pottery classes + vegetable BBQ + bagels + plastic-free supermarket + eclipse season + carnival out of season + our own season + the sea + lisbon + bavaria
“I hope that you stare up at the big blue sky, chasing infinite wonder instead of finite answers.” Nadine Jane
“If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a nation.” African proverb
On a quick search on Google of the true meaning of Carnival, it says the following: “an annual festival, typically during the week before Lent in Roman Catholic countries, involving processions, music, dancing, and the use of masquerade.”
I didn’t use masquerade, but maybe I had my own Carnival in the month of April. And yes, it’s the reason why this edition is delayed. Ironically, Brazil also celebrated the festivity in the same month this year. And what’s the problem with celebrating after Easter? In the end, Easter is a celebration itself, the start of new beginnings, when the heat begins in the Northern Hemisphere, flowers are blooming. By the way, flowers always remember that life is beyond black and white and the Creator is creative. Can’t wait to order peonies from Gail Smith.
April was the most normal month I’ve had after a two-year peak of the pandemic, where I really felt the end of travel boundaries, had the freedom back on my hands and spirit and where I could celebrate life the way I love to celebrate life. Spent a weekend with my nephews in Yorkshire, having a Fika moment with my 5-years-old little boy, bringing home those lovely fudges the region is famous for. I have a commitment to visit more English cities this year.
I saw the sea, put my feet in those cold waters of Portugal’s ocean, watched the sunset with a palm tree in the background, had plenty of seafood and discovered tascas like FazFrio in the bohemian neighbourhood of Príncipe Real in Lisbon. I love to visit Portugal because it’s a visit to Brazil without travelling too far.
A visit to Portugal is looking at the past and understanding where I came from. With my Cancer rising in my natal chart, it’s obvious that I love to honour ancestral roots. As it’s my third time in Lisbon, I had enough time to stroll in known streets, giving me enough space to explore new ones, and was all about a culinary experience too: loads of ovos moles, pastéis de natas and bacalhau.
I spent a whole afternoon strolling around Alfama, a place where tradition and faith dance together. I listened to fado whilst dressing up for a dinner out at Rocco, the most talked-about restaurant in the city right now. And woke up having a poetic sunrise in a beautiful house of a dear friend with the sea in a soundtrack just in front of me. I think my instincts knew better than me what I was needing.
One day and a half of meetings in London, and there I was in Heathrow again. Destination? Munich. Finally, I was exploring the south of Germany. It seems Glockenbachviertel is my Prenzlauer Berg there. Was close to visiting the Oktoberfest that takes place during the spring and we headed to Salzburg too. Austria is one of my affairs and corners of this world. My afternoon of kaffeehaus was sorted. Apparently, my beginning of spring too, as we should never spare our eyes of beauty. Couldn’t miss the chance to pop in by heißeliebe and buy my t-shirt from AdieuCliche.
Good company, good food, great places. Am I dreaming or being too selfish to think we are really back to normality? It’s easier to find happiness when they are two hours away with a plane ticket.
Ok, I got a cold, which I rarely do, and my body is desperately needing some rest. I’m writing this newsletter on my bed with a messy duvet. As a Scorpio, I just accepted my duality, needing to rest to restore my whole energy to glow on the outside, to meet my Sagittarius moon energy needs. I’m watching TV, reading books and horoscopes, cooking, planning, organising, self-caring and also dealing with my phantoms. We just had a solar Eclipse and there is some spiritual household cleansing going on. And tomorrow I’m visiting the office in central London.
But how beautiful it is to choose your own Carnival season? Despite being Catholic, I assume that since 2020 my spirituality gained another level. It’s not by chance I have a newsletter that involves astrology or that I’ve been studying psychological astrology and looking at the skies with a whole different approach. I respect every faith, but when we are synchronised with the planets and their movements, we understand that our own calendar is the most important season for whatever we want to grow.
Talking about faith, it touched me deeply when a Muslim woman approached me when I landed home saying about Ramadan, praising the Lord for the last day of fasting. I wished her Ramadan Mubarak. She called me sister and asked where I was from. Even with my Christianity, this year I read more about Ramadan and observed it with much more empathy than usual. When she called me sister, independently of my religion, for me was an answer from the universe that when you push your boundaries, you also embrace a community.
At the beginning of this May, I came to the conclusion that we have our own winter, spring, autumn and summer seasons. And it’s our duty to understand that.
I have a lovely view from my window of a cherry blossom tree. When we observe spring, this daughter of nature is always a reminder of the cycles of nature, of the time to rest, and the time to bloom. May you observe nature’s season, your own season and embrace both of them.
