So… turning 50 on Boxing Day is something I’m still getting used to saying.
It feels a bit strange, if I’m honest — but not in a bad way. More in a pause-and-breathe-it-in kind of way.
Turning 50 doesn’t feel like hitting a wall or closing a door. It feels more like stepping into myself properly. Not becoming someone new, not reinventing everything — just finally listening to the part of me that’s always quietly known what matters. There’s less urgency now. Less proving. More truth. And, oddly, more softness too.
To mark turning 50, Michael and I decided to do something simple but meaningful and head to Lisbon for the night. No big party, no fuss — just a little escape. We booked a five-star hotel on the Avenida da Liberdade, which is one of our favourite places to stay. It’s elegant, leafy, and perfectly placed for wandering straight into the city. We usually stick to hotels we know around there, but this time we decided to try somewhere new.
The hotel was very lovely. The staff were genuinely warm and kind — though I’ll admit, I found the bed a bit hard (apparently I’m at the age where mattress opinions matter 😄). But what really touched me was this: when the staff found out it was my 50th birthday, we returned from a walk into town to find a slice of cake waiting in our room, along with a handwritten birthday note.
I didn’t have the heart to tell them I couldn’t eat it because I’m vegan — so I took it home for a friend — but the thought alone made my day. Those little moments matter so much more to me now than grand gestures ever did.
The real highlight of the trip, though, was the evening. We met up with some of our dearest Italian friends for dinner at AO26, which is honestly one of the best vegan restaurants I’ve ever eaten in. The food is simply divine, but more than that, it was the feeling of sitting around a table with people we love, sharing stories, laughter, and really good food.
That, to me, is magic.
Not the dramatic kind — but the quiet, grounding, soul-filling kind.
The next day, before heading home, we popped into Cantinho do Vintage, one of our absolute favourite places. It’s a treasure trove if you love retro and vintage furniture, and we were hoping to find something special for our new home. We didn’t find the piece this time, but we saw plenty we loved — and sometimes just looking, imagining, and feeling inspired is enough.
As for birthday gifts… I was truly spoilt.
Michael bought me a Rain Sisters raincoat — a brand I’ve adored for years. Their designs are beautifully feminine, clearly influenced by the 1950s, and mine is a fit-and-flare coat in black, pink and purple. It’s a real stunner and one of those pieces I know I’ll treasure for a very long time. I haven’t taken any photos of me wearing it yet but I will soon. Here’s the link to the one I have (not affiliate): Rain Sisters Hortense.
My brother surprised me by secretly organising, with Michael, the most stunning white whale artwork for my office. I love it so much. It’s now hanging right next to my desk, and every time I glance at it, it makes me smile. He bought it from Moncasso and I have to say I’m super impressed with the high quality. We’ll definitely be buying more from them! (not affiliated)
My best pal completely floored me by making me tailor’s hams. I genuinely thought she’d bought them — they look that professional — and I was shocked when she casually said she’d made them herself. That woman has so much talent it’s unreal.
I also received my favourite Halara jeans from my step-father-in-law, some money from my dad (yes, still, at my age 😄), which I spent on a gorgeous sweatshirt from Barbour. They’ve recently opened a new outlet store, and I’ve discovered they make far more quirky, interesting pieces than I ever realised. I always assumed they were all about waxed jackets — clearly not.
And my Italian friends gifted me a one-of-a-kind necklace they picked up on their recent travels. Completely unique, and utterly me.
Turning 50 feels especially significant because my mum never got the chance to. She left us in her early 30s, and that truth has shaped how I see ageing. I don’t take birthdays for granted. Growing older has always felt like a quiet privilege — a reminder that being here, evolving, and still getting to choose how I live my life is something to be deeply grateful for.
If anything, I feel clearer now than I ever have. I trust myself more. I tolerate far less nonsense. I know what drains me and what lights me up. And I’m far more interested in living a life that feels aligned than one that simply looks good on the outside.
Much of what I’ve been feeling over the past few years — especially as I’ve stepped into this new decade — is what I’ve been pouring into my next book, The Enchanted Midlife, which is coming soon. It’s all about trusting yourself, honouring your energy, and realising that midlife isn’t a winding-down, but a powerful remembering of who you really are.
If turning 50 has taught me anything, it’s that life doesn’t lose its magic as we age — it simply asks us to notice it more. I want to wish you the happiest of New Years — and more than that, I wish you magic in 2026.
Not the flashy, unrealistic kind.
But the real kind.
The moments that stop you in your tracks.
The laughter that comes out of nowhere.
The deep sense of this is right.
My wish for you is that you listen inward a little more this year, follow what feels true for you, and notice the magic that’s already woven through your everyday life. Because it’s there. Quietly. Patiently. Waiting to be noticed.
