A literary detour in England
You may have noticed March has been unusually quiet—and there’s a reason for that. At the start of the month, I swapped the sun-soaked warmth of Western Australia for a frosty work trip to the UK. Between planes, trains, and a packed schedule, I didn’t quite manage to post our usual monthly Story + Sip feature. But in return, I came home with a camera roll full of snapshots, a few quiet moments to reflect, and a renewed appreciation for the slower pace that comes with country life.
A fleeting taste of London
I only had one full day in London, but naturally, I made the most of it—with a few coffee stops, some brisk window-shopping, and of course, a quick visit to any bookshops I could find within walking distance. There’s just something about wandering through a historic bookshop in a city like London that feels like a little moment of calm in the middle of the noise. It was a Sunday morning, so it was quiet until the afternoon. I didn’t make it to every shop on my wish list, but I’ve already started a “hit list” for next time, including:
Daunt Books (Marylebone) – an absolute classic with serious charm.
Hatchards (Picadilly) – the oldest bookshop in London.
Word on the Water – a charming floating bookshop on a canal barge near King’s Cross.
Bookmongers – a secondhand bookshop in Brixton with a laid-back vibe.
The Notting Hill Bookshop – iconic and picturesque, made famous by the film (duh!).
The quiet beauty of the Cotswolds
After the bustle of London, I traveled out to the Cotswolds from Monday to Wednesday for a work retreat. The idyllic villages, gently rolling hills, winding stone paths, and early spring flowers blooming created the most picturesque setting. And with the ever-present chill in the air, all I could think about was curling up beside a roaring fire with a blanket and a good book.
There’s something about the peacefulness of the Cotswolds that makes everything slow down in the best way. It’s the kind of place that invites you to pause, breathe deeply, and fully sink into a story—preferably with a warm drink in hand!
A book I meant to read… and one I actually did
Although I didn’t get a chance to properly post about it, our March pick for our Fable book club was The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick. It’s atmospheric, immersive, and honestly would’ve been the perfect companion for the cold, grey days in the UK. I’ve only just started reading it now that I’m home, so I’m a little behind—but I’m excited to catch up.
While I was away, I was actually reading The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang—a beautifully written, emotional fantasy that I wanted to love more than I actually did. I picked it up because of all the hype I’d heard about it, but it wasn’t quite as good as I expected. I still liked it, but it took me a while to get through because I just wasn’t really feeling it.
Back to warmth and routine
After returning to London briefly on Wednesday night, I flew back to Perth on Thursday—straight from chilly mist to blazing sunshine again. As lovely as it is to come home, there’s something about the memory of the English countryside that still lingers… especially when I think of all the books I wanted to read by the fire. And honestly, after that little taste of cold-weather coziness, I feel completely primed and ready to embrace Aussie autumn and winter in full—blankets, warm drinks, and cozy reads included.
Thank you for your patience while things have been a little quieter on the blog. I’ve got lots of content coming your way soon, including a fresh Story + Sip pick and a few exciting updates for the community.
Until next time,
Erin x
