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.

19.4.2026 Sunday - cooking on Sunday

During our lunch, Sam and I play a little game - we try to think who we are envious of, and after struggling for while she manages to name a gym friend who has slim thighs despite eating 3 large meals a day.  

I have been envious of many people in the past, none comes to mind these days. I don't think it is because we have improved in our stature, rather we have matured and decided to be happy with what we have in life. 

Sam thinks certain people feel that I should have set up the Borneo Architecture Journal website when I was serving at PAMSC, instead of doing it as a personal initiative. Perhaps they see it as trying to upstage the efforts of the local chapter of the Architects' Institute. These people have not confronted me directly, of course they won't - they are our biggest fans 'watching us from the sidelines' although unlike fans they do not offer applause. SY thinks that they simply watch and feel envious. 

If they were to bring this up with me, I would remind them that:

1. we served for 14 years, editing and producing the chapter's newsletter for 12 years - bring it from a 10-page newsletter to a 24-page mini magazine. Later the newsletter would evolve into a digital publication released fortnightly; alternating from one for news, announcements and government circulars (NEWS), with another for design and project features (FLASH).
2. during our terms, we started the World Architecture Day celebrations, which evolved in Cardboard City, with student competitions, exhibitions. We did this for 6 - 8 years. 
3. and on top of that, our Media and Publication team took over the Design Forum and developed it into PDF (PAMSC Design Festival) which had design seminars, student design workshops and exhibitions. We arranged to have these video-recorded for YOUTube. During the pandemic, we converted the design seminar into a series of online lectures called 5at5 where speakers from China, Taiwan, Indonesia, West Malaysia and beyond 'zoomed' at 5pm on 5-consecutive Fridays to give a 30-minute talk, followed by a 20-minute Q&A. Each talk ends with a virtual tour of a recent project by the architect, using the video call function of his handphone. We had the recent Pritzker Prize winner, Liu Zia-kun take us for a tour of his office. 

I feel this is substantial contribution, for a team of 4. The office bearers were not involved. This is usually the case in a committee of volunteers, if you are seen to be doing ok/well, the others step back and watch. And in the creation of the Borneo Architecture Journal website where we feature works by local architects and designers - we are continuing to benefit the local chapter and its members, I cannot call it a collaboration because the latter requires both hands to clap. 

 

18.4.2026 Saturday - is baking day

A few week ago, I asked Sam to teach me how to make her fruit cake, today she finds the time (and patience) to teach me the steps. It is quite simple, she says but she has done this hundreds of times, so of course it is simple (for her). She is patient with me, she is a better do-er than teacher, she readily admits this especially when teaching grown ups. Perhaps it is because of my current slightly disabled condition, that she has found added patience, or perhaps it is because we are on our own - two persons who have been on our own for a decade before the children came along. Our usual 'gang' has been quiet, perhaps this is a milestone, who knows - I have decide not to initiate anything to see if they would. And they have not, but life gets in the way; aging parents, work deadlines, health worries. 

But it is ok, I have her for company most of the time. Failing which, I am happy with my own company.

 

17.4.2026 Friday - thinking about lighting and ending with steel and trees

lighting ideas for our librarian, blatantly adapting from Neri&Hu

 

saving trees - why would they think it is ok to chop it down without asking first

Just another day of work, and eating, and weight training (this time just before dinner time) - which gives me plenty of time to think; about growth both personal and professional, about mine and the others. I come to the realisation that the young ones will overtake the elders unless the seniors continue to develop, adapt and learn new skills. 

On that note, I ring a client and we talk about reviving a dormant project. He rang back later with a promise of a new project, I tell one other person only; reluctant/careful not to get too carried away with myself. 

Later in the afternoon, another client ring and we speak for 30 seconds during which we managed to save a tree on one of our building sites. Another highlight for the day. 

I enjoy this, I am likely an engineer or steel fabricator in another life

16.4.2026 Thursday - a slow day

I feel mentally slow today; maybe it is the heat and maybe is the foot injury. But I am heavy headed and achey - the lunch with Sam and the gym session does not help. I am in bed early and wake up late. 

There are several highlights though; HP comes on her own accord to see me about site planning issues. I hope to see more of that. Freddie comes over to discuss project fee claims with Sean, and does not include me (I see that as a sign of independence, which he sees in Sean as well), I have a good chat about the website with my two elves - they have ideas about how to improve traffic. And later in the evening, JY has a chat about the apartment layouts with Freddie (who happened to be sitting nearby) and had some firm ideas about design, which I am very happy to see and hear. 

I saw this and though of some ideas for the Toorak House

https://archello.com/project/premio-unic

15.4.2026 Wednesday - the act of carrying

 I observe how Sam has to carry my backpack as I get on the crutches, and decide 'actually, I do not have to take work home'. I don't do any work from home anyway, if I feel the need to, I can do two things:

1. use the laptop at home

2. come to the office (it is ten minutes away)

It is silly to carry all that stuff to and from daily, if there is something to bring home daily, to have with me all the time - that would be my sketchbook (and a pen). My team are carrying much of the weight of our office's work, and I do not have to do this anymore. This means that nothing is so urgent that it requires me to work at home, this will be a new phase for me. I will do something else in that 'free' time.

Taking work home was a habit learnt from my days in a large corporate firm in the 90's, instead of staying late in the office, I would take my work home and do it on the coffee table while minding Sean and Sara. Once my manager confronted me with an accusation - that I have been distracted from work because Sam has just started her own design company and I was busy helping her over hours. (instead of spending my 'after hours' doing the company's work). Needless to say, I exploded at the little man (as I was prone to do in my 30's) - 'I am at home writing minutes and answering letters for your company, and just because I don't do a big show of it by staying back late at the office, you immediately think the worst of me. Shame on you - was I late with any of my deadlines?' That little man is still there, and I am not. 

So, new chapter starts this week - do other stuff at home, just not work. 

another milestone - we are officially linked to the PAM magazine website