I quit my £43,000-a-year corporate job in London for unpaid grape picking in rural Italy - I don't regret it
Ayla Lannen decided to quit her 9 to 5 marketing job in London earlier this year in a bid to break out of her 'monotonous' routine and avoid 'burn-out'.
The 27-year-old had felt inspired to leave the corporate grind behind following the 'devastating' end of her three-year relationship, which led her to reconsider the trajectory of her life.
As a result, Ayla decided to leave her high-earning job as an engagement manager in marketing for a slower pace of life in the neighbourhood of Tortona in Italy, which has a population of just 379 people.
Last month, Ayla flew from London to the Italian countryside to take an unpaid job picking grapes at a winery every day.
Despite receiving no income, Ayla has all her meals and accommodation included, insisting that she's getting paid more than enough in experience and core memories.
Ayla, who is originally from Sydney, Australia, said: 'I learned a lot in my old job but I felt like something was lacking and missing from my life.
'I was spending four hours a day commuting into work. It was getting monotonous and repetitive.
'It could've led to burn out. I just felt a disconnect and fatigue. I just thought, do I really want to keep grinding every day for my paycheck and not really have anything to show for it.'
She works two shifts a day which averages out to about 30 hours a week.
Her first shift starts at 7am and ends at 11am before a two-hour lunch break from 2.30pm till 4.30pm, joking that 'Italians LOVE a long lunch'.
The second shift of the day is from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, explaining that the shifts are spread out this way 'to skip the hottest part of the day'.
Ayla will eat with the other grape-pickers at 9.30pm, with a strict ban on TV, phones or eating separately.
'Dinner time is all about connecting, laughing and sharing stories,' she said.
Ayla added that she's learned more in her weeks working at the winery than in the years she spent climbing the corporate ladder.
She said: 'I really wanted to have that authentic experience of working in a winery.
'I'm just in the fields picking grapes - it's awesome. The family is teaching us about what the whole process entails.
'And my love for wine is part of the reason why I chose this too. It's very quiet here and you have that time to reflect.
'I feel like I learned more in two weeks at the winery than I did in two years at my old job.
'Although I'm not getting paid any actual income, I'm getting paid in experience and building these core memories I'll always hold onto. Money comes and goes. I think it'll actually make me a better worker if I ever go back into corporate.'
The idea came when Ayla stumbled upon a website advertising grape-picking near the neighbourhood of Tortona, Italy.
A week later, Ayla moved her life to the rural Italian town that boasts a population of 379 people, where she spends her mornings and evenings working among the vineyards.
Now a certified fruit-picker, Ayla is urging others to consider swapping out their own 9 to 5s for a simpler life outdoors.
'There is no timeline and it's your life at the end of the day. Never live your life for someone else,' she explained.
'I definitely recommend it - it's an amazing experience. It's everything I've ever needed at this time in my life.
'Even though it's 'unconventional', you can always go back to that corporate lifestyle. It'll always be there.'
Eventually, Ayla plans to return to live and work in London but vows not to return to a corporate job to maintain her freedom.
She said: 'I know I'm going to come back to London eventually, I know I want to be based here.
'I want to be able to relax, travel and have that flexibility so am planning on getting a job in hospitality after. I want the flexibility to travel again.'
And speaking about how the 'devastating' end of her relationship inspired her to make a new start, she said: 'I had time to reevaluate the trajectory of where I wanted to be. All of my friends are in long-term relationships. I'm just doing the complete opposite.
