August 2025 – Quelles Aventures!

Bonjour lecteurs! As always, around this time of the year, I am behind with work, and my monthly highlights end up being published later than usual. But I always love une bonne excuse to reflect on the previous month, and August 2025 certainly did not disappoint. If anything, it was full on with many adventures in the UK and abroad. I am usually a bit anxious about juggling work with the school holidays. But it is ok to take some time off. Actually, it was ever so energising to go away a couple of times. Quelles Aventures! From Greece to Manchester and Scotland, we certainly lived like nomads last month…

My Birthday in Rhodes

As you know from my July 2025 highlights, we were in Rhodes for my 40th. It was just the best holiday with my boys. I am so glad that we booked a stay at the Amada Colossos Resort with Easyjet.

It was pure bliss, and l’hôtel had it all for families with many swimming pools and its own waterpark. It was huge! Stanley had a blast while I sipped on some yummy cocktails.

We also made it to the old town Rhodes and we loved exploring and learning more about the area. The Greek civilisation is always so fascinating.

Back To The UK

As soon as we were back to the UK, it was time to crack on with more deadlines.

This year, we were lucky to partner with Trotters and try its fameuse Hampton school shoes. We had the full experience with a stylish shoes fitting in town. He may have come home with more than a pair. I have very fond memories from the shop in Kensington as we used to go there when we were based in central London.

Après l’effort le réconfort! As we were in town for work, we also stopped by Terra by Carlo Cracco for some lunch. The foodie place right by Liverpool Street is an Italian dream. No doubt that my nan would have loved it there with its delicious selection of pasta and other Italian meals.

We also made it to Ballie Ballerson to check out its kids’ sessions and he certainly had a blast!

A Weekend In Greenwich

Next, we stopped by Greenwich to check out what the location had to offer for families to have fun over the summer.

It was so beautiful to stay in the area. Once there, I got a bit nostalgique of my early days in London. We used to go there all the time with Grumpy Boyfriend. We loved going to the cinema and have a wonder around Greenwich Market.

We checked out the Cutty Sark as well as The National Maritime Museum before jumping on a boat with City Cruises. What a fun weekend in town!

Back in Kent

But it was time to catch up with work! Stanley stayed at his nan’s for a few days and the house was well quiet.

It was parfait to catch up with deadlines. I was so productive and it felt good. We also took l’opportunité to go for a romantic dinner at a local pub. Walking in the country and enjoying some yummy food on the terrace was just the best.

Once he came back home, he spent a few days at a French club so that we could both carry on working. The summer holidays are a juggle as busy working parents! But I would not have it any other way. I love working for myself and the freedom it gives me.

That means I can take a day off if I want to take him to le cinéma and see Bad Guys 2 after a cheeky stop at Yo Sushi!

C’est une tradition that I try to carry on as much as I can. I love having a little date just the 2 of us. I also took him to see the Addams Family Musical at the Marlowe Theatre and it was so fabulous!

It gives some peace to his dad to work and it’s a nice way to have a break from all my duties too. Times flies by and as Stanley is turning 10 next year, I am well aware that he will not want to hand out with me in a few years! So I am making the most of it! I better do before I become too cringe to be with him…

Fanhams Hall

We also made it to Fanhams Hall and it was so pretty! The hotel is stunning with its mix of architectures and I truly feel in love with its Japanese gardens.

Actually, the best feeling was to sit in a deckchair in the sunshine and journal while looking at this beautiful place. Oh, and I got to see the last Bridget Jones movie at night with a glass of wine. That was quite spécial, even if I really missed Mr Darcy. Nobody will ever replace him! Just saying…

We also made it to Hertfordshire Zoo before heading home. I can’t believe it cost us nearly £100 to visit it! But we certainly saw lots of animals and we LOVED petting the goats. I would rather imagine they liked it too…

Catching Up With Family

We’d only been half way through the summer holidays and yet, we had already done so much! The following week was all about catching up with family and friends.

I made it to the beautiful Rocksalt Folkestone as a belated birthday present.

But we also explored more Kent before our next big adventure.

Scotland & Manchester

Indeed, we booked a very last minute trip to Scotland to visit an old friend of Grumpy. It was a long journey, so we stopped by Saltburn on the Northern Coast where we caught up with some other friends.

I loved its vintage atmosphere, enjoying a drink or two right by the seaside! Eventually, we made it all the way to Crail on the Scottish coastline with Largo Leisure Holidays.

It was absolutely magical! Bien sûr, we stopped by Edinburgh and the city gave us a rainy but cute day out.

I think I much preferred places like St Andrews. But I can see the charms of the capital. Maybe next time I come, it will be bright and sunny?

To break off our journey home (it would have been an 11 hours drive otherwise), we had our final summer weekend in Manchester. What a treat!

The city has so much to offer.

You can see all the cool places to check out with kids, but the Legoland Discovery Centre and SEA LIFE Manchester were truly a gem!

Oh and we certainly loved lunching at Lucky Cat Manchester too!

And just like that, on the 31st of August, it was time to go back home after a summer full of adventures!

August 2025 – Quelles Aventures!

We certainly did quite a bit in August 2025… If I am being honnête, I usually dread a bit the summer holidays. After 9 years of doing it while working freelance, I can’t let go of the mum guilt when I let him on his tablet or watching TV.

It might be why I planned so many days out in the end and I even said ‘oui‘ to a trip to Scotland at the last minute 😆But looking back at our photos, I am glad we did so much.

I really want to give Stanley the taste for adventures. I grew up in among a very homey family with not much money to have all sorts of experiences. So I suppose that deep down, I want to make up for it. Plus, I want Stanley to enjoy the best there is out there.

Hopefully, he will grow up eager to discover more cultures and explore the world! Who knows, I might actually do some of that with him before he reaches his adulthood. After all, I am only 40 and I have my life ahead of me! So let’s go!

I wonder what the rest of 2025 has on the cards for us… Hopefully, more adventures and fabulous memories to make together!

How were your summer holidays? What’s been your highlights?

 

Disclosure: This post might feature some sponsored content I recently published but it is merely a list of my highlights of the month! This a post where I share some reflections as a mum in the country and in London. I hope it will inspire you to get on more family adventures.