Sand and Shade

Welcome to the life of the a pale-skinned redhead... 

Behold all of this glorious sunshine. And then also behold how I am compelled to seek refuge in the extremely limited amount of shade on offer on the beach because I daren't relax in a more exposed spot for fear of turning bright salmon pink as it sears my skin.

That’s the reality of my skin type. Just ten minutes of direct sunlight can be the difference between a nice day and a painful, lobster-red disaster. So, while my friends are splashing in the waves, I’m performing a tactical shuffle, chasing the migrating shadow of a beach umbrella like it’s my job. 

Meaning that, while I may look like I’m playing an elaborate game of tag with the tide, I prefer to think of myself as a shade connoisseur. 

Burn me once, shame on the sun. Burn me twice? I'm bringing my own umbrella.

Lofi Blogging

I’d been seeing Ellis Nash posting about her new always-open café and curiosity made me wonder if I should try it out as a blogging spot. The idea had a certain pull: a space designed for chilling and without the sterile feel of working from the same four walls day after day. I wanted to see if it could become one of those go-to spots, the kind you retreat to when you need to get your head down but also get out.

It didn’t take long to realise it might be exactly that.

With a balcony stretching out over the beach, I found a comfortable spot, opened my laptop, and let the atmosphere do its thing. Lo-fi beats drifted gently through the space, never intrusive, just enough to blur the edges of distraction. Below, the tide rolled in and out with an unhurried rhythm, adding its own quiet percussion to the soundtrack.

Something about it made focusing feel effortless. Not forced, not wrestled into submission, just… natural.

It’s the kind of place that doesn’t demand productivity but somehow encourages it anyway. A soft reset button when routine starts to feel stale. Safe to say, Ellie's Lofi Cafe could quickly earn its place as a future escape hatch for those moments when I need to work, but somewhere better than the usual.