'People say "aren't you worried about not finding someone?" but that's not even on my cards right now.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Julianne Moore, 64, ditches Hollywood glamour as she posts rare makeup-free selfie
Julianne Moore was effortlessly radiant as she posted a rare makeup-free selfie to Instagram on Tuesday. The 64-year-old Oscar winner - who recently whisked herself away for an Italian getaway with her family - shared the photo with fans while reflecting on special moments from the month of August thus far. The mom-of-two flashed a cheerful smile as she sported a plunging, black bikini top while spending time outdoors. Julianne also opted to showcase her glowing skin to her 2.7 million followers while taking in a scenic sunset. Another image was taken of a wooden deck that was surrounded by trees and tall grass as water stretched out in the distance. The blue sky was covered with wispy clouds that had hues of orange and pink as the evening sun began to set. The Oscar winner jumped to her main Instagram page on Tuesday to share special moments from the month of August thus far; seen in May in NYC The May December actress indulged in a tasty meal that comprised of fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese. Julianne's dog Hope also celebrated turning one year older and the Hollywood star included a slide dedicated to the adorable pup. Both she and her husband Bart Freundlich adopted the lab mix back in 2020 from Gimme Shelter Animal Rescue. Lastly, the star showed her Wordle score to her fans and simply captioned the Instagram carousel with, 'August.' Julianne has previously opened up about beauty and offered her thoughts on the phrase 'aging gracefully.' During a past interview with As If Magazine in 2021, she said, 'There's so much judgement inherent in the term "aging gracefully." Is there an ungraceful way to age? 'We don't have an option, of course. No one has an option about aging, so it's not a positive or a negative thing, it just is.' In regards to aging, the actress explained that it is 'part of the human condition, so why are we always talking about it as if it is something that we have control over?' She added that growing older should instead be focused on 'challenging ourselves' and to 'learn new things.' 'How do we continue to evolve? How do we navigate life to have even deeper experiences?' Julianne further expressed. And while talking to Glamour, the Sirens star stated that she felt 'makeup is something that you should want to wear, but you shouldn't feel like you have to. 'I think it's an antiquated idea, this idea that we put makeup on to cover something up, to cover up our flaws, or to look professional. You can be professional without makeup. Makeup should be a want, not a need.' She later reflected, 'That's the biggest change that I think we've had in the beauty industry…is that you do it for yourself, not because you feel that you have to.' During an interview with Vogue in 2023, Julianne gave insight into her skincare routine - which comprises of Cetaphil cleanser, SPF, serums and eye cream. And when it comes to the application of makeup, the mom-of-two explained that she doesn't 'like a lot of coverage; I like to be able to see the freckles in my skin and color in my skin as well.' Julianne has been keeping busy during the summer season and recently enjoyed an Italian trip with her husband Bart as well as their two children Liv, 27, and Caleb, 23. The actress and her loved ones were spotted taking a dip in the cool water in the city of Grosseto. Julianne sported a black, one-piece swimsuit while her mini-me daughter donned a shimmering gold bikini. She additionally shared a few memorable pictures to her Instagram page from the family vacation, including her two kids posing together. Another showed Liv and Caleb pausing for a snap with their dad Bart - whom Julianne tied the knot with in 2003. The actress also recently made an appearance in the Netflix limited series titled Sirens - alongside other cast members such as Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon and Glenn Howerton. The premise is: 'Worried about her sister's too-close relationship with her billionaire boss, a scrappy everywoman seeks answers at a lavish seaside estate,' per an official synopsis. The show has garnered critical praise since its release on the streaming site back in May. Sirens also recently raked in Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Meghann and also Outstanding Directing. A couple months earlier in June, Julianne also hinted at a possible move to the U.K. - after other Hollywood celebrities have left the U.S. following Donald Trump's presidential win late last year in November. During an appearance on Capital Breakfast with her Echo Valley co-star Sydney Sweeney, the Still Alice actress explained how she has a British passport due to her mother being from Scotland. When asked if she could 'see herself' residing in the U.K. full-time, Julianne replied, 'I can actually, my husband and I have talked about that sometimes. It could be kind of fun. 'I've worked here a lot and I'm really comfortable here. I've been working here, gosh, probably since the nineties...' Other stars that have moved out of the United States since Trump's second term began in the White House include Rosie O'Donnell, Eva Longoria and Ellen DeGeneres.
