Minding (& Closing) the Gap: Crossing the pond to Downton and Dishoom; Tea, Tennis, and of course, Ted Lasso 🇬🇧

Last stop: the UK 🇬🇧 — and what a way to wrap this solo European adventure.

A week based in London, with a couple of fangirl day trips to live my best Ted Lasso and Downton Abbey life 🤗😂 (Yes, I absolutely heard the dramatic Downton theme as I crunched up the gravel drive to Highclere Castle…)

But the real highlight? Reconnecting with my dear friend—and OG BWB member—Nadia.

We first met back in 2016, when I was still teaching and Justin was speaking at tech conferences. While he may have introduced us, our friendship quickly grew on its own, spanning her visits to the states, BWB’s first beta cohort/community, and more. This time, I finally got to cross the pond and see her world.

We trained at her incredible Third Space gym (the name fits on every level), took a tennis lesson together, wandered the city, and hit up all our favorite eats—from a fancy high tea to the delicious Dishoom—because no London trip is complete without it. 😅🥘

I also soaked in some solo time while she headed off to keynote (did I mention Nadia is not just a great friend, but also a talented dancer, fitness enthusiast, international speaker, and Founder and CEO of the reading app The StoryGraph - you should check it out!)

Anyway, Nadia generously extended her flat as home base for my mini adventures to Richmond (⚽️hi, Ted!👋) and the iconic Downton estate. Plus, I squeezed in a stage show of Stranger Things on the West End—a wild prequel to the Netflix series that drops its final season this fall. 🔦

It’s been 8 years since my last London visit, and it’s wild how much can change. New season, more freedom, fresh rhythms—and the same deep joy in conversations, movement, meaningful work, and the kind of friendships that stand the test of time (and time zones).

What a week. What a month. What a start to summer. 💫 So, so grateful. 🥹

Where should I head next? ✈️🌍🤔