26.4.2026 Sunday - re-connecting, almost.

EH texted Sam last night so there are plans this morning to meet for breakfast. He cannot make it so we meet with the others instead, and update them on my ankle which is getting better. I am able to walk about with the boot now, and the wound is closing up. Motivated by this, I finish a good work out at the PD - we meet the good doctor and he obvious misses our chats; we talk in the car park about my recovery, about sports and about his previous recovery from the same injury.

I am reminded why I am reluctant to share too much about my situation, he does talk/share a lot about things that do not directly concern him/them. One good thing comes out of this belated meeting - Sam will join in a hospital visit to Johnson tomorrow. 

25.4.2026 Saturday - edit profile using the elevation view

Today is a work day, Sam takes me to the office after a simple breakfast - folks make way for me when they see my crutches (and offer us a place to sit). I work on the penthouse layout until Freddie tells me a few shortfalls, I stop and start on the Revit model of the butterfly park instead. Henry teaches me how to edit the profile of my balustrade, I am happy but am a long way off from a working set of drawings. 

Luckily Sean arrives to 'push' me to a gym workout and buys me a nice lunch after that. 

24.4.2026 Friday - something I have not done for a long time

The antibiotics are making me tired and sleepy, Sam is tired as well, coordinating the final touches of the renovation project. In the afternoon, I do something I have not done for a long time; I have nap at 230pm. I wake up at 4pm - I do not feel very useful. Sean has been more useful; attending meetings with clients on site and at their office. He seems energised by the productivity. He takes my my advice and pair a baggy short with fitting trousers (and vise versa, I told him i.e. baggy trouser and a fitting top. 

Later, Sean drives us to dinner at The Spring, I eat a lot of protein and drink one beer.

she brings lui chai to lunch and we shared one portion of rice, I was chatting to Tao so I snapped this photo to send to him

23.4.2026 Thursday - taking the lead

trying to revive this project

I mentioned to Sam that Sean was very chatty during our office meeting; explaining his game plan for the re-submission, to see a client about new work, and telling stories from his recent site visits. We decide to discuss 3 projects only, in detail - to keep the meeting focused and the targets realistic. There are snacks on the table and everyone chatted for 40 minutes, concluding that we will find time to update our company website this quarter. 

22.4.2026 Wednesday - many good things happened

Many good things happened - HJ's words when I told her that our recent dinner with the INTERSECTION team coincided with our final issue of this newsletter. It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was only two years, during which many good things did happen. SY set up BES S/B; a company for organising events, and we launched BAJ; a digital platform to showcase architecture and design in Borneo. 

HJ started a food business which became successful enough for her to have a break from graphic design. We all started taking more trips, and take stock of our lives; children growing up, moving out, time for ourselves. It was also a time for HJ to find out that most architect bosses do not work like our gang of 4.

And indeed several good things happened today - an enquiry from a potential client, a good meeting with another client to close out schematic design for some apartments, the swelling at my ankle has gone down (tomorrow the stitches come off). I think can make travel plans to Taiwan already.

21.4.2026 Tuesday - a good day at the races

 

The office is half empty this morning, some are at the Council reviewing drawings with the officers, others attend a final planning briefing with the client's team before submission. JY and I have a quiet discussion about elder friendly units, four of them; we decide that they are a benefit to the scheme, rather than a hindrance from the regulations. After that, I go through lighting details with CS, who has a good work-plan for each week. I tell HP about her new role in the housing project, she does not seem fazed - the women in our team are resilient and organised; they don't flinch when plans change, or when work load increases - they confer, reset and get to the task at hand. They have a calming affect on me.

In the afternoon, HHH rings and asks if I worked on a former project in JB, I tell him - yes. It seems it might be reactivated. I ask him they are interested to continue, he says he'll check. Later, he rings to say they would like me to continue - I ring the lady in PJ and we agree to set up an online meeting this week. PH might finally have something to get his fingers into over there.

https://www.blurarchitecture.com/old-geelong

20.4.2026 Monday - some joy

The hours seem longer now that I don't have sports and games to occupy my evenings, and there is no cycling around like a madman getting into all sorts of mischief. Surprisingly, I don't really miss the sports as much as I miss the swimming and the cycling. Sara loaned me a rubber exercise band to aid to my home gym equipment. Hopefully the stitches can come off this Thursday, and I can do a bit of swimming (and walking in the pool). 

Meanwhile, I have not missed the company of my friends as much as the quiet coffee mornings. The early starts to the day gives me a quiet 30 minutes before I begin work, so this is a good thing as well.    I decide to exercise in the morning, followed by another before dinner - these are short spells of shoulders, arms, chest and core calisthenics mostly. The kettlebell (singular) comes in handy. 

Small doses of joy in the parcels of care I receive; getting wheeled to the car, getting my coffee prepared for me - small kindness throughout the day. Freddie brings me a takeaway kopi when he drops by for our meetings, very sweet of him and I don't have the heart to tell him that his kopi is too sweet for me. 

Our monthly hot breakfast can get quite elaborate, we might need to scale down to simple fare; nice bread, fruit and coffee will do and folks can bring snacks to enjoy together

the beginnings of the Butterfly Park

David asks if we are interested in pitching for a hospital project, we had earlier turned down this offer from the client (the job was too big) - but with help, we are more likely to participate. I am keen to put the knowledge we have gained from the BSC experience, it seems a pity not to put it to good use.