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Brooklyn Beckham follows in David's footsteps as he 'reveals plans to buy a Napa Valley winery for his wife Nicola Peltz'
is reportedly following in his father David's footsteps and has plans to buy a vineyard for his wife Nicola Peltz. The aspiring chef and wine lover, 26, - who is currently based in LA with wife Nicola, 30, - has big dreams to own a winery in Napa, according to a new report. News of the plans come as the Beckham family feud is continuing to rumble on, with Brooklyn and Nicola renewing their vows this past weekend without any of their family present. David reportedly purchased a private vineyard in Napa Valley for his wife Victoria back in 2008 - though its location and details have always been kept a secret, claims The Sun via Hello! Magazine. David reportedly presented Victoria with the surprise during a trip the US and unveiled the vineyard by gifting Victoria a bottle of wine with her name on the label. A source told The Sun at the time: 'The Beckhams became wine buffs when he played in Spain. The vineyard went down a storm with Victoria. She was delighted.' And following in his footsteps, now Hello! magazine reports that Brooklyn's 'ultimate desire' is to own a winery in Napa. They report: 'His ultimate desire is to open his own winery in Napa with enough land for Nicola to not only rescue as many dogs as possible but for them to also raise miniature cattle.' Representatives for Brooklyn have been contacted by Daily Mail for comment. Unlike other celebrities Victoria and David haven't publicly marketed any wines from their vineyard and the exact value of the whole property isn't publicly available. But Hello reports that the vineyard sits in the grounds of a mansion and is 'valued at many millions of dollars'. As well as the Napa Valley vineyard David and Victoria used to own a £1.5million villa in St Tropez which had its own vineyard. In 2003, when David left Manchester United, he and Victoria splashed out on the holiday home near St Tropez. The property had 34 rooms, a heated pool and its own vineyard along with a private chapel. They put in a large amount of money for renovations, adding a black marble kitchen, Moroccan-style pool house and chintzy living room. In the early years, before David went to play for LA Galaxy, the family used to spend their holidays there. It was put up for sale in 2015 for £2.5 million and was re-listed for £2.4 million in 2016, after the couple realised that they never used the house yet were still paying for its staff and upkeep. The winery revelations come after heartbroken David and Victoria fear their eldest son Brooklyn has 'quit the family' after he failed to invite any of his relatives to his secret vow renewal. Brooklyn and wife Nicola, who first wed in 2022, said 'I do' for a second time on August 2 in Westchester County in front of her family who had key roles in the day, with the Beckham clan nowhere in sight. Nicola wore her 70-year-old mother's vintage 1985 bridal gown for the big day, while her father Nelson, 83, was given the key role of officiating. Brooklyn's parents and siblings Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 14, reportedly only found out about their big day after reading about it on a US website. Their eldest son has become increasingly estranged from the family ever since he snubbed his father's 50th birthday, and now, the family fear it's a final kick in the teeth for the family. A source told The Sun: 'This was the final kick in the teeth for David and Victoria. Seeing Nelson having such a pivotal role at the ceremony was heartbreaking for David especially. Not one member of the 30-plus extended family knew about the wedding, or were invited. 'His grandparents are devastated too as Brooklyn has always been so close to them.' The source added: 'It feels cruel and spiteful. This is no longer a game. It has gone beyond all that. This is a family who feel they have lost their precious boy - and see no way back. 'Honestly, they are now questioning why he even wants to keep the 'Beckham' surname - will he revert to Peltz? August 2nd 2025 - is this the day Brooklyn formally declared himself no longer a part of the Beckham family? It certainly feels like it.'