September ’26: Income rush

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Last month saw “La rentree” – the return to the real world, after an enjoyable summer. Very much so for me, as it happens – but with plenty of enjoyment still to be found.

A stylized portrait of a woman with dark hair and traditional attire, adorned with jewelry, set against a backdrop featuring illustrated playing cards with Spanish labels.

I’ve taken in Frida Kahlo at the Tate Modern, a spot of luxury in the south of France, a City ritual in one of its ancient livery companies, some politics both in Liverpool and Downing Street, and the outdoor beauty around Dorset’s Lyme Regis as well as Hampstead’s own heath. Not to mention some sailing, fine dining, and wine tasting, It’s a wonder I find any time to write this blog.

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August ’26: Summer calm

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August was another fabulous summer month in the UK. The lack of rain became a nasty drought, with hosepipe bans across much of the country – including my Coastal Folly’s Wessex Water supplier (for the first time in over 50 years). But lawns aside it made for an enjoyable month.

I spent quite a bit of time on the south coast. I finally ticked off the Isle of Wight’s Osborne House from my bucket list, and also made it down to Portland’s lighthouse – Dorset’s southerly point.

A grand historical building with a yellow facade, featuring multiple towers and a clock, surrounded by neatly trimmed gardens and topiary. A gravel pathway leads to the entrance.
A coastal lighthouse with a white and red striped tower next to a white house, set against a clear blue sky and ocean.

Markets in August

Markets didn’t move much in August. My markets moved, on average and after currency movements, up 0.5%. The most notable component was a slight drop in bonds, with Trump/Hormuz-driven inflation looking more persistent than it had appeared a month earlier.

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July ’26: An IPO, and France

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It feels as if the World Cup was ages ago, already. Yet only a few weeks ago, I was gripped. And for once I thought England had a world-class side…. but hey ho, football hasn’t come home for another four years.

I had a road trip through France in July, which was lovely. I am pleased to report that the infrastructure for charging electric cars in France is considerably ahead of what we have in the UK – not least because of the EU rule that you have to be able to just ‘pay as you go’ with a credit card, without signing up to some irritating app.

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