Routine by Thomas Feng - Thomas Feng - Photographer and Storyteller
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Routine

What you don't see

Thomas Feng
By Thomas Feng

learning

Excuse the radio silence, I have been learning.

Learning how to bring myself out of bed from a summer afternoon slumber.

Learning how to spend time away from the internet.

Learning how to open myself up again to people.

A photo in this story

Life has been fast. So fast that I haven't been taking photos. Or writing.

What you don't see is the enjoyment of riding my bike to work everyday; of reading a new book every week; of relearning Chinese most days; of joining a chess club again.

A photo in this story

It has been a while since I have enjoyed routine this much.

Every Saturday, Nathan and I have had a batch brew at our new local favourite cafe in South Yarra after a sweaty morning of basketball. Our barista Zach gives us a couple of milk crates to sit by the curb and we talk life.

I have been stumbling into my neighbour Claire at the park on weekends to read in the sun; and we have bonded over books, food and change. She has given me FODMAP-friendly cookies, and different perspectives to ponder as a millennial observing her life as an independent woman slightly older than me.

Sometimes I spend enough money at the local green grocers that they give me flowers. A couple of weeks ago, I found a vase to put them in.

A photo in this story

I have just come back from another trip overseas. But I think it is important to recognise what you often don't see here: the sweet moments in between at home.

They seem small; mundane; meaningless. Of which they are.

And yet they are hopeful. Profound. Golden.

A photo in this story

© 2025 Thomas Feng

I'm Thomas, and I use words and film cameras to tell stories. I have been shooting predominantly with a Canonet QL17 since 2015. I was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia but my family are from China.
When I'm not reading and writing, I'm probably eating Vegemite toast.
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