30th August 2023 Wednesday - more talking to people

I started the day at 6 a.m. today - felt fine. Several new things today - went to a new physio, for my left ankle and heel. He did an assessment and talked about the potential causes and the remedy - which I like. I want to treat at the source of the problems and not simply to ease the pain.

Another new thing was the telling out gently of new people in the office, the outcome of which will be apparent in the coming weeks and will also decide of future decisions. 

We ended the day with dinner and drinks at Club, after a thorough tennis session. SY seemed genuinely concerned at my profuse sweating and overheated face when I saw him for drinks at 545pm. He gave some ideas about how I could step down as the editor. I will coincide this with my 60th.

29th August 2023 Tuesday - spending time talking to people

Started the day early - at 615 a.m. I was in the office. I felt fine, I think that my body clock is still on Australia time. I sorted out some things for the website - Jenny has done a good job. Today's highlight? I sent the BSC link to the work group and HL posted it on FB immediately. 

I had planned to speak to the people in the office about work, etc - which I did but not all of them. Sorted out the RiverHouse with Syahidah; she is doing well, quietly dedicated and efficient. Spoke to Joanne as well, she is a steady pair of hands; working independently on the Toorak house and the School. 

28th August 2023 Monday - truly back at work

Meetings in the morning and afternoon to truly make me understand that the holiday is over, and work is real. And work is real, last weekend the Lot 49 client signed our appointment and we now have a new project. And more importantly, we have a new client. 

In the afternoon, the kick off meeting for a housing project - the client is using this to train his son, and I am doing the same. Freddie suggested that we should spend more time with young Mark to go through the processes, materials and design features of the project. I think it is a good idea, we will take him to the show room for the condo, and Adeline's house.

At tennis, I think I have finally gotten the hang of the wrist lag in my ground strokes; happy.

 

27th August Sunday 2023

I like this image - one which I saved from doing the PAM awards panel year ago. It is not mine of course, it is Carlos Scarpa's

Another tennis morning with Ni - she has been busy with her yoga classes and it seemed to have helped with her fitness. She is able to hit solidly for a good 45 minutes now, and is less puffed after the session.

It seems that Ashley is going away for studies this week, and Daryl will go with her.

Other news is the Hong Ik will be doing some contract work with Ivy/Sia - I am happy for him and wondered if he has finally settled down to work. Tonight, I cooked Poh's version of cauliflower and pasta with anchovies, olives and capers. It could become my second signature dish.
 

26th August 2023 Saturday - strata tiles and home renovations

While we were at the seminar, Sam went to No. 40 to review work progress. She thinks that this will be a nice space, I think so as well.

First day back and I am off to the strata title seminar with Sean at 8 a.m. - good to see the office folks and familiar faces. Good turnout and good speakers (from the Lands and Survey department) - the people who reviewed and approved our submissions. 

Then to the office to re-acquaint myself to my laptop, MC and QK and JC were there. I was sleepy by 3pm, but energised by 4pm with the prospect of a squash game with the good doctor. I used the Prince Extender and made easy work of the 5 games, though it was not because I improved but because he has lagged behind for some reason. He is not nursing an injury (I asked).

First home cooked meal for a long while, 4 of us eating together - nice to be home again.

It is heavy compared to my current racket, but I like it for forcing me to prepare with shoulder turn and proper stance. And it has real power when I make contact with the sweet spot.

25th August 2023 Friday - Singapore layover

Silly me, I left Sam's purse on the plane (after buying a beer at 35,000 feet) - but luckily the cleaning crew returned it to the Lost and Found. By then, BengKey had already started calling us and asking to collect us, it was only 4 a.m. then.

We went home with her to shower and change for breakfast to continue the conversation from Geelong. They have done well for themselves and yet have a unassuming way about them. Both kids are at home like ours, and like ourselves they are also finding their way about in the adult world. 

My mind was still on work, so I sat on their living room table and work until it was time to see KM at NUS. KM took us to lunch and a visit to Red Bean's A&A to the DELTA sport centre - a break from work for him after an action-packed morning. 

3 p.m. Sani drops by to collect us, we went to Our Tampines Hub 'I did the skin' and visited the various spaces in this integrated community centre; pools, sports hall, mall, theatre, clinics - my favourite was the library. I could easily spend hours here, I must read more. Start with an hour each day.
 

I found this book which features two of our projects, I showed them to Sani and he asked me to pose for a photo.

24th August 2023 Thursday (day 13) - Sydney, homeward bound

during this trip I decided to eat raw food more regularly

Our last day in Australia, packing up and getting luggage stored while we gallivant to Potts Point on foot to shop for gifts and lunch. We ended up spending too much time looking for these things, but time spent with Sam is time well spent - debating which biscuits to give to KM and which salad is best for our lunch. 

After that we looked for a park, to have our picnic lunch which turned out to be more difficult than we thought. We come upon a nice one, near a police station and a creche (many French speaking nannies there for some reason) and sat and ate our lunch of salads and pies from the supermarket, with wine and fruits from the hotel. The background chatter in French made the experience seem almost European, and the very distant traffic sounds was a perfect balance, to remind us that for ordinary people, today is a working day. 

breakfast at the ALIBI, a 'garden' setting in a tall space; everything was a delight to the eye

a long walk uphill, where the streetscape changed from bay-front to Victorian lacework and terrace-houses

with some new additions which fitted in nicely

I showed this to Sean, for his office building

Looking for pocket parks to have our picnic lunch

11:30 a.m. picnic lunch at the Fitzroy Gardens

urban texture

waiting for our flight home - vegetarian meals are so good in Australian

23rd August 2023 Wednesday (day 12) - just the two of us

 

22nd August 2023 Tuesday (day 11) - whale watching, aimless wandering around and a show