TRY TWENTY FIVE

Ellen Croneen reaches the halfway mark of her year of discovery. Egg nog and brandy, anyone?

Back in January, I made a vow that I would spend 2025 stepping out of my comfort zone and trying as many new things as possible that might be a little bit against the grain. The past few months have seen a sweaty session in the Fitness Centre, a questionable Italian cocktail, and a bold choice, a very modern version of a historical Hurlingham tradition, for a surprise birthday activity.

First up saw me popping on my finest active wear and heading
to Body Conditioning with Elisabetta in the Fitness Studio. An all-abilities-welcome class, where dancing meets dumbbells, and you can’t help but smile through the muscle pain with Madonna blaring out of the speakers. It was definitely worth the early Sunday morning alarm and the satisfying soreness I experienced the following day!

It’s definitely easier than the real thing and, best of all, you don’t get a bruised shoulder the next day!

Despite the dedication to the magazine, I didn’t think that trying something too off-piste on the Italian ski slopes would be the best idea. I decided against heli-skiing and opted for the somewhat safer option of trying The Bombardino – a traditional Italian alpine drink consisting of half eggnog, and half brandy. To me, it tasted like hot custard that was aggressively spiked, and topped with whipped cream to make it look a bit more friendly. It was, in fact, rocket fuel that got me down the mountain after lunch quicker than anything else could. I can’t see it being a massive hit in the Polo Bar and think I will be sticking to the Aperols next time!

Finally, I was on the important duty of picking a surprise activity for my boyfriend’s 30th birthday in April. We’ve all had a whack at bowling, mini-golf and social darts, so I decided it was time to try something new; Clays Bar in Moorgate was the perfect choice. Clays have turned traditional clay pigeon shooting into a virtual interactive game. It’s definitely easier than the real thing and, best of all, you don’t get a bruised shoulder the next day! Once I understood where to aim, I found my groove and was told that our 40% shooting accuracy is better than most beginners (but I do imagine they say that to everyone).

The next quarter is going to be a good one with the opening of the new Brasserie 1869, where I will be sure to release my inner Grace Dent, my pickleball debut and a challenging cycle up Mount Ventoux. Stay tuned for the second half of Try 2025!

ELLE CRONEEN