I'm certain we all have summer holiday memories of playing board games with friends and family - mostly when there was an inevitable rain shower and you couldn't play outside, which got us talking at Guinea HQ about our favourite board games - no one could ever recall ever actually having finished a game of Monopoly - but by far a firm favourite was Cluedo. This ultimately led to Sara, in our order fulfilment team, and the cosy crime reader of the office, recommending this month's Guinea Confidential suggestion, Grave Expectations by Alice Bell. 

This was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick and it sounds a really fun country house whodunit with humour. So if you want to find yourself, in the sitting room, with a book this summer then why not give this refreshing take on the crime genre a go!

We love a cool refreshing drink at Guinea and one which we love, but often gets overshadowed, is Elderflower cordial. It is truly summer in a glass!

Now, I'm certain at one time or another you have been gifted a homemade bottle, or even tried to make it yourself, but one thing is for certain - there is always some left abandoned at the back of the fridge!

So rather than throw it away, why not give this super simple Strawberry and Elderflower Sorbet recipe a try. It only has 4 ingredients - including, you guessed it, elderflower cordial.

Super seasonal and refreshing. Absolutely heavenly for this time of year.

Several members of the Guinea team, including Rowan and Charlotte, are extremely excited to go and see Naomi in Fashion which opened last month a the V&A.

Running from 22 June 2024 - 06 April 2025. There is ample opportunity to visit this exhibition dedicated to the fashion icon which is Naomi Campbell.

Not so much a popcorn pick, as a strawberries and cream pick this month at Guinea Confidential, as that's right it is tennis season and July means Wimbledon! 

From 1 July - 14 July you have no better excuse for staying indoors, with your feet up, with a glass of Pimm's.

And if you are a lover of all sports, the Olympics begins 26 July - 11 August.

With any luck we will have some fabulous weather this summer, and while it is all too tempting to opt for a crisp white wine over a water, it is essential we remain hydrated.

Now water can seem such a dull and boring option, so why not infuse it with fruit and herbs. Jo, in our  order fulfilment team, is never without her water bottle with removeable infuser - this means she can discard or eat the fruit, when the water is flavoured to her taste. Ideal if you are a fan of lemon water - as left in too long it can all too quickly turn bitter.

Why not try a Pimm's flavoured water by adding; lemon, orange, cucumber and strawberry slices along with a sprig of mint.

Who doesn't love a beauty product with a duel purpose?  

Emma, in our Guinea admin team, is a huge fan of Templespa Toning Essence. It is an alcohol-free hydration toner, as well as being a vegan product and has a beautiful clean, fresh scent - the fragrance is inspired by a Mediterranean summer salad, with hints of lemon, orange, melon and rosemary.

She was introduced to this product during a spa day treatment and has used it ever since, as not only is it a fabulous toner as part of a daily cleansing routine, but it is also an amazing cooling mist for summer!

She even pops it in the fridge, for an ultimate refreshing spritz -  and I must say her skin is always smooth and glowing!