30th November 2022 Wednesday - pushy

 

L1. Block A

skim coated soffit of slab and beams

setting out of metal door frames

morning tea

29th November 2022 Tuesday - slow molasses

 November seems to move like slow molasses in winter, we have logged in so many miles already and we are still in the same month. 

Last night, we had dinner with Robyn who arrived about a week ago, the others were there as well. When I observe from a distance, it felt like all of us were slightly drifting apart; all preoccupied with our life battles and worries (work, aging parents, health, children). I would like to have a quiet dinner with the Lims one of these days, I don't see them as often as the architects. 

Tonight also seem to close a chapter of another relationship. I should make more of an effort but I don't feel inclined. It takes too much work and I am tired, and also aware that too much effort makes it forced (and fake) doesn't it?. Last week we met with Brian in KL to catch up after three years, after which we wanted to make the next appointment to catch up again. There was so much to talk about - there was little effort needed.

28th November 2022 Monday - Public Holiday

 

Today is a public holiday, declared so by the new Prime Minister after he was elected. Despite this, some of us arrived to work; Fiona, LH, Sean, Leong, and SL and George in KL. 

Penghui was busy meeting new clients in Puchong and I was in to tidy up pieces; and again got into a complicated discussion with SL - who had her point of view which did not jive exactly with mine. It is time consuming, but I tell myself that this is good for the office because it takes different folks to make things work. 

In the midst of our phone conversation, she said; ...I am not arguing but...( I reminded myself to tell her that I didn't mind her arguing, I encourage it). I should find the right time to tell her. Perhaps when she come to stay over this week.

We had a lunch date with Solomon and his wife, KK who was articulate and very pleasant. She seemed to me like a no-nonsense type who would do as she says and not cut corners (listening to her stories about collecting her daughter from school). She is from Kl and shared some common memories with Sam. She also shared a observation about her husband who was a little long winded and lo-so.

27th November 2022 Sunday - rest day

 

26th November 2022 Saturday - building plans

 

25th November 2022 Friday - Once a prisoner, now the 10th prime minister of Malaysia

 

24th November 2022 Thursday - rushing for work

Folks in the office were working late tonight, including Sean; we are preparing for a meeting with Rewi tomorrow. He likes to have a projects update once in a while, we have 6 with him. 

1. There is a condominium project in Sibu, every unit has a garden/outdoor terrace attached to it. We agreed to have planning submission ready before Christmas. (above)

2.There is a housing project with an Australian architect, we have submitted that for a building permit - we will brief the Australian architect next week as a matter of courtesy. 

3.We also have a housing scheme in Matang for bumiputras; a practical and well thought through scheme - we submit for building permit in December. 

4.We are also building a showroom and offices we are working with SML on this one from years ago, we should note that some projects can take years to get build; meaning cash flow can be slow.

5. Last week, we were given 44 units of affordable housing; I will work on the with Sherlin - good training for everyone. 

6. Lastly, we have the office park development which has been submitted for a planning permit. We are now developing the scheme for a building permit. 

 

He seemed excited about the meeting; preparing small bites and coffee to sustain us - I briefed initially, then Leong and Sean took over for Sibu and later still, Fiona took over for the office park with the engineers. As they briefed him, I got up and served coffee and sandwiches - how I wished someone took a photo of me doing that. 

23rd November 2022 Wednesday - a dining hall

22nd November 2022 Tuesday - a offer of a job

 

21th November 2022 Monday - work blues

A slow start to the week, not a good one but not because something bad happened, in fact quite a few good things happened at work. This type of lethargy is unusual for me, for the start of a week - but I know what the causes are:

1. I need to talk more with the others, Leong especially now that he has shifted over to their side of the office.

2. One of the young ones is struggling with work, he needs to talk more; on the phone to contractors, consultants and also speak up with opinions and decisions. I expected more from him, I ll have to work more closely with him. 

3. physically, I should be refreshed from the break from squash, etc but I am not - my ankles are sore and I was struggling with squash on Sunday (I hate that)

But mentally, I was quite refreshed by the design conference and intend to spend more time to record what I heard and saw.

20th November 2022 Sunday - meeting Henry and Solomon

We made plans to play tennis with Solomon Tan who left St Tom after Form 5, he went to Arizona and now lives in California. I have not seen him since 1981 nor kept in touch as we were in different classes, but for people like Henry Sia we might not have re-connected this morning. It was a unusual type of reunion, a tennis game but perhaps also best suited in this case as we had little to chat about in the beginning. 

He plays a good game, though at our age the upper hand is usually gained by having better movement/mobility (the strokes and courtcraft is not so important). I recall that when we were in school, he often wore a worried frown which he still does (captured in this photo when we collected him from Urat Mata)
 

After the game, we met Henry at Lau Eya Kheng and talked about the old days which Henry remembered vividly. We recalled Mrs Eng and Cikgu Latifah who taught us English and BM, who treated us like adults even though we were snotty-nosed kids then. And the late Minah Foo who was firm but kind, stoic in school but colourful after class. 

