My meal was £22 and it was so small I ate it in 3 mouthfuls.

Happy World Afro Day! I had no idea this was even a day so yes for us! How gorgeous is this? I can't remember what country it's in but I saw it some weeks ago on Twitter.

Getting into the swing of writing these blogs is harder than I thought. I'm not sure why I'm finding it tricky to stay on top of it and I know I'll regret it especially when I read back over it at the end of the year. 

I turned another year older and despite it being a year that is turning out to be unpredictable I'm thankful that I'm here to see another birthday. It's always hard planning what to do, something that I know won't cost an arm and a leg. In the end I spent it eating lol. Helen and I went to this amazing Creole restaurant, literally a hidden gem that had the most amazing food and drinks that were even too strong for Helen! 

I have no idea why it rained on my birthday! In the middle of summer!! Honestly sometimes I can't deal with this country.

Then I got changed for dinner and Zarah picked me up. We went to a local Cuban restaurant and we were so busy talking that I didn't instruct her where to drive so a 5 min drive turned into 30. The food and company was brilliant and my cake had money inside of it. Yes money! Zarah told me to pull the topper and attached was notes. It was pretty amazing. I don't even know how she made such a stunning cake when I sent her 8 very different cakes as inspiration until she said,"I'm just going to surprise you."

These group of ladies (minus Leanne) have been my rocks especially when my dad passed and I'm so thankful for them. It was a brilliant day full of laughter and love and was just what I needed. 

Anneliese took me to watch Tina and anyone that knows me knows that I love the theatre, so to go back and watch a great show 'cause lets face it some West End shows are shit but Tina was everything. We were instructed not to sing because of COVID but how do they expect us not to sing Proud Mary?! Come on now. At the end Tina performs at a concert and you literally feel like you're at a legit Tina Turner concert. The audience was hype! No one has been to a concert for time so we had the best time. Before Tina I had to go to my uncle's burial. He was one of my dad's closest friends that I'v known pretty much my whole life. Was so weird because he was at my dad's so it was like how is he now gone? Hopefully their bromance can continue in Heaven. When we got home I'm glad I had a day planned out so I couldn't just sit home in my feelings. My nephew was at the house when I got home with his crips all over the floor lol. My cat hissed at him so yeah I'll have to work on that relationship. Anneliese and I got dinner and went to this place called Christopher's opposite Lion King. My meal was £22 and it was so small I ate it in 3 mouthfuls. 

Another present I got was I went to FriendsFest! I have been wanting to go forever but every time I realise it's on, it has already sold out but me and Aleta finally went and it was everything I needed in my life.  There was a couple in front of us waiting to get their pics taken on the sofa and umbrellas, the one in the opening credits and I said, "Aww can you imagine having a boyfriend that loves Friends as much as you do?" And Aleta responded, "Can you imagine having a boyfriend? I heard it's nice." That took me out! We were in the line to recreate the dance Ross and Monica do and the guy in charge was just giving everyone basic moves. We looked at each other like we're dancers! So when it was our turn we were like we've got this mate! Everyone was watching us like we just performed at the Super Bowl or something. 

Of course the bday vibes isn't over and yes Leo Season has ended but there are more fun events happening for the rest of the year so I can't wait!

One thing I've wanted to do for ages is host Waterstones events. I don't know, they always look fun and I've got a stellar personality - of course - so it's like I would be perfect for it. I was hesitant to approach them though because they seemed to use the same people and I wasn't sure I had done enough chairing of panels to be considered. But then this year I did two London Book Fair events so I felt like that should be enough. I got in touch and didn't hear back so I thought okay maybe they don't think I've done enough chairing. Then some weeks later the events coordinator followed me on Twitter! I sent a DM saying I sent an email and they said yeah we already put you forward for an event Faber's doing so they will get in touch. The next day I got an email! Yay! So I'm chairing my first Waterstones event in Nov as well as Wigtown YA Literary Festival with Sue Cheung.  I've been approached by more organisations to chair  events. Bring it on!

Chloe Bailey. Have Mercy. Say no more.

I got my first ever traditional advance the other day. Wow what a journey I've been on. God is good!