I am writing this from my balcony on bank holiday Monday with a decaf iced coffee in hand and the SUN IS SHINING. Doesn’t it just make the most enormous difference? My productivity levels have shot up, my happiness levels are vastly improved, and everything and everyone look so much more vibrant in the sunshine. Not to mention it delivers the boost in Vitamin D that we all need. It’s a joyous occasion - I just wish it hadn’t been so long coming. The summer solstice is already less than three weeks away.

For the eagle eyed amongst you, I apologise for my absence in your inboxes last week. I was shooting on location in the north of Scotland for a few days and the time ran away from me. If you ever have the opportunity to visit that neck of the woods (in the time of quarantine and traffic light countries, surely this is the ideal opportunity), I urge you to take it. I was way up north in Moray where the sun barely goes to bed, the river was high and the countryside was a thick luscious green. The landscape is truly breathtaking there and the people are delightfully friendly. I visited the Copper Dog at The Craighellachie Hotel for a delicious supper: Scottish oysters, followed by locally-sourced rib-eye, washed down with a glass or two of some delicious wine, and - most importantly - it was consumed in the most tremendous company. My only advice is, obviously, pack for all the weather: you’ll get blazing sunshine one minute and pouring rain the next.

For me as it has for many of us, May has been a busy month. Increasing freedoms and confidence at a corporate level mean that we are looking forward to the future and a return to a semblance of normality with something a little more concrete than hope. My diary is starting to get messy. Against all the odds, I’m trying to hold onto some of the tranquility (or do I mean boredom and isolation?!) of the last 15 months and not get too overwhelmed. It’s quite a big leap from not leaving the house for anything more exciting than exercise for months on end, to daily lunches, dinners, and even weekends away with friends!

And with this weather and the opportunity to really see people, my thoughts have inevitably turned to my wardrobe. Finally, I’ve been able to put away the padded duvet coats that saw me through the dark winter we’ve just had and consider wearing light summer dresses, and even the coral linen shorts I bought last year but haven’t had the chance to wear. Coming out of lockdown and the longest winter on record (or so it seemed!), can feel a bit discombobulating when it comes to your wardrobe. What does one wear to return to the office, the pub, or in fact to go anywhere that isn’t your local park bench? In an effort to relieve some of this strain I’ve compiled a bit of a bumper Lust List with all the bits in the shops that I’m really craving to boost my Summer-in-the-City wardrobe right now. Check it out, here - I hope you find it helpful. There’s everything from a great pair of leather trousers (on the High Street) to pale blue leather mules and even an orange and pink tie-dyed linen shirt - trust me, it’s more sophisticated than you think.

pruewhitestylist.com/prues-lust-list — The Lust List

What I’m Lusting After:

H&M’s latest designer collaboration has dropped this morning and it’s a beauty. Brock Collection are a New York based brand that specialise in ultra-feminine floral frocks (try and say that after three tequilas) and cool bustier tops that look great with worn blue denim - another specialty of theirs. This collection is ideal for those of you with straighter figures - the rectangle body shape - as it’s softness is great for building curves. It’s deliciously pretty and summery and great for a summer wedding or a picnic in the park.

What I’m Watching:

OK, the last episode dropped on Sunday night (yes, they released episodes weekly - my patience levels are pretty low so you can imagine how frustrated I was) and you may be all caught up, but if you’re not, check it out: Mare of Easttown (on Sky and Now TV) is epic. The inimitable Kate Winslet is Mare, a slightly down and out detective in a fairly bleak middle-American town on the hunt for the murderer of at least one local girl. Winslet is flawless and the storyline is complex and gripping; with only one episode to go, there were still so many loose ends. I highly recommend it.

What I’m Eating:

I’m finally having a dinner party this week. After being unable to entertain people in my flat for so long (sadly my balcony doesn’t quite accommodate the 2-metre rule), I am pumped with excitement. If you’re on the guest list, you may choose to look away now, but we’ll be having a Mexican feast of pork carnitas (a friend cooked the recipe below for me at New Year, and it’s delicious!), esquitas and a summery slaw (assuming all goes to plan, of course). Is it terrible to admit that I’m just as excited about the table setting as I am about the food, though? I’ll be dressing my table in my Lisa Corti table cloth for it’s inaugural outing and using all the retro coloured glassware I can lay my hands on.

Happy feasting, everyone - and don’t forget your SPF!

Prue x