We have also another Eclipse season taking place in the middle of the month. So keep your eye in the dark and the heart in the light.
Aries
One day I just decided to explore Finsbury Park area. After all, the neighbourhood is also part of my beloved Islington. That is where I found Common Ground, a lovely coffee shop with a secret garden. Spring, sunny days, good coffee, so you got the point.
Taurus
Strangely, I’ve been ordering more bagels than ever. All to blame on Papo’s Bagels, bringing true NY bagels to London, along with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Apparently, they are all handmade fresh every morning by Papo. Maison Bleue, where I’m constantly seen, sells them on the brunch menu in case you’re wondering.
Gemini
I’m planning to book some classes at SkandiHus, a pottery business with studios in Clapton, de Beauvoir and Walthamstow. The studios host Taster Sessions for beginners from £45 and six- and 12-week courses. It’s a beautiful space and the owner’s work is inspired by a love for Scandinavian design in which beauty is radiated through light colours, the ample use of natural materials, minimalism and functionality, which I believe appeal to Geminis in general.
Cancer
Nostalgic Cancers will have fun looking at Historic England’s archives. You can look at old pictures of England's archaeology, historic buildings and social history. They simply hold over 12 million photographs, drawings, reports and publications from the 1850s to the present day, covering the whole country. I could find pictures of the street I live in and discovered it had another name hundred years ago. Loved it!
Leo
Londoners love a free museum. It could be in Venice, but it’s in Holborn this beautiful building that hosts the Sir John Soane’s Museum, a renowned neoclassical architect and collector. With a collection containing thousands of objects ranging from Ancient Egyptian antiquities and Roman sculpture to models of contemporary buildings, they hope that you enter curiously and leave inspired.
Virgo
Perfectionists Virgos will love the new Caravan opening in Islington. With perfect coffees, the HQ houses the eco-friendly Loring Smart Roaster, quality control lab, coffee school, bakery, drinks lab, events space and head offices for both the restaurant and roastery businesses. The space is clean, the staff is friendly and the opening times are Monday to Friday only. Enjoy caffeine inside or go takeaway and have a stroll in nearby Caledonian Park.
Libra
I’m exploring Shacklewell Lane more and more. Nestled between Dalston and Hackey Downs, it’s a street full of nice coffee shops and artsy shops. Ginette (the hidden gem charm where no website is available, you got the vibe) was a nice discovery, a French cafe with vintage decoration, colourful chairs and crepes and galettes on the menu. Perfect for a sunny day with your favourite book or buddy.
Scorpio
I simply love an exceptional coffee experience. I’ve been reflecting on how coffee shapes the well-being of my whole lifestyle. Being myself a Scorpio, it’s my duty to share brands like Coffee Collective, with the same passion for creating the best coffee experiences in the world while helping farmers achieve more value is what drives them. They roast daily in Copenhagen and focus on sustainability from seed to cup. The coffee is shipped globally to coffee bars, cafes and restaurants alike. Kaffeine and Prufrock Café, in London, serve their coffee in case you’re interested.
Sagittarius
If you are familiar with Brunswick in Dalston, know that the bakery opened the East Bakehouse, serving Australian inspired brunch and speciality coffee very close to Hackney Downs Park. Expect to see a top-notch seasonal brunch menu, a jam-packed cake and patisserie counter, handcrafted organic sourdoughs and enough speciality coffee to sink a ship.
Capricorn
My Capricornian friends love a barbecue. So I couldn’t let Acme Fire Cult out of their sign recommendation. As the name gives away, is largely about cooking over fire. However, they offer a new approach to BBQ, where vegetables take centre stage, and where food and drink are intrinsically linked. They are now getting ready to launch their first permanent restaurant at the 40FT Brewery in Dalston. The Dusty Knuckle bakery is literally nearby if that helps.
Aquarius
Have you heard about Forrist? Innovative Aquarius will love UK’s first plastic-free online supermarket where everything is organic and plant-based. Forrist marries the convenience of supermarkets with the concept of zero waste to make it easier for you to shop with confidence and conscience. You can find from organic body wash to marketmore cucumber seeds.
Pisces
Some years ago I travelled to Oxford to see an exhibition about the Roman heritage and was a lovely experience. This time, the city is hosting Pissarro: Father of Impressionism, which features 120 works, 80 by Pissarro and 40 by his friends and contemporaries, with eight paintings on display for the first time in this country. I can’t think of another art movement that represents Pisces’s sugarcoated vibe the most.
See you in June, in whatever season you’re in! x, NB