate to the South Gate. We took our dog and had a lovely walk along the dog path. Over 200000 people are buried at Brompton Cemetery, marked by around 35000 monuments. The cemetery is laid out almost like a formal garden and is well maintained, although some parts are overgrown. This makes it more interesting to explore. We picked up a leaflet which featured the top 50 monuments to discover. These ranged from well known and eminent Victorians which are mainly forgotten today. The most important people were buried along the main avenues of the cemetery, and we found the graves of people such as Emmeline Pankhurst where people still leave flowers. The North Lodge houses a small café, toilets and a visitor centre. There are information panels dotted around the site, as well as the handy leaflet which features the top 50 monuments to look for (the website lists the top 100 monuments). As well as walking around the cemetery we visited the Chapel which contained an art installation. There are also catacombs which are open occasionally for guided tours. Our visit ticked off another of The Magnificent Seven, which means we only have one more to visit – Nunhead Cemetery. Although it’s been such a long time since we started visiting these that I feel like I would love to re-visit them all. The Magnificent Seven: Brompton Cemetery Old Brompton Road SW5   Kensal Green Cemetery Harrow Road W10   Abney Park Cemetery Stoke Newington High Street N16   West Norwood Cemetery Norwood Road SE27 a post about our visit   Nunhead Cemetery Linden Grove SE15   Highgate Cemetery Swains Lane N6   Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park Southern Grove E3

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A few years ago we took the opportunity to climb up and over the O2. It was a fun experience which has stuck with us ever since, it’s not often that we find an activity that impresses the teens. We discovered that you could climb over Ally Pally, this is one of my favourite buildings in London, so we booked it for an Easter treat. Summit at Ally Pally with teens Ally Pally, or Alexandra Palace, is a beautiful historic building in Haringey. We visit it frequently for gigs and the theatre and the views over London are worth a visit. Our meeting point was the west hall at Ally Pally where we checked in and put our personal belongings into a locker. If you want to take your mobile phone with you then you need to pay extra for a clear phone pouch. We were also given a QR code which was used throughout our trip to take photos of our group, we were able to purchase them at the end. There were only 6 people in our group, plus the guide, so we walked out of the building and along the front of Ally Pally to the rose window. From here we walked up a small staircase and came out on the balcony beneath the window. This was a great viewing platform to see over London, and time to put on our harnesses. Then it was more stairs up to the roof level. From here we stepped outside into the fresh air. It was incredibly windy on the day of our visit so we were pleased to be clipped on to the safety wire. We stopped at various points and our guide told us more about the history of the building and what we could see. There was a small viewing platform at the top of the roof over the great hall. We were able to see most of the buildings which make up Ally Pally, as well as a lot of London. Soon it was time to climb down the other side of the building and back inside the internal staircase to the ground. Our experience took just over 60 minutes and we were able to buy the photos which our guide took at the end. The experience was totally different to our climb over the top of the O2. The climbing wasn’t nearly as strenuous but it was still a really great experience and the teens loved it. Let me know if this is something you would try?

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Many of us have dreamed of our summer wedding since we were young. Whether that dream is a nature-centred ceremony held under the canopy of an oak tree, or a luxurious affair in the fanciest hotel you can imagine, it’s only when you really start planning the big day that you realise how much there is to take care of.  Luckily, you’re absolutely not alone, and you can learn from the experiences of those who have trodden this path before you. From your venue to the importance of flexibility, here’s what you need to prep for your summer wedding.  Venue The main factor you’ll need to prepare for any wedding is your venue. For summer weddings in particular, you’ll often find that you need to book months – or even years – in advance to get the one you want.  Look for an option that suits your requirements, ideally one with both indoor and outdoor spaces and seating like Heaton House Farm. English summers can be glorious, but you can always get a storm at the drop of a hat. Vendors Venues aren’t the only thing that will get booked up early – you’ll also need to get your vendors locked in as soon as possible. Get your catering and entertainment sorted early on, and then make sure you’ve also covered floral arrangements and an event photographer.  Guest comfort There are some really important little things you can prep that can make a big difference to the comfort of your guests.  For a summer wedding in particular, having cold water on hand at all times, and some shade from the sun if it’s an outdoor wedding, can be absolutely critical.  Standing around in a suit or dress in the boiling sun can be intense, and you want to make it as easy and comfortable as reasonably possible.  Timing Planning how you’ll time the events of the big day can be surprisingly difficult. Ideally, you don’t want to pack too much in – for example, you don’t want people to have to move on too quickly from big meals, when all they really want to do is have a nap.  With summer weddings in particular, make sure that you consider how you’ll optimise each of the various parts of the day, from peak midday heat to golden sunsets.  Be flexible Lastly, you will have to accept a certain degree of flexibility. While you can control a lot of things, there are some factors – such as the weather – that you just can’t, and you’ll have to let your wedding flow around these variables.  Have contingency plans in place, and try to keep a more general atmosphere at the heart of what you’re trying to create, rather than a strict, rigid procession of events.  Prepping for a summer wedding should be a joyful process, allowing you to experience some of the wedding excitement ahead of time. Leave enough time to get everything taken care of, and remain flexible. If you can do that, everything will inevitably slot into place.