As usual, the conversation drifted to retirement, Henry has fully retired while Solomon seemed to be heading that way. I explained to them (and to myself) that I can't yet as I am supporting many people, and still found rewarding challenges at work. As if to prove it, I offered a renovation solution to Henry's old house which I recorded for him later.

19th November 2022 Saturday

 

18th November 2022 Friday

 

17th November 2022 Thursday - stock take

 

16th November 2022 Wednesday - breakthrough

15th November 2022 Tuesday

 

14th November 2022 Monday - 44 terraces

 

13th November 2022 Sunday - running to bkft but bkft was not eaten

 

12th November 2022 Saturday - ARcover

Professional Indemnity Insurance; my first seminar at the new PAMSC centre - always good to see the familiar faces, (and be reminded why I don't make many friends within the fraternity), always good to learn new things (insurance), always good to make new friends (Shamini and Shymala and Dato' Naruli were good sports) and to hear good news (CYY gave feedback about our work with their company)

11th November 2022 Friday - learning to listen

plans for a house which we turned down, but I promised to give them a record of the ideas which we discussed.

If they buy into these plans, I might be convinced to have a go at building this with them

I had three interesting conversations today - one was early in the morning with Peggy who felt that she was finally moving out of her lethargy. She felt that work helped, especially a renovation project she was helping Sean with; the drawings completed were immediately useful, the interaction with people and making lists and ticking items off when done. She actually said that she felt happy working in this project, not many young architects can say this. I have noticed as well, during the moments during the day when I glance over at her - she is always working at her screen, gaming headphones on with red flashing lights.

The second was during lunch, I was invited by a former student who graduated from Deakin as well. He was helping with his family business, selling soft furnishings which put him in contact with many prominent people in Kuching. He felt that he had a handle on the profession already, and has several projects in hand. He was all business; a departure from the student who struggled with deadlines and design ideas. I'll invite him to my birthday do and see if he intends for us to collaborate.

The last conversation made me late for dinner with Sara's friends from KL; LT felt that he had to get away from his family. And the way he thought to do this was to resign and move to Singapore; a rash decision which he acknowledged as well. Perhaps he wanted someone sympathetic who would listen to him, so I did and we concluded that moving away could be the final straw, one that severed all ties with his parents. They have stopped talking; each person moving and working in their respective circles that do not intersect anymore. I wondered if he could re-connect through mom, and suggested that he could take them out for dinner once a week; something that everyone can set time aside for and look forward to. During these meals, perhaps they can talk about what he is doing in the office and maybe he can show them. All parents want to be proud of their children, Asian parents simply don't express themselves enough.

At 6:30 pm, we all left the office for our dinners. They were celebrating Fiona's dinner at a nearby Hotpot restaurant.

10th November 2022 Thursday - reconnecting

2022

2005

I used to underestimate the importance of conversations with my clients; I saw it as a chore when summoned to meet a client, taking me away from more 'important' tasks such as designing and drawing. I now see these meetings as an opportunity to discuss design, decide on options when we have given them alternatives to select. Many of my architect friends have known this for years. What can I say? I am a slow learner, and I have a worker mind-set (seeing my place in the engine room instead of the boardroom).

So, it was good timing when Teck invited us to visit him at home, he mentioned designing a new kitchen and dining space in his garden on the phone yesterday. We bundled up our plan A and plan B for his other project, to discuss with him that afternoon after he has briefed us about his kitchen project.

I had not visited his house since 2005 when we completed it, and was surprised to see that much of the original structure was retained, including the furniture layouts. The bar counter built by Soon Onn was still there, (in good condition) the suspended concrete stair with timber framed curtain wall, even the kitchen and dining was unchanged. Mom and Matt was in there drinking tea when I wandered in, it felt smaller. Which was why a new dining structure was needed. He had bought the land next door, for this purpose - it will be a good project for Sean. 

 

9th November 2022 Wednesday - things left by the wayside

Since moving to the new office, I have neglected several aspects of my life:

1. cycling - I simply walk to work now, so the Brompton remains folded in a corner of the living room; its tyres slowly going flat. 

2. gardening - my weekends are now mostly occupied with mom, so plants still grow but randomly and fruits bear themselves unexpectedly. 

3. running - running has been irregular as tennis takes over the mornings. 

But with the end of year rains in the mornings, there is a high chance of getting back to a running routine. It is important to me as it builds up a cardio base, and gives me peace of mind.

 

8th November 2022 Tuesday

 

7th November 2022 Monday

 

6th November 2022 Sunday

 

5th November 2022 Saturday