yuan0_0

14 September 2025
with Ashley

Ashley and her brother came to London the week after my one-way flight from Jakarta. It was absolutely pissing it down that day—a proper welcome, weather-wise—but having her here made the move feel less like a leap. Her warmth is truly her superpower, and I #neededthat.

4 October 2025 (pre-Harvest Moon)
with Joelle, Millie, and the bouncer at Colours Hoxton

We made a heart out of leaves on the pavement to charm the bouncer (and maybe the owner?) at Colours Hoxton. It somehow worked, and we got free entry and drinks.

9 October 2025
The autumn I turned chunc (23) with Rhea

For my birthday, I dilly dallied around Columbia Road and bought myself a bottle of 10+10=22, a white wine by Domaine Padié, apparently inspired by Massive Attack’s 1991 album Blue Lines. It was meant to go with steak dinner with Rhea later that night, but we skipped the steak, and ended up with hand-pulled noodles from Xi’an Impression instead. Close enough.

18 October 2025

I felt like Jeffree Star rearranging eyeshadow with my Instagram stories this day.

2 November 2025
with Rachida, Angie

I think meeting Rachida in our apartment elevator was a small divine event. Since then, there have been several funny little coincidences. Our first proper hangout was healing. We wandered the neighbourhood, picked up good coffee and pastries, and spotted ducks and deer at Highbury Fields.

Later that day, I met Angie for our monthly catch-up over Sunday roast. She’s my best friend (and neighbour) from home, and I don’t think I have the right words for how much I wouldn’t have made it here without her, but I’m pretty sure she already knows that.

5 November 2025
EsDeeKid Rebel Tour London Night 2 @ Electric Ballroom

I was bedridden for a few days before this but had to lock in for pre-EsDeeKid Guinness, EsDeeKid, and post-EsDeeKid burger.

9 November 2025
with Joelle

Whole day with Joelle. She’s one of my favourite people here, and I’m really grateful we reconnected. We started at Columbia Road Flower Market, which was a cesspool of metrosexuals and tourists, then people-watched at Broadway Market. After that, we checked out the newly opened Kiko Kostadinov store, and spent the rest of the day hopping from establishment to establishment: Dan’s → Goodbye Horses → Brewhouse & Kitchen → Trullo.

12 November 2025
with Kali, the neighbourhood cat

These were taken today! I met Kali after a lovely chat with Sophie and some quiet work time at Kissa Wa. I thought she was lost and hungry, so I got her kitty treats. Turns out she’s just greedy and on a side quest. She is the most auspicious kitty in all of Islington.

I don’t know where I’m headed, but I’m at peace with that. I think I’ve stopped needing to know what comes next. Things have a way of working out, even when I feel like I’ve let myself down. No more moving through the days like I’m not really in them. I’m documenting everything because, for the first time in a while, it truly feels like things are falling into place, and my dreams are starting to take shape while I was busy doing something else, one small surprise at a time :]