words and photos by Terembe Cherono

Hi! I know I’ve been away for a while. I’m here to catch you up! Last month I escaped the Nairobi cold and flew to London for two weeks. I always enjoy my time there but this was even more special because it was the summer! London at this time of year is unmatched. There’s so much to do and everyone seems to be in great spirits. Here are a few exciting highlights from my trip.

London Essentials

Here’s the bag I carried on most days – my red Adelphi baguette. It may be small, but it is certainly mighty! In it, I was able to fit – sanitiser, hand cream, mirror, AirPods, a fan, lipgloss and a couple of cards. For shoes, I was mostly in my Commes Des Garcon Converse low tops. These were great for walking and looked good with most of my outfits.

I only carried one fragrance with me – My Burberry Blush, which is my signature scent. I think this is more suitable as a spring scent but given it’s what I wear everyday, I carried it along. It’s now almost finished and I am looking to phase it out because it’s been a staple for over five years now! I have a few strong contenders for my next signature scent. Can’t wait to share once I pick later this year. For grocery shopping, I bought my usual stash, pictured on the right.

Seeing beautiful art

The exhibition calendar tends to be exciting all year round in London, but the summer is especially fun. Here are some of the art shows I was able to visit.

Africa Fashion at the V&A

The Serpentine Pavilion, designed by Theaster Gates at Hyde Park

Infinity Mirror Rooms by Yayoi Kusama at the Tate

Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss at Whitworth Art (Manchester)

Attending my sisters’ graduation

My youngest sister graduated! She just finished her degree in film, photography and media. Here she is looking like Michelle Obama after her ceremony.

Visiting my Alma Mater

Since I was up north, I decided to visit the city I used to live in – Manchester! I was a student at the University of Manchester (about 10 years ago!) and haven’t been back to visit since. It was lovely to return, reminisce on old times and see how it’s changed.

High Tea at The Dorchester

I had an exquisite, first high tea experience at The Dorchester. In the five years I lived in the UK, I never experienced a traditional high tea. I knew it would be exceptional but it was truly delightful! From the selection of teas to the sandwiches and pastries (particularly the scones!), it was the loveliest afternoon.

Trying on Wishlist Items

When I travel, I take the opportunity try/test items on my wishlist to get details that will help me make a final decision once I’m ready to purchase. It’s so important to try before you buy to confirm sizing, fit, style and more!

Prada: I liked the bucket hat and loved the loafers!

Van Cleef & Arpels: this dainty bracelet is *chef’s kiss*. My only worry is how delicate it is. Not sure how wearable it is for an everyday accessory.

Burberry: I loved the plaid bucket hat but not sure it’s totally aligned with my wardrobe.

Apple: My desire for a desktop was reignited after seeing the new iMacs at the Apple store! A laptop is definitely more appropriate for my lifestyle but maybe in a few years when I need a home office, I can get one.

Seeing Loved Ones

I was so happy to reconnect with a few of my favourite people while I was there (not all pictured below)! I love you all so much.

Eating and Drinking, Deliciously

Of course I tried lots of different food and drink over the course of my trip. Special mention to the McDonalds Double Cheeseburger and Fries that I had at least four times. Cheers! *clink clink*

Out and About

As usual, I took so many pictures of the city while I was out and about. See some of my favourites below.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post! Now back to regular programming.

Terembe Cherono is a creator, curator and convenor based in Nairobi, Kenya. For the last 10 years, Terembe has used her social media platforms (particularly Instagram and YouTube), to share lifestyle content using extremely compelling storytelling formats. In the last two years, she has developed a highly popular technique for Instagram Stories known as a ‘Daily Recap’ used by numerous content creators globally. She has supported several influencers and small businesses to leverage social media for brand building and sales.