. Daily Mail has contacted Brooklyn, Nicola and the Beckhams' representatives for comment. Brooklyn and Nicola first tied the knot in a lavish £3million ceremony in 2022, when relations first began to sour with his parents in the run-up to the big day. After shunning a dress made by her fashion designer Victoria in favour of a Valentino gown in 2022 - a choice which wasn't well received - Nicola once again snubbed her mother-in-law and wore her mother Claudia's vintage wedding gown. It is a poignant message to Posh and Becks', whom he and Nicola have grown increasingly estranged over recent months. All the while the Beckhams were said to be upset by the Peltzes in 2022 who they felt were taking over the wedding. And ever since their first big nuptials in April 2022, the two families have not reunited and Nicola has rarely been pictured with the Beckhams. Brooklyn and wife Nicola , who first wed in 2022, said 'I do' for a second time on August 2 in Westchester County in front of her family who had key roles in the day, with the Beckham clan nowhere in sight (their engagement post pictured) The couple shared the images on Instagram on Monday, alongside the words 'only love.' Nicola wore the same original $1.8mill ring set adding a glinting filter onto the dazzling jewels. Brooklyn described the vow renewal as a 'really beautiful experience' while admitting he is still head-over-heels for his wife. Speaking for the first time about the day, the 26-year-old admitted he'd happily do it 'every single day' if he could. Brooklyn said the moment was all about creating a 'really cute memory' they'd treasure forever.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Max Verstappen and his stylish girlfriend Kelly Piquet step out in the Sardinian sunshine with their kids on family trip - after buying plot of land in Portugal
Max Verstappen and his stylish girlfriend Kelly Piquet stepped out in the Sardinian sunshine with their kids on a family trip this weekend. The F1 star, 27, and model Kelly, 36, were enjoying some quality time together in the upmarket Porto Cervo area of the Italian island. Max welcomed his first child - a girl called Lily - with girlfriend Kelly in May this year. While Lily is Max's first child, Kelly already has a daughter, Penelope, born in 2019, from her previous relationship with Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat, 30. Both children joined them on the trip as they all stepped out together for a stroll in the picturesque port town. Kelly looked summer chic in a white and beige striped dress which she teamed with brown sliders as she pushed Lily's pram. Meanwhile Max cut a casual figure in a navy T-shirt and white shorts as he carried some shopping bags. Their family holiday in Sardinia comes after the pair purchased a plot of land at the luxury development Pinheirinho Comporta in Portugal. Daily Mail understands that the couple are planning to build a property there, after spending plenty of time in the sunny holiday destination. Max's jet was recently spotted at the airport nearby, and he spent time playing golf with his friends and relaxing on the beach at the exclusive UltraLuxe Pinheirinho Comporta resort. This is the second year in a row the couple have spent part of their summer in the area, with Kelly often sharing holiday snaps with her social media followers. Pinheirinho is a large coastal estate near Comporta, Portugal, known for its natural beauty and high-end development. It features a blend of luxury residences, a championship golf course, and a resort and spa. Beyond golf, the area offers opportunities for surfing, horseback riding, tennis, and other outdoor activities. Other celebrity residents include Christian Louboutin, Princess Eugenie and visitors include Claudia Schiffer, Madonna and Harrison Ford. Daily Mail has contacted Max and Kelly's representatives for comment. Max welcomed his first child with girlfriend Kelly in May this year. He announced the news on Instagram, sharing a slew of black and white snaps of their baby girl, whom he called the 'greatest gift' and revealed they had named her Lily. Alongside the adorable pictures, he wrote: 'Welcome to the world, sweet Lily. Our hearts are fuller than ever - you are our greatest gift. We love you so much.' When talking about having his first child, Max previously explained he is already somewhat prepared thanks to Penelope. The Dutchman said in the Talking Bull podcast : 'Luckily I did get a little bit of training with Penelope, seeing her grow up already for like four years. Which has been also really, really nice. 'But yes, for sure, when it's like, also going be fully your own [kid]... Yes, it's going to be a different challenge. But I'm looking forward to it'. The couple began dating in October 2020, and announced that they were expecting their first child together last December. Despite having a nine-year age gap, Kelly previously said that her relationship with Max is thriving because of the mutual understanding they have for each other. Kelly, said: 'I think we have a very healthy relationship, easygoing, we have a lot of understanding and support for each other. 'You would think the age difference could be a challenge, but so far things are going really well. 'I also really appreciate how he treats Penelope. It's so sweet to see.' The subject of marriage has been publicly addressed by Max, who said that only 'time will tell' if he and Kelly decide to tie the knot. Kelly is the daughter of F1 legend Nelson Piquet, who won three Drivers' Championships himself in the 1980s, though he was also embroiled in a racism scandal with Lewis Hamilton.
