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One of the surprising low-key perks of wedding ven

One of the surprising low-key perks of wedding venue hunting is the coffee, hot chocolate and wine they serve you while you wander around looking at ceremony and reception options ("god" and "drinks" for Joe, because they are easily confused). At a beautiful place last weekend, as we sat drinking warm drinks in front of the fire, we were joined by the loveliest Canadian couple who were celebrating their 40th anniversary with a trip around southern Africa. They were so interested and interesting and funny and open-minded and kind. And excited that we were wedding venue hunting. "People ask us about being married for 40 years," she said. "And, you know, when you love someone there will always be ups and downs. But when things are tough, you just, you know... grin and say... Well, should we go for a coffee?" This might sound offhanded but you should have seen the way he looked at her and smiled. I was almost sad to leave them and head to our Airbnb. But then we arrived at this place that felt like it was in the middle of nowhere, with a wood-fired hot tub and wildebeest wandering around the cabin. In the icy winter night, watching satellites and shooting stars while sitting in the warm tub with a glass of wine in hand and a beanie on my head, I felt like a real little Icelandic influencer. The next day, wandering around another beautiful venue with another beautiful glass of wine, as Joe chatted to the guy showing us around, I almost laughed. Yes, sometimes you have to grin and suggest coffee. But sometimes... I can't believe this is my life.

It's nine years today since we started Pomegranite

It's nine years today since we started Pomegranite. 🤯 That first pic is little me, right at the start of the journey. The second one was taken a few months ago. It's these photos that have made the span of time most real for me. Would you like to know my number one tip for running a successful business? Therapy. But really. And not in a this-is-so-hard-you'll-need-professional-help way. More in the sense that, working on your own stuff means you can bring your best self to work. You hold things differently. And the millions of big and small knock-on effects of that are fairly wild. And when you're in a partnership where both of you value that equally, anything is possible. It's that simple. (And that complicated. 😊) I'm so proud of the business. But I'm more proud of our partnership. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever built. People (surprisingly often) mistake us for life partners. And you know what? It's a goddamn honour. ❤️

Runs this joint.

Runs this joint.

I realise this sounds obvious... but jislaaik thre

I realise this sounds obvious... but jislaaik three nights was way too short at a place as special as this. That first pic is from our lodge. We sat there for ages with G&Ts and watched herds and herds of ellies come and drink, while we chatted to the loveliest German couple who also have a rescue dog, and I almost asked if they had photos of her but decided that might be weird. Then, I had to stop myself showing them photos of our Ellie. (Although I did notice Joe looking at photos of her in his own time during another quiet moment.)

We haven't been so good at maintaining a work-life

We haven't been so good at maintaining a work-life balance lately. Joe's been working 80+ hour weeks building a pyrolosis machine that turns plastic into fuel (he really is amazing ❤️) to meet a shipping deadline, and it's now on its way to France! I've been struggling with a sore back for the last two months, at times so insane that I couldn't even sit down, and stood all day at my desk. It's made me think quite hard about balance and choices and boundaries. We needed to do something drastic, and so, yesterday, we booked a trip to Madikwe, and within an hour we'd packed and left. You forget what it can be like. How easy it is to laugh with your partner when you put work and life things down for a while. I bang on about work-life balance a lot. It's part of the reason we started Pomegranite. So it's been really interesting to see how the overwhelm has crept up on me. Noticing how easily I say, "Yes, I can do that. I can help," without actually taking a moment to consider - can I really, right now? Since the moment we arrived in this peace and space and startling quiet, I've been so overwhelmed with gratitude. For the 12 hours we slept last night. For my mom and her hilarious Eleanor updates. For Joe. For my other life partner, Liz, and her infinite kindness, wisdom and support. For the reminder that everything is a choice, even when it doesn't feel like it. For the vervet monkeys who kept breaking into the breakfast room to steal any treats they could lay their hands on. For the sweet German man who got one HELL of a fright when they landed hard on his table, and bolted with their bounty. For the way he looked across the room at me with wide eyes, and said in sad disbelief, "Zey took my shu-ger." 🥺 It was almost (almost) the end of me.

I'm afraid it's got a bit out of hand. (You shou

I'm afraid it's got a bit out of hand. (You should have heard the sigh when I thought I might also lie on the couch. Christ, the things she has to put up with...)

A night of what-song-should-I-walk-down-the-aisle-

A night of what-song-should-I-walk-down-the-aisle-to was really fun, and descended, fairly fast, into memory lane, and Celine Dion and Henry Ate duets. What's fun about that is Eleanor's propensity for a solid eye-roll. "If she had opposable thumbs, she'd DEFINITELY be changing Spoitify," said Joe. Yoh. We love her.

Yesterday my little sister got married in the gard

Yesterday my little sister got married in the garden where we used to play "bride bride", in my mom's veil. The same veil that my gran made for my mom. The day before was stressful. There was a 96% chance of rain. We borrowed sweet, clear umbrellas from the school where my mom taught and we both went when we were little. They'd been used in an "under the sea" performance for the jellyfish, and had shiny blue and silver streamers stuck along the edges. I had started painstakingly pealing them off. But when Deb arrived and saw them she said, "Oh just leave them. We'll tell everyone they're from a school play." I don't know any other bride who would say that. 😂❤ I'm almost disappointed that no one got to use them because the rain just didn't arrive... Almost. I couldn't have imagined a more perfectly Deb day.

The more we chatted about different spots for the

The more we chatted about different spots for the ceremony and reception, the more confused Joe got, until he said: Can we just call them "god" and "drinks"? So far this is a lot of fun. 😂

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