Two months back, I boxed up my entire life. Ten years, tucked away into some 40-odd boxes.

Thought I’d share a few of the long-lost treasures I stumbled upon.

• a very expensive DaVinci Maestro brush. That specific one usually retails for around 1000 quid. Benoît, if you'd like it back, tough luck. I'm keeping it!
• The wedding ring of the late father of a guy I briefly dated ages ago. I remember him losing it, us tearing apart my flat, his flat. It wasn't to be found, and now here it is. I'd love to return it, but I can't for the life of me recall his name. So, if we dated sometime around 2014-2016, and you're still looking for that ring, please send me an email.
• My favourite scarf. I lost it sometime last winter. I was very upset. I even accused people of stealing it, that's how upset I was. Turns out, it was in the basket with all the dog toys.
• A lot of cash! I hardly ever carry cash. But I regularly order things of off the internet for neighbours who usually reimbursed me with cash. I found a total of 230 euros plus some coins. Whoop!
• So much loose candy. Have I ever bought peanut M&Ms? No. Did I find almost a handful behind the couch? Yup.
• The credit cards I thought lost last summer, shortly before going on a trip. You can imagine how much fun I had getting replacements in time.
• My favourite pair of underpants, tucked away in the lining of my laundry basket.
• A trillion dog treats. They were everywhere. In all my bags, coat pockets. Behind the couch, the bed, the dresser, the washing machine.
• The Cartier Love bracelet I treated myself to a couple of years ago. At the time, it felt like a splurge, but I rarely wore it. And now? Sold it for even more than I’d paid. Cheers to that.
• A flea hairbrush. Ah, the perks of being an aunt.

I am a creature of habit. My mornings are etched in routine: I wake at 6am, head to the bathroom, and brush my teeth while I shower. I feed the dog as I wait for the kettle to boil. With my tea in hand, I scroll through Reddit or read my current book. Afterward, I take Rufus for a walk, grab a cuppa coffee, return home, do a 20-minute yoga session, and then begin work.

I stick to the same coffee shops and restaurants. I enjoy rewatching shows and movies and rereading books. Each year, I take three city trips, usually to Venice, New York, and London. Fridays are for ordering groceries online, Sundays for prepping them.

I am devoted to my routines, altering them only occasionally to fine-tune the minutiae of my day. Yet, within these confines, I find space for change. Over the last decade, I have redecorated and refurnished my flat countless times, painted the walls a new colour at least once a year. I've built a walk-in closet on a whim. I frequently immerse myself in crafts — pottery, bookbinding, furniture building, miniature making, embroidery.

I am never bored. There are always things to do, books to read, movies to watch. At heart, I am a homebody, surrounded by a tight-knit circle of friends and a delightful gaggle of surrogate nieces and nephews.

And now, here I am, on the precipice of significant change. This flat has been more than just my home; it has been my sanctuary for the past decade. And in less than a fortnight, I will bid it farewell.

I was just 27 when I first turned the key in that door. So young then, full of uncertainties about who I was and what lay ahead. Now, a decade on, I may not have all the answers, but I've come to a place where the questions no longer weigh heavily upon me. Perhaps this is it — no longer in pursuit of an elusive identity, but embracing what is and where I'm at in life.

My life has revolved around this flat. It has been my home base, my office, my atelier, my library — the place where I have always felt safe. I returned here heartbroken and cried myself to sleep. I celebrated milestones with friends, cooked dinners for too many people in a kitchen far too small. I got to know my neighbours, both within the flat complex and the wider neighbourhood. I spent nights awake, working on projects. I quit jobs and decided to go freelance full-time. Highs, lows, and the quiet in-betweens. I dyed my hair and painted my walls to reflect my shifting mood. I gave up and let go. This is where I welcomed a rescue pup into my life, where I spent hot summer days perched on the windowsill, and cold winter nights wrapped in thick blankets. Where I ceased loving long-lost lovers and discovered how to love myself.

Leaving feels like not only ending a chapter but closing an entire book. I may not be heading toward greener pastures, but rather, toward something else entirely — something fresh and unexplored. Not necessarily better, but different. And I can't wait!

It's the end of June, it's the end of a lot of things. This was my last full month in my flat, my home for the past decade. I can't believe how fast these last few weeks have flown by.

Change is a peculiar thing. For so long, I had lingered on the precipice, hesitant to move, always looking but never committing. Then, in a millisecond, the decision was made, as if by some unseen force, pulling me from indecision into action.

This month was primarily devoted to planning the move. My mind was constantly occupied with tasks to complete, details to organise, and a seemingly endless list of things to do. As a result, I found myself unable to focus on much else. My time was divided between work and planning the move, leaving little room for anything else.

Some other things

• the heat is killing me. not literally, but close enough.
• i read a lot this month — 11 books in total. i revisited the original hunger games trilogy and finally got around to reading the ballad of songbirds and snakes.
• other notable books of the month: i hope this finds you well by natalie sue and the wishing game by meg shaffer.
• while packing and sorting through my belongings, i watched a lot of shows. i made it through a couple of seasons of criminal minds and started watching the strain.
• totally forgot about my last surviving plant. it died too.
• spent a lot of time researching furniture, wallpaper, and paint colours. right now, i'm on the hunt for the perfect beige-y white shade for my bedroom.
• finished june's daily drawings. this month was way more enjoyable than the last. i loved sitting down [almost] every night, taking a 30-minute break to draw something.

June bookmarks

1. (500) Days of Summer is a Revenge Movie
2. The Perfect Cruelty of the Hunger Games
3. Morris&Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Ink/Sage
4. Loberon – Tienen Sofa
5. Kave Home – Bar Stools
6. Outdoor Couch
7. Louis XVI Dresser