The first of May heralds the beginning of the best month in the calendar – for not only has spring well and truly sprung but it’s also my birthday month! Thank you to everyone who’s kindly remembered and generously offered to take me out to celebrate it or contacted me to ask what I’d like for my birthday. I really do appreciate your thoughtfulness.

I’ve written here a list of gift ideas that I would absolutely love!  It goes without saying that all gifts great and small are hugely appreciated. If we’re not meeting in person, please contact me for a discreet email address to which gift cards can be sent. Thank you so much in advance!!!

Spa day – After a long lockdown, a day of preening and pampering sounds like unmitigated bliss to me – and what better way to unwind than a spa day at the Berkeley, Akasha or Four Seasons (to take just a few examples)?

Perfume – Thé Noir 29 by Le Labo. La Tulipe & No Man’s Land by Byredo. Vanille Fatale & Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford. Selfridges offer e-gift cards for treasured gentlemen who can’t yet make it to the UK for in-person dates.

Fine dining – Bon vivant that I am, I adore dining out. Hopefully we have birthday dinner plans of our own but if this can’t yet happen, fret not! Some of the restaurants in my to-eat at list including Murano and Pied à Terre offer gift vouchers which make ideal gifts for the epicurean! 

Books – The perfect present for a writer and bibliophile – but also such a novel way (terrible pun intended) of handing someone their “donation”! I’ve been meaning to work my way through this year’s Booker shortlist but I imagine that having the books in it would be a necessary first step in this challenge!  E-gift vouchers also available from Waterstones.

At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut
The Employees by Olga Ravn
In Memory of Memory by Maria Stepanova
The War of the Poor by Éric Vuillard

Watch – As some of you may have seen, my Apple watch recently suffered a fatal accident (RIP) and so a replacement would be HUGELY appreciated. The model I have fallen in love with since is here. 

Stella McCartney thing of beauty – This is the most extravagant item on my wishlist. As some of you know, I rarely covet designer shoes and handbags but this piece of art is an absolutely alluring exception!

Other great gift card ideas include Beauty Bay and John Lewis. Again, I am immensely grateful for all presents – regardless of how big or small. Cliché as it may sound gifts are always appreciated, never expected – and I really am stoked that some of you have reached out with the sole purpose of seeing what I’d like for my birthday. I consider myself to be very lucky indeed – so thank you!

Big kisses,

Saffron xx