FLORENCE KNIGHT
29 / CHEF AND AUTHOR
FLORENCE LIVES IN SOHO WITH HER HUSBAND RICHARD, DAUGHTER AUDREY, NINE MONTHS, AND THEIR TWO DOGS, GUINEVERE AND EDNA
‘Richard and I have always been dawn risers, but our day starts even earlier now we share a bed with Audrey. She’ll start babbling at about 4.30am, but Richard takes her downstairs so I can steal an extra hour’s sleep.
When I wake up properly, I reach for my phone, which I keep under my pillow; my dad died when I was a child and I still need it close in case anything bad happens. I quickly scan my emails and flag the ones I know I have to deal with – knowing what’s coming calms me and gives me time to plan ahead – and go downstairs in my pyjamas.
Breakfast is a big affair with no phones allowed. Richard will have prepared porridge the night before, which we’ll top with rhubarb, berries or honey. Sometimes we’ll also have eggs, sausages, mushrooms with thyme from my garden and Monmouth coffee. Then I’ll shower – taking Audrey in with me. I just have time to wash my face with coconut oil before getting out and applying a bit of blusher, concealer to hide the huge bags under my eyes and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream on my eyebrows, lips and hands.
I’ll then settle down at our big kitchen table with my laptop to do some writing or take the dogs for a walk.
With a physically demanding job and a small child, walking the dogs is my only cardio at the moment, but I do it a couple of times a day. I’ve also taken up Pilates again at PT studio Soho Fitness Lab.
I get fresh fruit and veg delivered to the house and I love filling the sink with water and washing everything we’ll eat that day. It’s a lovely way to start the day.’