28.11.2025 Friday - cool heads prevail, will work for food

Yesterday, during an online meeting - a PM was quite rude to PH, we were wondering which  direction to go when Azlan rang us up, and asked to meet this morning. We go and see him, Sam is invited to join - I can see that A is a good leader and a nice person. 

Lesson:

•  always best to sort out difficult issues face to face
• watch how this person treats his colleagues and the wait staff (if you are meeting over coffee or lunch)
• don't give up a project because someone is rude or un-reasonable, try and adjust yourself to till do the work well, it is not about giving is, it is about taking the professional route
• or else, we lose a job not because of our short-comings but another persons' short temper.

To celebrate, we eat Bibimbap after which Sam and I go shopping for rugs and lamps at Ikea. We had earlier bought paint to 'renovate' our little apartment unit. We work from 530pm until 830pm, painting two large walls, moving furniture around, discarding crates and boxes. Although, dog-tired, we walk to Isetan to buy half price sushi before walking home again to plate the food, and photograph them before eating at 10pm. 

27.11.2025 Thursday - an early flight to KL

After yesterday's meeting with the client accompanied by Fiona, I am energised about these projects again. I always do better in a team, and for now we are a team of two (perhaps three with JY joining later). We share ideas about the theatre - I sketch out some detail and share with her. She has already planned out how to deal with the authorities. something that I have not thought about, you see - she is a steady hand. 

26.11.2025 Wednesday - the pipes are clear

We go to the cardiologist this morning - I had a sense of impending doom although I feel fine. And as it turns out my valves are fine, although I have to watch my cholesterol levels, he suggests that I take some medication which I do willingly. He shakes my hand after the consultation which I have not experienced with a doctor before, perhaps he is congratulating my for my (quite) clean bill of health. 

Tomorrow, we travel to KL for a follow up with the foot doctor - this must be a symptom of growing old.

25.11.2025 Tuesday - another project completed, another one on the way

I have an early morning with PH and his team, attending the CORLISS site walk. From the site, I can see RENNA which was recently completed and handed over the client. I sometimes wonder how we do it as a small practice which fewer than 10 people. But then, we did the hospital with 5 people, who worked on it almost full-time as it was our only project then. 

Today - SKM and PuiHoong leaves Kuching, they visit the office and eat durian, meet Leong and Fish (again). They leave Kuching with a different impression of the place and its people, I am sure that they are pleasantly surprised by the generosity and hospitality, and the relaxed and open-minded attitude to life. 

Sam is working hard on the submission to Faiz, we work until 730 p.m. - this is good for her, I feel. Especially, when we are able to correct PH's comment about Sam 'helping out' in the office. 

24.11.2025 Monday

23.11.2025 Sunday - testing pain levels

Painting starts poorly, as expected - new medium and difficult subject; me. It is ok, I am positive that things will get better when I start to abstract the subject matter; streetscapes imagined from differently cities we have been to. 

Pickleball is better, I play several sets of singles and do well. My ankles/heels unfortunately do not do so well - I am glad we are seeing the doctor again this week. I am seeing another doctor this week, I am resigned to let them do as they see fit; they are the experts. My job is to continue what I am doing; eat well, eat right, exercise, stay moving and relax with reading and drawing. 

22.11.2025 Saturday - a good outing

We cook dinner at No. 40 for SKM and 'Carol' - this time they meet our other group of friends; from Sam's gym, Sara's work friends, and Sim who is at a loose end as Wawa is away in KL. It turns out to a really good outing for everyone with Pete telling silly stories and Dyan in her best gossipy mode. Her cousin June is a new face, recently returned from Perth grew up in Sabah and now in Kuching to retire. This is a nice new experience for Carol, who appears to have a rather narrow world view, she wonders why we would have non Chinese people into our house to work, clean, cut the grass. Race and religion seems to come into their lives all the time, I am glad that we have an opportunity to show them how the good life is lived. And I am also glad that this is only a small dose of them in Kuching. 

Earlier today - I met with Suen Ling and her client (soon to be our client as well) - we talk about my scheme for the Bali hotel. I think we strike it off - I ll make some notes of our chat and revert. She will then have to decide the direction and budget - I tell her I won't talk about money for now and am happy to work out some sort of hotel stay exchange over the next ten years.