Sundaze 273: The power of friendship

Happy Sunday, and happy Easter to anybody celebrating!

This year, my cousin’s little ones confidently requested that we host an Easter egg hunt and lunch so it’s fairly likely that, as you read this, I’m either setting up the hunt, preparing our Sunday lunch, or feasting on all of the above. It’s pretty exciting, to be honest. As a child, I never got to take part in an Easter egg hunt and, as I don’t yet have children, I hadn’t been able to prepare a fun activity like this. I’m so looking forward to seeing their reactions.

Aside from that, it’s been another busy fortnight for me. Four-day work weeks sandwiched with plenty of plans with friends has been a soul tonic after a long, rough winter. I feel like I’ve made a bit of a mental, brain breakthrough too, in terms of post-apartment purchase drama and constant worry about the future. It turns out, all I needed was for spring to leap forwards.

On that note, do you like what I’ve done with the place? I’d been thinking of updating Daisybutter’s layout for a little while, and now it feels just right to house all of the bits I’m doing.

The power of friendship

Throughout 2023, I ruminated deeply the effect that friendships have had on me as an adult. In one essay, I even opened up about the fact that I felt friendships just weren’t for me – I was just a black sheep. For whatever reason, people would forget about me, leave me out of group occasions, never ask after me after I’d spent hours troubleshooting problems with them… In the end, I learned an important lesson: how to rely on myself.

This month, I’ve achieved the ultimate in adulting millennial: I had plans with three sets of friends! It feels like an ultimate in my own life too, since I’m over-accustomed to simply spending time with myself, my sister and my boyfriend. In many ways, it felt like a turnstile moment to find myself a) occupied with plans, and b) just loving having great friendships in my thirties. From catching up with ex-colleagues turned friends to a girls’ day out with OG blogger pals, I feel really lucky to be surrounded by wonderful people.

Coupled with my break from social media, it’s felt really nice, recently, to indulge in in-depth catch-ups. When I popped for dinner with some past colleagues, we did an old-school phone photo album show-and-tell, for goodness’ sake! I sort of want more of this?! I especially loved when, mid-meal, I glanced up and realised just how lucky I was – that we all were – to be sat here together, having met while working dream jobs together, and to celebrate life, career and other milestones together; cheering each other on.

And, even though I’ve really hated on social media lately, how lucky I am, too, to have met such incredible women online? Last weekend, I took a train up to Birmingham to hang out with Kristabel and Winnie, who I met in the very early days of blogging. We had a delicious dim sum lunch at Chung Ying, then meandered over to the Ikon Gallery for some exhibitions. I particularly enjoyed Exodus Crooks’ short exhibit about identity, sharing her personal thoughts as a British-Jamaican artist. One to visit if you’re in Birmingham anytime soon. Afterwards, Winnie took me to the city library which was akin to a trip to Disneyland for me! What a magnificent library! Then, before catching our trains back down south, we popped for a quick coffee in the Piccadilly Arcade and grabbed to-go dinners in Chinatown. I visited my beloved Café Soya for more vegan lemongrass chicken and rice, heh.

After a long period of feeling a bit downtrodden and ‘beaten’ by the concept of friendship, boy am I happy to be surrounded by such wonderful pals and to both uplift and feel uplifted by them all.

Links I’ve Loved

This baked and shredded Brussels sprout salad sounds delicious – something I’ll definitely be making for lunches soon.
Obsessed with this folklore – lo-fi playlist on Spotify.
I love how more and more people are embracing nature’s seasons as an guide for what to do, eat and wear. This article was a lovely read.
More lunch inspo? Yes please. I’m totally making this soba noodle salad soon.
99 Self-Reflection Questions for Personal Growth via The Good Trade
My original Kindle case is tattered, so I’ve invested in this adorable froggy one on Etsy.