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Starting my week with the Weekly Edit is a ritual I’ve kept for years. It’s my favourite Monday morning anchor—a chance to slow down, celebrate the ‘small wins,’ and gather the smiles from the week behind us. Part reflection and part record-keeping, it’s my way of documenting our family’s adventures before the next chapter begins. The Weekly Edit {Week 14/2026} My teens started their Easter break after a busy Winter term at school. My son has been doing lot of revision as his exams start in April and my daughter has been making lots of crystal art. We made our favourite chocolate nests for the Easter weekend and went to the cinema to watch The Magic Faraway Tree . The film was great, as long as you treat it as an Enid Blyton-inspired adaptation, rather than a literal copy. My daughter has been making Rolife 3d craft kits for a while and I thought I would like to try making one. I bought the Rolife Childhood Toy House (Little & Warm Space Series 2) kit. Rolife kits, those intricate DIY miniature houses and 3D wooden puzzles, have carved out a massive niche for people who love working with their hands. It’s a mix of engineering, interior design, and extreme patience. I needed a lot of help from my teen but enjoyed trying a new craft. On Saturday we took the teens to Camden Market for amazing food and street art, followed by a trip to Summit at Ally Pally. A few years ago we did the Up At The O2 experience so thought it would be fun to climb over Ally Pally too. The weather was extremely windy but it was great fun, with amazing views over London too. We don’t tend to cook a roast dinner very often but we enjoyed a delicious roast lunch on Easter Sunday. The kids were spoilt with a variety of chocolate Easter eggs, although we didn’t have time for the planned Easter Egg hunt round the garden. My teen had a book clear out and we took the unwanted books to our local free library. Someone has built little book libraries and there is one near the kids old school. We dropped up some colourful kids books for someone else to enjoy!

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My teen loves to read as much as I do. She also loves a trip to the book shop and has a longer TBR pile than I do. She’s always on the lookout for  a new book to read and I couldn’t be happier that she loves to spend time reading. She recently spotted that one of her favourite authors, Ravena Guron, the bestselling author of YA books, had a new book out. Your Murder Next by Ravena Guron From the bestselling author of This Book Kills comes a murderous YA thriller of cliques, backstabbing and mind-blowing twists. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus. Myra is new to town and so desperate to make friends that she lets the popular clique hang out at her parents’ restaurant – until Scarlett freezes to death in the walk-in chiller. Wannabe journalist Myra suspects foul play and is plunged into a twisty world of envy, backstabbing and death. Who killed Scarlett? And who will die next?   What did my teen think of Your Murder Next? She read the book over her school holidays and couldn’t put it down, which is a great sign. She is really enjoying this genre of books at the moment, and loved the story. When I asked her for her thoughts she said she loved the book, it had a good plot and characters. The book is a stand alone but as my daughter loves the author, she was happy to read this one. She liked the ending as it had an unexpected twist which she wasn’t expecting! Your Murder Next by Ravena Guron  is published on the 7th May by Usborne. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

