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)
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