29 April 2022 Friday - MWA Architects Shd. Bhd.

28 April 2022 Thursday - love letters to Sam

 

A good vintage.

Topnotes of summery exuberance

with complex under-tones,

full bodied with good colour 

that is easy on the eye.

A strong finish with a hint of mischief.

ZX calls these little love letters to Sam, I have not thought of them this way before but I suppose this is what they are. 

27 April 2022 Wednesday - sentry duty

Today is Wednesday, which is when collect my mom from Eldercare and have dinner with her before sending her home at 8pm. This is meant to give some respite to my sister whom mom lives with. 

When we started this routine, I saw it as a chore; my duty to play a part in caring for my mom. Later, I found myself looking forward to these dinners and outings with mom. Yes, the conversation can be repetitive but there are moments of clarity when she relates events and stories from the past. She has dementia and can be a test, but Sam treats her with good humour and gives her ear rings to try on. 

I think this is a sign that we are more able to make the best of a situation, and enjoy ourselves in the process. And not be stressed out by someone who is simply aging and losing her memory. 
 

26 April 2022 Tuesday - everyone talking all at once

 My first meeting on site with a new client (new in a sense, I designed his house 17 years ago) who is renovating this hotel of 49 rooms. It was like a war council; every trade and end user department as well as the consultants were represented  The meeting was conducted in Hokkien, English, and in good humour. They have all worked together and seemed like good friends. The meeting was very productive with firm decisions made, though it seemed at times to veer off with everyone talking at once. As if they were making plans to go to the pub. 

25 April 2022 Monday - face to face lessons.

Talking to Studio 3 about the importance of seeing things from other people’s viewpoints. 

 Sam met up with S today (if questioned both would say it's about repairing a steel canopy) to let him know that there is a sympathetic ear for him if he needed it. After an hour and a half, Sam found out that he's not angry with his mother in law, his silence is his tactic of keeping the peace at home. It seems that when he broaches the topic of her, he gets an unwarranted response because his suggestions are misconstrued. His is not an easy situation, we agreed more than enough care is being provided. 

We also agreed that when it comes the time, I'll have to be the one to initiate the move to a home. 

Part of the lesson is hearing criticism from a large number of people and deciding which is relevant and which to discard.  

24 April 2022 Sunday - revisiting No. 40

 

23 April 2022 Saturday - much to do between now and Monday

 

22 April 2022 Friday - extra supplements

After Brandon's wedding, Sam and I drifted off to Ubud to be alone

Sam got extra supplements for me, and it made all the difference - she got them when taking mom for mom's second booster. They are quite strong so she will decide when she wants me to take them; I am ok with that arrangement. 

Early this morning, AS drove us (LH and KSC) to his resort in Lundu for our office to measure the existing buildings for BP submission. It was not a difficult task so we thought the office can treat it as a holiday. I gave them Friday and they gave us Saturday. AS gave us 4 rooms and assured me that he will pay for this service, though I had earlier decided that I won't be charging him anything. All part of building business relationships. 

We left them to their own resources and left for Kuching before noon, in time for me to chat with SL whom seemed a little overwhelmed with work. So much so that she is not designing (no time), choosing to 'draw up' first and detail later. We have a little chat about dates and workloads, and ended with me promising to adjust a few things to give her time to immerse herself into design of her projects. 

21 March 2022 Thursday - some disappointments

the impiana hotel being renovated

 UNIMAS at 930 for Bau masterplan studio, the students seem to be on track though the ones whom we are paying special attention to help do not appear to catch on. The blank stares from one young man was particularly disappointing, I had set my mind to help pull him through this semester, he had repeated Studio 2 before. 

WORK provided another disappointment, when the lift contractor was not forthcoming with information, causing us to lose time and effort. Interestingly, it was his son who met us on site later that day to clarify and promise to resolve matters by next week. They neglected to tell us that they had ordered the lift and was unable to make the changes to suit site conditions - instead they stalled and argued on the phone. 

'I am disappointed that your father was not forthright with us' I said to the son on site at 5pm, after I apologised to him at 4:45pm for raising my voice on the phone with him.

20 April 2022 Wednesday - losing my religion

 

19 April 2022 Tuesday - one week of mostly aimless walking around

 

Thean Chun Kopitiam

18 April 2022 Monday - peace talks

 

17 April 2022 Sunday - headphones

 

16 April 2022 Saturday - birthday and reunions

 

There's probably been about a dozen birthday celebration dinners for my parents in law, when we fly in and reunite with Sam's favourite uncles and aunties, and during most of those times we usually invite one of our friends and now our children are doing the same. It is a continuation of  'what if we run out of things to talk about with my parents?' - better to have a familiar face closer at hand to talk to. Selinna, Laffy, Shane, Ivy, Swee, Enghooi, Belinda, and tonight, Sarah and Brinda. 

Serves us right for doing this to our parents, it is happening to us now. 

15 April 2022 Friday - revisiting Kong Heng

14 April 2022 Thursday - letter of offer

 Over a couple of pizzas in a warm cafe, we sealed the deal with Louis. He would start in October at the latest, depending on whether he takes a break after his Masters.