Out of 8 Billion People: How One Person Brought Me to London

Out of eight billion people in the world, one person made London mean something to me.

Her name was Nattie.

We never got the chance to meet in person, but somehow she became one of the most important people in my life.

Nattie came into my life through Sober is the New Cool.

She called me KimMummy, and I loved her like the daughter I never had.

We spent hours and hours on the phone talking, laughing, crying and sharing our lives. She knew my family, I knew hers, and there was never enough time when we talked.

We talked so many times about the day we would finally meet — and the hug we would finally have.

Nattie fought for a long time. But eventually she became tired. She just couldn’t fight anymore.

And we lost her.

One of the hardest things was knowing that after all those conversations, all that love and all those plans for “one day,” I would never get to hug her.

And then life did something I never could have planned.

My son moved to London.

Of all the places in the world, somehow he ended up in the city that already held such a huge piece of my heart.

And when I finally arrived in London, I realized something that stopped me in my tracks.

It was the anniversary of Nattie’s death.

I hadn’t planned it. I hadn’t even realized the date when I booked the trip.

But there I was, in London, on that very day.

And I knew exactly where I needed to go.

Nattie’s tree.

I stood there knowing this was the closest I would ever be to her again.

I cried. I smiled. I talked to her.

And then I looked down at something that connects us forever.

Nattie and I have matching tattoos.

An infinity sign, a white heart and, yes, a pink heart.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m ribbons and bows — not exactly the tattoo type. But how could I ever say no to Nattie?

Today, that little tattoo has become the best piece of jewelry I own.

I don’t have to put it on. I can’t lose it. And I never take it off.

It reminds me of her every single day.

Infinity plus one.

Standing at her tree, I realized I hadn’t travelled there alone.

A little piece of Nattie had come with me.

And somewhere in that moment, something changed.

I had come to London carrying so much sadness about never getting the chance to meet her.

But at her tree, for the first time, I found the strength to move forward.

Only then could I see London with an open heart.

And that’s when something beautiful started to happen.

Over thirteen years, Sober is the New Cool had connected me with extraordinary people around the world. Some had become part of my everyday life without ever having stood in the same room with me.

For years, there had been messages, phone calls, FaceTimes and little squares on a screen.

Now, because my son had somehow ended up living in London, I was finally there.

And one by one, those friendships became real hugs.

Maybe Nattie was the reason London lived in my heart.

Maybe my son was the reason I finally got there.

And maybe all these people were part of the reason I was meant to go.

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Zoe

And then there was Zoe.

After more than seven years of friendship, we finally had six hours together — walking, talking, laughing and, yes, me constantly holding onto her.

And somehow six hours still wasn’t enough.

It was also Zoe’s eight-year sobriety anniversary, which made finally being together that day even more special.

She showed me her London. The palace, the London Eye, the landmarks — we walked everywhere. But what I loved most was that we never stopped talking.

Then Zoe took me to the National Covid Memorial Wall, with thousands and thousands of hearts remembering people who were loved and lost.

She found a heart without a name and made sure I wrote Nattie on it.

That little moment says so much about Zoe.

She knew it would matter to me.

One heart can change a moment. Many hearts can change the world.

We saw so much of London that day, but when I think about those six hours, I don’t really think about what I saw.

I think about who I finally got to see.

Zoe.

Victoria

And then there was Victoria.

Victoria shared the National Portrait Gallery with me, and somehow the art we saw made the day even more perfect.

There was Audrey Hepburn — Breakfast at Tiffany’s will forever be one of my favourites — David Hockney, and Elton John, who I have always loved.

We even saw the beautiful family portrait of Elton and David Furnish with their boys and dogs, something so personal that had never been seen publicly before.

I thought I had seen some pretty incredible masterpieces that day.

But then I looked at Victoria and realized my favourite one was standing right beside me.

Finally meeting her was everything I hoped it would be — and more she was the missing piece to those masterpieces.

Alex

Alex is The Sober Sommelier, creating incredible alcohol-free experiences and events in Ibiza. Of course Alex would choose one of London’s most iconic bars.

And there they were, waiting for me with zero-proof bubbly.

The funny thing is, meeting Alex didn’t really feel like meeting someone for the first time.

It felt familiar.

We sat there talking and laughing, and I remember looking across the bar thinking, I finally get to sit here with you.

And somewhere during that time together, Alex reminded me of something I wish I had understood years ago.

Choosing not to drink never meant there were places I couldn’t go or moments I had to miss.

I still belong everywhere.

The difference is, now I get to make the memories instead of losing them.

And sitting there together at Claridge’s, I finally believed it.

Emma

Emma made me laugh from the moment we met.

Within minutes of meeting Emma, I found myself sitting on Paddington Bear’s lap for our first photo.

Our second was a bathroom selfie.

Only Emma could take me from laughing like a child to one of London’s most elegant afternoon teas.

When it was time to walk her back to the train, neither of us was ready to let go.

Then everything became quiet.

Duncan

As Duncan spoke, you could have heard a pin drop.

Beneath his cool exterior is an extraordinary heart.

Over lunch, he trusted me with his story. There was no pretending — just honesty, openness and vulnerability.

I’ll always be grateful that he trusted me with his heart.

Thank you, Nattee.

Because of you, London will forever feel like home.

You were my greatest gift.

I love you, infinity plus one.

Love always,
KimMummy 🤍

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WHAT A TRIP! Sober Travel in London: A Personal Guide to Walking, Museums, and Alcohol-Free Experiences

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