Falling in love…again
Every now and then, this industry sprinkles a little magic dust and reminds you why you fell in love with it in the first place. Sometimes it’s meeting that one person — a client, a vendor, a partner — who just clicks with your vibe. Other times, it’s rediscovering the joy of the craft, finding wonder in the details, and creating moments that captivate and surprise.
We created one of those unforgettable moments for a client in London. A tasting evening themed “Expect the Unexpected”, a deliciously chaotic mash-up of Alice in Wonderland and Narnia. Each bite had a secret, a little trick up its sleeve, daring our senses to keep up.
What looked like delicate tuna tartare revealed itself to be sweet, juicy watermelon. A humble hot dog was suddenly a decadent lobster creation, and good ol’ chips were re-invented with salt and vinegar powder dust.
It’s in these moments that I stop and think:
This is work? How ridiculously lucky we are to do this for a living.
Designer blooms
Instant connection. Creative chemistry. That’s what Botanica’s floral stylists bring. Arrangements so breathtaking, it’s hard to believe they exist in real life. Each creation leaves you feeling as if, for a moment, you’re at the centre of the universe.
Based in Hydepark Corner. Follow on Instagram.
Doing what you love, with who you love
Sometimes falling back in love with your job isn’t about the work itself. It’s about the people you do it with.
It’s easy to get caught up in the grind, the cashflow, the deadlines, all of it. And sometimes we forget why we do this: to create unbelievable experiences that celebrate people.
Every so often, we need to lift our heads above the chaos and take a step back to see the bigger picture. When I look around the office, I see a team immersed in their own projects, bringing beautiful experiences to life. It’s a wonderful feeling.
And we’ve made the True North circle bigger, welcoming Courtney to our tribe.
Falling back in love with the city
Lately, it feels like everyone in Joburg is carrying the weight of the city on their shoulders. But the Jacarandas are blooming, and we have long days and drinks on the veranda to look forward to.
Our good friends over at Johannesburg In Your Pocket have you covered. Here’s what’s to love about the city in summer:
The Underground Booksellers walking tour takes you on a guided walk through the inner-city’s literary culture and informal book trade.
First Sunday at Victoria Yards. A favourite of mine.
And a must read, your guide to visiting 44 Stanley. A former industrial complex transformed into a boutique lifestyle destination with good food, greater coffee, gifts and more.
Learning to fall out of love with a plan
There’s something incredibly powerful about a well-laid plan. There’s the sense of direction, the relief of structure, and the joy of ticking boxes. I live for it.
I’ve also learned (sometimes the hard way) that life doesn’t run on a project plan. As the saying goes, “When man makes a plan, God laughs.” It’s less a straight line and more a game of hopscotch. A dance between intention and improvisation.
Project planning is about budgets, timelines, and logistics. The things that keep the wheels turning. Life planning is messier. It asks bigger questions: Who do I want to become? What do I want more (or less) of?
Both are important, but the danger lies in treating life like a Gantt chart. Real growth often happens in the unscheduled moments.
Plan boldly, set big goals, but leave space for the unexpected. That balance between daring leaps and quiet pauses is where life has room to surprise you.
Rekindling the Spirit
That’s right, folks. We’ve all fallen back in love with Mezcal, crowning the Naked & Famous drink of the 2025 summer.
It’s sweet and smoky combination of equal parts mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and lime makes it the star of every summer soirée.
1 ounce each of:
- Mezcal
- Chartreuse (yellow Chartreuse for the official version)
- Aperol
- Lime juice
Shake: Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and then shake until very cold. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar with a cover instead.
Strain: Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Don’t have a cocktail strainer? Use a fine mesh strainer instead.
Garnish: If you’d like, a lime wedge makes the glass more festive.
To remembering why we started — and loving it even more.
Be Kind,
