December 2024 – A London Gal Living In The Country

Bonjour lecteurs! All the festivities might now well be over, but it’s time for me to reflect on what December 2024 has been for us in my last monthly highlights. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas? What were your fav bits? I can’t believe how fast 2024 has gone. How weird to think that we have now started a new year. I have set up my goals for the year ahead and I am very excited for what the future has for us. No changements majeurs for me! I am not a fan of résolutions and all that jazz. Instead, I will keep my routines stronger for the year ahead. In 2025, I want to carry on our life in the country with a bit of London glam from time to time.

A Slow Start

December 2024 might have ended up with a bang, but it started slowly with daily walks, breakfasts with him reading and talking about school etc.

J’adore mes routines with him every day and I am trying more and more to be grateful for the simple things. I still made it to Mayfair to see all the Christmas lights and catch up with a friend of mine. But other than that, nothing extravagant. I also made it to the launch party of the new Saint + Sofia shop in Covent Garden. Don’t forget to enter my competition to win a £150 voucher with the brand HERE!!!

Party In London

Indeed, the fun started on the second weekend as we made it to the trendy Shoreditch in London to party with friends.

I used to be a bit of a party girl back in the day, but now I am simply a mum, spending most days in a pair of leggings make up free.

‘Work hard, play hard’, they say? We certainly did, up until 2 or 3 am dancing in a cool club in Camden. I love this part of London; it’s where I got all my tattoos. I always feel free and young when I go there. Mind you, I am now approaching my 40s, so it’s not every day we party this way.

Christmas Was In The Air

It was only the second week of December 2024 and yet, Christmas was in the air everywhere. So many people had their lights on and it was all about Christmas work parties.

When did you put up your Christmas tree? We usually do ours a week or so before.

We enjoyed the school Xmas concert and Stanley had all sorts of fun celebrations at school.

Our Annual Christmas Date

Every year, we have la tradition to go up to London for a date night. Imaginez, being kids free and staying in a beautiful hotel in town?

This year, we made it to the fantastique Eccleston Square Hotel in Pimlico and it brought back so many memories.

J’adore London Victoria; it used to be our point d’entrée to London when we lived in Bromley and I have so many great memories there.

While walking around Elizabeth Street, I reminisced coming up to town to get Stanley’s first pair of shoes…

It was a beautiful night out where we relaxed and I relived my London gal era..

Et oui! We had not one but 2 weekends in London just the two of us. It was rather bliss. But not to worry, the little one was spoiled at Nanny S.

Hever Castle

As soon as we picked him up, we drove to Hever Castle to check out its Christmas decorations. We have been many times to this fameux château, but we’ve never done it for the Christmas period.

If you live in Kent, it’s definitely worth a visit at this time of the year. It was as beautiful as always and the castle was ever so magical with the Christmas trees and lights.

Stanley loved being in the play area while I felt so happy by the merry-go-round, looking at the fauna and flora. It was just magique!

A good reminder that even if I still love the buzz of London, I very much adore our life in Kent. Never say never, but I can’t imagine that I will move somewhere else. But who knows what the future has for us!?

Xmas in France

As soon as Stanley broke up, we drove to France to spend Christmas there with ma famille. We booked a cute Airbnb and it was just parfait!

We got a town house that I used to pass every day after school! So it was quite something to stay there.

It was very central, so we went to the local Christmas market and I caught up with all my family bien sûr! Au programme for Stanley, a lot of bisous, especially from my two grannies. They are very keen with cuddling him haha!

It was just lovely to slow down and relax with the boys. But I also realised how glad I am to have my life in the UK. Nothing has changed much since my teens back in France and it’s an odd feeling when we go there. On one hand, it feels comfy with a touche de nostalgie, but at the same time, I experience relief to have a life here instead. If you are also an expat, let me know if you go through the same?

Back Home & More London

After a few days in France and lots of yummy food, we made it back to a foggy Kent. I was still in my mode ‘relax’ and carried on eating all the chocolates and other sweets available… I am not a big fan of the Twixmas. I want to get on with it and work, but I would probably be the only one and I would look like a lemon if I send emails, LOL. So I just watched more TV, finished rewatching Desperate Housewives (I forgot how good it was!!) and also started Rivals. I might have to read the book from Jill Cooper. That’s all I have to say!

To break up a bit the monotony, I had a great day out in London with my good friend R and it was just FABULOUS!

We made it to the beautiful Sheraton Grand London Park Lane and tested its festive Afternoon Tea based on the Netflix movie That Christmas. Quel succés! It’s absolutely gorgeous. Each year, we go there and I am always in love.

To finir en beauté, we also went to see the Nutcracker at the Royal Albert Hall. Quel spectable! It was simply magnifique. Earlier this year, I got to see Romeo & Juliet too from the Birmingham Royal Ballet and I was once again amazed with a beautiful show.

So Much Progress In 2024

What a stunning way to end the year before the NYE. What did you do for the occasion? We always stay at home with a little boy very excited that he can stay up late for once.

2024 has truly been magical. I feel that I made so much progress in my life in so many aspects. Around this time last year, I was looking forward to new adventures, taking my freelance job to another level. It was a bit scary, but I am glad that I did it.

I feel like I achieved and learned so much. I want to carry on this path and strengthen on what I have established this year. Bring it on 2025! I am ready for you with a lot of dreams to work on each day!

December 2024 – A London Gal Living In The Country

No good résolutions for me! Do you have any?

I will simply carry on what I have been doing so far with more regular freelance work and hopefully more adventures.

I am dreaming of more London days out and fun in Kent with my family. Somehow, I have the feeling that this blog will be more than ever the journal of a London Gal living in the country. It was exactly the way I felt in December 2024. That’s what 2025 will be all about. I shall implement a precise strategy and be consistent in my actions to make some of my dreams a réalité!

Oh and I will be turning 40, so it should be interesting too on that front, haha!

How was 2024 for you? What do you have planned for 2025?

Bonne Année 2025! 

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.