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I love the start of a new year. Each month I love to write a round up of what I’ve been making. This helps me to see what I’ve made, and holds me accountable for projects half started or bought. This year I’m calling my series The Monthly Thread. March’s post is all about punch needle & sashiko. The Monthly Thread: March’s punch needle & sashiko Earlier in the month I attended The Stitch Festival in London. I try to visit every year, mainly to try a new craft at one of the workshops that runs through the day. This year I signed up for punch needle and sashiko classes and they were both really good. We’ve been using our Preusa Mk3 to make 3D decorations for our Lego inspired wreath. It makes a pretty cool decoration to have up all year so printed some flowers for Mothers Day. I usually do a lot of jigsaws over the winter months but I recently came across Happily jigsaws and have been buying them from Vinted. This month I did a 1980s themed one as well as one featuring vintage matchbook covers. Puzzles are the perfect screen free activity and a great analogue hobby. The teen and I have been crafting miniatures for our Maileg mice. We made them a mini quilt, some bunting, a shelf unit from craft sticks, as well as costumes for St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day! Miniatures are fun to make and are a great way for us to spend time together. I love small English Paper Piecing so was delighted to find a dinky needle book from Pretty Fabrics and Trims. It fits inside the little sewing kit tin I purchased and was really fun to make. I used up some up my Liberty fabric stash, choosing pretty greens for Spring. We recently discovered Rolife kits, they are fun to build 3D craft kits and feature small rooms or book nooks. So far we’ve built a book nook, wooden flower and corner bookstore. They are addictive to make, and another great analogue hobby. Explore our previous posts to see what we’ve been making this year: The Monthly Thread: January The Monthly Thread: February

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Starting my week with the Weekly Edit is a ritual I’ve kept for years. It’s my favourite Monday morning anchor—a chance to slow down, celebrate the ‘small wins,’ and gather the smiles from the week behind us. Part reflection and part record-keeping, it’s my way of documenting our family’s adventures before the next chapter begins. The Weekly Edit {Week 13/2026} Last week was a musical week for us. My son took part in his final school concert before he leaves to take his GCSEs, and I also performed with my local choir. We are both looking forward to a break from rehearsals over the Easter holidays. My son celebrated his 16th birthday a few weeks ago and received a driving lesson as one of his presents. It took place at an old airfield and we enjoyed watching him drive a manual car. He’s previously had driving experiences at Mercedes Benz World, so this was more experience for him. I can’t believe we will be paying for proper driving lessons soon. I’m still on a roll with my jigsaw puzzles and completed a 1000 piece Happily jigsaw featuring vintage matchbox covers. This was another fun design. Over the weekend we went for a walk in our local woods and the bluebells were already beginning to flower. This feels so early but is a lovely sign of Spring. My dog loves a walk in the woods so it was lovely to be out. I finished the little patchwork needle book pattern which I bought a few months ago. I can’t resist making small EPP hexagons, especially when I’m using beautiful Liberty fabrics. I used green and white fabrics for the needle book, some of which I bought at The Stitch Festival recently.

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Last week I spent a day at The Stitch Festival at the Business Design Centre in Angel. Living in London means I am spoilt for craft shops and creative workshops, but I can’t resist seeing everything under one roof. The Stitch Festival 2026 As well as my ticket, I also booked my workshops in advance – choosing punch needle, adding embroidery to knits and a sashiko class. I love the opportunity to learn something new and thought these three classes would be fun. The punch needle class took place before the festival opened, so I had a very early start from west London. I made the class on time, and managed to squeeze in a quick breakfast pastry on the way. The Business Design Centre is moments from Angel station and a good venue, with plenty of space for the main shopping area, as well as exhibition space and workshops. I’ve previously bought a few punch needle kits but not managed to even thread the needle. I knew I needed some face to face tuition and the workshop gave me that. I tried three different punch needles and three types of fabric. It was great to have time to play around and my thread stayed in the hessian! I tried the different materials and compared the three next to each other. They all look pretty similar but I came away with some knowledge of which material I preferred and worked for me. Whilst not my favourite craft, I’m hoping I can make the craft kits I have at home. My second workshop was embroidering on knits. This was the most disappointing workshop as the group was given one small flower pattern to embroider. The flower was drawn onto a water-soluble stabilizer with a self-adhesive, fabric-like backing. The idea was to apply the pattern to a piece of clothing and embroider it. I’ve used this kind of transfer paper before but I was hoping to learn something new. The class lasted 90 minutes but I left early as it was so basic. I did some shopping in the main hall before heading to my final workshop, embroidering a sashiko pin cushion. I love sashiko stitching, a Japanese technique which uses a running stitch to create decorative geometric patterns. This is one of the most relaxing forms of embroidery and it was fun too. I learned lots of new techniques thanks to a great teacher, and although I didn’t finish the panel I had a lovely time stitching. I finished the pin cushion when I got home. I enjoyed my punch needle and sashiko workshops. Have you ever tried these crafts before?

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