The MAY REPORT
A month of pastries, plane tickets, plot twists, and people who make everything better.
I could’ve sworn I just hit publish on my April Report, and yet here I am, already typing out May’s. Time is playing tricks on me, how did April feel like four whole months, and May vanish in what felt like a long weekend? May, you strange, beautiful blur. What can I say? You were the epitome of spring, sunshine-filled days, balmy evenings, spontaneous plans that turned into core memories, and the kind of joy that shows up quietly but stays with you. You gave me beautiful weather, gorgeous friends, and a calendar that overflowed in the best way.
There were weddings, pastries, long walks with iced coffees, and moments that reminded me how good life can feel when you stop doom scrolling and start actually living. I laughed a lot. I felt a lot. I slowed down, even when life didn’t. And above all, I felt grateful, for connection, for creativity, for Copenhagen (IYKYK).
So here’s to May: short, sweet, and somehow everything I needed. Let’s unpack it, shall we?
READING
Oh I truly believe the 4 books in March were a fluke. I finished Emily Henry’s A Great Big Beautiful Life at the beginning of the month and felt that familiar ache, the kind that comes when you’ve fallen for fictional people and have to return to real life, where no one kisses you mid-argument in the rain. It had the glamour and tragedy of Evelyn Hugo, the kind of story that pulls you back into reading like a bad ex. I didn’t fully connect with Alice, but I understood her, especially that craving to be seen by people who can’t give you what you need. Hayden was pure Emily Henry fantasy, brooding, brilliant, impossible. I loved it. I still miss them.
EATING
If you’ve never had a pastry in Copenhagen, I’m sorry to tell you: you’ve never really had a pastry. After a recent trip, I can confidently say the Danes have perfected the art of baking, every bite is buttery, flaky alchemy. From the iconic kanelsnegle (cinnamon swirls) to cardamom buns that somehow manage to be both delicate and decadent, the pastries here don’t just taste good, they feel like an experience. The layering is meticulous, the sweetness is balanced, and there’s a quiet elegance to the whole thing, even when you’re devouring it on a bench by a canal. Pastries in Copenhagen are not just a treat, they’re a ritual: warm coffee, fresh bake, a slow pause. And when you return home, every croissant will suddenly taste… a bit sad.
PLAYING
If you’re looking for the perfect escape-from-everything show, Race Across the World is it. It’s not just travel TV, it’s emotional, thrilling, surprisingly wholesome, and completely addictive. The premise sounds simple: teams race across vast regions of the world without flights or smartphones, armed only with a tight budget and their wits. But what unfolds is so much more. You get stunning scenery, of course; mountains, deserts, neon cities but the real magic is in the people: strangers who open their homes, contestants who grow and fall apart and come back together. Every episode balances high-stakes strategy with heartwarming human moments. You cheer when they make the right bus, stress over every wrong turn, and cry (genuinely cry) when someone hugs a kind local goodbye. There’s something deeply comforting about watching people navigate the world with nothing but hope, handwritten maps, and the kindness of others. It’s a rare programme that makes you want to travel more and be a better person. Honestly, if I could work on or compete in any show, this would be it, a dream format, beautifully made, and the best thing on TV right now.
OBSESSING
I can’t stop thinking about Copenhagen. Truly, I miss it like it’s a person. It wasn’t just the pastries (though they absolutely changed my life), or the way every café looked like it had been styled for a design magazine. It was the feeling. That perfect blend of calm and cool, where you cycle through the city like the main character in a Scandi rom-com, hop between art galleries and bakeries, and somehow find yourself deep in conversation over wine in candlelit corners. Copenhagen has this quiet confidence, it doesn’t shout for attention, it just is effortlessly beautiful. Every moment felt intentional: three-hour brunches, impromptu coat shopping, sharing pastries like sacred rituals. Even the air felt cleaner. Maybe it was the cinnamon. Or the serotonin. Or the fact that I wore wool socks and felt emotionally grounded. It was a city that let us slow down, breathe deeper, and live a little softer, like a warm, minimalist hug with really good lighting. I’m obsessed. I miss it. And if I could teleport back for just one more cardamom bun and a cycle along the canals, I would. In a heartbeat.
TREATING
My treat to myself this month wasn’t a new bag or a fancy facial — it was time with my friends. Real, soul-feeding, belly-laughing, no-phones-on-the-table kind of time. Sometimes it was just a quick tea squeezed between meetings, other times it was a spontaneous midweek dinner that turned into hours of talking about everything and nothing. And then there was the wedding, a weekend away celebrating a beloved friend, which we turned into the ultimate girls’ trip, complete with prosecco, dance floors, and shared dresses. I’ve come to realise that friendship is the thing that holds me together when life feels wobbly. Even in uncertain times, I’ve been wrapped in the kind of love that shows up, whether it’s with tissues, wine, or just really good chat. I’m so lucky to be loved by people who make space for me, and to have friendships that feel like little lifelines. It’s easy to forget how healing time with your people can be, until you’re in it, and you remember how much lighter everything feels after. This month, my greatest luxury wasn’t something I bought, it was something I shared. Time. Laughter. Comfort. Love.
And just like that, May wrapped itself up in a haze of sunshine, pastry flakes, and the kind of joy that lingers long after the moment’s passed. If April cracked me open a little, May poured in the light. It reminded me that even in the middle of change, the job questions, the life pivots, the “what next?” There's so much to be grateful for. A city that stole my heart. A show that made me dream. A book that made me feel. And most of all, people who made me laugh when I didn’t even know I needed to.
Life still feels a little uncertain, a little wobbly, but this month reminded me that I’m not walking through it alone. I have good stories, good snacks, and good people. And really, what more could you ask for?
About Twenty Five Reset
Hi, I’m Niamh, and everyone was right 25 really is a turning point. I finally know who I am, what I want, and my purpose… but it’s nothing like I expected.
I work in TV, but it doesn’t define me. This space is my reset embracing the mess, reflecting, and creating again. You can expect:
Pop Culture and a lot of chats about 2000 - 2020 TV Shows
Links:
Ever since I joined substack I look forward to your monthly reports!! You’ve inspired me to do something similar :)