Vibrant Imaginative People

May 2026, Issue No.50

Your VIP Newsletter from Soulla's Writing Room

Hello my VIP.

I am writing this on a bright morning and the sun is high in the sky, promising to be another scorching hot day here in London and across the UK. How's the weather where you are?

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The Loving Embrace of Open Water Swimming

I have begun swimming very early in the mornings and as dawn breaks over Hampstead Heath, I have been drawn to the tranquil embrace of the Ladies Pond, where nature and solitude converge in the most magical way. The air has been crisp, fresh with the scent of the dry earth and blossoming, beautiful flowers, whilst the soft morning light casts a glimmer across the water's still surface. This sacred hour, before the world stirs, has become my personal sanctuary.

With each stroke in the quiet pond, life envelopes me, invigorating me from the outside in. And the water’s surprisingly cool, not cold, against my warm skin… so refreshing as the temperatures are going up and up. The buoyancy of floating gently, moments of weightlessness that detach me from the chaos of my everyday life, have allowed me to connect deeply with nature.

The solitude offers me a rare space for reflection and quiet conversation with my neighbour, who has been swimming here for over five years. As I swim, my mind drifts freely, processing all the stories which fill my week, contemplating all the dreams that arise with each new the dawn, calm and reborn.

In the serene waters of the Hampstead Ladies Pond, I have found not just a swimming hole, but a wellspring of joy and inspiration. How about you? What has brought you joy this month? Let's share these precious moments and inspire each other.

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Literature Award and Filmmaking

Last month I mentioned the Cyprus Diaspora Forum which I was attending with my colleagues who are adapting The Summer Will Come to film.

It was a full-on event with over 2000 people who had travelled from across the diaspora worldwide to be there; a celebration of our successes, achievements and knowledge across many industries and disciplines.

Four days were filled with discussions, and on the first day Athena Mandis, Ioanna Karavela and I pitched the film project to investors, creatives and business entrepreneurs. The buzz in the room was really encouraging and we have made some important inroads and connections into this next vital step of our filmmaking journey. Through our conversations it became evident, as we rightly knew, that this is a story that makes up a poignant part of our history and telling it now is the right time.

If you or anyone you know would like to support us in any way, please reach out - we welcome all levels of support and are truly grateful with how our community, and those beyond, has supported us... and especially so with all the public votes that came flooding in in support of my nomination and shortlisting for the CYDIA Award for Literature which I won! I will be eternally grateful to all of you!

The month of May has been exciting with lots of busy-ness and heartfelt connections which are feeding my soul with inspiration, ideas, and happiness. What's feeding your soul?

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Out Of This World

My dear friend Corinne and I spent the day mooching around Chelsea and taking countless selfies and photographs of the incredible floral arrangements and installations of this year's Chelsea in Bloom. This year’s theme was OUT OF THIS WORLD: Nature, Innovation and the Future.

There were stars and moons, bursting sunflower decorations, zodiac signs, unicorns and goddesses and gorgeously imaginative earth installations with a huge astronaut, and stunning planet sculptures.

The colours were tantalising and just being in London together was a real treat. We shared a piece of Walnut Cake and a cuppa at Holy Trinity Church, where they were collecting donations for the church. We sat just in front of the railings at the front of the church and enjoyed the calm in the otherwise busy and frightfully packed streets of Sloane Square, King’s Road and the surrounding streets. Lunch was especially yummy at Ottolenghi and we topped off our day with tea in my garden with Alan, as the sun was setting, painting the skies pink and purple, after what had been a wonderful day together.

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Until next time....

look out for a fabulously fun interview and conversation I had with Vasilis Panayis at Hellenic TV and I hope to be able to share lots more behind-the-scenes with you next month... we are almost half way through 2026!

Enjoy every moment you can with family, read, read, read

and keep smiling.

Lots of love, Soulla xxx

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