I don’t want to be a bookshop owner, I want to be a bookshop *cat* who dozes all day on the counter and occasionally allows a book-browsing customer to scratch her head.

Making art matters more than ever. In a society that revolves around consumption, finding joy and fulfilment in creation is an act of resistance.

“The perfect afternoon does not exist,” say people who have never spent an afternoon in a bookshop that is also a coffee shop and has a large ginger cat snoozing on the counter.

Still can’t believe that this October I will be marrying the love of my life, Dr Knight. He makes me happy every single day. I am incredibly lucky.

I am in Milan and there is a tiny newsagent that sells old books. ❤️

The other day I tried on my wedding dress. I still can’t believe I will be wearing it in October, and that I will be marrying the love of my life. The true wonder of life is that sometimes joy can be found.

Reading is not an idle luxury for the privileged few. We have public libraries and prison libraries and volunteers taking books to patients in hospitals because, even in the direst of life circumstances, the human mind deserves freedom.

You know what, I get it

I was today years old when I found out that The Witcher was based on a novel series. Could the discovery have been made at a better time of the year? Guess who has her Halloween season reading all sorted out now.

this book store/movie theatre in florence is my new favourite place in the world

We’re having a rare day of sunshine in England which is reminding me of my childhood in Italy, so I donned my mother’s vintage Versace bag and my cameo brooch from Sorrento.

The best thing my Italian upbringing taught me is how to enjoy life. I will lounge on a sofa sipping espresso with no guilt about being “unproductive”. I will light candles, make risotto, and romanticise my dinner. The secret to La Dolce Vita is believing that you deserve joy.

I have written a blog post about growing up in Italy, how it taught me to enjoy life, and how very different the pace of life is here in the UK. Link in bio!

Reading for pleasure matters because the one thing no one can take from you is your mind. You can lose your career and your money, but you can never lose what you learn. Nourish your imagination, fill yourself with knowledge, and you will be wealthy no matter what.