31 Dec 2021 Friday - Taking Stock

 

Another year spent away from the kids, it was difficult and yet not because we were comforted that they are both staying together and watching out for each other. In the recent trip back, they seemed closer, chatting like friends despite living in each others pockets - they are a contrast in personalities. Perhaps that's why it fits. 

 We set up a work space in the living room, and I love the efficiency of it working close to Sam and having enough space to spread my things about. It is nice after years of sitting on the floor, eating and working from a coffee table to be about to look out the window. (This means that there is a table missing in the man-cave)

And at this table, early most mornings I try to sketch something, draw in the big sketchbook, use unfamiliar mediums; charcoal, pastels, ink and twigs. (I must do this more, and start using oil paints). At about 7 am, if the weather is good - Ni gets me for tennis. We play for 45 minutes as there are only both of us, Khoon left for NZ in August. But new friends were made, James, Kelvin and Richard - and Patrick plays with me in the afternoons (all Roman Catholic names, we do play within earshot of the priest's sermons after all). 

As part of my responsibility and also to repay Ni for taking mom into her apartment, I baby-sit mom on Sundays so Ni can go for her yoga class. I combine this with teaching Ashley (and now Darryl) how to cook - mom gets involved, cutting, slicing, and bossing the young ones around. Two hours go by really fast. (I still feel that I am personally not contributing enough - it is a big sacrifice especially for SHing and the kids)

Something else which happens really quickly is the release of our newsletter which instead of letting the pandemic slow us down, we went digital and published fortnightly instead of quarterly. We did well, well enough for John (my former boss and taskmaster) to commend us on upping the quality and the output. We budgeted in such a way that all profits are used to thank contributors in care parcels (pies) and lunches (with us) and the occasional tee-shirt with clever message. It is rewarding to work with people with initiative, intelligence and integrity. I am very fortunate to work with such people at the office as well; we started a profit sharing scheme for everyone not just the ones with the degrees - Freddie gave me the idea saying that staff expect a bonus yearly but profits are tied to how well the company is doing. Sharing the profit from certain projects also mean that they can see how it is linked to their contribution. 

(I must not take things for granted and continue to grow them, talk to them more and not assume that all is well all the time)

 

Two really nice things happened in the middle of this year, HL offered the chance of another hospital (in Segamat) and SL decided to return to work with us. As with all things, I had hoped for this; another hospital project to put all that training from Bagan to good use, and also for good people to come back to us. (Last year, it was Fiona who decided to stay in Kuching with us, instead of going back to work in China)

In February, PD Residences took off and construction started after a series of stutters (engineering changes and the pandemic). (This is a good project, we bought a unit and I imagined moving into this one day but Sam had other plans)

30 Dec 2021 Thursday

 

29 Dec 2021 Wednesday

Tuesday - catching up on details and strategies on site with LGW, I miss our chats about work and people and how to deal with both (PD Residences Job-site)

 

28 Dec 2021 Tuesday

 

27 Dec 2021 Monday

This was painted on the wall of a project, meant for the client's team to review and confirm their choice. This was not done, of course which resulted in a flurry of text messages from the client. But the writing as they say is on the wall, go have a look and tell us if you like our choices.
Lesson: put things in writing, even when arguments appear unlikely - it is good housekeeping. 

A client once asked me what was the most difficult part of project management - 'the people' I replied.

We have managed to coordinate a project in Penang from our offices in Kuching and KL for the past 5 years, travelling to and from the site to manage the project; coordinating various work scope, solving details, inspecting quality of built works, meeting deadlines and (of course) managing people. 

There were proactive people; proud of their work and keen to get the project built and there were others who were only interested in maintaining their KPI and not interested in working as a team. 

As a whole, we managed to do quite well; PH with his soft touch and people skills, GW with his attention to detail and insistence on getting things built (as agreed) as per contract and I am in the middle, trying to see both points of views and mediating when needed. More often than not, with a sharp word or a firm rebuttal. GW told me once that if ones lose one's temper, the battle is lost. I agree, but I told him that blowing my top and cursing loudly in Hokkien felt rather good and I feel no regret. (let me be the slightly temperamental and scary one, I don't need to make friends at work).

 

Boxing Day

 

Three returned home for the holidays while one has imminent plans to leave home for further studies - was one of the reasons for this after-Christmas gathering. I realise that we all have our lives with its peaks and troughs which we choose to celebrate quietly on our own or share with others in our worry. 

Sam and I are quite good with both though mostly interested in sharing the joys rather than the complaints, and the communication is even better now that she is actively working with me (since I am working from home most times; the weekends and early mornings usually is when she sees me most)

I thought that it was good for Sean and Sara to see their parents at work; treating it as part of daily lives, a matter-of-fact routine to view a recently struck off-form concrete wall, or to select a colour for the main door. This routine of daily work, which includes my tutoring at uni teaches them that there is a constant flow of work and therefore income so they don't have to worry and on the other hand, I hope it teaches them good work attitude.

Dinner at EH's is always a treat, though I wished for a longer chat after dinner but tomorrow is Monday.

Sean arranged for all of them to have 1 sqft of land in the Scottish Highlands as a Christmas gift 

Louise has become a constant participant of our 'family' dinners. Tonight she talked a bit about her boobs and how good they were.

Christmas Day

I'm best under stress - says Sam as she cleaned up the children's rooms for the return on Christmas day. 

 

Christmas Eve, Friday

Hospital meeting in the morning started on a bright note, with the completion of the Pharmacy and Imaging departments - there are loose ends to tidy up before the 10.1.2022 but it was do-able and everyone seemed pleased with the outcome. We then moved on to general discussions and patient flow with the COO, who made some requests which I pointed out was not sensible; the additional external canopy leading from lobby to A&E, and the extra tall entry canopy at the boom gates. Two canopies which I told her were unnecessary and that we should not do - taking care to point out that we can't seem to satisfy their requirement for weather-tightness. Tat Hong joined and informed the same but with a better bed-side manner (he is the medical planner, so it was not unexpected).

The camera crew was here again, to shoot the back door scenes and seeing that I was free, asked me to walk up and down China Street. This was to sync the visuals with my conversations about how much I value the old shop houses. 

On my way to lunch with Clinton (he was leaving TJ), I saw these happy young bridesmaids helping a friend celebrate her wedding. The photoshoot looked like an amateur affair which I thought was rather sweet, further reinforced by their bright smiles as they saw that I was trespassing on their event.

Inspection defects at the Cove, it is necessary to me to show up at crucial times of the project to push things along to a proper completion. It is not that I am better at it, it is simply because I am older and this is appreciated in Asian cultures.

23 Dec 2021 Thursday

Thursday

 

22 Dec 2021 Wednesday

Wednesday - after the weekend zoom call with Penghui and Fiona, I started to sketch out the SOHO SK2. I did not have the whole idea in my head when I started, but sometimes you just have to start and hope that something will come to the surface. I also wanted to start because I had some free time, while the others are busy. It is a good lesson about getting things started.

So, early this morning, I sent out these images and hope that the others will see something to complement or to contradict me, and improve the scheme. The process goes to and fro until we think that it is ready to show the client. 
 

Late this evening, Teck rang me and asked if I was interested to look into the renovation of an existing hotel in town. I designed and oversaw the construction of his house, I found him to be bold and generous, he can be impatient but values hard work and thoroughness (we have those qualities). IJ was surprised when I told her that we do not pitch for work, and that all of our work is through referrals, which she found hard to believe. Freddie was with us then, and seemed to understand and agree with what I said. I counted and said - we have only 3 clients in total for the larger projects.

I remember that she was a little snooty (lighting supplier)

21 Dec 2021