Fearne Cotton

Fearne Cotton Instagram – Yesterday I found myself with a rare clear afternoon. Although my usual reaction would be to use it productively I decided to give myself permission to not work on a podcast episode, write a new book, or reply to my inbox. My husband also happened to have the afternoon free so we decided to be tourists in our own city. Although I have lived in London and it’s suburbs my whole life I rarely mooch about admiring it. Our regular surroundings become so familiar that we simply stop looking.
Whenever I’m in New York, or Paris, or anywhere new, I’m all eyes wide with wonder. Everything feels new and exciting and I feel much more alive. Yesterday afternoon @jessejameswood and I wandered without an aim or plan, all through Hyde Park and round back streets I hadn’t seen before. We ate some food, jumped on some Lime bikes and then cycled all around Kensington, spying mews’ I hadn’t seen before, tiny pubs covered in flowers and beautiful homes with the archetecture I normally take for granted. I felt like I was seeing a lot of it for the first time and felt like I was in my early twenties moving through the city without a motive. I mentally visited a time before the burden of responsibly. An age where I only had to really take care of myself and could go anywhere I wanted whenever I wanted. Although I wouldn’t change the level of responsibility I have now, or my set up, it was lovely to park it all for a few hours and feel young and free again.
It also made me fall even more in love with London. In the summertime it is truly spectacular.
So my advice to you…walk around your familiar surroundings like you’ve not seen it before and if you can, give yourself the time and space to wander without a plan. | Posted on 23/Jul/2024 20:45:52