We are entering this time of the year when I would ideally spend all my days lounging in the garden with a book, eating peaches and goat cheese with truffle honey. I might break that routine occasionally to have friends over for a negroni and scallops with butter and white wine. While there are unfortunately some obstacles to living this life I surely deserve, there are also quite a few things I’m looking forward to in June.

1. World Cup. After my dismal reading record in May, I was planning a magnificent return to form in June. I had, however, forgotten that June will also bring the World Cup in football, something that is going to demand a lot of my attention. It is not the ideal set-up, considering the whole thing takes place in a country run by I vile regime, but what can you do. Even if you don’t like sports, I always recommend following the World Cup for some ‘I feel connected to the entire globe (OK, maybe not the US)’ experience. There is nothing quite like it.

2. Revenant Gun. If there is one book I am going to read in June, football be damned, it’s the final installment of Yoon Ha Lee’s The Machineries of Empire trilogy. I loved the first two, which are some of the best SF published in recent years, and am unreasonably excited about the third. I refuse to listen to anyone who says the books are too complex and difficult to follow. It’s not the books, it’s you!

3. The peaches. So if I’m not watching football, I’ll be in the garden reading Revenant Gun and eating something from Diana Henry’s new book, How to Eat a Peach. My love for her cookbooks is well documented and this one is lovely, comprising some of her favourite menus, arranged seasonally. It’s all wonderfully atmospheric, exactly the kind of thing I feel drawn to (and I’ve already cooked three dishes from it).

4. Mango. While I do adore eating mangoes, this is not what I mean. I have a feeling that the Spanish clothing chain with a fruity name is making a comeback – after not shopping there for years, they suddenly have things I find exciting. I’ve bought a dotty/stripy dress and a mustard top and there are other things I like. They have also upped their marketing game, the ads and influencer collabs look fresh and modern. I recommend checking out the online store, where the selection tends to be better than offline.

5. Mustard. Talking about that mustard top, I’m nominating mustard as the next millennial pink. This is of course a silly thing to say, but that strange, dark yellow colour is currently everywhere and looking much more exciting than any pastel. It’s a very unlikely candidate for the shade of the season, which makes me root for it even more.

6. Summer scent. There is of course no obligation to wear “summery” scents in summer, but I always like to have a tropical white floral in my arsenal. Jo Malone’s Jasmine Sambac & Marigold could be exactly the thing. It just smells delicious and reminds me, in fact, of a more floral (and intense) Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder. As I’ve no idea where’s my bottle of the latter, I feel a purchase of the former would be entirely justified.

7. Skincare newness. Everybody’s favourite Hungarian, Omorowicza, has come out with a new Cashmere Cleanser that is looking extremely tempting. The problem is I still haven’t tried their Hydra Melting Cleanser that also seems perfect. In other news, Space NK has started stocking Dr Roebuck’s, a greenish Australian beauty brand. I own their Collagen Boosting Serum and 2-in-1 Mask + Scrub and have been very happy with both. And I generally hate scrubs. The price point is also friendlier than with much niche stuff.

8. Ocean’s 8. I don’t care if it’s bad, I’m going to see it and love it.

What are your plans for June? Football? Reading? Eating?