Running from London to Surrey Hills (Reigate Hill)
I had an idea of visiting Surrey Hills National Landscape two years ago, and planned to start from London on foot - running! The route has long been saved on my Strava app. However, the plan has never been fulfilled until this week……
Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Maybe many of us are able to say “give it a try”, but most of us don’t know how, ending up trying everything, doing many things, trapping in the negative feedback loop of failure/frustration and resulting in burnout. The author Anne-Laure Le Cunff gives us solid ideas.
Why do I study and sketch hotels and hotels?
Hotels and hostels are temporary accommodations when people are traveling. As the physical space involves humans, it can be studied in an academic way (e.g. psychology, sociology, archaeology and anthropology) while I learn by curiosity, observation and sketching.
Always Take Notes (book) - what writing means to us
Always Take Notes is a podcast interviewing a lot of writers. Now they have a book extracting and categorizing words from their interviewees into various topics like how they get ideas, how they research, how they can successfully get their works published, how they treat money, how their life is, how to stay motivated... It's not only for those who want to be writers, but for everyone too!
The Life of Chuck (film)
The storyboard is simple, but is told in a reverse way to unlock the unknowns. Not to mention it's encouraging. Strongly recommended!
On Obsidian — am I designing a pilot dashboard?
When Obsidian launched v1.9.12 in August which has significantly improved its mobile experience, I gave it a try again.
When free stuff is better than paid products; when cheaper things are better than expensive those
Under capitalism, life is always easier when we make use of our money to pay for products or services. However, there are also things for free, which can be worse than purchasing, while some can be better. Based on my experience in London, I am here to list a few free and cheap stuff which are worth.
Speaking of feedback loops
One thing we aren’t really aware of is the existence of feedback loops, which greatly affect our daily life and future.
Z Hotel in Bath — paying attention to details contribute to nice staying experience
During my trip to Bath in March this year (2025), I stayed in two hotels. Besides Travelodge on Sunday which had a very great price for SuperRoom, I also tried Z Hotel.
A story in one picture
All these can form to become context, which creates stories that we love. That's why my sketches have surrounding scenes which contribute to context I noticed.
A visit to Crossness Pumping Station
I have longed for visiting this beautiful Victorian pumping station in Abbey Wood, east London, and it finally came true this summer.
My road to productivity
I am now here to share how the value of productivity gradually shaped my life since attending schools, how I live with this attitude and find ways to make my life easier.
Library, where you can find information that doesn't exist online
Even though I prefer reading ebooks borrowed from my library app (Libby) these days, I still visit libraries in different places because of their architecture, interior design and especially local information which is not available online.
Materialists — why love is easier than what we think, and dating is more risky than we expect.
When I was studying sociology in university, I learned a term called commodification, an idea of how capitalism works that even humans can be a commodity trying to "be sold successfully” to make a living. The latest movie Materialists focuses on love and marriage.
Cheam and Ewell — crossing the border of Greater London
I know the place Cheam when I started travelling from Putney to Wimbledon by bus route 93, which ends North Cheam in the south. Driven by curiosity, I googled and decided to visit there…
Another View Hotel stay in Folkestone this time, following Eastbourne
Remember my previous View Hotel stay for my birthday? About a month later, I stayed another one which was in Folkestone.
To not worry is not to stop thinking
"Don't think too much" is the usual response to others when they are worrying about something. It makes sense when our emotions are driven by what we think. Stop thinking negatively looks easy but not.
Thoughts after reading The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper (by Roland Allen)
I don't want to say I am doing my book review because I was not literally reading every word in detail or I want to rate how the book is well written. But, the book is so inspiring that I want to share what I think and what I will do related to my daily life including sketching.
Is Worthing worth visiting?
I didn't know Worthing until Travelodge website showed me. I have been there twice in March this year (2025), and believe I will come back.
Travelling by bus is like a game
Yes, bus is inefficient, but taking bus is a sort of great practice in life, when our modern life has become much more convenient and straightforward so that we can be more vulnerable to changes and even challenges which we are unable to avoid.