Bonjour lecteurs! It’s time to share my monthly highlights. January 2026 was all about family, with Stanley’s big 10th birthday in London. It was beautiful to be in town with my tribe and probablement one of my favourite memories last month. No big resolutions here. I am all about building up good habits after the Christmas break. And that is exactly what I did this year. January 2026 was a mix of big and small joyful moments. We enjoyed some truly luxurious experiences, but I also loved and celebrated small moments, such as a good book or a walk.
Enjoying Winter
As Stanley was only back to school on the 6th, the first week of January 2026 was still a time to rest and indulge. The Christmas fun carried on a bit with very little work done and a lot of food. It was all about enjoying Winter with frosty walks, good books and TV shows under the blanket. I started watching Pernille, a Norwegian dramedy, and I am dreaming of visiting Oslo. In the same vein, I fully embraced the concept of Friluftsliv. It’s a quiet and gentle invitation to step outside, slow down, and reconnect with nature, despite the cold.
Going to Eastwell Manor for a spa day with Grumpy was la place parfaite to do so, with a cold swim outside. I was in no rush to go back to our fast-paced lifestyle. It was blissful to reconnect with my body after littéralement being a couch potato in December 2025!
I also watched many thrift and vintage clothing videos on IG. Who doesn’t love a good bargain or a vintage fashion piece? I shall explore more charity shops and other quirky locations to find some good, sustainable and unique fashion pieces. Let me know what your best tips are in this area!
Another simple joy in life? Eating endless sushi! Aqua Kyoto was absolutely sublime, and the terrace was calling for Spring… What’s not to love?
Weekend In South London
If the winter blues still get you down, but you can’t make it abroad to a sunny location, I really recommend you stay in a pub for a cosy winter break.
It’s très populaire nowadays. J’adore le concept of chilling by a fireplace with a good drink after a country walk. We went to Clapham with Young’s Rooms, and we had such a brilliant time exploring South London.
I have many fond memories there, and we just had a blast in Clapham Common and at Batter Power Station. We were already there last year for his birthday, and it never disappoints.
Stanley enjoyed some yummy food at Control Room B while I checked out the sales.
Resting & Enjoying Small Joys
You know how it goes… When life is fun, there is something to jam it all up! Well, we all got the terrible cough going around this time of year, and I was pretty down for a few days. Usually, I would have fought it and carried on as if nothing happened. But I was very weak, and I needed to rest.
So I just listened to my body and took it easy. It’s always quite frustrating. I hate ‘taking it easy’ as I have so many ideas and things I want to achieve… But the lioness in me got tamed. It’s a humble lesson I learned in January 2026: sometimes, you just have to accept defeat and let it go.
If anything, it prepared me for better things ahead, and I appreciated small joys like a coffee in Folkestone with my friend Angy or an evening at the theatre to see Death on the Nile at the Marlowe Theatre.
Birthday Boy in London
Plus, I needed all my energy for the big day! Stanley turned 10. I can’t believe how fast times goes by. Sorry, I sound like a boring mum there…
But what a decade with that gorgeous boy of mine! We celebrated it in London, staying at The London Hilton on Park Lane. Au programme, amazing views from London, shopping in Knightsbridge, sushi for dinner and so much more!
We checked out the Paradox Museum and it was excellent!
Stanley has a blast after a beautiful Afternoon Twa at Vintry & Mercer.
I felt so spoiled but in my happy place in London. Even better when we ended the weekend at the Savage Garden Rooftop Bar. Such beautiful views again! I will never get bored of London, even if I love my life in Kent.
A French Gal In Kent
My life in the country is so full of joys, I am trying to make the most of small things everyday. To end January 2026 en beauté, I went for my annual haircut. I am quite low maintenance in this area, LOL!
But I bumped into an ex-colleague of mine and it was lovely to catch up.
Plus, we also made it to Port Lympne to feed the giraffes! How cool is that?! I love walking among the reserve in the winter sunshine. In high sight, I was quite optimistic to wear a beige coat there! But how beautiful is the place?!
Plus the safari truck was fun and educational too. Et voilà, it was the end of January 2026!
January 2025 – Big & Small Joyful Moments
I am very much a summer gal and I can be a bit apprehensive about the whole ‘New Year, New You’ that we are often told to follow. If anything, it often feels gloom with cold days and I miss cycling for hours.
But January 2026 was full of big and small joyful moments. If anything, it’s one of the lessons I want to take away with me for the rest of the year.
Last month was eventful even if I got reminded to stop and rest when I was ill. Another lesson I shall not forget or feel guilty about. As a freelancer, I have established good working habits over the years and I feel that I am quite hard-working in that respect. So I don’t feel any guilt to enjoy the best that Life has to offer.
It’s all about the daily atomic habits that add up. Each day, I build up my life so that it goes into the direction I want.
You have the skills to be successful. You just need to belief in yourself and your abilities. Nothing is too good for you! Go for it and live without regrets.
As we stepped into February, I want to strengthen my mindset and keep learning and trying new things. I started Asian Pilates and it feels so good! Who know what Spring will look like for us…
How was the start of 2026 for you? I hope it was a good omen for the year ahead. Wishing you all the best to live your best life possible, whatever it looks like.
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.
